The Bab's Persian Bayan
H-Bahai
Translations of Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Texts, No. 4 (July, 1997 - )


The Persian Bayan of Sayyid `Ali Muhammad Shirazi, the Bab

2.5

trans. Dr. Denis MacEoin







The Fifth Gate of the Second Unity

Concerning this, that every good name sent down by God in the Bayan refers
to him whom God shall manifest, in the primary reality, and every evil name
sent down by God in the Bayan refers to him who shall in that day be the
Letter of Negation confronting him, in the primary reality.

The substance of this chapter is that every goodly name that has
been sent down in the Bayan refers to him whom God shall manifest, in the
primary reality. Then, in the secondary reality, it refers to the first to
believe in him, and so on until the furthest limits of existence. Thus,
where the earth has been mentioned, the meaning is the earth of his person,
and so on down until it reaches the earth of dust which is related to him
and wherever he dwells, which constitutes the highest chamber of paradise
in the Book of God. In the same manner is this true of every evil name,
that has been sent down in it (the Bayan). In the primary reality, it
refers to the tree that has been rejected before him. And if there should
be a mention of 'earth' [p.28] in a context relating to hell, its meaning
is the earth of his person, and so on down until it reaches the earth of
dust which is his abode, which is the uttermost limit of hell, in the earth
of hell, even though there should rest upon it a throne of glory.

In the same way, whatever goodly mention was sent down by God in
the Qu'ran, in its primary reality it is a reference to the Messenger of
God, whereas every inauspicious mention is a reference to the first
Negation, which stood face to face with the first Affirmation. If there
was any mention of the earth of paradise, it was a reference to his person,
and so on down to the earth of dust which was the abode of his physical
body. All of these things refer back to the Qa'im of the Family of
Muhammad, on whom be peace, for whatever goodly mention there may be in the
Qur'an is a reference to him in the primary reality, even as in the Bayan
such mention is interpreted as him whom God shall manifest. And whatever
ill mention was revealed in the Qu'ran, even though it was just a reference
to the earth, was a reference to the earth of the person of him who was the
first to fail to recognise him. In the same manner that this was realised
in the Qu'ran, so it has been confirmed before God in the Bayan. Whatever
goodly name resides in the knowledge of God is a reference in the primary
reality to the Point of the Will, and its opposite refers to him who did
not recognise him.

In this manner, whatever mention has been made of the earth within
the realm of existence returns in this day to the Point of the Bayan, so
that it may descend from the earth of the heart to the earth of the spirit,
and from the earth of the spirit to the earth of the soul (nafs), and from
the earth of the soul to the earth of the body (jasad), and from the earth
of the body unto all things, the nearer relating to the nearer, until it
finally reaches that earth situated above the mountain, which is but three
feet by four: this is, at this moment the essence of all the physical
earths. If the place whereupon he sits should be altered, then the
situation would likewise alter (in this respect), until he should dwell
where there is no alteration.

It is likewise in the shadow of the (letters of) paradise, letter
for letter, point for point. This is the most exalted earth of paradise
(al-ridwan), and that is the lowest earth of hell; I seek refuge with God
from what He does not love, and I beg of Him all that He loves - He,
indeed, is the Gracious, the Bountiful.

The goodly names of the Qur'an from the Prophet onwards gradually
shone forth in their degrees in each one of his successors. And it was the
same with the names of hell, until the highest exaltation of the earth of
paradise attained to the place of the martrydom of the Prince of Martyrs
(Husayn), while the lowest earth of hell reached the place of the dominion
of him that opposed him (Yazid). Thus was it decreed by God. And thus is
His decree put into operation in the manifestation of each one of the
proofs of God.

In this day, all the goodly names are, in the primary reality,
contained in the person of the Point, even the mention of the earth, which
was used as an analogy. And in the second reality, they are contained in
the letter Sin, and so on to the furthest limit of existence. Wherefore,
fear God, O you people, all of you together.




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