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| AI Art by Glenn (above) CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Image of stamp below {iii}. |
by Glenn Franco Simmons
A passage from a
letter written by `Abdu’l-Bahá in 1919 that was addressed to the Bahá’ís in
Baku (then part of the Russian Empire, now Azerbaijan) may refer to a prophecy from
the famous 14th-century Persian poet and mystic Ḥáfiẓ.{i}
The letter to the Bahá’ís of Baku:
He is God.
O intimates
of the court of the Beloved! O adorers of the countenance of the Beloved! The
entire region of Caucasia is regarded as attached to the Araxes River, which in
the Qur’án hath been alluded to by the expression “the companions of Ar-Rass.”{ii} A
company of prophets, of whom all record hath been lost, were in ancient times
raised up in that clime, and perfumed the world of humanity with the fragrant
breaths of the All-Merciful.
Likewise, in
more recent times, His Holiness the Exalted One — may my life be a sacrifice to
Him — was banished to Chihríq and incarcerated within its confines.
A savour thereof reached the nostrils of Ḥáfiẓ of Shíráz,
who recited this couplet:
O zephyr, shouldst thou pass by the banks of the Araxes,
Implant a kiss on the earth of that valley and make fragrant thy breath.
His Holiness
Zoroaster too travelled and ministered awhile in those surrounds. The
“Kúh-i-Qáf” (Mount Qáf) which is mentioned in the traditions and chronicles is
this same Qafqáz (Caucasus). The Iranians believe it to be the shelter of the
Símurgh, and the nest of the Eastern Phoenix. The hope is cherished,
therefore, that this Phoenix, which hath spread the wings of sanctity over East
and West—by which is meant none other but the wondrous Divine Cause—will make
its nest and shelter in the Caucasus.
Praise be to
God that the friends of Bákú were, throughout these years of war, at peace with
all communities, and, in conformity with the Divine teachings, compassionate
unto all. They evinced an ebullient enthusiasm in the Cause of God, and were
intoxicated and transported by the wine of the Love of God. Now must they roar
like the leviathan, make up for the years of war, and, with a rousing anthem
and a rapturous refrain, stir that clime into an ecstasy of motion, in order
that Divine illumination may so suffuse men’s hearts that the rays of oneness
may shine forth, the shades of estrangement may be banished, and all
communities may mingle happily together — may, in love and amity, shed forth an
ineffable sweetness and engender such a tumult of rapture and elation that
surrounding countries too will be stirred into an ecstasy of motion.
The Glory of
Glories rest upon you — men and women alike.
3 July 1919
~ ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá often used such letters to guide, inspire, and
educate early Bahá'í communities amid historical upheavals,” Grok noted. “This
one was composed shortly after World War I and the Russian Revolution, during a
time of regional instability in the Caucasus, which includes areas around Baku
near the Araxes (Aras) River. The text draws on spiritual history, Persian
mysticism and prophetic symbolism to encourage the recipients to actively
promote unity and the Bahá'í teachings in their region, framing it as a sacred
land with deep divine significance.”
Breaking it down:
In the letter, `Abdu’l-Bahá mentioned the Báb’s banishment and referenced Ḥáfiẓ’s prophetic words:
“Likewise,
in more recent times, His Holiness the Exalted One — may my life be a sacrifice
to Him — was banished to Chihríq and incarcerated within its confines. A savour
thereof reached the nostrils of Ḥáfiẓ of Shíráz,
who recited this couplet: O zephyr, shouldst thou pass by the banks of the
Araxes, Implant a kiss on the earth of that valley and make fragrant thy
breath.”
The Exalted One refers to the
Báb (Siyyid ‘Alí-Muḥammad, 1819–1850), Who proclaimed
Himself a Manifestation of God in 1844. He Founded the Bábí Faith (precursor to
the Bahá'í Faith) and heralded the advent of Bahá'u'lláh and the Bahá'í Faith),
according to Grok.
“In 1848, facing persecution from Persian authorities,” Grok
noted, “the Báb was exiled to the isolated fortress of Chihríq in northwestern
Iran, near the Araxes River bordering the Caucasus region. His imprisonment
there lasted about nine months, marked by continued revelations and spiritual
influence despite harsh conditions.
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá uses the metaphor of a ‘savour’ (a spiritual
fragrance or essence) to suggest that the sanctity of this {physical incarceration}
emanated timelessly, even inspiring the 14th-century poet Ḥáfiẓ (Hafez) of
Shiraz (c. 1315–1390) centuries earlier. Ḥáfiẓ’s couplet, from one of his
ghazals (lyric poems), personifies the zephyr (a soft wind) as carrying
reverence to the Araxes valley.
“In Bahá’í interpretation, this is seen as a prophetic intuition: Ḥáfiẓ, through
mystical insight common in Sufi poetry,” Grok continued, “unknowingly alluded
to the future divine importance of the area, where the Báb’s presence would ‘sanctify’
the earth like a kiss imparting fragrance. This bridges classical Persian
literature with Bahá’í history, emphasizing spiritual continuity and resonance
for Persian-speaking audiences.”
Zoroaster (Zarathustra), the Manifestation of God Who founded
Zoroastrianism (estimated 1500–1000 BCE), taught His new faith in areas of
ancient Iran and the Caucasus, which further underscores the regions’ significance.
Bahá'ís believe Zoroaster is one of a series of Divine Educators Who
include Abraham, Moses Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and
Bahá'u'lláh.
“The ‘Kúh-i-Qáf’ (Mount Qáf) is a
mythical mountain in Islamic and Persian folklore,” according to Grok, “often
depicted as encircling the world or serving as a boundary between the earthly
and spiritual realms, referenced in texts like the Qur’án (e.g., Surah 50:1)
and epic poems such as the ‘Shahnameh.’ Here,
‘Abdu’l-Bahá identifies it with the Caucasus Mountains (Qafqáz in Persian),
elevating the region’s status from geographical to metaphysical. Iranian myths
portray it as the abode of the Símurgh (a benevolent, phoenix-like bird
symbolizing wisdom and healing in Persian literature … and the ‘Eastern Phoenix’
(echoing renewal and enlightenment themes). This symbolism underscores the
Caucasus as a cradle of spirituality.”
The hope for the Divine Cause: “The hope
is cherished, therefore, that this Phoenix, which hath spread the wings of
sanctity over East and West — by which is meant none other but the wondrous
Divine Cause — will make its nest and shelter in the Caucasus,” Grok explained.
“Building on the phoenix metaphor, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá interprets it as the ‘Divine
Cause’ (the Bahá'í Faith), which has already influenced East and West through
its teachings of unity, peace and Progressive Revelation. He expresses optimism
that it will ‘nest’ (take root and flourish) in the Caucasus, transforming the
region into a center of spiritual renewal post-war. This is a call to action
for the Bahá'ís in Baku to embody this phoenix-like revival.”
Praise for the Bahá'ís in Baku and
encouragement: “‘Abdu’l-Bahá commends the Baku Bahá'ís for
maintaining peace and compassion during World War I (1914–1918), aligning with
core Bahá'í principles like the oneness of humanity and avoidance of conflict.
“The ‘wine of the Love of God’ is a poetic metaphor for spiritual
ecstasy, drawn from Sufi imagery. He urges them to intensify their efforts now —
‘roar like the leviathan’ (a Biblical sea creature symbolizing immense power,
from Job 41) — to compensate for lost time, using vibrant, musical language (‘rousing
anthem,’ ‘rapturous refrain,’ ‘ecstasy of motion’) to inspire dynamic teaching
and community-building. The goal is universal unity: illuminating hearts with ‘rays
of oneness,’ eliminating division, and fostering joy that radiates to
neighboring areas. This reflects Bahá'í emphasis on world peace and interfaith
harmony.”
“The Glory of Glories rest upon you—men and
women alike.” “{This is a} standard Bahá'í
benediction invoking Divine blessings equally on all genders, dated during `Abdu’l-Bahá’s
leadership period (He passed away in 1921).”
“Overall, the letter weaves history, prophecy, and mysticism to
affirm the Caucasus’ sacred role in divine unfolding, while motivating the Baku
community to pioneer the Faith’s growth amid post-war recovery. It exemplifies `Abdu’l-Bahá’s
style: eloquent, metaphorical and focused on practical spirituality to build a
unified world.”
i `Abdu’l-Bahá’s spelling of Ḥáfiẓ is retained.
ii See Qur’án, 25:38 and 50:12
iii Stamp. Public domain. Source, Wikipedia user: Matsievsky. Soviet Union 1971.
