Posted to Tarjuman by Khazeh
Fananapazir in June of 2000;
Web Edition Prepared by Mehdi
Wolf
by permission of translator in January of 2002.
A Tablet of the Centre of the Covenant ‘Abdu‘l-Bahá‘
Concerning the Passing of Mírzá
‘Abú‘l-Fadl-i-Gulpáygání[1]
(Lawh-i-az
Hadrat-i-‘Abdu‘l-Bahá‘ pas az
Su‘udi-i-Mírzá
Abu‘l-Fadl-i-Gulpáygání) [2]
Trans. Khazeh Fananapazir
He is God!
O
friends of God and the handmaidens of the All-Merciful!
The letter in which you
expressed condolence at the loss of ‘Abú‘l-Fadl was
studied. It brought comfort to our hearts and we thank God that the Washington
friends are aware of the honour and station of that respected soul and that they
join Me with tearful eyes and burning heart to lament his loss.
This
glorious soul [Mírzá ‘Abú‘l-Fadl] was a
luminous star, a bright lamp, a blessed and fruitful tree, a billowing ocean of
knowledge, a fountain of everlasting life, and
well-established[3] in
the Ark of Salvation. From the beginning of his childhood, he lived a life of
utmost piety and spent all his days in acquiring perfections. He was either
engaged in the worship of God or in the acquisition of knowledge and the arts
until he heard the Voice of God and His summons and thus he hastened to the
kingdom of God. He hearkened to the melody of the Concourse on High and focused
all his attention on the ‘Abhá Beauty. He became so attracted and
so enkindled that all his friends and acquaintances were astonished saying:
“What light is it that hath become ignited in this lamp? What grace it is
that hath become manifest in this century?” He cut himself utterly from
the world of human attachment[4] and turned entirely to the world of Divinity.[5] He closed
his eyes to all the comforts, joys and glory of this physical realm and sought
attachment only to the fragrances of the All-Merciful and the grace and bounty
of the Godhead. He caused everyone who came to see him and ask him questions
relating to the abstruse problems of faith to attain satisfaction and his
blessed heart was such a fountain of truth and significance that he caused every
thirsty one to be filled up. He wrote books and treatises establishing the
Cause of the ‘Abhá Beauty, some of which are published and some
which are not as yet published. He left his native land in the path of God and
traveled in all parts. In every city he raised the cry of the advent of the
kingdom of God and he gave the glad tidings as to the light of the Sun of Truth.
He put forth proofs, whether rational or traditional, and in all, he had an
eloquent tongue and an attractive utterance and illumined heart, an immense
intelligence and perspicacity and a wondrous capacity. Until at the end, after
many journeys and pilgrimage to the sacred shrines, he came to Alexandria and
was My companion for several months and was engaged in his writing. Because of
his wish to have a change, he went from Alexandria to Cairo and there he
ascended to the Concourse on High. Like unto a nightingale, he flew to the rose
garden of the Luminary of the world. Like a thirsty fish, he hastened to the
depth of the infinite sea. He caused our hearts to burn with the fire of his
bereavement. He caused our souls to shed tears like a candle. From all towns
and cities, lamentation and crying hath been raised and eyes are tearful and
hearts are burning. Yet that master of the believers in the
Lord[6] hath become
freed from the narrow confines of this world and hath flown unto the limitless
apex of joy. A drop has gone back to the Mighty Ocean. The ray hath returned
to the Sun. He is free from the wilderness of separation. He hath ascended to
the assembly of the lights of the Lord of the Covenant and is now immersed in
His light and established in the ‘Abhá Kingdom.
Upon you all be the Glory of the Most Glorious!
Notes
[1]
From the Biography of Mírzá ‘Abú‘l-Fadl
by Rúh’u’lláh
Mihráb-khání, pages 347-348. Tablet likely dates
soon after ‘Abú‘l-Fadl’s passing in 1914
(KF‘s note, modified by MF).
[2]
The Arabic/Farsí title given here is provisional and was suggested by the translator in an
e-mail message to J. Vahid Brown and the present editor, dated Saturday, January
5th, 2002 (MF‘s note).
[3]
Mustaqirr. The editor thanks J. Vahid Brown for correcting the
transliterations in this text (KF‘s note, expanded by MF)
[4]
Násút (KF‘s note)
[5]
Láhút (KF‘s note)