Station of the Báb

O ye peoples of the earth! Hearken unto My call, ringing forth from the precincts of this sacred Tree—a Tree set ablaze by the pre-existent Fire: There is no God but Him; He is the Exalted, the All-Wise. O ye the servants of the Merciful One! Enter ye, one and all, through this Gate and follow not the steps of the Evil One, for he prompteth you to walk in the ways of impiety and wickedness; he is, in truth, your declared enemy. [cf. Qur’an 2:163-164]

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The “religion of God” is “indivisible” – “free from distinction”

Become as true brethren in the one and indivisible religion of God, free from distinction, for verily God desireth that your hearts should become mirrors unto your brethren in the Faith, so that ye find yourselves reflected in them, and they in you. This is the true Path of God, the Almighty, and He is indeed watchful over your actions. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb calls on the “peoples of the West” to “aid God”

Issue forth from your cities, O peoples of the West and aid God ere the Day when the Lord of mercy shall come down unto you in the shadow of the clouds with the angels circling around Him, [Qur’an 2:206]exalting His praise and seeking forgiveness for such as have truly believed in Our signs. Verily His decree hath been issued, and the command of God, as given in the Mother Book, hath indeed been revealed.… 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb refers to His book the Qayyumu’l-Asma as the Qur’án

Recite ye as much as convenient from this Qur’án both at morn and at eventide, and chant the verses of this Book, by the leave of the eternal God, in the sweet accents of this Bird which warbleth its melody in the vault of heaven. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

God assures the Báb that soon His Teachings will be embraced by all people

…Thy [the Báb’s] hidden Mystery hath, of a truth, been recorded upon the Tablet of creation in the midst of the Burning Bush. Erelong God will bestow upon Thee rulership over all men, inasmuch as His rule transcendeth the whole of creation. - The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

One of the Titles of the Báb is “the Supreme Word of God”

O Thou the Supreme Word of God! Fear not, nor be Thou grieved, for indeed unto such as have responded to Thy Call, whether men or women, We have assured forgiveness of sins, as known in the presence of the Best-Beloved and in conformity with what Thou desirest. Verily His knowledge embraceth all things. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb is “the Exalted One among the Celestial Concourse”

Verily Thou art the Exalted One among the Celestial Concourse…  

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

Followers of the Báb were “assured forgiveness of sins”

O Thou the Supreme Word of God! Fear not, nor be Thou grieved, for indeed unto such as have responded to Thy Call, whether men or women, We have assured forgiveness of sins, as known in the presence of the Best-Beloved and in conformity with what Thou desirest. Verily His knowledge embraceth all things. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

One of the Titles of the Báb is “Qurratu’l-‘Ayn” – means: "Solace of the Eyes"

O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn!1 We have, verily, dilated Thine heart in this Revelation, which stands truly unique from all created things, and have exalted Thy name through the manifestation of the Báb, so that men may become aware of Our transcendent power, and recognize that God is immeasurably sanctified above the praise of all men. He is verily independent of the whole of creation. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

One of the titles of the Báb is: the “Gate of God”

O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn! Say: Verily I am the “Gate of God” and I give you to drink, by the leave of God, the sovereign Truth, of the crystal-pure waters of His Revelation which are gushing out from the incorruptible Fountain situate upon the Holy Mount. And those who earnestly strive after the One True God, let them then strive to attain this Gate. [Qur’an 83: 25-26] Verily God is potent over all things.… 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb’s “Mission” comes “from the midst of the Burning Bush”

O peoples of the earth! Give ear unto God’s holy Voice proclaimed by this Arabian Youth Whom the Almighty hath graciously chosen for His Own Self. He is indeed none other than the True One, Whom God hath entrusted with this Mission from the midst of the Burning Bush. O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn! Unravel what Thou pleasest from the secrets of the All-Glorious, for the ocean is surging high [Qur’an 52:6] at the behest of the incomparable Lord. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The example of a spider’s web

By the righteousness of God, all who are in the heaven and on earth and whatsoever lieth between them are regarded in My sight even as a spider’s web, [Qur’an 29:40] and verily God beareth witness unto all things. 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb had sent “Gates” to prepare humanity for His appearance in 1844

O ye peoples of the earth! During the time of My absence I sent down the Gates unto you. However the believers, except for a handful, obeyed them not. Formerly I sent forth unto you Ahmad and more recently Kázim, but apart from the pure in heart amongst you no one followed them. What hath befallen you, O people of the Book? Will ye not fear the One true God, He Who is your Lord, the Ancient of Days?… O ye who profess belief in God! I adjure you by Him Who is the Eternal Truth, have ye discerned among the precepts of these Gates anything inconsistent with the commandments of God as set forth in this Book? Hath your learning deluded you by reason of your impiety? Take ye heed then, for verily your God, the Lord of Eternal Truth, is with you and in very truth is watchful over you.… 

- The Báb  (From Qayyumu’l-Asma; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

Revelation of verses is a “testimony” of the Manifestation of God that cannot be matched by human beings

Verily We made the revelation of verses to be a testimony for Our message unto you. Can ye produce a single letter to match these verses? Bring forth, then, your proofs, if ye be of those who can discern the one true God. I solemnly affirm before God, should all men and spirits combine to compose the like of one chapter of this Book, they would surely fail, even though they were to assist one another. [Qur’an 17:90] 

- The Báb  (‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb’s Mother is “immortalized” as “the “Mother of the Faithful”

O Thou Mother of the Remembrance! May the peace and salutation of God rest upon thee. Indeed thou hast endured patiently in Him Who is the sublime Self of God. Recognize then the station of thy Son Who is none other than the mighty Word of God. He hath verily pledged Himself to be answerable for thee both in thy grave and on the Judgment Day, while thou hast, in the Preserved Tablet of God, been immortalized as the “Mother of the Faithful” by the Pen of His Remembrance. 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

A “glorious honor” conferred upon the “people of Persia”

O people of Persia! Are ye not satisfied with this glorious honor which the supreme Remembrance of God hath conferred upon you? Verily ye have been especially favored by God through this mighty Word. Then do not withdraw from the sanctuary of His presence, for, by the righteousness of the One true God, He is none other than the sovereign Truth from God; He is the most exalted One and the Source of all wisdom, as decreed in the Mother Book.… 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

Attaining the presence of God means “the Presence of Him Who is the Manifestation of His Self”

Hallowed be He Who hath arisen in His Cause. Say: We all, verily, abide by His bidding. Say: God raiseth up whomsoever He willeth through His command. There is no God but Him, the Almighty, the Ancient of Days. He it is Who causeth whomsoever He willeth to enter His Paradise. Say: Behold! All are but His suppliants. He is God; there is none other God save Him, from the beginning that hath no beginning until the end that hath no end. Unto all hath it been promised that they shall attain His Presence, and by this is meant the Presence of Him Who is the Manifestation of His Self. The people, however, remain shut out as by a veil from this truth. 

- The Báb  (From Tablet to the Seventeenth Letter of the Living, provisional translation; see the entire Tablet)

The Revealer of the Qur’an is the same as the Bayan

He Who hath revealed the Qur’án, hath likewise revealed this Book, that every word of it is from God, and unto it we all bear allegiance. 

- The Báb  (From a Tablet to the Sherif of Mecca, ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The Báb’s readiness to meet the divines of Persia if the King were to call for such a gathering

If thou art not apprehensive that the truth might be revealed and the works of the ungodly be brought to naught, why summonest thou not the divines of the land, and then summon Me, so that I may confound them forthwith, even as those disbelievers whom I have previously confounded? This is My sure testimony unto thee and unto them, if they speak the truth. Summon thou all of them. Should they then be able to utter words like unto this, thou wouldst know that their cause is worthy of attention. Nay, by the righteousness of My Lord! They are bereft of power, nor are they endued with perception. They professed faith in the past without understanding its significance, then later they repudiated the Truth; for they are devoid of discernment. 

- The Báb  (From a Tablet to Muhammad Shah, ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)

God “established a separate covenant regarding Him [Baha’u’llah] with every Prophet and His followers”

Fear ye God and breathe not a word concerning His Most Great Remembrance [Baha'u'llah] other than what hath been ordained by God, inasmuch as We have established a separate covenant regarding Him with every Prophet and His followers. Indeed, We have not sent any Messenger without this binding covenant and We do not, of a truth, pass judgment upon anything except after the covenant of Him Who is the Supreme Gate hath been established. Erelong the veil shall be lifted from your eyes at the appointed time. Ye shall then behold the sublime Remembrance of God, unclouded and vivid. 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

“If ye do well, to your own behoof will ye do well”

By God! If ye do well, to your own behoof will ye do well; and if ye deny God and His signs, We, in very truth, having God, can well dispense with all creatures and all earthly dominion. 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

Concerning the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’…

All praise be to God Who hath, through the power of Truth, sent down this Book unto His servant, that it may serve as a shining light for all mankind.… Verily this is none other than the sovereign Truth; it is the Path which God hath laid out for all that are in heaven and on earth. Let him then who will, take for himself the right path unto his Lord. Verily this is the true Faith of God, and sufficient witness are God and such as are endowed with the knowledge of the Book. This is indeed the eternal Truth which God, the Ancient of Days, hath revealed unto His omnipotent Word—He Who hath been raised up from the midst of the Burning Bush. This is the Mystery which hath been hidden from all that are in heaven and on earth, and in this wondrous Revelation it hath, in very truth, been set forth in the Mother Book by the hand of God, the Exalted.… 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The station of the Báb

O people of the earth! By the righteousness of the One true God, I am the Maid of Heaven begotten by the Spirit of Bahá, abiding within the Mansion hewn out of a mass of ruby, tender and vibrant; and in this mighty Paradise naught have I ever witnessed save that which proclaimeth the Remembrance of God by extolling the virtues of this Arabian Youth. Verily there is none other God but your Lord, the All-Merciful. Magnify ye, then, His station, for behold, He is poised in the midmost heart of the All-Highest Paradise as the embodiment of the praise of God in the Tabernacle wherein His glorification is intoned. 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

Whatever we offer to God we will “find preserved by God”

O peoples of the world! Whatsoever ye have offered up in the way of the One True God, ye shall indeed find preserved by God, the Preserver, intact at God’s Holy Gate. 

- The Báb  (From the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)

The reason the Báb "prescribed any law" or "laid down any prohibition"

But for the sole reason of His being present amongst this people, We would have neither prescribed any law nor laid down any prohibition. It is only for the glorification of His Name and the exaltation of His Cause that We have enunciated certain laws at Our behest, or forbidden the acts to which We are averse, so that at the hour of His manifestation ye may attain through Him the good-pleasure of God and abstain from the things that are abhorrent unto Him. 

- The Báb  (From the ‘Kitáb-i-Asmá’ [The Book of Names]; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)

The awesome privilege of being in the presence of the Manifestation of God

There is no paradise more wondrous for any soul than to be exposed to God’s Manifestation in His Day, to hear His verses and believe in them, to attain His presence, which is naught but the presence of God, to sail upon the sea of the heavenly kingdom of His good-pleasure, and to partake of the choice fruits of the paradise of His divine Oneness. 

- The Báb  (From the Persian Bayan; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)

The amazing significance of guiding a soul to recognize the Manifestation of God and remain steadfast

It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God’s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God’s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future! He causeth him whom He pleaseth to enter the shadow of His Mercy. Verily, He is the Supreme Protector, the All-Generous. 

- The Báb  (From the Persian Bayan; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)