Baha\'u\'llah - The Hidden Words of Baha\'u\'llah
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Baha\'u\'llah >> The Hidden Words of Baha\'u\'llah
by Baha'u'llah
Edition 1, (October 21, 2005)
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CONTENTS
Baha'i Terms of Use
Part I - From the Arabic
Preamble
1: O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly
and...
2: O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is
Justice;...
3: O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient...
4: O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee.
Wherefore,...
5: O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest
Me...
6: O SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home,
reunion...
7: O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and
if...
8: O SON OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing...
9: O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth
therein...
10: O SON OF UTTERANCE! Thou art My stronghold; enter therein
that...
11: O SON OF BEING! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee....
12: O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with...
13: O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring
thyself...
14: O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth...
15: O SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all
save...
16: O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My
spirit....
17: O SON OF MAN! Be thou content with Me and seek no other...
18: O SON OF SPIRIT! Ask not of Me that which We desire not for
thee,...
19: O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION! I have breathed within thee a
breath of My own...
20: O SON OF SPIRIT! My claim on thee is great, it cannot be
forgotten....
21: O SON OF MAN! Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung
for...
22: O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast
abased...
23: O SON OF THE SUPREME! To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost
seek that...
24: O SON OF MAN! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which...
25: O SON OF SPIRIT! Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him
on...
26: O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and...
27: O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou
art...
28: O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be
just...
29: O SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou
wouldst...
30: O SON OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from...
31: O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou
art...
32: O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to
thee....
33: O SON OF SPIRIT! With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee:
rejoice!...
34: O SON OF SPIRIT! The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the
joyful...
35: O SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us.
Rejoice...
36: O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that
thou...
37: O SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and
forfeit...
38: O SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny
thyself...
39: O SON OF MAN! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My...
40: O SON OF MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of...
41: O SON OF MAN! Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee
the...
42: O SON OF MAN! Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously...
43: O SON OF BEING! Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My...
44: O SON OF THE THRONE! Thy hearing is My hearing, hear thou
therewith....
45: O SON OF BEING! Seek a martyr's death in My path, content
with...
46: O SON OF MAN! Ponder and reflect. Is it thy wish to die upon
thy...
47: O SON OF MAN! By My beauty! To tinge thy hair with thy blood...
48: O SON OF MAN! For everything there is a sign. The sign of
love...
49: O SON OF MAN! The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as...
50: O SON OF MAN! If adversity befall thee not in My path, how...
51: O SON OF MAN! My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is...
52: O SON OF MAN! Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and...
53: O SON OF BEING! If poverty overtake thee, be not sad; for in...
54: O SON OF BEING! If thine heart be set upon this eternal,
imperishable...
55: O SON OF BEING! Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire
We...
56: O SON OF MAN! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy
freedom...
57: O SON OF MAN! Bestow My wealth upon My poor, that in heaven...
58: O SON OF MAN! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of...
59: O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My
descent....
60: O SON OF MAN! Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise
above...
61: O SON OF MAN! Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain...
62: O SON OF MAN! Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou...
63: O SON OF MAN! The light hath shone on thee from the horizon
of...
64: O SON OF MAN! My eternity is My creation, I have created it
for...
65: O SON OF MAN! My majesty is My gift to thee, and My grandeur...
66: O CHILDREN OF THE DIVINE AND INVISIBLE ESSENCE!...
67: O SON OF BEAUTY! By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy
and...
68: O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from
the...
69: O YE SONS OF SPIRIT! Ye are My treasury, for in you I have
treasured the...
70: O SON OF HIM THAT STOOD BY HIS OWN ENTITY IN THE KINGDOM OF HIS
SELF!...
71: O SON OF MAN! Write all that We have revealed unto thee with
the...
Part II - From the Persian
Preamble
1: O YE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINDS TO KNOW AND EARS TO HEAR!...
2: O SON OF SPIRIT! The bird seeketh its nest; the nightingale
the...
3: O FRIEND! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the...
4: O SON OF JUSTICE! Whither can a lover go but to the land of
his...
5: O SON OF DUST! Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most
negligent...
6: O SON OF EARTH! Know, verily, the heart wherein the least
remnant...
7: O SON OF LOVE! Thou art but one step away from the glorious...
8: O SON OF GLORY! Be swift in the path of holiness, and enter
the...
9: O FLEETING SHADOW! Pass beyond the baser stages of doubt and rise
to...
10: O SON OF DESIRE! Give ear unto this: Never shall mortal eye
recognize...
11: O SON OF DUST! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My...
12: O MAN OF TWO VISIONS! Close one eye and open the other. Close
one to...
13: O MY CHILDREN! I fear lest, bereft of the melody of the dove
of...
14: O FRIENDS! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty...
15: O SON OF SPIRIT! The time cometh, when the nightingale of
holiness...
16: O ESSENCE OF NEGLIGENCE! Myriads of mystic tongues find
utterance in one...
17: O COMRADES! The gates that open on the Placeless stand wide...
18: O YE DWELLERS IN THE HIGHEST PARADISE!...
19: O MY FRIENDS! Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn,...
20: O YE THAT ARE LYING AS DEAD ON THE COUCH OF HEEDLESSNESS!...
21: O MOVING FORM OF DUST! I desire communion with thee, but thou
wouldst...
22: O SON OF DESIRE! The learned and the wise have for long years...
23: O DWELLERS IN THE CITY OF LOVE! Mortal blasts have beset the
everlasting candle,...
24: O YE THAT ARE FOOLISH, YET HAVE A NAME TO BE WISE!...
25: O YE SEEMING FAIR YET INWARDLY FOUL! Ye are like clear but
bitter water, which to outward...
26: O MY FRIEND IN WORD! Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that
friend...
27: O SON OF DUST! All that is in heaven and earth I have
ordained...
28: O ESSENCE OF DESIRE! At many a dawn have I turned from the
realms of...
29: O SON OF BOUNTY! Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the
clay...
30: O BOND SLAVE OF THE WORLD! Many a dawn hath the breeze of My
loving-kindness...
31: O SON OF EARTH! Wouldst thou have Me, seek none other than...
32: O BEFRIENDED STRANGER! The candle of thine heart is lighted by
the hand...
33: O MY BROTHER! Hearken to the delightsome words of My honeyed...
34: O DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE! With the hands of loving-kindness I
have...
35: O MY FRIENDS! Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within...
36: O SON OF DUST! The wise are they that speak not unless they...
37: O MY SERVANT! Abandon not for that which perisheth an
everlasting...
38: O SON OF SPIRIT! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the
phoenix...
39: O OFFSPRING OF DUST! Be not content with the ease of a passing
day,...
40: O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world,
and...
41: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty,
thou...
42: O MY SERVANT! Purge thy heart from malice and, innocent of...
43: O MY FRIENDS! Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of...
44: O COMPANION OF MY THRONE! Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase
not thyself,...
45: ALAS! ALAS! O LOVERS OF WORLDLY DESIRE!...
46: O BRETHREN IN THE PATH! Wherefore have ye neglected the mention
of the...
47: O CHILDREN OF DESIRE! Put away the garment of vainglory, and
divest...
48: O BRETHREN! Be forbearing one with another and set not your...
49: O CHILDREN OF DUST! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the
poor,...
50: O QUINTESSENCE OF PASSION! Put away all covetousness and seek
contentment;...
51: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Be not troubled in poverty nor confident
in...
52: O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE AND PASSION!...
53: O YE THAT PRIDE YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES!...
54: O YE RICH ONES ON EARTH! The poor in your midst are My trust;
guard ye...
55: O SON OF PASSION! Cleanse thyself from the defilement of
riches...
56: O MY SON! The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow,...
57: O SON OF DUST! Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek...
58: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy
Spirit,...
59: O HEEDLESS ONES! Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden,
nay,...
60: O FRIENDS! Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within...
61: O SON OF MAN! A dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of My...
62: O SON OF DUST! Turn not away thine eyes from the matchless
wine...
63: O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD! Know, verily, that an unforeseen
calamity followeth...
64: O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH! Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I
have...
65: O REBELLIOUS ONES! My forbearance hath emboldened you and My...
66: O EMIGRANTS! The tongue I have designed for the mention of...
67: O CHILDREN OF FANCY! Know, verily, that while the radiant dawn
breaketh...
68: O WEED THAT SPRINGETH OUT OF DUST! Wherefore have not these
soiled hands of thine...
69: O CHILDREN OF ADAM! Holy words and pure and goodly deeds
ascend...
70: O SON OF WORLDLINESS! Pleasant is the realm of being, wert thou
to attain...
71: O MY FRIENDS! Call ye to mind that covenant ye have entered
into...
72: O MY SERVANT! Thou art even as a finely tempered sword
concealed...
73: O MY FRIEND! Thou art the daystar of the heavens of My
holiness,...
74: O CHILDREN OF VAINGLORY! For a fleeting sovereignty ye have
abandoned My...
75: O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE! Set not your affections on mortal
sovereignty...
76: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Guidance hath ever been given by words,
and now...
77: O SON OF JUSTICE! In the night-season the beauty of the
immortal...
78: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Quaff from the tongue of the merciful the
stream...
79: O SON OF DESIRE! How long wilt thou soar in the realms of
desire?...
80: O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give
forth...
81: O MY SERVANT! The basest of men are they that yield no fruit...
82: O MY SERVANT! The best of men are they that earn a livelihood...
PART I.--FROM THE ARABIC
Preamble
HE IS THE GLORY OF GLORIES
_This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the
tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have
taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity,
as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto
the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the
realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue._
"1: O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly
and..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and
radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and
everlasting.
"2: O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is
Justice;..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice;
turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may
confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not
through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not
through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it
behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My
loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.
"3: O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient..."
O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of
My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have
engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.
"4: O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee.
Wherefore,..."
O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do
thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit
of life.
"5: O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me..."
O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My
love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.
"6: O SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home,
reunion..."
O SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with
Me. Enter therein and tarry not. This is that which hath been destined for
thee in Our kingdom above and Our exalted dominion.
"7: O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if..."
O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou
seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and
I may eternally live in thee.
"8: O SON OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and
turning unto Me; for it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine
own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved
alone and above all that is.
"9: O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein..."
O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe
and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.
"10: O SON OF UTTERANCE! Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that..."
O SON OF UTTERANCE! Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that thou mayest
abide in safety. My love is in thee, know it, that thou mayest find Me
near unto thee.
"11: O SON OF BEING! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee...."
O SON OF BEING! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it
thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and
have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.
"12: O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with..."
O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers
of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of
My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is
perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt
thereof.
"13: O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to
poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the
essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment
from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost
thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou
mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.
"14: O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth..."
O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not;
wherefore fearest thou thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall
never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My glory
and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never be
outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the
realm of glory.
"15: O SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save..."
O SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for
My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest
another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe for evermore, thy
quest will be in vain.
"16: O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit...."
O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of
the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.
"17: O SON OF MAN! Be thou content with Me and seek no other..."
O SON OF MAN! Be thou content with Me and seek no other helper. For none
but Me can ever suffice thee.
"18: O SON OF SPIRIT! Ask not of Me that which We desire not for thee,..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! Ask not of Me that which We desire not for thee, then be
content with what We have ordained for thy sake, for this is that which
profiteth thee, if therewith thou dost content thyself.
"19: O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION! I have breathed within thee a breath of
My own..."
O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION! I have breathed within thee a breath of My
own Spirit, that thou mayest be My lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me and
sought a beloved other than Me?
"20: O SON OF SPIRIT! My claim on thee is great, it cannot be
forgotten...."
O SON OF SPIRIT! My claim on thee is great, it cannot be forgotten. My
grace to thee is plenteous, it cannot be veiled. My love has made in thee
its home, it cannot be concealed. My light is manifest to thee, it cannot
be obscured.
"21: O SON OF MAN! Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung for..."
O SON OF MAN! Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung for thee the
choicest fruits, wherefore hast thou turned away and contented thyself
with that which is less good? Return then unto that which is better for
thee in the realm on high.
"22: O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself.
Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.
"23: O SON OF THE SUPREME! To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek
that..."
O SON OF THE SUPREME! To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek that
which perisheth. What hath made thee turn away from Our desire and seek
thine own?
"24: O SON OF MAN! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which..."
O SON OF MAN! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which beseemeth
thee not. Prostrate thyself before the countenance of thy God, the Lord of
might and power.
"25: O SON OF SPIRIT! Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him
on..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him on his
way and behold thee in thy evil plight and confound thee for evermore.
"26: O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and..."
O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself
with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.
"27: O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art..."
O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a
sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be,
and to this I bear witness.
"28: O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be
just..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just and
himself committeth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My name.
"29: O SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst..."
O SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have
ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not. This is My
command unto thee, do thou observe it.
"30: O SON OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from..."
O SON OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee, for
his face is My face; be then abashed before Me.
"31: O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art..."
O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to
a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be
called to give account for thy deeds.
"32: O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to
thee...."
O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee.
Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor.
Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?
"33: O SON OF SPIRIT! With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee:
rejoice!..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee: rejoice! To
the court of holiness I summon thee; abide therein that thou mayest live
in peace for evermore.
"34: O SON OF SPIRIT! The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the
joyful..."
O SON OF SPIRIT! The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the joyful
tidings of reunion; wherefore dost thou grieve? The spirit of power
confirmeth thee in His cause; why dost thou veil thyself? The light of His
countenance doth lead thee; how canst thou go astray?
"35: O SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice..."
O SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save
that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us.
"36: O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou..."
O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be
worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.
"37: O SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and
forfeit..."
O SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and forfeit not thy
portion from My wondrous fountain, lest thou shouldst thirst for evermore.
"38: O SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny
thyself..."
O SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny thyself that
which thou desirest if thou seekest My pleasure.
"39: O SON OF MAN! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My..."
O SON OF MAN! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My beauty, and
forget not My counsels if thou wouldst attain My good pleasure.
"40: O SON OF MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of..."
O SON OF MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and
traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in
submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face.