Concealment and Revelation

S. ah. ífiy-i-Shat. t. íyyih (Book of the River) Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh

A Provisional Translation

He is God! There is none other God but Him, and we, verily, believe in Him

The people talk constantly about this subject, but most of them comprehend not. Of the miracles mentioned, those which are ascribed to this humble one are fabrications contrived by impostors. As for the miracles ascribed to the Primal Point and the Wellspring of the First Outpouring [the Báb], and those related to the Mirrors reflecting His glory, these are truths by which the faithful are blessed. However, whatsoever was revealed in the Bayán from the heaven of loving-kindness and the cloud of mercy, naught hath been ordained as a universal testimony and a conclusive proof other than the revelation of verses. This hath ever been and ever will be God’s testimony unto the peoples of the earth. If anything else appeared from the mine of bounty and glory [Bahá], that was but a token of God’s grace. Otherwise, the greatest testimony is that which He Himself hath ordained; “And whose word is more true than God’s?” 1 However, those who entirely deny the appearance of any miracle attributed to the Prophets should not do so, for human reason is not a sufficient standard. When viewed with the eye of insight, no phenomenon on earth could be comprehended by any human, whether high or low, without prior observation and experience. Observe the sun in the heavens. To the extent that it is manifest, it giveth splendor and illumination to the entirety of the inhabitants of the earth in the east, the west, and all other directions. Certainly, human reason would not be inclined to accept the possibility of the existence of such a thing by means of any rational definition or description without actual observation and experience. It is the same with all other things in God’s creation. Reflect, so that the secret of this question may become disclosed to thee. All things are miracles of the Prophets; “Repeat the gaze: seest thou a single flaw?” 2 In the Qur’án there are many verses which touch upon this theme. Although We do not have in mind an exact text, the purport of the verses is as follows. For example: “He it is Who created you and then provided for your sustenance. Will ye not see?” “He it is Who produced you from the earth most excellently. Will ye not believe?” “He hath sent down the rain from heaven. Will ye not give thanks?” “He hath

1. Qur’án 4:89. 2. Qur’án 67:3.