[4]
Tablet to the Fourth Haykal / Letter of the Living, Mulla `Ali Bastami (d. Istanbul c. 1262 /1846).
Muhammad Zarandí Nabíl-i A’zam (d. 1892), Tarikh (Historical compilation) ed. and trans. Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (d. 1957) as `The Dawn-Breakers: Nabil’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation, (1932; Rep. Wilmette, IL, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996.
"TABLET TO THE FOURTH LETTER OF THE LIVING"
Mulla `Ali Bastami (d. Istanbul. c.1262/1846).
Trans. Stephen Lambden, UC Merced, 199X+ 2021.
Last updated 27-07-2021.
In progress and under revision
Correct errors in trans.
[A]
This is that which We have revealed for the Fourth of such as have believed in God and in his verses for We are indeed such as bear witness (al-shāhidin)
[B]
Huwa [Allah ]("He is [God]")
[C]
بسم الله الاجمل الجميل
In the Name of God, the Most Beautiful (al-ajmal), the Beauteous (al-jamīl).
[I]
[1] All that are in the heavens and on the earth and whatsoever is between them offer glorifcation towards God, the Mighty One (al-`azīz), the Compassionate (al-rahīm).[2] He is the One Who, in very Truth, sent down the Book (al-kitāb). [3] No God is there except Him, the King (al-malik), the Luminous (al-munīr). [4] He is One Upstanding [Qā'im] for the sake of His Cause (al-qā'im `ala amrihi) who rewardeth every person according to whatsoever they have accomplished. [5] And God is a Befitting Patron of everything ( bi-kulli shay' wakīl).
[II]
[1] This is a missive [letter. book; kitāb] from [the letter] al-Thā' [= Thamarah = "Fruit" = the Bab] unto the fourth to believe (al-rābi` man āmana). [2] So bear thou witness that He is the Powerful (al-muqtadir), the Destiny-making (al-qaddūr). [3] Unto Him belongeth the Dominion [Rulership] (mulk) of the heavens and of the earth from times past and for times to come (min qabl wa min ba`d) for He is indeed One Mighty (al-`azīz), the Beloved One (al-mahbūb).
[III]
[1]
O Fourth Haykal (Temple, Persona)! (haykal al-rabi`) in the Book (al-kitāb)!
And He it is who proffereth right Guidance on account of Thy Pure Sanctity (tahariyya). [2] So testify then to the fact that He, there is no God except Him, the Living One (al-ḥayy), the Self-Subsisting (al-qayyūm). [3] He is indeed the One who maketh alive and who causeth to die for all do indeed turn back unto Him! [4] He is indeed the One who maketh to die and who causeth to come alive. [5] No God is there except Him.
[IV]
[1] Say : All do indeed return unto Him!
[2] Unto Him do return the heavens and the earth both from times past and for times to come (min qabl wa min ba`d) for all do turn back unto Him! [3] There is nothing that is of Him save Him / or [3] There is no Divinity (ilah) save Him (huwa). [4] He sustaineth whomsoever He willeth through His Logos-Command (amr).
[V]
[1] Say: We all before Him do maintain Purity (zākirun) or / are ones of the Dhikr, those of the [messianic] Remembrance (al-dhākirūn). [2] He is God, no God is there except Him. [3] He knoweth what is in the heavens and upon the earth.[3] Say: All on account of the fear of Him (khashiyyat) do maintain fearfulness (khā'ifūn).
[4] By virtue of Him is whatsoever He hath created and will come to create for all do indeed return unto Him! [3] He is the One Who is the Help in Peril (al-muhaymin) by virtue of His Logos-Command (amr). [4] No God is there except Him, the King (al-malik), the Kingdomed (al-maylūk) [sic.]
[VI]
[1]
Thou O Fourth Letter in the Book (al-kitāb)!
[2] Now bear thou witness that He is the Pre-Eternal (al-azal), the Pre-Eternaled (al-ayzūl)! [sic.] [3] Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is within the heavens and on the earth and whatsoever is other than these two. [4] He is indeed God, the Truly Gnostic [Well-Known] (al-ma`rūf).
[VII]
[1] Say: He exists in whose Hand is the Kingdom (malakūt) of the Lahūt (the Divine Realm) of "All Things" [the Pleroma] (kull shay') [the Bab] yet some will come to proclaim [speak of] (sa-yaqūlūn) "Allah" (God/ Divinity)!
[2] Say: I do indeed accuse them of lies!.
[VIII]
[1] Say: He [exists] in whose hand is the Treasury of the Verses (khazā'in al-āyāt) on earth and in heaven [the Bab] yet will some come to proclaim (sa-yaqūlūn) [speak about] "Allāh" (God)!
[2] Say: `I [the Bab] do assuredly disavow them all!
[IX]
[1] Say: He [exists] in whose hand is the Jabarūt (Realm of Divine Power) of "All Things" [the Pleroma] (kull shay') for He giveth victory unto whomsoever He willeth by virtue of His Logos-Command (amr)! [2] Yet do some come to proclaim (sa-yaqūlūn) [speak about] "Allāh" (God)!
[3] Say: Wherefore do I [the Bab] turn away from them all!.
[X]
[1] Say: Whomsover created thee and provided for thee exists, yet some come to proclaim [speak about] (sa-yaqūlūn) "Allāh" (God)!
[2] Say: Wherefore do I [the Bab] accuse them of promoting lies!
[XI]
[1] Say: Whomsoever causeth thee to die then giveth thee life, then raises thee up in a Day about which there is no doubt, exists, yet dp some come to proclaim [speak about] (sa-yaqūlūn) "Allāh" (God)!
[2] Say: Wherefore do I [the Bab] deride [mock] them!
[XII]
[1] Say : God Himself is the One who maketh mockery about thee [false claimants] in the Book though thou art not aware!
[2] Say: `He is the One Truly Esteemed (al-fākhir) beyond everything for He is supremely Holy (al-aqdas), One Greatly Honored (al-faykhūr) [sic. root f-kh-r]]
[3] Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and upon the earth and whatever is other than these, [4] No God is there except Him, the Mighty (al-`azīz), the Greatly Renowned (al-muta`azziz), the One Mighted [sic.] (al-`ayzūz)!
Sealed.
His servant the [messianic] Dhikr (Remembrance) +.... ?
♦
I have repeated this text at Letter of the Living 2, the text and translation for the second Letter of the Living according to Zarandi Mulla Hasan Bushru'i
