of the Minister. The third Tablet, the Lawh-i-Fu'ad,
revealed in 1869 shortly after the death of Fu'ad Pasha, the Ottoman
Minister to whose machinations it refers, describes the spiritual
consequences of the abuse of power, and foretells the imminent downfall of
his colleague, 'Ali Pasha, and the overthrow of the Sultan
himself--prophecies that were widely circulated and whose dramatic
fulfilment added greatly to the prestige of their Author.

It seems especially appropriate, as Baha'u'llah's influence penetrates
ever more deeply the life of the larger society throughout the world, that
the full texts of these great Tablets should now be available for a broad
readership. We express to the committees who were commissioned to
undertake and review these translations the deep gratitude we feel for the
care and sensitivity they have brought to the task. Baha'is will recognize
key passages from several of the Tablets that were introduced to the West
by Shoghi Effendi. His translations into English of the Baha'i Holy Texts
provide an enduring standard for the efforts of those who rise to the
challenge of preparing appropriate renderings into English of these
treasures of the Faith.

The Universal House of Justice

SURIY-I-HAYKAL

_This is the Surih of the Temple which God hath ordained to be the Mirror
of His Names between the heavens and the earth, and the Sign of His
Remembrance amidst the peoples of the world._

He is the Most Wondrous, the All-Glorious!

1 Glorified is He Who hath revealed His verses to those who understand.
Glorified is He Who sendeth down His verses to those who perceive.
Glorified is He Who guideth whomsoever He pleaseth unto His path. Say: I,
verily, am the Path of God unto all who are in the heavens and all who are
on the earth; well is it with them that hasten thereunto!

2 Glorified is He Who sendeth down His verses to those who comprehend.
Glorified is He Who speaketh forth from the Kingdom of His Revelation, and
Who remaineth unknown to all save His honoured servants. Glorified is He
Who quickeneth whomsoever He willeth by virtue of His word "Be", and it
is! Glorified is He Who causeth whomsoever He willeth to ascend unto the
heaven of grace, and sendeth down therefrom whatsoever He desireth
according to a prescribed measure.

3 Blessed is He Who doeth as He willeth by a word of His command. He,
verily,