As to thy question concerning the 54th chapter of Isaiah:
This chapter refers to the Exalted Leaf, the mother of ‘Abdul-Baha. As a proof
to this it is said: “For more are the children of the desolate, than the
children of the married wife.” Reflect upon this statement and then upon the
following: “And thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate
cities to be inhabited.” And truly the humiliation and reproach which she
suffered in the path of God is a fact which no one can refute. For the
calamities and afflictions mentioned in the whole chapter are such afflictions
which she suffered in the path of God, all of which she endured with patience
and thanked God therefore and praised Him, because He had enabled her to endure
afflictions for the sake of Baha. During all this time, the men and women
(nakazeen [violators of the Covenant]) persecuted her in an incomparable
manner, while she was patient, God-fearing, calm, humble and contented through
the favor of her Lord and by the bounty of her Creator.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
