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"Exalted
chamber, "Holy chamber" or "chamber" are among symbolic terms used to
refer to the realm of pre-existence where Prophets (both Independent
Prophets and Dependent/Lesser Prophets) abide before they appear on
earth as Manifestations of God (God's Chosen Ones). Below are some
references relating to this.
1)
Baha'u'llah, the Independent
Prophet ("maid of heaven"), appears on earth from the realm of
pre-existence: "Whereupon the maid of heaven looked out from her
exalted chamber..."
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
Whereupon the maid of heaven looked out from her exalted chamber,
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
And with her brow signed to the Celestial Concourse,
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
Flooding with the light of her countenance the heaven and the earth,
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
And as the radiance of her beauty shone upon the people of dust,
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
All beings were shaken in their mortal graves.
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
She then raised the call which no ear through all eternity hath ever heard,
-- Tablet of the Holy Mariner, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 223
2)
The following passage also
refers to the appearance of Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet, from
the realm of pre-existence, "He Who, from everlasting, had concealed
His Face from the sight of creation is now come." "and from the heights
of its loftiest chambers, the Maids of Heaven have cried out.." refers
to the pre-existent Dependent (Lesser) Prophets announcing
Baha'u'llah's declaration in that realm. Both the Independent Prophet
(Baha'u'llah) and the Dependent (Lesser) Prophets bear the title, "Maid
of Heaven", which denotes Prophethood.
Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is
the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered
it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath
made the Throne of His Paradise. We have chosen thee to be our most
mighty Trumpet, whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all
mankind.
Say: This is the Paradise on whose foliage the wine of utterance hath
imprinted the testimony: "He that was hidden from the eyes of men is
revealed, girded with sovereignty and power!" This is the Paradise, the
rustling of whose leaves proclaims: "O ye that inhabit the heavens and
the earth! There hath appeared what hath never previously appeared. He
Who, from everlasting, had concealed His Face from the sight of
creation is now come." From the whispering breeze that wafteth amidst
its branches there cometh the cry: "He Who is the sovereign Lord of all
is made manifest. The Kingdom is God's," while from its streaming
waters can be heard the murmur: "All eyes are gladdened, for He Whom
none hath beheld, Whose secret no one hath discovered, hath lifted the
veil of glory, and uncovered the countenance of Beauty."
Within this Paradise, and from the heights of its loftiest chambers,
the Maids of Heaven have cried out and shouted: "Rejoice, ye dwellers
of the realms above, for the fingers of Him Who is the Ancient of Days
are ringing, in the name of the All-Glorious, the Most Great Bell, in
the midmost heart of the heavens. The hands of bounty have borne round
the cup of everlasting life. Approach, and quaff your fill. Drink with
healthy relish, O ye that are the very incarnations of longing, ye who
are the embodiments of vehement desire!"
-- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 31
3)
Following passage from Gleanings
CXXIX refers to the appearance of a Dependent (Lesser) Prophet from the
realm of pre-existence, "Step out of Thy holy chamber, O Maid of
Heaven, inmate of the Exalted Paradise!", who is among "His chosen ones
who shall be manifested unto men" mentioned earlier in the tablet.
"Leave them to perish on the dust of extinction. Let them be reduced to
nothingness, inasmuch as the flame of hatred hath been kindled within
their breasts." is a reference to those who reject a Dependent (Lesser)
Prophet.
Say: Step out of Thy holy chamber, O Maid of Heaven, inmate of the
Exalted Paradise! Drape thyself in whatever manner pleaseth Thee in the
silken Vesture of Immortality, and put on, in the name of the
All-Glorious, the broidered Robe of Light. Hear, then, the sweet, the
wondrous accent of the Voice that cometh from the Throne of Thy Lord,
the Inaccessible, the Most High. Unveil Thy face, and manifest the
beauty of the black-eyed Damsel, and suffer not the servants of God to
be deprived of the light of Thy shining countenance. Grieve not if Thou
hearest the sighs of the dwellers of the earth, or the voice of the
lamentation of the denizens of heaven. Leave them to perish on the dust
of extinction. Let them be reduced to nothingness, inasmuch as the
flame of hatred hath been kindled within their breasts. Intone, then,
before the face of the peoples of earth and heaven, and in a most
melodious voice, the anthem of praise, for a remembrance of Him Who is
the King of the names and attributes of God. Thus have We decreed Thy
destiny. Well able are We to achieve Our purpose.
-- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 282
4)
Following passage from the Surih
of the Temple refers to the appearance of a Prophet from the realm of
pre-existence, "O Maid of inner meanings! Step out of the chamber of
utterance by the leave of God", which can be interpreted as one of the
"Brides of inner meaning" referred to in the subsequent passage from
the Iqan; "Brides of inner meaning" being another symbolic reference to
the Dependent (Lesser) Prophets of Baha'u'llah, who will continue his
revelation and "utter a myriad songs" and unfold "innumerable
mysteries".
O Maid of inner meanings! Step out of the chamber of utterance by the
leave of God, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Reveal, then,
thyself adorned with the raiment of the celestial Realm, and proffer
with thy ruby fingers the wine of the heavenly Dominion, that haply the
denizens of this world may perceive the light that shone forth from the
Kingdom of God when the Daystar of eternity appeared above the horizon
of glory. Perchance they may arise before the dwellers of earth and
heaven to extol and magnify this Youth Who hath established Himself in
the midmost heart of Paradise upon the throne of His name, the
All-Sufficing Helper -- He from Whose countenance shineth the
brightness of the All-Merciful, from Whose gaze appear the glances of
the All-Glorious, and in Whose ways are revealed the tokens and
evidences of God, the omnipotent Protector, the Almighty, the
All-Loving.
1.23
Grieve not if none be found to accept the crimson wine proffered by Thy
snow-white hand and to seize it in the name of Thy Lord, the Most
Exalted, the Most High -- He Who hath appeared again in His name, the
Most Glorious. Leave this people unto themselves, and repair unto the
Tabernacle of majesty and glory, wherein Thou shalt encounter a people
whose faces shine as brightly as the sun in its noontide splendour, and
who praise and extol their Lord in this Name that hath arisen, in the
plenitude of might and power, to assume the throne of independent
sovereignty. From their lips Thou shalt hear naught but the strains of
My glorification and praise; unto this Thy Lord beareth Me witness. The
existence of these people, however, hath remained concealed from the
eyes of all who, from everlasting, have been created through the Word
of God. Thus have We made plain Our meaning and set forth Our verses,
that perchance men may reflect upon the signs and tokens of their Lord.
-- Baha'u'llah, Suri of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 12
By God! This Bird of Heaven, now dwelling upon the dust, can, besides
these melodies, utter a myriad songs, and is able, apart from these
utterances, to unfold innumerable mysteries. Every single note of its
unpronounced utterances is immeasurably exalted above all that hath
already been revealed, and immensely glorified beyond that which hath
streamed from this Pen. Let the future disclose the hour when the
Brides of inner meaning will, as decreed by the Will of God, hasten
forth, unveiled, out of their mystic mansions, and manifest themselves
in the ancient realm of being. Nothing whatsoever is possible without
His permission; no power can endure save through His power, and there
is none other God but He. His is the world of creation, and His the
Cause of God. All proclaim His Revelation, and all unfold the mysteries
of His Spirit.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 175
5)
Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!
Thereupon the maids of heaven hastened forth from their chambers, upon
whose countenances the eye of no dweller in the highest paradise had
ever gazed.
Glorified be our Lord, the Most High!
They all gathered around her, and lo! they found her body fallen upon the dust;
Glorified be our Lord, the Most High!
And as they beheld her state and comprehended a word of the tale told
by the Youth, they bared their heads, rent their garments asunder, beat
upon their faces, forgot their joy, shed tears and smote with their
hands upon their cheeks, and this is verily one of the mysterious
grievous afflictions - Glorified be our Lord, the Most High!
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of the Holy Mariner
6)
He came down from the pavillions of beauty and stood like the Sun at the zenith of heaven, peerless and unique in His beauty.
Rejoice! This is the Deathless Youth, come bearing great joy.
Thus He stood in the midst of heaven, shining like the noonday Sun at
the axis of beauty, His Name mighty! Thereupon a herald proclaimed: "
Rejoice! This is the Beauty of the Unseen, come with a mighty spirit."
A clamor then arose from the hearts of the maids of heaven in their
chambers, "Blessed be God, the best of Creators!" Thereupon the dove
sang out,
Rejoice! for the eyes of the privy angels have seen none like unto this Deathless Youth."
The gates of Paradise were flung wide yet again, opened with the key of a mighty Name.
Rejoice! This is the Deathless Youth, come with a mighty Name.
The Maid of Beauty came forth, dawning like the sun, plain upon the horizon of the morn.
Rejoice! This is the Maid of Glory, come with a mighty beauty.
A brocade she wore, dazzling the minds of the privy angels.
Rejoice! this is the Deathless Maid, come with a mighty grace.
She descended from the chambers of eternity, then She sang such a song
as to enchant the hearts of the sincere. Rejoice! This is the Deathless
Beauty, come with a mighty secret.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of the Deathless Youth (a provisional translation by John Walbridge).
7)
Truly blessed is the one who arrays himself with the garment of
patience and equanimity and who does not change in afflictions and
whose footsteps do not slip when the tempests of wrath blow and remains
acquiescent at all times and relies on God at all times. I swear by
God! Soon will God cause him to be manifested within the canopy of
grandeur with a luminous garment which will scintillate like unto the
scintillation of light above the spiritual horizon and eyes will be
dazzled upon beholding him and above his head there will be a caller
from God saying, "This is verily the one who was long suffering for God
in the vain and futile world and in all that the unbelievers did unto
him. The concourse on high will seek blessing from him and the
occupiers of God's pavilions will seek to meet him as well as the holy
maidens in the sacred and beautiful tabernacles." So O People of the
Bayan! Be patient in these passing days and do not complain that your
abject ornaments have been lost and do not bemoan of the afflictive
trials that have been ordained in the Mighty Scrolls of God. ...
O Solace of the eye of eternity! Change your tone and chant upon the
melodies of those nightingales singing in the tabernacle of divine
names and in the dominions of divine attributes that the birds of the
throne may detach themselves from the dust of themselves, and may
therefore turn back to their original homeland which is sanctified
beyond transcendence. O Thou Quintessence of truth! Sing and chant with
the most beauteous melodies for all the maidens of paradise have come
out of their assemblies and their tents of purity that they may hear
Your own melody, the melody that has been sung in the pages of God in
the book, Qayyumu'l-Asma. Do not deprive these of what they have
desired to hear of Thy new and wondrous melodies and loving kindness
for Thou art indeed the most generous One in the highest grades of
immortality and in truth Thou art indeed the most generous One in the
dominion of eternity and Thy Name is well known amongst the concourse
on high as the Generous One. ...
O Thou most holy Beauty! The unbelievers do not respite Thee that a
breath should be exhaled from Thy chest for as My voice wishes to leave
My mouth, they place the hand of hatred over My mouth and yet with all
your knowledge of this matter you command Me to raise My call in this
atmosphere for Thou art the doer in truth, Thou art the commander in
justice. Thou does what Thou wishes and Thou art wise over all things.
If Thou hearkenest to the call of Thy servant, if Thou fulfillest his
wish then forgive them with the utmost kind word and delicate utterance
that those handmaidens of eternity may return to their seats in the
crimson and ruby laden chambers. Thou knowest that I have now become
afflicted between the unbelievers from two parties and Thou commandest
in both Revelations and overseest both Dispensations and Thou art
manifest in the Twin garments and Thou art resplendent through the Two
Suns and have been mentioned with the Twin Names, possessest the Twin
Dawning-places, commandest the secret of the Twin Mysteries in these
Two Lines and God is fully aware beyond all this.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of Job (a provisional translation by K. Fananapazir)
Full text available at: https://bahai-library.com/bahaullah_surih_sabr
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