Surat-Allah
(The Surah of the Godhead)
of Mirza Husayn `Ali Nuri, Baha'-Allah (1817-1892).
Introduction
Stephen Lambden, UCMerced.
In progress 03-11-2015
This Arabic scriptural Tablet of Baha'-Allah perhaps dated to the late Baghdad, Constantinople-Istanbul or early Edirne-Adrianople period. It commences with a statement or identificarion of the title and its heavenly origin followed by the standard Islamic Huwa supplemented with the Divine adjective al-`Aziz, the Mighty, or All-Mighty:
This is the Surat Allah, the Surah of the Deity!
It was, in very truth, sent down from His Sanctified, Mighty, Luminous Empyrean (jabarutihi al-muqaddas al-`aziz al-munir)! O `Ali after Nabil [Muhammad `Ali]. Hearken ye unto the Call of thy Lord at this moment when He desires to take his leave from amongst you for the hands of the tyrannical have conspired againist us, and thereby ...
After a few pages this sacred text concludes,
So By My Life!
One subject to decree (al-muhkam) is indeed more endowed with grace than a thousand rulers while the (al-marnus) is more elevated than a thousand overseers; one wronged [oppressed] (al-mazlum) is far superior to a [whole] city of tyrants (madinat al-zalimin)! So should thou thy Beloved in this respect then be wholly detached from all things. Then emerge from behind the veils of quietude and cry out, in very truth, in the manner of My wondrous accents. Soar up then unto the very kingdom of detachment with wings sanctified (al-muqaddas), supremely transcendent (al-muta`ali), uplifting (al-tayyar), subtle (al-latif) and elevated (al-rafi`).
Contents and addressee
