Pilgrimage, longing, and recognition

In the Qur'an one verse was revealed stating "Pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind." See how many millions of souls from distant lands and different sects gather each year under the shade of this blessed word for pilgrimage.

One thousand three hundred years have passed, and still the attraction of the First Word is manifest and visible in the world, such that every year they turn their faces from all regions with the intention of circumambulation. For God is their excellence, for God is their turning, for God is their orientation.

His path is clear and His proof is evident. Reflect upon the power of this blessed word: from the day of its revelation until now, the people of the Covenant from all regions and directions have been and continue to be oriented toward it with utmost longing and yearning. They have borne all afflictions, calamities, hardships, injuries and difficulties of every kind on the path as they hastened toward the Friend.

Thou didst migrate unto God and visit His House which was raised up in His Name, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

I ask God, exalted be He, to open the gates of joy and delight upon the faces of His friends, chosen ones and loved ones who left their homes to circumambulate His House and to traverse between Safa and Marwa.

In the name of Him, the All-Glorious, on the third day of the third ten days of this holy month, the sacred month of God, He accomplished the rites of the lesser and greater pilgrimages.

This is a symbol, just as the circumambulation of the Ka'bah must be performed at a specified time and in a specified place where they must remove their garments from their body at once.

Consider, this very day several thousand people are treading the ground between Safa and Marwih [on one foot]. The Beloved of the world of being is present in this land, but they are oblivious. All are heedless; all are unaware; all are uninformed. You are the true pilgrims.

One who prostrates to the Ka'bih has prostrated to Truth, not to it, since it is related to Truth. Relationship is of two kinds - metaphorical and real. The relationship of the Prince of Martyrs was real, the relationship of the Ka'bih metaphorical, and in reality this visitation prayer is read at the Holy Shrine and at the Shrine of the Bab, even though it was revealed in that name.

Now they run from a hundred thousand leagues to visit that Threshold and raise an uproar in that desert crying "Here I am!" But on the day of His appearance they were deniers and antagonists. Now the people of Mecca take pride in being neighbors.

But praise be to God that these blows and hardships were [endured] on the path of circumambulating the House of God and visiting the illumined shrine of the Master of existence, may my spirit be sacrificed for him.

There hath appeared before the Countenance in the Most Great Prison he who was named Ahmad, who visited the House of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Verily he visited a House which God built with the hands of His power, to which My Most Exalted Pen hath testified in its sublime station.

It happens that while in Baghdad, during the season that the pilgrims come from all over the Islamic world to visit the Holy Shrines of the Mohamadans, Baha'u'llah went to a city, called "Samereh" not far from Baghdad.

And if thou desirest the land of Najaf, then dry thyself in the fire of that hallowed land like unto a reed nurtured by the sun of heaven. When thou art purified from all allusions, then wash thy face with the water of Manifestation and thy body with the water of the sea. Then clothe thy inner self with the garments of the Gate upon the mystery of dust, and outwardly don the cleanest and purest raiment thou canst find. Then use whatever pure perfume thou art able, for this is the sign of the pure ones.