To the Eighth Haykal / Letter of the Living, Mullā Muhammad Rawḍah-Khān (the Eulogist) Yazdī (d.12XX/18XX ) .
Facsimilie in Muhammad Zarandí Nabíl-i A’zam (d. 1892), Tarikh 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.
"Mírzá Muhammad Rawdih-Khán Yazdí (or Dhákir-i-Masá’ib): returned from Shiraz to Yazd; because of persecution of the Bábís, chose not to reveal his beliefs but continued to teach the Bábí Faith covertly to the end of his life." (from `Letters of the Living', BEP).
Tablet to the Eighth Letter of the Living, Mullā Muhammad Rawḍah-Khān (the Eulogist) Yazdī (d12XX/18xx)).
Beta Trans. Stephen Lambden, UC Merced, 199X+ 2021.
In progress and under revision - Last updated 02-08-2021.
[A]
"This is what We sent down unto the eighth of those who believed in God (thāmin man āmana) and in His verses. Then testify to the fact that He is indeed the Mighty (al-`azīz), the Mighted (al-may`ūzz) / or the Honoured (may`azzar > `-z-r) [sic.]".
[B]
Huwa ("He is")
[C]
In the Name of God, the Mighty in Strength (al-muta`azziz), the Noble One (al-sharĪf)!
[I]
[I]
[1] Praised be to God Who did indeed create the heavens and the earth through His Logos-Command (amr). [2] These are those who believe in God and in His verses. [3] They are such as shall be gathered unto God!
[II]
[1]
So Glorified be Thou, O my God!
Thou art indeed the One who calleth Me to account in the Endtime [Hereafter] (al-ākhira) as in Primordial times (wa'l-ūla) for Thou art indeed, the Mighty (al-`azīz), the Beloved One (al-mahbūb)! [2] I do assuredly testify unto Thee and unto "All-Things" (kull shay') that come from Thyself for Thou art indeeed God, the Power-Generating (al-mutaqaddir), the One Described (al-mawsūf).
[III]
[1] This is a missive [letter. book] (kitāb) from before al-Thā' [= thamarah, the Fruit, the Bāb] unto the eighth of those who hath believed in the Book (thāmin man āmana fi'l-kitab)! [2] So bear thou witness that He, no God is there except Him, the Help in Peril (al-muhaymin), the Self-Subsisting (al-qayyūm). [3] And He indeed, no God is there except Him, the Pre-Eternalized (al-mu'tazzal) [sic.]. the Pre-Eternaled (al-ayzūl) [sic.]!.
[IV]
[1] He is the One who knoweth what cometh forth from Heaven and what descendeth upon the earth as well as that which riseth up thereto; [2] No God is there except Him, the All-Knowing (al-`allām), the One Who Knoweth (al-mu`ilam), the One Befittingly Known (al-`ayylūm) [sic.]
[V]
[1] Say: In His Hand is whatsoever [whomsoever] is within the Lāhūt (Divine Realm) of the Command and the Creation (al-amr wa'l-khalq) [Q. ] for all unto Him shall indeed return! [2] Unto Him belongeth the Dominion of the heavens and of the earth and whatsoever is betwixt these twin [3] both from times past and for times to come (min qabl wa min ba`da). [4] No God is there except Him, the All-Powerful (al-muttakabir), the One Beloved (al-maḥbūb)!
[VI]
[1] He is the One Who createth whatsoever He willeth by virtue of His Logos-Command (amr). [2] No God is there ecept Him, the One Powerful (al-muqtadir), the One Truly Gnostic [Well-Informed](al-ma`rūf). [3] There is nothing of substance aside from Him. [4] No God is there except Him. [5] And all shall assuredly become ones befittingly informed about Him (`ārifūn)!
[VII]
[1] Blessed (tabāraka) be He who, in very Truth, sent down the verses about which there is no doubt.
[2] Say: We are all before Him Muslims, persons submitted [to God] (al-muslimūn)!
[VIII]
[1]
And thou, O Eighth Letter (harf al-thāmin)!
Now Bear witness that He, no God is there except Him, One Mighty in Strength (muta`azziz), the Divinized Godhead (al-Allūh) [sic.] [cf. Allāh]. [2] He is the One Who determineth the Measures-Destinies of "All Things" (muqādīr kull shay') through a Logos-Command (amr an) which cometh from Him and through a Divine Bounty (fadl an) which deriveth from Him. [3] No God is there except Him, the Mighty (al-`azīz), the Destiny Generating (al-qaddūr) [sic]. [4] His are the keys (maqālīd) of the heavens and of the earth and whatsoever lieth within these two. [5] No God is there except Him, the Determiner (al-quddār) [sic.]. the One of Sublime Power (al-mutaqaddir) [sic.], the Glorified (al-sabbūḥ).
[IX]
[1] Before Him prostrateth whatsoever [whomsoever] is within the Omnipotent Realm (`Izzūt > `-z-z ? cf. Lāhūt, etc) [sic.] of "All Things" (`izzūt kull shay') [2] for all before Him are in a state of humility (khāḍi`ūn).
[3] Say: "We are all dependent upon the favour of God (w-s-l, V) from times past and for times to come (min qabl wa min ba`da) for We are in no wise dependent (w-s-l, V) upon anything other than Him. [4] Such cometh from Our Lord (rabb), the very Lord of "All Things" (rabb kull shay'). [5] No God is there except Him, the Supporter (al-mu`tammad), the Holy One (al-quddūs)!
[X]
[1] God Himself beareth witness that He, there is none other God except Him [2] and that the Essence of the Three Letters [= `+ l +y = `Ali) before the Four [Letters] (= M+ḥ+m+d = Muhammad) [= the Bab] is His Servant (`abd) and His Light (nūr)! [3] And, furthermore, the Proofs of the Living One (adillā' al-ḥayy) [= Letters of the Living'] are the Purified Friends (aṣfiyā') before His Logos-Self (li-nafs) [the Bab] who have ever acted and will ever so decree from times past and for times to come (min qabl wa min ba`da), as accords with the Logos-Command of God (amr Allāh).
♦
Seal 1
His Servant, the [messianic] Dhikr (Remembrance).
Seal 2
♦
Select Notes and Comments
Stephen Lambden
[VIII]: [1]
And thou, O Eighth Letter (harf al-thāmin)!
Now Bear witness that He, no God is there except Him, One Mighty in Strength (muta`azziz). The next apparently Divine Attribute here (with the definite article! al-) could be translated in numerous though often uncertain ways. I have understood it as a bold variant of Allah (God) with (another!) prefixed definite article (al) and a letter wāw inserted instead of ā long a (= ā) before the final "h" (the last letter of Allāh). If, alternatively, this neologism could be related to the w-l-y root in its form II (l with tashdid; > w-l-y II cf. wilāya) perhaps it might mean the Director (al-allūw). Cf. illawh ?
