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 has not been published; a typescript of it was shared with me by Marc Soudon, who received it from the National Bahá’í Archives of France.
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).
O thou who art attracted by the sweet savors of God! I have noted the purport of thy three missives, which attest to thine intense attachment to the Cause of God, thy fervent devotion to His love, thy complete dedication to His Kingdom, and thy constant remembrance of His Covenant. This behoveth such a one as thyself, and verily thou dost occupy an exalted rank in the estimation of God’s loved ones. I entreat the glory of God to provide thee with guidance in all thine affairs; to gladden thy heart by witnessing His most great signs; to draw thee, with the breathings of the Spirit, to the Kingdom of beauty; and to guide through thee that company of spiritual ones whom thou didst address in Paris, for erelong thou shalt hear the reverberating echo of that discourse throughout the world. Should anyone from among them come unto thee from Paris or America, befriend them in accordance with the wisdom revealed in the Book, which is to speak in proportion to the measure of their understanding. Let the discussion be spiritual, having no connection with material affairs such as politics, for we have no concern whatsoever with these. Our theme is the outpourings of the All-Merciful, not earthly politics, and our focus is on hearts and souls alone.
Regarding the people of that land, engage not in dialogue with them at all. As for Mukhtár Páshá and Shawqí Páshá: Shouldst thou associate with them, thou must establish conclusive proofs and testimonies from the Torah and the Gospel concerning the prophethood of Muḥammad, the Apostle of God—peace be upon Him—even as it is mentioned in the first chapter of the Gospel,[1] when it was asked of John: “Art thou the Messiah, or art thou Elias, or art thou the Prophet?” He said: “The Prophet, the Apostle of God.” Likewise in the twelfth chapter of the Revelation of John,[2] refer thou unto it: The woman clothed with the sun representeth the Law of God in the Muḥammadan Dispensation; the sun and moon are a sign of the Persian Empire and a symbol of the Sublime State,[3] both of which are beneath her feet; and the twelve brilliant stars in her crown are the twelve Imáms, meaning ‘Alí—may God be pleased with him—and his eleven descendants. That woman, namely the Law of God, brought forth a man-child, and that man-child was as a son unto her who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. The woman then fled into the wilderness, which is to say that the Law of God migrated to the wilderness of Ḥijáz. At an opportune moment, mention these statements to Mukhtár Páshá with thine own tongue and confine thyself to such discourse as this. Should he inquire about Bahá’u’lláh, say that He was possessed of divine authority, but that prophethood was sealed with the Apostle of God. Say no more on this subject while in that realm,[4] as it is forbidden. Do thou inform him, however, that in America and Europe the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh enjoyeth supreme importance; that a great multitude have been convinced of the prophethood of Muḥammad, the Apostle of God; and that this Cause shall soon become significant in those regions.[5]
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[1] Cf. John 1:19–21. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has also discussed this theme in Some Answered Questions, ch. 33.
[2] Cf. Rev. 12:1–6. For a more extensive commentary by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on this chapter of the Book of Revelation, refer to Some Answered Questions, ch. 13.
[3] The Ottoman Empire.
[4] Egypt.
[5] Presumably meaning Egypt and its surrounding areas.
A typescript of the original Arabic text of this Tablet appears below (all punctuation and short vowel marks mine).
Adib Masumian 