Jábulqá, the city where the Imams placed the hidden Imam, cannot be found: search the whole earth for as long as God’s eternity lasts and you will not come upon it, for the earth could not contain it. The Báb does not therefore dismiss the tradition. He affirms it and draws the only conclusion left: an account that no geography can hold must be read symbolically, and so must the holy Being it concerns. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá then show what literal expectation costs, as divines pronounced death sentences on anyone who doubted the two cities and a truthful man was branded a liar for centuries; Jews awaiting a hidden city of the Sabbath and Christians awaiting a descent from the clouds have the same Jábulqá and Jábarsá. The vision in Revelation of a city with twelve gates and streets of gold, lit by God Himself, asks a reader for the same interpretive labour [1]. And a dream lets the cities return, not on earth but in heaven. The question of how an image can awaken hope and yet obstruct recognition opens onto the interpretation of the Qur’án and Hadith and onto prophecy and its fulfilment.
But the Imams of the Faith have fixed His abode in the city of Jabulqa, which they have depicted in strange and marvellous signs. To interpret this city according to the literal meaning of the tradition would indeed prove impossible, nor can such a city ever be found. Wert thou to search the uttermost corners of the earth, nay probe its length and breadth for as long as God's eternity hath lasted and His sovereignty will endure, thou wouldst never find a city such as they have described, for the entirety of the earth could neither contain nor encompass it. … Since this is not in thy power, thou hast no recourse but to interpret symbolically the accounts and traditions that have been reported from these luminous souls.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Javahiru'l-Asrar (Gems of Divine Mysteries), to Haji Siyyid Muhammad Mujtahid Isfahani -- BH00012)
02
For instance, the Shi'ites await a promised one who is invisible; they believe that he is the Imam Mihdi, who with servants and soldiers are abiding in Jabulqa and Jabulsa, two imaginary cities of the East and the West. Each of these cities has twelve gates. The Imam Mihdi spends six months of the year in either city.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. 1915 in Abu Sinan -- ABU0869)
03
And this group known as Babis say that His Holiness has appeared, while a faction among the Islamic sects who consider themselves Shi'ih deny this Manifestation and say that He must appear from the imaginary Jabulqa and Jabulsa - which are names of two cities - with fabricated signs.
Jews have been anticipating the appearance of the Promised One from the City of the Sabbath which is concealed from the eyes; the same is Jabulqa. The community of Jesus [Christians] await the appearance of the Promised One from the centre of the sky, upon a cloud, descending from the most elevated zenith; the same is Jabarsa.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Father of Mirza Ali Muhammad (Nayyn) -- AB02475)
05
Even as the divines of Iran from the inception of Islam until now maintain that the Promised One dwells in Jabulqa and Jabulsa, and whosoever speaks otherwise, they pronounce his death sentence and mock the Sunnis, since those souls do not cling to such invented fancies but rather affirm and proclaim His birth.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1303-01-15 [1885-Oct-24], to Haji Muhammad Husayn Tabib -- BH00324)
06
O people of God! Inquire ye of the people of the Qurʼan: 'Where is Jabulqa, and what of Jabulsa? What hath become of those illusory cities?' They have condemned as a liar that hapless Jaʻfar, who did not speak falsely. For uttering a single truthful remark, he hath been branded a liar from the early days of Islam to the present time. 'God's malison on the head of the people of tyranny!
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1304-11-12 [1887-Aug-2], to Mirza Aqa -- BH06358)
07
Hadi Dawlatabadi is occupied with leading the poor people astray. He is among those who have contrived a Holy Land and a Jabulqa and Jabulsa. A whole world of idle fancies and a realm of vain imaginings hath newly appeared.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305-09-11 [1888-May-22], to Nabil Qabl-i-Baqir -- BH02065)
08
Some thought the source of this honey was in Jabulqa and Jabulsa, while others imagined the fountainhead of this sugar to be in the treasuries of heaven.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Feb-09, to Shir Muhammad Khan -- AB03171)
09
As I came out I saw a tall man with luminous face, white beard and white locks falling down on his shoulder. He had a most pleasant countenance and sweet voice. He also spoke in this new language. I asked him from which part of the world does he come from? He said: 'From Jabolga and Jaborsa.' (Now these two cities are the two imaginary cities where according to Mohamadan traditions the Promised One is living and the Baha'is have exploded this idea) When he said that 'I have come from Jabolga and Jaborsa', I thought 'now how are we going to answer the Mohamadans?'
Then I asked him in which part of the world these two cities are situated?' He smiled and said:- 'These cities are not on earth; they are in heaven'. I became, then very happy and exclaimed: 'you are a heavenly personage! Let us go to Baha'u'llah!' While he was engaged in a wonderful, divine conversation with the Blessed Perfection in the new language I was so overjoyed that I awoke. I have been happy since then.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Ahmad Sohrab, spoken en route on 1913-May-06 -- ABU1546)