Tablet of the Garden of Ridván (Lawh-i-Bágh-i-Ridván)

Grandeur and Might are His!

   Upon Our being seated, Rádíyih,^[2] upon her be My glory, attained Our presence on thy^[3] behalf, laid the table of God’s bounty and in thy name extended hospitality to all present. In truth, all that which stimulateth the appetite and pleaseth the eye was offered, and indeed that which delighteth the ear could also be heard as the leaves were stirred by the Will of God, and from this movement a refreshing voice was raised, as if uttering a blissful call inviting the absent to this Feast. God’s power and the perfection of His handiwork could enjoyably be seen in the blossoms, the fruits, the trees, the leaves and the streams. Praised be God who hath thus confirmed thee and her.

   In brief, all in the Garden were recipients of the choicest bounties and in the end expressed their thanksgiving unto their Lord. O that all God’s beloved would have been present on this day!

   We beseech God, exalted be He, to cause to descend upon thee at every moment, a blessing and a mercy and a measure of divine grace from His presence. He is the Forgiving, the All-Glorious.

   We send greetings to His loved ones, and supplicate for each one of them that which is worthy of mention and is acceptable in His presence. Peace be upon thee, and upon God’s sincere servants. Praise be to Him, the Lord of all mankind.

Notes

^[1] According to the Leiden List of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, this Tablet dates from the late ’Akká period. It was likely revealed during one of Bahá’u’lláh’s visits to the small house inside the Garden of Ridván, outside ’Akká to join the believers for feasting. The Tablet is kept in this house to this day. See in Taherzadeh, ’Adib. The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. Vol. 4, (Oxford, George Ronald, 1987). pp. 15-16. (MW’s note).

^[2] A sister of Munírih Khánum, the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ (MW’s note).

^[3] Rádíyih’s husband, who was unable to attend the feasting in the garden on this occasion (MW’s note).

* An updated, authorized version of this translation, with three additional footnotes, has been prepared by the Bahá'í World Centre, in Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá'u'lláh (2023).