What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the original text of which has been published in Min Makátíb-i-Ḥaḍrat-i-‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 77–80 (selection no. 12). The portion of the translation colored in red has been taken from Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 214.
This Tablet was addressed to Gabriel Sacy (20 November 1858 – 21 March 1903), an Egyptian Catholic and Martinist who seems to have become a Baháʼí around the turn of the twentieth century, apparently under the guidance of Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl Gulpáygání, who was also living in Egypt at the time. Sacy spoke seven languages, studied at the Syrian Protestant College (now the American University of Beirut), and worked as the head of the personnel office at the Ministry of Finance in Cairo. E.G. Browne writes that Sacy “had become a fervent Baháʼí with a very remarkable faculty for interpreting the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, especially those of the Book of Daniel and Revelation, in support of the Bábí and Bahá’í claims” (Materials for the Study of the Bábí Religion, pp. 185–86).
He is God!
O thou who art well versed in the mysteries of the Bible! I have perused thy detailed letter and learned of the discourse that transpired between thee and that noble and respected man. There is no doubt that the exchange which occurred between thee and him was a confirmation from the Spirit and a breath from God, the True One, for verily my Lord, the All-Merciful, aideth every person whose heart hath been drawn to the kingdom of mysteries, assisting him through inspiration and causing him to speak forth with proofs and evidences.
Be thou assured of the grace of thy Lord. Let thy breast be dilated by what He hath bestowed upon thee, let thy spirit be refreshed in that He hath lifted the veil from thy sight, and let thine eyes be solaced by beholding the light of His bounty. Proclaim the Most Exalted Word, and commune with thy Lord at morn and eventide. Ask of Him whatsoever thou wishest, and treasure up whatever thou desirest from the grace of thy God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Beware, beware, lest thou deviate from the wisdom that God hath revealed in His Book. Deal with people according to their station; treat the sick with their remedy, and dress their wounds with such a salve as will heal them swiftly. Utter not what shall cause the souls of humanity to recoil, their flesh to creep, and their limbs to quake—that from which the hearts of every stubborn people will shrink in aversion. Rather, speak unto them with gentle speech, that haply some may take heed or exhibit awe. Follow thou the way of thy Lord, and say not that which the ears cannot bear to hear, for such speech is like luscious food given to small children. However palatable, rare and rich the food may be, it cannot be assimilated by the digestive organs of a suckling child. Therefore unto every one who hath a right, let his settled measure be given.
“Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.” Such is the consummate wisdom to be observed in thy pursuits. Be not oblivious thereof, if thou wishest to be a man of action under all conditions. First diagnose the disease and identify the malady, then prescribe the remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skilful physician, and whoso proceedeth otherwise is indeed among the injudicious. No healing shall come from such a one as that; rather shall the malady increase in its intensity, the illness in its overwhelming power, and the wound in its breadth. Naught behoveth the people of Bahá save the observance of consummate wisdom in all things. This is among those matters that require determination, and thou must observe it, O thankful servant.
Adduce thou conclusive proofs and sure testimonies to establish the truth of those Messengers who came before. Set forth for the Jews an irrefutable evidence of the glorious Christ, and develop to perfection the decisive argument proving the prophethood of the Apostle of God, for verily in the Holy Books are perspicuous verses that indicate this with the most explicit terms, the most weighty allusions, and the most perfect glad-tidings. None can voice their rejection or show pride after the dawning of those lights from the repository of divine mysteries in the land of Ḥijáz. Have human eyes not beheld those brilliant splendors shining from that glorious Dayspring and that peerless Light? Have they not witnessed His traces and the power of His might in edifying souls and promulgating those laws and ordinances that were among the greatest teachings of the All-Loving Lord? As the poet hath said:
Granted that this morn be called a darksome night,
Are seeing eyes also blinded by the light?[1]
By thy life! The people are immersed in the depths of slumber, neither perceiving nor understanding. “Leave them to entertain themselves with their cavillings.”[2] Verily thy Lord is independent of all the peoples of the world.
Furthermore, say unto that respected man that for several centuries the West hath assailed the East with its horsemen and footsoldiers—that it continueth to do so to this day, and will carry on its onslaught with all its forces unceasingly until the Day of Resurrection. Thou shalt witness mighty hosts charging like lions from the forests of the West into the arenas of the East: an army of wealth, an army of industry, an army of commerce, an army of politics, an army of knowledge, an army of discoveries, and advancing forces that charge forth from the West with cutting weapons and achieve conquests in every part of the East. Among their recent conquests are those in the regions of China.
The East hath no power whatsoever to resist these attacking armies—these subduing, advancing hosts. The wise man perceiveth the consequences of this vital matter and needeth no proof in this regard. Therefore, O noble man, reflect thou upon the ultimate outcomes of this situation. Canst thou conceive of any protection for the East from the onslaughts of the West in future times through means of planning, organization, and regulation, even should these be carried out with utmost perfection? Nay, by my Lord, the All-Merciful! Rather do their affairs stand in grave danger.
It thus behoveth the people of the East to contemplate deeply the discovery of effective means whereby they may guard their glory, honor, independence, and whatever else they are bound to defend from the meddling hands of the West. No doubt is there that all means are non-existent, all avenues as nothing, save divine power, heavenly might, celestial dominion, and godly ascendancy. This indeed is a power that withstandeth every onslaught, scattereth every host, disperseth the gathering of every stubborn one, and defeateth every army, as was the case in former centuries. Hast thou not seen how the beauteous Christ—though alone and single, with no helper or assistant, no friend or supporter—nonetheless achieved divine conquests in the western realms, rendering their peoples and kindreds submissive to a Word that appeared in the very heart of the East? It is as though He were a Sun that rose from Its manifest horizon and shed Its lights upon those vast expanses and distant lands, and neither the ramparts of those nations nor the might of those states could resist His conquests. It behoveth, then, the people of the East in this day to lay hold of a conquering divine power and a resplendent celestial force whereby they may withstand every massive army coming from the West to attack the East; nay rather, whereby they may conquer those fortified strongholds equipped with the mightiest of cutting weapons forged from hellish materials.
Their sword is the Word of God and their weapon is peace, their army is the knowledge of God and their commander is the fear of Him, their supporter is the Concourse on High and their Helper is the Lord of the loftiest heavens, their provision is trust in God and their power is the confirmation that descends successively from the Possessor of supremely mighty strength . . .
========
[1] A verse from al-Mutanabbí.
[2] Qur’án 6:91.
A typescript of the original Arabic text of this Tablet appears below (all punctuation and short vowel marks mine).
Adib Masumian 