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THE FAST |
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas states: “We have commanded you
to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity [15
years]; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the
Lord of your forefathers…. The traveler, the ailing,
those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound
by the fast…. Abstain from food and drink, from
sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive
you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.”
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy mighty
Sign, and by the revelation of Thy grace
amongst men, to cast me not away from the gate
of the city of Thy presence, and to disappoint not
the hopes I have set on the manifestations of Thy
grace amidst Thy creatures. Thou seest me, O
my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy,
the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most
Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and
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clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy most sweet
Voice and by Thy most exalted Word, to draw
me ever nearer to the threshold of Thy door, and
to suffer me not to be far removed from the shadow
of Thy mercy and the canopy of Thy bounty.
Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy
Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the
Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the
robe to which have clung all in this world and in
the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the splendor of
Thy luminous brow and the brightness of the
light of Thy countenance, which shineth from the
all-highest horizon, to attract me by the fragrance
of Thy raiment, and make me drink of the choice
wine of Thine utterance. Thou seest me, O my
God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the
Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most
Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and
clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy hair which
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moveth across Thy face, even as Thy most exalted
pen moveth across the pages of Thy Tablets, shedding
the musk of hidden meanings over the kingdom
of Thy creation, so to raise me up to serve
Thy Cause that I shall not fall back, nor be hindered
by the suggestions of them who have caviled
at Thy signs and turned away from Thy face.
Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy
Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the
Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the
robe to which have clung all in this world and in
the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Name
which Thou hast made the King of Names, by
which all who are in heaven and all who are on
earth have been enraptured, to enable me to gaze
on the Daystar of Thy Beauty, and to supply me
with the wine of Thine utterance. Thou seest me,
O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most
Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the
Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious,
and clinging to the hem of the robe to which
have clung all in this world and in the world to
come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the Tabernacle
of Thy majesty upon the loftiest summits, and the
Canopy of Thy Revelation on the highest hills, to
graciously aid me to do what Thy will hath desired
and Thy purpose hath manifested. Thou seest me,
O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most
Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the
Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious,
and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Beauty that
shineth forth above the horizon of eternity, a
Beauty before which as soon as it revealeth itself
the kingdom of beauty boweth down in worship,
magnifying it in ringing tones, to grant that I may
die to all that I possess and live to whatsoever belongeth
unto Thee. Thou seest me, O my God,
holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most
Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the
Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and clinging to
the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this
world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the Manifestation
of Thy Name, the Well-Beloved, through
Whom the hearts of Thy lovers were consumed
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and the souls of all that dwell on earth have soared
aloft, to aid me to remember Thee amongst Thy
creatures, and to extol Thee amidst Thy people.
Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy
Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the
Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the
robe to which have clung all in this world and in
the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the rustling of
the Divine Lote-Tree and the murmur of the
breezes of Thine utterance in the kingdom of Thy
names, to remove me far from whatsoever Thy
will abhorreth, and draw me nigh unto the station
wherein He Who is the Dayspring of Thy
signs hath shone forth. Thou seest me, O my
God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the
Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most
Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and
clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by that Letter
which, as soon as it proceeded out of the mouth of
Thy will, hath caused the oceans to surge, and the
winds to blow, and the fruits to be revealed, and
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the trees to spring forth, and all past traces to vanish,
and all veils to be rent asunder, and them who
are devoted to Thee to hasten unto the light of the
countenance of their Lord, the Unconstrained, to
make known unto me what lay hid in the treasuries
of Thy knowledge and concealed within the
repositories of Thy wisdom. Thou seest me, O
my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy,
the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most
Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and
clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the fire of Thy
love which drove sleep from the eyes of Thy chosen
ones and Thy loved ones, and by their remembrance
and praise of Thee at the hour of dawn, to
number me with such as have attained unto that
which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book and
manifested through Thy will. Thou seest me, O
my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy,
the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most
Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and
clinging to the hem of the robe to which have
clung all in this world and in the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by the light of Thy
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countenance which impelled them who are nigh
unto Thee to meet the darts of Thy decree, and
such as are devoted to Thee to face the swords of
Thine enemies in Thy path, to write down for me
with Thy most exalted Pen what Thou hast written
down for Thy trusted ones and Thy chosen
ones. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy
Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the
Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the
robe to which have clung all in this world and in
the world to come.
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I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Name
through which Thou hast hearkened unto the call
of Thy lovers, and the sighs of them that long for
Thee, and the cry of them that enjoy near access to
Thee, and the groaning of them that are devoted
to Thee, and through which Thou hast fulfilled
the wishes of them that have set their hopes on
Thee, and hast granted them their desires, through
Thy grace and Thy favors, and by Thy Name
through which the ocean of forgiveness surged
before Thy face, and the clouds of Thy generosity
rained upon Thy servants, to write down for everyone
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who hath turned unto Thee, and
observed the fast prescribed by Thee, the recompense
decreed for such as speak not except by
Thy leave, and who forsook all that they possessed
in Thy path and for love of Thee.
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I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thyself, and
by Thy signs, and Thy clear tokens, and the shining
light of the Daystar of Thy Beauty, and Thy
Branches, to cancel the trespasses of those who
have held fast to Thy laws, and have observed
what Thou hast prescribed unto them in Thy
Book. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy
Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the
Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the
robe to which have clung all in this world and in
the world to come.
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