Adib Masumian

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 Faramarz Ashraf, Yárán-i-Qazvín, Munjadhibán-i-Jamál-i-Mubín, p. 64. The Tablet was addressed to Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh Ashraf of Kand, near Tehran. On p. 63 of the aforementioned book, the author mentions that, when pilgrims would visit the Holy Land, they would divide themselves into two lines and carry flowerpots with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in front of them as they all walked toward the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. Since Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh had a beautiful voice, he would chant Tablets and other verses at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s instruction. This is the context for the Tablet translated below. 

A manuscript copy of the original Tablet certified by ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan, who was then serving as the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran, is available here. This was supplied to me by the grandson of Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh Ashraf, Shidan Ashraf, who also kindly provided me with the photographs below.

Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh Ashraf and his family, pictured with friends. Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh is standing in the back row to the right; his brother, Shukru’lláh, is standing in the back row to the left; and the gentleman seated in the middle row second from the right with the very long beard is their father, Mullá Ashraf Kandí.

Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh Ashraf in his later years, pictured with his second wife Rubabeh and their three children: Jadidu’llah, Nejatieh, and Nejatu’llah (from right to left).

* * *

He is God

Ṭ [Tehran]

To the pilgrim Mírzá Faḍlu’lláh, upon him be the Glory of God, the All-Glorious

He is the Most Effulgent

O sweetly singing pilgrim! Let remembrance be paid to the days when we were gathered like unto a flock of birds, and thou, thyself a bird of dulcet tones, would chant Tablets and verses with the most wondrous of melodies as we all walked forth in tearful prayer and ardent invocation, entreating and imploring with lowliness and humility, our faces turned towards the Holy Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. Thou wouldst intone the odes of the Blessed Beauty with marvelous strains, adorning the ears with the pearls of their meanings. Forget not that joy and radiance, and cast not that hidden pearl from out thine ear. Beseech God that thou mayest obtain the bounties of those days from the Kingdom of Abhá, and discover the fruits of those supplications in the retreats of the Almighty. My hope from the grace of the Blessed Beauty is that each one of the firm believers may become a conspicuous banner.

As to the letters thou hadst requested—despite my endless preoccupations and the intensity of my sorrows, since I had made a promise, I have written them; they are enclosed herewith.

A typescript of the original Persian text of this Tablet appears below (all punctuation and short vowel marks mine).