O beloved of God, endeavor with your hearts and souls, that
ye may be qualified with the morals and attributes of the Blessed Perfection,
and partake of the bounties of His sanctity; that ye may become signs of unity
and standards of oneness, discover the essence of singleness and sing harmonies
and lays in this divine garden, in merciful melodies; that ye may become as
thankful birds, and sing a song in the rose-garden of existence which may
astonish minds and senses; that ye may hoist a standard on the apex of the
universe which may flutter in the winds of favor, and plant a tree in the field
of the visible world which may bring forth fruits of the utmost delicacy and
freshness. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of
Abdu'l-Bahá', vol. 2’)
December 30
The more material education advances,
the more competitive is the race in aggression and injustice. But spiritual
education is the cause of competition in praiseworthy actions and the
acquisition of human perfections. We hope that day by day these injustices will
diminish and the spiritual virtues increase. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk, August 7, 1912, Dublin,
USA; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
December 29
Just as human intellects have revealed the secrets of matter
and have brought forth from the realm of the invisible the mysteries of nature,
may minds and spirits, likewise, come into the knowledge of the verities of
God, and the realities of the Kingdom be made manifest in human hearts. Then
the world will be the paradise of Abha, the standard of the Most Great Peace
will be borne aloft, and the oneness of the world of humanity in all its
beauty, glory and significance will become apparent. ('Abdu'l-Baha, excerpt from a talk; The Promulgation of
Universal Peace)
December 28
These Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the Spirit of God.
Their defender is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His Wings. What bounty
is there greater than this? …These Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and
heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all
regions, and the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created things.
From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed, are
the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘God Passes By’)
December 27
His Holiness, the Exalted One (the Báb), is the
Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God and the Forerunner of the Ancient
Beauty. His Holiness the Abhá Beauty (may my life be a sacrifice for His
steadfast friends) is the Supreme Manifestation of God and the Dayspring of His
Most Divine Essence. All others are servants unto Him and do His bidding. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
December 26
O thou who art attracted by the Word of
God!
Verily, I read thy letter which
contained new significances. I ask God to make thee a new creature so that the
lights of human perfections may shine through thee and to make thee kind
hearted unto all human beings so that thou mayest be a mercy unto souls,
absolute goodness to all, a sign of kindness, a word of tenderness. Verily, thy
Lord is the Mighty, the Powerful! He reviveth whomsoever He wisheth by the
spirit of righteousness and granteth unto whom He wisheth great bounty, guideth
whom He wisheth unto the path of life and confirmeth whom He desireth in
attaining the Kingdom of God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol.
1)
December 25
The sciences of today are bridges to reality; if then they
lead not to reality, naught remains but fruitless illusion. By the one true
God! If learning be not a means of access to Him, the Most Manifest, it is
nothing but evident loss.
It is incumbent upon thee to acquire the various branches of
knowledge, and to turn thy face toward the beauty of the Manifest Beauty, that
thou mayest be a sign of saving guidance amongst the peoples of the world, and
a focal centre of understanding in this sphere from which the wise and their
wisdom are shut out, except for those who set foot in the Kingdom of lights and
become informed of the veiled and hidden mystery, the well-guarded secret. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections from the
Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 24
Muhammad never fought against the Christians; on the
contrary, He treated them kindly and gave them perfect freedom. A community of
Christian people lived at Najrán and were under His care and protection. Muhammad
said, “If anyone infringes their rights, I Myself will be his enemy, and in the
presence of God I will bring a charge against him.” In the edicts which He
promulgated it is clearly stated that the lives, properties and honor of the
Christians and Jews are under the protection of God; and that if a Muhammadan
married a Christian woman, the husband must not prevent her from going to
church, nor oblige her to veil herself; and that if she died, he must place her
remains in the care of the Christian clergy. Should the Christians desire to
build a church, Islám ought to help them. In case of war between Islám and her
enemies, the Christians should be exempted from the obligation of fighting,
unless they desired of their own free will to do so in defense of Islám,
because they were under its protection. But as a compensation for this
immunity, they should pay yearly a small sum of money. In short, there are
seven detailed edicts on these subjects, some copies of which are still extant
at Jerusalem. This is an established fact and is not dependent on my
affirmation. The edict of the second Caliph [Umar] still exists in the custody
of the orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, and of this there is no doubt. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘Some Answered Questions’)
December 23
...Thou hast written concerning the meeting of His Highness
Christ after the crucifixion and that some of the apostles perceived Him but
did not recognize Him; but that they did recognize Him after the breaking of
bread.
Know thou that the Messianic Spirit and the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit is always manifest, but capacity and ability (to receive it) is
more in some and less in others. After the crucifixion the apostles had not in
the beginning the capacity and ability of witnessing the Messianic reality. For
they were agitated. But when they found firmness and steadfastness, their inner
sight became opened, and they saw the reality of the Messiah as manifest. For
the body of Christ was crucified and vanished, but the Spirit of Christ is
always pouring upon the contingent world, and is manifest before the insight of
the people of assurance. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, Vol. 1)
December 22
O army of God! Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any
heart to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a
stranger, be he friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye that all be blessed, all
be forgiven. Beware, beware, lest any of you seek vengeance, even against one
who is thirsting for your blood. Beware, beware, lest ye offend the feelings of
another, even though he be an evil-doer, and he wish you ill. Look ye not upon
the creatures, turn ye to their Creator. See ye not the never-yielding people,
see but the Lord of Hosts. Gaze ye not down upon the dust, gaze upward at the
shining sun, which hath caused every patch of darksome earth to glow with
light. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections from
the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 21
Throughout the animal kingdom we do not find the creatures
separated because of color. They recognize unity of species and oneness of
kind. If we do not find color distinction drawn in a kingdom of lower
intelligence and reason, how can it be justified among human beings, especially
when we know that all have come from the same source and belong to the same
household? In origin and intention of creation mankind is one. Distinctions of
race and color have arisen afterward. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi
in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)
December 20
Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a
centre of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his
honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the
peoples of the world, so that the people of that city may cry out and say:
‘This man is unquestionably a Bahá’í, for his manners, his behaviour, his
conduct, his morals, his nature, and disposition reflect the attributes of the
Bahá’ís.’ Not until ye attain this station can ye be said to have been faithful
to the Covenant and Testament of God. For He hath, through irrefutable Texts,
entered into a binding Covenant with us all, requiring us to act in accordance
with His sacred instructions and counsels. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 19
The substance is, that prior to the completion of a thousand
years, no individual may presume to breathe a word. All must consider
themselves to be of the order of subjects, submissive and obedient to the
commandments of God and the laws of the House of Justice. Should any deviate by
so much as a needle’s point from the decrees of the Universal House of Justice,
or falter in his compliance therewith, then is he of the outcast and rejected. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections from the
Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 18
In Matthew, chapter 24, verse 3, Christ clearly says that
what Daniel meant by this prophecy was the date of the manifestation, and this
is the verse: “As He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him
privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the
sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” One of the explanations He
gave them in reply was this (v. 15): “When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy
place, (whoso readeth, let him understand).” In this answer He referred them to
the eighth chapter of the Book of Daniel, saying that everyone who reads it
will understand that it is this time that is spoken of. Consider how clearly
the manifestation of the Báb is spoken of in the Old Testament and in the
Gospel. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha;
‘Some Answered Questions’)
December 17
In the estimation of God there is no distinction of color;
all are one in the color and beauty of servitude to Him. Color is not
important; the heart is all-important. It mattereth not what the exterior may
be if the heart is pure and white within. God doth not behold differences of
hue and complexion. He looketh at the hearts. He whose morals and virtues are
praiseworthy is preferred in the presence of God; he who is devoted to the
Kingdom is most beloved. In the realm of genesis and creation the question of
color is of least importance. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The
Advent of Divine Justice’)
December 15
In the estimation of God all men are equal. There is no
distinction or preference for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity
…God did not make these divisions, these divisions have had their origin in man
himself. Therefore, as they are against the plan and purpose of God they are
false and imaginary. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of
Divine Justice’)
December 14
…all the earth’s creatures require the bounty of the sun, for
their very existence is dependent upon solar light and heat. Should they be
deprived of the sun, they would be wiped out. This is the being with God, as
referred to in the Holy Books: man must be with his Lord. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections from the Writings
of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 13
Among
the human race, the bonds of and means for love are numerous, for man cannot
live without it; nay, rather, human life is dependent upon friendship and
affection. Both the material and intrinsic development of man are conditional
upon amity and love and the greatest honor and pleasure in the human world is
love; but the ways and means are different. Sometimes the cause of love is
simply relationship and kinship; and sometimes it is a racial bond, patriotism,
political affairs, etc. But, through all these various bonds and means it is
impossible to obtain a real and pure love; it is rather superficial and temporary.
Such love may easily be changed into enmity and rancor, for it is affected by
the slightest manifestation of hostility; whereas a true and ideal love is
faith and assurance. Those who believe in God and are confident in His Word
shall enter the Kingdom, and the essential oneness appears among them to such
an extent that all become the drops of one ocean, the rays of one sun, the
fishes of one sea, the trees of one garden, the birds of one orchard, the
candles of one assembly and the stars of the same heaven. Such love is real;
there is no interruption for this connection, nor any separation for this
union: this foundation shall never be destroyed, for it is eternal: hence it is
established that the love which exists among the beloved of God is everlasting,
for it is a Divine bounty, a Godly appearance, a melody of the Kingdom and a
heavenly cohesion. (‘Abdu'l-Baha’s words
while serving a number of Jewish, Zoroastrian, Christian and Muslim background Baha'is
seated around His table; Star of the West, Vol. 1, no. 8, Aug. 1 1910)
December 12
Cleanliness and sanctity in all conditions are
characteristics of pure beings and necessities of free souls. The first
perfection consists in cleanliness and sanctity and in purity from every
defect. When man in all conditions is pure and immaculate, he will become the
center of the reflection of the manifest Light. In all his actions and conduct
there must first be purity, then beauty and independence. The channel must be
cleansed before it is filled with sweet water. The pure eye comprehendeth the
sight and the meeting of God; the pure nostril inhaleth the perfumes of the
rose-garden of bounty; the pure heart becometh the mirror of the beauty of
truth. This is why, in the heavenly Books, the divine counsels and commands
have been compared to water. So, in the Koran it is said, "and we have
caused a pure water to descend from heaven;" and in the Gospel,
"Except a man hath received the baptism of water and of the spirit, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Then it is evident that the divine
teachings are the heavenly grace and the showers of the mercy of God, which
purify the hearts of men. (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of ’Abdu'l-Baha vol. 3)
December 11
As to the fact that man must entirely forget himself, by
this is meant that he should arise in the mystery of sacrifice and that is the
disappearance of mortal sentiments and extinction of blamable morals which
constitute the temporal gloom, and not that the physical health should be
changed into weakness and debility. (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha vol. 2)
December 10
A person who is endowed with perception
has spirituality and heavenly attributes; he can recognize that the human soul
has never been subject to annihilation and will never become so. He sees that
all created beings are in harmony with the spirit and are under its influence.
He knows himself to be eternal, everlasting, constant, imperishable and
encompassed by the lights of God, the Lord of glory. For he has spiritual
susceptibilities and is affected by conscience and spiritual impulses. He is
not limited by rational constraints or human emotions and sentiments. However,
the man who has no perception or inner sight finds himself always dejected and
lifeless; every time he thinks of death, he is afraid, because he considers
himself to be mortal.
Blessed souls are not of this category.
They sense that they are eternal, luminous and imperishable like the disciples
of Christ. It is for this reason that at the time of death or martyrdom Bahá'ís
rejoice, because they know there is no death or annihilation for them. At most,
the body disintegrates but the soul exists in the divine world and has
everlasting life. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
excerpt from a talk at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, August 7, 1912,
Dublin, USA; Mahmud’s Diary)
December 9
Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which
ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing
divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas, and convictions of the children of men.
Verily, it is the penetrating power in all things, the mover of and the binder
and regulator in the world of humanity. ('Abdu'l-Bahá,
‘Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
December 8
The variety of inherited qualities comes from strength and
weakness of constitution — that is to say, when the two parents are weak, the
children will be weak; if they are strong, the children will be robust. In the
same way, purity of blood has a great effect; for the pure germ is like the
superior stock which exists in plants and animals. For example, you see that
children born from a weak and feeble father and mother will naturally have a
feeble constitution and weak nerves; they will be afflicted and will have
neither patience, nor endurance, nor resolution, nor perseverance, and will be
hasty; for the children inherit the weakness and debility of their parents. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. I,
Family Life)
December 7
O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon you to be
submissive to all monarchs that are just and to show your fidelity to every
righteous king. Serve ye the sovereigns of the world with utmost truthfulness
and loyalty. Show obedience unto them and be their well-wishers. Without their
leave and permission do not meddle with political affairs, for disloyalty to
the just sovereign is disloyalty to God Himself. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Will and
Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
December 6
Now when the news of this beating [of the Báb by a leading clergy
in Tabriz], chastisement, imprisonment, and rigor reached all parts of Persia,
learned divines and esteemed lawyers who were possessed of power and influence
girt up the loins of endeavor for the eradication and suppression of this sect,
exerting their utmost efforts therefore. And they wrote notice of their
decision, to wit “that this person and his followers are in absolute error and
are hurtful to Church and State.” And since the governors in Persia enjoyed the
fullest authority, in some provinces they followed this decision and united in
uprooting and dispersing the Bábís. But the late King Muhammad Sháh
acted with deliberation in this matter, reflecting, “This Youth is of the Pure
Lineage and of the family of him addressed with ‘were it not for thee.’ So long
as no offensive actions which are incompatible with the public peace and
well-being proceed from him, the government should not interfere with him.” And
whenever the learned doctors appealed to him from the surrounding districts, he
either gave no answer, or else commanded them to act with deliberation. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
December 5
…Bahá’u’lláh taught the Oneness of humanity; that is to say,
all the children of men are under the mercy of the Great God. They are the sons
of one God; they are trained by God. He has placed the crown of humanity on the
head of every one of the servants of God. Therefore all nations and peoples
must consider themselves brethren. They are all descendants from Adam. They are
the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of One Tree. They are pearls from one
shell. But the children of men are in need of education and civilization, and
they require to be polished, till they become bright and shining. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from a talk, September 30, 1911; ‘Abdu'l-Bahá in London: Addresses and Notes of
Conversations’)
December 4
…when the holy breaths of the Spirit of God (Jesus) were
shedding their sweetness over Palestine and Galilee, over the shores of Jordan
and the regions around Jerusalem, and the wondrous melodies of the Gospel were
sounding in the ears of the spiritually illumined, all the peoples of Asia and
Europe, of Africa and America, of Oceania, which comprises the islands and
archipelagoes of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, were fire-worshipers and
pagans, ignorant of the Divine Voice that spoke out on the Day of the Covenant.
[Qur’án 7:171] Alone the Jews believed in the divinity and oneness of God.
Following the declaration of Jesus, the pure and reviving breath of His mouth
conferred eternal life on the inhabitants of those regions for a period of
three years, and through Divine Revelation the Law of Christ, at that time the
vital remedy for the ailing body of the world, was established. In the days of
Jesus only a few individuals turned their faces toward God; in fact only the
twelve disciples and a few women truly became believers, and one of the
disciples, Judas Iscariot apostatized from his Faith, leaving eleven. After the
ascension of Jesus to the Realm of Glory, these few souls stood up with their
spiritual qualities and with deeds that were pure and holy, and they arose by
the power of God and the life-giving breaths of the Messiah to save all the
peoples of the earth. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)
December 3
The city of Paris is very beautiful, a more civilized and
well-appointed town in all material development it would be impossible to find
in the present world. But the spiritual light has not shone upon her for a long
time: her spiritual progress is far behind that of her material civilization. A
supreme power is needed to awaken her to the reality of spiritual truth, to
breathe the breath of life into her dormant soul. You must all unite in this
work of arousing her, in reanimating her people by the help of that Superior
Force.
When an illness is slight a small remedy will suffice to
heal it, but when the slight illness becomes a terrible disease, then a very
strong remedy must be used by the Divine Healer. There are some trees that
blossom and bear fruit in a cool climate, others there are which need the
hottest rays of the sun to bring them to perfect maturity. Paris is one of
those trees for whose spiritual unfoldment a great flaming Sun of the Divine
Power of God is needed. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 20, 1911,
‘Paris Talks’)
December 2
…if a person is incapable of earning a living, is stricken
by dire poverty or becometh helpless, then it is incumbent on the wealthy or
the Deputies to provide him with a monthly allowance for his subsistence.... By
‘Deputies’ is meant the representatives of the people, that is to say the members
of the House of Justice. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in the ‘Notes’ section of the
Kitab-i-Aqdas, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of
Justice)
December 1
…O ye believers of God! Endeavor ye, so that you may take
hold of every means in the promulgation of the religion of God and the
diffusion of the fragrances of God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of the Divine
Plan’)
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