The four Hands of the Cause were the recipients of a great many Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh. This is especially true in the case of the first three Hands, who were long-standing believers. For many years Bahá'u'lláh revealed Tablets in their names; through these He nurtured their souls and illumined their hearts and minds. Some of these Tablets are unusually lengthy and include sections addressed to many other individual believers.

Long before they were designated as Hands of the Cause, Mullá 'Alí-Akbar, Ibn-i-Asdaq and Ibn-i-Abhar used to carry out the same functions in deepening the friends' knowledge of the Faith, encouraging and supporting them in their teaching work and guiding their steps in their manifold activities. In the course of these services they used to write to Bahá'u'lláh and beseech His blessings for certain souls who were serving the Cause assiduously, and Bahá'u'lláh would respond by revealing Tablets in which He usually addressed each individual separately. Sometimes He would reveal several pages in honour of one individual. In this way the Tablets addressed to the Hands and indeed to other outstanding teachers of the Faith would often contain so many pages as to assume the size of a small book. So numerous are the Tablets revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in honour of the four individuals designated as Hands of the Cause, that a compilation of them would probably amount to one or two large volumes. Added to these are a vast number of Tablets which were sent to them by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. All we can do here is skim the surface and glean a few gems from such a vast treasury.

Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified.¹

By My life and My Cause! Round about whatever dwelling the friends of God may enter, and from which their cry shall rise as they praise and glorify the Lord, shall circle the souls of true believers and all the favoured angels. And should the door of the true eye be opened unto some, they shall witness the Supreme Concourse as it circleth and crieth: 'Blessed art thou, O house, for God hath made thee a resting-place for those He favoureth, and a lodging for those He holdeth dear, and a home for those in whom He hath placed His trust. Unto thee be His praise and His glory and His endless grace'.²

In His Tablets to the Hands of the Cause, Bahá'u'lláh has revealed a great many exhortations addressed to the Bahá'ís in general. These reiterate the basic teachings of the Faith such as

In a Tablet³ to Mullá 'Alí-Akbar Bahá'u'lláh states that His Pen had been continually engaged during these days in revealing the meaning of the promotion of the Cause. This He did lest some foolish ones might commit an unseemly act which could become the cause of the cessation of divine bounties. Bahá'u'lláh then directs Mullá 'Alí-Akbar to urge the believers to become detached from the things of this world, to cleanse themselves from all unworthy and futile deeds, and turn their hearts and souls towards God. Only in this way can they be successful in promoting His Cause.

In another Tablet⁴ to the same Hand of the Cause Bahá'u'lláh enjoins on His followers to adhere to such deeds as will bring about the exaltation of His Cause, reminds them that in this Dispensation conflict and contention are by no means permitted, and urges them to promote His Cause by the sword of wisdom and utterance and not by the sword of steel.

In a Tablet⁵ to Ibn-i-Asdaq, Bahá'u'lláh addresses the people of Bahá and exhorts them to appreciate the great bounty of living in this Day, to adorn themselves with such holy deeds that the peoples of the world may inhale from them the fragrance of the beauty of God and recognize His characteristics from their behaviour. Writing about detachment in another Tablet⁶ to the same Hand of the Cause, Bahá'u'lláh recalls the words of Christ when He said to His disciples that in the course of their missionary work they should shake off the very dust from their garments when they depart from a city.

In another Tablet⁷ to Ibn-i-Asdaq, Bahá'u'lláh affirms that the effect of every pure deed carried out in this day will remain and be remembered for ever. In the same Tablet He mentions that everything is placed within the clutches of ultimate extinction except the Words that have been revealed by the Pen of the Most High.

In a Tablet⁸ to Mullá 'Alí-Akbar Bahá'u'lláh mentions that if

8. ibid. no. 28, p. 3.

To Ibn-i-Asdaq⁹ Bahá'u'lláh describes the greatness of His Revelation. He states that if anyone truly recognizes its grandeur, he will not be deflected from His Cause even if he were to be offered all the treasures of the world and all the good things that may be found therein. In the same Tablet He makes reference to three things in an interesting manner. He states that no one may be considered to be a human being unless he is adorned with the quality of justice and fairness; that there can be no real power except through unity; and that there can be no well-being and happiness except through consultation.

Referring to the perversity of people, and especially religious leaders, Bahá'u'lláh in a Tablet¹⁰ to Mullá 'Alí-Akbar asserts that these unfortunate beings are unaware of the truth of the Cause of God. If only they could attain His presence during the time of revelation when the verses of God are being sent down, each one of them would be so carried away as to become humble and prostrate himself at the feet of his Lord.

In another Tablet¹¹ to Ibn-i-Asdaq, Bahá'u'lláh describes this perversity of the people, especially the Islámic clergy. He ascribes the cause of their deprivation and ignorance of the Faith of God to punishment for the deeds they had committed. He further invokes the wrath of God for those who rise up against His Cause and are determined to put out its light. He asserts the futility of their efforts and declares that in reality their inner beings deride their own selves for their foolish deeds.

In a Tablet¹² to Mullá 'Alí-Akbar Bahá'u'lláh proclaims that every created thing bears witness to His steadfastness, His bounties and His mercy. Those who have heard His call and attained to His Faith are the people of Bahá and the companions of the Crimson Ark.* He announces that this is not the day for people to ask questions, to raise their voices, to deliver their own speeches or to make mention of themselves. It behoves them in this day to turn their ears to the most exalted Horizon and

12. ibid. no. 15, p. 395.

O Son of Dust! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.¹³

In His Tablets to the Hands of the Cause there are innumerable references to teaching the Faith. In one of these¹⁵ He states that there are many souls who have never entered a school, but who through the love of God have attained such an exalted position that the living waters of wisdom flow from their hearts and tongues. We have already referred to this subject in greater detail in previous volumes, and described the teaching achievements of some individuals who possessed the gift of true understanding and spiritual knowledge even though devoid of any learning and education.

In His Writings Bahá'u'lláh often speaks of wisdom in teaching. In a Tablet¹⁶ to Mullá 'Alí-Akbar He explains that some individuals may accept the Faith on hearing a certain

16. ibid. no. 28, p. 191.

Innumerable passages in Bahá'u'lláh's Tablets to the Hands of the Cause contain similar exhortations and counsels, all revealing the high ideals and principles which constitute the foundation of the Cause of God. Numerous passages in these Tablets also reveal the glory of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, laud its greatness, and unveil in unmistakable terms the awe-inspiring station of its Author. Another feature of these Tablets is the outpouring of loving-kindness, admiration, encouragement, prayer, and praise upon the Hands of the Cause, expressed with such tenderness and warmth as no pen but His own can describe. Also, Bahá'u'lláh had issued many and varying instructions to His chosen instruments, all aimed at fostering the infant Faith of God, protecting its precious foundations, furthering its interests, promoting its teachings and strengthening the faith of its adherents.

The Commandment to Act with Wisdom

In Most of His Tablets to the Hands of the Cause, Bahá'u'lláh speaks of wisdom. For instance, in a Tablet¹⁷ to Ibn-i-Asdaq He states that even teaching the Cause, the most important of all deeds, is dependent upon the exercise of wisdom. First comes the observance of wisdom, then the utterance of words. By wisdom is meant taking any praiseworthy action through which the Cause of God may be promoted. Lack of wisdom is to take actions which owing to circumstances result in harming the Faith, even though they may be carried out with the best possible motive. The commandment of Bahá'u'lláh to act with wisdom is valid for all time. Indeed, as the Cause of God continues to grow the forces of opposition will array themselves against it in proportion to its growth. In this battle against the forces of darkness, wisdom

Bahá'u'lláh has urged the Hands of the Cause to be vigilant and help the friends to avoid taking any action which might adversely affect the interests of the Faith. We cite two examples. In a previous volume* we have described how some time after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed Bahá'u'lláh allowed Jamál-i-Burújirdí† to copy certain parts of it and take them with him to Persia. At some point Jamál advocated the establishment of the local Houses of Justice enjoined in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. The Hand of the Cause Mullá 'Alí-Akbar sought guidance from Bahá'u'lláh on this issue. In a Tablet¹⁸ to him Bahá'u'lláh responded by stating that the application of any of His laws was conditional upon the exercise of wisdom. He explained that the establishment of this institution was not timely, because should the enemies of the Cause discover it, they would create a commotion, the elected members would become targets and their lives would be in great danger. He envisaged that these institutions would be formed at a later time when conditions became more favourable. Furthermore, He affirmed that because of the immaturity and perversity of the public, and for the protection of the believers, He had not required them to implement most of the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. The main reason for the dispatch of a copy to Persia was that a record of the laws might be kept in the hands of the friends.

Another example in the exercise of prudence and wisdom may be found in a Tablet¹⁹ to the same Mullá 'Alí-Akbar. This concerns the printing of Bahá'u'lláh's Writings, for which he had asked permission. While stating that this matter ought to be resolved through consultation, Bahá'u'lláh advised caution and prudence. He explained that it was not wise at that time to print books, because should a large number of books become available, the enemies of the Cause (who were waiting for an excuse) could

19. ibid. no. 15, pp. 423-4.

Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá have counselled the believers to exercise wisdom in the promotion of the Cause, but wisdom must not be interpreted as fear and lack of enthusiasm for the Faith. Mullá 'Alí-Akbar was once advised by his fellow Hands of the Cause to conceal himself from the enemies during the month of Muharram when the emotions of the mob are deeply stirred by the clergy. This is a month of mourning for Shí'ah Islám, commemorating the martyrdom of Imám Husayn, and people usually become very wild. Mullá 'Alí-Akbar, who was always an easy target for attack, is reported to have smiled and said these words in reply:

It is true that in the Holy Tablets we are commanded to observe wisdom. By wisdom is not meant to be fearful or to have no reliance upon God. It means to act with thoroughness, and to conduct oneself with truthfulness, benevolence and patience; it means to sow the seeds of the teachings of God in the pure and goodly soil of the hearts. It does not mean fear or hiding.

When I was a child, I fell into a river and was carried down the stream for a few miles. People were sure that I was drowned, but somehow I was thrown on the bank almost lifeless, and in the end I recovered. God saved me. On another occasion, I fell twice on a mountain, from a height of about one hundred metres. I survived, for it was meant that I should live. Besides, I have been captured many times, and from periods of six months up to three years I have been imprisoned, chained and fettered. On each of these occasions there was no hope of freedom. And yet many souls who were not as famous as I, but were worthy to lay down their lives in the path of God, have been martyred. But so far I have not. If it is the will of God, and if this incomparable bounty of laying down my life becomes mine, imagine what a great gift that would be! Furthermore, is it possible or conceivable to be able to run

away from God's decree? On the contrary one has to speed up towards Him.²⁰

How Tablets were Delivered to their Recipients

Bahá'u'lláh's Tablets were usually revealed in honour of known individual Bahá'ís, whose names were inscribed in them. However, sometimes the name of the intended recipient was not given, or sometimes it would be given in abbreviated form. In such a case the individual might receive the Tablet intended for him in an unusual way. For example, in a previous volume* we noted that Bahá'u'lláh revealed a Tablet without a name but intended for Hájí Muhammad-Táhir-i-Málmírí when he was only a child, and he received this Tablet in a mysterious way almost twenty years later. Sometimes Bahá'u'lláh used to send a few Tablets without names to a well-known Bahá'í, asking him to give each to any one of the believers he felt moved to give them to. Those who received a Tablet in this way discovered that Bahá'u'lláh had indeed intended it for them. Bahá'u'lláh, in a Tablet²¹ revealed in honour of the Hand of the Cause Ibn-i-Asdaq and written in the words of His amanuensis, issued certain instructions as how to deliver nine Tablets without names to nine individuals whose names were supplied in a separate list without indicating which Tablet belonged to whom. The reason for not inscribing the names of the recipients on the Tablets, was to protect the believers from the enemies, who were anxious to know the identity of the members of the Bahá'í community. The instructions of Bahá'u'lláh, as conveyed by His amanuensis, were for Ibn-i-Asdaq first to carry out certain devotions, then to position the Tablets in a high place, and while turning his heart

21. Unpublished compilation, National Archives Committee, no. 27, p. 314.

As it was the will of Bahá'u'lláh for each individual to receive the very Tablet which was intended for him, this method of spiritual communication, which He Himself had authorized, became truly effective. Each recipient clearly saw that the contents of his Tablet fit precisely his own personal circumstances and answered his questions.

This is not surprising to the followers of Bahá'u'lláh, for they believe that every major development that takes place in this Dispensation is guided by His Will. Nothing is impossible of achievement if the Will of God becomes the motivating influence. It is the Will of God which enables nature to create life and to bring about an abundance of miracles--the miracle of a tiny seed turning into a mighty tree, producing branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits; the miracle of a single cell in the womb of a mother, multiplying in an orderly fashion, becoming at the end a perfect human being; the miracles of the atom, of the universe and of every other created thing. All these happen through the Will of God.

The miracle of religions is no less remarkable. A religion comes into being as a seemingly insignificant movement at first, but through the power of God and His Will it flourishes and creates a civilization of its own. It is the miracle of the ascendancy of the Will of God which enables the Founders of all religions to triumph over their adversaries, and causes Their word to become creative. In an address to His disciples the Báb, referring to the power of God, said:

...fix your gaze upon the invincible power of the Lord, your God, the Almighty. Has He not, in past days, caused Abraham, in spite of His seeming helplessness, to triumph over the forces of Nimrod? Has He not enabled Moses, whose staff was His only companion, to vanquish Pharaoh and his hosts? Has He not established the ascendancy of Jesus, poor

and lowly as He was in the eyes of men, over the combined forces of the Jewish people? Has He not subjected the barbarous and militant tribes of Arabia to the holy and transforming discipline of Muhammad, His Prophet? Arise in His name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory.²²

On some occasions 'Abdu'l-Bahá also sent unaddressed Tablets to some individuals and gave special instructions as to the manner of choosing the recipients. The following account by Hájí Mírzá Haydar-'Alí is very illuminating indeed:

I went to Ábádih.† Each one of the believers in Ábádih and the neighbouring villages, may my life be sacrificed for them all, is like a mountain in his steadfastness and as a shining lamp in his love and servitude. I attained their presence in their gatherings. These meetings became the sources of illumination, the dawning-places of the mention of God where the angels

descended and the faithful assembled numbering one hundred or more. We met every day in the morning, at noon and in the evening. The sweet savours of devotion, self-sacrifice and detachment from all worldly things were wafted in those gatherings.

While in Ábádih I received eighty-one Tablets in the handwriting of 'Him Whom God hath purposed' {'Abdu'l-Bahá}. I was instructed to take out nineteen, and, without reading them, to, inscribe on each Tablet the name of one of the believers of Ábádih whom I happened to meet, and then hand the Tablet to him. I was to do the same with the remainder for the believers of Yazd, Bavánát and Isfahán. Again, without reading them, I was to write on each the name of a person of my choice, then either hand it to him in person or send it to him. I did all of this. Every person who had the honour to receive a Tablet in this way testified that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had clearly described his thoughts, his ideas, his inner feelings, and had answered his questions and wishes.

There was an Englishman, the head of the Telegraph office in Ábádih. He was present in the gathering. He said, 'I cannot imagine that any human being who walks on this earth can ever know the inner feelings and the thoughts of the people or to inform them of their future. I have been associating with these devoted souls and have come to know their character, their manners, and their way of life, which are accurately referred to in these Holy Tablets written in their honour. Now I can see 'Abdu'l-Bahá's spiritual power, which is supreme and encompasses all things. I was a witness to all this. I was here when you opened each envelope, and I saw that since you were not allowed to, you did not read the Tablets before inscribing a name on each and handing it over.'

Praise be to God, this Englishman became a steadfast and enthusiastic believer.²³