O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom!... Consider how all
the peoples of the world are slumbering upon the couch of negligence, but
praise be to God, ye have been awakened. All men remain sunk in heedlessness,
but ye have become quick of apprehension. They are deprived of the blessings of
the Kingdom, but ye are among the well-favoured. Neither the crow nor the raven
can take part in the delights of a sparkling rose-garden; the charm and
perfection of the rose are as nourishment to the impassioned nightingale
endowed with a melodious voice. The realm of the Kingdom is like the fountain
of life and ye are as the fish, sore athirst and restless.
Render ye thanks unto God, inasmuch as in the Day of the
advent of the Kingdom ye have drawn so nigh unto His court and are so greatly
favoured at the Threshold of the loving Lord. Therefore it behoveth you to
strive with heart and soul so that the human world may shine resplendent, that
the basis of hatred and antagonism may be wiped out from the earth and that all
mankind may live together in unity and harmony, with the utmost love and
fellowship.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, New resources available at Online
Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)
