“AT one time this sublime Word was heard from the...”

AT one time this sublime Word was heard from the Tongue of Him Who is the Possessor of all being and the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below—­exalted is the glory of His utterance—­:  Piety and detachment are even as two most great luminaries of the heaven of teaching.  Blessed the one who hath attained unto this supreme station, this habitation of transcendent holiness and sublimity.

       “THIS is a Tablet sent down by the All-Merciful from the...”

THIS is a Tablet sent down by the All-Merciful from the Kingdom of utterance unto all that dwell on earth.  Happy is the man who hearkeneth and heedeth and woe betide him who hath erred and doubted.  This is the Day that hath been illumined by the effulgent light of the Countenance of God—­the Day when the Tongue of Grandeur is calling aloud:  The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of the Day of Resurrection.

Thy name hath been mentioned in Our Presence and We have deigned to reveal for thee that which the tongue of no one among the peoples of the world can recount.  Rejoice with exceeding joy inasmuch as thou hast been remembered in the Most Great Prison and the Countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards thee from this exalted habitation.

We have truly revealed the signs, demonstrated the irrefutable testimonies and have summoned all men unto the straight Path.  Among the people there are those who have turned away and repudiated the truth, others have pronounced judgement against Us without any proof or evidence.  The first to turn away from Us have been the world’s spiritual leaders in this age—­they that call upon Us in the daytime and in the night season and mention My Name while resting on their lofty thrones.  However, when I revealed Myself unto men they rose against Me in such wise that even the stones groaned and lamented bitterly.

Great is thy blessedness inasmuch as thou hast hearkened unto His Voice, set thy face towards Him and heeded the Call of thy Lord when He came invested with invincible power and sovereignty.

         “O MY handmaiden, O My leaf!  Render thou thanks unto...”

O MY handmaiden, O My leaf!  Render thou thanks unto the Best-Beloved of the world for having attained this boundless grace at a time when the world’s learned and most distinguished men have remained deprived thereof.  We have designated thee ‘a leaf’ that thou mayest, like unto leaves, be stirred by the gentle wind of the Will of God—­exalted be His glory—­even as the leaves of the trees are stirred by onrushing winds.  Yield thou thanks unto thy Lord by virtue of this brilliant utterance.  Wert thou to perceive the sweetness of the title ‘O My handmaiden’ thou wouldst find thyself detached from all mankind, devoutly engaged day and night in communion with Him Who is the sole Desire of the world.

In words of incomparable beauty We have made fitting mention of such leaves and handmaidens as have quaffed from the living waters of heavenly grace and have kept their eyes directed towards God.  Happy and blessed are they indeed.  Ere long shall God reveal their station whose loftiness no word can befittingly express nor any description adequately describe.