<121>
اذا غيض بحر الوصال وقضي كتاب المبدء في المآل توجّهوا الى من اراده الله الّذي انشعب من هذا الاصل القديم.
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.
<122>فانظروا في النّاس وقلّة عقولهم يطلبون ما يضرّهم ويتركون ما ينفعهم الا انّهم من الهآئمين. انّا نرى بعض النّاس ارادوا الحرّيّة ويفتخرون بها اولئك في جهل مبين.
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.
<123>انّ الحرّيّة تنتهي عواقبها الى الفتنة الّتي لا تخمد نارها كذلك يخبركم المحصي العليم. فاعلموا انّ مطالع الحرّيّة ومظاهرها هي الحيوان وللانسان ينبغي ان يكون تحت سنن تحفظه عن جهل نفسه وضرّ الماكرين. ان الحرّيّة تخرج الانسان عن شئون الادب والوقار وتجعله من الارذلين.
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.
<124>فانظروا الخلق كالاغنام لا بدّ لها من راعٍ ليحفظها انّ هذا لحقّ يقين. انّا نصدّقها في بعض المقامات دون الاخر انّا كنّا عالمين.
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.
<125>قل الحرّيّة في اتّباع اوامري لو انتم من العارفين. لو اتّبع النّاس ما نزّلناه لهم من سمآء الوحي ليجدنّ انفسهم في حرّيّة بحتة طوبى لمن عرف مراد الله فيما نزّل من سمآء مشيّته المهيمنة على العالمين. قل الحرّيّة الّتي تنفعكم انّها في العبوديّة لله الحقّ والّذي وجد حلاوتها لا يبدّلها بملكوت ملك السّموات والأرضين.
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.
<126>حرّم عليكم السّؤال في البيان عفا الله عن ذلك لتسئلوا ما تحتاج به انفسكم لا ما تكلّم به رجال قبلكم اتّقوا الله وكونوا من المتّقين. اسئلوا ما ينفعكم في امر الله وسلطانه قد فتح باب الفضل على من في السّموات والارضين.
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.
<127>انّ عدّة الشّهور تسعة عشر شهراً في كتاب الله قد زيّن اوّلها بهذا الاسم المهيمن على العالمين.
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.
<128>قد حكم الله دفن الاموات في البلّور أو الاحجار الممتنعة او الاخشاب الصّلبة اللّطيفة ووضع الخواتيم المنقوشة في اصابعهم انّه لهو المقدّر العليم.
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.
<129>يكتب للرّجال ولله ما في السّموات والارض وما بينهما وكان الله بكلّ شيء عليماً. وللورقات ولله ملك السّموات والارض وما بينهما وكان الله على كلّ شيء قديراً. هذا ما نزّل من قبل وينادي نقطة البيان ويقول يا محبوب الامكان انطق في هذا المقام بما تتضوّع به نفحات الطافك بين العالمين. انّا اخبرنا الكلّ بان لا يعادل بكلمة منك ما نزّل في البيان انّك انت المقتدر على ما تشآء لا تمنع عبادك عن فيوضات بحر رحمتك انّك انت ذو الفضل العظيم. قد استجبنا ما اراد انّه لهو المحبوب المجيب. لو ينقش عليها ما نزّل في الحين من لدى الله انّه خير لهم ولهنّ انّا كنّا حاكمين. قد بدئت من الله ورجعت اليه منقطعاً عمّا سواه ومتمسّكاً باسمه الرّحمن الرّحيم. كذلك يختصّ الله من يشآء بفضل من عنده انّه لهو المقتدر القدير.
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 favors 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 fulfill 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.
<130>وان تكفّنوه في خمسة اثواب من الحرير او القطن من لم يستطع يكتفي بواحدة منهما كذلك قضي الامر من لدن عليم خبير. حرّم عليكم نقل الميّت ازيد من مسافة ساعة من المدينة ادفنوه بالرّوح والرّيحان في مكان قريب.
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.
<131>قد رفع الله ما حكم به البيان في تحديد الاسفار انّه لهو المختار يفعل ما يشآء ويحكم ما يريد.
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.
<132>يا ملأ الانشآء اسمعوا ندآء مالك الاسمآء انّه يناديكم من شطر سجنه الاعظم انّه لا اله الاّ انا المقتدر المتكبّر المتسخّر المتعالي العليم الحكيم. انّه لا اله الاّ هو المقتدر على العالمين. لو يشآء ياخذ العالم بكلمة من عنده ايّاكم ان تتوقّفوا في هذا الامر الّذي خضع له الملأ الاعلى واهل مدآئن الاسمآء اتّقوا الله ولا تكوننّ من المحتجبين. احرقوا الحجبات بنار حبّي والسّبحات بهذا الاسم الّذي به سخّرنا العالمين.
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.
<133>وارفعنّ البيتين في المقامين والمقامات الّتي فيها استقرّ عرش ربّكم الرّحمن كذلك يأمركم مولى العارفين.
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.
<134>ايّاكم ان تمنعكم شئونات الارض عمّا امرتم به من لدن قويّ امين. كونوا مظاهر الاستقامة بين البريّة على شأن لا تمنعكم شبهات الّذين كفروا بالله اذ ظهر بسلطان عظيم. ايّاكم ان يمنعكم ما نزّل في الكتاب عن هذا الكتاب الّذي ينطق بالحقّ انّه لا اله الاّ انا العزيز الحميد. انظروا بعين الانصاف الى من اتى من سمآء المشيّة والاقتدار ولا تكوننّ من الظّالمين.
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.
<135>ثمّ اذكروا ما جرى من قلم مبشّري في ذكر هذا الظّهور وما ارتكبه اولو الطّغيان في ايّامه الا انّهم من الاخسرين. قال ان ادركتم ما نظهره انتم من فضل الله تسئلون. ليمنّ عليكم باستوآئه على سرآئركم فانّ ذلك عزّ ممتنع منيع. ان يشرب كأس مآء عندكم اعظم من ان تشربنّ كلّ نفس مآء وجوده بل كلّ شيء ان يا عبادي تدركون.
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 honor. 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!”
<136>هذا ما نزّل من عنده ذكراً لنفسي لو انتم تعلمون. والّذي تفكّر في هذه الايات واطّلع بما ستر فيهنّ من اللّئالي المخزونة تالله انّه يجد عرف الرّحمن من شطر السّجن ويسرع بقلبه اليه باشتياق لا تمنعه جنود السّموات والارضين. قل هذا لظهور تطوف حوله الحجّة والبرهان كذلك انزله الرّحمن ان انتم من المنصفين. قل هذا روح الكتب قد نفخ به في القلم الاعلى وانصعق من في الانشآء الاّ من اخذته نفحات رحمتي وفوحات الطافي المهيمنة على العالمين.
Such are the words with which My Forerunner hath extolled My Being, could ye but understand. Whoso reflecteth upon these verses, and realizeth what hidden pearls have been enshrined within them, will, by the righteousness of God, perceive the fragrance of the All-Merciful wafting from the direction of this Prison and will, with his whole heart, hasten unto Him with such ardent longing that the hosts of earth and heaven would be powerless to deter him. Say: This is a Revelation around which every proof and testimony doth circle. Thus hath it been sent down by your Lord, the God of Mercy, if ye be of them that judge aright. Say: This is the very soul of all Scriptures which hath been breathed into the Pen of the Most High, causing all created beings to be dumbfounded, save only those who have been enraptured by the gentle breezes of My loving-kindness and the sweet savors of My bounties which have pervaded the whole of creation.
<137>يا ملأ البيان اتّقوا الرّحمن ثمّ انظروا ما انزله في مقام اخر قال انّما القبلة من يظهره الله متى ينقلب تنقلب الى ان يستقرّ كذلك نزّل من لدن مالك القدر اذ اراد ذكر هذا المنظر الاكبر تفكّروا يا قوم ولا تكوننّ من الهآئمين. لو تنكرونه باهوآئكم الى ايّة قبلة تتوجّهون يا معشر الغافلين. تفكّروا في هذه الاية ثمّ انصفوا بالله لعلّ تجدون لئالي الاسرار من البحر الّذي تموّج باسمي العزيز المنيع.
O people of the Bayán! Fear ye the Most Merciful and consider what He hath revealed in another passage. He said: “The Qiblih is indeed He Whom God will make manifest; whenever He moveth, it moveth, until He shall come to rest.” Thus was it set down by the Supreme Ordainer when He desired to make mention of this Most Great Beauty. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. If ye reject Him at the bidding of your idle fancies, where then is the Qiblih to which ye will turn, O assemblage of the heedless? Ponder ye this verse, and judge equitably before God, that haply ye may glean the pearls of mysteries from the ocean that surgeth in My Name, the All-Glorious, the Most High.
<138>ليس لاحد ان يتمسّك اليوم الاّ بما ظهر في هذا الظّهور هذا حكم الله من قبل ومن بعد وبه زيّن صحف الاوّلين. هذا ذكر الله من قبل ومن بعد قد طرّز به ديباج كتاب الوجود ان انتم من الشّاعرين. هذا امر الله من قبل ومن بعد ايّاكم ان تكونوا من الصّاغرين. لا يغنيكم اليوم شيء وليس لاحد مهرب الاّ الله العليم الحكيم. من عرفني قد عرف المقصود من توجّه اليّ قد توجّه الى المعبود كذلك فصّل في الكتاب وقضي الامر من لدى الله ربّ العالمين. من يقرء اية من اياتي لخير له من ان يقرء كتب الاوّلين والاخرين. هذا بيان الرّحمن ان انتم من السّامعين. قل هذا حقّ العلم لو انتم من العارفين.
Let none, in this Day, hold fast to aught save that which hath been manifested in this Revelation. Such is the decree of God, aforetime and hereafter—a decree wherewith the Scriptures of the Messengers of old have been adorned. Such is the admonition of the Lord, aforetime and hereafter—an admonition wherewith the preamble to the Book of Life hath been embellished, did ye but perceive it. Such is the commandment of the Lord, aforetime and hereafter; beware lest ye choose instead the part of ignominy and abasement. Naught shall avail you in this Day but God, nor is there any refuge to flee to save Him, the Omniscient, the All-Wise. Whoso hath known Me hath known the Goal of all desire, and whoso hath turned unto Me hath turned unto the Object of all adoration. Thus hath it been set forth in the Book, and thus hath it been decreed by God, the Lord of all worlds. To read but one of the verses of My Revelation is better than to peruse the Scriptures of both the former and latter generations. This is the Utterance of the All-Merciful, would that ye had ears to hear! Say: This is the essence of knowledge, did ye but understand.
<139>ثمّ انظروا ما نزّل في مقام اخر لعلّ تدعون ما عندكم مقبلين الى الله ربّ العالمين. قال لا يحلّ الاقتران ان لم يكن في البيان وان يدخل من احد يحرم على الاخر ما يملك من عنده الاّ وان يرجع ذلك بعد ان يرفع امر من نظهره بالحقّ او ما قد ظهر بالعدل وقبل ذلك فلتقربنّ لعلّكم بذلك امر الله ترفعون. كذلك تغرّدت الورقآء على الافنان في ذكر ربّها الرّحمن طوبى للسّامعين.
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. He4 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.
<140>يا ملأ البيان اقسمكم بربّكم الرّحمن بان تنظروا فيما نزّل بالحقّ بعين الانصاف ولا تكوننّ من الّذين يرون برهان الله وينكرونه الا انّهم من الهالكين. قد صرّح نقطة البيان في هذه الاية بارتفاع امري قبل امره يشهد بذلك كلّ منصف عليم. كما ترونه اليوم انّه ارتفع على شأن لا ينكره الاّ الّذين سكّرت ابصارهم في الاولى وفي الاخرى لهم عذاب مهين.
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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