THE KITÁB-I-AQDAS:
THE MOST HOLY BOOK

Translated by Shoghi Effendi et al.

KITAB-EL-AKDAS
THE MOST HOLY BOOK

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Verily the first thing which God hath ordained unto the servants is the knowledge of the dawning place of His command, which was the station of Himself, in the world of command and creation (that is, the knowledge of Bahá, who is the manifestation of God in the world).

Whosoever attaineth there unto hath attained unto all good; and he who is deprived thereof is indeed of the people of error - even though he bringeth all good actions.

And when this most glorious station and this most lofty horizon hath been attained, it behooveth every one to follow that whereunto he is commanded on the part of the supreme object, because these two things are inseparable: one of them will not be accepted without the other. This is what the dayspring of inspiration hath decreed. Verily those who are given vision from God will regard. the ordinances of God as the greatest means to the order of the world and the preservation of the nations - and those who are careless, are of the vile and worthless.

Verily we have commanded you to restrain the desires of passion and lust, and not violate that which was written by the supreme pen; for it is indeed the spirit of life to whomsoever is in the realm of creation - The seas of wisdom (inspired utterances) and beyan have moved, because the breath of the merciful hath breathed.

Avail yourselves of this (opportunity) Oh people of intelligence! Verily those who have violated the covenant of God in His commandments, and turned backwards, (become backsliders) are of the people of error before God the independent, the exalted. O people of the earth! Know that My commandments are assuredly the lamps of My grace amongst My servants, and the keys of My mercy for the creatures.

Thus hath the matter been revealed from the heaven of the primal will of your Lord, the ruler of all religions.

Should any one come in contact with the delight of beyan - which has come from the mouth of the will of the merciful - he would expend all that possesseth even should it be all the treasures of the earth for the sake of establishing one command of His commandments, that shine from the horizon of grace and goodness.

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By My life, he who drinketh the pure wine of fairness from the hands of favors is indeed revolving around My commandments that shine from the horizon of creation.

Think ye not that we have revealed the ordinances unto you; rather we have opened the seal of the sealed wine, with the fingers of might and potency, whereunto will bear witness that which was revealed by the pen of inspiration. Reflect on this - O people of ideas! In prayer, nine prostrations are ordained before God, the revealer of the signs:- the morning, the afternoon and the evening, and we have exempted you from sundry others as commanded in the book of God (Koran). Verily, He is the commander, the potent, the unconstrained.

When you want to pray, turn your faces towards the most holy region, (The Holy Place) which God hath made the point round which the supreme concourse revolves, and that whereunto the denizens of the cities of permanence advance; and that whence issueth the command to whomsoever is on the earth and in the heavens. And when the sun of truth and exaltation sets, the Kibla will be that place which we have appointed unto you. Verily, He is the mighty, the all- knowing!

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Blessed is he who advanceth, and attaineth unto the perfections of the incontrovertible proof (This Book). We have fully expounded the laws of prayer in another paper (tablet). Blessed is he who doeth that whereunto he is commanded on the part of God, the ruler of persons.

Prayer used for the burial of the dead as given by God, the revealer of signs, is six taxbeerat; - that is, to say the word, "Allah'ho'Akbar", (God is greater) six times; but he who knows how to read, must repeat over the revealed lines preceding the foregoing word - and he who does not, is excused. Verily He is the mighty, the pardoner! Hair, or that which is void of life, such as bone, would not nullify your prayers. Attire yourselves with the fur of sable in the same manner as ye use silkware and the fur of minever and aught else. Verily it was not forbidden in the Koran, but was misunderstood by the divines. He is the potent, the omniscient.*

* (This refers to the Shiites who believe that the wearing of garments containing the hair of animals, or which are made of their skins, or have buttons of bone or ivory would be conducive to the nullification of their prayers; believing that the same was prohibited in the Koran.)

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God hath permitted you to worship upon any clean thing, and the law concerning this as ordained in the book (Koran) is hereby cancelled. Verily, God knoweth, but ye know not!

He who doth not find water it sufficeth him to say, five times, the words: - "Bismullah Al Attar Al Athas". (In the name of God, the most pure). Then let him begin to pray - this is what hath been decreed by the Lord of the worlds.

In the countries wherein days and nights are long, times of prayers must be regulated by watches and time pieces, by means of which time is limited. Verily He is the listener, the seer! Then say:- Greatness be to God, the Lord of the visible and the invisible, and the Lord of the worlds! (This refers to the Mohammedan custom of reciting certain prayers individually, [sic — no closing parenthesis] and all congregational prayers are abolished, except in the single case of the prayers used for the burial of the dead - Verily He is the powerful, the wise!

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While travelling, it is incumbent upon men and women on arriving at a place of safety for rest, to substitute one prostration for each form of prayer and say "Praise be to God, the owner of greatness, glory, bounty and grace. (Subhan Allah Thil Athamat Walijlall Wal Mowhabat Afthal). And he who cannot manage more, it sufficeth him to say: "Glory be to God" (Subhan Allah). Verily He is the sufficient, the everlasting, the pardoner, the clement!

On the completion of your worship you must sit down on the temple of unity (sit on the floor with the feet under the body) and say "Glory be to God - the possessor of the kingdom and the realm of creation." (Subhan Allah Thil Mullwal Malacoot) Thus hath God expounded unto you the paths of truth and guidance which have eventually terminated in one path, and it is this which is the "Right path". Give thanks to God for this great bounty! Praise God for this gift which encompasseth the heavens and earth! And celebrate the name of God for this mercy which *proceeded* the worlds! Say: God hath made His hidden love as a key to the treasure if ye are to know, and were it not for the key, it would remain hidden for eternities of eternities, were ye to believe. Say: This is indeed the dayspring of revelation and the dawning place of effulgence were ye to know!

Verily this is the irreversible decree, whereby every decisive fate is established.

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There is no obligation (to fast) upon the traveller, upon the sick, upon the pregnant woman, nor upon her who giveth suck - these hath God excused a favor on His part. Verily He is the mighty, the bountiful! These are the ordinances of God which have been written by the supreme pen in the books and the tablets.

Hold firmly to the commands of God and His ordinances, and be not of those who adopt their own principles and fling God's principles behind them, because they follow imagination and fancies.

Abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset. Beware lest lust withold you from this favor which hath been decreed in the book. God hath ordained unto him who professeth faith in God, to bathe every day his hands and face, then sit down, turn to God and say: "Allah'ho'Abha" ninety-five times. Thus hath it been decreed by the creator of the earth and heaven, when with greatness and might He descended upon the throne of names. Perform ablutions before prayer as a command on the part of God, the One, the unconstrained.

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The laws of inheritance are laid down as follows, and are divided after the types of the letter Za (the seventh letter of the Abjad quotation). i.e. Into seven divisions:-

(1) The offspring's share is ordained unto him from the book Tha (which is the ninth letter of Abjad quotation) according to the numerical value of the word, Makt (which equals 540) N.B. (The division of inheritance runs from the letter nine on the Abjad quotation, which is Tha to the third letter, which is Jeem - but as nine is the numerical value of Bahá, the Manifestation, commenced from the letter Tha, which is equivalent to nine).

(2) The husband's or wife's share is ordained from the book of Ha; according to the value of Tha and Sa (which equals 480).

(3) The father's share is ordained from the book of Za according to the value of Tha and Kaf (which equals 420).

(4) The mother's share is ordained from the book of Waw, according to the numerical value of the word Rafua (which equals 360).

(5) The brother's share is ordained from the book of Hah, according to the value of Sheen, (which is 300).

(6) The sister's share is ordained from the book Dal, according to the value of Rar, and Mim (240).

(7) The teacher's share is ordained from the book of Jeem, according to the value of Kaf and Fah (which equals 180).

Thus hath it been decided by my precursor (the Bab) who mentioned Me by night and day - but when we heard the outcry of the children while they were yet unborn, we have doubled their shares and reduced those of the others - Verily He is the powerful over what He pleaseth, and doeth what He willeth.*

If anyone dies without heirs, the house of justice has the right to the property and it should be expended by the house, bring the trustees of the merciful - for the widows and orphans, and for any purpose that may result in the welfare of the commonwealth: that they may give thanks to their Lord, the precious, the pardoner. [ol> * (According to the laws of the Bab the share of the children was only 540, but being doubled by the manifestation it became 1080. The additional 540 which was granted to them must consequently be subtracted from the other six shares equally - that is ninety from each share - hence the seven divisions run as follows:-

Law of the Bab             Law of the Manifestation  
Children          540      Children          1080 
Husband and wife  480      Husband and wife  390 
Father            420      Father            330 
Mother            360      Mother            270 
Brothers          300      Brothers          210 
Sisters           240      Sisters           150 
Teacher           180      Teacher           90  
-------           ---      -------           ---
                 2520                       2520

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If one dies leaving behind children under age, or incapable of managing their own affairs, their properties should be confided to a trustee, or the house of partnership, to invest or trade with the children attain their maturity. (If a trustee, he should be awarded in return for his services, a part of the acquired profits [sic — no closing parenthesis] -

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What we have specially allotted to children is but a favor on the part of God that they may give thanks to their Lord, the merciful, the compassionate! These are the ordinances of God. Do not violate them by your lusts and desires, but follow that whereby ye are commanded by the dayspring of argument. The sincere will regard the ordinances of God us a water of life to the people of all religions and as a lamp of wisdom and victory to whomsoever is in the earth and heavens.

It hath been ordained by God, that in every city a house of justice should be established, the members of which must be according to the number of Bahá, and if the number exceeds this, no matter. (probably nine or nineteen.) The members of the house must regard themselves as the trustees and representatives of God in the created world, and when they enter the house they must consider themselves as being in the presence of God, the supreme, the most exalted; as seeing Him who is unseen and strive to fulfill for the good of the public the trust placed in them for the sake of God, as though they were managing their own affairs, and choosing that which is best. Thus hath it been decreed by your Lord, the Mighty, the pardoner!

Beware not to reject that which is ordained in this tablet. Fear God, O people of vision!

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Pilgrims to the house are commanded by God, to such as can undertake them (probably the house of Acca); but women are excused as a favor on His part.

Verily He is indeed the giver, the bountiful. O people of El Bahá, it is the duty of each one of you, to occupy himself in some kind of business, whether craft, industry or the like, which occupation will be regarded by Him in the light of a worship before God, the truth!

Reflect, O people, on the mercy of God, and His kindness, then give thanks to Him morning and evening. Waste not your time in idleness and slothfulness, but occupy yourself with that whereby you will profit yourselves and others.

Thus hath the matter been decreed in this tablet from which horizon the sun of wisdom end evidence hath shone forth.

The most hateful of mankind before God, is he who sits and begs. Take hold upon the robe of means, relying upon God, the cause of causes.

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O servant of the merciful! Be steadfast in the service of His cause, in such that the afflictions on the part of those who deny the dayspring of the signs will not seize upon you.

When the promised time came and the promised one appeared, people disagreed, end each faction took hold of that which it possessed of imagination and fancies. From amongst the people are some who seat themselves in line with the shoes, in seeking after the seat of honor. Say to them: "Who are ye? O ignorant, and seducers! "Some of them who claim inward knowledge and pretend to understand divine mysteries, say to them: "O liars, by God, what ye have is indeed naught save husks which we have abandoned to you, as bones are abandoned to the dogs." By God, the truth, should anyone wash the feet of the people of the world and worship God in thickets and narrow foot-paths, and upon the summits and tops of mountains and hills, and in the neighborhood of every stone, clod or tree - all the scent of My good pleasure does not emanate from him. This is what hath been decreed by the Lord of mankind. How many servants secluded themselves on the Indian Isles, and deprived themselves of that which God hath sanctioned, and underwent mortifications and hardships and yet were not accepted by God, the revealer of the signs.

Do not make actions a snare to hide hopes and interested motives, and deprive not yourselves of this retreat which was the sole aim of those who are near (to God) in the eternities of eternities. Say: the spirit of actions is My good pleasure and everything depends on My acceptance.

Read the tablets that ye may know what is desired, in the book of God in the created world (seat of honor) and he who is witheld from My love, even though he sits on the earth, will be the one against whom the protection of God, the ruler of all religions will be sought by others.

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We ask of God to assist him to return, and if he repents, verily He is the forgiving! But if he insists on what he says he would be overwhelmed by some one who would not pity him. Verily He is the severest chastiser.

Whosoever shall interpret this verse or explain it contrary to its obvious meaning, is indeed deprived of the spirit of God and His mercy which preceded the world.

Fear God and follow not what ye imagine - but follow that which your Lord, the mighty, the wise, commandeth you. The false voice shall be raised from the majority of the cities. Shun it, O people! And follow not every ignoble liar. This is what we have informed you of when we were in Irak (Bagdad) and in the land of mystery (Adrianople) and in the bright watch tower (Acca).

O people of the earth! When the sun of beauty has set, and the heaven of My form is concealed, be not troubled. Arise for the help of My cause (religion) and the exaltation of My word, betwixt the worlds. Verily we are with you in all circumstances, and will assist you with the truth. Verily we are able to do so!

He who knoweth Me ariseth to serve Me with such steadfastness that the hosts of the heavens and earth cannot withold him.

Verily the people are asleep! And should they awake, they would hasten with all their hearts to God, the All-knowing, the Wise! They would cast away what they have, even though it were the entire treasures of the earth, that their Lord might mention them with a word on His part. Thus ye are informed on the part of Him who hath the knowledge of the unseen, in a tablet which hath not appeared in the created world, whereof none knows save Himself who is the protector over all the world. These people were overwhelmed by the exhilaration of lust in such wise as to be blinded from seeing the Lord of creation, whose voice was raised from all directions, and is vocal with the melody of - "There is no God but Me, the Mighty, the Wise."

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Your lives pass away as the winds pass away, and the carpets of your glory will be folded as the carpets of yore were folded.

Think, O people! Where are your past days, and where are your elapsed centuries? Blessed are the days which passed in the celebration of God, and the time which was spent in the commemoration of the wise.

By My life! The glory of the glorious doth not endure, nor the gold of the rich, nor the power of the wretched. All will perish by a word on His part. Verily He is the potent, the mighty, the able! That which people possess of worldly seductions, will not profit them, and they are heedless of that which would profit them. They shall awake hereafter but cannot find that which passed them by, in the days of their Lord, the mighty, the extolled! Had they known, they would have bestowed all their possessions that their names might be mentioned before the throne. Verily are ye not of the dead? From among the people are some who are deluded by science, whereby they are witheld from My name, the protector. And when they hear from behind them the noise or their footsteps, they think of themselves as being greater than Nimrod. Say to them: O ye abundant! Where is Nimrod? By God he is indeed in the lowest hell.

Say, O concourse of the learned! Do ye not hear the sound of My pen, the Supreme? And do ye not see this sun which shines from the most glorious horizon? How long will ye devote yourselves to the idols of your lusts? Set aside imaginations and turn your faces to God, your pre-existent Lord.

Endowments which are apportioned to charity, are confided unto God, the revealer of the signs! And no one has any right to dispose of them - save by permission of the dayspring of inspiration. After Him the decision of such disposal to be confined to the branches; after the branches to the House of Justice when it becomes dominately established in countries; that these endowments be spent in the districts where the religion of God predominates and is exalted and for the things which are commanded by One, potent and mighty, otherwise to be entrusted unto those people of Baha who never utter a word but with His permission, and who do not decide anything but in accordance with the decision given by God in this tablet. These people are the protectors of victory betwixt the earth and heaven. They will spend such endowments in conformity with the provisions laid down in the book revealed on the part of the one mighty and generous.

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Theft: To the first or second offence of theft imprisonment or banishment is decreed. But on the third conviction a mar, or sign is to be placed on the forehead of the thief whereby he may be known, and man become aware of him, lest he may be received by other cities and countries of God.

Clemency: Beware not to allow clemency to take hold of you in the religion of God, but do that whereunto you are commanded by one pitiful and clement. Verily we have reared you up with the scourges of wisdom and ordinances for the purpose of your preservation and the exaltation of your station; as children are reared by their parents. By My life, were ye to know that which we have desired for you of our sacred commandments ye would have sacrificed your souls in the cause of this sacred, mighty and impregnable command.

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Under all circumstances conform yourselves to refined manners, lest your eyes fall upon anything that might be abominable both unto you and unto the people of paradise. He who is wanting in this will be condemned at the moment of committing the act, but if be has any excuse to offer, God will forgive him; verily He is the beloved, the generous.

There is no partner of the day-spring of the command in His great infallibility because He is indeed the manifestation of the word, "He doeth what He pleaseth in the realm of creation," and thus God hath assigned this station unto Himself and hath not ordained unto any one the sharing with Him this great and inaccessible honor.*

This is the command of God which was hidden by the veils of the unseen, but we have disclosed it in this manifestation whereby we rent in sunder the veils of those who did not know the law of the book and were of those who are heedless.

It is the duty of fathers to educate their sons and daughters in science, handwriting and other studies as thoroughly defined in the tablet: But the father who neglects that whereunto he is commanded the trustees must take from him - if he is rich - what is necessary to the education of his children; but if he is poor he must appeal to the house of justice as we have made it a refuge for the poor and needy. If one educates his own son, or another's son, it is as if he has educated My own son - Upon him is My glory - Baha - grace and mercy which hath preceded the worlds.

* (Infallibility here, does not signify the same meaning as generally understood by the people, "Prevention from sin or error," nay, rather it means the station as held by the lawgiver which excludes Him from being governed by the laws that He gives to the people.

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He who falls into transgression has to repent and return to God, verily He forgiveth Whom He pleaseth and is not questioned of that which He desireth: Verily He is the beloved, the pardoner, the extolled.

Beware lest the veils of Glory withold you from the pure water of this spring - take the cups of victory in this morning, in the name of the creator of dawns (Lit. made the dawns to break); then drink to the commemoration of Him, the mighty, the wonderful.

We have permitted you to listen to harmonies, tunes and melodies; but beware not to allow this to make you go beyond the limit, of politeness, dignity and honesty. Rejoice in the joy of My greatest name, whereby the hearts have become passionate in love and the minds of the proximate (those near to God) were attracted. Verily we have made it (music) the ladder for the ascension of the spirits unto the supreme horizon. Therefore do not make it the wings of passion and lust. I ask the protection of God that ye may not be of those who are ignorant.

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O men of justice! Be shepherds of the sheep of God in His kingdom, and protect them against wolves who appear in (sheep's) garments the same way as ye protect your children. Thus admonisheth you the faithful admonisher.

If ye disagree upon any matter refer the same to God as long as the sun is shining from the horizon of this heaven, but if He sets, appeal to that which was caused to descend on His part; very it sufficeth the worlds!

Say, O people, be not troubled if the kingdom of My appearance becomes concealed, and the waves of the sea of My utterance subside: for in My epiphany there is a wisdom and in My occultation there is another wisdom whereof none knoweth save God, the peerless, the All-knowing. We shall see you from My horizon, El Abha, and shall assist them who arise to assist My cause, by the hosts of the supreme world and cohorts of proximate angels. O people of the earth! By God, the truth! The stones gave vent to the limpid and sweet rivers, being overtaken by the delight of the utterance of your Lord, the unconstrained, while ye yourselves are of the heedless.

Set aside that which ye have, then with the foremost wings of separation (from the world) fly away above all creation; Thus commandeth you the ruler of religions by the motion of His pen He hath overturned the worlds.

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Wounds and blows are also atoned for by fines proportionate to their offence, and a certain fine is decreed by the judge according to the degree of gravity: Verily He is the controller, the mighty, the impregnable. Had we desired, we would have justly described the particulars as a promise on our part: Verily He is the fulfiller, the All-knowing.

Hospitality is incumbent upon you once a month, though water only be served; for God desireth to unite the hearts ever through the means of the earth and heavens.

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Consider the grace of God and His bounty! Verily, He commandeth you to adopt only the things which will profit you, after that He is indeed independent of all the world.

Your evil actions never bring any harm unto us, so also your good actions never profit us; but we only call you to come for the sake of God; to this will bear witness every discerning and learned man.

When you send hunting birds or animals to the chase, mention God; then that which is caught by them may be lawfully eaten, even though it is dead: Verily He is the All-knowing, the learned; exceed not the bounds of this (law) but be on the path of justice and equity in all matters and circumstances. Thus doth the day-spring of the manifestation command you, were ye of those who know.

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Arson and murder committed deliberately are punishable by burning and death respectively. Adopt the laws of God by the hands of might and potency and set aside those of the ignorant (this refers to the Babis who, through the excess of their zeal, used to commit heinous crimes against those who persecuted them; and in order to stop them, in another place, that to be murdered is far better then to plunder) but if ye sentence them to life imprisonment, there is no harm according to the book: Verily He is the controller over that He willeth.

Marriage is enjoined on all, but beware not to marry more than two wives, and he who is contented with one only, he and she will be in ease and happiness.*

There is no objection to the one who employs a maid in his domestic service (this refers to the Persians who object to the employment of maids in their domestic services); Thus hath the command been recorded with the truth by the pen of revelation.

O people! Be married that through you may be born those who will mention Me amongst My servants. This is My command unto you - adopt it for yourselves as a help.

* This law is directed specially to the countries where they marry more than one, two, three, four, etc. But in the countries where the governments do not allow it, the Bahá'ís must cheerfully and ungrudgingly submit to the laws and conform to the customs of the country wherever they may be (as clearly shown in another place.

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Verily it is recorded in the Beyan (book of the Bab) that marriage must be according to the consent of both parties, and as we desire love, affection, and union to exist amongst the servants, we have conditioned marriage to the consent of both parents and the consent of enacting parties, lest hatred and detestation come between them; and for some other reasons which we have: Thus hath the command been decreed.

No marriage to be allowed without dowery (this is to be paid by the man to the woman): In cities the dowery to be given is limited to 19 mithkals of pure gold, and in the towns and villages, the same amount of silver, and he who wishes more is not allowed to demand more than 95 mithkals. Thus were the commands written by the hand of might, but he who contents himself with the first degree, it is better for him according to the book; for God is able to unite whom He pleaseth by means of the earth and the heaven. Verily He is the powerful over all things.

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Conform to My commandments and follow not the infidels who are recorded in the tablet as those who are iniquitous (the tablet here means His Holy Spirit, and the Koran refers to it, as the preserved tablet; the Manifestation in most of His writings calls it the Red Book).

If during nine reckoned months of waiting news is received of the return of husband, she must adopt kindness and favor for He wisheth peace to exist amongst His servants.

Beware lest ye commit that which will create obstinacy in your midst. Thus the command hath been ordained and the promise decreed.

If news of the death or murder of her husband is received, which news is proven by publication or by two fair and just witnesses, she must remain in her house until the nine reckoned months have expired, then she will have the right to choose what she wishes. This is decreed by Him who is powerful over the command.

Should any agitation or aversion come between the man and his wife, he must not divorce her but will have to be patient for one year, perhaps the fragrance of love might emanate from them. If at the expiration of a year no fragrance of love is diffused, then there is no objection to a divorce. Verily He is the wise over all things. Ye are forbidden to practice that which ye have practiced after three divorces as a favor on His part,* that ye may be of the thankful, in a tablet written by the pen of command. And he who divorces his wife is free to take her back after the expiration of one month through consent and love, if she remains unmarried, but if she married another, the separation valid by the new union, except on the occurrence of any other manifest event (either death or murder of her second husband): Thus was the command of the day-spring of beauty written with honor and reverence in the tablet of might and glory.

If a man travels accompanied by his wife, and during the journey some trouble or disagreement takes place between them, he must give her an allowance for one year's expenses and send her back to the place whence she started; or entrust her to a certain faithful one, after giving her what she requires for the journey back to her own home. Verily thy Lord commandeth what He pleaseth, with an authority which encompasseth the world.

* (one of the Muhammedan laws is that when a man divorces his wife, by saying to her three times, "I have divorced you", or whether he is divorced three times, he can take back his wife by merely giving her to some one else for one night only, and thus the Manifestation forbids this practice)

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Consort together, O people, with fragrance and spirituality. By My life! Every thing in this present world vanishes and only good actions and deeds endure, and God beareth witness to all that I say.

O my servants! Bring your dissensions to perfect harmony and agreement, listen to what the supreme pen admonisheth you, and follow not the wicked proud people.

Beware lest this world delude you as it has deluded others before you. Follow the laws of God and His precepts; then walk in this path which is spread with the truth. They will be mentioned by the supreme concourse and by the denizens of this place which is exalted by the name of God.

Selling of slaves is strictly prohibited and no one is allowed, by any means, to purchase a slave as it is forbidden in the tablet of God: Thus hath the command been graciously written by the pen of justice.

No one has the right to feel himself greater than another for all are servants and guides to God; directing the people that "There is no God but Me". Verily He is the wise over all things.

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You must not oppose one another and no soul is permitted to murder another soul; this is that which was forbidden unto you in a book which was concealed behind the pavilion of might. Do ye slay him whom God hath quickened with a spirit on His part? Verily this is naught but a great transgression before the throne. Fear God and destr[o]y not by the hand of oppression and disobedience that which God bath built up; then follow the path of truth.

When the hosts of knowledge appeared with the standards of Beyan, the people of all religions were put to flight except those who desired to drink the pure water of life in a garden which existed through the breath of the glorious.

God has decreed the purity of the seed, as a bounty on His part to the people. Thank him with fragrance and spirituality, and follow not those who are remote from the day-spring of nearness. Arise with steadfastness to serve the cause under all circumstances. Verily He will strengthen you with a dominion that encompasseth the worlds.

Take hold of the rope of refinement and delicacy in such wise that no trace of dirt appears on your clothes. This is that which is commanded by Him who is more elegant than the elegant; but there is no obligation upon the one who has a valid excuse.

Verily He is the pardoner, the clement. Cleanse every foul thing with water, three qualities of which are unchanged (i.e. color, taste and smell) and beware not to use that water which is changed by the air or any other thing.

Be the element of refinement amongst creatures. This is that which your Lord the mighty, has desired unto you; so also legal impurities of things and that of religious communities is abolished by God as a gift on His part: Verily He is the forgiver, the generous. (This refers to the Shiites - followers of Ali - who believe that certain things and nations are impure.) All things have been immersed in the sea of purity since the first day of Rizwan whereon, with our most comely names and supreme attributes, we revealed ourselves to whosoever is in the realm of creation (Rizwan is the greatest festival and lasts nineteen days, commensing on the anniversary of His manifestation.) This is from My bounty which hath encompassed the worlds, that ye may consort with all religions and deliver to them the command of your Lord, the merciful. This is indeed the crown of actions, were ye of those who know!

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Use rose water, then the pure attar of roses: This is that which God hath desired from the beginning which has no beginning, that from you may be diffused what was wished by your Lord, the mighty, the wise.

Destruction of books as revealed in the Beyan, is hereby cancelled and we permit you to read of science that which will profit you, and not that whereby you will be lead to dispute and contention in speech. This is better unto you were ye of those who know!

O ye assemblies of Kings! The ruler hath come, and the kingdom is to God, the protector, the self-existent.

Worship none save God, and turn with illumined hearts unto the face of your Lord, the king of names - this is a matter which could not be equalled even by all that ye have, were ye to understand.

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Acquiring money has occupied you from attaining unto the intended aim. This behooveth ye not, were ye of those who reflect!

Cleanse your hearts from the strong odor of this world and advance swiftly to the kingdom of your Lord, the creator of the earth and the heavens, by whom earthquakes appeared and nations lamented except those who have abandoned the world and adopted that which is commended in a hidden tablet. This is a day wherein the interlocutor hath attained unto the lights of the ancient and hath drunk the pure, clear, cool, and wholesome water of union from this cup, whereby all seas were filled (i.e. the cup of knowledge from which all knowledge is derived). Say! By God! The truth - the Tor [?] revolves around the day-spring of the manifestation and the spirit (Christ) crieth out from the kingdom: "Come, come, O ye sons of delusion". This is a Day wherein Koumallah (i.e. Mt. Carmel) hath hurried from longing and yearning to meet Him, and Mt. Zion shouted, "The Promised hath come and that which is recorded in the tablets of God, the supreme, the mighty, the beloved, become manifest!

O ye assemblies of kings! The most great law has been caused to descend in this most brilliant outlook, and every hidden matter appeared on the part of the ruler of fate, through whom the hour hath come, the moon has been cleft, and every decisive matter been fully explained.

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Set aside homes and advance unto the kingdom. This is that which will profit you in this world and the worlds to come. In this the ruler of might testifies for me, were ye to know!

Blessed is the king who ariseth to assist My cause, and separates himself from aught else save me. Verily he is of the people of the red ark, which God hath prepared for the people of Baha: it is incumbent upon every one to exalt him, honor him, render him powerful, that he may invade the cities with the keys of my name, the protector against whosoever is in the realms of the seen and the unseen. Verily he will be regarded as the light to the human beings, as the brilliant white spot to the brow of creation, and the head of honor to the body of the world - assist him, O people of Baha, with money and souls.

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We have been with thee under all aspects and found thee clinging to the branch and heedless of the root. Verily thy Lord is a witness to what I say. We were overtaken by sorrows at seeing thee journeying for the sake of our name and knowing us not while we were before thy face. Open thine eye, that thou mayest see this most noble outlook; know Him upon whom thou callest day and night; and witness the light which is shining from this magnificent horizon.

O thou King of Berlin! Hear the call from this manifest temple "There is no God but me, the everlasting, the peerless, the pre-existent". Beware lest delusion withold thee from the day- spring of manifestation; or lust veil thee from the king of the throne and the earth. Thus doth the supreme pen admonish thee. Verily He is the bounteous, the generous.

Remember! Where is he who was greater than thou, and of more honor and dignity? And where are his possessions (Napoleon the third)? Awake and be not of those who sleep! Verily he hath put behind him the tablet of God when he informed him of what had befallen us on the part of the soldiers of oppressors. Therefore humiliation has surrounded him from all sides, until he fell to dust with great loss.

O King! Consider his condition (Napoleon's) and remember your equal who have subdued the countries and governed the people. Verily God, the merciful, hath made them descend from the palaces to the graves. Consider and be of the mindful! Verily we desire naught of you, but only we advise you, for God's sake, and we will be patient as we have been through that which has befallen us on your part, O ye assemblies of rulers.

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The promised one hath appeared in this extolled station, and through Him the mouth of existence of the seen and unseen hath smiled. Avail yourselves of the day of God! Verily to meet Him is better for you than upon which the sun shines, were ye of those who know!

O ye assemblies of Emirs (chiefs)! Harken unto that which was raised from the day-spring of loftiness. "That there is no God but me, the utterer, the knower."

Set the broken by the hands of justice, and break to pieces the whole — the oppressors — with the scourges of the ordinances of your Lord, the commander, the wise.

O ye assemblies of El-Room! We hear amongst you the screech of owls — are ye overtaken by the exhilaration of lust, or are ye of the heedless?

O point, which lieth on the shore of the two seas! The throne of injustice hath been fixed in thee, and the fire of hatred hath been kindled in thee in such wise that made the Supreme Concourse and those who revolve around the high throne, lament. We see in thee the foolish ruling over the wise, and the darkness boasting against light. Verily thou art in manifest delusion! Are ye deceived by thine outward adornment? It shall vanish, by the Lord of Creation, and the daughters and widows and those people that are within thee, shall lament and weep! Thus the omniscient, the wise, informed thee!

O banks of the river Rhine! We have seen you drenched in gore, because the swords of retribution were drawn against you, and you shall have another turn, and we hear the lamentation of Berlin, though it be today in manifest glory.

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Rejoice for that by reason of which God hath made thee the horizon of light; for in thee the dayspring of the manifestation was born, and thou wast called by this name whereby the orb of bounty hath appeared, and the heavens and earth were illumined.

Affairs shall be changed in thee, and a republic of men shall rule over thee. Verily thy Lord is the wise, the encompasser! Be confident through the grace of thy Lord, because the glances of favor shall never cease beholding thee and thou shalt be wrapped in tranquillity after disturbance. Thus the matter hath been decreed in a new book!

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No one must object to those who govern the people. Leave unto them that which they have, and turn only unto the hearts.

O thou of the greatest sea! Sprinkle over nations that which thou wert commanded on the part of the ruler of pre-existence, and adorn the temples of men with the embroidered garment of laws and ordinances whereat the hearts rejoice and eyes are consoled.

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Beware, o people, not to withold yourselves from this great bounty. We have commanded you to do this, though we were independent of you and whosoever is in the earth and heavens. Verily there are in this certain causes and wise reasons whereof not wots [?] save God, the knower, the wise.

Say, by this, he desired the purification of your wealth and to bring you nigh unto stations which cannot be comprehended by anyone save by him whom God hath desired. Verily, He is the bounteous, the mighty, the gracious. O people, be not unfaithful to the rights of God and dispose not of them without His permission. Thus hath the matter been decreed in the tablets and in this incontrovertible tablet. He who betrays God, will be betrayed by justice, and he who acts in accordance with what he is commanded, the blessings of the heaven of the benevolence of his Lord, the bounteous, the giver, the generous, the ancient, will descend upon him.

Verily He hath desired unto you what ye know not today but the people shall know it hereafter when the spirits fly away and the carpets of pleasures are folded.

Thus remindeth you, He who has the preserved tablet. Miscellaneous letters have come before the throne of those who believed, asking God, the Lord of the visible and the invisible, the Lord of the worlds (regarding the conduct, ordinances, laws, etc,) therefore, we have revealed this tablet, adorned with the best form of command, that the people may know the ordinances of their Lord. Also we were asked (the same) on some former occasions during successive years, but we restrained the pen for a reason on our part until at last, letters have come from many others, in those days, and accordingly we have answered them with the truth whereby the hearts will be quickened.

Say, o ye assemblies of learned men! Judge not the book of God according to what you know of rules and sciences; verily it is the balance of truth amongst the creatures, and that which nations have will be weighed and judged by this, the greatest balance — verily it stands alone, were ye to know!

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O ye assemblies of learned (ones)! Can anyone of you cope with me in the field of revelation and knowledge? Or can anyone follow round the race-course of wisdom and expression? (are challenged to reproduce a like book). No, by my Lord, the merciful! Everything upon this earth is perishable, and will not endure except the face of your Lord, the precious, the beloved!

O people! We have ordained sciences for the purpose of knowing the known; but by them you were veiled from Him who is the dawning-place of such sciences and by whom every hidden matter became manifest. Were ye to know the horizon wherefrom the sun of speech hath shone, you would have rejected all mankind and that which is in their possessions and advanced unto the extolled station.

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Verily we never entered schools and studied sciences: but hearken unto that whereby this illiterate one commandeth you unto God, the everlasting. Verily it is better unto you than that which is treasured in the earth, were ye of those who comprehend!

Verily the one who explaineth that which was caused to descend from the heaven of inspiration, contrary to the obvious sense thereof is indeed of those who have reansposed the supreme word of God, and will be regarded as the losers in an enlightening book.

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To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or marketplace; nay rather, if he wish to magnify the Lord, it behoveth him to do so in such places as have been erected for this purpose, or in his own home. This is more in keeping with sincerity and godliness. Thus hath the sun of Our commandment shone forth above the horizon of Our utterance. Blessed, then, be those who do Our bidding.

Use for bathing, the water which has not been used for any former purpose, and beware not to approach the tanks of the Persian baths, the odor of which is stinking and offensive and scented at a distance before reaching them. O people, and be not of the vile!

Verily this (water) resembles decaying matter and foul and putrid water, were ye of those who know, so also shun their offensive reservoirs, and be of the pure! We have indeed desired to see you the manifestations of Paradise on the earth, that from you may be diffused that will cheer the hearts of those who are near. It is better for one to cleanse his body with pouring water over it, and thus dispensing with entering the water. Verily He wisest to facilitate matters before you as a bounty on His part, that ye may be of the thankful. Ye are forbidden to marry the wives of your fathers. As to the laws regarding youths, modesty prevents us from mentioning them.

Fear God, O concourse of the realm of creation and commit not that whereof ye are forbidden in the tablet, and be not of those who wander madly in the deserts.

No one is permitted to mutter prayers before the people when walking out of doors or in the streets; rather the one wishing to mention God and offer his prayers must do the same either in the house of worship or in his own home. This is nearer to sincerity and piety. Thus hath the sun of laws shone forth from the horizon of wisdom - blessed are they who comply with His will.

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Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.

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All Feasts have attained their consummation in the two Most Great Festivals, and in the two other Festivals that fall on the twin days — the first of the Most Great Festivals being those days whereon the All-Merciful shed upon the whole of creation the effulgent glory of His most excellent Names and His most exalted Attributes, and the second being that day on which We raised up the One Who announced unto mankind the glad tidings of this Name, through which the dead have been resurrected and all who are in the heavens and on earth have been gathered together. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Ordainer, the Omniscient.

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Happy the one who entereth upon the first day of the month of Bahá, the day which God hath consecrated to this Great Name. And blessed be he who evidenceth on this day the bounties that God hath bestowed upon him; he, verily, is of those who show forth thanks to God through actions betokening the Lord's munificence which hath encompassed all the worlds. Say: This day, verily, is the crown of all the months and the source thereof, the day on which the breath of life is wafted over all created things. Great is the blessedness of him who greeteth it with radiance and joy. We testify that he is, in truth, among those who are blissful.

The festivals are confined to two great ones; the first is the days wherein the Merciful hath revealed Himself with His most comely names and high attributes to whosoever is in the realm of creation. The second is the day wherein we sent Him who gave to the people the glad-tidings of this name, whereby the dead rose, and whosoever is in the earth and heavens awoke for the last judgement.*

Blessed is he who hath attained unto the first day of the month of Baha which God hath called after His greatest name. (The Babi year is composed of nineteen months, each month having nineteen days, a special name being given to every month - the first month is the month of Baha, and the first day of the month is also the day of Baha - the blessing referred to above is given to the one who keeps this day sacred and performs his religious duties as required of him.)

Blessed is he who shows forth the grace of God through their actions and deeds; proving the bounty of Him who encompasseth the worlds.

Say, this month is indeed the first of the months and their origin, whereat the fragrance of life passeth by all the contingent beings. (This refers to the transit of the Sun to the zodiacal sign of Aries which occurs on the 21^st of March corresponding to the first day of spring.)

Blessed is he who keeps this day with fragrance and spirituality, and of him we testify that he is of the victorious.

* The first great festival which is known by the name of Assam and Rizwan begins after the elapse of thirty-two days from the Naurooz feast which takes place on the 21st of March - wherein the sun is translated into the zodiacal sign of Aries - its duration is twelve days only, signifying the time which the manifestation, Bahá'u'lláh spent in the garden of Wajeeb Pasha at the suburbs of Baghdad where He declared Himself to His followers.

The second great festival commemorates the appearance of the first Point, the Bab, which took place on the fifth day of Jamadi Aval, 1269, Mohammedan era, corresponding to May 23rd, 1844.

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Say: The Most Great Festival is, indeed, the King of Festivals. Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.

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Resort ye, in times of sickness, to competent physicians; We have not set aside the use of material means, rather have We confirmed it through this Pen, which God hath made to be the Dawning-place of His shining and glorious Cause.

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God had formerly laid upon each one of the believers the duty of offering before Our throne priceless gifts from among his possessions. Now, in token of Our gracious favour, We have absolved them of this obligation. He, of a truth, is the Most Generous, the All-Bountiful.

Should ye be attacked by illness or disease, go to the skillful doctors. Verily, we did not remove the means of cures; rather we rectified them by this pen which God made the day-spring of His brilliant and illumined command.

It hath been ordained by God that everyone must come before the throne and lay down the best of his possessions and the dearest things; (this very thing is recorded in El-Beyan, the book of the Bab) but we have exempted you from such obligation as a bounty on our part. Verily, He is the giver, the generous!

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Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centring his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance, and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and, entering therein, seateth himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is each and every building which hath been erected in cities and villages for the celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it hath been designated before the throne of glory, were ye of those who understand.

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They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can never be compared. From them they will inhale the divine fragrance of My worlds — worlds which today none can discern save those who have been endowed with vision through this sublime, this beauteous Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed be those who hearken.

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Assist ye, O My people, My chosen servants who have arisen to make mention of Me among My creatures and to exalt My Word throughout My realm. These, truly, are the stars of the heaven of My loving providence and the lamps of My guidance unto all mankind. But he whose words conflict with that which hath been sent down in My Holy Tablets is not of Me. Beware lest ye follow any impious pretender. These Tablets are embellished with the seal of Him Who causeth the dawn to appear, Who lifteth up His voice between the heavens and the earth. Lay hold on this Sure Handle and on the Cord of My mighty and unassailable Cause.

On entering the house he must sit down speechless, listening only to the texts of God, the king, the mighty, the extolled. Say, (the) Mashrek El Azkar is any house built in the cities and villages for my commemoration; thus hath it bee named before the throne, were ye of those who know!

Those who read the signs of the Merciful with sweet tones, will attain by them that which the kingdom of the earth and the heavens will not equal, and through them will find the fragrance of my worlds which no one knows today save Him who is given vision from this most noble outlook.

Say, verily, they (signs) attract the pure hearts unto the spiritual worlds which could not be signified by any expression nor by any sign. Blessed are they who hear!

Render victorious, O people, my sincere friends who with steadfastness arose for my service amongst my servants and for the exaltation of my word in my kingdom. They are indeed the stars of the heaven of my providence and the lamps of my guidance to all creatures.

He who uttereth aught else that that which was revealed in my tablets, verily, he is not from me. Beware lest ye follow any wicked pretender!

The tablets have been decorated with the ornamented seal of the cleaver of dawns, who uttereth betwixt the earth and heavens, "Take hold of the strong support, and of the enduring and solid rope of my command." (It does not mean the real seal - but that meaning is sealed, just as the prophecies of the Bible were sealed until the time came, and they were opened by the Lamb.)

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The Lord hath granted leave to whosoever desireth it that he be instructed in the divers tongues of the world that he may deliver the Message of the Cause of God throughout the East and throughout the West, that he make mention of Him amidst the kindreds and peoples of the world in such wise that hearts may revive and the mouldering bone be quickened.

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It is inadmissible that man, who hath been endowed with reason, should consume that which stealeth it away. Nay, rather it behoveth him to comport himself in a manner worthy of the human station, and not in accordance with the misdeeds of every heedless and wavering soul.

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Adorn your heads with the garlands of trustworthiness and fidelity, your hearts with the attire of the fear of God, your tongues with absolute truthfulness, your bodies with the vesture of courtesy. These are in truth seemly adornings unto the temple of man, if ye be of them that reflect. Cling, O ye people of Bahá, to the cord of servitude unto God, the True One, for thereby your stations shall be made manifest, your names written and preserved, your ranks raised and your memory exalted in the Preserved Tablet. Beware lest the dwellers on earth hinder you from this glorious and exalted station. Thus have We exhorted you in most of Our Epistles and now in this, Our Holy Tablet, above which hath beamed the Day-Star of the Laws of the Lord, your God, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

It is forbidden to drink that which will carry away the mind. But every rational being has to do what beseemeth man and not that which is committed by every careless, heedless person.

Adorn your heads with crowns of faithfulness and fidelity, your hearts with the garment of virtue, your tongue with utterances of the pure truth, and your bodies with the fine mantles of morality. All these are the characteristics of the natural disposition of man, were ye of those who reflect!

O people of Baha! Take hold of the rope of servitude and devotion to God, the truth, whereby your stations become manifest, your names, endurable, and your positions and commemoration exalted in a preserved tablet.

Beware not to allow whomsoever is in the earth to withold you from attaining this precious and lofty station. We have enjoined this upon you in most of the tablets and so also in this tablet, from which horizon of the orb of the ordinances of your Lord, the mighty, and wise hath shone forth.

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When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.

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Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They ask for that which injureth them, and cast away the thing that profiteth them. They are, indeed, of those that are far astray. We find some men desiring liberty, and priding themselves therein. Such men are in the depths of ignorance.

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Liberty must, in the end, lead to sedition, whose flames none can quench. Thus warneth you He Who is the Reckoner, the All-Knowing. Know ye that the embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal. That which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker. Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station. It debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and wickedness.

Consider the condition of the people and the littleness of their understanding. They hunt after that which will injure them, and reject that which will profit them. Are they not of those who are straying madly?

From amongst the people we find some who desire liberty, and glory in it; they are indeed in evident ignorance! Verily, liberty ends in sedition and disorder, the fire of which will never subside. Thus doth the All-knowing, the omniscient inform you.

However, know, that the animal is the model of liberty and the manifestation thereof; hence it behooveth man to put himself under laws which would protect him against the ignorance of himself and the injury of the deceitful people.

Liberty does assuredly put man beyond the limits of refined manners and esteem, and makes him of the vile.

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Regard men as a flock of sheep that need a shepherd for their protection. This, verily, is the truth, the certain truth. We approve of liberty in certain circumstances, and refuse to sanction it in others. We, verily, are the All-Knowing.

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Say: True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it. Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty. Happy is the man that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will that pervadeth all created things. Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven.

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In the Bayán it had been forbidden you to ask Us questions. The Lord hath now relieved you of this prohibition, that ye may be free to ask what you need to ask, but not such idle questions as those on which the men of former times were wont to dwell. Fear God, and be ye of the righteous! Ask ye that which shall be of profit to you in the Cause of God and His dominion, for the portals of His tender compassion have been opened before all who dwell in heaven and on earth.

Say, liberty is confined to the compliance with My commandments, were ye to understand!

Should people adopt that which we have revealed unto them from the heaven of inspiration, they would find themselves in perfect and pure liberty. Blessed is he who knows the intended object of God in that which He hath caused to descend from the heaven of His primal will which encompasseth the worlds.

Say, that liberty which profits you is that which is confined to your servitude to God the truth, and he who tastes its sweetness would never exchange it for the possessions of the realms of heaven and earth.

Ye are forbidden in the Beyan (of the Bab) to ask questions, but Go exempted you from this that ye may ask concerning that which is necessary to you, and not that uttered by others before you (refers to superstitions of old times). Fear God and be of the pious!

Ask that which profiteth you in the Cause of God and His dominions, for the door of bounty has been opened to whosoever is in the earth and heavens.

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The number of months in a year, appointed in the Book of God, is nineteen. Of these the first hath been adorned with this Name which overshadoweth the whole of creation.

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The Lord hath decreed that the dead should be interred in coffins made of crystal, of hard, resistant stone, or of wood that is both fine and durable, and that graven rings should be placed upon their fingers. He, verily, is the Supreme Ordainer, the One apprised of all.

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The inscription on these rings should read, for men: "Unto God belongeth all that is in the heavens and on the earth and whatsoever is between them, and He, in truth, hath knowledge of all things"; and for women: "Unto God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them, and He, in truth, is potent over all things". These are the verses that were revealed aforetime, but lo, the Point of the Bayán now calleth out, exclaiming, "O Best-Beloved of the worlds! Reveal Thou in their stead such words as will waft the fragrance of Thy gracious favours over all mankind. We have announced unto everyone that one single word from Thee excelleth all that hath been sent down in the Bayán. Thou, indeed, hast power to do what pleaseth Thee. Deprive not Thy servants of the overflowing bounties of the ocean of Thy mercy! Thou, in truth, art He Whose grace is infinite." Behold, We have hearkened to His call, and now fulfil His wish. He, verily, is the Best-Beloved, the Answerer of prayers. If the following verse, which hath at this moment been sent down by God, be engraved upon the burial- rings of both men and women, it shall be better for them; We, of a certainty, are the Supreme Ordainer: "I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate." Thus doth the Lord single out whomsoever He desireth for a bounty from His presence. He is, in very truth, the God of might and power.

It is decreed by God to bury the dead in coffins of crystal, solid stones, or fine hard wood. An engraved ring is to be placed on the finger. Verily He is the ordainer, the omniscient.

On the ring, if for a man, must be written, "To God is whatsoever in the earth and heaven and that betwixt them; and God is indeed the knower of all things."

If for a woman, "To God is the kingdom of the heaven and earth and that betwixt them, and God is the powerful over all things." This is what was revealed before (in the Beyan of the Bab).

While the Point of Beyan crieth out saying, "O thou beloved of the realm of creation! Speak of this, by reason of which the fragrances of Thy favor will be diffused amongst the worlds. We have assured all that whatsoever was revealed in the Beyan will not be equal to one word uttered by Thee. Verily, Thou art the powerful over that Thou wisheth! Mercy! Verily Thou art the possessor of great bounty. We have answered His request, Verily, He is the beloved, the answerer!

Should that which is revealed at this time, be engraved on the rings it would be much better for both men and women. verily, we have been the controllers! It is this: - "I came from God and returned to Him, separated from aught else save Him, taking hold of His name, the merciful, the clement." (This word as given by the manifestation is to be engraved on the rings of both men and women, and the foregoing word of the Bab is cancelled.) Thus doth God favor whom He wisheth with His bounty. Verily, He is the mighty, the powerful.

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The Lord hath decreed, moreover, that the deceased should be enfolded in five sheets of silk or cotton. For those whose means are limited a single sheet of either fabric will suffice. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. It is forbidden you to transport the body of the deceased a greater distance than one hour's journey from the city; rather should it be interred, with radiance and serenity, in a nearby place.

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God hath removed the restrictions on travel that had been imposed in the Bayán. He, verily, is the Unconstrained; He doeth as He pleaseth and ordaineth whatsoever He willeth.

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O peoples of the world! Give ear unto the call of Him Who is the Lord of Names, Who proclaimeth unto you from His habitation in the Most Great Prison: "Verily, no God is there but Me, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Most Exalted, the Omniscient, the All-Wise." In truth, there is no God but Him, the Omnipotent Ruler of the worlds. Were it His Will, He would, through but a single word proceeding from His presence, lay hold on all mankind. Beware lest ye hesitate in your acceptance of this Cause — a Cause before which the Concourse on high and the dwellers of the Cities of Names have bowed down. Fear God, and be not of those who are shut out as by a veil. Burn ye away the veils with the fire of My love, and dispel ye the mists of vain imaginings by the power of this Name through which We have subdued the entire creation.

To carry the dead further than one hour's distance from the city, is forbidden. Bury him in a near place with fragrance and spirituality.

What was recorded in the Beyan regarding limit of journeys has been abrogated by God. Verily, He is the unconstrained; doeth what He pleaseth and controlleth that He desireth.

O people of creation! Hearken unto the voice of the King of Names. Verily, He is calling you from the region of prison El Aazam, "the greatest, the exalted, the omniscient, the wise." Verily, There is no God but Me, the powerful over all the world.

Should He will, He would wipe out the world, by a word on His part. Beware not to hesitate in this matter unto which have submitted the supreme concourse and the denizens of the cities of names. Fear God and be not of the veiled.

Burn the veils with the fire of My love, and the barriers by this name whereby we have subdued the worlds. (Barriers mean the false teachings of the divines.)

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Raise up and exalt the two Houses in the Twin Hallowed Spots, and the other sites wherein the throne of your Lord, the All-Merciful, hath been established. Thus commandeth you the Lord of every understanding heart.

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Be watchful lest the concerns and preoccupations of this world prevent you from observing that which hath been enjoined upon you by Him Who is the Mighty, the Faithful. Be ye the embodiments of such steadfastness amidst mankind that ye will not be kept back from God by the doubts of those who disbelieved in Him when He manifested Himself, invested with a mighty sovereignty. Take heed lest ye be prevented by aught that hath been recorded in the Book from hearkening unto this, the Living Book, Who proclaimeth the truth: "Verily, there is no God but Me, the Most Excellent, the All-Praised." Look ye with the eye of equity upon Him Who hath descended from the heaven of Divine will and power, and be not of those who act unjustly.

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Call then to mind these words which have streamed forth, in tribute to this Revelation, from the Pen of Him Who was My Herald, and consider what the hands of the oppressors have wrought throughout My days. Truly they are numbered with the lost. He said: "Should ye attain the presence of Him Whom We shall make manifest, beseech ye God, in His bounty, to grant that He might deign to seat Himself upon your couches, for that act in itself would confer upon you matchless and surpassing honour. Should He drink a cup of water in your homes, this would be of greater consequence for you than your proffering unto every soul, nay unto every created thing, the water of its very life. Know this, O ye My servants!"

Beware lest the affairs of the earth withold you from that whereunto ye are commanded on the part of one, mighty and trustworthy.

Be the manifestations of rectitude on the earth in such wise that the suspicions of those who denied God, could not withold you; for He hath appeared in great authority. Beware lest that which was revealed in the book (Beyan of the Bab) prevent you from this book which uttereth with the truth, "Verily, there is no God but Me, the mighty, the extolled." Look with the eye of equity unto the One who came from the heaven of the primal will and might, and be not of the unjust.

Then remember that which has flowed from the pen of my precursor in the commemoration of this manifestation, and what was committed by the people of tyranny yore were adorned. Verily, are they not of the losers? He said (the precursor, or Bab), "Should ye apprehend him whom God shall manifest, you would then ask of the bounty of God that he might grant you the favor of his sitting upon your couches. Verily, it is an inaccessible and impregnable glory! And should he drink a glass of water with you, that would be far greater than for any soul to drink his own water of life; and far superior to any existing thing, if ye, my servants, were to understand!

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Say, this is indeed a manifestation round which proofs and evidences revolve. Thus hath the merciful caused it to descend. Were ye of the just! (This refers to this book, Kitab-El- Akdas.)

Say, it is the spirit of the books, and is produced by the breath of God through the supreme pen, and by it is smitten whomsoever is in the world of creation, except those who are seized upon by the fragrances of mercy and the wafts of the odor of my benevolence, the guardian of all the worlds.

O people of Beyan! Fear the Merciful, then, consider what he (the Bab) hath revealed in another place. He said;- "Verily, the Kibla (object of worship to which faces turn) is "He whom God shall manifest", and when he moves, the Kibla moves with him (this means that the Kibla and manifestation are inseparable, that where he is, the faces must be turned). Thus hath it been revealed on the part of the Ruler of Fate when He desired to mention this chiefest outlook. Reflect, O people, and be not of those who are straying madly!

Should ye, through your lust, deny him, to what Kibla would ye turn, O assembly of the heedless? Reflect on this, then, be just, perhaps ye may find the pearls of secrets in the Sea which is moved by My name, the mighty, the impregnable.

No one must cleave to aught else, today, save him who hath appeared in this manifestation. This is the decree of God from first to last, and by it the books of [missing text?] awaits them in the world to come.

This is the commemoration of God from the beginning till the end, and by it, the preface of the book of existence was adorned if ye are of those who perceive. This is the command of God from before and after. Beware lest ye be of the vile.

Nothing sufficeth you today, and there is no refuge to any one save God, the omniscient, the wise.

He who knows Me has known the intended; and he who turns unto me, has turned unto the Adored. Thus hath the matter been decreed and been explicitly shown in the Book, on the part of God, the Lord of the worlds. He who reads one verse of My verses is more benefitted than if he reads the books of both the ancients and moderns. This is the utterance of the Merciful, were ye of those who hear! Say, this is the certainty of knowledge, were ye of those who know!

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And now consider what hath been revealed in yet another passage, that perchance ye may forsake your own concepts and set your faces towards God, the Lord of being. He [The Báb] hath said: "It is unlawful to enter into marriage save with a believer in the Bayán. Should only one party to a marriage embrace this Cause, his or her possessions will become unlawful to the other, until such time as the latter hath converted. This law, however, will only take effect after the exaltation of the Cause of Him Whom We shall manifest in truth, or of that which hath already been made manifest in justice. Ere this, ye are at liberty to enter into wedlock as ye wish, that haply by this means ye may exalt the Cause of God." Thus hath the Nightingale sung with sweet melody upon the celestial bough, in praise of its Lord, the All-Merciful. Well is it with them that hearken.

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O people of the Bayán, I adjure you by your Lord, the God of mercy, to look with the eye of fairness upon this utterance which hath been sent down through the power of truth, and not to be of those who see the testimony of God yet reject and deny it. They, in truth, are of those who will assuredly perish. The Point of the Bayán hath explicitly made mention in this verse of the exaltation of My Cause before His own Cause; unto this will testify every just and understanding mind. As ye can readily witness in this day, its exaltation is such as none can deny save those whose eyes are drunken in this mortal life and whom a humiliating chastisement awaiteth in the life to come.

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Say: By the righteousness of God! I, verily, am His [The Báb's] Best-Beloved; and at this moment He listeneth to these verses descending from the Heaven of Revelation and bewaileth the wrongs ye have committed in these days. Fear God, and join not with the aggressor. Say: O people, should ye choose to disbelieve in Him, [Bahá'u'lláh] refrain at least from rising up against Him. By God! Sufficient are the hosts of tyranny that are leagued against Him!

He (the Bab) said: Marriage is forbidden unless both parties be of the people of Beyan; should a believer marry an unbeliever, the possessions of the unbeliever are forbidden him unless that one becomes a believer. This command to be carried out after the cause of "Him whom God shall manifest" in truth, becomes prevalent, or that which becomes manifest in justice. Before that time, you are permitted to exercise this privilege, perchance thereby ye may elevate the cause of God Thus hath the dove sung on the boughs in the commemoration of her Lord, the merciful. Blessed are the hearers!

O people of Beyan! I adjure you by your Lord, the merciful, to ponder with the eye of equity over that which was revealed with the truth, and be not of those who see the evidences of' God and deny them. Verily, are they not of the damned!

The point of Beyan hath in this verse: explicitly declared the exaltation for My command before his, and to this will bear witness every fair and rightly informed person, as ye see today that it has waxed high in such wise that none can deny it except those whose eyes were shut in this world, for which contemptible torture in His days.

Say, by God, I am indeed His beloved, and now He heareth that which is revealed from the heaven of inspiration and lamenteth because of what ye have committed in His days. Fear God and be not of the transgressors.

Say, O people, should ye not believe in Him, do not object to him (the Bab). By God, the combination of the hosts of oppression against him is great enough.

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Verily, He [The Báb] revealed certain laws so that, in this Dispensation, the Pen of the Most High might have no need to move in aught but the glorification of His own transcendent Station and His most effulgent Beauty. Since, however, We have wished to evidence Our bounty unto you, We have, through the power of truth, set forth these laws with clarity and mitigated what We desire you to observe. He, verily, is the Munificent, the Generous.

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He [The Báb] hath previously made known unto you that which would be uttered by this Dayspring of Divine wisdom. He said, and He speaketh the truth: "He [Bahá'u'lláh] is the One Who will under all conditions proclaim: `Verily, there is none other God besides Me, the One, the Incomparable, the Omniscient, the All-Informed.'" This is a station which God hath assigned exclusively to this sublime, this unique and wondrous Revelation. This is a token of His bounteous favour, if ye be of them who comprehend, and a sign of His irresistible decree. This is His Most Great Name, His Most Exalted Word, and the Dayspring of His Most Excellent Titles, if ye could understand. Nay more, through Him every Fountainhead, every Dawning-place of Divine guidance is made manifest. Reflect, O people, on that which hath been sent down in truth; ponder thereon, and be not of the transgressors.

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Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God. Beware lest amidst men the flame of foolish ignorance overpower you. All things proceed from God and unto Him they return. He is the source of all things and in Him all things are ended.

He (the Bab) hath foretold you of that which would be uttered by this wise remembrance; he (the Bab) said:- and his saying is the truth, "That at all events He (God) uttereth, there is no God but Me, the peerless, the one, the impregnable, the magnificent.

This is a station whereof God hath distinguished and favored this wonderful and inaccessible manifestation. This is of the bounty of God, were ye of those who know! This is from his decisive command, His greatest name, His supreme word, and the day-spring of His comely names, were ye of those who comprehend! Rather through His (command) the day-springs and dawning-places become manifest.

Reflect, O people, on that which was revealed by the truth, consider and be not of the transgressors. Consort with all religions with fragrance and spirituality, that they may inhale the fragrance of the Merciful emanating from you.

Beware lest the ardor of paganism (Tahiliat [misspelling of "jahaliyya"? -ed.] - the Arabs in time of ignorance) over take you when amongst the people.

Every origin is of God, and to Him it shall return. Verily He is the originator of the creatures and the receptacle of the world.

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Take heed that ye enter no house in the absence of its owner, except with his permission. Comport yourselves with propriety under all conditions, and be not numbered with the wayward.

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It hath been enjoined upon you to purify your means of sustenance and other such things through payment of Zakat. Thus hath it been prescribed in this exalted Tablet by Him Who is the Revealer of verses. We shall, if it be God's will and purpose, set forth erelong the measure of its assessment. He, verily, expoundeth whatsoever He desireth by virtue of His own knowledge, and He, of a truth, is Omniscient and All-Wise.

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It is unlawful to beg, and it is forbidden to give to him who beggeth. All have been enjoined to earn a living, and as for those who are incapable of doing so, it is incumbent on the Deputies of God and on the wealthy to make adequate provision for them. Keep ye the statutes and commandments of God; nay, guard them as ye would your very eyes, and be not of those who suffer grievous loss.

Begging is not permitted, and he who is asked is forbidden to give. All must work; the infirm must be provided for by the trustees and the wealthy; adopt the ordinances and laws of God, then guard them as ye guard your own eyes, and be not of the losers.

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Ye have been forbidden in the Book of God to engage in contention and conflict, to strike another, or to commit similar acts whereby hearts and souls may be saddened. A fine of nineteen mithqals of gold had formerly been prescribed by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind for anyone who was the cause of sadness to another; in this Dispensation, however, He hath absolved you thereof and exhorteth you to show forth righteousness and piety. Such is the commandment which He hath enjoined upon you in this resplendent Tablet. Wish not for others what ye wish not for yourselves; fear God, and be not of the prideful. Ye are all created out of water, and unto dust shall ye return. Reflect upon the end that awaiteth you, and walk not in the ways of the oppressor. Give ear unto the verses of God which He Who is the sacred Lote-Tree reciteth unto you. They are assuredly the infallible balance, established by God, the Lord of this world and the next. Through them the soul of man is caused to wing its flight towards the Dayspring of Revelation, and the heart of every true believer is suffused with light. Such are the laws which God hath enjoined upon you, such His commandments prescribed unto you in His Holy Tablet; obey them with joy and gladness, for this is best for you, did ye but know.

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Recite ye the verses of God every morn and eventide. Whoso faileth to recite them hath not been faithful to the Covenant of God and His Testament, and whoso turneth away from these holy verses in this Day is of those who throughout eternity have turned away from God. Fear ye God, O My servants, one and all. Pride not yourselves on much reading of the verses or on a multitude of pious acts by night and day; for were a man to read a single verse with joy and radiance it would be better for him than to read with lassitude all the Holy Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Read ye the sacred verses in such measure that ye be not overcome by languor and despondency. Lay not upon your souls that which will weary them and weigh them down, but rather what will lighten and uplift them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses towards the Dawning-place of His manifest signs; this will draw you nearer to God, did ye but comprehend.

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Teach your children the verses revealed from the heaven of majesty and power, so that, in most melodious tones, they may recite the Tablets of the All-Merciful in the alcoves within the Mashriqu'l-Adhkars. Whoever hath been transported by the rapture born of adoration for My Name, the Most Compassionate, will recite the verses of God in such wise as to captivate the hearts of those yet wrapped in slumber. Well is it with him who hath quaffed the Mystic Wine of everlasting life from the utterance of his merciful Lord in My Name — a Name through which every lofty and majestic mountain hath been reduced to dust.

No one is to approve for another that which he would dislike himself. Fear God and be of the lofty. All were created from water, and to dust ye shall return. Think of your destination and be not of the unjust.

Hearken unto that which the Sadrat dictates to you from the verses of God. Verily, they are the balance of guidance of God, the Lord of this world and the world to come, and by them the souls fly away into the day-spring or inspiration, and the hearts of the advancers are illumined.

These are the ordinances of God which are incumbent upon you, and these are the precepts of God whereunto ye are commanded in this tablet. Conform to them with fragrance and spirituality; for this will profit you much, were ye of those who know!

Read the verses of God every morning and evening, and he who does not read will not be known by the covenant of God and His testament; and he who turns away from them in this day, verily he is those who have turned away from God since eternities of eternities. Fear God, O ye servants. Be not deluded by meaningless repetitions of prayer and worship by day and by night. Should anyone read one verse only, of the verses, with fragrance and spirituality, it will avail him more than to read with slothfulness all the books of God, the protector, the self-existent. Read the verses of God in such wise that idleness and sadness are averted. Do not load the spirits with that which will depress them; but with what will cheer them so that they may fly away on the wings of the verses to the day-spring of evidence. This is more acceptable unto God, were ye to comprehend.

Teach your children that which was caused to descend from the heaven of might and greatness that they may, in the sweetest of tones, read the tablets of the merciful in the rooms which were built in Mashrek-El-Azkar (house of worship). Verily he who is overtaken by the attraction of the love of my name, the merciful, would assuredly read the verses of God in such wise as to charm the hearts of those who are asleep. Happiness to the one who drinks the pure wine of life, from the utterances of his Lord, the merciful, in this name whereby every high and haughty mountain is swept away.

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Ye have been enjoined to renew the furnishings of your homes after the passing of each nineteen years; thus hath it been ordained by One Who is Omniscient and All-Perceiving. He, verily, is desirous of refinement, both for you yourselves and for all that ye possess; lay not aside the fear of God and be not of the negligent. Whoso findeth that his means are insufficient to this purpose hath been excused by God, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Bounteous.

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Wash your feet once every day in summer, and once every three days during winter.

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Should anyone wax angry with you, respond to him with gentleness; and should anyone upbraid you, forbear to upbraid him in return, but leave him to himself and put your trust in God, the omnipotent Avenger, the Lord of might and justice.

Bathe your feet once a day in the summer time, and during winter every three days.

Meet gently anyone who has offended you, and reproach him not who censures you; but leave him to himself and rely upon God, the avenger, the just, the mighty.

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Ye have been prohibited from making use of pulpits. Whoso wisheth to recite unto you the verses of his Lord, let him sit on a chair placed upon a dais, that he may make mention of God, his Lord, and the Lord of all mankind. It is pleasing to God that ye should seat yourselves on chairs and benches as a mark of honour for the love ye bear for Him and for the Manifestation of His glorious and resplendent Cause.

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Gambling and the use of opium have been forbidden unto you. Eschew them both, O people, and be not of those who transgress. Beware of using any substance that induceth sluggishness and torpor in the human temple and inflicteth harm upon the body. We, verily, desire for you naught save what shall profit you, and to this bear witness all created things, had ye but ears to hear.

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Whensoever ye be invited to a banquet or festive occasion, respond with joy and gladness, and whoever fulfilleth his promise will be safe from reproof. This is a Day on which each of God's wise decrees hath been expounded.

Gambling and the use of opium are strictly prohibited, shun them, O assembly of creatures, and be not of the transgressors. Beware not to practice that which will enfeeble your temples and harm your bodies.

Verily we do not desire unto you but what will profit you and in this all things will testify for me, were ye to hear!

Should ye be invited to entertainments or banquets, accept such invitations with pleasure and cheerfulness; and he who fulfills his promise is protected against menace. (This shows the importance of fulfilling a promise, and acting to the contrary, calamities and troubles will ensue.) This is a day wherein every wise matter has been distinctly explained.

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How many hermits have turned away and how many negligent have come saying: "Praise be to Thee, O intended of the world."

Verily, the affairs are in the hands of God! He giveth to whom He wisheth that which He pleaseth, and depriveth whom He willeth of that He desireth. He knows the secrets of hearts and that whereby the eyes of the slanderers are directed.

How many heedless have advanced with sincerity, and we have made them to sit upon the throne of acceptance; and how many intelligent have we sent back to the fire as justice on our part. Verily, we are the controllers! Verily, He is the manifestation of "God doeth what He pleaseth", and the master upon the throne of "commandeth what He desireth."

Blessed is he who inhales the perfume of the traces of this pen which it moveth, the breath of God will be diffused over all, and when it reposeth, the existence of tranquillity appears in the realm of creation. Exalted is the Merciful, the manifestation of this great bounty.

Say, because of His endurance of oppression, justice hath become manifest in aught else; because of His acceptance of humility, the might of God hath shone forth amidst the worlds.

Ye are forbidden to carry weapons of defense, save in time of necessity. Ye are permitted to wear silk, and that which refers to tresses and beards (as recorded in the Beyan) is hereby abolished by God as a bounty on His part. Verily He is the controller, the omniscient.

Commit not that which is shunned by the righteous minded and make not yourselves a diversion for the ignorant.

Blessed is he who adorns himself with the beautiful garment of refined manners and moral character. Verily, he is of those who render victorious their Lord by evident and manifest deeds.

* The sign of the Rais, chief, means the power of the chief rulers, divines, and learned who have had perfect control over the people of the earth during the past ages and decades, but in this manifestation, affairs shall be changed, their banners reversed and the power will be taken out of their hands and given to the faithful believers of God, who will inherit the earth. Ess-Sit-Tat, means the number six (6) which corresponds to the Abjad quotation. In spelling the letter "Waw" (Arabic alphabet), according to the Abjad quotation the letter "Waw" is composed of three letters, two Waws and one Alef, the numerical value of which is thirteen (13), corresponding to the value of ahad (one) who is God. This means, "Blessed is the one who confesses the oneness of God" The vertical Alef (1) is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, signifying Baha'o'llah the manifestation of God in whose person the confession of His oneness became manifest and exalted: altogether, this means, "Blessed is the one who is strengthened by God to confess and believe in His manifestation, Baha'o'llah" This refers to the very words as pronounced by Sheikh Ahmad El Ahsai, (an Arab) and his disciple Seyyid Kazim (Persian) regarding the appearances of El-Mahdi. Both of them have preached to the people of His nigh appearance and thus they prepared the way before Him. They are famous and their writings are greatly honored and respected by the people.

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We have ordained a cause for everything on our part; take hold of such causes and rely upon God, the wise, the omniscient.

Blessed is he who acknowledges God and His verses, and confesses that "He is not to be questioned of what He doeth." This is a word which God hath made the beauty of belief and the origin thereof: and by it is acceptable the labor of the laborers. Make the word the object of your regard, lest you stumble through illusions of those who have turned away.

Should He proclaim lawful all that which was unlawful since eternity of eternities and vice- versa, no one has the right to object, and he who hesitates a moment in accepting this is indeed of the erring.

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Thus doth God teach you that which will rid you from doubts end perplexities, and save you in this world and the world to come. Verily He is the forgiver, the generous.

He is the one who sent the messengers and revealed the books, to testify that there is no God but Me, the mighty, the wise.

O land of Kaf and Ra (Karman)! We find thee in a condition acceptable to God and see in thee that whereof none knows save God, the omniscient, the learned. We know the mysteries of your mysteries for we have the knowledge of everything in a clear table.

Grieve not for that, for out of thee shall appear people of vehement courage who will mention Me with such uprightness that neither the creeds of the learned, nor the suspicions of the doubter could ever withold or veil them; those will look to God with their eyes and assist Him with their souls. Are they not indeed of the firm?

O assembly of the learned. When the verses were caused to descend and The evidences became manifest, we saw you behind the veils, verily, this is naught but an astounding matter!

Ye have boasted of my name but became heedless of myself when the Merciful hath come with evidence end truth. Verily we have rent asunder the veils, beware not to cast over the people another veil. Break to pieces the chains of imaginations, in the name at the ruler of mankind and be not of the deceitful.

Should ye advance unto God, and embrace this religion, work not sedition, and judge not the book of God according to your own desires. This is the sincere advice of God from first to last; to this will testify the witnesses of God and His elect. Verily we have been the witnesses.

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Beware not to allow the names to withold you from their ruler; or any commemoration veil you from this wise commemoration! Seek refuge with God, O assembly of the learned, and make not yourselves as a barrier between Me and My creatures. Thus doth God admonish you and command you to be just lest your actions be frustrated while ye are heedless.

Can any one objecting to this cause (religion) prove any claim in existence (prove the validity of his own religion or that of his prophet)? No, by the king of creation! The people are in evident darkness. Say! By Him the sun of proof hath shone and the orb of argument became manifest to whosoever is in the realm of creation. Fear God, O people of vision and deny not!

Beware lest the mention of a prophet withold you from this most great mention, or the authority from the supremacy of God, which is the guardian to all the worlds. Every name was created by His name, and every command is related to His command, the wonderful, the decisive, the mighty.

Say! This is the day of God wherein naught else must be mentioned, save, Himself, the protector over all the worlds. this is a matter which causes all you imaginations and idols to tremble.

From amongst you we find some who take their books as a guide to God, just as all religious communities have taken their books as proofs of God, the protector, the self-existent. Say! By God, the truth, all the books of the world, and the records therein will not serve you in any stead, except this book which crieth out in the midst of this world, "Verily, there is no God but Me, the omniscient, the wise."

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Remember El-Karim, when we summoned him unto God, how by following his own desires, felt himself great, after we sent unto him that which consoled the eye of argument in the realms of creation, and completed the proof of God to whosoever is in the heaven and earth. Verily, we have commanded him to come as a bounty on the part of Him the independent, the exalted; but he turned his back until he was seized upon by the Zabanict of torture (the infernal guards guards - the tormentors of the damned in hell) according to the justice of God. Verily you have been the witnesses.

Render asunder the veils in such wise that the noise produced therefrom be heard by the people of the kingdom. This is the command of God from the first to last. Blessed is he who complies with that to which he is commanded, and woe to the neglectful.

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In this day it beseemeth every one who has drunk the pure wine of life from the hand of grace of His Lord, the merciful, to be as an artery; pulsating in the body of the realm of creation, whereby the world and all dry bones will be shaken.

O people of creation! When the dove flyeth off from the branch of praise, and moveth towards the farthest and most hidden destination, refer that which ye do not understand of the book to the branch who is extended from this solid root.

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(This is in reply to a passage in the Beyan which was understood as schools of learning). Perchance the true pure and religious learned men will be acquainted, even though measured by the eye of a needle, with what is existing behind the veils of the mysteries of thy Lord, the mighty, the omniscient.

Say! Verily, we have entered the maktab of ideas and expressions at the time when all of the realm of creation were heedless, and witnessed that which was revealed by the Merciful; accepted that was given unto me of the verses of God, the protector, the self-existent; and heard that whereunto He testifieth in this tablet. Verily, we have been the witnesses - we have answered him by a command on our part - verily, we have been the commanders.

O people of Beyan! Verily, we have entered the maktab of God while ye were reposing, and witnessed the tablet while ye were asleep. By God, the truth, we have read it, before its descension while ye were heedless. We have thoroughly comprehended the book while ye were yet unborn (in the loins); and what I have expounded unto you is in proportion to your limited knowledge of God, were ye to know! To this will bear witness that which is in the knowledge of God, were ye to know! To this will bear witness the tongue of God, were ye to comprehend! By God, had we to remove the veil, ye would be smitten.

Beware not to contend with God and His commands - Verily it hath appeared in such wise that hath encompassed all that was and is.

Should we speak of this station by the tongue of the people of the kingdom, we would say, "God hath created that maktab before the creation of heaven and earth, and we have entered it before the Kaf was attached to the Noon" (Kaf and Noon are two Arabic letters which, when united form the word kounn which means, Be; that is, before He said, Be, it was). This is that which was uttered by the tongue of my servants, in my kingdom.

Ponder on that which was uttered by the tongue of the people of My might, on the signs which were given to them on My part; on that which was hidden in the knowledge of God; and on that which was uttered by the tongue of greatness and might and of His extolled station.

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Say! O people, turn unto that which was caused to descend from my supreme pen - should ye find therein the perfume of God, do not oppose Him, and deprive not yourselves from the bounty of God and His favors; thus doth God admonish you. Verily He is the admonisher, the knower.

Ask God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers of that which ye do not understand of the Beyan. Verily if He will, He can disclose unto you what is revealed therein and that which is hidden of the pearls of science and wisdom in the sea of its words. Verily He is the protector of the names, and there is no God but He, the Guardian, the self-existent.

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Immerse yourselves in the sea of My utterance that you may be acquainted with what is therein of the pearls of wisdom and mysteries. Beware not to delay your coming to this cause whereby the authority of God and His might became manifest. Hasten unto it with pure faces. This is the religion of God from the beginning until the end. He who desires, let him come, and he who desires not, verily, God is independent of all people of the worlds.

Say! This is indeed the balance of guidance to whosoever is in heaven and upon the earth, and greatest proof, were ye to know!

Say! By it the poor became rich, the learned gained their knowledge, those wishing to ascend unto God, were borne aloft.

Say! by this balance the proofs of all ages have been confirmed (missions of the messengers of God), were ye to believe.

Beware not to disagree about this balance (book) and be as the solid mountains in the cause of your Lord, the mighty, the loving.

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Remember the favor of thy Master, when we brought thee up during nights and days, for the service of the religion. Fear God and be of those who repent. Grant that thine affair is doubtful unto man, is it before the throne, and didst write what we conveyed unto thee of the signs of God, the guardian, the mighty, the powerful.

Beware lest jealousy withold thee from the shore of unity. Turn unto Him, and fear not because of thy deeds. verily, He pardoneth whom He pleaseth by a favor on His part; there is no God but Me, the forgiving, the generous.

Verily, we advised thee for the sake of God. If thou advancest it is for thyself and if thou turnest aside, verily thy Lord is independent of thee and of those who follow thee in manifest error.

Goth hath taken away him who then led thee astray - return unto Him, humble, abased, trembling. Verily He will put away from thee, thy sins. Verily thy Lord is swift to relent. He is the precious, the merciful. This is the sincere advice of God, wert thou of those who hear; this is the bounty of God, wert thou of those who perceive; this is the treasure of God, wert thou of those who know; this is the book which hath become the lamp of the ancient to the world and His straightened path amidst the creatures.

Say! Verily, it is the day-spring of the knowledge of God, were ye to know, and the dawning- place of the ordinances of God, were ye to understand.

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