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TB Qamis

Sūrat al-Qamis (The Surah of the Robe).

 of Mirza Husayn `Ali Nuri, Baha'-Allah (1817-1892 CE).

Introduction

Stephen N. Lambden, 2006.

Being updated, corrected and completed 2015.

The Sūrat al-Qamis (The Surah of the Robe) dates from the early-mid. Edirne-Adrianople period (c. 1864-5) and is wholly in Arabic spanning around twenty-five pages in the original. It exists in numerous mss. and has several times been published. It contains section addressed to Radi al-Ruh (AQA IV:49>) and other individals. The Arabic word qamits meaning robe or garment is several times used and is suggestive of the eschatological enrobement of Baha'-Allah with the magnificent garment of the Israelite prophet Yusuf or Joseph, the paragon of divine beauty (jamal).

"We sent unto thee this qamis ("Garment= Robe") which hath been sprinkled (marshush an) [perfumed] a blood (damm) which is authentic-veracious-true (sadiq) perchance thou might thereby rise up... (AQA IV: xx).  

Among the printings of this Arabic scriptural Tablet we may note :

  • Athar-i Qalam-i a`la IV : 34-59
  • 2
  • 3

As printed in AQA IV: 34ff., the text opens with the following prescript and neo-Babi basmala :

This is the Sūrat al-qamīṣ  (The Surah of the Garment). 

We, in very truth, sent it down as a Manifestation of My Temple [Persona] (maẓhar haykalī)  betwixt all the worlds! 

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Holy  and

In His Name of the One Resplendent, the All-Glorious (al-abhā).

[I]

[1] O denizens of subsistent eternity (ahl al-baqā’) amidst the Supreme Concourse (malā’ al-a`lā)!

[2] Hearken ye unto the Call of God from this vibrant Breeze  which reverberates in this redolent atmosphere beneath this intimate, gracious Heaven. [3] He who voices these words is indeed the Muezzin, the One Who invites the people to prayer   (mu`adhdhin),  to the Most Great Pilgrimage (al-hujjaj al-a`ẓam). [4] This through this Greatest Word (al-kalimat al-akbar) which stands up above the Temple of the cosmic Script (haykal al-siṭr)  in this Book (al-kitāb). [5] This on account of the Pen of Might (qalam al-`izz wa’l-faḍl) and by virtue of that Divine Grace which is hidden away. [6] Say: He indeed is the Most Great Book (al-kitāb al-a`ẓam) which was sealed up with the Seal of God (khatm Allāh), hidden beyond the veils of the Unseen and treasured up in the Treasuries of Might. [7] He, in very truth, was made manifest through the Divine Grace in the form of the Divine Justice (al-`adl) during those days which were, in very truth,  foreordained." (trans. Lambden).

 

It concludes as follows :

 

Some exegetical Notes