The

Lawḥ-i milād-i ism-i a`ẓam,

A Tablet  for the Birthday of the Greatest Name, Bahā'-Allāh (1817-1892).

Provisional translation

Stephen N. Lambden

This translation was made from the wholly Arabic text printed in Risāla-yi ayyām-i tis`ih, 48-51  cf. Mā’idih-yi asmānī  4: 343-346.

[I]

[II]

for those within the Supreme Concourse (al-malā’ al-a`lā),  respecting this Mighty, Wondrous Spirit (al-rūḥ). [2] This indeed is a Night in which the gates of Paradise hath been opened and the gates of Hellfire closed shut.  [3]  The Riḍwān of the All-Merciful hath appeared at the midmost heart of the cyclic scheme (quṭb al-akwān)  [4] for the Breeze of God hath wafted from the shore of Forgiveness and the Hour hath, in very truth, come to pass. [5] Evident indeed is this to such as are numbered among the truly informed.

[III]

[2] The very Night of Destiny (laylat al-qadr Q. 97:1ff)  hath circled around His Reality and [3] therein was sent down the Angels and the Spirit proffering pitchers of the fount of Kawthar  and the limpid stream of Tasnīm.  [4] Thereon was every Paradise ornamented with the Ornament of God (ṭaraz Allāh), the Mighty, the Powerful, the Gracious. [5] All that hath ever been and will ever be was thus  resurrected when the All-Merciful took precedence over all the worlds.

[1]

O Glad Tidings be upon thee,  O Concourse of the Spirit

(malā al-rūḥ),  regarding this perspicuous, resplendent Bounty.

[2] On that Night were the pillars of Jibt convulsed and the Most Great Idol  (sanam al-a`ẓam)  fell down upon the face of the dust. [3]  Then were the foundations of the evil ones (arkān al-shurūr) negated and the goddess Manat (Q. 53: 20) did cry out within its own self. [4] The back of `Uzza (the Powerful, an idol, ẓahr al-`uzzā’ , Q. 53:19)  was broken and its face shaded black. [5]  This took place when there beamed forth the Dawn of the Divine Theophany. [6] On that Night was manifest that which delighted the Eyes of the Divine Grandeur (`uyūn al-`aẓimat)  and the Divine Might (al-jalāl), then also the eyes of both the Prophets and the Messengers  (al-nabiyyūn wa’l-mursalīn).

[V]

[1]

So Oh! How excellent is this Dawn which was,

 in very truth, made manifest from a Mighty, resplendent Dawning-Place.

[2]

Say:

On that Night were satans withheld  from ascending unto the Omnipotent realm of Might and Power  (jabarūt al-`izz wa’l-iqtidār)  and hearts were grieved through turning against God,  the Powerful, the Mighty, the Chosen.  [3] On that Night were the faces of the evil ones (al-ashrār)  blackened  while the countenances of the pious (al-abrār)  were made  resplendent on account of this Beauty (al-jamāl).  [4]  Through this theophany the Kingdoms  of both the Unseen and the Manifest  were moved to gaze expectantly as were the denizens of the concourse of all the worlds.

 

[VI]

So O thou Spirit! (al-rūḥ)  poised before this Spirit (al-rūḥ)

[VII]

[1]

So, Oh what exaltation on account of this Dawn (al-fajr)  through which Beauty of the Ancient of Days (jamāl al-qidam)

hath settled upon the Throne of his Most Great, Mighty Name (ismihi al-a`ẓam al-aẓīm).

[2]

On this Dawn (al-fajr) was born  "He who neither begetteth nor is begotten  

(man lam yalid wa lam yulad)"

(Q. 112:2).

Blessed be whomsoever is immersed in the Ocean of mystic meaning through this exposition (al-bayān) and attaineth unto the pearls of knowledge and wisdom

(la’ālī al-`ilm wa’l-ḥikmah)  which were treasured up in the words of God  (kalimāt Allāh), the King, the Transcendent, the Powerful, the Mighty.

[VIII]

[1]  So, Oh! what jubilation be upon whomsoever is truly aware and is numbered among the mystic knowers.  [2]  Say:  `This is indeed the Dawn whereon descended the tribal divisions of the denizens of Paradise  (malā’ al-firdaws) then the angels of holiness (malā’ikat al-quds)  [3]  amongst whom were such as experienced an heavenly mi`rāj (ascent)  through the fragrant breaths of the Most Glorious Beauty of God (nafaḥāt jamāl Allāh al-abhā),  an ascent that is, unto the denizens of the Supreme Concourse (ahl malā’ al-a`lā).  [4]  On account of these fragrant breaths the uttermost Archangels (malā’ikat al-ukhrā) did also descend carrying goblets of the Kawthar of Eternity.  [5]  These they proffered unto such as circumambulated  the Seat of the One through Whom the Temple of Pre-Existence (haykal al-qidam)  ascended upon the Throne of His Most Noble, Magnanimous Name.

[1]

So, Oh! Glad Tidings

be upon whomsoever is present  between His hands, beareth witness unto His Beauty (jamāl), 

hearkeneth unto his melodies and has enlivened his heart through the Word (kalimat) which emerged from the regenerative power

of His transcendent, Mighty and Luminous Sanctity.

[2]

Say:

`This is indeed the Dawntime (fajr)  in which were planted the Most-Great Trees (shajarat al-a`ẓam)

and fruits were generated through His Mighty, Wondrous Fruits (fawāka).

[3]

 By God! For every fruit produced there from are enshrined melodies the like of which, should We commemorate them for thee,

O Concourse of the Spirit (malā’ al-rūḥ),

certain of their reverberations registered within thy domain would assuredly enrapture thyselves and draw ye nigh unto God,

 the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent.

[X]

[1]

So, Oh! what jubilation on account of this Dawntime (al-fajr)  

by means of which the Sun, with the permission of God, the Inaccessible, the Mighty the Occulted One, beamed forth from the horizon of Holiness.

[2]

Say:

This indeed is a Dawn time in which the Hidden Sphere of Being

and the Treasured Unseen Reality was made manifest.

[3]

Thereon did the Ancient of Days (jamāl al-qidam) take the Cup of Subsistent Eternity (ka`’s al-baqā)

with the fingers of Bahā  and firstly proffer it through His Own  Logos-Self

[4]

then he distributed it amongst the denizens of the concourse of existent being

(ahl malā’ al-inshā’)  whether lowly or noble.

[XI]

[1]

So, Oh what jubilation

is upon such as hath received, taken and proffered His Mighty, Transcendent Love (ḥubb).

[2]

A ripening fruit (thamara) from it articulated the like of what was uttered  by the Sinaitic Lote-Tree (sidrat al-sīnā’)

upon the Blessed Snow-white Spot (buqat al-mubāraka al-bayd*ā).

[3]

From it the ears of the Speaker [Moses] did hear what caused him to be wholly detached from existence

 and enabled him to draw near unto a sanctified locale.

[XII]

[1]

So, Oh what jubilation

on account of the Rapture of God  (jadhb Allāh), the Powerful, the Exalted, the Mighty.

[2]

An ultimate Fruit (thamara) voiced what caused the Spirit (al-rūḥ)

to be enraptured and to ascend unto a Mighty, Perspicuous Heaven.

[XIII]

[1]

So, Oh what jubilation

on account of this Spirit (al-rūḥ) before the Reality of whom the Spirit of Faith (rūḥ al-amīn) did rise up empowered with an utterance of the angels of the cherubic order (malā’ikat al-muqarribīn). [2] A Fruit (thamara) did cry out the like of what enraptured the heart of Muhammad, the Messenger of God (rasūl Allāh). He rose up and experienced an heavenly mi`rāj (ascent) on account of that Most Elevated Call (al-nidā’), an ascent unto the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing (sidrat al-muntahā). He heard the Call of God (nidā’ Allāh) from beyond the Pavilion of Grandeur (surādiq al-kubriyā’) expressive of the mystery of My Sanctified, the Elevated and Mighty Name.

[XIV]

[1]

So, Oh! what jubilation

on account of this Lote-Tree (al-sidra) raised up, in very truth, such that all the worlds might find shade neath its shadow. [2] O Supreme Pen! Be stilled and hold back! [3] By God, the True One, should thou cry out and make mention of the melodies of the Fruits of the Tree of God thou wouldst ever remain peerless on earth [4] for all the people would flee from attaining Thy position and would scatter abroad from the Court of Thy Holiness. [5] This is indeed a certain Truth.

[XV]

[1]

So, Oh! what jubilation

through these mysteries which none hath been capable of bearing save God, the King, the Mighty, the Beautiful. [2] Dost thou not see, O Pen that thou hast made manifest naught save the least portion of what can be computed of the mysteries of thy Lord, the Exalted, the All-Glorious (al-aliyy, al-abhā). [3] By what means can the clamor of the heedless in the regions or the uproar of the unbelievers among the seditious be dissipated [4] So (O Pen!) take up thy reins then hold fast and conceal what he bestowed upon thee through His Bounty if that is thou desire  to proffer the domains of the existent with the Water of Sweetness (mā’ al-`adhb), the Living Reality which God made for thee to be His Wellspring. [5] Then let it flow according to their allotted share. [6] Thus commands thee He who created three through a command on His part. [7] Wherefore do thou act according to what thou hast been commanded and be thou not among the long-suffering.

[XVI]

So, Oh! what jubilation

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