Tablet of the Peacock

Abstract: In 1887 C.E., Bahá’u’lláh revealed a luminous Tablet in response to a devoted believer who, impelled by ardent love and reverence, offered a peacock as a token of homage. The act took place across the expanse of two distant cities: ‘Akká, the place of exile and confinement for the prisoners of the Ottoman Empire, and Alexandria, within the Iraqi domain. Unable to discover in his land aught befitting the august presence of his Lord, the believer procured that which was rare and seemingly unattainable — a peacock — and presented it with steadfast devotion. His offering may have been inspired by the exalted words of the Báb: “Know thou that in the treasuries of God all things exist, and thou, therefore, shouldst present unto Him that which is not found in His treasuries.”

In reply, Bahá’u’lláh, in the plenitude of His mercy, revealed a Tablet in which the word ṭāwūs (peacock) was expounded, each letter invested with symbolic import and attributed to the sender. This sacred text discloses the refinement and gentleness of the Ancient Beauty, as well as His gracious bestowals upon a soul wholly consecrated to His threshold. The present study offers a provisional English rendering of this Tablet, first published in Persian by Badī‘ Bushrū’ī (Āhang-i Badī‘, year 6, nos. 16–17, p. 291).