O maid-servant of God! Be not disheartened if thou hearest
the murmuring of the deniers, the clamor of the hypocrites, the shouting of the
contradictors, the barking of the furious, harmful dogs, in those climes.
Remember the persecutions which consecutively befell the disciples of Christ
from the perverse Jews. Consequently, withstand their oppositions with all
quiescence and dignity (patience) and their contradictions with all
cheerfulness, gladness and dilation of heart (i.e., exaltation) by day and night.
Resist their fighting with peace and reconciliation, their blows with kindness
and perfection and their blame with joy and tranquillity. Do beseech God to
direct them to the Path of Salvation and breathe into them the Spirit of Life.
Be thou a light to every darkness, a dispeller of every sadness, a healer for
every sick person, a quencher for every thirst, a shelter for every refugee, a
refuge for every captive. If the Pharisees interfere with thee, it is incumbent
upon thee to implore God to guide them to the road of salvation! And it is
incumbent upon thee to be affable to them under all circumstances, to be
patient in afflictions, to be courteous with the enemies and to pray for the
hateful sinners! This is the nature of the faithful and convinced women
believers whose hearts are dilated with the fragrances of God and who instruct
(people) in the teachings of God!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol.
2’)
