We entreat His Majesty the _Sh_áh,—may God, hallowed and glorified be He,
assist him—himself to ponder upon these things, and to judge with equity
and justice. Although in recent years a number of the faithful have, in
most of the cities of Persia, suffered themselves to be killed rather than
kill, yet the hatred smouldering in certain hearts hath blazed more
fiercely than before. For the victims of oppression to intercede in favor
of their enemies is, in the estimation of rulers, a princely deed. Some
must have certainly heard that this oppressed people have, in that city
(I_sh_qábád), pleaded with the Governor on behalf of their murderers, and
asked for the mitigation of their sentence. Take, then, good heed, ye who
are men of insight!
O _Sh_ay_kh_! These perspicuous verses have been sent down in one of the
Tablets by the Abhá Pen: "Hearken, O servant, unto the voice of this
Wronged One, Who hath endured grievous vexations and trials in the path of
God, the Lord of all Names, until such time as He was cast into prison, in
the Land of Tá (Ṭihrán). He summoned men unto the most sublime Paradise,
and yet they seized Him and paraded Him through cities and countries. How
many the nights during which slumber fled from the eyes of My loved ones,
because of their love for Me; and how numerous the days whereon I had to
face the assaults of the peoples against Me! At one time I found Myself on
the heights of mountains; at another in the depths of the prison of Tá
(Ṭihrán), in chains and fetters. By the righteousness of God! I was at all
times thankful unto Him, uttering His praise, engaged in remembering Him,
directed towards Him, satisfied with His pleasure, and lowly and
submissive before Him. So passed My days, until they ended in this Prison
(Akká) which hath made the earth to tremble and the heavens to sigh. Happy
that one who hath cast away his vain imaginings, when He Who was hid came
with the standards of His signs. We, verily, have announced unto men this
Most Great Revelation, and yet the people are in a state of strange
stupor."
Thereupon, a Voice was raised from the direction of Ḥijáz, calling aloud
and saying: "Great is thy blessedness, O Akká, in that God hath made thee
the dayspring of His Most Sweet Voice, and the dawn of His most mighty
signs. Happy art thou in that the Throne of Justice hath been established
upon thee, and the Daystar of God’s loving-kindness and bounty hath shone
forth above thy horizon. Well is it with every fair-minded person that
hath judged fairly Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance, and woe betide
him that hath erred and doubted."
Following upon the death of some of the martyrs, the Lawḥ-i-Burhán (Tablet
of the Proof) was sent down from the heaven of the Revelation of Him Who
is the Lord of Religions:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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