Praised be my Lord, the Most High (Subhana Rabbiyya’l-A`la) is a 47-verse prose poem. Baha’u’llah invites readers into paradise to witness the activities of the divine houri, whose stunning beauty and power symbolise the creative forces of Baha’u’llah’s revelation. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube. Translation by Alison Elizabeth Marshall (See also the translation by…
Category: Windflower Translations
Windflower Translations contains just over 40 texts from Bahá’u’lláh’s mystical writings, carefully presented with paragraph numbering for referencing, notes, and study materials. Also included is the Windflower Translations Catalogue — a complete list of the works in the Library. Each entry links to the translation, giving readers a clear overview of the collection and an easy way to navigate the texts.
Ode of the Dove notes, by Baha’u’llah
Ode of the Dove notes are explanations Baha’u’llah wrote about the meaning of various phrases he used in his poem Ode of the Dove. He wrote these notes in response to criticisms made against him by his half-brother, Mirza Yahya. For details, see the Introduction to Ode of the Dove. Watch the notes on YouTube. Translation by…
Ode of the Dove, by Baha’u’llah
Ode of the Dove (al-Qasidah al-Warqa’iyyah) is 127-verse mystical poem in which Baha’u’llah describes his unfailing love for the divine houri who represents God. He wrote it in response to a challenge to produce a poem based on the style and form of Ibn al-Farid’s famous “Poem of the Mystic’s Progress”. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube….
Houri of Wonder, by Baha’u’llah
Houri of Wonder (Hur-i ‘Ujab) is a poem in which Baha’u’llah proclaims the coming of his new revelation using the image of a woman of striking beauty and power appearing in heaven. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube. Translation by Juan Cole The beauty of holiness has risen from behind her veil– and that is a…
Nightingale of Separation, by Baha’u’llah
Nightingale of Separation (Lawh-i Bulbulu’l-Firaq) is a letter in which Baha’u’llah addresses the grief that he and his followers experienced when he was forced to move his residence from Baghdad to the Ottoman capital of Istanbul. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube. Translation by Juan Cole The nightingale of separation, perched upon the branch of…
O Nightingales, by Baha’u’llah
O Nightingales (Ay Bulbulan) is a short poem in which Baha’u’llah announces to those who are searching for their divine Beloved that they can now see him before them. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube. Translation by Juan Cole Nightingales, O nightingales!The season of roses, the blooming time… is here.Mystics, O mystics!What you could not see, now…
Nightingale and the Owl, by Baha’u’llah
Nightingale and the Owl is an allegorical short story centred around a dispute between the owl and the nightingale (Baha’u’llah) over whether it was the nightingale or the crow who sang the sweet tune in the garden. Read the Introduction. Watch on YouTube. Translation by Juan Cole [1] The spiritual rose in the divine garden…
Gems of the Mysteries, by Baha’u’llah
Gems of the Mysteries (Jawahiru’l-Asrar) is a book-length work in which Baha’u’llah discusses major themes of his revelation regarding the renewal of religion. He also outlines seven stages in a person’s spiritual journey to God. Read the Introduction by Juan Cole. Translation by Juan Cole Herein lie gems of the mysteries associated with the stages…
Garden of Justice, by Baha’u’llah
Garden of Justice (Ridvan al-‘adl) is a long commentary on the attribute of God, the Just. Baha’u’llah explains what it is, discusses its role in his religion and admonishes it not to exalt itself over the other attributes of God. Read the Introduction. Translation by Juan Cole, with a short section by Shoghi Effendi This…
Four Valleys, by Baha’u’llah
Four Valleys (Chihar-Vadi) is a mystical work in which Baha’u’llah describes the four different ways a person might take on the spiritual path to God. The four valleys, in order, are: Self, Intellect, Love, and Mystical Insight. Read the introduction. Translation by Juan Cole “You light of truth,Husamu’d-Din;The pillars of the world nevergave birth to…