A Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to a Mother Bereaved of Her Son

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 Bisháratu’n-Núr, p. 101.

He is God!

O leaf of the Tree of Holiness! Thine illustrious son hath soared, even as the birds of sanctity, to the highest heaven, winging his flight unto the Abhá Paradise. Within the Blessed Tree hath he made his nest, and with manifold melodies upon the branches of the Sadratu’l-Muntahá hath he raised his song and strain. With tones of joy and gladness in the garden of the All-Forgiving Lord hath he struck up such a tune as hath stirred the Concourse on High in the Abhá Kingdom to ecstasy and delight. Therefore, be not saddened, neither let thy heart be grieved; sit not in despondency, nor be thou dejected. Be thou content with fate, quaff the chalice of felicity, and become a tranquil soul, that thou, a handmaid of Bahá, mayest be transformed into an assured leaf, well-pleased with His decree. Upon thee be greetings and praise.

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

هو اللّه

ای ورقۀ شجرۀ تقدیس، سلیلِ جلیل مانندِ طیورِ قدس اوجِ اعلی گرفت و به فردوسِ ابهی پرواز نمود. در شجرۀ طوبی آشیانه نمود و به فنونِ الحان بر افنانِ سدرۀ منتهی نغمه و ترانه آغاز نمود، و به گلبانکِ سرور و حبور در حدیقۀ ربِّ غفور نغمه‌ای ساز کرد که ملأِ اعلی را در ملکوتِ ابهی به وجد و طرب آورد. لهذا محزون مباش، دلخون مگرد، افسرده منشین، پژمرده مباش. راضی به قضا شو، کأسِ صفا نوش، نفسِ مطمئنّه گرد، تا أَمَةُ الْبَهَاءْ اَلْوَرَقَةُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ الرَّاضِيَةُ بِالْقَضَا گردد. وَعَلَيْکَ التَّحِيَّةُ وَالثَّنَاءُ. ع ع