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 Zia Eblaghi, Gul-háy-i-‘Ishq dar Shúrih-zár-i-Tárík, p. 347.
Port Sa‘íd, delivered via Jináb-i-Áqá Siyyid Taqí
Fárs
Jináb-i-Ma‘ṣúm-‘Alí, upon him be the Glory of God
He is God
O thou who art firm in the Covenant! That which thou hadst written to Jináb-i-Manshádí hath been perused, and out of the utmost love and kindness, this servant is composing a response.
Thou hadst written about the oppression inflicted by the wicked. This is an ancient habit of the people of fire; burning is a property of fire, and it cannot be divorced from the essential requirements thereof. Similarly, solicitude is a trait of the virtuous, and this is an essential requirement of theirs; it is impossible for them to be miserly or parsimonious. Though they have ignited the fire of enmity, praised be God that the friends are kind, showing the utmost benevolence and grace.
Thou hast given the joyful tidings of the gladness and supreme delight of the friends, that four times a week they are holding gatherings where, through the recitation of verses and the spreading of sweet savors, they are reviving the hearts and souls, and reposing beneath the shade of the tree of hope. This was a soul-stirring piece of news; this bounty will surely increase with every passing day.
Jináb-i-Áqá Mírzá Jalál must certainly kindle the flame of love in Muḥammarih.* Jináb-i-Áqá Mírzá Ḥasan-‘Alí Khán and Jináb-i-Áqá Ghulám-‘Alí should, in gatherings of the friends, be even as nightingales of faithfulness, singing a song that will rouse the birds of the meadows to flight. Deliver my message to Jináb-i-Áqá Rustam Jamshíd and give him the enclosed letter.
Upon thee be glory and praise.
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* An old name for the Iranian city of Khorramshahr.
A typescript of the original Persian text of the Tablet appears below (all punctuation mine).
Adib Masumian 