70 Should a woman be divorced in consequence of a proven act of infidelity, she shall receive no maintenance during her period of waiting. Thus hath the day-star of Our commandment shone forth resplendent from the firmament of justice. Truly, the Lord loveth union and harmony and abhorreth separation and divorce. Live ye one with another, O people, in radiance and joy. By My life! All that are on earth shall pass away, while good deeds alone shall endure; to the truth of My words God doth Himself bear witness. Compose your differences, O My servants; then heed ye the admonition of Our Pen of Glory and follow not the arrogant and wayward. 71 Take heed lest the world beguile you as it beguiled the people who went before you! Observe ye the statutes and precepts of your Lord, and walk ye in this Way which hath been laid out before you in righteousness and truth. They who eschew iniquity and error, who adhere to virtue, are, in the sight of the one true God, among the choicest of His creatures; their names are extolled by the Concourse of the realms above, and by those who dwell in this Tabernacle which hath been raised in the name of God. 72 It is forbidden you to trade in slaves, be they men or women. It is not for him who is himself a servant to buy another of God's servants, and this hath been prohibited in His Holy Tablet. Thus, by His mercy, hath the commandment been recorded by the Pen of justice. Let no man exalt himself above another; all are but bondslaves before the Lord, and all exemplify the truth that there is none other God but Him. He, verily, is the All-Wise, Whose wisdom encompasseth all things.

If she is divorced on account of some well proved illicit action, no allowance should be given her for the period of her waiting months, thus bath the orb of command been witnessed from the horizon of justice. Verily God hath desired union and justice, and abhorred separation and divorce. Consort together, O people, with fragrance and spirituality. By My life! Every thing in this present world vanishes and only good actions and deeds endure, and God beareth witness to all that I say. O my servants! Bring your dissensions to perfect harmony and agreement, listen to what the supreme pen admonisheth you, and follow not the wicked proud people. Beware lest this world delude you as it has deluded others before you. Follow the laws of God and His precepts; then walk in this path which is spread with the truth. They will be mentioned by the supreme concourse and by the denizens of this place which is exalted by the name of God. Selling of slaves is strictly prohibited and no one is allowed, by any means, to purchase a slave as it is forbidden in the tablet of God: Thus hath the command been graciously written by the pen of justice. No one has the right to feel himself greater than another for all are servants and guides to God; directing the people that "There is no God but Me". Verily He is the wise over all things.

73 Adorn yourselves with the raiment of goodly deeds. He whose deeds attain unto God's good pleasure is assuredly of the people of Bahá and is remembered before His throne. Assist ye the Lord of all creation with works of righteousness, and also through wisdom and utterance. Thus, indeed, have ye been commanded in most of the Tablets by Him Who is the All-Merciful. He, truly, is cognizant of what I say. Let none contend with another, and let no soul slay another; this, verily, is that which was forbidden you in a Book that hath lain concealed within the Tabernacle of glory. What! Would ye kill him whom God hath quickened, whom He hath endowed with spirit through a breath from Him? Grievous then would be your trespass before His throne! Fear God, and lift not the hand of injustice and oppression to destroy what He hath Himself raised up; nay, walk ye in the way of God, the True One. No sooner did the hosts of true knowledge appear, bearing the standards of Divine utterance, than the tribes of the religions were put to flight, save only those who willed to drink from the stream of everlasting life in a Paradise created by the breath of the All-Glorious. 74 God hath decreed, in token of His mercy unto His creatures, that semen is not unclean. Yield thanks unto Him with joy and radiance, and follow not such as are remote from the Dawning- place of His nearness. Arise ye, under all conditions, to render service to the Cause, for God will assuredly assist you through the power of His sovereignty which overshadoweth the worlds. Cleave ye unto the cord of refinement with such tenacity as to allow no trace of dirt to be seen upon your garments. Such is the injunction of One Who is sanctified above all refinement. Whoso falleth short of this standard with good reason shall incur no blame. God, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Wash ye every soiled thing with water that hath undergone no alteration in any one of the three respects; take heed not to use water that hath been altered through exposure to the air or to some other agent. Be ye the very essence of cleanliness amongst mankind. This, truly, is what your Lord, the Incomparable, the All-Wise, desireth for you. 75 God hath, likewise, as a bounty from His presence, abolished the concept of "uncleanness", whereby divers things and peoples have been held to be impure. He, of a certainty, is the Ever- Forgiving, the Most Generous. Verily, all created things were immersed in the sea of purification when, on that first day of Ridvan, We shed upon the whole of creation the splendours of Our most excellent Names and Our most exalted Attributes. This, verily, is a token of My loving providence, which hath encompassed all the worlds. Consort ye then with the followers of all religions, and proclaim ye the Cause of your Lord, the Most Compassionate; this is the very crown of deeds, if ye be of them who understand.

Adorn yourselves with the embroidered garment of actions, and he who attains, through actions and deeds, unto the good pleasure of God, verily be is of the people of Baha, and is mentioned before His throne. Render victorious the ruler of creation, first by good actions and then by wisdom and Beyan: Thus ye are commanded by most of the tablets on the part of the merciful. Verily He is the All-Knowing of all things. You must not oppose one another and no soul is permitted to murder another soul; this is that which was forbidden unto you in a book which was concealed behind the pavilion of might. Do ye slay him whom God hath quickened with a spirit on His part? Verily this is naught but a great transgression before the throne. Fear God and destr[o]y not by the hand of oppression and disobedience that which God bath built up; then follow the path of truth. When the hosts of knowledge appeared with the standards of Beyan, the people of all religions were put to flight except those who desired to drink the pure water of life in a garden which existed through the breath of the glorious. God has decreed the purity of the seed, as a bounty on His part to the people. Thank him with fragrance and spirituality, and follow not those who are remote from the day-spring of nearness. Arise with steadfastness to serve the cause under all circumstances. Verily He will strengthen you with a dominion that encompasseth the worlds. Take hold of the rope of refinement and delicacy in such wise that no trace of dirt appears on your clothes. This is that which is commanded by Him who is more elegant than the elegant; but there is no obligation upon the one who has a valid excuse. Verily He is the pardoner, the clement. Cleanse every foul thing with water, three qualities of which are unchanged (i.e. color, taste and smell) and beware not to use that water which is changed by the air or any other thing. Be the element of refinement amongst creatures. This is that which your Lord the mighty, has desired unto you; so also legal impurities of things and that of religious communities is abolished by God as a gift on His part: Verily He is the forgiver, the generous. (This refers to the Shiites - followers of Ali - who believe that certain things and nations are impure.) All things have been immersed in the sea of purity since the first day of Rizwan whereon, with our most comely names and supreme attributes, we revealed ourselves to whosoever is in the realm of creation (Rizwan is the greatest festival and lasts nineteen days, commensing on the anniversary of His manifestation.) This is from My bounty which hath encompassed the worlds, that ye may consort with all religions and deliver to them the command of your Lord, the merciful. This is indeed the crown of actions, were ye of those who know!

76 God hath enjoined upon you to observe the utmost cleanliness, to the extent of washing what is soiled with dust, let alone with hardened dirt and similar defilement. Fear Him, and be of those who are pure. Should the garb of anyone be visibly sullied, his prayers shall not ascend to God, and the celestial Concourse will turn away from him. Make use of rose-water, and of pure perfume; this, indeed, is that which God hath loved from the beginning that hath no beginning, in order that there may be diffused from you what your Lord, the Incomparable, the All-Wise, desireth. 77 God hath relieved you of the ordinance laid down in the Bayán concerning the destruction of books. We have permitted you to read such sciences as are profitable unto you, not such as end in idle disputation; better is this for you, if ye be of them that comprehend. 78 O kings of the earth! He Who is the sovereign Lord of all is come. The Kingdom is God's, the omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Worship none but God, and, with radiant hearts, lift up your faces unto your Lord, the Lord of all names. This is a Revelation to which whatever ye possess can never be compared, could ye but know it.

God hath commanded immaculacy, and to wash even that which is covered with dust - how much more then the congealed dirt. Fear God and be of the cleanly. And he on whose garment dirt appears, verily his prayers will not ascend to God, and will be shunned by the supreme concourse. Use rose water, then the pure attar of roses: This is that which God hath desired from the beginning which has no beginning, that from you may be diffused what was wished by your Lord, the mighty, the wise. Destruction of books as revealed in the Beyan, is hereby cancelled and we permit you to read of science that which will profit you, and not that whereby you will be lead to dispute and contention in speech. This is better unto you were ye of those who know! O ye assemblies of Kings! The ruler hath come, and the kingdom is to God, the protector, the self-existent. Worship none save God, and turn with illumined hearts unto the face of your Lord, the king of names - this is a matter which could not be equalled even by all that ye have, were ye to understand.

79 We see you rejoicing in that which ye have amassed for others and shutting out yourselves from the worlds which naught except My guarded Tablet can reckon. The treasures ye have laid up have drawn you far away from your ultimate objective. This ill beseemeth you, could ye but understand it. Wash from your hearts all earthly defilements, and hasten to enter the Kingdom of your Lord, the Creator of earth and heaven, Who caused the world to tremble and all its peoples to wail, except them that have renounced all things and clung to that which the Hidden Tablet hath ordained. 80 This is the Day in which He Who held converse with God hath attained the light of the Ancient of Days, and quaffed the pure waters of reunion from this Cup that hath caused the seas to swell. Say: By the one true God! Sinai is circling round the Dayspring of Revelation, while from the heights of the Kingdom the Voice of the Spirit of God is heard proclaiming: "Bestir yourselves, ye proud ones of the earth, and hasten ye unto Him." Carmel hath, in this Day, hastened in longing adoration to attain His court, whilst from the heart of Zion there cometh the cry: "The promise is fulfilled. That which had been announced in the holy Writ of God, the Most Exalted, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved, is made manifest." 81 O kings of the earth! The Most Great Law hath been revealed in this Spot, this scene of transcendent splendour. Every hidden thing hath been brought to light by virtue of the Will of the Supreme Ordainer, He Who hath ushered in the Last Hour, through Whom the Moon hath been cleft, and every irrevocable decree expounded.

We see you rejoice in that which ye gathered for others in your stead and deprive yourselves from the worlds which could not be numbered by anything save the preserved tablet. Acquiring money has occupied you from attaining unto the intended aim. This behooveth ye not, were ye of those who reflect! Cleanse your hearts from the strong odor of this world and advance swiftly to the kingdom of your Lord, the creator of the earth and the heavens, by whom earthquakes appeared and nations lamented except those who have abandoned the world and adopted that which is commended in a hidden tablet. This is a day wherein the interlocutor hath attained unto the lights of the ancient and hath drunk the pure, clear, cool, and wholesome water of union from this cup, whereby all seas were filled (i.e. the cup of knowledge from which all knowledge is derived). Say! By God! The truth - the Tor [?] revolves around the day-spring of the manifestation and the spirit (Christ) crieth out from the kingdom: "Come, come, O ye sons of delusion". This is a Day wherein Koumallah (i.e. Mt. Carmel) hath hurried from longing and yearning to meet Him, and Mt. Zion shouted, "The Promised hath come and that which is recorded in the tablets of God, the supreme, the mighty, the beloved, become manifest! O ye assemblies of kings! The most great law has been caused to descend in this most brilliant outlook, and every hidden matter appeared on the part of the ruler of fate, through whom the hour hath come, the moon has been cleft, and every decisive matter been fully explained.

82 Ye are but vassals, O kings of the earth! He Who is the King of Kings hath appeared, arrayed in His most wondrous glory, and is summoning you unto Himself, the Help in Peril, the Self- Subsisting. Take heed lest pride deter you from recognizing the Source of Revelation, lest the things of this world shut you out as by a veil from Him Who is the Creator of heaven. Arise, and serve Him Who is the Desire of all nations, Who hath created you through a word from Him, and ordained you to be, for all time, the emblems of His sovereignty. 83 By the righteousness of God! It is not Our wish to lay hands on your kingdoms. Our mission is to seize and possess the hearts of men. Upon them the eyes of Bahá are fastened. To this testifieth the Kingdom of Names, could ye but comprehend it. Whoso followeth his Lord will renounce the world and all that is therein; how much greater, then, must be the detachment of Him Who holdeth so august a station! Forsake your palaces, and haste ye to gain admittance into His Kingdom. This, indeed, will profit you both in this world and in the next. To this testifieth the Lord of the realm on high, did ye but know it. 84 How great the blessedness that awaiteth the king who will arise to aid My Cause in My kingdom, who will detach himself from all else but Me! Such a king is numbered with the companions of the Crimson Ark--the Ark which God hath prepared for the people of Bahá. All must glorify his name, must reverence his station, and aid him to unlock the cities with the keys of My Name, the omnipotent Protector of all that inhabit the visible and invisible kingdoms. Such a king is the very eye of mankind, the luminous ornament on the brow of creation, the fountainhead of blessings unto the whole world. Offer up, O people of Bahá, your substance, nay your very lives, for his assistance.

O ye assemblies of kings! Ye are the slaves, and the master has appeared in the most splendid glory. He summoneth you unto Himself, the protector, the self-existent: Beware lest delusion witholds you from the dawning-place of the manifestation, or the world veil you from the creator of Heaven. Be steadfast in the cause of the intended, who hath created you by a word on His part, and made you the manifestations of might to what was and is. By God, we do not wish to dispose of your empires but we have come only to dispose of the hearts. Those are indeed the views of Baha and to this will bear witness the kingdom of names, were ye to understand! Verily he who obeys his Master turneth away from this world, how much more he who obeys this extolled one! Set aside homes and advance unto the kingdom. This is that which will profit you in this world and the worlds to come. In this the ruler of might testifies for me, were ye to know! Blessed is the king who ariseth to assist My cause, and separates himself from aught else save me. Verily he is of the people of the red ark, which God hath prepared for the people of Baha: it is incumbent upon every one to exalt him, honor him, render him powerful, that he may invade the cities with the keys of my name, the protector against whosoever is in the realms of the seen and the unseen. Verily he will be regarded as the light to the human beings, as the brilliant white spot to the brow of creation, and the head of honor to the body of the world - assist him, O people of Baha, with money and souls.

85 O Emperor of Austria! He Who is the Dayspring of God's Light dwelt in the prison of Akka at the time when thou didst set forth to visit the Aqsa Mosque. Thou passed Him by, and inquired not about Him by Whom every house is exalted and every lofty gate unlocked. We, verily, made it a place whereunto the world should turn, that they might remember Me, and yet thou hast rejected Him Who is the Object of this remembrance, when He appeared with the Kingdom of God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds. We have been with thee at all times, and found thee clinging unto the Branch and heedless of the Root. Thy Lord, verily, is a witness unto what I say. We grieved to see thee circle round Our Name, whilst unaware of Us, though We were before thy face. Open thine eyes, that thou mayest behold this glorious Vision, and recognize Him Whom thou invokest in the daytime and in the night season, and gaze on the Light that shineth above this luminous Horizon. 86 Say: O King of Berlin! Give ear unto the Voice calling from this manifest Temple: "Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Everlasting, the Peerless, the Ancient of Days." Take heed lest pride debar thee from recognizing the Dayspring of Divine Revelation, lest earthly desires shut thee out, as by a veil, from the Lord of the Throne above and of the earth below. Thus counselleth thee the Pen of the Most High. He, verily, is the Most Gracious, the All-Bountiful. Do thou remember the one [Napoleon III] whose power transcended thy power, and whose station excelled thy station. Where is he? Whither are gone the things he possessed? Take warning, and be not of them that are fast asleep. He it was who cast the Tablet of God behind him when We made known unto him what the hosts of tyranny had caused Us to suffer. Wherefore, disgrace assailed him from all sides, and he went down to dust in great loss. Think deeply, O King, concerning him, and concerning them who, like unto thee, have conquered cities and ruled over men. The All-Merciful brought them down from their palaces to their graves. Be warned, be of them who reflect. 87 We have asked nothing from you. For the sake of God We, verily, exhort you, and will be patient as We have been patient in that which hath befallen Us at your hands, O concourse of kings!

O thou Emperor of Austria! The day-spring of the light of primal unity was in the prison of Acca at the time when you visited El-Massjidil Aksa (the temple of Jerusalem) but thou hast passed by without even enquiries about Him by whom every house is honored and exalted, and every high door is opened. We destined it (the temple) the mikbal of the world (place of pilgrimage) for my commemoration, but thou hast rejected the commemoration when He appeared in the kingdom of God, thy Lord, and the Lord of the worlds. We have been with thee under all aspects and found thee clinging to the branch and heedless of the root. Verily thy Lord is a witness to what I say. We were overtaken by sorrows at seeing thee journeying for the sake of our name and knowing us not while we were before thy face. Open thine eye, that thou mayest see this most noble outlook; know Him upon whom thou callest day and night; and witness the light which is shining from this magnificent horizon. O thou King of Berlin! Hear the call from this manifest temple "There is no God but me, the everlasting, the peerless, the pre-existent". Beware lest delusion withold thee from the day- spring of manifestation; or lust veil thee from the king of the throne and the earth. Thus doth the supreme pen admonish thee. Verily He is the bounteous, the generous. Remember! Where is he who was greater than thou, and of more honor and dignity? And where are his possessions (Napoleon the third)? Awake and be not of those who sleep! Verily he hath put behind him the tablet of God when he informed him of what had befallen us on the part of the soldiers of oppressors. Therefore humiliation has surrounded him from all sides, until he fell to dust with great loss. O King! Consider his condition (Napoleon's) and remember your equal who have subdued the countries and governed the people. Verily God, the merciful, hath made them descend from the palaces to the graves. Consider and be of the mindful! Verily we desire naught of you, but only we advise you, for God's sake, and we will be patient as we have been through that which has befallen us on your part, O ye assemblies of rulers.

88 Hearken ye, O Rulers of America and the Presidents of the Republics therein, unto that which the Dove is warbling on the Branch of Eternity: "There is none other God but Me, the Ever- Abiding, the Forgiving, the All-Bountiful." Adorn ye the temple of dominion with the ornament of justice and of the fear of God, and its head with the crown of the remembrance of your Lord, the Creator of the heavens. Thus counselleth you He Who is the Dayspring of Names, as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The Promised One hath appeared in this glorified Station, whereat all beings, both seen and unseen, have rejoiced. Take ye advantage of the Day of God. Verily, to meet Him is better for you than all that whereon the sun shineth, could ye but know it. O concourse of rulers! Give ear unto that which hath been raised from the Dayspring of Grandeur: "Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Lord of Utterance, the All-Knowing." Bind ye the broken with the hands of justice, and crush the oppressor who flourisheth with the rod of the commandments of your Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise. 89 O people of Constantinople! Lo, from your midst We hear the baleful hooting of the owl. Hath the drunkenness of passion laid hold upon you, or is it that ye are sunk in heedlessness? O Spot that art situate on the shores of the two seas! The throne of tyranny hath, verily, been established upon thee, and the flame of hatred hath been kindled within thy bosom, in such wise that the Concourse on high and they who circle around the Exalted Throne have wailed and lamented. We behold in thee the foolish ruling over the wise, and darkness vaunting itself against the light. Thou art indeed filled with manifest pride. Hath thine outward splendour made thee vainglorious? By Him Who is the Lord of mankind! It shall soon perish, and thy daughters and thy widows and all the kindreds that dwell within thee shall lament. Thus informeth thee the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. 90 O banks of the Rhine! We have seen you covered with gore, inasmuch as the swords of retribution were drawn against you; and you shall have another turn. And We hear the lamentations of Berlin, though she be today in conspicuous glory.

O ye rulers of America, and Presidents of the republics. Harken unto that which the dove singeth on the branch of duration, which is vocal with the melody of "There is no God but Me, the everlasting the forgiver, the generous." Adorn the temple of the empire with the embroidered garment of justice and piety, and the head with the crown of commemoration of your Lord, the creator of heaven. Thus doth the day-spring command you on the part of one all- knowing and wise. The promised one hath appeared in this extolled station, and through Him the mouth of existence of the seen and unseen hath smiled. Avail yourselves of the day of God! Verily to meet Him is better for you than upon which the sun shines, were ye of those who know! O ye assemblies of Emirs (chiefs)! Harken unto that which was raised from the day-spring of loftiness. "That there is no God but me, the utterer, the knower." Set the broken by the hands of justice, and break to pieces the whole — the oppressors — with the scourges of the ordinances of your Lord, the commander, the wise. O ye assemblies of El-Room! We hear amongst you the screech of owls — are ye overtaken by the exhilaration of lust, or are ye of the heedless? O point, which lieth on the shore of the two seas! The throne of injustice hath been fixed in thee, and the fire of hatred hath been kindled in thee in such wise that made the Supreme Concourse and those who revolve around the high throne, lament. We see in thee the foolish ruling over the wise, and the darkness boasting against light. Verily thou art in manifest delusion! Are ye deceived by thine outward adornment? It shall vanish, by the Lord of Creation, and the daughters and widows and those people that are within thee, shall lament and weep! Thus the omniscient, the wise, informed thee! O banks of the river Rhine! We have seen you drenched in gore, because the swords of retribution were drawn against you, and you shall have another turn, and we hear the lamentation of Berlin, though it be today in manifest glory.

91 Let nothing grieve thee, O Land of Ta, [Tihran] for God hath chosen thee to be the source of the joy of all mankind. He shall, if it be His Will, bless thy throne with one who will rule with justice, who will gather together the flock of God which the wolves have scattered. Such a ruler will, with joy and gladness, turn his face towards, and extend his favours unto, the people of Bahá. He indeed is accounted in the sight of God as a jewel among men. Upon him rest forever the glory of God and the glory of all that dwell in the kingdom of His revelation. 92 Rejoice with great joy, for God hath made thee "the Dayspring of His light", inasmuch as within thee was born the Manifestation of His Glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee--a name through which the Day-Star of grace hath shed its splendour, through which both earth and heaven have been illumined. 93 Erelong will the state of affairs within thee be changed, and the reins of power fall into the hands of the people. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Knowing. His authority embraceth all things. Rest thou assured in the gracious favour of thy Lord. The eye of His loving-kindness shall everlastingly be directed towards thee. The day is approaching when thy agitation will have been transmuted into peace and quiet calm. Thus hath it been decreed in the wondrous Book.

O land of Ta (Teheran)! Grieve not because of anything, for God hath made thee the day-spring of the joys of the worlds. If He desires He will bless thy throne with one [who] shall rule with justice, and gather the sheep of God, which have been scattered by the wolves. Verily He (ruler) will face the people of Baha with joy and pleasure. Is he not indeed the essence of creation (best and greatest of kings) before the Truth? Upon him is the Baha of Ullah (God) and Baha of whomsoever is in the kingdom of command in all respects! Rejoice for that by reason of which God hath made thee the horizon of light; for in thee the dayspring of the manifestation was born, and thou wast called by this name whereby the orb of bounty hath appeared, and the heavens and earth were illumined. Affairs shall be changed in thee, and a republic of men shall rule over thee. Verily thy Lord is the wise, the encompasser! Be confident through the grace of thy Lord, because the glances of favor shall never cease beholding thee and thou shalt be wrapped in tranquillity after disturbance. Thus the matter hath been decreed in a new book!

94 O Land of Kha! [Khurasan] We hear from thee the voice of heroes, raised in glorification of thy Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most Exalted. Blessed the day on which the banners of the divine Names shall be upraised in the kingdom of creation in My Name, the All-Glorious. On that day the faithful shall rejoice in the victory of God, and the disbelievers shall lament. 95 None must contend with those who wield authority over the people; leave unto them that which is theirs, and direct your attention to men's hearts. 96 O Most Mighty Ocean! Sprinkle upon the nations that with which Thou hast been charged by Him Who is the Sovereign of Eternity, and adorn the temples of all the dwellers of the earth with the vesture of His laws through which all hearts will rejoice and all eyes be brightened.

O land of Kha (Khorassan)! We hear in thee the voices of men commemorating they Lord, the rich and exalted. Blessed is the day of creation, in my name El Abha. On that day the sincere believers will rejoice at the victory of God, and the disbelievers lament. No one must object to those who govern the people. Leave unto them that which they have, and turn only unto the hearts. O thou of the greatest sea! Sprinkle over nations that which thou wert commanded on the part of the ruler of pre-existence, and adorn the temples of men with the embroidered garment of laws and ordinances whereat the hearts rejoice and eyes are consoled.

97 Should anyone acquire one hundred mithqals of gold, nineteen mithqals thereof are God's and to be rendered unto Him, the Fashioner of earth and heaven. Take heed, O people, lest ye deprive yourselves of so great a bounty. This We have commanded you, though We are well able to dispense with you and with all who are in the heavens and on earth; in it there are benefits and wisdoms beyond the ken of anyone but God, the Omniscient, the All-Informed. Say: By this means He hath desired to purify what ye possess and to enable you to draw nigh unto such stations as none can comprehend save those whom God hath willed. He, in truth, is the Beneficent, the Gracious, the Bountiful. O people! Deal not faithlessly with the Right of God, nor, without His leave, make free with its disposal. Thus hath His commandment been established in the holy Tablets, and in this exalted Book. He who dealeth faithlessly with God shall in justice meet with faithlessness himself; he, however, who acteth in accordance with God's bidding shall receive a blessing from the heaven of the bounty of his Lord, the Gracious, the Bestower, the Generous, the Ancient of Days. He, verily, hath willed for you that which is yet beyond your knowledge, but which shall be known to you when, after this fleeting life, your souls soar heavenwards and the trappings of your earthly joys are folded up. Thus admonisheth you He in Whose possession is the Guarded Tablet. 98 Various petitions have come before Our throne from the believers, concerning laws from God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of all worlds. We have, in consequence, revealed this Holy Tablet and arrayed it with the mantle of His Law that haply the people may keep the commandments of their Lord. Similar requests had been made of Us over several previous years but We had, in Our wisdom, withheld Our Pen until, in recent days, letters arrived from a number of the friends, and We have therefore responded, through the power of truth, with that which shall quicken the hearts of men. 99 Say: O leaders of religion! Weigh not the Book of God with such standards and sciences as are current amongst you, for the Book itself is the unerring Balance established amongst men. In this most perfect Balance whatsoever the peoples and kindreds of the earth possess must be weighed, while the measure of its weight should be tested according to its own standard, did ye but know it.

Whosoever owns one hundred mithkals of gold, a nineteenth part must be given to God, the creator of heaven and earth. Beware, o people, not to withold yourselves from this great bounty. We have commanded you to do this, though we were independent of you and whosoever is in the earth and heavens. Verily there are in this certain causes and wise reasons whereof not wots [?] save God, the knower, the wise. Say, by this, he desired the purification of your wealth and to bring you nigh unto stations which cannot be comprehended by anyone save by him whom God hath desired. Verily, He is the bounteous, the mighty, the gracious. O people, be not unfaithful to the rights of God and dispose not of them without His permission. Thus hath the matter been decreed in the tablets and in this incontrovertible tablet. He who betrays God, will be betrayed by justice, and he who acts in accordance with what he is commanded, the blessings of the heaven of the benevolence of his Lord, the bounteous, the giver, the generous, the ancient, will descend upon him. Verily He hath desired unto you what ye know not today but the people shall know it hereafter when the spirits fly away and the carpets of pleasures are folded. Thus remindeth you, He who has the preserved tablet. Miscellaneous letters have come before the throne of those who believed, asking God, the Lord of the visible and the invisible, the Lord of the worlds (regarding the conduct, ordinances, laws, etc,) therefore, we have revealed this tablet, adorned with the best form of command, that the people may know the ordinances of their Lord. Also we were asked (the same) on some former occasions during successive years, but we restrained the pen for a reason on our part until at last, letters have come from many others, in those days, and accordingly we have answered them with the truth whereby the hearts will be quickened. Say, o ye assemblies of learned men! Judge not the book of God according to what you know of rules and sciences; verily it is the balance of truth amongst the creatures, and that which nations have will be weighed and judged by this, the greatest balance — verily it stands alone, were ye to know!

100 The eye of My loving-kindness weepeth sore over you, inasmuch as ye have failed to recognize the One upon Whom ye have been calling in the daytime and in the night season, at even and at morn. Advance, O people, with snow-white faces and radiant hearts, unto the blest and crimson Spot, wherein the Sadratu'l-Muntaha is calling: "Verily, there is none other God beside Me, the Omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting!" 101 O ye leaders of religion! Who is the man amongst you that can rival Me in vision or insight? Where is he to be found that dareth to claim to be My equal in utterance or wisdom? No, by My Lord, the All-Merciful! All on the earth shall pass away; and this is the face of your Lord, the Almighty, the Well-Beloved. 102 We have decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of Him Who is the Object of all knowledge; and yet, behold how ye have allowed your learning to shut you out, as by a veil, from Him Who is the Dayspring of this Light, through Whom every hidden thing hath been revealed. Could ye but discover the source whence the splendour of this utterance is diffused, ye would cast away the peoples of the world and all that they possess, and would draw nigh unto this most blessed Seat of glory.

The eye of My providence weepeth over you for that you did not know the one upon whom you called morning and evening, at dawn and eventide. Turn, o people, with bright faces and illuminated hearts towards the blessed red spot in which the Sadrat-El-Muntaha (divine tree) crieth out, "Verily there is no God but Me, the protector, the self-Existent." O ye assemblies of learned (ones)! Can anyone of you cope with me in the field of revelation and knowledge? Or can anyone follow round the race-course of wisdom and expression? (are challenged to reproduce a like book). No, by my Lord, the merciful! Everything upon this earth is perishable, and will not endure except the face of your Lord, the precious, the beloved! O people! We have ordained sciences for the purpose of knowing the known; but by them you were veiled from Him who is the dawning-place of such sciences and by whom every hidden matter became manifest. Were ye to know the horizon wherefrom the sun of speech hath shone, you would have rejected all mankind and that which is in their possessions and advanced unto the extolled station.

103 Say: This, verily, is the heaven in which the Mother Book is treasured, could ye but comprehend it. He it is Who hath caused the Rock to shout, and the Burning Bush to lift up its voice, upon the Mount rising above the Holy Land, and proclaim: "The Kingdom is God's, the sovereign Lord of all, the All-Powerful, the Loving!" 104 We have not entered any school, nor read any of your dissertations. Incline your ears to the words of this unlettered One, wherewith He summoneth you unto God, the Ever-Abiding. Better is this for you than all the treasures of the earth, could ye but comprehend it. 105 Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation, and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book.

[no break] Say, this is indeed a heaven wherein exists the treasure and the mother of the book (Baha'o'llah), were ye of those who understand! This is indeed He of whom the book called out, and the Sadrat of the high tower upon the blessed spot cried out, "The kingdom is to God, the ruler, the mighty, the loving." Verily we never entered schools and studied sciences: but hearken unto that whereby this illiterate one commandeth you unto God, the everlasting. Verily it is better unto you than that which is treasured in the earth, were ye of those who comprehend! Verily the one who explaineth that which was caused to descend from the heaven of inspiration, contrary to the obvious sense thereof is indeed of those who have reansposed the supreme word of God, and will be regarded as the losers in an enlightening book.

106 It hath been enjoined upon you to pare your nails, to bathe yourselves each week in water that covereth your bodies, and to clean yourselves with whatsoever ye have formerly employed. Take heed lest through negligence ye fail to observe that which hath been prescribed unto you by Him Who is the Incomparable, the Gracious. Immerse yourselves in clean water; it is not permissible to bathe yourselves in water that hath already been used. See that ye approach not the public pools of Persian baths; whoso maketh his way toward such baths will smell their fetid odour ere he entereth therein. Shun them, O people, and be not of those who ignominiously accept such vileness. In truth, they are as sinks of foulness and contamination, if ye be of them that apprehend. Avoid ye likewise the malodorous pools in the courtyards of Persian homes, and be ye of the pure and sanctified. Truly, We desire to behold you as manifestations of paradise on earth, that there may be diffused from you such fragrance as shall rejoice the hearts of the favoured of God. If the bather, instead of entering the water, wash himself by pouring it upon his body, it shall be better for him and shall absolve him of the need for bodily immersion. The Lord, verily, hath willed, as a bounty from His presence, to make life easier for you that ye may be of those who are truly thankful. 107 It is forbidden you to wed your fathers' wives. We shrink, for very shame, from treating of the subject of boys. Fear ye the Merciful, O peoples of the world! Commit not that which is forbidden you in Our Holy Tablet, and be not of those who rove distractedly in the wilderness of their desires. 108 To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or marketplace; nay rather, if he wish to magnify the Lord, it behoveth him to do so in such places as have been erected for this purpose, or in his own home. This is more in keeping with sincerity and godliness. Thus hath the sun of Our commandment shone forth above the horizon of Our utterance. Blessed, then, be those who do Our bidding.

Ye are commanded to manicure your finger, to enter water which will surround your temples, every week, and then clean your bodies; beware lest heedlessness withold you from that which you are commanded on the part of one mighty and great. Use for bathing, the water which has not been used for any former purpose, and beware not to approach the tanks of the Persian baths, the odor of which is stinking and offensive and scented at a distance before reaching them. O people, and be not of the vile! Verily this (water) resembles decaying matter and foul and putrid water, were ye of those who know, so also shun their offensive reservoirs, and be of the pure! We have indeed desired to see you the manifestations of Paradise on the earth, that from you may be diffused that will cheer the hearts of those who are near. It is better for one to cleanse his body with pouring water over it, and thus dispensing with entering the water. Verily He wisest to facilitate matters before you as a bounty on His part, that ye may be of the thankful. Ye are forbidden to marry the wives of your fathers. As to the laws regarding youths, modesty prevents us from mentioning them. Fear God, O concourse of the realm of creation and commit not that whereof ye are forbidden in the tablet, and be not of those who wander madly in the deserts. No one is permitted to mutter prayers before the people when walking out of doors or in the streets; rather the one wishing to mention God and offer his prayers must do the same either in the house of worship or in his own home. This is nearer to sincerity and piety. Thus hath the sun of laws shone forth from the horizon of wisdom - blessed are they who comply with His will.

109 Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful. 110 All Feasts have attained their consummation in the two Most Great Festivals, and in the two other Festivals that fall on the twin days--the first of the Most Great Festivals being those days whereon the All-Merciful shed upon the whole of creation the effulgent glory of His most excellent Names and His most exalted Attributes, and the second being that day on which We raised up the One Who announced unto mankind the glad tidings of this Name, through which the dead have been resurrected and all who are in the heavens and on earth have been gathered together. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Ordainer, the Omniscient. 111 Happy the one who entereth upon the first day of the month of Bahá, the day which God hath consecrated to this Great Name. And blessed be he who evidenceth on this day the bounties that God hath bestowed upon him; he, verily, is of those who show forth thanks to God through actions betokening the Lord's munificence which hath encompassed all the worlds. Say: This day, verily, is the crown of all the months and the source thereof, the day on which the breath of life is wafted over all created things. Great is the blessedness of him who greeteth it with radiance and joy. We testify that he is, in truth, among those who are blissful.

It is incumbant upon everyone to have a will drawn up, to be adorned with the greatest name, Allah'o'Abha, as a heading, and commencing with a confession of the oneness of God in the manifestation of His manifestation, then should be mentioned that which he deems proper and good, to testify of his favor in the kingdom of command and creation that a treasure may be secured unto him by his Lord, the protector, the trustworthy. The festivals are confined to two great ones; the first is the days wherein the Merciful hath revealed Himself with His most comely names and high attributes to whosoever is in the realm of creation. The second is the day wherein we sent Him who gave to the people the glad-tidings of this name, whereby the dead rose, and whosoever is in the earth and heavens awoke for the last judgement,* Blessed is he who hath attained unto the first day of the month of Baha which God hath called after His greatest name. (The Babi year is composed of nineteen months, each month having nineteen days, a special name being given to every month - the first month is the month of Baha, and the first day of the month is also the day of Baha - the blessing referred to above is given to the one who keeps this day sacred and performs his religious duties as required of him.) Blessed is he who shows forth the grace of God through their actions and deeds; proving the bounty of Him who encompasseth the worlds. Say, this month is indeed the first of the months and their origin, whereat the fragrance of life passeth by all the contingent beings. (This refers to the transit of the Sun to the zodiacal sign of Aries which occurs on the 21st of March corresponding to the first day of spring.) Blessed is he who keeps this day with fragrance and spirituality, and of him we testify that he is of the victorious.

* (the first great festival which is known by the name of Assam and Rizwan begins after the elapse of thirty-two days from the Naurooz feast which takes place on the 21st of March - wherein the sun is translated into the zodiacal sign of Aries - its duration is twelve days only, signifying the time which the manifestation, Baha'u'llah spent in the garden of Wajeeb Pasha at the suburbs of Baghdad where He declared Himself to His followers. The second great festival commemorates the appearance of the first Point, the Bab, which took place on the fifth day of Jamadi Aval, 1269, Mohammedan era, corresponding to May 23rd, 1844.)