Windflower Translations

Introductions

Original title: untitled

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Akka period

Baha'u'llah wrote this tablet around 1888 for Mulla Sadiq-i Khurasani to explain the circumstances of the divine test, an important incident that occurred in Edirne in 1867. Baha'u'llah's half-brother, Azal, had challenged Baha'u'llah to a 'divine test'; that is, a test in which each participant sits facing and cursing the other and asks God to produce a sign indicating which speaks the truth. When Baha'u'llah learned of the challenge, he went to meet Azal, but Azal didn't come. The circumstances of the incident are complex and are explained in the introduction by Juan Cole.

Note that, in the tablet, Baha'u'llah is referred to in the third person.

Surah of the Divine Test is quoted at the end of this tablet.

Original title: Lawh Mallah al-Quds

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Baghdad period

The Tablet of the Holy Mariner is an allegorical work consisting of two independent sections, the first in Arabic verse and the second in Persian prose. Both sections contain different accounts of the story of the holy mariner and the divine ark or ship, which carries the believers to paradise.

Original title: Lawh-i Huriyyih

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Baghdad period

Tablet of the Houri, like Tablet of the Vision, is a description of a vision Baha'u'llah had of the celestial woman who symbolises the spirit of his revelation.

Original title: Lawh-i Laylatu'l-Quds

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Akka period

Tablet of the Sacred Night is an extended prayer. The 'sacred night' refers to the night of the declaration of the Bab, which is commemorated two hours after sunset on the evening of May 22. Baha'u'llah revealed this prayer for believers to recite on this occasion.

Original title: untitled

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Edirne period

Tablet of the Son is a lengthy tablet containing important discussion on the nature and influence of the Word of God and the differing characteristics of the Islamic, and Babi and Baha'i, revelations. The tablet quotes a long passage from a letter Baha'u'llah wrote to a Christian priest, in which Baha'u'llah discusses the effect of Christ's revelation and proclaims himself to be the return of Christ. The name of this tablet was chosen by the translator.

For a discussion on Tablet of the Son, see the H-Baha'i site.

Original title: Lawh-i Ru'ya

Written by Baha'u'llah in the Akka period

Much of Tablet of the Vision is devoted to Baha'u'llah's poetic description of a vision he had of the woman who symbolises the spirit of the Baha'i revelation. The tablet was written to commemorate the birth of the Bab.

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