Concerning the questions of Manakji Limji Hataria 2 страница
(Browne's translation resumes)
66.
Amongst mankind are some who say that this servant desireth naught save the perpetuation of his name, and others who say that he desireth the world for himself,
67.
notwithstanding that I have not found during the days of my life a place of safety such that I might set my feet therein,
yet was ever [overwhelmed] in floods of affliction, whereof none wots save God:
verily He knoweth what I say.
68.
How many were the days wherein my friends were disquieted for my distress,
and how many the nights wherein the sound of wailing arose from my family in fear for my life!
69.
None will deny this save him who is devoid of truthfulness.
70.
Doth he who regardeth not [his] life [as assured] for less than a moment desire the world?
71.
[I] marvel at those who speak after their lusts, and wander madly in the desert of passion and desire.
72.
They shall be questioned as to that which they have said;
on that day they shall not find for themselves any protector nor any helper.
73.
And amongst them are those who say, "Verily he denieth God,"
notwithstanding that all my limbs testify that there is no God but Him,
and that those whom he quickened with the truth
74.
and sent for [men's] guidance are the manifestations [prophets] of His Most Comely Names,
the day springs of His Supreme Attributes,
and the recipients of His revelation in the realm of creation;
75.
by whom the Proof of God unto all beside Himself is made perfect, the sign of renunciation becomes apparent;
and by whom every soul taketh a course towards the Lord of the Throne.
77.
We bear witness that there is no God but Him; everlastingly he was, and there was nothing beside Him; everlastingly He will be, even as He hath been.
78.
Exalted is the Merciful One above this, that the hearts of the people of wisdom should ascend unto the comprehension of His Nature, or that the understanding of such as inhabit the worlds should rise to the knowledge of His Essence.
79.
Holy is He above the knowledge of all save Himself, and exempt is he from the comprehension of what is beside Him:
verily in Eternity of Eternities was He independent of the worlds.
80.
Remember the days wherein the Sun of Batha [Mecca] shone forth
from the horizon of the Will of thy Lord, the High, the Supreme,
[how] the doctors turned aside from him, and the cultured found fault with him;
that thou mayst understand what is now hidden within the Veil of Light.
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81.
Matters waxed grievous for him on all sides,
until those who were [gathered] round him were dispersed by his [own] command:
thus was the matter decreed from the Heaven of glory.
82.
Then remember when one of them came in before the Nejashi and recited unto him a sura of the Quran.
83.
He said to those around him,
"Verily it hath been revealed on the part of One All-knowing and Wise.
84.
Whosoever accepteth what is best, and believeth in that which Jesus brought,
for him it is impossible to turn aside from what hath been read:
85.
verily we testify unto [the truth of] it,
even as we testify unto [the truth of] what is with us of the books of God the Protecting,
the Self Subsistent."
Tablet of the Letter to the Kings CHAPTER FOUR
Divisions 86-115
Tablet to the Shah of Iran
LETTER TO THE KINGS
86.
By God, O King,
if thou wouldest hear the strains of the dove which cooeth on the branches with varied notes by the command of thy Lord the Merciful, thou wouldest assuredly put away dominion behind thee and turn unto the Chiefest Outlook, the station from the horizon of which the Book of the Dawn is seen, and wouldest spend what thou hast, seeking after that which is with God.
87.
Then wouldest thou find thyself in the height of glory and exaltation,
and the zenith of greatness and independence:
thus hath the matter been written in the primaeval revelation by the Pen of the Merciful One.
88.
There is no good in what thou dost possess to day,
for another shall possess it to morrow in thy stead.
89.
Choose for thyself that which God hath chosen for His elect:
verily He will bestow upon thee a mighty dominion in His Kingdom.
90.
We ask God that He may help thy Majesty to hearken unto the Word whereby the world is illumined, and preserve thee from those who are remote from the region of nearness.
91.
Glory be to Thee, O God!
How many heads have been set up on spears in Thy way!
92.
How many breasts have advanced to meet arrows for Thy good pleasure?
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93.
How many hears have been riddled for the exaltation of Thy Word and the diffusion of Thy Religion!
94.
How many eyes have overflowed with tears for Thy love!
95.
I ask Thee, O King of kings, Pitier of thralls, by Thy Most Great Name,
which thou hast made the day spring of Thy Most Comely Names and the manifestation Thy Supreme Attributes, to lift up the veils which intervene between Thee and Thy creatures, withholding them from turning towards the horizon of Thy revelation;
96.
then draw them, O God, by Thy Supreme Word from the left hand of fancy and forgetfulness to the right hand of certainty and knowledge,
that they may know what Thou, in Thy bounty and grace, desirest for them,
and may turn towards the Manifestation of Thy religion and the Day-spring of Thy signs.
97.
O God, Thou art the Gracious, the Lord of great bounty;
withhold not Thy servants from the Most Mighty Ocean,
which Thou hast made to produce the pearls of Thy Knowledge and Wisdom,
neither repel them from Thy Gate,
which Thou hast opened to all who are in Thy heaven and Thy earth.
98.
O Lord, leave them not to themselves, for they know not,
and flee from what is better for them than whatsoever hath been created in Thine earth.
99.
Look upon them, O Lord, with the glances of the eyes of Thy favours and bounties,
and free them from passion and lust, that they may draw night unto Thy Supreme Horizon,
and may discover the delight of remembering Thee,
and the sweetness of the table which hath been sent down Quran 5:112-114
from the heaven of Thy Will and the air of Thy Bounty.
100.
Everlastingly hath Thy Grace encompassed (all) contingent beings,
and Thy Mercy preceded (all) creatures:
there is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
101.
Glory be to Thee, O God!
Thou knowest that my heart is melted about Thy business,
that my blood boils in my veins with the fire of Thy love,
and that every drop thereof crieth unto Thee with muted eloquence (saying),
102.
"O Lord Most High, shed me on the earth in Thy way,"
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that there may grow from it what Thou desirest in Thy books,
yet hast concealed from the sight of Thy servants,
save such as have drunk of the Kawthar of knowledge from the hands of Thy grace,
and the Salsabil of wisdom from the cup of Thy bounty.
103.
Thou knowest, O God, that in every action I desire nothing save Thy business,
and that in every utterance I seek naught but Thy celebration,
neither doth my pen move except I desire therein Thy good pleasure
and the setting forth of what Thou hast enjoined upon me by Thy authority.
104.
Thou seest me, O God, confounded in Thine earth:
if I tell what Thou hast enjoined on me, Thy creatures turn against me;
105.
and if I forsake what Thou hast enjoined on me on Thy part,
I should be deserving of the scourges of Thy wrath,
and far removed from the gardens of nearness to Thee.
106.
No, by Thy Glory, I advance toward Thy good pleasure,
turning aside from what the souls of Thy servants desire:
and accept what is with Thee,
forsaking what will remove me afar off from the retreats of nearness to Thee
and the heights of Thy Glory.
107.
By Thy Glory, for Thy love I flinch not from aught,
and for Thy good pleasure I fear not all the affliction in the world:
108.
this is but through Thy Strength and Thy Might and Thy Grace and Thy Favour,
not because I am deserving thereof.
(Browne's translation resumes, taekn from the Traveller's Narrative, the same document that the following text is taken.)
109.
O God, this is a letter which I wish to send to the King;
110.
and Thou knowest that I have not desired anything from him
save the display of his justice to Thy people,
and the showing forth of his favours to the dwellers in Thy Kingdom.
111.
And verily, by My soul, I have not desired aught save what Thou hast desired,
neither, by Thy Might, do I desire aught save what Thou desirest.
112.
Perish that being which desireth of Thee aught save Thyself!
113.
And, by Thy Glory, Thy good pleasure is the limit of My hope,
and Thy Will the extremity of My desire!
114.
Be merciful then, O God, to this poor one Who hath caught hold of the skirt of Thy richness,
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and to this humble supplicant Who calleth on Thee, for Thou art indeed the Mighty, the Great.
115.
Help, O God, His Majesty the King to execute Thy laws amongst Thy servants
and to show forth Thy justice amidst Thy creatures,
that he may rule over this sect as he ruleth over those who are beside them.
Verily Thou art the Potent, the Mighty, the Wise.
Tablet of the Letter to the Kings CHAPTER FIVE
Divisions 116-145
Tablet to the Shah of Iran
LETTER TO THE KINGS
116.
Agreeably to the permission and consent of the King of the age,
this Servant turned from the place of the Royal Throne (Tehran) toward 'Iraq-i-'Arab,
and in that land abode twelve years.
117.
During the period of (His) sojourn (there) no description of His condition was laid before the Royal Presence, neither did any representation go to foreign states.
118.
Relying upon God did He abide in that land, until a certain functionary came to Iraq,
who, on his arrival, fell to designing the affliction of a company of poor unfortunates.
119.
Every day, beguiled by certain of the doctors of Persia, he persecuted these servants;
although nothing prejudicial to Church or State,
or at variance with the principles and customs of their countrymen had been observed in them.
120.
So this Servant (was moved) by this reflection:
`May it not be that by reason of the deeds of the transgressors some action at variance with the world-ordering counsel of the King should be engendered!'
121.
Therefore was an outline (of the matter) addressed to Mirza Sa'id Khan,
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that he might submit it to the (Royal) Presence,
and that it might be done according to that which the Royal command might promulgate.
122.
A long while elapsed, and no command was issued;
until matters reached such a state that it was to be feared that sedition might suddenly break out and the blood of many be shed.
123.
Of necessity, for the protection of the servants of God,
a certain number (of the Babis) appealed to the governor of Iraq.
124.
If (the King) will consider what has happened with just regard,
it will become clear in the mirror of his luminous heart that what occurred was (done) from considerations of expediency, and that there was apparently no resource save this.
125.
The Royal Personage can bear witness and testify to this,
that in whatever land there were some few of this sect the fire of war and conflict was wont to be kindled by reason of the aggression of certain governors.
126.
But this Transient One after His arrival in Iraq withheld all from sedition and strife;
and the witness of this Servant is His action,
for all are aware and will testify
that the multitude of this faction in Persia at that time was more than (it had been) before,
yet, notwithstanding this, none transgressed his proper bounds nor assailed anyone.
127.
It is nigh on fifteen years that all continue tranquil, looking unto God and relying on Him,
and bear patiently what hath come upon them, casting it on God.
128.
And after the arrival of this Servant in this city which is called Adrianople certain of this community enquired concerning the meaning of `victory.'
129.
Diverse answers were sent in reply, one of which answers will be submitted on this page,
so that it may become clear before the (Royal) Presence that this Servant hath in view naught save peace and reform.
130.
And if some of the divine favours, which, without merit of my works,
have been graciously bestowed on Me, do not become evident and apparent,
this much will be known, that God, in His abounding grace and undeserved mercy,
hath not deprived this Oppressed One of the ornament of reason.
131.
The form of words which was set forth on the meaning of `victory' is this:
"`He is God, exalted is He.
"`It hath been known that God (glorious is His mention) is sanctified from the world and what is therein,
and that the meaning of "victory" is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with anyone.
132.
The Lord of He doeth what He will hath committed the kingdom of creation, Quran 3:35, 22:19
both land and sea,into the hand of kings,
and they are the manifestations of the Divine Power according to the degrees of their rank:
verily He s the Potent, the Sovereign.
133.
But that which God (glorious is His mention) hath desired for Himself is the hearts of His servants,
which are treasures of praise and love of the Lord and stores of divine knowledge and wisdom.
134.
The will of the Eternal King hath ever been to purify the hearts of (His) servants from the promptings of the world and what is therein,
so that they may be prepared for illumination by the effulgences of the Lord of the Names and Attributes.
135.
Therefore must no stranger find his way into the city of the heart,
so that the Incomparable Friend may come unto His own place
--that is, the splendor of His Names and Attributes, not His Essence (exalted is He),
for that Peerless King hath been and will be holy for everlasting above ascent or descent.
136.
Therefore today"victory" neither hath been nor will be opposition to anyone, nor strife with any person; but rather what is well-pleasing is that the cities of men's hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of the Word, of Wisdom, and of Exhortation.
137.
Everyone, then, who desireth "victory" must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must protect it from remembering aught beside God:
afterwards let him turn his regards towards the cities of others' hearts.
138.
This is what is intended by "victory":
sedition hath never been nor is pleasing to God,
and that which certain ignorant persons formerly wrought was never approved.
139.
If ye be slain for His good pleasure verily it is better for you than that ye should slay.
140.
Today the friends of God must appear in such fashion amidst God's servants that by their actions they may lead all unto the pleasure of the Lord of Glory.
141.
I swear by the Sun of the Horizon of Holiness that the friends of God never have regarded nor will regard the earth or its transitory riches.
142.
God hath ever regarded the hearts of His servants, and this too is by reason of His most great favour, that perchance mortal souls may be cleansed and sanctified from earthly states and may attain unto everlasting places.
143.
But that Real King is in Himself sufficient unto Himself and independent of all:
neither doth any advantage accrue to Him from the love of contingent beings, nor doth any hurt befall Him from their hatred.
144.
All earthly places appear through Him and unto Him return, and God singly and alone abideth in His own place which is holy above space and time, mention and utterance, sign, description, and definition, height and depth.
145.
And none knoweth this save Him and whosoever hath knowledge of the Book.
There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Bountiful.'
Finis. [the End]
Tablet of the Letter to the Kings CHAPTER SIX
Divisions 146-170
Tablet to the Shah of Iran
LETTER TO THE KINGS
146.
"But good deeds depend on this -
that the Royal Person should himself look into that concern with just and gracious regard,
and not be satisfied with the representations of certain persons unsupported by proof or evidence.
147.
We ask God to strengthen the King unto that which He willeth:
and what He willeth should be the wish of the worlds.
148.
"Afterwards they summoned this Servant to Constantinople.
149.
We reached that city along with a number of poor unfortunates,
and after Our arrival did not converse with a single soul, for We had nothing to say to them,
and there was no wish save that it should be clearly demonstrated by proof to all that this Servant had no thought of sedition and had never associated with the seditious.
150.
And, by Him in praise of Whose spirit the tongues of all things speak,
to turn in any direction was difficult in consideration of certain circumstances;
but these things were done for the protection of lives.
Verily My Lord knoweth what is in My soul, and verily He is witness unto what I say.
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