[2 Muhammad, Ahmad and Mahmud are names and titles of the Prophet, derived from the verb "to praise," "to exalt.
[4 Sermon by Ali.]
[5 Qur'an 2:282.]
[6 Qur'an 16:71.]
[7 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means"goal."]
[8 Qur'an 29:69: "And whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them."]
[9 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means"goal."]
[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.
[12 Refer to the story of Joesph in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.]
[13 Faridu'd-Din Attar (ca. 1150-1230 A.D.), the great Persian Sufi poet.]
[15 Persian mystic poem. Cf. The Hidden Words, No. 7, Arabic.]
[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.
[18 From an ode by Baha'u'llah.]
[20 Qur'an 67:3.]
[21 Qur'an 41:53.]
[22 Qur'an 57:3.]
[23 Saying attributed to Ali.]
[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.
[25 Qur'an 1:5.]
[26 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.
[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.
[28 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.
[30 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.]
[31 Qur'an 4:80.]
[32 Qur'an 18:37.]
[33 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means"goal."]
[34 This refers to Baha'u'llah's own Manifestation.]
[35 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.]
[37 Hadith, i.e. action or utterance traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad or to one of the holy Imams.]
[40 Hadith, i.e. action or utterance traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad or to one of the holy Imams.]
[41 The Prophet Muhammad.]
[42 Hafiz: Shamsu'd-Din Muhammad, of Shiraz, died ca. 1389 A.D. One of the greatest of Persian poets.]
[43 Hadith, i.e. action or utterance traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad or to one of the holy Imams.]
[44 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.]
[46 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.]
[47 This refers to the Sufi idea of the inner plane, which compared to Revealed Truth is but unreal.]
[48 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.]
[49 This refers to Baha'u'llah Himself, Who had not yet declared His mission.]
[51 Hafiz: Shamsu'd-Din Muhammad, of Shiraz, died ca. 1389 A.D. One of the greatest of Persian poets.]
[53 Hadith, i.e. action or utterance traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad or to one of the holy Imams.]
[54 From Qur'an 50:21.]
[57 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.]
[58 Literally "Jayhun," a river in Turkistan.]
[59 Qur'an 9:51.]
[60 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.]
[61 Qur'an 76:5.]
[62 Muhammad.]
[65 Faridu'd-Din Attar (ca. 1150-1230 A.D.), the great Persian Sufi poet.]
[66 Hadith, i.e. action or utterance traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad or to one of the holy Imams.]
[67 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.]
[68 Pantheism, a Sufi doctrine derived from the formula: "Only God exists; He is in all things, and all things are in Him."]
[69 This refers to the three stages of Sufi life: 1. Shari'at, or Religious Laws; 2. Tariqat, or the Path on which the mystic wayfarer journeys in search of the True One; this stage also includes anchoretism. 3. Haqiqat, or the Truth which, to the Sufi, is the goal of the journey through all three stages. Here Baha'u'llah teaches that, contrary to the belief of certain Sufis who in their search for the Truth consider themselves above all law, obedience to the Laws of Religion is essential.
[70 Maqam-i-Mahmud. Qur'an 17:81.]
[73 "Peace." This word is used in concluding a thesis.]
[75 The five letters comprising this word in Persian are: G, N, J, SH, K, that is, Gaf, Nun, Jim, Shin, Kaf.]
[76 This and the foregoing quotations are from the teachings of Islam.]
[77 This is a reference in the traditional Persian style to Baha'u'llah Himself.]