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
