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Abstract: Tablet revealed in declaration of Bahá'u'lláh's mission; to be recited at the Feast of Ridván. More commonly known as the "Tablet of the Bell," Khan and Gail titled this translation "Tablet for the Feast of Ridvan" because of the word Paradise in line 1. |
Tablet of the Bell (Tablet for the Feast of Ridvan)
by Bahá'u'lláh
translated by Ali-Kuli Khan and Marzieh Gailn.d. []
originally revealed as "Lawh-i-Naqus" in Arabic.
date of original: 1863
Note: The Guardian in response to the query of one of the friends in Persia has written that this Tablet was revealed in Istanbul at the request of Aqa Muhammad Ali Isfahani. He had submitted his request through Abdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'u'lláh revealed this Tablet in His own handwriting on the eve of the day of Declaration of the Bab. The Guardian recommended that this Tablet be recited on that particular occasion. That is why it is published in Ishraq-i-Khavari's Ayyam-i-Te'ih in the section on the declaration of the Bab. "The garden of Paradise" (Rowzatu'l-Firdows) in this Tablet is not garden of Ridvan. [-Iraj Ayman, 1998] (See more history and context by Stephen Lambden at bahai-library.com/lambden_naqus.)
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HE IS THE ALMIGHTY LORD! Lo, this is the garden of Paradise wherein is raised the Voice of God, the Dominant, the Strong; Here do the immaculate Maids of Heaven dwell, they whom no eye hath seen save only God's, the Sanctified, the Well-Beloved; Herein the eternal nightingale singeth on the bough of the sacred Lote-Tree a song that bedazzaleth the minds, and herein are the needy led to the haven of wealth, and all men guided to the Word of God; verily this is a manifest truth. (Here is the song that the nightingale singeth;)
Thou art verily God! O Thou who alone art God!
O prophet of wisdom, Hud, beat thou upon thy drum, in the name of the Lord, the Precious, the Bountiful, for the Temple of Holiness is seated upon His high, unapproachable throne. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Thou beauty of eternity, pluck with the fingers of the spirit at the strings of Thy lute that is wondrous and Holy, for the Heavenly Beauty hath come in His garment of glimmering silk. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O angel of light, sound thou thy trumpet to herald this appearance, for the letter HA hath mounted above the letter of pre-existent might. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Nightingale of Praise, sing out upon thy boughs within this garden and land, the well-beloved Name, for the beauty of the red rose hath shone from the impenetrable veils. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Thou Dove of Paradise, sing upon the boughs in this wondrous day, when the Lord hath cast His rays upon all creatures. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Thou Bird of Eternity, soar into this firmament, for the bird of faithfulness hath winged his flight to the presence of the merciful Lord. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Dwellers in Paradise, sing out and chant with melodious voices, for the melody of God is pealing from beyond the high pavilions of holiness. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O denizens of the Kingdom, sing in the name of the Well-beloved, for the beauty of commandment hath gleamed from behind the veils, in the shining mantle of the spirit. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O dwellers in the kingdom of names, adorn the zones of the furthermost heaven, for the Greatest Name is riding on the mighty clouds of holiness. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O people of the realm of holy attributes in the heaven of Abha, prepare to meet your God, for the breezes of sanctity have wafted from the exalted throne, and this is a manifest grace. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O thou Ridwan of the one God, rejoice within thyself, for the Ridwan of God, the Exalted, the Precious, the Wise, is made manifest. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O heaven of the grandeur, thank God within thyself, for the heaven of holiness is raised up in the realm of the sanctified heart. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O Sun of this earth, eclipse thy face, for the sun of eternity hath dawned in the luminous heaven. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O land of knowledge, swallow up thy learning, for the realm of wisdom is unfolding in the self of God., the Exalted, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O lamp of the world, extinguish thyself, for the light of the Lord is kindled in the lamp of eternity, and hath illumined the denizens of heaven and earth. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O seas of the world, quiet your waves within you, for the crimson sea hath surged with a wondrous Cause. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O cock of everlasting life, crow out on the peaks of the realm of might, for the Herald of God hath sounded His Call from every lofty hill. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O concourse of lovers, give out the glad tidings with all your heart, for the time of waiting is over, and the covenant hath come, and the Beloved hath shone in wondrous beauty. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
O people of knowledge, rejoice within your souls, for the day of parting is gone by, the time of certainty hath come, and the beauty of this Youth hath shone in sacred raiment within the paradise of the steadfast Name. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
Lauded art Thou O my God! I implore Thee by Thy day in which all the prophetic days are resurrected, Thy day whereof a moment comprehendeth all the ages. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
And I implore Thee by Thy Name which Thou made king of the Kingdom of Names and ruler over all in earth and heaven. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
To make men free of all besides Thyself, and cause them to approach unto Thee and sever themselves from all but Thee. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Precious, the Compassionate. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
Then kindle, O my Beloved, in their hearts the flame of Thy love, till it shall burn away the memory of all save Thee, that they may testify with themselves that verily Thou hast dwelt from everlasting on the heights of immortality, that nothing hath been joined with Thee, and that Thou ever art as Thou hast been. There is no God save Thee, the Mighty, the Beneficent. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
And those among Thy servants who seek to ascend the heights of Thy singleness, if their souls be set on the remembrance of aught else save Thee, they shall not be true believers in the unity of God, nor will the rank of a follower of the oneness of God be allotted them. Glory to Thee, O God, O Thou who art God, O Thou who alone art God!
The glory be to Thee, O my God, for as long as Thy command endureth. Wherefore send Thou down from the clouds of Thy Mercy that which shall cleanse the hearts of Thy lovers, and sanctify the souls of Thy friends. Then raise them up in Thy
Loftiness, and give them the victory over all on earth; for this is
that which "We have desired to bring honor upon those who were
brought low in the land, and to make them leaders of men, and to
make them our heirs." [Koran] O Thou who alone art God!
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