# Tablet of the Peacock

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of the Peacock, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Tablet of the Peacock1
> Mohammad Norozi2
> 
> 1 Sep. 2025
> 
> Introduction and Background:
> 
> Bahá’u’lláh revealed this luminous Tablet in response to a devoted friend, whose heart,
> stirred by the ardor of love and reverence, offered a peacock3 as a token of homage.
> 
> It was in the year 1887 C.E., when the radiant decree of Providence bridged two distant
> cities: ‘Akká, the place of exile for the prisoners of the Ottoman Empire, and Alexandria,
> within the realm of Iraq. The devoted friend, yearning to present some token of his
> devotion to his Master, found nothing in that land worthy of His august presence. At
> length, that which was most rare, and seemingly unattainable—a peacock—was
> secured and brought forth.4
> 
> Perchance his heart was moved by the exalted words of the blessed Báb:
> 
> “Know thou that in the treasuries of God all things exist, and thou, therefore, shouldst
> present unto Him that which is not found in His treasuries.”
> 
> With unwavering fidelity, the peacock was carried into the presence of the Ancient
> Beauty. In the plenitude of His mercy and bounty, Bahá’u’lláh revealed a Tablet in reply,
> wherein the word “peacock” was illuminated and attributed to the sender himself.
> 
> This Tablet, resplendent with grace and subtle power, stands as a testimony to the
> gentleness, refinement, and luminous nature of the Ancient Beauty, and to the
> unbounded bounty, favor, and gracious attention of God as manifested through Him,
> toward a servant wholly devoted to His threshold.
> 
> This title has been assigned by the author for the purposes of this article; the work is not otherwise known as the
> ‘Tablet of the Peacock.’
> Contact email address; nsm_dist@hotmail.com.
> The peacock emerges in Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings as a rich and multifaceted symbol. In the Tablet of the Bell (Lawḥ-i-
> Náqús), He speaks of the “Peacock of the Divine Unity”, whose plaintive cry resounds amid the thickets of the
> celestial realms, stirred by the heavenly melody of God (Bahá’u’lláh, Lawḥ-i-Náqús, trans. Stephen Lambden,
> available at Bahá’í Library Online). On another occasion, Bahá’u’lláh draws upon an Arabic proverb regarding the
> peacock: it is contented because it looks not upon its unsightly feet, but always upon its resplendent plumage—an
> admonition to focus on the divine blessings conferred rather than one’s own shortcomings (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, story
> recounted in Bahá’í Stories, Bahá’í Library Online). In still other Tablets, the peacock is invoked alongside mystical
> birds such as the Simurgh and the Phoenix—vehicles of super sensory, divine realities. For instance, Bahá’u’lláh
> refers to the “Simurgh of the love of the Abhá Beauty” and the “Peacock of the most sublime heaven,” symbolizing the
> enduring power of the Word of God and the spiritual potency that emanates from the Divine Manifestation (selections
> cited in Bahá’í compendiums on symbolic edifices and bird imagery).
> Badī‘ Bushrū’ī, Ahang-i Badī‘, 6th year, nos. 16–17, p. 291
> 
> Here, in this sacred interchange, the passage of divine grace is made manifest, as the
> light of the Eternal Bestower descends upon hearts attuned to the melodies of devotion
> and the spirit of steadfast love.
> 
> What follows is a provisional English rendering, translated with utmost reverence and
> care, of this sacred tablet, originally revealed in Persian. The Persian text is published in
> an article by Badī‘ Bushrū’ī, published in Ahang-i Badī‘, 6th year, nos. 16–17, p. 291.
> 
> Bahá’u’lláh Reveals:
> 
> “Thou didst send a peacock; it was from the Holy Isle, for it had attained unto its
> destined station.
> 
> The letter Ṭā’5 of ṭalab (quest) is enshrined in its name, a token that it shall attain the
> Object of its search.
> 
> Its Alif is the Alif of steadfastness, ever upheld in service; and this is a sign of your
> constancy in devotion.
> 
> Its Wāw crieth aloud, proclaiming: ‘The promise of God is fulfilled; the Promised One is
> made manifest in the Name of the All-Loving.’
> 
> Its second Wāw, conjoined, is laden with tidings and mysteries.
> 
> Its Sīn hath come unto Sinai,6 and hath partaken of the effulgences thereof.
> 
> Glorified, Sanctified, is our Lord, the Lord of the angels and of the Spirit.
> 
> These favours and utterances derive from the fact that it was taken for the sake of God
> and sent forth in the path of God. Every deed accomplished for God is endowed with
> effulgences, with manifestations, with effects and fruits. Blessed art thou!
> 
> But the peacock hath gone to the garden, while this Wronged One hath for some time
> been imprisoned in the house renowned for the remembrance of God—exalted be His
> glory.
> 
> The word “‫( ”طاووس‬peacock) in Persian is composed of the letters ‫( ط‬Ṭā’), ‫( ا‬Alif), ‫( و‬Wāw), ‫( و‬Wāw), and ‫( س‬Sīn). In this
> Tablet, Bahá’u’lláh considers each letter individually, expounding upon its spiritual significance and symbolic import.
> Through this method, He demonstrates how the constituent letters convey hidden meanings, reflect divine attributes,
> and signify deeper metaphysical realities, thereby revealing the profound interplay between language, the sacred
> Word, and the spiritual truths inherent in creation.
> In Abrahamic scripture, Mount Sinai is the archetypal mountain of revelation. Bahá’u’lláh re-appropriates this
> image, presenting Himself as the new Sinai from which God’s voice is heard. Just as Moses beheld the Burning Bush
> and heard God’s call, humanity is now summoned to recognize Bahá’u’lláh as the locus of divine manifestation. This
> aligns with His frequent use of Sinai to symbolize theophany, divine lawgiving, and the renewal of the Covenant.
> 
> We entreat God that the chosen ones of that land may be confirmed. Praise be to God,
> they have indeed been, and are, confirmed.
> 
> Once again, We entreat God that He may adorn the head with the crown of noble
> character, the body with the breastplate of piety, and the limbs with righteous deeds,
> that the horizons may be illumined with the radiance of that company.
> 
> In very truth, ye have carried off the prize of felicity.
> 
> Beseech ye God to safeguard it, and implore Him that with every passing day He may
> increase that which is yours—namely, praiseworthy character and goodly deeds.
> 
> The fragrance of the remembrance of the chosen ones of those regions hath been
> diffused abroad—a blessing unto you!
> 
> We send greetings to all the chosen ones of that land, and for each one We supplicate
> that which endureth and abideth forever.
> 
> He, verily, is the Hearer, the Answerer; and all praise be to God, the One, the Watchful,
> the Near at hand.”
> 
> ‫‪A Tablet from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Transcribed from a Typed Copy‬‬
> 
> ‫طاووس فرستادی ؛ از جزیرۀ قدّوس بود ‪ .‬چه که به مقامش رسید ‪.‬‬
> ‫طاء طلب در اسمش موجود ‪ .‬این دلیل بر آن است که به مطلوب فائز شود ‪.‬‬
> ‫الفش الف استقامت است که بر خدمت قائم است و این دلیل است بر قیام شما بر خدمت ‪.‬‬
> ‫واوش ندا میکند ‪ .‬میگوید وعدۀ الهی ظاهر ‪ ،‬موعود به اسم ودود مشهود ‪.‬‬
> ‫واو دیگر ُمدغَم و دارای اخبار و اسرار ‪ .‬سینش به سینا آمده و از تجلّیات قسمت برده ‪.‬‬
> ‫الروح ‪.‬‬
> ‫ّوس َربُّنا و َربُّ المالئک ِة و ّ‬
> ‫سبّو ٌح قد ٌ‬
> ‫این عنایات و اذکار نظر به آن است که هلل اخذ شد و فی سبیلهللا ارسال گشت ‪.‬‬
> ‫ک‪.‬‬‫هر عملی که هلل واقع شود ‪ ،‬دارای ظهورات و بروزات و آثار و اثمار است ‪ .‬هنیئا ً لَ َ‬
> ‫حق ج ّل جالله مشغول ‪.‬‬   ‫و لکن طاووس به بستان رفته و این مظلوم مدّتی است در سجن در بیت معروف به ذکر ّ‬
> ‫خری از حق میطلبیم رأس‬      ‫مرة ً ا ُ ٰ‬
> ‫از حق میطلبیم اولیای آن ارض را مؤیَّد فرماید ‪ .‬هلل الحمد مؤیَّد بوده و هستند ‪ّ .‬‬
> ‫را به تاج اخالق و هیکل را به دِرع تقوی و ارکان را به اعمال طیّبه مزیّن فرماید تا آفاق به انوار آن‬
> ‫منور گردد ‪.‬‬‫حزب ّ‬
> ‫فیالحقیقه گوی سعادت را بردهاید ‪ .‬از حق حفظش را طلب نمائید و مسئلت کنید تا در هر یوم بر آنچه با شما‬
> ‫است بیفزاید ؛ یعنی بر اخالق مرضیه و اعمال طیّبه ‪.‬‬
> ‫متضوع – نعیما ً لکم – جمیع اولیای آن ارض را سالم می رسانیم و از‬            ‫ّ‬      ‫عرف ذکر اولیای آن اطراف در دیار‬
> ‫برای هر یک میطلبیم آنچه را که باقی و دائم است ‪ .‬إنّهُ هو السّامع المجیب و الحمدُ هلل الفرد ّ‬
> ‫الرقیب القریب ‪.‬‬
> 
> ‫‪4‬‬
>
> — *Tablet of the Peacock (Used by permission of the curator)*