July 31

These dreadful events are as warnings on the part of God so that they may quicken the people and make them mindful. Like unto children, who are being rocked in a cradle, the harder they are rocked to be awakened, the deeper they fall into sleep… We shall wait and see what God hath decreed to be the outcome of this universal upheaval… Perchance, God willing, they may become mindful… In short, pray and supplicate at the Threshold of the Almighty in behalf of the heedless souls, for they know not what they are doing! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 12, October 16, 1914)

July 29

O thou who hast fixed thy gaze upon the Kingdom of Glory! The splendour of the Beauty of the world illumined the whole earth, conferring heavenly grace upon all created things. The Beloved of the world shone forth, captivating His lovers with His charm. And now, though that Sun hath set, He still shineth resplendent from the unseen Kingdom, continuing to bestow eternal grace upon all regions. Those that are possessed of insight perceive the world to be illumined with the splendours of the Sun of Truth. But those whose inner eye is dimmed are deprived of beholding the light: They pronounce day to be night and proclaim morn to be eve.

Say: O hapless one! That Sun shall never set, nor shall that Day-Star of the Realm of Glory ever wane. The setting of the sun is only in relation to the dwellers of the earth, for how can there be any daybreak or nightfall in the sun itself? It remaineth ever shining in its meridian splendour, ever glowing and luminous, at the sublime apex of bounty. The Glory of Glories rest upon thee. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

July 27

O thou verdant, fresh, and radiant leaf! Were we to weep and moan for a hundred thousand years at this Supreme Affliction, [1] to sigh and lament, to rend our garments in sorrow, to shed tears and heap dust upon our heads, and to pine away with grief, this pain would never be stilled, this wound never healed, this fire never quenched. It behoveth us, therefore, to see ourselves, at every breath, as standing ready to depart to the next world, and to arise to carry out that which is conducive to eternal life and would cause us to ascend unto the Kingdom and to attain the court of His Presence. The glory of God rest upon thee. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

[1] The ascension of Baha’u’llah

July 25

…it is impossible that 'economic contentment' be realized by the people of the world save through the transforming Power of Faith. For Faith is the solver of every problem. Therefore you must strive to strengthen the foundation of the Religion of God. Through the Power of the Religion of God every difficulty will be disentangled. The Power of the Religion of God will humble the kings and set at naught the crooked motives of those who are in supreme authority. Then endeavor ye, that the Power of True Religion which breathes the Spirit of Life into the dead body of the world of humanity, may be promulgated. This is the antidote for the poisoned body of the world and a quick-healing remedy for the rancorous disease of man. For this reason diffuse thou as much as thou art able the sweet Fragrance of the Holy Spirit, teach the people the Divine advice and exhortations and spread far and wide the heavenly Teachings..."

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 12, October 16, 1914)

July 23

For the physician the first qualifications are: Good intentions, trustworthiness, tenderness, sympathy for the sick, truthfulness, integrity, and the fear of the Lord.

With life and heart strive thou to be both a spiritual and physical physician. Thus mayest thou be Ameen and Fareed (Trustworthy and Unique).

Thy honorable father night and day prays, hopes and supplicates that thy life, like his, may be entirely devoted to the service of the Threshold of God, that thou remain the servant of the Holy Cause. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ('Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2')

July 21

O thou my spiritual companion! Two letters have reached me from you, and the contents of both I have considered. Communication of the beloved of God from all parts of the world with America, and the correspondence of America with all parts is most agreeable and the cause of attracting the hearts. Endeavor greatly to accomplish this important matter and write to all parts.

The beloved of God must, like the roses of the rose-garden, send fragrant messages from one to another, receive strength from one another, and co-operate together, by the strength of the Kingdom. There is no greater means than communion and communication. “Communication is half a meeting.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ('Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2')

July 19

O thou spiritual friend!... Thank God, thou art a believer and an assured one, firm and steadfast; a truthful servant of the divine Kingdom and an agreeable lover of His Holiness Baha’u’llah. Thou hast spent thy time in spreading the fragrances of God and thy possession in the promotion of the Word of God.

Rest assured in the great bounty and bestowal, be attracted by the fragrances of the Kingdom of Abha. Fatigue not thyself on account of any difficulty and give not up because of any ordeal. Be not grieved because of any trial nor hindered by any hindrance.

Night and day confine thy time to the education of the world of humanity. Arise to guide the creatures and spend time in promulgating the teachings of His Holiness Baha’u’llah, so that lives may find glad-tidings, hearts gladness, the souls eternal life and the minds extraordinary advancement. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ('Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2')

July 17

The holy souls who are free from the ties of this mortal world and attain the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, although they live on earth, yet, verily, they are heavenly, illuminated, spiritual, divine. Such souls must appear and engage, with simplicity, freedom and purity, in training the public and in guiding all people. If such souls arise, the Holy Spirit will aid them, the hosts of the heavenly angels will render them victorious, the bounties of the Kingdom of Abha will surround them, the ray of the Sun of Truth will shine, the breezes of the Paradise of Abha will give spirit, the ocean of favors will boil and the good scent of the fragrances of holiness will perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants of the world.

By the bounty and grace of the Educator, I hope thou mayest attain to this providence and bounty! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ('Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2')

July 15

The nineteen days' Feast has the utmost importance, that the beloved ones may gather in a meeting, be occupied with the utmost love and fellowship in mentioning the name of God, and speak about the glad tidings of God, deliver the proofs and evidences of the appearance of Baha’u’llah, mention the praiseworthy deeds and the sacrifices endured by the Believers of God in Persia, talk about the severance and the attraction of the martyrs and remember the co-operation and the mutual assistance of the friends. Therefore this nineteen days' Feast is most important. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 13, November 4, 1914)

July 13

Thy beloved mother ascended to the apex of the Kingdom. She is the associate and the companion of the spiritual ones. They witness this world and the inhabitants thereof, for the veil is rent asunder and the covering is taken away from before the insight. Beg of God for them the exaltation of spiritual degrees. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 13, November 4, 1914)

July 11

Question: ‘What is evil?’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: —"Evil is imperfection. Sin is the state of man in the world of the baser nature, for in nature exist defects such as injustice, tyranny, hatred, hostility, strife: these are characteristics of the lower plane of nature. These are the sins of the world, the fruits of the tree from which Adam did eat. Through education we must free ourselves from these imperfections. The Prophets of God have been sent, the Holy Books have been written, so that man may be made free. Just as he is born into this world of imperfection from the womb of his earthly mother, so is he born into the world of spirit through divine education. When a man is born into the world of phenomena he finds the universe; when he is born from this world to the world of the spirit, he finds the Kingdom.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk; ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’)

July 9

His Exalted Majesty (the Báb) from the beginning of the arising of His Beauty to the day of the Greatest Martyrdom, spent days and nights under severest trials, in the Path of God; He made His breast a target for thousands of arrows of calamities, and with a breast pierced and torn, hastened to the Most Glorious Kingdom. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Star of the West’, vol. 4, no. 4, May 17, 1913)

July 7

Question: ‘What is the purpose of our lives?’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: — “To acquire virtues. We come from the earth; why were we transferred from the mineral to the vegetable kingdom—from the plant to the animal kingdom? So that we may attain perfection in each of these kingdoms, that we may possess the best qualities of the mineral, that we may acquire the power of growing as in the plant, that we may be adorned with the instincts of the animal and possess the faculties of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste, until from the animal kingdom we step into the world of humanity and are gifted with reason, the power of invention, and the forces of the spirit.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk; ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’)

July 5

O thou pilgrim unto that Spot round which circle the embodiments of holiness! It is among the greatest of divine blessings that thou wert brought into existence in this wondrous century, wert numbered among those who worship God, didst hasten unto the holy court of the King of the seen and unseen, didst achieve the honour of attaining unto His Presence, and didst hearken unto the matchless words that proceeded from His sanctified lips. Thou hast now also attained unto the bounty of circumambulating the Spot round which circle the spiritually illumined ones. Thou art firm and steadfast in the Covenant, and hast clung to the hem of the All-Merciful. Wherefore, render thanks unto the one true God that thou hast attained unto all these bestowals and hast been confirmed therein. Now, with a blissful heart and exalted soul, travel forth through every region and cheer and gladden the people of Hamadán with the divine tidings. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

July 3

He is God.

O Shoghi! I have no time to talk; leave me be! Thou didst say “Write”, and I have written. What else should I do? Now is not the time for thee to read and write; it is the time to jump about and to chant “O my God!” Memorize the prayers of the Blessed Beauty and chant them for me, that I may hear them; there is no time for anything else. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

July 1

In this divine age the bounties of God have encompassed the world of women. Equality of men and women, except in some negligible instances, has been fully and categorically announced. Distinctions have been utterly removed. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet, quoted by the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 28 December 1980 to NSA of New Zealand; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’) 

June 29

Erelong our days shall draw to a close, and the birds of the meadows shall carol the anthem of departure. Erelong the lamp of health shall be quenched, the darkness of death shall prevail, and the resplendent morn of the life to come shall dawn. Let us then strive with earnest endeavour to arrive at the heavenly Kingdom with radiant faces and, in the Realm of Glory, be admitted into the circle of those who have remained fast and firm. Consider what a fire of guidance eleven souls [eleven disciples of Christ] kindled on the summits of the world when they endured all manner of woes and trials and arose with all their hearts! Now, were we to arise as we ought, armed with the assured confirmations of the Abhá Kingdom, what splendours would be made manifest and what results would ensue! I swear by the Beauty of the All-Praised, by His upraised standard, and by His sheltering shade, that such a conflagration would blaze up in the heart of the world as would melt the very rocks and clods of earth.

O friends, make ye a mighty effort! O loved ones, arise and bestir yourselves! Occupy yourselves not with the tales and accounts of those who waver in the Covenant, for these are but confused dreams and idle and childish talk. Speak of them that are steadfast, and tread the path of them that stand unwaveringly firm!

The duty of long years of love obey,

And tell the tale of blissful days gone by. [Rumi]

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

June 27

When Christ winged His flight unto the limitless realms, He left behind eleven disciples. As they arose, with a seeing eye and a hearing ear, with an eloquent tongue and an unshakeable resolve, to magnify the Word of God, they so flourished that each became like unto the tree whose “root is firmly fixed, and whose branches reach unto heaven, yielding its fruit in all seasons”. [1] Simon Cephas, [2] who was the shining moon amongst those stars of guidance, was to outward seeming no more than a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. And yet, because he arose with fixed resolve and the utmost vigour to spread the signs of God and gather together the righteous, the light of his servitude shone with such brilliance above the horizon of existence that the very sun and moon were left bewildered, and circled, moth-like, around that resplendent candle.

Now, upon His ascension, the Ancient Beauty—may my life be offered up for His Most Great Name—left behind some fifty thousand believers upon this swiftly passing world. He educated them, one and all, through the sweet scents of holiness, opened the doors of manifold grace before their faces, nurtured them in the bosom of His loving-kindness, and taught them the lessons of the spirit in the school of insight. Would it not be regrettable if we were to sit dispirited or remain lost and bewildered, if we were to prefer the path of comfort and repose, seeking freedom from all cares? This is not faithfulness! This is not sincerity! This is not the path of guidance! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

[1] Qur’án 14:24.

[2] The original name of Peter.

June 25

O ye loved ones of the Abhá Beauty! O ye friends of the Almighty Lord! Unloose your tongues in thanksgiving for this supreme bestowal, and render praise unto the peerless Lord that ye were singled out for this grace and favour, and numbered amongst those who have attained the heights of servitude. Gird up the loins of endeavour, and step into the circle of the angels of the paradise of Oneness. Thus may ye, on the shores of the Most Great Ocean, net the fish that thirst for the seas of divine knowledge and, in the fields of unity, catch the gazelles that seek the meads of reality, so that through the unfailing aid and bounty of the Lord, ye may gather together all nations beneath the shade of the Word of Oneness. Thus may the fragrances of God spread through the East and the West, and the magnetic forces of the All-Merciful stir the world of being into motion. Thus may the mysteries of this holy Cycle be made manifest, the signs of the Dispensation of the Most Great Name be revealed, the garden of the world be rendered fertile, and the orchard of creation bear luscious fruits. Thus may the candle of Divine Unity be kindled, contingent limitations be consumed away by a single flame of the Lord’s burning Fire, the lights of guidance shine, and the darkness of ignorance and blindness be utterly obliterated. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

June 23

O ye true friends! The letters ye wrote, the pages ye penned, and the names ye mentioned were all received in the Holy Land; they have all been attentively perused, and their most pleasing contents have been noted.

Praise be to God that through the grace and favour of the Ancient Beauty—may my life be offered up for His loved ones—such servants have been gathered beneath the standard of the Covenant as have perfumed the world through the gentle breezes wafting from the gardens of their hearts, and flooded the realm of splendours with the light shining from their faces. They are the manifestations of the manifold bounties of the ever-living Lord and the exponents of the signs and tokens of the Great Announcement. They are the dawning-places of the stars of guidance and the daysprings of the mysteries of loving-kindness, the sweet savours of the rose-gardens of Divine Unity and the fragrances of the meads of Oneness, the immovable mountains of the Covenant and Testament and the wellsprings of the soft-flowing waters of joy and certitude, the fruitful trees of the paradise of faith and the birds of holiness soaring above the meadows of understanding, the shining lamps in the assemblage of divine mysteries and the embodiments of purity in the gathering of the righteous. They are graciously aided by the hosts of the Abhá Kingdom and favoured with the assistance of the angels of the celestial Concourse. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

June 21

O ye divine believers! Today any soul who is a teacher of the Cause is confirmed. The teachers are in the front rank, are favored at the Threshold of the Almighty and helped from the Kingdom of Abha! The believers of God must exercise the utmost love, respect and consideration towards the teachers;—so that in whatever place they may enter, joy and happiness be obtained. But regarding the qualifications of the teachers, they are revealed in the Divine Tablets. They must adorn themselves with those attributes. I declare by God, beside whom there is no God, that if today a weak mosquito is characterized with the qualifications of the teachers and summons the people to the Divine Kingdom, it will become a soaring falcon of heaven and the ephemeral moth will be changed into an eagle of the apex of the Merciful; the drop will be transformed into a surging ocean and the atom will emit the brilliancy of the sun. From every part the cry of, "Where are the teachers?" is being raised, and from the Kingdom of Abha, the voice of, "Where are the attracted ones? Where are the severed ones? Where are the righteous ones? Where are the sanctified ones?" reaches to the ear of intelligence. The inhabitants of the world have attained to a most astonishing capacity and are ready to hearken to this Call. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 14, November 23, 1914)

June 19

O ye loyal friends of the Blessed Perfection! It is hoped that, through the wonderful bestowals of that Peerless Adored One, a new dynamic acclamation and stirring activity be realized amongst the divine believers so that they may obtain boundless rejoicing and exultation through the Melody of the Kingdom of Abha, which has moved the invisible world, and arise in the delivery of the Word of God;—so that the Holy Fragrance of God may transform the East and the West into the Paradise of Abha, the Clouds of Grace change the surface of the earth into a delectable Rose-garden and the Breeze of Compassion give fragrance and perfume to the plain and the meadow. This state is only made possible through teaching the Cause of God, explaining the Proofs of God, demonstrating the Religion of God with divine evidences and irrefutable arguments and guiding the inhabitants of the earth to the Fountain of Reality!

Consider, that the Apostles of Christ were few in number, but because they were filled to overflowing with His Graces, and the essence of His Advice and Commandments was circulating, like unto the spirit, through their veins and arteries, to such an extent that one could find nothing else throughout their beings save His Love, and they girded up the loins of endeavor to convey the Message. Now it has become manifest what a tremendous effect and result their services produced! We must also act accordingly and follow in their footsteps. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 14, November 23, 1914)

June 17

…although ‘Abdu’l-Baha considers himself as a drop, yet this drop is connected with the Most Great Sea. Although he looks upon himself as an atom, yet this atom is related to the world-illuminating sun. As it is said: "The Originator of all these voices is the King himself;" or in other words: "It is through His assistance."

Unquestionably this physical body and human energy would have been unable to stand this constant wear and tear, and were it not for the support of the angel of Providence even the bones of this servant would have mouldered away. But the aid and help of His Highness the Desired One was the Guardian and Protector of the weak and humble ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Through the many annoyances and inconveniences of the journey, physical exhaustion was produced in the nerves and the various indispositions caused poor health, but the Spirit was so energized that this great weakness and excessive feebleness disappeared in a short period of time, and ere long ‘Abdu’l-Baha will be occupied again with reading and writing. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 14, November 23, 1914) 

June 15

In the human kingdom itself there are points of contact, properties common to all mankind; likewise, there are points of distinction which separate race from race, individual from individual. If the points of contact, which are the common properties of humanity, overcome the peculiar points of distinction, unity is assured. On the other hand, if the points of differentiation overcome the points of agreement, disunion and weakness result. One of the important questions which affect the unity and the solidarity of mankind is the fellowship and equality of the white and colored races. Between these two races certain points of agreement and points of distinction exist which warrant just and mutual consideration. The points of contact are many; for in the material or physical plane of being, both are constituted alike and exist under the same law of growth and bodily development. Furthermore, both live and move in the plane of the senses and are endowed with human intelligence. There are many other mutual qualifications. In this country, the United States of America, patriotism is common to both races; all have equal rights to citizenship, speak one language, receive the blessings of the same civilization, and follow the precepts of the same religion. In fact numerous points of partnership and agreement exist between the two races; whereas the one point of distinction is that of color. Shall this, the least of all distinctions, be allowed to separate you as races and individuals? In physical bodies, in the law of growth, in sense endowment, intelligence, patriotism, language, citizenship, civilization and religion you are one and the same. A single point of distinction exists—that of racial color. God is not pleased with—neither should any reasonable or intelligent man be willing to recognize—inequality in the races because of this distinction. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (From a talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 30 April 1912, Chicago; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)

June 13

O thou my dear friend, my associate and companion! The times of (our) meeting [1] are still remembered and the sweetness of thy company is lastingly established in the recess of (my) life. I pray and implore the threshold of the Lord of the Kingdom always, and seek for thee His strength and confirmation, saying:

“O Lord of Hosts! Confirm Thine affectionate …in Thy servitude, aid him in the service of Thy Word, open to his face the door of knowledge, reveal to his heart the realities and significances, and grant him the ecstasy of the cup of reality, gladden him through the melody of Thy love, make his night, day, and day, happy!”

In sooth, O dear one! thy services are evident, thy endurance of ordeals and difficulties well known. In the organization of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, thou art indeed well striving.

I hope thou wilt attain a great reward, open an eloquent tongue, raise a wonderful melody in every meeting, draw and paint the images and forms of the Kingdom in the material world. Rest assured in the grace of the Lord and be dilated by His infinite favors. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2)

[1] When the recipient was in Acca

June 11

O ye twin shining stars! Praise be to God, for your faces are resplendent with the light of guidance, and your dispositions are pleasing and favoured at the Divine Threshold.

Ye have asked for permission to come on a visit. The Holy Land is indeed the niche from which the Light shineth, the lamp in which the Sinaic Flame is burning. In this sacred land the Blessed Beauty unveiled His countenance, and from it He addressed Tablets and proclamations unto all the kings and rulers of the earth. To attain the honour of pilgrimage is the cherished desire of His lovers, and to circle round His Shrine the highest hope of those who yearn after Him. Yet, service to His Threshold rendered in your land is also among the supreme aspirations of those who are nigh unto Him. Nevertheless, the choice is yours. The Glory of Glories rest upon thee. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

June 9

Question: ‘Should Prayer take the form of action?’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá.— “Yes: In the Bahá’í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise”. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk; ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’)

June 7

O thou who hast attained unto the Threshold of that Shrine which is sacred unto all the world and the envy of the most exalted Paradise! Praised be God that thou hast, through the gracious favour of the Lord, attained the honour of pilgrimage to the Spot round which circle the denizens of the Abhá Kingdom. Thou hast illumined thy countenance, perfumed thy locks, and sweetened thy disposition. Thou hast encountered that which hath been the utmost desire of the loftiest angels. Thou hast offered thine all in the path of the Beloved, and hast hastened to attain His nearness. How fortunate art thou! Wherefore, unloose thy tongue in praise of the Abhá Beauty and occupy thyself with the remembrance of Him—may my soul and spirit be a sacrifice for His loved ones—that the divine confirmations may become all-encompassing, and Divine Unity, like unto a flame, may blaze in the chamber of thy heart and burn away all the veils. The Most Great Name beareth me witness! The very dust of the Threshold of His Beauty is the loftiest throne of the realities of existence, for it is there that His Beauty is revealed in the visible realm. And yet, alas! Where is the eye capable of discernment? Where is the ear fit to hear, and the heart worthy of comprehending? Blessed are those who inhale the musk-laden fragrances wafting from that Holy Shrine. Glory be upon thee and upon all who are firm in the Covenant. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

June 5

O thou who circlest in adoration round His hallowed Shrine! Render thou thanks unto God for having received so heavenly a bestowal and partaken of so limitless a bounty! Thou hast attained the Spot round which circleth the Concourse on high, the Cynosure of the inhabitants of the Kingdom of glory. The lights of the All-Merciful dawn from its horizon, and the stars of divine mysteries shine brightly in its heaven. Its soil is redolent with perfume and ambergris, and its very dust is even as the most fragrant musk to the spiritual. In all the sacred Books and Scriptures it is known as the Holy Land, and its precincts are referred to as the Blessed Spot. [Qur’án 28:30] It hath been called the Vale of Towa and the snow-white Spot. Its heights are Mount Sinai and its hills the place of the revelation of the Lord of the heavens on high.

Unto Him Who conversed with God [Moses] it is the haven of peace and security, and unto the Friend of God [Abraham] a shelter and a refuge. For Lot it is “a mighty pillar”, [Qur’án 11:80] and for Jacob a glorious homeland. For David it is the altar of adoration, and for Solomon the throne alluded to thus: “My Lord, grant a kingdom unto me such as shall not befit anyone after me.” [Qur’án 38:35] Unto Zechariah it is the sanctuary of supplication and servitude, and unto John the Baptist the vale of the Kingdom and the wilderness of glad-tidings. For the Spirit of God [Jesus] it is the scene of effulgent splendours and for the Beloved of God [Muhammad] the Farthest Mosque referred to in the verse “Glory be to Him who by night carried His servant from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque.” [Qur’án 17:1] It is the abode of the Prophets and the dawning-place of the lights of the mighty signs of the Lord. It is the dayspring of holiness and the niche wherein appear the splendours of the all-glorious Lord. It is the appointed place for attainment to the Divine Presence and the site of the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad. Every divine light or revelation hath originated from this blessed land, or its most excellent Luminary hath emigrated thereto, or it hath found its consummation therein. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

June 3

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  (From a Tablet, quoted by the Universal House of Justice in a message dated 10 February 1980 addressed to “the dear Iranian believers resident in other countries throughout the world”; (‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)

June 1

Briefly, the universal Manifestations of God are aware of the truths underlying the mysteries of all created things, and thus They found a religion that is based upon, and consonant with, the prevailing condition of humanity. For religion consists in the necessary relationships deriving from the realities of things. If the Manifestation of God—the divine Lawgiver—were not informed of the realities of things, if He did not understand the necessary relationships deriving from these realities, He would assuredly be incapable of establishing a religion consonant with the needs and conditions of the time. The Prophets of God, the universal Manifestations, are even as skilled physicians; the world of being is as the body of man; and the divine religions are as the treatment and remedy. The physician must be fully aware and informed of all the parts and organs, the constitution and condition of the patient, in order to prescribe an effective remedy. Indeed, it is from the disease itself that the physician deduces the remedy, for he first diagnoses the ailment and then treats its underlying cause. Until the ailment is properly diagnosed, how can any treatment or remedy be prescribed? The physician must therefore have a thorough knowledge of the constitution, the parts, organs, and condition of the patient, and be likewise well acquainted with every disease and every remedy, in order to prescribe the appropriate cure.

Religion, then, consists in the necessary relationships deriving from the reality of things. The universal Manifestations of God, being aware of the mysteries of creation, are fully informed of these necessary relationships and establish them as the religion of God. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)

May 30

In brief, we are at present engaged in serving the Sacred Threshold in this country, [Egypt] and we fain would hope that this journey may yield fruit, and that we may advance and exert ourselves in the field of servitude. Pray ye fervently, and with tears supplicate His Kingdom of sanctity, that in thraldom to the Threshold of Bahá this servant may be, however slightly, delivered from shame. Perchance, God willing, he may be graciously aided to attain a dewdrop of the ocean of servitude, for thus far he hath achieved naught but regret. If it please God, perchance aid and confirmation from the Abhá Kingdom may be vouchsafed unto him in the days to come, and this cherished hope may be fulfilled, if only to a small degree. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

May 28

From the beginning, that sanctified Reality [The Manifestation of God] is undoubtedly aware of the secret of existence, and from childhood the signs of greatness are clearly manifested in Him. How then could He fail, in spite of such bounties and perfections, to be conscious of His own station? 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)

May 26

Indeed, the Governor of ‘Akká pursued me unrelentingly for five years, begging permission to attain His [Bahá’u’lláh] holy Presence, but the Blessed Beauty would not grant him leave to do so. One day, this servant set out to attain the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, and started walking from ‘Akká towards the Mansion. All the officials and even the Governor himself accompanied me on foot. The Governor, Abázih Páshá, happened to be a stout and corpulent man. Sweat began to pour off him as he walked, and it was in such a state that we arrived at the Mansion. The Blessed Beauty—may my life be offered up for His loved ones—did not even deign to enquire after them. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)

May 24

For forty-three years, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was a prisoner in the city of ‘Akká, during which time he conducted affairs in such manner that even strangers acknowledged them to be, under all circumstances, in accord with the good-pleasure of the peerless Lord. His love, affection, care, and consideration for every soul were such that all the peoples and kindreds marvelled at it; each and all showed the utmost respect and reverence.

At first, the decree of the iniquitous sovereign was most harsh, placing Bahá’u’lláh in such strict captivity that even I would be denied access to His holy Presence. Nay more, the Ancient Beauty was to be confined alone and forsaken, and to remain under vigilant watch day and night. However, the conduct of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was such that the pavilion of the Blessed Beauty was finally pitched with utmost dominion and majesty upon Mount Carmel, and His blessed Being came to reside outside the citadel of ‘Akká, living with the utmost might and honour in the only mansion of that region, utterly detached from all others. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Light of the World’)