In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Great.
Indeed the hearts of the sincere are consumed in the fire of separation: Where is the gleaming of the light of Thy Countenance, O Beloved of the worlds?
Those who are near unto Thee have been abandoned in the darkness of desolation: Where is the shining of the morn of Thy reunion, O Desire of the worlds?
The bodies of Thy chosen ones lie quivering on distant sands: Where is the ocean of Thy presence, O Enchanter of the worlds?
Longing hands are uplifted to the heaven of Thy grace and generosity: Where are the rains of Thy bestowal, O Answerer of the worlds?
The infidels have arisen in tyranny on every hand: Where is the compelling power of Thine ordaining pen, O Conqueror of the worlds?
The barking of dogs is loud on every side: Where is the lion of the forest of Thy might, O Chastiser of the worlds?
Coldness hath gripped all mankind: Where is the warmth of Thy love, O Fire of the worlds?
Calamity hath reached its height: Where are the signs of Thy succor, O Salvation of the worlds?
Darkness hath enveloped most of the peoples: Where is the brightness of Thy splendor, O Radiance of the worlds?
The necks of men are stretched out in malice: Where are the swords of Thy vengeance, O Destroyer of the worlds?
Abasement hath reached its lowest depth: Where are the emblems of Thy glory, O Glory of the worlds?
Sorrows have afflicted the Revealer of Thy Name, the All-Merciful: Where is the joy of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, O Delight of the worlds?
Anguish hath befallen all the peoples of the earth: Where are the ensigns of Thy gladness, O Joy of the worlds?
Thou seest the Dawning Place of Thy signs veiled by evil suggestions: Where are the fingers of Thy might, O Power of the worlds?
Sore thirst hath overcome all men: Where is the river of Thy bounty, O Mercy of the worlds?
Greed hath made captive all mankind: Where are the embodiments of detachment, O Lord of the worlds?
Thou seest this Wronged One lonely in exile: Where are the hosts of the heaven of Thy Command, O Sovereign of the worlds?
I have been forsaken in a foreign land: Where are the emblems of Thy faithfulness, O Trust of the worlds?
The agonies of death have laid hold on all men: Where is the surging of Thine ocean of eternal life, O Life of the worlds?
The whisperings of Satan have been breathed to every creature: Where is the meteor of Thy fire, O Light of the worlds?
The drunkenness of passion hath perverted most of mankind: Where are the daysprings of purity, O Desire of the worlds?
Thou seest this Wronged One veiled in tyranny among the Syrians: Where is the radiance of Thy dawning light, O Light of the worlds?
Thou seest Me forbidden to speak forth: Then from where will spring Thy melodies, O Nightingale of the worlds?
Most of the people are enwrapped in fancy and idle imaginings: Where are the exponents of Thy certitude, O Assurance of the worlds?
Bahá is drowning in a sea of tribulation: Where is the Ark of Thy salvation, O Savior of the worlds?
Thou seest the Dayspring of Thine utterance in the darkness of creation: Where is the sun of the heaven of Thy grace, O Light-Giver of the worlds?
The lamps of truth and purity, of loyalty and honor, have been put out: Where are the signs of Thine avenging wrath, O Mover of the worlds?
Canst Thou see any who have championed Thy Self, or who ponder on what hath befallen Him in the pathway of Thy love? Now doth My pen halt, O Beloved of the worlds.
The branches of the Divine Lote-Tree lie broken by the onrushing gales of destiny: Where are the banners of Thy succor, O Champion of the worlds?
This Face is hidden in the dust of slander: Where are the breezes of Thy compassion, O Mercy of the worlds?
The robe of sanctity is sullied by the people of deceit: Where is the vesture of Thy holiness, O Adorner of the worlds?
The sea of grace is stilled for what the hands of men have wrought: Where are the waves of Thy bounty, O Desire of the worlds?
The door leading to the Divine Presence is locked through the tyranny of Thy foes: Where is the key of Thy bestowal, O Unlocker of the worlds?
The leaves are yellowed by the poisoning winds of sedition: Where is the downpour of the clouds of Thy bounty, O Giver of the worlds?
The universe is darkened with the dust of sin: Where are the breezes of Thy forgiveness, O Forgiver of the worlds?
This Youth is lonely in a desolate land: Where is the rain of Thy heavenly grace, O Bestower of the worlds?
O Supreme Pen, We have heard Thy most sweet call in the eternal realm: Give Thou ear unto what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth, O Wronged One of the worlds!
Were it not for the cold, how would the heat of Thy words prevail, O Expounder of the worlds?
Were it not for calamity, how would the sun of Thy patience shine, O Light of the worlds?
Lament not because of the wicked. Thou wert created to bear and endure, O Patience of the worlds.
How sweet was Thy dawning on the horizon of the Covenant among the stirrers of sedition, and Thy yearning after God, O Love of the worlds.
By Thee the banner of independence was planted on the highest peaks, and the sea of bounty surged, O Rapture of the worlds.
By Thine aloneness the Sun of Oneness shone, and by Thy banishment the land of Unity was adorned. Be patient, O Thou Exile of the worlds.
We have made abasement the garment of glory, and affliction the adornment of Thy temple, O Pride of the worlds.
Thou seest the hearts are filled with hate, and to overlook is Thine, O Thou Concealer of the sins of the worlds.
When the swords flash, go forward! When the shafts fly, press onward! O Thou Sacrifice of the worlds.
Dost Thou wail, or shall I wail? Rather shall I weep at the fewness of Thy champions, O Thou Who hast caused the wailing of the worlds.
Verily, I have heard Thy Call, O All-Glorious Beloved; and now is the face of Bahá flaming with the heat of tribulation and with the fire of Thy shining word, and He hath risen up in faithfulness at the place of sacrifice, looking toward Thy pleasure, O Ordainer of the worlds.
O ‘Alí-Akbar, thank thy Lord for this Tablet whence thou canst breathe the fragrance of My meekness, and know what hath beset Us in the path of God, the Adored of all the worlds.
Should all the servants read and ponder this, there shall be kindled in their veins a fire that shall set aflame the worlds.
Bahá’u’lláh
بِسْمِ اللهِ الأَقْدَمِ الأَعْظَمِ
قَدِ احْتَرَقَ الْمُخْلِصُونَ مِنْ نَارِ الْفِرَاقِ أَيْنَ تَشَعْشُعُ أَنْوَارِ لِقَائِكَ يَا مَحْبُوبَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تُرِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْهِجْرَانِ أَيْنَ إِشْرَاقُ صُبْحِ وِصَالِكَ يَا مَقْصُودَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تَبَلْبَلَ أَجْسَادُ الْأَصْفِيَاءِ عَلَى أَرْضِ الْبُعْدِ أَيْنَ بَحْرُ قُرْبِكَ يَا جَذَّابَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدِ ارْتَفَعَتْ أَيَادِي الرَّجَاءِ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الْفَضْلِ وَالْعَطَاءِ أَيْنَ أَمْطَارُ كَرَمِكَ يَا مُجِيبَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ قَامَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ بِالْإِعْتِسَافِ فِي كُلِّ الْأَطْرَافِ أَيْنَ تَسْخِيرُ قَلَمِ تَقْدِيرِكَ يَا مُسَخِّرَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدِ ارْتَفَعَ نِبَاحُ الْكِلَابِ مِنْ كُلِّ الْجِهَاتِ أَيْنَ غَضَنْفَرُ غِيَاضِ سَطْوَتِكَ يَا قَهَّارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَتِ الْبُرُودَةُ كُلَّ الْبَرِيَّةِ أَيْنَ حَرَارَةُ مَحَبَّتِكَ يَا نَارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ بَلَغَتِ الْبَلِيَّةُ إِلَى الْغَايَةِ أَيْنَ ظُهُورَاتُ فَرَجِكَ يَا فَرَجَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَحَاطَتِ الظُّلْمَةُ أَكْثَرَ الْخَلِيقَةِ أَيْنَ أَنْوَارُ ضِيَائِكَ يَا ضِيَاءَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ طَالَتِ الْأَعْنَاقُ بِالنِّفَاقِ أَيْنَ أَسْيَافُ إِنْتِقَامِكَ يَا مُهْلِكَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ بَلَغَتِ الذِّلَّةُ إِلَى النِّهَايَةِ أَيْنَ آيَاتُ عِزَّتِكَ يَا عِزَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَتِ الْأَحْزَانُ مَطْلَعَ إِسْمِكَ الرَّحْمَنِ أَيْنَ سُرُورُ مَظْهَرِ ظُهُورِكَ يَا فَرَحَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَ الهَمُّ كُلَّ الْأُمَمِ أَيْنَ أَعْلَامُ ابْتِهَاجِكَ يَا بَهْجَةَ الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَى مَشْرِقَ الْآيَاتِ فِي سُبُحَاتِ الْإِشَارَاتِ أَيْنَ إِصْبَعُ قُدْرَتِكَ يَا إِقْتِدَارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَتْ رَعْدَةُ الضَّمَاءِ مَنْ فِي الْإِنْشَاءِ أَيْنَ فُرَاتُ عِنَايَتِكَ يَا رَحْمَةَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَ الْحِرْصُ مَنْ فِي الْإِبْدَاعِ أَيْنَ مَطَالِعُ الْإِنْقِطَاعِ يَا مَوْلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَى الْمَظْلُومَ فَرِيدًا فِي الْغُرْبَةِ أَيْنَ جُنْدُ سَمَاءِ أَمْرِكَ يَا سُلْطَانَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تُرِكْتُ وَحْدَةً فِي دِيَارِ الْغُرْبَةِ أَيْنَ مَشَارِقُ وَفَائِكَ يَا وَفَاءَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَخَذَتْ سَكَرَاتُ الْمَوْتِ كُلَّ الْآفَاقِ أَيْنَ رَشَحَاتُ بَحْرِ حَيَوَانِكَ يَا حَيَاةَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ أَحَاطَتْ وَسَاوِسُ الشَّيْطَانِ مَنْ فِي الْإِمْكَانِ أَيْنَ شِهَابُ نَارِكَ يَا نُورَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تَغَيَّرَ أَكْثَرُ الْوَرَى مِنْ سُكْرِ الْهَوَى أَيْنَ مَطَالِعُ التَّقْوَى يَا مَقْصُودَ الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَى الْمَظْلُومَ فِي حِجَابِ الظَّلَامِ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ أَيْنَ إِشْرَاقُ أَنْوَارِ صَبَاحِكَ يَا مِصْبَاحَ الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَانِي مَمْنُوْعًا عَنِ الْبَيَانِ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَظْهَرُ نَغَمَاتِكَ يَا وَرْقَاءَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ غَشَّتِ الظُّنُونُ وَالْأَوْهَامُ أَكْثَرَ الْأَنَامِ أَيْنَ مَطَالِعُ إِيقَانِكَ يَا سَكِينَةَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ غُرِقَ الْبَهَاءُ فِي بَحْرِ الْبَلَاءِ أَيْنَ فُلْكُ نَجَاتِكَ يَا مُنْجِي الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَى مَطْلَعَ آيَاتِكَ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْإِمْكَانِ أَيْنَ شَمْسُ أُفُقِ عِنَايَتِكَ يَا نَوَّارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ خَبَتْ مَصَابِيحُ الصِّدْقِ وَالصَّفَاءِ وَالْغِيرَةِ وَالْوَفَاءِ أَيْنَ شُئُونَاتُ غِيرَتِكَ يَا مُحَرِّكَ الْعَالَمِينَ
هَلْ تَرَى مَنْ يَنْصُرُ نَفْسَكَ أَوْ يَتَفَكَّرُ فِيمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهَا فِي حُبِّكَ إِذًا تَوَقَّفَ الْقَلَمُ يَا مَحْبُوبَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ كُسِرَتْ أَغْصَانُ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى مِنْ هُبُوبِ أَرْيَاحِ الْقَضَاءِ أَيْنَ رَايَاتُ نُصْرَتِكَ يَا مَنْصُورَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ بَقَى الْوَجْهُ فِي غُبَارِ الْإِفْتِرَاءِ أَيْنَ أَرْيَاحُ رَحْمَتِكَ يَا رَحْمَنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تَكَدَّرَ ذَيْلُ التَّقْدِيسِ مِنْ أُولِي التَّدْلِيسِ أَيْنَ طِرَازُ تَنْزِيهِكَ يَا مُزَيِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ رَكَدَ بَحْرُ الْعِنَايَةِ بِمَا اكْتَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي الْبَرِيَّةِ أَيْنَ أَمْوَاجُ فَضْلِكَ يَا مُرَادَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ غُلِقَ بَابُ اللِّقَاءِ مِنْ ظُلْمِ الْأَعْدَاءِ أَيْنَ مِفْتَاحُ جُوْدِكَ يَا فَتَّاحَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدِ اصْفَرَّتِ الْأَوْرَاقُ مِنْ سَمُومِ أَرْيَاحِ النِّفَاقِ أَيْنَ جُودُ سَحَابِ جُودِكَ يَا جَوَادَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ تَغْبَرُ الْأَكْوَانُ مِنْ غُبَارِ الْعِصْيَانِ أَيْنَ نَفَحَاتُ غُفْرَانِكَ يَا غَفَّارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ بَقَى الْغُلَامُ فِي أَرْضٍ جَدْبَاءَ أَيْنَ غَيْثُ سَمَاءِ فَضْلِكَ يَا غِيَاثَ الْعَالَمِينَ أَنْ يَا قَلَمَ الْأَعْلَى
قَدْ سَمِعْنَا نِدَائَكَ الْأَحْلَى مِنْ جَبَرُوتِ الْبَقَاءِ أَنِ اسْتَمِعْ مَا يَنْطِقُ بِهِ لِسَانُ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ يَا مَظْلُومَ الْعَالَمِينَ
لَوْلَا الْبُرُودَةُ كَيْفَ تَظْهَرُ حَرَارَةُ بَيَانِكَ يَا مُبَيِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
وَلَوْلَا الْبَلِيَّةُ كَيْفَ أَشْرَقَتْ شَمْسُ اصْطِبَارِكَ يَا شُعَاعَ الْعَالَمِينَ
لَا تَجْزَعْ مِنَ الْأَشْرَارِ قَدْ خُلِقْتَ لِلْإِصْطِبَارِ يَا صَبْرَ الْعَالَمِينَ
مَا أَحْلَى إِشْرَاقَكَ مِنْ أُفُقِ الْمِيثَاقِ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ النِّفَاقِ وَاشْتِيَاقَكَ بِاللهِ يَا عِشْقَ الْعَالَمِينَ
بِكَ ارْتَفَعَ عَلَمُ الْإِسْتِقْلَالِ عَلَى أَعْلَى الْجِبَالِ وَتَمَوَّجَ بَحْرُ الْإِفْضَالِ يَا وَلَهَ الْعَالَمِينَ
بِوَحْدَتِكَ أَشْرَقَتْ شَمْسُ التَّوْحِيدِ وَبِغُرْبَتِكَ زُيِّنَ وَطَنُ التَّجْرِيدِ أَنِ اصْطَبِرْ يَا غَرِيبَ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ جَعَلْنَا الذِّلَّةَ قَمِيصَ الْعِزَّةِ وَالْبَلِيَّةَ طِرَازَ هَيْكَلِكَ يَا فَخْرَ الْعَالَمِينَ
تَرَى الْقُلُوبَ مُلِئَتْ مِنَ الْبَغْضَاءِ وَلَكَ الْإِغْضَاءُ يَا سَتَّارَ الْعَالَمِينَ
إِذَا رَأَيْتَ سَيْفًا أَنِ اقْبِلْ إِذَا طَارَ سَهْمٌ أَنِ اسْتَقْبِلْ يَا فِدَاءَ الْعَالَمِينَ
أَتَنُوحُ أَوْ أَنُوحُ بَلْ أَصِيحُ مِنْ قِلَّةِ نَاصِرِيكَ يَا مَنْ بِكَ ارْتَفَعَ نَوْحُ الْعَالَمِينَ
قَدْ سَمِعْتُ نِدَائَكَ يَا مَحْبُوبَ الْأَبْهَى إِذًا أَنَارَ وَجْهُ الْبَهَاءِ مِنْ حَرَارَةِ الْبَلَاءِ وَأَنْوَارِ كَلِمَتِكَ النَّوْرَاءِ وَقَامَ بِالْوَفَاءِ فِي مَشْهَدِ الْفِدَاءِ نَاظِرًا رِضَائَكَ يَا مُقَدِّرَ الْعَالَمِينَ
أَنْ يَا عَلِيُّ قَبْلَ أَكْبَرَ أَنِ اشْكُرِ اللهَ بِهَذَا اللَّوْحِ الَّذِي تَجِدُ مِنْهُ رَائِحَةَ مَظْلُومِيَّتِي وَمَا أَنَا فِيهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ مَعْبُودِ الْعَالَمِينَ
لَوْ يَقْرَؤُهُ الْعِبَادُ طُرًّا وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِيهِ لَيُضْرِمُ فِي كُلِّ عِرْقٍ مِنْ عُرُوقِهِمْ نَارًا يَشْتَعِلُ مِنْهَا الْعَالَمِينَ
حضرة بهاءالله
In The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, volume 3 (pp. 226–28), Adib Taherzadeh writes:
“Towards the end of 1871 Bahá’u’lláh received a letter from one of His devoted followers in Persia, Hájí Siyyid ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Dahají . . . . In answer to his letter, Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Lawh-i-Qad Ihtaraqa’l-Mukhlisún, or the Lawh-i-Ihtiráq, translated into English and known in the west as the Fire Tablet. . . . .
“The Lawh-i-Qad Ihtaraqa’l-Mukhlisún is one of Bahá’u’lláh’s most celebrated Tablets; it is possessed of great powers, and the believers often recite it at times of difficulties and suffering. Of this Tablet Bahá’u’lláh states: ‘Should all the servants read and ponder this, there shall be kindled in their veins a fire that shall set aflame the worlds.’ The Fire Tablet is in Arabic rhyming verse; it moves the heart when chanted in the original language. It was revealed at a time when great afflictions and sorrows had surrounded Bahá’u’lláh as a result of the hostility, betrayal and acts of infamy perpetrated by those few individuals who had once claimed to be the helpers of the Cause of God. Bahá’u’lláh pours out His heart in this Tablet and expatiates on His afflictions. For nothing brings more sorrow to the heart of the Manifestation of God than unfaithfulness and treachery from within the community. Imprisonment and all manner of persecution by the outside enemy can do no harm to the Cause. What harms it are the actions of those who bear His name and yet commit deeds contrary to His good-pleasure. These few breakers of the Covenant of the Báb, who followed Mírzá Yahyá and rose up against Bahá’u’lláh from within, created such havoc in the community and among the inhabitants of ‘Akká that the Pen of Bahá’u’lláh lamented in this Tablet in a manner unprecedented in all His Writings.
“When this Tablet was revealed the followers of Bahá’u’lláh became aware of the immensity of His sufferings at the hands of the wicked and ungodly. He addresses Hájí Siyyid ‘Alí-Akbar, its recipient, in these words: ‘O ‘Alí-Akbar, thank thy Lord for this Tablet whence thou canst breathe the fragrance of My meekness, and know what hath beset Us in the path of God, the Adored of all the worlds.’ . . .
“In order that the mind of man, limited and finite as it is, may be able to reflect and meditate on the sufferings heaped upon the Manifestation, and at the same time see a glimpse of His All-Glorious Being, Bahá’u’lláh has revealed this Tablet in a special way. It seems as if it is His human Person, as distinct from the Manifestation of God, that recounts His afflictions and dwells on the iniquities perpetrated by His enemies. Then comes the voice of God and Bahá’u’lláh’s response to it. But in reality, Bahá’u’lláh, the Supreme Manifestation of God, cannot be divided into two. His human nature and divine spirit are so mingled together that at no time can He be regarded as a man devoid of the Most Great Spirit which always animated Him. It cannot be assumed that at times a Manifestation of God ceases to be a Manifestation and becomes purely a man. On the contrary, He is always a Manifestation of God, although He often hides His glory* and appears to be like an ordinary human being. To appreciate this indivisibility, let us consider man with his two natures. We observe that whereas man combines within himself the animal and the spiritual natures, yet he is always a man and at no time can he be considered to be a pure animal devoid of the human spirit or temporarily become robbed of his powers as a man. Similarly, the Manifestation of God can never be divided into separate parts.
“Probably the basic reason that Bahá’u’lláh in the Fire Tablet has spoken with the voice of man is to enable the believers to appreciate how grievous were the attacks launched against Him, and how much His companions suffered when they were unable to attain His presence. In the opening passages, Bahá’u’lláh refers to this separation between Him and His loved ones and invokes the Almighty to succour and comfort them. . . .”
Original Sources