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’)
November 30
During His[Baha’u’llah’s] lifetime He was intensely active.
His energy was unlimited. Scarcely one night was passed in restful sleep. He
bore these ordeals, suffered these calamities and difficulties in order that a
manifestation of selflessness and service might become apparent in the world of
humanity; that the Most Great Peace should become a reality; that human souls
might appear as the angels of heaven; that heavenly miracles would be wrought
among men; that human faith should be strengthened and perfected; that the
precious, priceless bestowal of God—the human mind—might be developed to its
fullest capacity in the temple of the body; and that man might become the
reflection and likeness of God, even as it hath been revealed in the Bible,
“Let us make man in our image.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, 18 April 1912; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks
Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in
1912’)
November 29
O thou seeker
after the knowledge of numbers!
Thy letter was received. The science of
numbers is one of the common sciences, but the aim of ‘Abdu’l-Baha is, that the
Heavenly Knowledge and Divine Wisdom encircle the world of existence.
Shouldst thou desire to become my pupil
thou must acquire the Mysteries of God and attain to the Knowledges and
Sciences of the Kingdom -- for they are the cause of the life of the world and
the salvation of humanity.
Upon thee be greeting and praise! (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star
of the West, vol. 1, no. 6, June 24, 19100)
November 28
O thou handmaid of God! In this day, to thank God for His
bounties consisteth in possessing a radiant heart, and a soul open to the
promptings of the spirit. This is the essence of thanksgiving.
As for offering thanks by speaking out or writing, although
this is indeed acceptable, yet when compared with that other thanksgiving, it
is only a semblance and unreal; for the essential thing is these intimations of
the spirit, these emanations from the deep recess of the heart. It is my hope
that thou wilt be favoured therewith. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 27
Regarding the use of liquors: According
to the texts of the Book of Aqdas, both light and strong drinks are prohibited.
The reason for this prohibition is that it leads the mind astray and is the
cause of weakening the body. If alcohol were beneficial, it would have been
brought into the world by the divine creation and not by the effort of man.
Whatever is beneficial for man exists in creation. Now, it has been proved and
is established medically and scientifically that liquors are harmful.
Therefore the meaning of that which is written in the Tablets: "I have
chosen for thee whatsoever is in the heaven and earth," signifies those
things which are according to the divine creation and not the things which are
harmful. For instance, poison is one of the things: now, can we say that
poisons are to be used habitually because God has created them for man?
However, spirituous liquors, if prescribed by a physician for the patient and
their use is necessary, then they may be used as directed.
In brief, I hope that thou mayest find eternal bliss and receive inexhaustible
joy and happiness. The after effect of drinking is depression, but the wine of
the Love of God bestows exaltation of the spirit. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West,
vol. 1, no. 6, June 24, 1910)
November 26
O ye two truthful believers!
Your letter was received. Its contents
were faith, certainty and sincerity. It was an evidence of perceiving eyes,
attentive ears and acute mind. Were it not so, ye would not have witnessed the
lights of the Sun of Truth, heard the divine Call, nor attained the knowledge
of God.
Although in body we are far from one
another, yet—praise be to God! —with life and heart we are present in one
assembly; we enjoy the spiritual meeting, abide under the shadow of one Blessed
Tree, are attracted to the beauty of one Beloved and gaze in the direction of
one Object. Therefore, be not sorry on account of the remoteness, but rather
engage in the commemoration of God and praise Him. I hope that we may be
together in all the worlds of God.
Teach the dear child Rooha this
commune:
O God! Rear this little babe in the
bosom of Thy love and give it milk from the breast of Providence. Cultivate
this fresh plant in the rose-garden of Thy love and nurture it by showers from
the clouds of Providence. Make it a child of the Kingdom and lead it to the
divine world. Thou art powerful and kind! Thou art the Giver, the Bestower,
whose blessings precede all else!
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
November 25
When the Báb reached Tabríz they brought Him after some days
before the government tribunal… [T]he learned doctors …asked concerning the
claims of the Báb. He advanced the claim of Mihdí-hood; whereon a mighty tumult
arose. Eminent doctors in overwhelming might compassed Him on all sides, and
such was the onset of orthodoxy that it had been no great wonder if a mere
youth had not withstood the mountain of Elburz. They demanded proof. Without
hesitation He recited texts, saying, “This is the permanent and most mighty
proof.” They criticized His grammar. He adduced arguments from the Qur’án,
setting forth therefrom instances of similar infractions of the rules of
grammar. So the assembly broke up and the Báb returned to His own dwelling.
The heaven-cradled Crown-Prince was at that time governor of
Ádhirbayján. He pronounced no sentence with regard to the Báb, nor did
he desire to interfere with Him. The doctors, however, considered it advisable
at least to inflict a severe chastisement, and beating was decided on. But none
of the corps of farráshes would agree to become the instruments of the
infliction of this punishment. So Mírzá ‘Alí-Asghar the Shaykhu’l-Islám,
who was one of the noble Siyyids, brought Him to his own house and applied the
rods with his own hand. After this they sent the Báb back to Chihríq and
subjected Him to a strict confinement. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
November 24
…everything
can have only one shape, whether it be triangular, square or pentagonal. An
object cannot have different shapes at the same time. For instance, this carpet
is rectangular; is it possible that it can have a circular shape as well? It
cannot. That is possible only if it loses its first form and takes a new one.
Nevertheless, while it is impossible for an object to possess diverse forms at
one and the same time, the spirit of man possesses all forms and has manifold
shapes simultaneously. It has no need to change from one form to another. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a
talk at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, August 7, 1912, Dublin, USA;
Mahmud’s Diary)
November 23
Blessed is the spirit which abandons the body, previously
sanctified and freed from the doubts of the nations. Verily, it moves in the
atmosphere of the will of its Lord, and it enters into the supreme paradise. It
is welcomed by the angels of the Most High. It associates with the prophets of
God, and his chosen ones, and it converses with them, and relates to them those
events which have happened to it in the path of God, the Lord of both worlds.
Were one to become informed of that which is pre-ordained
for the spirit in the worlds of God, the Lord of the throne and the earth, he
would become immediately enkindled with the fire of yearning for this
impregnable, exalted, holy, and most glorious state of being. (Words of
‘Abdul-Baha from Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, February, 1914; Star of the West
vol. 7, March 2, 1917)
November 22
Whosoever and whatsoever meeting becometh a hindrance to the
diffusion of the Light of Faith, let the loved ones give them counsel and say:
“Of all the gifts of God the greatest is the gift of Teaching. It draweth unto
us the Grace of God and is our first obligation. Of such a gift how can we
deprive ourselves? Nay, our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rest, we offer
them all as a sacrifice for the Abhá Beauty and teach the Cause of God.”
Caution and prudence, however, must be observed even as recorded in the Book.
The veil must in no wise be suddenly rent asunder. The Glory of Glories rest
upon you. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 21
O servant of God!
I was very happy to receive thy letter because it showed thy servitude to the One God and indicated belief and assurance in the Cause of His Presence. Thank God that thou art favored with this blessing, that thou servest the friends of God and thou waitest at the Threshold of the Merciful. I beg of God that thou mayest be baptized by the baptism of Baha’u’llah and become free from all the stains of the mortal world and that thou mayest take delight in the favors of God in the paradise of unity, and that thou mayest be able to become pleasing to God and mayest appear with thy face illuminated as a candle in the world of eternity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1’)
I was very happy to receive thy letter because it showed thy servitude to the One God and indicated belief and assurance in the Cause of His Presence. Thank God that thou art favored with this blessing, that thou servest the friends of God and thou waitest at the Threshold of the Merciful. I beg of God that thou mayest be baptized by the baptism of Baha’u’llah and become free from all the stains of the mortal world and that thou mayest take delight in the favors of God in the paradise of unity, and that thou mayest be able to become pleasing to God and mayest appear with thy face illuminated as a candle in the world of eternity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1’)
November 20
The change in conditions, alterations and transformations
are necessities of the essence of beings, and essential necessities cannot be
separated from the reality of things. So it is absolutely impossible to
separate heat from fire, humidity from water, or light from the sun, for they
are essential necessities. As the change and alteration of conditions are
necessities for beings, so laws also are changed and altered in accordance with
the changes and alterations of the times. For example, in the time of Moses,
His Law was conformed and adapted to the conditions of the time; but in the
days of Christ these conditions had changed and altered to such an extent that
the Mosaic Law was no longer suited and adapted to the needs of mankind; and it
was, therefore, abrogated. Thus it was that Christ broke the Sabbath and
forbade divorce. After Christ four disciples, among whom were Peter and Paul,
permitted the use of animal food forbidden by the Bible, except the eating of
those animals which had been strangled, or which were sacrificed to idols, and
of blood. [Acts 15:20] They also forbade fornication. They maintained these
four commandments. Afterward, Paul permitted even the eating of strangled
animals, those sacrificed to idols, and blood, and only maintained the
prohibition of fornication. So in chapter 14, verse 14 of
his Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord
Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any
thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
Also in the Epistle of Paul to Titus, chapter 1, verse 15:
“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Now this change, these alterations and this abrogation are
due to the impossibility of comparing the time of Christ with that of Moses.
The conditions and requirements in the later period were entirely changed and
altered. The former laws were, therefore, abrogated. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, table talks
in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’)
November 19
And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected
by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of all
mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all
countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary
Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body
all things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that
are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult
problems are to be resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred
head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend
in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any
of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the
Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the
people must elect another one in his stead. This House of Justice enacteth the
laws and the government enforceth them. The legislative body must reinforce the
executive, the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so that
through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation of
fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions of the
world may become even as Paradise itself. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Will and
Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 18
Today all the communities of the world
are engaged in fighting and quarreling with each other. There is a religious
strife, a sectarian strife, racial bias, patriotism, political contentions,
commercial competition, industrial rivalry and a battle to defend their honor. In
reality these strifes are continual, and there is no cessation or interruption
thereto.
Now consider ye with what power and strength,
love and devotion, union and harmony, happiness and joy the friends of God must
arise, so that they may reconcile and crystallize together these different
fighting and quarreling communities. Were it not for the confirmations of the
Word of God the realization of these facts would have been impossible and
improbable. But the confirmation of the Kingdom of God, the penetration of the
Word of God, the illumination of the Divine Teachings, the instructions and
advices of Baha’u’llah will solve these problems and ere long the Tabernacle of
the Oneness of humanity will be raised in all regions, the beloved will find
great rejoicing and beatitude and like unto the luminous stars they will shine
from the horizon of sanctity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 6,
June 24, 1910)
November 17
I have come hither to find that material civilization has
progressed greatly, but the spiritual civilization has been left behind. The
material civilization is likened unto the glass of a lamp chimney. The
spiritual civilization is like the light in that chimney. The material
civilization should go hand-in-hand with the spiritual civilization. Material
civilization may be likened unto a beautiful body, while spiritual civilization
is the spirit that enters the body and gives to it life. With the propelling power of spiritual civilization the
result will be greater.
His Holiness Jesus Christ came to this world that the people
might have through Him the civilization of Heaven, a spirit
of oneness with God. He came to breathe the spirit into the body of the world. There
must be oneness in the world of man. When this takes place we will have the
Most Great Peace. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from an address at the church of Ascension,
New York, 1912; ‘Diary of Juliet Thompson’)
November 16
O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy letter hath been received
and its contents noted. Thou didst ask for a rule whereby to guide thy life.
Believe thou in God, and keep thine eyes fixed upon the
exalted Kingdom; be thou enamoured of the Abhá Beauty; stand thou firm in the
Covenant; yearn thou to ascend into the Heaven of the Universal Light. Be thou
severed from this world, and reborn through the sweet scents of holiness that
blow from the realm of the All-Highest. Be thou a summoner to love, and be thou
kind to all the human race. Love thou the children of men and share in their
sorrows. Be thou of those who foster peace. Offer thy friendship, be worthy of
trust. Be thou a balm to every sore, be thou a medicine for every ill. Bind
thou the souls together. Recite thou the verses of guidance. Be engaged in the
worship of thy Lord, and rise up to lead the people aright. Loose thy tongue and teach, and let thy face be bright with the fire
of God’s love. Rest thou not for a moment, seek thou to draw no easeful breath.
Thus mayest thou become a sign and symbol of God’s love, and a banner of His
grace. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 15
O ye lovers of this wronged one! Cleanse ye your eyes, so
that ye behold no man as different from yourselves. See ye no strangers; rather
see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on
otherness. And in this new and wondrous age, the Holy Writings say that we must
be at one with every people; that we must see neither harshness nor injustice,
neither malevolence, nor hostility, nor hate, but rather turn our eyes toward
the heaven of ancient glory. For each of the creatures is a sign of God, and it
was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did step into the world;
therefore they are not strangers, but in the family; not aliens, but friends,
and to be treated as such. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 14
On the morning …the Báb with Siyyid Kázim of Zanján set out
from Shíráz for Isfáhán. Before reaching Isfáhán He wrote a letter to
the Mu’tamídu’d-Dawlih, the governor of the province, requesting a lodging in
some suitable place with the sanction of the government. The governor appointed
the mansion of the Imám-Jum’ih[the leading clergy]. There He abode forty days;
and one day, agreeably to the request of the Imám, He wrote without reflection
a commentary on [the Súrih of] V’al-‘Asr before the company. [Qur’án 103] When
this news reached the Mu’tamíd he sought an interview with Him and questioned
Him concerning the “Special Mission.” At that same interview an answer proving
the “Special Mission” was written.
The Mu’tamíd[the governor] then gave orders that all the
doctors should assemble and dispute with Him in one conclave, and that the
discussion should be faithfully recorded without alteration by the
instrumentality of his private secretary, in order that it might be sent to Tihrán,
and that whatever the royal edict and decree should ordain might be carried
out.
The doctors, however, considering this arrangement as a
weakening of the Law, did not agree, but held a conclave and wrote, “If there
be doubt in the matter there is need of assembly and discussion, but as this
person’s disagreement with the most luminous Law is clearer than the sun
therefore the best possible thing is to put in practice the sentence of the
Law.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
November 13
A few, who are unaware of the reality below the surface of
events, who cannot feel the pulse of the world under their fingers, who do not
know what a massive dose of truth must be administered to heal this chronic old
disease of falsehood, believe that the Faith can only be spread by the sword,
and bolster their opinion with the Tradition, “I am a Prophet by the sword.”
If, however, they would carefully examine this question, they would see that in
this day and age the sword is not a suitable means for promulgating the Faith,
for it would only fill peoples’ hearts with revulsion and terror. According to
the Divine Law of Muhammad, it is not permissible to compel the People of the
Book to acknowledge and accept the Faith. While it is a
sacred obligation devolving on every conscientious believer in the unity of God
to guide mankind to the truth, the Traditions “I am a Prophet by the sword” and
“I am commanded to threaten the lives of the people until they say, ‘There is
none other God but God’” referred to the idolaters of the Days of Ignorance,
who in their blindness and bestiality had sunk below the level of human beings.
A faith born of sword thrusts could hardly be relied upon, and would for any
trifling cause revert to error and unbelief. After the ascension of Muhammad,
and His passing to “the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King,” [Qur’án
54:55] the tribes around Medina apostatized from their Faith, turning back to
the idolatry of pagan times. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Secret of Divine
Civilization’)
November 12
Although He was a prisoner, He pitched His tent with glory
on Mount Carmel. Even outwardly His power and majesty were such that for five
years the governor of 'Akká wished to attain His presence but was not permitted
to do so by Him; indeed, He took no notice of him. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a conversation,
New York, June 14, 1912; Mahmud’s Diary)
November 11
Tonight I wish to tell you something of the history of the
Bahá’í Revelation.
The Blessed Perfection, Bahá’u’lláh, belonged to the nobility of Persia. From earliest childhood He was distinguished among His relatives and friends. They said, “This child has extraordinary power.” In wisdom, intelligence and as a source of new knowledge, He was advanced beyond His age and superior to His surroundings. All who knew Him were astonished at His precocity. It was usual for them to say, “Such a child will not live,” for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach maturity. During the period of youth the Blessed Perfection did not enter school. He was not willing to be taught. This fact is well established among the Persians of Ṭihrán. Nevertheless, He was capable of solving the difficult problems of all who came to Him. In whatever meeting, scientific assembly or theological discussion He was found, He became the authority of explanation upon intricate and abstruse questions presented.
Until His father passed away, Bahá’u’lláh did not seek position or political station notwithstanding His connection with the government. This occasioned surprise and comment. It was frequently said, “How is it that a young man of such keen intelligence and subtle perception does not seek lucrative appointments? As a matter of fact, every position is open to him.” This is an historical statement fully attested by the people of Persia.
The Blessed Perfection, Bahá’u’lláh, belonged to the nobility of Persia. From earliest childhood He was distinguished among His relatives and friends. They said, “This child has extraordinary power.” In wisdom, intelligence and as a source of new knowledge, He was advanced beyond His age and superior to His surroundings. All who knew Him were astonished at His precocity. It was usual for them to say, “Such a child will not live,” for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach maturity. During the period of youth the Blessed Perfection did not enter school. He was not willing to be taught. This fact is well established among the Persians of Ṭihrán. Nevertheless, He was capable of solving the difficult problems of all who came to Him. In whatever meeting, scientific assembly or theological discussion He was found, He became the authority of explanation upon intricate and abstruse questions presented.
Until His father passed away, Bahá’u’lláh did not seek position or political station notwithstanding His connection with the government. This occasioned surprise and comment. It was frequently said, “How is it that a young man of such keen intelligence and subtle perception does not seek lucrative appointments? As a matter of fact, every position is open to him.” This is an historical statement fully attested by the people of Persia.
November 10
In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in
the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather,
co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare
of mankind. Enmity is now the result of prejudice only. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a
talk, September 10, 1911; ‘Abdu'l-Bahá in London: Addresses and Notes of
Conversations’)
November 9
The darkness of error that has enveloped the East and the
West is, in this most great cycle, battling with the light of Divine Guidance.
Its swords and its spears are very sharp and pointed; its army keenly
bloodthirsty. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine
Justice’)
November 8
…when
a man looks at creation, he sees two things: that which is perceptible to the
senses and that which is abstract. The things that are perceptible to the
senses, such as vegetables, minerals and animals, that can be seen by the eyes,
heard by the ears, smelled, touched or tasted, are subject to change. But
rational powers are not perceived by the physical senses. The power of the mind
and knowledge are intellectual realities and are not subject to change or
alteration. The eye cannot see them; the ear cannot hear them. It is impossible
that knowledge, which is an intellectual reality, be changed into ignorance.
The soul, too, is one of the intellectual realities: it is unalterable and is
not subject to annihilation.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons,
August 7, 1912, Dublin, USA; Mahmud’s Diary)
November 7
The Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth: A
harsh word is like a sword, but gentle speech is like unto milk. The children
of the world attain to knowledge and better themselves through this. The tongue
of Wisdom says: Whosoever possesses Me not, has nothing. Pass by whatever
exists in this world and find Me. I am the Sun of Perception and the Ocean of
Science. I revive the withered ones and quicken the dead. I am that Light which
illumines the path of Insight. I am the Falcon of the Hand of the Almighty; I
bear healing in My wings and teach the knowledge of soaring to the Heaven of
Truth. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 3, April 28, 1910)
November 6
The aim is this: The intention of the teacher must be pure,
his heart independent, his spirit attracted, his thought at peace, his
resolution firm, his magnanimity exalted and in the love of God a shining
torch. Should he become as such, his sanctified breath will even affect the
rock; otherwise there will be no result whatsoever. As long as a soul is not
perfected, how can he efface the defects of others? Unless he is detached from
aught else save God, how can he teach severance to others? (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
November 5
Fifteen centuries after Christ, Luther, who was originally
one of the twelve members of a Catholic religious body at the center of the
Papal government and later on initiated the Protestant religious belief,
opposed the Pope on certain points of doctrine such as the prohibition of
monastic marriage, the revering and bowing down before images of the Apostles
and Christian leaders of the past, and various other religious practices and
ceremonies which were accretional to the ordinances of the Gospel. Although at
that period the power of the Pope was so great and he was regarded with such
awe that the kings of Europe shook and trembled before him, and he held control
of all Europe’s major concerns in the grasp of his might—nevertheless because
Luther’s position as regards the freedom of religious leaders to marry, the
abstention from worshiping and making prostrations before images and
representations hung in the churches, and the abrogation of ceremonials which
had been added on to the Gospel, was demonstrably correct, and because the
proper means were adopted for the promulgation of his views: within these last
four hundred and some years the majority of the population of America,
four-fifths of Germany and England and a large percentage of Austrians, in sum
about one hundred and twenty-five million people drawn from other Christian
denominations, have entered the Protestant Church. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Secret
of Divine Civilization’)
November 4
Tablets were also sent to other kings, and among them was
the letter to H. M. Násiri’d-Dín Sháh. In that epistle Bahá’u’lláh said,
“Have Me summoned, gather the ‘ulamá, and ask for proofs and arguments, so that
the truth and falsehood may become known.” H. M. Násiri’d-Dín Sháh sent
the blessed epistle to the ‘ulamá and proposed to them that they should
undertake this mission, but they dared not do so. Then he asked seven of the
most celebrated among them to write an answer to the challenge. After some time
they returned the blessed letter, saying, “This man is the opposer of religion
and the enemy of the Sháh.” His majesty the Sháh of Persia was
much vexed, and said, “This is a question for proofs and arguments, and of
truth or falsehood: what has it to do with enmity to the government? Alas! how
much we respected these ‘ulamá, who cannot even reply to this epistle.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’)
November 3
When Bahá’u’lláh arrived at Akká, through the power of God
He was able to hoist His banner. His light at first had been a star; now it
became a mighty sun, and the illumination of His Cause expanded from the East
to the West. Inside prison walls He wrote Epistles to all the kings and rulers
of nations, summoning them to arbitration and universal peace. Some of the
kings received His words with disdain and contempt. One of these was the Sulṭán of the Ottoman kingdom.
Napoleon III of France did not reply. A second Epistle was addressed to him. It
stated, “I have written you an Epistle before this, summoning you to the Cause of
God, but you are of the heedless. You have proclaimed that you were the
defender of the oppressed; now it hath become evident that you are not. Nor are
you kind to your own suffering and oppressed people. Your actions are contrary
to your own interests, and your kingly pride must fall. Because of your
arrogance God shortly will destroy your sovereignty. France will flee away from
you, and you will be overwhelmed by a great conquest. There will be lamentation
and mourning, women bemoaning the loss of their sons.” This arraignment of
Napoleon III was published and spread.
Read it and consider: one prisoner, single and solitary,
without assistant or defender, a foreigner and stranger imprisoned in the
fortress of Akká, writing such letters to the Emperor of France and Sulṭán of Turkey. Reflect upon
this: how Bahá’u’lláh upraised the standard of His Cause in prison. Refer to
history. It is without parallel. No such thing has happened before that time
nor since—a prisoner and an exile advancing His Cause and spreading His
teachings broadcast so that eventually He became powerful enough to conquer the
very king who banished Him. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, 18 April, 1912, New
York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by Abdu'l-Bahá
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
November 2
O thou who art dear, and wise! Thy letter dated 27 May 1906
hath been received and its contents are most pleasing and have brought great
joy.
Thou didst ask whether this Cause, this new and living
Cause, could take the place of the dead religious rites and ceremonials of
England; whether it would be possible, now that various groups have appeared,
whose members are highly placed divines and theologians, far superior in their
attainments to those of the past, for this new Cause so to impress the members
of such groups as to gather them and the rest into its all-protecting shade.
O thou dear friend! Know thou that the distinguished
Individual of every age is endowed according to the perfections of His age.
That Individual who in past ages was set above His fellows was gifted according
to the virtues of His time. But in this age of splendours, this era of God, the
pre-eminent Personage, the luminous Orb, the chosen Individual will shine out
with such perfections and such power as ultimately to dazzle the minds of every
community and group. And since such a Personage is superior to all others in spiritual perfections and heavenly attainments, and is
indeed the focal centre of divine blessings and the pivot of the circle of
light, He will encompass all others, and there is no doubt whatsoever that He
will shine out with such power as to gather every soul into His sheltering
shade. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 1
The superiority of man over the rest of the created world is
seen again in this, that man has a soul in which dwells the divine spirit; the
souls of the lower creatures are inferior in their essence.
There is no doubt then, that of all created beings man is
the nearest to the nature of God, and therefore receives a greater gift of the
Divine Bounty.
The mineral kingdom possesses the power of existing. The
plant has the power of existing and growing. The animal, in addition to
existence and growth, has the capacity of moving about, and the use of the
faculties of the senses. In the human kingdom we find all the attributes of the
lower worlds, with much more added thereto. Man is the sum of every previous
creation, for he contains them all.
To man is given the special gift of the intellect by which
he is able to receive a larger share of the light Divine. The Perfect Man is as
a polished mirror reflecting the Sun of Truth, manifesting the attributes of
God.
The Lord Christ said, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the
Father’—God manifested in man. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 20,
1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
October 31
Now is the time for the lovers of God to raise high the
banners of unity, to intone, in the assemblages of the world, the verses of
friendship and love and to demonstrate to all that the grace of God is one.
Thus will the tabernacles of holiness be upraised on the summits of the earth,
gathering all peoples into the protective shadow of the Word of Oneness. This
great bounty will dawn over the world at the time when the lovers of God shall
arise to carry out His Teachings, and to scatter far and wide the fresh, sweet
scents of universal love. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 30
It is related that His Holiness
Christ - May my life be a sacrifice to Him! – one day, accompanied by His
apostles, passed by the corpse of a dead animal. One
of them said: 'How putrid has this become!' The other exclaimed: 'How it is
deformed!' A third cried out: 'What a stench! How cadaverous looking!' But His
Holiness Christ said: 'Look at its teeth! How white they are!' Consider, that
He did not look at all at the defects of that animal;
nay, rather, He searched well until He found the beautiful white teeth. He
observed only the whiteness of the teeth and
overlooked entirely the deformity of the body, the dissolution of its organs
and the bad odor.
This is
the attribute of the children of the Kingdom. This is the conduct and the
manner of the real Baha’is. I hope that all the believers will attain to this
lofty station. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 11,
September 27, 1913; ‘Lights of Guidance’)
October 29
If a soul shall utter a word without the sanction of the
Covenant, he is not firm. Baha'u'llah appointed a Covenant to ward off
dissensions; so that no one can have his own opinions; so that the Center can
be referred to. There were dissensions in the time of Christ because there was
no Center. This is the reality of the question.
Whatever the Center of the Covenant says is correct. No one
should speak a word of himself. Baha’u’llah has called down the vengeance of
God upon anyone who violates the Covenant. Beware! Beware! Lest ye be shaken!
Remain firm even if the people of heaven try to shake you. Firmness in the
Covenant is not mere words. The command is explicit. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from some
instructions given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to several friends in America, July 1912,
which received His personal signature; Star of the West, vol. 11, no. 14,
November 23, 1920)
October 28
... the
worst human quality and the most great
sin is backbiting; more especially when it emanates
from the tongues of the believers of God. If some
means were devised so that the doors of backbiting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God
unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the
teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah would be spread, the hearts illuminated, the
spirits glorified and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.
I hope
that the believers of God will shun completely backbiting, each
one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting is the cause of Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to
the extent of one word, he may become dishonored among all the people, because the most hateful characteristic of man is
fault-finding. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not
their evil attributes. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults
and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet,
Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 11, September 27, 1913; ‘Lights of Guidance’)
October 27
These human creatures are even as children, they are brash
and unconcerned. These children must be reared with infinite, loving care, and
tenderly fostered in the embraces of mercy, so that they may taste the
spiritual honey-sweetness of God’s love; that they may become like unto candles
shedding their beams across this darksome world, and may clearly perceive what
blazing crowns of glory the Most Great Name, the Ancient Beauty, hath set on
the brows of His beloved, what bounties He hath bestowed on the hearts of those
He holdeth dear, what a love He hath cast into the breasts of humankind, and
what treasures of friendship He hath made to appear amongst all men.
O God, my God! Aid Thou Thy trusted servants to have loving
and tender hearts. Help them to spread, amongst all the nations of the earth,
the light of guidance that cometh from the Company on high. Verily Thou art the
Strong, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Ever-Giving. Verily
Thou art the Generous, the Gentle, the Tender, the Most Bountiful.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 26
In every dispensation, there hath been the commandment of fellowship
and love, but it was a commandment limited to the community of those in mutual
agreement, not to the dissident foe. In this wondrous age, however, praised be
God, the commandments of God are not delimited, not restricted to any one group
of people, rather have all the friends been commanded to show forth fellowship
and love, consideration and generosity and loving-kindness to every community
on earth. Now must the lovers of God arise to carry out these instructions of
His: let them be kindly fathers to the children of the human race, and
compassionate brothers to the youth, and self-denying offspring to those bent
with years. The meaning of this is that ye must show forth tenderness and love
to every human being, even to your enemies, and welcome them all with unalloyed
friendship, good cheer, and loving-kindness. When ye meet with cruelty and
persecution at another’s hands, keep faith with him; when malevolence is
directed your way, respond with a friendly heart. To the spears and arrows
rained upon you, expose your breasts for a target mirror-bright; and in return
for curses, taunts and wounding words, show forth abounding love. Thus will all
peoples witness the power of the Most Great Name, and every nation acknowledge
the might of the Ancient Beauty, and see how He hath toppled down the walls of
discord, and how surely He hath guided all the peoples of the earth to oneness;
how He hath lit man’s world, and made this earth of dust to send forth streams
of light. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 25
All creatures that exist are dependent upon the Divine
Bounty. Divine Mercy gives life itself. As the light of the sun shines on the
whole world, so the Mercy of the infinite God is shed on all creatures. As the
sun ripens the fruits of the earth, and gives life and warmth to all living
beings, so shines the Sun of Truth on all souls, filling them with the fire of
Divine love and understanding. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 20,
1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
October 24
Regarding arrangements for the Baha’i
Sunday meeting for the purpose of worship, this is very suitable. But, in a
meeting for worship, first, prayer should be chanted and supplication made
until all gather; then communion should be made. After praying, sacred readings
with melodious voices should be read by all together. As this is the
commencement of holding meetings, this is sufficient. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1’)
October 23
Look at one another with the eye of perfection;
look at Me, follow Me, be as I am; take no thought for yourselves or your
lives, whether ye eat or whether ye sleep, whether ye are comfortable, whether
ye are well or ill, whether ye are with friends or foes, whether ye receive
praise or blame; for all of these things ye must care not at all. Look at Me
and be as I am; ye must die to yourselves and to the world, so shall ye be born
again and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Behold a candle how it gives its light.
It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give light. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from
an address, quoted by May Maxwell in ‘An Early Pilgrimage’)
October 22
O thou distinguished personage, thou seeker after truth! Thy
letter of 4 April 1921, hath been read with love.
The existence of the Divine Being hath been clearly
established, on the basis of logical proofs, but the reality of the Godhead is
beyond the grasp of the mind. When thou dost carefully consider this matter,
thou wilt see that a lower plane can never comprehend a higher. The mineral
kingdom, for example, which is lower, is precluded from comprehending the
vegetable kingdom; for the mineral, any such understanding would be utterly
impossible. In the same way, no matter how far the vegetable kingdom may
develop, it will achieve no conception of the animal kingdom, and any such
comprehension at its level would be unthinkable, for the animal occupieth a
plane higher than that of the vegetable: this tree cannot conceive of hearing
and sight. And the animal kingdom, no matter how far it may evolve, can never
become aware of the reality of the intellect, which discovereth the inner essence
of all things, and comprehendeth those realities which cannot be seen; for the
human plane as compared with that of the animal is very high. And although
these beings all co-exist in the contingent world, in each case the difference
in their stations precludeth their grasp of the whole; for no lower degree can
understand a higher, such comprehension being impossible.
October 21
…in
the world of sleep, man's body is powerless and his faculties inactive. The eye
does not see, the ear does not hear, the body does not move; but the soul sees,
hears, moves and discovers realities. Therefore, it is proven that the soul is
not destroyed with the death of the body; it does not perish after the death of
the body; it does not sleep when the body is asleep; rather, it has perception,
it discovers, it flies and it travels. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk at the residence of Mr.
and Mrs. Parsons, August 7, 1912, Dublin, USA; Mahmud’s Diary)
October 20
In the eighth chapter of the Book of Daniel, verse thirteen,
it is said: “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that
certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and
the host to be trodden under foot?” Then he answered (v. 14): “Unto two thousand
and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed”; (v. 17) “But he
said unto me ... at the time of the end shall be the vision.” That is to say,
how long will this misfortune, this ruin, this abasement and degradation last?
meaning, when will be the dawn of the Manifestation? Then he answered, “Two
thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
Briefly, the purport of this passage is that he appoints two thousand three
hundred years, for in the text of the Bible each day is a year. Then from the
date of the issuing of the edict of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem until the
day of the birth of Christ there are 456 years, and from the birth of Christ
until the day of the manifestation of the Báb there are 1844 years. When you
add 456 years to this number it makes 2300 years. That is to say, the
fulfillment of the vision of Daniel took place in the year A.D. 1844, and this
is the year of the Báb’s manifestation according to the actual text of the Book
of Daniel. Consider how clearly he determines the year of manifestation; there
could be no clearer prophecy for a manifestation than this. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’)
October 19
O ye friends! Fellowship, fellowship! Love, love! Unity, unity!—so
that the power of the Bahá’í Cause may appear and become manifest in the world
of existence. My thoughts are turned towards you, and my heart leaps within me
at your mention. Could ye know how my soul glows with your love, so great a
happiness would flood your hearts as to cause you to become enamored with each
other. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
October 18
Your letter was read and its contents
caused joy and happiness. Thank God that in such a cycle ye have stepped into
the plane of existence, attained the glory of the Lord of the Kingdom, obtained
light from the Sun of Truth and were ushered in under the shadow of the Tree of
Life in the paradise of joy. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
October 17
The power of the understanding differs in degree in the various
kingdoms of creation. The mineral, vegetable, and animal realms are each
incapable of understanding any creation beyond their own. The mineral cannot
imagine the growing power of the plant. The tree cannot understand the power of
movement in the animal, neither can it comprehend what it would mean to possess
sight, hearing or the sense of smell. These all belong to the physical
creation.
Man also shares in this creation; but it is not possible for
either of the lower kingdoms to understand that which takes place in the mind
of man. The animal cannot realize the intelligence of a human being, he only
knows that which is perceived by his animal senses, he cannot imagine anything
in the abstract. An animal could not learn that the world is round, that the
earth revolves round the sun, or the construction of the electric telegraph.
These things are only possible to man. Man is the highest work of creation, the
nearest to God of all creatures.
All superior kingdoms are incomprehensible to the inferior;
how therefore could it be possible that the creature, man, should understand
the almighty Creator of all?
That which we imagine, is not the Reality of God; He, the
Unknowable, the Unthinkable, is far beyond the highest conception of man. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from a talk, Paris, October 20, 1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
October 16
Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They
will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear
them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is the
impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws,
exhortations and teachings, the source of life on earth. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted
by the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 10 February 1980; Messaged
from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986)
October 15
…the
transference of the body from one condition to another brings about no change
or alteration in the soul. For instance, the body is young but it grows old,
while the soul remains unaffected; the body becomes weak but the soul does not;
the body becomes diseased or paralyzed but the soul remains unchanged. It has
often come to pass that one of the limbs of the body has been amputated; the
soul, however, remains the same and is not affected at all. Therefore, it is
clear that the changes experienced by the body do not affect the soul. As long
as it is unchanged, it will remain eternal. The pivot of mortality is change
and alteration. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
excerpt from a talk at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, August 7, 1912,
Dublin, USA; Mahmud’s Diary)
October 14
Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the
peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness,
uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the
world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá, that
ignorance, enmity, hate and rancor may vanish from the world and the darkness
of estrangement amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to
the Light of Unity. Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you show your
fidelity unto them, should they be unjust toward you show justice towards them,
should they keep aloof from you attract them to yourselves, should they show
their enmity be friendly towards them, should they poison your lives, sweeten
their souls, should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their sores.
Such are the attributes of the sincere! Such are the attributes of the
truthful. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 13
The foundation of the divine religions is reality; were
there no reality, there would be no religions. Abraham heralded reality. Moses
promulgated reality. Christ established reality. Muhammad was the Messenger of
reality. The Báb was the door of reality. Bahá’u’lláh was the splendor of
reality. Reality is one; it does not admit multiplicity or division. Reality is
as the sun, which shines forth from different dawning points; it is as the
light, which has illumined many lanterns. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, 19 May,
1912, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
October 12
The Báb, at the outset of His mission, explicitly prohibited
tobacco, and the friends one and all abandoned its use. But since those were
times when dissimulation was permitted, and every individual who abstained from
smoking was exposed to harassment, abuse and even death—the friends, in order
not to advertise their beliefs, would smoke. Later on, the Book of Aqdas was
revealed, and since smoking tobacco was not specifically forbidden there, the
believers did not give it up. The Blessed Beauty, however, always expressed
repugnance for it, and although, in the early days, there were reasons why He
would smoke a little tobacco, in time He completely renounced it, and those
sanctified souls who followed Him in all things also abandoned its use. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 11
When Christ appeared, twenty centuries ago, although the
Jews were eagerly awaiting His Coming, and prayed every day, with tears,
saying: ‘O God, hasten the Revelation of the Messiah,’ yet when the Sun of
Truth dawned, they denied Him and rose against Him with the greatest enmity,
and eventually crucified that divine Spirit, the Word of God, and named Him
Beelzebub, the evil one, as is recorded in the Gospel. The reason for this was
that they said: ‘The Revelation of Christ, according to the clear text of the
Torah, will be attested by certain signs, and so long as these signs have not
appeared, whoso layeth claim to be a Messiah is an impostor. Among these signs
is this, that the Messiah should come from an unknown place, yet we all know
this man’s house in Nazareth, and can any good thing come out of Nazareth? The
second sign is that He shall rule with a rod of iron, that is, He must act with
the sword, but this Messiah has not even a wooden staff. Another of the
conditions and signs is this: He must sit upon the throne of David and
establish David’s sovereignty. Now, far from being enthroned, this man has not
even a mat to sit on. Another of the conditions is this: the promulgation of
all the laws of the Torah; yet this man has abrogated these laws, and has even
broken the sabbath day, although it is the clear text of the Torah that
whosoever layeth claim to prophethood and revealeth miracles and breaketh the
sabbath day, must be put to death. Another of the signs is this, that in His
reign justice will be so advanced that righteousness and well-doing will extend
from the human even to the animal world—the snake and the mouse will share one
hole, and the eagle and the partridge one nest, the lion and the gazelle shall
dwell in one pasture, and the wolf and the kid shall drink from one fountain.
Yet now, injustice and tyranny have waxed so great in His time that they have
crucified Him! Another of the conditions is this, that in the days of the
Messiah the Jews will prosper and triumph over all the peoples of the world,
but now they are living in the utmost abasement and servitude in the empire of
the Romans. Then how can this be the Messiah promised in the Torah?’
In this wise did they object to that Sun of Truth, although that Spirit of God was indeed the One promised in the Torah. But as they did not understand the meaning of these signs, they crucified the Word of God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Written especially for Dr. Esslemont’s immortal work Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era)
In this wise did they object to that Sun of Truth, although that Spirit of God was indeed the One promised in the Torah. But as they did not understand the meaning of these signs, they crucified the Word of God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Written especially for Dr. Esslemont’s immortal work Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era)
October 10
Verse 5 [of the 12th chapter of the Revelation of
St. John]. “And she brought forth a man child, Who was to rule all nations with
a rod of iron.” This great son is the promised Manifestation Who was born of
the Law of God and reared in the bosom of the divine teachings. The iron rod is
a symbol of power and might—it is not a sword—and means that with divine power
and might He will shepherd all the nations of the earth. This son is the Báb.
Verse 5. “And her child was caught up unto God, and to His
throne.” This is a prophecy of the Báb, Who ascended to the heavenly realm, to
the Throne of God, and to the center of His Kingdom. Consider how all this
corresponds to what happened. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
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