Pondering the Fire Tablet Quotes

“It was written in late 1871, during one of the most turbulent periods of the Blessed Beauty’s ministry. He was in the prison-city of ‘Akká, but had recently moved out of the citadel. Some members of the community were asserting themselves rebelliously and proving themselves unfaithful. This played into the hands of His enemies, caused confusion among the friends and brought enormous sadness to Bahá’u’lláh. His greatest sorrow was not from the deeds of His enemies: it was from unfaithfulness and treachery from within the community. During this time, a faithful and pure-hearted believer, ‘Alí-Akbar, wrote to Bahá’u’lláh. Hearing from this dearly-loved follower while surrounded by so-called believers who were treacherous, must have been a balm to His anguished Soul. This is the Tablet that was revealed in response to ‘Alí-Akbar’s letter. This one sincere heart became a channel through which the whole world could forever glimpse Bahá’u’lláh’s realm of adversity and feel some heat of tribulation suffered by the Redeemer of the world.[3]”
― John Kolstoe, Pondering the Fire Tablet: Reflections on Bahá’u’lláh’s “Fire Tablet”

“In Arabic this Tablet is called Lawh-i-Qad Ihtaraqa’l-Mukhlisún. The word Ihtaraqa’l means not just a flame, but has the connotation of fervent heat. One Arabic scholar suggested that a translation of: “verily, it ignites the hearts of the sincere” more accurately reflects the subtleties of meaning implied in the title.”
― John Kolstoe, Pondering the Fire Tablet: Reflections on Bahá’u’lláh’s “Fire Tablet”

“Throughout the world the “Fire Tablet” has become a trusted companion. This unusual Tablet was revealed in Arabic, which Bahá’u’lláh referred to as “the eloquent tongue” and was the Revelation language for some of His most potent Tablets.[*]”
― John Kolstoe, Pondering the Fire Tablet: Reflections on Bahá’u’lláh’s “Fire Tablet”