heedlessness and ignorance of the people
Editorial introduction
Bahá’u’lláh observes with astonishment that the very abundance of divine bounty can become the cause of heedlessness: people are given eyes, ears and taste, yet sweet water seems to them no different from salt. Heedlessness, in this light, is not a lack of information but a failure of attention, a sleep in which one sees the rising dust and never the horseman, hears the song and never the nightingale. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá turns the charge inward first, confessing his own shortcoming before naming anyone else’s, and the warnings fall on believers as readily as on strangers; learning, rank and pious habit offer no immunity. The Qur’an speaks of hearts, eyes and ears that go unused [1], and Socrates found that those most sure of their wisdom had examined it least [2]. The remedy is not contempt for the sleeping but kindness, patience and useful service, with the assurance that the forgetful are still remembered. From here the path leads into blind imitation of inherited belief, into the literal reading that mistakes the name for the reality, and into the corruption and renewal of religion itself.
The Light hath dawned, the Hidden hath become manifest, the Treasured hath appeared resplendent, the verses have been sent down, the river is flowing, and the heavenly table is visible. Nevertheless, few indeed are those perceptive souls who can comprehend the stations of God's favors. The abundance of bounty and blessing hath become the cause of heedlessness.
You had written about your shortcomings in servitude at the Sacred Threshold. This shortcoming encompasses all. 'Abdu'l-Baha also, at every moment, recites this verse in utmost shame:
"How can I raise my head in shame before the Friend, when no worthy service has been rendered by my hand?"
Worst of all is the people's lack of awareness, for they do not become mindful of their own deeds and character. They are drowning in the sea of heedlessness. This calamity is beyond all calamities. If they had become aware, it would have quickly passed away. But their lack of awareness causes increased confusion.
Also, people inherit their belief from parents and ancestors and follow it blindly, too negligent to know and see for themselves.
Negligence and apathy are heavy 'veils of Glory.'
Today is a day when the gates of heaven are opened and the rain of mercy descendeth continuously, yet the people are seen to be deprived and veiled. The cause and reason for the veiling of the people hath been and will continue to be the most great veil, which is the ignorance that the ignorant ones of the earth have bound unto themselves in the name of knowledge.
O Khudadad! The gift of God consists in all glory and wisdom, vision and hearing. But what benefit is there when the foolish pursue blindness and deafness and muteness and estrangement?
Notwithstanding this, the people are negligent and indifferent, eyes are blinded, ears are deaf, nostrils are choked and understandings are unawakened.
Strange it is that, although God, exalted and glorified be He, hath bestowed sight and consciousness and taste, sweet and fresh water appeareth to them the same as salt and bitter - nay, the latter is deemed more excellent and preferable. As can be plainly observed, they have forsaken the Most Great Ocean and turned instead to putrid waters that have stagnated for years in the pool of self.
They imagine they see, but I swear by My life they are a blind people. They hear the call of God, yet turn away from it.
All heard the call, but with contaminated ears; for had they hearkened with attentive ears, they would surely have been enabled to turn and draw near.
Say: O people of the earth! By God, the heart of the world hath been set ablaze by the call of your Lord, the All-Merciful. What aileth you that ye are not set ablaze? Ye behold and recognize, yet deny and remain ignorant. Those who dwell in the realms of the seen and the unseen are bewildered at you.
Mankind are naturally heedless and prone to commit injustice and excess. They do not turn their faces toward God and do not let their hearts be swayed by ideal emotions.
But other souls are like those of whom Christ spoke in the Gospel, who have eyes but see not, have ears but hear not, and have hearts but understand not, "and I shall heal them." In brief, certain souls were awakened by the divine call and became conscious, while others remain heedless and negligent to this day, bewildered and deprived of the sea of life, despairing of the favors of the Lord of Signs.
People are slaves to vain imaginings - they neither see nor know. In their world of reason and thought they form a conception and then worship that conception, whereas whatever fits within vain imaginings and is comprehended by minds and thoughts is but mental images of man - encompassed, not encompassing.
Most people cling to their own vain imaginings and remain heedless of the Sovereign of verses. They have preferred conjecture to true knowledge and have contented themselves with doubt instead of certitude.
How many an ignorant one claimeth knowledge without proof or clear Book, and how many a transgressor claimeth faith in God!
O beloved of my heart! Most astonishing of all is that none hath understood, nor doth understand, the root of the matter, yet they speak whatsoever their idle fancies prompt them to speak. Behold the baseness of their station, that some of the ignorant ones have sought to adduce proofs from "Him Whom God shall make manifest" while remaining deprived of His very Self.
Say: O concourse of the earth! How long will ye follow vain imaginings and idle fancies? Open your eyes!
They hear the call of God openly, yet what is in their hearts of the idols of the worshippers preventeth them from certitude.
… They follow their leaders and cling to the hem of their vain imaginings - nay, they are among the abased ones. They worship the calf while thinking themselves servants of God besides Him - nay, they are among the liars.
Nevertheless, most people remain veiled and heedless. The cause of this heedlessness are those souls who, in former ages and countless centuries, prevented people from the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful.
The people are heedless and debarred from the ocean of knowledge. Consider the followers of the Qur'an, how they were veiled and kept far removed by the vain sayings of the ancients. The Sun of certitude is shining and the ocean of knowledge is surging, yet they still cling to the people of conjecture and hold fast to the hem of idle fancies.
Glory be to God! What heedlessness hath seized them all - they have forsaken the ocean of divine meanings and turned to the salt and bitter pools. Though the Sun of knowledge shineth from the horizon of heaven, they have nonetheless clung to and sought after the ignorant ones of the earth.
He who is heedless knoweth not the sweetness of wakefulness, and he whose heart is inscribed knoweth not the delight of effacement. … They run from the wise to the heedless, and from the learned to the ignorant. They distinguish not between what harmeth them and what profiteth them.
Most wondrous of all things is that, despite this Most Great Revelation and supreme power, none hath reflected upon the nature of the Cause. Rather, all cling to vain imaginings and remain veiled from the Beauty of certitude. Thus hath it been aforetime and thus shall it be unto the end of ends. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
The world hath been set ablaze by the Word of the Ancient King, yet the people remain heedless thereof, as if they were among the dead. God had counseled His servants to regard this Revelation with His eyes - this after countless other counsels which none can reckon save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Encompassing.
The cloud of bounty has been raised up and the Hand of giving has emerged from the Sleeve of the Most Glorious, yet the people remain in heedlessness and hypocrisy. Among them is he who sees a straw as silver and darkness as light.
Would that the servants knew! Would that the people understood! For if they became aware and discovered the Purpose, all would turn toward Him and would utter the blessed words "We belong to God."
The Most Great Ocean is manifest and visible before all faces, yet they remain bereft of it and continue to thirst. The fire hath been kindled, yet they see it not. The Divine Lote Tree hath spoken, yet they hear not. The Cry hath been raised, yet they remain asleep. The horizon of the Cause hath been illumined, yet they turn not toward it.
The very rocks have testified to the Lord of all being, yet the people remain behind a mighty veil. There is nothing that hath not borne witness to this Cause, yet the people persist in manifest doubt.
The Sun hath dawned from the horizon of proof, and the Nightingale of divine knowledge hath warbled upon the branches, and the Spirit hath cried out at the midmost heart of creation - yet the people remain sunk in slumber. They have not awakened at the call of God, nor have they been stirred by this Spirit whereby the world hath been shaken.
This is a Day wherein all things proclaim: "O concourse of creation! The Greatest Veil hath been rent asunder and the Greatest Scene hath been adorned through the revelation of God, the Lord of Destiny; yet most of the people remain heedless."
This is the Day wherein the birds warble, seized by the rapture of the Manifestation, yet the people perceive not. All things have been drawn to the melodies of the Lord of Names, yet the people turn away therefrom. Every hearing ear perceiveth from the Rock that which the Interlocutor heard in the wilderness, yet the people understand not.
Yet the people hear not. The veils have covered their sight, and the clouds have enshrouded their eyes. Lo! They understand not. They behold the Lord of Lords established upon the throne of might, yet from Him they turn aside.
The fragrances of divine revelation have permeated the world, yet the servants remain heedless and veiled therefrom.
In the days and nights divine verses and celestial evidences descend like the outpouring rain from the heaven of will. Nevertheless, all remain heedless save those whom the hand of divine power hath seized and delivered from the mire of idle fancies. Today hath appeared that which God's Pen hath heralded and mentioned as glad tidings in all the Books of the past and future. What hath befallen the people that their ears are barred from hearing and their eyes deprived of witnessing?
At every moment and from all directions, the signs of the Revelation of the Revealer of verses are manifest and evident. The ocean of utterance surges with its waves, the sun of bounty shines with its radiance, and the divine Lote-Trees of the garden of truth are adorned with wondrous fruits. It is not known what has prevented the servants and deprived them from turning to the horizon of Revelation. Praise be to God, He has bestowed sight and granted hearing, yet as can be observed, though every soul is distinguished by these two great gifts, they are not employed in their proper place.
Some are awakened and become aware of divine intentions, their awareness increasing, while others grow more heedless. In these days, were one to find hearing, every created thing would inform man of the mighty events and grievous trials which are the consequences of deeds, and would, in most eloquent language, make him aware. How many a stone hath melted from the fear of God, and how many a servant laugheth and playeth until chastisement seizeth him from every direction.
The Call of God hath been raised, yet most of the people hear not. The Most Exalted Pen hath moved, yet most of the people understand not. The horizon of the All-Merciful hath been illumined, yet the people see not. Vain imaginings have held them back, and they perceive not.
The Tree crieth out, yet the people understand not. The Book speaketh with truth, yet mankind perceive not. Man uttereth speech, yet the people hear not. The Beloved giveth glad tidings to creation of this Revelation, yet they turn not unto it. The Spirit informeth them, yet they know not.
This is a Day wherein the Dawn proclaimeth, saying: "By God! The Morn of the Divine Manifestation hath breathed forth, yet the people are in a wondrous slumber." And the Sun crieth out, saying: "The Sun of Truth hath shone forth from the horizon of Will, yet the people are in heedlessness and error, save those whom the breezes of Revelation have taken and whom the hand of Divine Power hath delivered."
Every leaf and stone and clod hath testified to the appearance of God and His sovereignty, yet the people deny and perceive not. The fragrance of the Beloved hath wafted throughout the world, yet the people detect it not. The mysteries have been revealed and the signs have appeared, yet the servants understand not.
Every stone and clod of earth hath spoken that which the Book hath spoken, yet the people remain in doubt and dissension. When the Call was raised, they turned away and clung to their own idle fancies and vain imaginings.
The world is in motion through the magnetic force of the Word of the Lord of Eternity, yet the servants remain heedless thereof, save whom God willeth.
The fragrance of the garment of utterance hath been diffused from the Mount of Knowledge, and the Divine Lote-Tree calleth out with the loudest voice, yet most of the people remain heedless. They who are heedless this day of My choice sealed wine - these have no portion in God's Book, the Mighty, the All-Praised.
The rivers have flowed, the winds have blown, the mountains have passed away, and the branches have been scattered, yet the people remain in strange slumber. The call hath been raised between earth and heaven and the world hath been illumined by the lights of the Revelation, yet the people remain in evident delusion.
Say: O people! The Beloved hath come and the horizons are illumined. Why do I see you among the heedless? Doth it beseem anyone to seek the pond and turn away from the Kawthar and Salsabil? Nay, by my Lord! This beseemeth you not, were ye of them who know. Say: The pond representeth your vain desires, while the ocean speaketh the truth. Hasten with your hearts and follow not every remote misbeliever.
This is the Day wherein the Mother Book speaks, yet most of the people neither know nor hear. The proof has been perfected and the Cry has been raised and the Rock has cried out, yet most of the people are heedless.
We have sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs, yet most of the people hear not. They have cast away that for which they were created and have taken up that which was forbidden unto them in the Book of God, the Master of the Day of Judgment. O Buzurg! Be thou ready to hearken unto My most sweet call in this most exalted station which God hath adorned with His mighty throne.
Say: The fragrance of the garment has wafted through creation, yet the people remain in far-off heedlessness. The breezes of spring have blown in the days of God, yet the people remain behind a thick veil. Say: O people, fear God and follow not those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of all worlds.
The Book of God speaketh the truth, yet the people remain heedless. The eye of creation hath never beheld the like of their condition. The wine of idle fancy hath so seized them that they have been prevented from recognizing the Lord of all beings, Who speaketh before all faces.
The ocean of divine utterance in this hour is manifest with the waves of mercy, and the sun of proof has risen from the horizon of the Most Glorious Tablet. Glory be to God! The proofs of the world bow down in prostration while the servants remain heedless. All things are engaged in glorification and praise, yet the people remain deprived.
The seal of the Wine of immortality hath been broken, and from it hath wafted the fragrance of the raiment of Baha, yet most of the people understand not. We have adorned the world with the ornament of My Most Great Name, yet the nations hasten in the wilderness of heedlessness. They behold the proof of God yet deny it, and witness His clear tokens yet turn away from them.
O Hasan! The Light is imprisoned in darkness, and the Speaker of the Mount is forbidden to speak, for the ears of the world are occupied with listening to unworthy tales, while the Tongue of Truth uttereth Its own praise and pondereth upon Its manifestation and mysteries and signs.
All awaited the days of attainment, yet when the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, appeared, they turned away from Him and followed every ignorant remote one.
And to this very day, the Jews still await the advent of the Messiah. It has been two thousand years since the Messiah appeared, and yet the Jews continue to wait. Observe what unawareness does! They set their expectations on the text of Isaiah---that the Messiah would come from the skies, an unknown place, and that, when He came, He would break the mountains apart and cause a mighty earthquake.
And if your objection be to God for having sent Me so soon, then it behooveth you to thank God for this and say: "Praise be to God Who hath fulfilled His promise and accomplished what He promised us. Our Lord is indeed the All-Forgiving, the Kind." Fear God, O people, distinguish between gratitude and complaint, and deny not the Cause of Him for Whose sake all in the heavens and earth were created.
What aileth you, O people, that ye understand not?
The eye of creation hath not witnessed any more heedless than these, for they deny that whereby they pride themselves above all the peoples of the earth and whereby their faith is established, yet they perceive not.
All people were awaiting the days of God, yet when the Sun of Revelation shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of divine will, all were heedless of Him and occupied with and turned to other than Him, except for those souls who heard the divine call with the ear of the heart and turned toward His horizon.
At the time of each Manifestation of God the people were heedless and ignorant of the truth except for a few who investigated and understood the divine words.
When the law of prayer was revealed in the time of the Messenger, the idolaters would prevent their ears from hearing the call to prayer and would count hearing it as evil.
Yet have the people debarred themselves from these holy and fresh fruits. Such hath ever been the way of My creatures since before that which hath no before, and shall continue until the end which no learned one can reckon. They draw not nigh unto it save by casting stones of idle fancy and vain imaginings, and thus hath the decree been fulfilled.
How many kings and subjects, sovereigns and queens awaited the Days of God, yet after the appearance of the Divine Day all were occupied with their own desires and veiled from Him.
The heedlessness of the people hath reached such a pass that after searching far and wide, they have imprisoned the Purpose of the world, and they perceive it not.
This was a general rule in all dispensations and cycles that strangers would become familiar while those familiar ones who were from the homeland of the Manifestation of Truth would remain strangers.
But in this mighty century when the call was raised from the Blessed Tree of Anisa, the Divine Lote Tree, the Beauty of Abha, most turned away and brought forth a hundred thousand excuses and objections and closed their eyes.
How veiled are the people!
Every hour during the days of Christ they raised a thousand doubts; by every means they sought to undermine the Cause of Christ. Now throughout all regions they give glad tidings in His name. Such is the state of mankind.
All have been waiting by their own admission, and at all times they have been uttering "Hasten, O God," yet when the veil was rent asunder and the gate of heaven was opened and the Promised One appeared, all arose in opposition save the quantity of the letters of the Countenance. They reflected not for a moment what was the cause and reason that all sought deliverance for that Being, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake. By the life of God! The people are in manifest drunkenness and in strange slumber.
Yet after the lights of the Sun of inner meanings dawned and the waves of the ocean of divine utterance surged forth, all turned away. Would that they had been content with mere rejection! They attributed to Him that which the Jews did not attribute to the Spirit (Christ), nor did the idolaters and others speak about the Seal of the Prophets.
O Abraham! Great is the Cause, and great is the Day, yet the people are heedless and barren. How many souls are occupied day and night with the mention of His appearance, beseeching and hoping to attain His presence. Yet when the Sun of Truth shone forth from the Dayspring of God's Will, some denied, others turned away, and a group hesitated - until the party that considered itself the most exalted of all parties and saw no peer or likeness for itself among religions issued the death warrant for God's chosen ones, nay for the Truth Itself, exalted be His glory.
This is the Day of Resurrection, yet the people perceive it not. This is the Day of Loss and Gain, and of Recompense, yet most among mankind know it not.
Nevertheless, when the gate of reunion was opened and the breeze of attainment wafted, all remained heedless and unconscious in the wilderness of negligence, save whom God willed. Those who counted themselves among the foremost and considered themselves preeminent in knowledge and insight were deprived of His presence and veiled from the purpose and cause of creation.
Most of the people of the world are waiting to see when the Sun of Truth will dawn from the horizon of the divine Will. But when the appointed time came and the world was illumined by the lights of the Dawning-Place of divine verses and the Dayspring of heavenly revelation, these same expectant souls who had been lamenting and bewailing their separation from the Dawning-Place of the Cause turned away from the Truth.
Reflect upon the heedlessness of the people, who all utter the words "May God hasten His coming," yet not a single soul hath understood what this allusion signifieth and whence it shall appear, though all were beseeching the Ancient Truth for His manifestation.
Today the ocean of bounty is surging and the sun of grace is shining, yet people remain prevented. For ages and centuries they awaited His appearance, yet when He was made manifest they arose to shed His most pure blood.
How many souls were occupied day and night with the remembrance of God, yet when He rent asunder the veils and appeared from the horizon of grace and bounty, they all became occupied with their own desires and were deprived and kept back from Him, save those whom thy Lord wished.
All awaited the days of nearness and meeting, but when the gate of reunion was opened they turned away, following the desires of the doubtful ones. They cast the ocean of certitude behind their backs, turning instead to the streams of fancy and vain imaginings - these are among the bewildered ones. They denied God and His evidence, hastening in the wilderness of passion while supposing themselves to be among the guided ones.
Such is the state and station of those souls who have followed their own selves and desires, and remained heedless of the ultimate goal and the most exalted horizon. Fie upon them for what their hands have wrought in the days of God, the Lord of the worlds!
They have reached such heights in rancor and denial that when the verses of God are recited unto them, their faces darken and they turn upon their heels, becoming of those who turn away. They read what they possess of verses and argue thereby morning and evening, yet deny their like and their Revealer. Such is the state of these liars. They make mention of God throughout the night and day, yet when He appears in truth they deny Him.
The sweet waters of life are present and visible, yet the people, heedless, turn to and occupy themselves with putrid waters. Vain imaginings have so deceived them that they have doubted the appearance of God and His presence, after He hath appeared in truth from this luminous station. Behold their paucity of understanding: they invoke the Names morning and evening, yet deny Him Who created them.
O Ali-Murad! The Beloved of the world lamenteth for Himself and saith: The peoples enter temples, churches, mosques and cloisters in My name, yet they are heedless of My Self, turn away from My presence, and do that which causeth My breast to be straitened and My heart, My Pen, the dwellers of the pavilion of My glory and the tabernacle of My grandeur to lament.
Say: The Beloved hath appeared, arrayed in mighty grief, yet the people are in manifest heedlessness. Say: He hath been imprisoned in this Prison through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought, after He had promised every soul His presence. All worship Him at morn and eventide, yet recognize Him not. These heedless ones weep for what befell Him in a former Revelation, yet shed His blood in this present one. Thus do they act, being utterly unaware.
Consider how they prostrate themselves on the sands that at one time may have been honored by the footsteps of Christ and His Apostles, but are now heedless of the Lord of Hosts! Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Strange it is that they have not yet understood the Day of God, for had they done so, they would not have occupied themselves with the mention of aught else. He saith: 'The Kingdom on that Day shall be God's,' and likewise He saith: 'And thy Lord shall come with angels rank on rank.' Yet all remain heedless and deprived of this sealed wine.
The whole world speaketh His Name yet is veiled from Him, turneth toward His countenance yet is debarred from Him, maketh mention of His Name yet is heedless of His Command.
Today the people are seen to be blind and deaf, save the soul who, through the breezes of the grace of the Dawn of Manifestation, lifted its head from the couch of heedlessness and turned toward the supreme horizon.
Glory be to God! What heedlessness hath encompassed the hearts and minds! After witnessing and observing the world of power, might, mercy and bounty, they pass it by and occupy themselves with matters unworthy of mention.
Has not the time come for those who sleep to awaken and those who are heedless to become aware? Do they think they shall not depart, shall not enter the graves, shall not be gathered tomorrow and questioned? Far from it! Their imaginings are false, their abode is the abyss, and they shall find none to protect them unless they return to God, the Lord of creation.
From amongst mankind those who live a heedless life are at the end afflicted with manifest loss. For the days of their lives will come to a sudden end with no trace, no leaves, no blossom and no fruit.
You observe that all the people of the world are caught in the sleep of heedlessness. They have completely forgotten God. All are engaged in war and strife and are in loss and affliction. Like tiny worms in the depths of the earth they strive to make a nest and dwelling, while one flood will destroy their nest and dwelling. Despite this they do not become aware.
The treasures of earth and heaven cannot equal one word "yea," for if today a soul attaineth unto this word, he hath been and shall be independent of all the words of the people of the world. But if, God forbid, he becometh heedless, the treasures and riches of the earth shall profit him not.
I see the people of Paris like bees and ants, coming and going in swarms, moving and stirring like waves, extremely busy - but if you ask what they are doing and why they are moving about, they are completely unaware of their origin and end, and seek no perfection beyond eating, sleeping and immersion in desires.
These are days wherein all have taken their vain desires as their god and dust as the Lord of Lords. In such circumstances, whom should the Pen mention and by what merit should the Tongue of Grandeur sing?
And today, the essence of worldliness is heedlessness of My remembrance and love of Mine enemies.
Yet some have been hindered by their selfish desires, such that thou dost witness that although, by the belief of all, mankind was created specifically for the knowledge of God, they remain veiled from Him and turn to others.
The divine wisdom in the creation of these ephemeral ornaments hath been that strangers might become occupied with these worthless adornments and thus remain deprived and veiled from the beauty of the Friend. All that existeth in the world of dominion and the kingdom is but a reflection and shadow of the hidden divine realms, yet the heedless ones hunt after and seek these shadows and reflections. Thus do they hasten for a hundred thousand years, only to return at last in despair to the dust.
Glory be to God! Where has vision gone and with what thoughts is the heart occupied, that at every moment the veils of heedlessness are seen to grow thicker? They have strayed from God's straight path and clung to the ways of idle fancies and vain imaginings.
They hear the Call of God, then deny it. Verily, they know not. They behold the Most Great Relief, yet they understand not. They follow their vain desires and imagine they are doing good.
Say: Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, desireth to draw you nigh unto Him, yet you flee from Him. What aileth you, O heedless ones! You have slept through most of your days.
O friends! All peoples and nations are intoxicated with the wine of pride, and are heedless, oblivious and deprived of the bounties of this radiant century. Each one is wandering in some wilderness, lost in some ocean, with neither shore nor end, neither salvation nor shelter.
When negligence overtakes a person he will become blind to everything else ... In former cycles local and general negligence on the part of the people was quite prevalent but it was never so universal as now.
… Consider to what height the negligence of the people has soared in these days that even the mention of the name of God is tabooed.
It is very strange that notwithstanding there clear demonstrations there are ever so many men who are negligent of God; although they know that He has created all these lower creatures to serve and remind them. People are entirely engrossed with material pursuits and they have become entirely inadvertent of their own Creator.
Heedlessness hath so seized the world that every living soul is bewildered. How many souls have been observed whose song was raised at one hour, while at another their lamentation and wailing was heard. Are they assured by the fidelity of the world? How can this be when it declareth at all times and confesseth its transience, and showeth forth its changes and variations?
Today the clouds of vain desires of heedless souls have become an obstacle and prevented people from the Horizon of Divine Unity. Had they but known, they would have cast away all they possess and hastened with their hearts unto God, the Lord of the worlds.
Glory be to God! These heedless people have preferred extinction to immortality and regarded the ignorant as learned. Today the Balance is manifest and speaketh with the most exalted utterance. It is the true Discriminator and the spiritual Identifier. Yet all are heedless of it and veiled from it, save whom God willeth, the Lord of the worlds.
I swear by the Sun of the horizon of the Prison that if people were to reflect even slightly on what hath been manifested in this Most Holy, Most Exalted Revelation, they would abandon the world and all therein and turn with heart and soul toward the direction of the All-Merciful. However, their vision hath been veiled by the greatest veil which is human desires, and thus their eyes are deprived of beholding the Greatest Scene and their hearts are prevented from seeking.
The meaning of the world of causes is the heedlessness of the servant from the One Who is served, and this has not had and does not have specification to any particular thing.
Although at every moment the world informeth man through its changes of its own extinction and maketh him aware of its passing, yet all are heedless and veiled. They were not stirred by the breezes of the spring of revelation, as if they were uprooted palm-trunks.
The fire of suppositions and idle fancies has encompassed the world, and supreme abasement has seized the people, yet none are aware of it. Justice, like the phoenix, naught remaineth of it save its name, and equity hath taken flight to the pavilions of glory, seeking refuge from the talons of the birds of darkness. The heedless people pass their days in hopes whose fulfillment is impossible.
After traversing some distance in the wilderness, the fire of love became extinguished and beauty's attraction became veiled. When we passed beyond that station, we counted good deeds as evil and evil deeds as good, until we arrived at the Green Isle.
… Each day we increased in fancy and conjecture while decreasing in attention to truth.
Yet some commanding souls, unwittingly following their own desires, are engaged in undermining the Cause of God, counting themselves among the mature and perfect ones. The cawing of the crows, which was revealed in numerous Tablets and about which We gave warning, is in these days raised from certain quarters. Although these are days wherein fellowship, unity, love and accord are beloved, those heedless souls have again become the cause of differences.
Despite the healing counsels and conclusive admonitions that have been sent down from the Source of Divine Unity in the revealed scriptures, they are seen to be more remote than previous nations and more heedless than all who dwell on earth.
The heedless people are themselves the preventers of divine bounties, and through their impure deeds and false words have deprived themselves of God's infinite favors.
The ignorance of God's creatures hath darkened the resplendent horizon of knowledge; the heedlessness of the people hath veiled the radiant dawn of guidance.
But now some have shown ingratitude and become heedless of the favors of the Blessed Beauty. They attributed this progress and glory to their own good management. Therefore, in these days a great trembling has fallen upon the pillars of the Zoroastrians in Tehran. Affairs have been reversed.
O Muhammad-i-Mustafa! We have commanded all to wisdom, yet We see ignorance and heedlessness among My loved ones.
But alas! we have entirely neglected them and are pursuing our own desires, following our own opinions, seeking our own ideas, and chasing our own shadows! Is it not a shame to change His Rose Garden into a bramble patch? His Delectable Paradise into a ruined abode?
However, some of them were heedless of the influences of the Most Exalted Pen - they did not know what was the cause of this honor. Rather, they fell into heedlessness and pride and did not appreciate the value of these bounties.
O thou who gazest upon the Abha Kingdom!
In this supreme Paradise and manifest beatitude whereinto thou hast entered through the bounty of the Best-Beloved of the worlds, look with the eye of insight and beware of heedlessness. … Otherwise the suckling babe is unaware of the father's bounty and the mother's care and honor and respect; nay, through ignorance and unconsciousness he may consider kindness to be harshness, honey to be poison, comfort to be pain, and the antidote to be increased suffering.
Though twenty years have passed since all were brought forth with a new nature, they have not even imagined the Most Great Ocean of oceans, and have turned away from the Essence of all essences through conjecture and fancy.
They have imagined that all the ascending steps and degrees of this glorious Cycle - around which hundreds of thousands of infinite divine cycles have revolved in the worlds of the unseen and the visible until culminating in this Cycle - are merely the learnings to which these companions have attained.
You were as one sleeping upon the couch of heedlessness, so deep in slumber that you heard not the cry of the strivers, though that cry had encompassed all who dwell in earth and heaven, and had caused these deniers to swoon away.
O my brother! Although the horizon of the Manifestation is resplendent and illumined with the Sun of Divine Beauty, yet most men are seen to be bewildered and perplexed, nay, dead and lost. Most strange it is that they have not yet found the sweetness of the most pure wine, and have not attained to that exalted station of nearness which is the recognition of God.
Yet despite these grievous afflictions befalling weak humanity, all remain captive to the sleep of negligence and averse to love and fellowship. There is neither awakening nor remembrance, neither thought nor contemplation, neither prayer nor supplication, neither humility and lamentation nor repentance and turning unto God.
Glory be to God! The heedlessness of the people of the world has reached such a degree that they have not been awakened by the great cry and supreme calamities beyond which none can be conceived. Consider the chief and what befell him. Nearly five hundred thousand souls have perished, and from beneath every tree in the vicinity of the Land of Mystery arose the wailing and lamentation of widows and others. Blood was shed to such an extent that most lands were observed to be stained crimson.
Nevertheless, none responded. If any soul were to observe with an eye of justice, he would instantly proclaim "I believe in God, the Lord of all worlds." However, eyes are afflicted with the soreness of vain imaginings and ears are blocked with the cotton of ignorance and unawareness.
From the beginning of the Cause this Wronged One, alone and without any veil or covering, called out with His loudest voice unto the rulers and ministers and divines and jurisprudents and philosophers, summoning all to the Most Sublime Horizon. Nevertheless, the heedless and ignorant servants have not awakened nor drunk from the ocean of knowledge.
Glory be to God! Despite the fact that throughout all regions of the world and among all peoples the signs of Truth are manifest and evident, and all ears are ready to hear these events, still most Iranians remain until now captive to the sleep of heedlessness and veiled from beholding the lights - whereas they should, at every moment, offer a hundred thousand thanks that the Sun of Reality rose from that horizon and the divine call was raised from that land, and each one should hasten to the furthest regions of the world with the greatest glad tidings and bring news of this heavenly bounty.
The master of the house has come to the door, but the household has barred it. They have considered the familiar as strange and the friend as a stranger, saying "We are content in this abasement and find rest in this disorder and chaos. We do not want the master of the house nor seek his faith. We are averse to his favors and reject his grace and bounty."
In the farthest regions of America souls have awakened while the people of Iran are still caught in the sleep of negligence.
Today the opposers of this Cause show the same heedlessness. While the Cause is spreading with the swiftness of lightning, and its great light is blessing nations, its enemies attempt to resist its strength and prevent its beneficent effects.
O Mihdi! The world is in upheaval while the people remain heedless. The dust of the deeds and words of the veiled ones hath obscured the luminous morn. Today every firm and mighty foundation is shaken, and every steadfast and upright foot hath faltered, save those whom thy Lord hath willed. The world's convulsions increase daily, yet its people perceive not the cause and reason, and remain veiled from what is with God by what is with themselves.
Write to Khalil that slumber and the intoxication of error have so seized the people that if ninety-nine out of a hundred were to be taken, the remaining one would neither turn to the horizon of the Cause nor raise his head from the sleep of heedlessness. Consider the verses that were previously revealed from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of the Day of Judgment concerning the seizure of certain transgressors. With utmost clarity, passage by passage, was revealed concerning seizure, plunder, earthquakes, lamentation, abasement, and the like. Nearly one crore perished, yet none became aware. Even those souls who had witnessed those verses before the appearance of the signs did not attain unto that which God desired.
Indeed, there is nothing worse in the world than unconsciousness. These Iranians are both unconscious and self-conceited. They imagine each one of them is the Plato of the age while they know nothing. You met the cream of Iranian ministers in Paris, and likewise went to Iran and observed its notables. The greatest prince of Iran was Zillu's-Sultan - you saw what he was like.
But these people are so deeply asleep that even the trumpet of Israfil would not awaken them, let alone the sound and blast of cholera and the trumpet of the plague of persecution. Glory be to God! These ignorant people understood expulsion from Paradise as one of Satan's miracles, and consider the spread of cholera as disrespect to Khwajih Bu-'Ali. What ignorance is this and what foolishness!
At present the representatives are heedless and know not from whence this melody comes, nor that this light emanates from the Sun of Reality. But eventually they will know, eventually they will acknowledge and confess this truth.
Pay no attention to the fact that the people of London are caught in heedlessness - indeed all the world is afflicted with self-interest and selfish desires and is occupied day and night with worldly pursuits - for the breathings of the Holy Spirit will ultimately have their effect and will raise up souls in London who will become the lit candles of the human world and the bright stars in the horizon of reality.
Despite this, half a century has elapsed while humanity remains in continuous slumber. What heedlessness is this! What ignorance! What loss! What deprivation!
God has made such a glorious Sun as this to shine from the horizon of the East, and yet the Persians are still fast asleep. How often has perpetual fortune knocked at a person's door, only for him to reject it with all his might!
Yet the people remain heedless and veiled, and until now have not reflected upon what has been and is the cause of these events and tribulations. Their eyes have been blinded and their tongues have been silenced, and today they neither understand nor perceive.
The dust and smoke of oppression and tyranny hath encompassed Iran. Justice, poor and helpless, lies tormented in the claws of rancor and hatred. Glory be to God! Such heedlessness hath seized the people of Iran that they have taken abasement for glory and loss for mighty gain. Soon shall they see the recompense of their deeds and find for themselves neither helper nor protector.
In Persia we see now the beginning of heedlessness and the first manifestations of neglecting religion. If this state of things is not stopped by the power of the divine teachings, it will soon be chaos and distress, eternal vileness and shame.
Despite this, the people of Iran are caught in a nightmare slumber and afflicted with vain desires, heedless of this supreme bounty, although Iran is the Dawning-Place of the Sun of Truth and the center of divine revelations.
"Water in the jar, while all around are parched with thirst,
The Beloved in the house, while all search the world around."
They seek the means of progress and desire glory and majesty for the world of humanity, yet they remain indifferent to such a bounty that hath appeared in the heart of Iran.
Despite this, for these blameworthy people the means of awakening become the cause of increased heedlessness. They are like children for whom the rocking of the cradle causes deeper sleep - that is, the movement which should cause awakening results in increased slumber.
Despite this, the people of Iran are caught in the sleep of unconsciousness - the house unaware of its owner, the East heedless of the rising of the Sun of Truth, nay rather in constant denial. How has a Cause of such magnitude, which has amazed the world, remained unspoken among the ignorant ones?
In this time the affliction of cholera has encompassed all regions of Iran, that perchance the heedless might become aware. But what use, for the reproofs of the All-Loving Lord have no effect on hard rock, as He says: "Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder."
Notwithstanding all this I do see very few who are really mindful; nay rather day by day their negligence is increased. Few are praying or supplicating or invoking God to turn away these ordeals from mankind, to shower His Mercy upon them and to encircle them with His Bestowals.
May GOD not permit any soul to become heedless. Heedlessness will uproot the foundation of man.
Pride and turning away have become the cause and reason for negligence, for had they acted according to what the All-Merciful revealed in the Qur'an, they would have ever been observed beneath the glances of His favor.
The deed is manifest and His grace evident, and yet the people persist in obvious falsehood. Well is it with him who hath heard and responded, and woe betide the heedless ones.
And when We manifested the Cause, the hearts of the mighty were seized with trembling, and the foundations of princes were shaken. Yet the people remain dead, shrouded in the veils of their own selves.
Most men are this day accounted as sucklings in the sight of God, for they drink from the breast of heedlessness and their days of weaning have not yet come, much less their maturity. But should one attain unto maturity, he would taste from the verses of Divine might that have been made manifest in this Revelation the sweetness of the heavenly Tasnim of divine knowledge and the holy Salsabil of celestial unity, and would perceive all else as a mirage in the desert.
Glory be to God! The poison of heedlessness hath affected all limbs, members and veins, and hath prevented all from attaining to understanding and awareness. Now they are seen to be in the throes of death, save those souls who have been healed with the Supreme Medicine of the Most Great Name.
They appear as sheep that have lost their shepherd, scattered and distracted, wandering in the wilderness of heedlessness and ignorance, and are unaware.
The horizon of the world hath been illumined by the Sun of My Most Great Name, yet most of the people perceive not. The verses have filled all regions, yet the people recognize not. The atoms have testified to the Revealer of verses, yet the people hear not.
Strange it is that while the Dawn hath appeared and a sweet-scented breeze wafteth with utmost delicacy and gentleness from the direction of the Robe, yet the people of the earth remain heedless and veiled therefrom. A dark smoke hath prevented most from beholding.
But alas, the people of that land are still heedless and unaware. Soon they will awaken, become conscious, and express pride and glory.
In truth, the Pen is not still - from every direction the ocean of bounty is surging and the sun of grace is shining forth. The wonder is that lifeless souls have not yet attained unto life and have not become aware of this Cause of such magnitude. One is astonished at what the divines of the earth are seeking and from what they turn away. Is it that due to the abundance of bounties they have become worthless in the sight of the ignorant masses, or have their deeds become embodied and deprived those ungodly souls of awareness? Have the hearing and sight of all been seized?
A hundred thousand pities that the heedless and ignorant servants are unaware and veiled from this most great bounty and supreme favor! What is the cause of awareness and what is the reason for mindfulness? The signs have encompassed the world and the evidences have filled the realm of existence.
This servant is bewildered at how one could be deprived of the sweet-scented breezes while standing in the midst of a rose garden. The light is manifest, the fire is ablaze, and the call is raised, yet the affairs of this fleeting world have prevented the senses from beholding, perceiving, and hearing.
O son of the Kingdom! The divine table, which consists of heavenly knowledge, hath been sent down from the Kingdom of God and spread throughout all regions. Yet those who were invited did not respond to the call, due to their ignorance, heedlessness, pride and vainglory.
As to what thou didst write concerning the people of Jadhba and which indicated the steadfastness of God's loved ones, it is known that whosoever today hath drunk of the wine of divine knowledge hath not and will not pay attention to the world and its peoples, much less to the vain imaginings of men and the clamor of those who have denied God, the Lord of all worlds.
I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to set ablaze all the friends in that land with the fire of His love in such wise that souls that lie dead, buried in the graves of heedlessness and desire, may arise through their burning love and its sweet savors and arise to serve the Cause of God. O my beloved, O my master! Observe how, although the gates of the outpourings of the mercy of the All-Merciful are opened before the face of all, and the world-illumining Sun of His Revelation is manifest and visible above the horizon of grace, yet the people remain heedless, occupied with their own vain imaginings, and deprived and forbidden from this supreme bounty and these infinite favors.
This servant marvels at what intoxication hath seized the servants, that even after the Great Cry and the Most Great Trump and the Most Mighty Blast and the melodies of the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree, they still remain unaware and have not awakened from the slumber of heedlessness. One is bewildered as to what the souls who today forbid themselves from hearing the divine call and this Most Great, divine Revelation could be holding fast to or clinging unto. All atoms testify that the like of this Most Great Revelation hath never appeared in the world; nevertheless, most people cling to the imaginings of the doubtful ones and hold fast to the hem of the suspicious. We beseech God to make all to recognize His Self that pervadeth the worlds.
Nevertheless, they were seen to be as stones, having no movement, or as those struck down, as God the Exalted hath said: "And thou mightest have seen the people therein struck down as though they were the hollow trunks of palm-trees."
Beseech ye God to awaken the heedless ones, to guide the seekers unto their goal, and to not deprive His servants of this fragrance that hath perfumed the world.
Indeed, the face of the world hath been turned toward irreligion. In all years, nay in all months, nay in all days, it hath been far from faith, certitude and knowledge, and close to conjecture and vain imaginings.
Their sight was blinded and their insight prevented from beholding the lights. Their ears were deaf to the breezes of the kingdom of mysteries. Their breasts were constricted by their fall into the pit of suppositions and vain imaginings and their descent into the corner of forgetfulness.
Notwithstanding this effulgence and this diffusion of the Fragrance of Rose-Garden of the Covenant, innumerable souls are yet afflicted with the sleep of negligence. The eyes are veiled and the nostrils do not inhale the fragrant perfume. What a negligence is this! What an inadvertence is this! What an ignorance is this and what a heedlessness is this!
Despite this sanctifying melody of the Abha Beauty that has reverberated throughout this infinite space, the helpless people of lethargy remain bewildered and confused like the deaf, saying "Where is that divine melody? Where is that merciful cry? Where is that heavenly song?"
Glory be to God! What heedlessness is this, that the fragrance from the gardens of the Kingdom of Abha hath encompassed both the seen and the unseen realms, yet the afflicted one remaineth deprived.
Some negligent men think that the spring season has concluded and nothing but winter remains. They are immersed in their own vain imaginings.
He desires to make a soul illumined, he prefers darkness; this makes the Manifestation sad. He wishes to change the ignorance of the people into knowledge; their error into guidance; their insincerity into sincerity; their faithlessness into faithfulness, but people prefer the latter qualities than the former and so the Manifestation of God will be sad and unhappy over the heedlessness and negligence of these sleepy souls."
It is amazing that people are afraid of physical plagues, but have no worries of spiritual calamities. They are heedless of being inflicted with a myriad of spiritual catastrophes, but do not desire the least harm to come to this transient body or be exposed to any jeopardy.
O beloved of my heart! This servant is at every moment immersed in the ocean of wonderment, for he observes that the lights of the Manifestation have encompassed the world and the effulgences of the Sun of Truth have taken hold of the entire earth; nevertheless, all are either asleep on the couch of heedlessness or wandering in the desert of ignorance, save whom my Lord willeth.
Most of the people are observed to be deprived of sight and hearing, and likewise devoid of spirit, for they were not awakened by the cry raised between earth and heaven, nor did they attain consciousness through the trump of the horn and the blast of the trumpet. They neither saw the evident signs nor heard the revealed verses. The ocean of knowledge surgeth before all faces, yet they turn away from it and cling to the sources of idle fancies. Such is the condition of the people and their measure.
By the life of God! The eyes and ears were created to behold and hearken in this Day, but the heedless and ignorant servants have become veiled. They have prevented the letter from the word, and the word from the Book.
And the Lord of Sinai speaketh and most of the people know not. They pass by the signs and look not. They behold the Most Great Scene and yet turn away from it. They come before the Countenance and recognize not. They hear the Call and perceive not.
Most of those who imagine vain things have not, until now, comprehended the station of this Revelation as it deserves. This is why they wander in the wilderness of heedlessness and forgetfulness.
Today the intoxication of heedlessness has seized the people of the world, and it has seized the people of the Bayan in such wise that they are seen to be more veiled than all the peoples of the earth.
What regret and remorse that people should deprive themselves of the outpourings of the Divine Day!
Say: Ponder on that which hath been sent down for you and be not of the heedless.
But alas, the sleeping did not awaken, the deaf did not hear, the blind did not see, the frozen did not ignite, and the ignorant did not learn. This is everlasting regret and this is endless loss.
Alas, a hundred times alas, that the heedless are unaware of the glad tidings of this herald, and the faithless are deprived of this bounty and fruit. They have sold this brilliant crown for a mere trifle and burned this glorious diadem in the fire of negligence.
Yet the foolish among the witless say that the Day of the Lord hath passed and darkness hath encompassed all and the pitch-black night hath descended and the lights of the Most Glorious Beauty have set. This is but error and blindness. They have eyes but see not with them and perceive not that His light is everlasting and His radiance eternal.
Yet despite these mighty outpourings, souls remain veiled and hearts turn away. Some soar on the wings of vain imaginings, while others make their dwelling in the lowest depths - these are as the cattle. Some are deprived of a drop from the Most Great Ocean, and some remain bereft of a particle from the Most Luminous Sun. How wretched is the abode of the wavering ones!
They will awaken when the caravan has reached its destination, taken shelter in the precinct of the Beloved, and found repose beneath the pavilion of sanctity - while those ignorant and unaware ones remain lost and wandering at the first step of the path.
Such a heavenly Gift God brought for them, but they did not appreciate it. Such Divine Music was played for them, but they did not listen to it.
It has always been the practice of the heedless to hold back the sincere ones from the Cause of God.
Is there a hell more direful than Ignorance? A hell worse than deprivation from the Divine Nearness? A hell lower than negligence and inadvertence?
The Ocean of Life hath appeared in the contingent world, yet the people remain heedless and veiled therefrom, nay rather, they are seen to turn away. He calleth with the utmost loving-kindness and bounty, guiding and directing the thirsty ones unto Himself, yet none turneth towards Him save whom his Lord willeth.
The earth is changed to another earth and the heaven to another heaven, yet the people of the world remain heedless and veiled. The dwellers of the graves have arisen at the breath of revelation of the Self-Subsisting Lord, while the living souls are seen as if dead. The intoxication of pride and heedlessness has encompassed the world and deprived it of the Ancient Lord.
Today the proof itself calleth aloud, and all evidence summoneth mankind to a Cause the like of which, from the beginning of creation until now, hath never appeared. Such is the heedlessness of the people that they have turned away from Him Who hath brought verses that equal all divine books past and future, and have occupied themselves with souls who are not worthy of mention.
Glory be to God! Despite this supreme grace which hath encompassed both the seen and unseen worlds, the people remain heedless and veiled. What intoxication hath seized the world of knowledge? Despite the raising of the call and the appearance of the banners of the Lord of all beings, all remain asleep in the slumber of heedlessness. The cry hath not awakened them and the trumpet hath had no effect.
Another reason is the burning of this ephemeral one's heart, for he observes that while the Sun of loving-kindness is shining, the ocean of mercy is manifest, and the heaven of grace is raised high, most people remain heedless thereof and persist in hypocrisy, regarding mercy as vengeance and glory as abasement.
Now must the sincere ones and the pure in heart, with utmost lowliness, beseech God, exalted be His glory, for the protection of the radiant Faith. The recompense of deeds is evident and manifest at all times, but where is the soul who will take heed, and where is the one who will be awakened? The sleep of heedlessness and the intoxication of pride have seized all and cast them like uprooted stones upon the earth.
O Haydar! Upon thee be the glory of God, and the glory of the heaven of My mercy, and the sun of My favors. The heedlessness of the people hath reached such a pass that the Kingdom of Utterance hath been bidden to silence.
The verses have been sent down and the signs have appeared, yet ye know not. All things have testified to the Creator of heaven, yet ye are as dead. How long will ye look to yourselves? This is the Spirit of God - behold ye bear witness! We draw you near through the cords of grace, yet ye flee.
O My Name! A hundred thousand regrets that most of the people are heedless of what they see and hear. The Most Great Bell hath been adorned by the fingers of the mercy of the All-Merciful in the midmost heart and the divine call hath been raised. Yet the people are seen to be withered, nay rather dead, save whom thy Lord willeth. Do they not inhale the fragrance of the utterance and remain heedless, or are they deprived by what their hands have wrought?
Grieve not over the condition of those who are heedless today. Soon shall they bewail their own souls.
The world has been honored by the call of My Name, the Self-Subsisting, yet the people remain behind a thick veil. How many learned ones have turned away from God, how many heroes have opposed Him, and how many veiled ones have believed in the One, the All-Informed! Verily all bounty is in the grasp of thy Lord's power - to this testifies every insightful mystic.
Most of the people of the earth today are heedless and veiled, while thou, through God's grace, art assured and turning toward Him.
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.
When that World-Protecting Sovereign and Kind Friend removed the veil and made the lofty pavilion of heaven His royal crown's dwelling place and placed the diadem of glory upon His head, all turned away their faces, closed their eyes, fell asleep, concealed the mystery, spoke not a word, and strung not the pearls of wisdom.
Yet another group remained in the sleep of heedlessness, lying upon the bed of error, remaining unconscious in their stupor and intoxicated in their drunkenness, gathering blindly together, appearing deaf, dumb, ignorant, unlearned and indolent, deprived of the bounties of this Most Great Sea and the effulgences of this Most Glorious Luminary. How wretched is the state of those who are deprived!
However, eyes have been veiled by the veils of tyranny, and the people of languidness have shut the eyes of justice. They cling to graves and are heedless of resurrection. They are deprived of joy and have abandoned gladness. They are in a state of negligence, distraction, sleep and slumber. They hear no voice and heed no counsel.
O servant of God! In the divine pharmacy there are a hundred thousand immediate remedies and true medicines, yet the patients are heedless and the sick are negligent. Everyone runs after harmful remedies and each soul seeks deadly drugs.
O Servant of God! Some of the heedless ones have imagined that since the Sun of Truth has set from the horizon of the human temple, its holy rays have also declined, meaning that the realm of possibility has become the longest night and darkness has been established upon the throne.
The world is heedless - be ye aware. All are asleep - be ye wakeful. All are stupefied - be ye conscious.
Some of the veiled ones have imagined that the doors of heavenly bounties are closed, that the rain of great mercy hath been cut off, and that the lights of mighty grace have been extinguished. How evil is that which they imagine!
Thus, whenever thou seest one who is gladdened, know that the divine breeze hath caused him to blossom like a flower, and whenever thou findest one dejected and listless, know that he hath withered from the poisonous winds of heedlessness.
As for those who have forbidden themselves the spiritual feast and the breaths of the Spirit of God, they are dead, not living, and for them there is no permanence, neither in this worldly abode nor in the Kingdom of God.
O thou who art endowed with insight and vision, who art cognizant of the hidden secret and the guarded symbol in the Tablets of God, the Self-Subsisting: Ponder upon the reality of things and how the people have remained heedless of this manifest light. Verily the East hath dawned, and the West hath been illumined by the praised Star. The people in distant lands are entering in throngs beneath the extended shade and are being gathered beneath the unfurled Standard. Yet the realm of Iran, the Dawning-Place and Orient of the Sun of the horizons, remaineth until now beneath veils and clouds.
Its contents testify that, praise be to God, you have awakened from the sleep of negligence and have heard the heavenly melody.
They seem to be all alive but are they not dead? They all see, but are they not blind? They appear to hear but are they not deaf? They look as though they are going to speak but are they not mute? They strike one as being in motion but are they not stagnant? They present the appearance of activity but are they not inert?
Alas! these people are interred in the tombs of negligence and therefore do not respond to the quick vibrations of the spirit.
All the people are asleep. Why are they so negligent and neglectful of the glorious destiny which His Holiness Baha'u'llah has appointed for them? They must turn their faces toward the Kingdom of Abha; instead they are asleep upon the bed of negligence.
Today the world--that is, humankind--is heedless. By the life of God! If they were to find even less than a needle's eye of the divine fragrance, they would cast down the idols of fancy and imagination with the hand of certitude and, detached from all else, would arise to mention, praise and serve the Cause.
Were the heedless world and ignorant people possessed of insight, they would have observed the penetrating power of the Word and the might of God's Will, would have conducted themselves with due measure, and would have cast aside the veils of idle fancies and vain imaginings which have held back most of humanity from the Lord of the Day of Resurrection.
At all times the Supreme Pen hath been engaged in mentioning the loved ones and all who dwell in creation, yet the people of the world are observed to be exceedingly heedless, deprived and bereft of this mighty bounty and unmatched favor. Should one gaze with the eye of fairness and reflect, one would observe with what kindness, compassion, grace, mercy and benevolence the Truth summons these ungrateful people to that which profiteth them.
Although the people are observed to be in such heedlessness that its mention is beyond both pen and tongue, yet the divine Will and Purpose has been and shall ever be triumphant and all-pervading.
Arise over the graves in the name of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving! Say: O ye who lie in the tomb! The Promised One hath come, and the Sovereign of existence hath appeared in His mighty glory. How long will ye slumber in the cradle of vain imaginings? Arise at My leave and My call, then drink of the choice wine which floweth from the direction of the Throne through His name, the Mighty, the Generous.
This statement is specific to this Manifestation, yet the heedless people remain veiled from the Truth and occupied with vain imaginings, appearing like the peoples of former times. We beseech God to grant justice that they may not be deprived of the outpourings of the True Bestower in His days.
Convey the greetings of the Wronged One to the friends in that land and say: This is a Day wherein every soul must strive with utmost endeavor to seek the choice wine of steadfastness from God, glorified be His majesty, inasmuch as the heedlessness of the peoples of the world hath reached such a pass that they distinguish not between good and evil, nor do they differentiate between truth and falsehood, save for a few whose eyes have been anointed with the salve of insight.
They hear the call and behold Him Who summoneth them morn and eve, yet they draw not nigh, for they have followed every remote scholar.
He calleth them unto God while they hasten unto the idol. They are verily among the people of the coffin in the Tablet of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great.
The verses have been sent down, the evidences are manifest, the path is clear, and the balance is set up, yet the people are witnessed to be in great heedlessness and behind a mighty veil. The heavenly food descends in every moment from the heaven of the favor of the Lord of the Worlds, yet the people remain unaware.
Behold the people and their heedlessness - they have taken the drop and cast the ocean behind them. Thus have their souls enticed them, and they are today among the transgressors in My mighty Book.
Were the people to know, they would expend all they possess, even their very souls, that My Most Exalted Pen might move upon their names, yet today they remain veiled by following the daysprings of idle fancies.
Yet when it shone forth from the horizon of the world, most of mankind turned away, save those souls who broke the chains of imitation through the name of the Almighty and turned toward the horizon of the Cause.
Arise in My Name, then speak forth My praise amidst them that are heedless in these days wherein God calleth aloud with the most exalted call: "Unto Me, unto Me, O concourse of the heedless ones!"
Be thou steadfast in the remembrance of thy Lord and speaking forth His Name amongst His slumbering servants who, when the Call was raised, were seized by the intoxication of vain desires in such wise that they became heedless of that for which they were created.
The fragrances of that which hath streamed from the Most Exalted Pen have encompassed all things, yet the people are in strange heedlessness. The Cry hath been raised, yet they slumber; nay, they are as the dead, save him whom the breeze of reunion hath stirred and whom the hand of grace hath admitted into an exalted station.
This is naught but due to the heedlessness of souls, else the sun is far distinct from the shadow, and the flower is clearly evident from its likeness.
O Rida! The Supreme Pen proclaims: The eyes of the world have been afflicted with the ophthalmia of vain imaginings, depriving them from beholding the lights of the Sun of Truth.
Observe mankind and their lack of recognition - they deny him who enjoineth upon them what is right, and condemn him who desireth their preservation in the kingdom of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. By My life! Had they known what God intended for them, they would have cast away all they possess, turning unto this resplendent horizon. They have been prevented therefrom by following the vain imaginings of the doubtful ones.
But tribulations in the path of the Goal of all worlds have been and are beloved. The lovers in all regions know the value of this station. Night and day We have summoned the servants to that which would cause the elevation of the Word and the advancement of souls. Yet most were found heedless, nay, turned away.
The peoples of the world, despite their searching and expectation, are observed to be heedless. The people are occupied with the people, and remain heedless of and veiled from the Truth.
The clouds of idle fancies have darkened the horizon of guidance, yet these clouds are naught but the vain imaginings of heedless souls.
Night and day divine outpourings rain down from the heaven of grace, yet most are heedless thereof, for they have forsaken that which is with God and occupied themselves with that which is with them.
Until now, God's purpose remaineth unknown to the people of the cities of tyranny and oppression. They wander in the wilderness of heedlessness and traverse the valley of greed.
The world was created for the recognition of the Ancient King, yet its people denied the divine proof and rose up in ingratitude for His favors.
We have sent down the verses and manifested the signs, but most of the people know not. We beseech God to assist those who are heedless today and draw them nigh unto this forbidden station. Verily We, in the prison, summon all unto God - to this do honored servants bear witness.
Praise God that thou hast drunk from the Kawthar of His love and hast been awakened from the slumber of heedlessness by the breeze of His grace.
O 'Abbas! The world is receptive and its people are heedless. They seek after thorns and thistles - that is, vain imaginings and idle fancies - while turning away from the pearls of utterance, clinging instead to pebbles and date-stones.
Today, all who dwell on earth are heedless and know not the fruits, mysteries and traces of the mention of God, exalted be His glory. For were the fruits of but one letter thereof to be cast upon those on earth, by God Himself the Truth, all would turn, detached from all else, to the most exalted horizon. O friend! The intoxication of heedlessness has seized all and deprived them of the outpourings of the All-Bountiful, save whom thy Lord willeth.
The ocean hath surged with longing to meet Me, and the winds have been stirred, seeking My straight and manifest path. All things have been moved by the call of God, the Lord of all things, yet the people remain in strange slumber. The realities have taken flight and the horizon of the Cause hath been illumined, yet the people are in evident drunkenness.
The heedlessness of the servants hath prevented the divine bounty, and although the errors of the world cannot withhold the Ancient Lord from bestowing His grace, yet the people have deprived their own selves of the wondrous tokens of His mercy, favor and loving-kindness.
O jewel resplendent with the light of guidance! The greatest happiness hath drawn thee to the Kingdom of God and made thee the recipient of the glances from the eye of God's favor. Thou mayest glory over all other maidens, inasmuch as the hand of divine favor hath delivered thee from immersion in the seas of heedlessness and vain imaginings. Upon thee be greetings and praise.
How many a queen besought her Lord and desired from Him the encounter with His Manifestation in His days, yet when He appeared she was found among the heedless. Thus did the days pass and the matter was accomplished, but most of the people remain among the heedless.
Men of might and valor remain unaware of the cause of their own creation, for had they become conscious of it, they would not have deprived themselves of the dawning of the divine light.
O my handmaiden! Heedlessness has seized all handmaidens except those who have transcended idle fancies and have held fast to the cord of knowledge.
How many among the great ones and the learned are today heedless of the Self-Subsisting and deprived of the Choice Wine that is sealed.
Think not ill of God, and be not of those who through false learned ones remain heedless of God's religion and turn not unto the religion of God, the Most High.
By My life! Their heedlessness, remoteness, denial, and objection to Him Who created them and brought them into being sufficeth them. No punishment hath been or shall be greater than heedlessness.
Be not grieved by the opposition of people and their turning away, for they are weak and immature. These souls must be educated with the waters of divine wisdom, that perchance they may attain to what God has ordained for them and not be deprived of His greatest bounty.
Such indeed befitteth the perfect man: that his nature and his character be sugar and honey. Grace beseemeth him, not wrath; sweetness becometh him, not venom. But what can be done? Souls are heedless and ignorant. Therefore do they crave the savage, seek the shedder of blood and the bloodthirsty, and desire the tyrant and the treacherous. What ignorance is this, what folly and heedlessness in the world of humanity!
Whenever man becomes heedless of God, he is in conflict and contention with his fellow beings. Censure stems from heedlessness of Truth; hence He says that if you possess a word of which others are unaware, share it.
Associate with the people, for they know not - had they known, they would circle round the Cause at eventide and at dawn.
This servant is astonished at the condition of people. A group of Christians from various regions have shown sincerity and affection, and have come to this land solely to investigate and examine. Although they did not attain the [Holy] Presence, they were blessed for several days to attain the presence of the Most Great Branch of God - may my spirit and the spirit of all the worlds be a sacrifice for Him - and they asked several questions about religions, faiths and the principles of divine knowledge, and heard complete and sufficient answers, such that after returning they recorded the details in the London and Prussian newspapers.
O My loved ones! Speak ye according to capacity, for most of the people are wrapped in heedlessness and thick veils. O My loved ones! In all circumstances it behooveth you to hold fast unto wisdom. By Him Who hath caused all things to speak forth His praise! He who hath spoken the truth had no purpose save the exaltation of the Cause and religion of God, yet the heedless have imagined that he desired to spread corruption in the land.
By your life, O beloved, one is astonished at the heedlessness of these people - how they have veiled themselves from that which is best for them in this world and the next, and have clung to that which profits them not, oblivious to what the Creator of all things has intended for them. It behooveth us to grasp the hem of hope and supplicate God, the Creator of all things, morning and evening, to preserve us from their insinuations and to assist us in tearing away the greatest veil that has prevented humanity from turning to the most pure horizon.
We see them in heedlessness and in their ancient stupor. Do thou remind them with wisdom, that perchance My wondrous remembrance may influence them.
To-day all the classes of the world (all classes of men) from the east and west, from the north and south, are captives of the slumber of negligence, submerged in the darkness of ignorance, subdued by self-passions, deprived of the Merciful Bestowal, and overwhelmed with the animal susceptibilities! In the utmost of negligence-like grovelling worms-are they struggling in the depths of this mortal world. They know neither their origin nor their destination.
Beware lest ye forget courtesy, for a person is known by his courteous behavior, not by his wealth. Take pride in your knowledge and refinement, not in your ancestors and garments. Hearken unto My counsel and be not of the heedless ones.
Think not that those who are heedless of God are living. By My life! They are among the dead. Their wretchedness hath overcome them and their souls have prompted them to that which will lead them back to the flames.
Alas, alas! My heedlessness hath destroyed me and my disobedience hath weakened me. I know not, O my Purpose and my Adored One, with what countenance to turn toward Thee, with what heart to approach Thy most exalted horizon and supreme height, and with what tongue to offer excuses before the manifestations of Thy justice, O Lord of all being!
Beseech ye God that He may, with the finger of His power, rend asunder the veils that have hindered men, and withhold them not from beholding the lights of the Sun of Revelation. A hundred thousand regrets that they have deprived themselves of His infinite bounties and occupied themselves with worthless trifles that neither nourish nor satisfy. Ere long they shall testify to their own loss.
O Muhammad! Days have passed and We have not heard from the bird of thy heart the melodies of love, nor have We found from thee the sweet savors of longing and affection. It is as though thou hast forgotten Us and forgotten the stations of reunion while the breezes of grace wafted upon thee. And if thou forgettest Us, verily We do not forget thee, and if thou art heedless of Our remembrance, verily We are not heedless of thee.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
The foremost divines of the age have arisen in opposition and enmity. Although the opposition of such souls is to outward seeming the cause of the opposition of the people, in reality the people are the cause of the rejection of these divines.
The generality of mankind is still immature. Had it acquired sufficient capacity We would have bestowed upon it so great a measure of Our knowledge that all who dwell on earth and in heaven would have found themselves, by virtue of the grace streaming from Our pen, completely independent of all knowledge save the knowledge of God, and would have been securely established upon the throne of abiding tranquillity.
Since most people are feeble and far-removed from the purpose of God, therefore one must observe tact and prudence under all conditions, so that nothing might happen that could cause disturbance and dissension or raise clamour among the heedless.
O army of God! Today, in this world, every people is wandering astray in its own desert, moving here and there according to the dictates of its fancies and whims, pursuing its own particular caprice. Amongst all the teeming masses of the earth, only this community of the Most Great Name is free and clear of human schemes and hath no selfish purpose to promote. Alone amongst them all, this people hath arisen with aims purified of self, following the Teachings of God, most eagerly toiling and striving toward a single goal: to turn this nether dust into high heaven, to make of this world a mirror for the Kingdom, to change this world into a different world, and cause all humankind to adopt the ways of righteousness and a new manner of life.
For thought and discussion