An Introduction to Tablet of Mulla Baqir

delivering it to Mulla ‘Abdu’l-Karim Qazvini to be handed to Baha’u’llah. 4 According to Baha’u’llah’s tablet addressed to Mulla Baqir, he had attained the presence of Baha’u’llah in the year nine and twice more in ‘Akka. Although the precise date of his passing is not mentioned in various sources we can deduce the approximate date of his death from a tablet of Baha’u’llah dated February 11, 1881, in which he mentions that this letter of the living attained the presence of God in the year nine and also twice turned towards the Prison and attained his presence, and that “in these days” he ascended to the throne of the Most high. 5 Consequently, his death should have occurred around the year 1880. Significance of the Tablet to Mulla Baqir Throughout his later writings, the Bab identifies the main purpose and function of his revelation as the preparation of humanity for recognition of Him Whom God shall make manifest. Consequently, Tablet to Mulla Baqir, which is entirely an explicit discourse on the method of recognizing the Promised One, directly addresses the essence of his revelation. It is not then surprising that in the writings of Baha’u’llah, the most frequently quoted tablet of the Bab is this same Tablet to Mulla Baqir. The central station of the Tablet to Mulla Baqir is attested by various statements within the work itself. For example, after discussing the method of recognizing Him Whom God shall make manifest, the Bab turns the tablet into a prayer and calls God to witness that by this tablet he has affirmed the covenant of God in relation to Him Whom God shall make manifest before making his covenant in relation to his own revelation: Glorified art Thou, O My God! Bear Thou witness that, through this Book, I have covenanted with all created things concerning the Mission of Him Whom Thou shalt make manifest, ere the covenant concerning Mine own Mission had been established. Sufficient witness art Thou and they that have believed in Thy signs. Thou, verily, sufficest Me. In Thee have I placed My trust, and Thou, verily, taketh account of all things. 6 Likewise, at the end of the tablet the Bab commands the Letter of the Living to convey the message of this tablet to all the Babis and ask them to write a written confirmation of their covenant with the Promised One. Furthermore, the Bab says that, his entire writings constitute the testimony of his own covenant with the Promised One: O thou Letter of the Living! Covenant with all those who acknowledge their faith, every single one that is known to thee, concerning His Mission, through their own written testimony. The whole of the Bayán is such a testimony of Mine, written by Me. Verily, whoso writeth such an acknowledgment, hath testified to his belief in Him ere His Manifestation. Therefore, seek thou testimony from all who can be sought, that they may register their testimony of faith in writing before the Day of His manifestation. This, in truth, is the most lofty and exalted glory, and the most essential and sublime distinction. 7 It is also in this same tablet that the Bab discusses the essence (these gem-like words or Jawhara) of his writings and points out that understanding such essence is far superior to the entire deeds of worship performed by all beings: 4 Details of the history of Mulla Baqir’s life can be found in many sources including Nabil’s Dawn Breakers, Mazandarani’s Zuhuru’l-Haqq vol. 3, Samandar’s Tarikh-i-Samandar, and Muhammad Husayni’s Hadrati A’la. 5 Baha’u’llah, INBA 31:22. 6 The Bab, Tablet to Mulla Baqir. 7 Ibid.