2. Muhammad, Ahmad and Mahmud are names and titles of the Prophet, derived from the verb "to praise," "to exalt." Return to text
3. Qur'an 17:110. Return to text
4. Sermon by Ali. Return to text
5. Qur'an 2:282. Return to text
6. Qur'an 16:71. Return to text
7. The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means "goal." Return to text
8. Qur'an 29:69: "And whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them." Return to text
9. The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means "goal." Return to text
10. Literally, Majnun means "insane." This is the title of the celebrated lover of ancient Persian and Arabian lore, whose beloved was Layli, daughter of an Arabian prince. Symbolizing true human love bordering on the divine, the story has been made the theme of many a Persian romantic poem, particularly that of Nizami, written in 1188-1189 A.D. Return to text
11. Arabian proverb. Return to text
12. Refer to the story of Joseph in the Qur'an and the Old Testament. Return to text
13. Faridu'd-Din Attar (ca. 1150-1230 A.D.), the great Persian Sufi poet. Return to text
14. Persian mystic poem. Return to text
15. Persian mystic poem. Cf. The Hidden Words, No. 7, Arabic. Return to text
16. Qur'an 50:29. Return to text
17. Jalalu'd-Din Rumi (1207-1273 A.D.); The Mathnavi. Jalalu'd-Din, called Mawlana ("our Master"), is the greatest of all Persian Sufi poets, and founder of the Mawlavi "whirling" dervish order. Return to text
18. From an ode by Baha'u'llah. Return to text
19. Persian mystic poem. Return to text
20. Qur'an 67:3. Return to text
21. Qur'an 41:53. Return to text
22. Qur'an 57:3. Return to text
23. Saying attributed to Ali. Return to text
24. Shaykh Abu Isma'il Abdu'llah Ansari of Hirat (1006-1088 A.D.) Sufi leader, descended from the Prophet's companion Abu Ayyub. Chiefly known for his Munajat (Supplications) and Ruba'iyyat (Quatrains). "Ansar" means the "Helpers" or companions of Muhammad in Medina. Return to text
25. Qur'an 1:5. Return to text
26. Mathnavi. Return to text
27. This refers to the mystic wandering and search for truth guided by "Lights" or Sufi leaders. Baha'u'llah here warns the mystics that the coming of the Divine Manifestation in His Day makes further search unnecessary, as it was said by Ali: "Quench the lamp when the sun hath risen"--the sun referring to the Manifestation of God in the New Day. Return to text
28. Mathnavi. Return to text
29. Qur'an 2:151. Return to text
30. Mathnavi. Return to text
