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CHAPTER NINE
DIVINE CIVILIZATION
971. The past age was an age of wondrous achievements. All the
inventions were perfected; new discoveries created; new fields of human activity
developed; new undertakings gave deeper significance to the law of co-operation;
new arts helped to make life more beautiful; and new international laws are now
in process of formation to bind all nations of the earth together. The
international tribunal of justice will soon be organized in accordance with the
principles of Bahá’u’lláh, and then all the
differences will be adjusted before the members of that impartial
tribunal.
Therefore, as a result of these changes in the outer world, it has
become part of the heavenly wisdom in the inner world to create a new spiritual
plan for the propagation of the religion of God. Thus the divine believers may
obtain a new joy and a new happiness and display an extraordinary effort in the
promotion of the reality of the religions of God, to deliver the nations from
old, superannuated prejudices and diffuse the fragrances of the flowers of the
primal Truth; to unfurl the flag of love, amity, unity and oneness of the world
of humanity and remove the international misunderstandings from amongst the
nations of the world.
972. To the friends and maid-servants of God in the Northeastern
states:
Upon them be greeting and praise!
O ye heavenly heralds!
These are the days of Naw-Rúz. I am always thinking of those
kind friends! I beg for each and all of you confirmations and assistance from
the threshold of Oneness, so that those gatherings may become ignited like unto
candles, in the Republics of America, enkindling the light of the love of God in
the hearts; thus the rays of the heavenly teachings may begin and brighten
the
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states of America like the infinitude of immensity with the stars of
the most great guidance. The Northeastern states on the shores of the Atlantic
-- Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York -- in some of these believers are found,
but in some of the cities of these states up to this date people are not yet
illumined with the lights of the Kingdom and are not aware of the heavenly
teachings; therefore, whenever it is possible for each one of you, hasten ye to
those cities and shine forth like unto the stars with the light of the most
great guidance. God says in the glorious Qur’án: “The soil
was black and dried. Then we cause the rain to descend upon it and immediately
it became green, verdant, and every kind of plant sprouted up
luxuriantly.” In other words, he says the earth and the soil is black,
but when the spring showers descend upon it that black soil is quickened, and
variegated flowers are pushed forth. This means the souls of humanity belonging
to the world of nature are black like unto the soil. But when the heavenly
outpourings descend and the radiant effulgences appear, the hearts are
resuscitated, are liberated from the darkness of nature and the flowers of the
divine mysteries grow and become luxuriant. Consequently man must become the
cause of the illumination of the world of humanity and propagate the holy
teachings revealed in the sacred books through divine inspiration. It is stated
in the blessed Gospel: Travel ye toward the East and toward the West and
enlighten the people with the light of the most great guidance, so that they may
take a portion and share of the eternal life. Praise be to God, that the
Northeastern states are in the utmost capacity. Because the ground is rich, the
rain of the divine outpouring is descending. Now you must become heavenly
farmers and scatter pure seeds in the prepared soil. The harvest of every other
seed is limited, but the bounty and the blessing of the seed of the divine
teachings is unlimited. Throughout the coming centuries and cycles many harvests
will be gathered. Consider the work of former generations. During the lifetime
of His Holiness Christ the believing, firm souls were few and numbered, but the
heavenly benedictions descended so plentifully that in a number of years
countless souls entered under the shade of the Gospel. God has said in the
Qur’án: “One grain will bring forth seven sheaves, and every
sheaf shall contain
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one hundred grains.” In other words, one grain will become seven
hundred; and if God so will he will double these also. It has often happened
that one blessed soul has become the cause of the guidance of a nation. Now we
must not look at our own ability and capacity; nay, rather, we must behold the
favors and bounties of God in these days, who has made the drop to find the
expression of the sea and the atom the importance of the sun.
Upon you be greeting and praise!
Haifa, Palestine,
March 26, 1916.
973. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful of
the Northeastern states of the United States of America. Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New
York:
He is God!
O ye real friends!
All the regions in the estimation of the True One are one region and
all the cities and villages are ideally equal and similar to each other.
Neither holds distinction over another. All of them are the fields of God and
the habitation of the souls of men. But through faith and assurance and the
precedence of one part over another the dweller imparts holiness and
sanctification to the dwelling and some of the countries becoming exceptional,
attain to the most great distinction.
For example, notwithstanding that some of the countries of Europe and
America are distinguished for the purity of the air, the wholesomeness of the
water, and the charm of the mountains, plains and prairies and are preferred
above all the rest, yet Palestine became an honor to all other regions of the
world: Because all the holy divine Manifestations from the time of His Holiness
Abraham to the time of the appearance of the Seal of the Prophets, have been
either living in this region or emigrated to or traveled through
here.
Likewise Yathrib and Bathá attained to the most great
bounty and the light of the Prophets has shone from that horizon. For this
reason Palestine and Hijáz are distinguished above all other
regions.
Likewise as the Continent of America in the estimation of
the
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True One is the field of the effulgence of light, the Kingdom of the
manifestation of mysteries, the home of the righteous ones and the gathering
place of the free, therefore every section thereof is blessed; but because these
nine states have been favored in faith and assurance, hence through this
precedence they have obtained spiritual privilege. They must realize the value
of this bounty; because they have obtained such a favor and in order to render
thanksgiving for this most great bestowal, they must arise in the diffusion of
divine fragrances; so that the blessed verse of the
Qur’án:
“God is the light of heaven and earth: the similitude of his
light is a niche in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp enclosed in a
case of glass; the glass appears as if it were a shining star. It is lighted
with the oil of a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West; it
waneth little but that the oil thereof would give light, although no fire
touched it. This is the light added unto light. God will direct unto his light
whom he pleaseth.” -- may be realized.
He says: “The world of nature is the world of darkness, because
it is the origin of a thousand depravities, nay rather, it is darkness upon
darkness.” The illumination of the world of nature is dependent upon the
splendor of the Sun of Reality. The grace of guidance is like unto the candle
which is enkindled in the glass of knowledge and wisdom and that glass of
knowledge and wisdom is the mirror of the heart of humanity. The oil of that
luminous lamp is from the fruits of the Blessed Tree and that oil is so refined
that it will burn without light. When the intensity of the light and the
translucency of the glass and the purity of the mirror are brought together, it
will become light upon light.
In brief, in these nine blessed States
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ journeyed and traveled from place to
place, explained the wisdom of the heavenly books and diffused the fragrances.
In most of these States he founded the Divine Edifice and opened the door of
teaching. In those States he sowed pure seeds and planted blessed
trees.
Now the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful must
irrigate these fields and with the utmost power engage themselves in the
cultivation of these heavenly plantations so that
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the seeds may grow and develop, prosperity and blessing be realized and
many rich and great harvests be gathered in.
The Kingdom of God is like unto a farmer who comes into possession of
a piece of pure and virgin soil. Heavenly seeds are scattered therein, the
clouds of divine providence pour down and the rays of the Sun of Reality shine
forth.
Now all these bounties exist and appear in full in these nine States.
The divine Gardener passed by that holy ground and scattered pure seeds from the
lordly teachings in that field, the rain of the bounties of God poured down and
the heat of the Sun of Reality, that is: -- The merciful confirmations -- shone
with the utmost splendor. It is my hope that each one of those blessed souls
may become a peerless and unique irrigator and the East and the West of America
may become like unto a delectable paradise -- so that all of you may hear from
the Supreme Concourse the cry of “Blessed are ye, and again blessed are
ye!”
Upon you be greeting and praise!
The following supplication is to be read by the teachers and friends
daily:
O Thou Kind Lord! Praise be unto Thee that Thou hast shown unto us
the highway of guidance, opened the doors of the Kingdom and manifested Thyself
through the Sun of Reality. To the blind Thou hast given sight; to the deaf
Thou hast granted hearing; Thou hast resuscitated the dead; Thou hast shown the
way to those who have gone astray; Thou hast led those with parched lips to the
fountain of guidance; Thou hast suffered the thirsty fish to reach the ocean of
reality and Thou hast invited the wandering birds to the rose garden of
grace.
O Thou Almighty! We people are Thy servants and Thy poor ones! We
are remote, we yearn for Thy presence; we are thirsty for the water of Thy
fountain; we are ill, longing for Thy medicine. We are walking in Thy path and
have no aim or hope save the diffusion of Thy fragrances -- so that the souls
may raise the cry of: “O God! Guide us to the straight path!” May
they open their eyes by beholding the lights and become freed from the darkness
of ignorance! May they walk around the lamp of guidance! May the portionless
receive a share! and may the deprived ones become the confidants of the
mysteries!
O Almighty! Look upon us with the glance of mercifulness!
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Grant us heavenly confirmation! Bestow upon us the breaths of the Holy
Spirit! So that we may become assisted in service and like unto brilliant stars
we may shine in these regions with the light of guidance! Verily! Thou art the
Powerful, the Mighty and Thou art the Wise and the Seeing!
Haifa, Palestine,
February 2, 1917.
974. To the friends and the maid-servants of
the Merciful in the Southern States:
Upon them be greeting and praise!
O ye heralds of the Kingdom of God!
A few days ago, an epistle was written to those divine believers, but
because these days are the days of Naw-Rúz, therefore you have come to my
mind and I am sending you this greeting for this glorious feast. All the days
are blessed, but this feast is the national fete of Persia. The Persians have
been holding it for several thousand years past. In reality every day which man
passes in the mention of God, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and calling
the people to the Kingdom of God, that day is his feast. Praise be to God that
you are occupied in the service of the Kingdom of God by day and by night.
Therefore all you days are feast days. There is no doubt that the assistance
and the bestowal of God shall descend upon you.
In the Southern States of the United States, the friends are few, that
is, in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Consequently you must either go
yourselves or send a number of blessed souls to those States, so that they may
guide the people to the Kingdom of Heaven. One of the Holy Manifestations,
addressing a believing soul, says: “If a person become the cause of the
illumination of one soul, it is better than a boundless treasury.” Again
He says: “O ‘Alí! If God guide, through thee, one soul, it
is better for thee than all the riches!” Again He says: “Direct us
to the straight path!” that is, Show us the right road. It is also
mentioned in the Gospel: “Travel ye to all parts of the world and give ye
the glad tidings of the appearance of the Kingdom of God.”
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In brief, I hope you will display in this respect the greatest effort
and magnanimity. It is assured that you will become assisted, and confirmed. A
person declaring the glad tidings of the appearance of the realities and
significances of the Kingdom is like unto a farmer who scatters pure seeds in
the rich soil. The spring cloud will pour upon them the rain of bounty, and
unquestionably the station of the farmer will be raised in the estimation of the
lord of the village, and many harvests will be gathered.
Therefore, ye friends of God! Appreciate ye the value of this time
and be ye engaged in the sowing of the seeds, so that ye may find the heavenly
blessing and the lordly bestowal. Upon you be Bahá
El-Abhá!
Haifa, Palestine,
March 27, 1916.
975. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
in the Southern States.
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
O ye blessed, respected souls!
The philosophers of the ancients, the thinkers of the Middle Ages and
the scientists of this and the former centuries have all agreed upon the fact
that the best and most ideal region for the habitation of man is the temperate
zone, for in this belt the intellects and thoughts rise to the highest stage of
maturity and the capability and ability of civilization manifest themselves in
full efflorescence. When you read history critically and with a penetrating
eye, it becomes evident that the majority of the famous men have been born,
reared and have done their work in the temperate zone, while very, very few have
appeared from the torrid and frigid zones.
Now these sixteen Southern States of the United States are situated in
the temperate zone, and in these regions the perfections of the world of nature
have been fully revealed. For the moderation of the weather, the beauty of the
scenery and the geographical configuration of the country display a great effect
in the world of minds and thoughts. This fact is well demonstrated through
observation and experience.
Even the holy, divine Manifestations have had a nature in
the
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utmost equilibrium, the health and wholesomeness of their bodies most
perfect, their constitutions endowed with physical vigor, their powers
functioning in perfect order, and the outward sensations linked with the inward
perceptions, working together with extraordinary momentum and
co-ordination.
Therefore in these sixteen States, because they are contiguous to
other States and their climate being in the utmost of moderation, unquestionably
the divine teachings must reveal themselves with a brighter effulgence, the
breaths of the Holy Spirit must display a penetrating intensity, the ocean of
the love of God must be stirred with higher waves, the breezes of the rose
garden of the divine love be wafted with higher velocity, and the fragrances of
Holiness be diffused with swiftness and rapidity.
Praise be to God that the divine outpourings are infinite, the melody
of the lordly principles is in the utmost efficacy, the most great Orb shining
with perfect splendor, the cohorts of the Supreme Concourse are attacking with
invincible power, the tongues are sharper than the swords, the hearts are more
brilliant than the light of electricity, the magnanimity of the friends precedes
all the magnanimities of the former and subsequent generations, the souls are
divinely attracted, and the fire of the love of God is enkindled.
At this time and at this period we must avail ourselves of this most
great opportunity. We must not sit inactive for one moment; we must sever
ourselves from composure, rest, tranquillity, goods, property, life and
attachment to material things. We must sacrifice everything to His Highness the
Possessor of existence; so that the powers of the Kingdom may show greater
penetration and the brilliant effulgence in this New Cycle may illumine the
worlds of minds and ideals.
It is about 23 years that the fragrances of God have been diffused in
America, but no adequate and befitting motion has been realized, and no great
acclamation and acceleration has been witnessed. Now it is my hope that through
the heavenly power, the fragrances of the Merciful, the attraction of
consciousness, the celestial outpourings, the heavenly cohorts and the gushing
forth of the fountain of divine love, the believers of God may arise and in a
short time the great good may unveil her countenance, the Sun of Reality may
shine forth with such intensity that the darkness of the world of nature may
become entirely dispelled
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and driven away; from every corner a most wonderful melody may be
raised, the morning birds may break into such a song that the world of humanity
may be quickened and moved, the solid bodies may become liquefied and the souls
who are like unto adamantine rocks may open their wings and through the heat of
the love of god fly heavenward.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Armenia was enveloped with impenetrable
darkness. One blessed soul from among the disciples of Christ hastened to that
part, and through his effort, ere long that province became illumined. Thus it
has become evident how the power of the Kingdom works!
Therefore, rest ye assured in the confirmations of the Merciful and
the assistances of the Most High, become ye sanctified above and purified from
this world and the inhabitants thereof, suffer your intention to become for the
good of all, cut your attachment to the earth and like unto the essence of the
spirit become ye light and delicate. Then with a firm resolution, a pure heart,
a rejoiced spirit, and an eloquent tongue, engage your time in the promulgation
of the divine principles; so that the oneness of the world of humanity may pitch
her canopy in the apex of America and all the nations of the world may follow
the divine policy. This is certain, that the divine policy is justice and
kindness toward all mankind. For all the nations of the world are the sheep of
God, and God is the kind shepherd. He has created these sheep. He has
protected them, sustained and trained them. What greater kindness than this?
And every moment we must render a hundred thousand thanksgivings that, praise be
to God, we are freed from all the ignorant prejudices, are kind to all the sheep
of God, and our utmost hope is to serve each and all, and like unto a benevolent
father educate every one.
Upon you be greeting and praise!
Every soul who travels through these cities, villages and hamlets of
these States and is engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, must
peruse this commune every morning:
O God! O God! Behold me! Notwithstanding my lowliness and my lack
of capacity and ability, I am bent upon the accomplishment of the greatest
works, aiming to promote Thy Word amongst the republics and resolved to spread
Thy teachings amongst all mankind. Far be it from me to become confirmed in
this work save Thou mayest assist me with the breaths of the Holy
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Spirit! Make me victorious through the armies of Thy Supreme Kingdom
and encircle me with Thy confirmations, which shall make the moth the eagle, the
drop the river and the seas, and the scintillas the suns and the
moons!
O Lord! Confirm me with Thy insuperable power and Thy penetrating
potency, so that my tongue may speak out Thy praises and glorifications amongst
Thy creatures, and my heart become overflowed with the wine of Thy love and
knowledge. Verily, Thou art the powerful to do that which Thou willest, and
Thou art might over all things!
Haifa, Palestine,
February 3, 1917.
976. To the friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
in the Central States:
O ye heavenly souls, O ye spiritual assemblies, O ye lordly
meetings!
For some time past correspondence has been delayed, and this has been
on account of the difficulty of mailing and receiving letters. But because at
present a number of facilities are obtainable, therefore, I am engaged in
writing you this brief epistle so that my heart and soul may obtain joy and
fragrance through the remembrance of the friends. Continually this wanderer
supplicates and entreats at the threshold of His Holiness the One and begs
assistance, bounty and heavenly confirmations in behalf of the believers. You
are always in my thought. You are not nor shall you ever be forgotten. I hope
by the favor of His Holiness the Almighty that day by day you may add to your
faith, assurance, firmness and steadfastness, and become instruments for the
promotion of the holy fragrances. In the great book, the divine
Qur’án, God, addressing His Messenger, His Holiness Muhammad (upon
him be greeting and praise!) says: “Verily, thou dost guide the people to
the straight path.” In other words; Thou dost show mankind the direct
road. Consider how guidance is a matter of infinite importance; for it points
to the loftiness of the station of His Holiness the Messenger.
Although in the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and
Minnesota -- praise be to God -- believers are found, who are associating with
each other in the utmost firmness and steadfastness -- day and night they have
no other intention save the
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diffusion of the fragrances of God, they have no other hope except the
promotion of the heavenly teachings, like the candles they are burning with the
light of the love of God, and like thankful birds are singing songs,
spirit-imparting, joy-creating, in the rose garden of the knowledge of God, --
yet in the States of Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Nebraska and Kansas few of the believers exist. So far the summons of the
Kingdom of God and the proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity has
not been made in these States systematically and enthusiastically. Blessed
souls and detached teachers have not traveled through these parts repeatedly;
therefore these States are still in a state of heedlessness. Through the
efforts of the friends of God souls must be likewise enkindled, in these States,
with the fire of the love of God and attracted to the Kingdom of God, so that
section may also become illumined and the soul-imparting breeze of the rose
garden of the Kingdom may perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants. Therefore,
if it is possible, send to those parts teachers who are severed from all else
save God, sanctified and pure. If these teachers be in the utmost state of
attraction, in a short time great results will be forthcoming. The sons and
daughters of the kingdom are like unto the real farmers. Through whichever
state or country they pass they display self-sacrifice and sow divine seeds.
From that seed harvests are produced. On this subject it is revealed in the
glorious Gospel: When the pure seeds are scattered in the good ground heavenly
blessing and benediction is obtained. I hope that you may become assisted and
confirmed, and never lose courage in the promotion of the divine teachings. Day
by day may you add to your effort, exertion and magnanimity.
Upon you be greeting and praise!
Haifa, Palestine,
March 29, 1916.
977. To the believers and the maid-servants of God in the Central States:
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
God says in the great Qur’án: “He specializes for
His Mercy whomsoever He willeth.”
O ye old believers and intimate friends!
These twelve central States of the United States are like
unto
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the heart of America, and the heart is connected with all the organs
and parts of man. If the heart is strengthened, all the organs of the body are
reinforced, and if the heart is weak all the physical elements are subjected to
feebleness.
Now praise be to God that Chicago and its environs from the beginning
of the diffusion of the fragrances of God have been a strong heart. Therefore,
through divine bounty and providence it has become confirmed in certain great
matters.
First: The Call of the Kingdom was in the very beginning raised from
Chicago. This is indeed a great privilege, for in future centuries and cycles,
it will be as an axis around which the honor of Chicago will
revolve.
Second: A number of souls with the utmost firmness and steadfastness
arose in that blessed spot in the promotion of the Word of God and even to the
present moment, having purified and sanctified the heart from every thought,
they are occupied with the promulgation of the teachings of God. Hence the call
of praise is raise uninterruptedly from the Supreme Concourse.
Thirdly: During the American journey,
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ several times passed through Chicago and
associated with the friends of God. For some time he sojourned in that city.
Day and night he was occupied with the mention of the True One and summoned the
people to the Kingdom of God.
Fourthly: Up to the present time, every movement initiated in
Chicago, its effect was spread to all parts and to all directions; just as
everything that appears in and manifests from the heart influences all the
organs and limbs of the body.
Fifthly: The first Mashriqu‘l-Adhkár in
America was instituted in Chicago, and this honor and distinction is infinite in
value. Undoubtedly out of this Mashriqu‘l-Adhkár
thousands of other Mashriqu‘l-Adhkárs will be
born.
Likewise the general Annual Conventions, the foundation of the Star of
the West, the Publishing Society for the publication of books and Tablets and
their circulation in all parts of America, and the preparations now under way
for the celebration of the Golden Centenary Anniversary of the Kingdom of God.
I hope that this Jubilee and this Exhibition may be celebrated in the utmost
perfection; so that the call to the world of unity: “There is no God but
One God, and all the Messengers, from the beginning to the Seal of the Prophets
(Muhammad) were sent on the part
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of the True One!” may be raised; the flag of the oneness of the
world of humanity be unfurled, the melody of Universal Peace may reach the ears
of the East and the West; all the paths may be cleared and straightened, all the
hearts may be attracted to the Kingdom of God, the tabernacle of unity be
pitched on the apex of America, the song of the love of God may exhilarate and
rejoice all the nations and peoples, the surface of the earth may become the
eternal paradise, the dark clouds may be dispelled and the Sun of Truth may
shine forth with the utmost intensity.
O ye friends of God! Exert ye with heart and soul, so that
association, love, unity and agreement be obtained between the hearts, all the
aims may be merged into one aim, all the songs become one song and the power of
the Holy Spirit may become so overwhelmingly victorious as to overcome all the
forces of the world of nature. Work! This is the great Work, should ye become
assisted therein: Thus America may become the fulcrum of merciful
susceptibilities, and the throne of the Kingdom of God be established upon earth
with the greatest joy and majesty.
This phenomenal world will not remain in an unchanging condition even for a short while. Second after second it undergoes change and transformation.
Every foundation will finally become collapsed; every glory and splendor will at
last vanish and disappear, but the Kingdom of God is eternal and the heavenly
sovereignty and majesty will stand firm everlasting. Hence in the estimation of
a wise man the mat of the Kingdom of God is preferable to the throne of the
government of the world.
Continually my ear and eye are turned toward the Central States;
perchance a melody from some blessed souls may reach my ears, souls who are the
dawning places of the love of God, the stars of the horizon of sanctification
and holiness -- souls who will illumine this dark universe and quicken to life
this dead world. The joy of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ depends upon
this! I hope that you may become confirmed therein.
Consequently, those souls who are in a condition of the utmost
severance, purified from the defects of the world of nature, sanctified from
attachment to this earth, vivified with the breaths of eternal life -- with
luminous hearts, with heavenly spirit, with attraction of consciousness, with
celestial magnanimity, with eloquent tongues and with clear explanations -- such
souls must hasten and travel through all parts of the Central States.
In
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every city and village they must occupy themselves with the diffusion
of the divine exhortations and advices, guide the souls and promote the oneness
of the world of humanity. They must play the melody of international
conciliation with such power that every deaf one may attain hearing, every
extinct person may be set aglow, every dead one may obtain new life and every
indifferent soul may find ecstacy. It is certain that such will be the
consummation.
The spreaders of the fragrances of God may peruse this commune every
morning:
O Lord! O Lord! Praise and thanksgiving be unto Thee for Thou hast
guided me to the highway of the Kingdom, suffered me to walk in this straight
and far-stretching path, illumined my eye by beholding the lights, made me
listen to the melodies of the birds of holiness from the Kingdom of Mysteries
and attracted my heart with Thy love among the righteous ones.
O Lord! Confirm me with the Holy Spirit, so that I may call in Thy
Name amongst the nations and give the glad tidings to the manifestation of Thy
Kingdom amongst mankind.
O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy power and potency. My
tongue falters, suffer me to utter Thy commemoration and praise. I am lonely,
console me through my entrance in Thy Kingdom. I am remote, cause me to
approach to the threshold of Thy Mercifulness.
O Lord! Make me a brilliant lamp, a shining star and a blessed tree,
adorned with fruits, its branches overshadowing all these regions! Verily, Thou
art the Mighty, the Powerful and Unconstrained!
Haifa, Palestine,
February 8, 1917.
978. To the believers of God and the maid-servants
of the Merciful in the Western States:
He is God!
O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom!
Day and night I have no other occupation than the remembrance of the
friends, praying from the depth of my heart in their behalf, begging for them
confirmation from the Kingdom of God and supplicating the direct effect of the
breaths of the Holy Spirit. I am
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hopeful from the favors of His Highness the Lord of Bestowals, that the
friends of God during such a time may become the secret cause of the
illumination of the hearts of humanity, breathing the breath of life upon the
spirits -- whose praiseworthy results may become conducive to the glory and
exaltation of humankind throughout all eternity. Although in some of the
Western States, like California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, the fragrances
of holiness are diffused, numerous souls have taken a share and a portion from
the fountain of everlasting life, they have obtained heavenly benediction, have
drunk an overflowing cup from the wine of the love of God and have hearkened to
the melody of the Supreme Concourse -- yet in the States of New Mexico, Wyoming,
Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada, the lamp of the love of God is not
ignited in a befitting and behooving manner, and the call of the Kingdom of God
has not been raised. Now, if it is possible, show ye an effort in this
direction. Either travel yourselves, personally, throughout those States or
choose others and send them, so that they may teach the souls. For the present
those States are like unto dead bodies: they must breathe into them the breath
of life and bestow upon them a heavenly spirit. Like unto the stars they must
shine in that horizon and thus the rays of the Sun of Reality may also illumine
those States.
God says in the great Qur’án: “Verily, God is the
helper of those who have believed. He will lead them from darkness into
light.” This means: God loves the believers, consequently He will deliver
them from darkness and bring them into the world of light.
It is also recorded in the blessed Gospel: Travel ye throughout the
world and call ye the people to the Kingdom of God. Now this is the time that
you may arise and perform this most great service and become the cause of the
guidance of innumerable souls. Thus through this superhuman service the rays of
peace and conciliation may illumine and enlighten all the regions and the world
of humanity may find peace and composure.
During my stay in America I cried out in every meeting and summoned
the people to the propagation of the ideals of universal peace. I said plainly
that the continent of Europe had become like unto an arsenal and its
conflagration was dependent upon one spark, and that in the coming years or
within two years, all that which is recorded in the Revelation of John and the
Book of Daniel would become fulfilled and come to pass. This matter,
in
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all probability, was published in the San Francisco Bulletin,
October 12, 1912. You may refer to it, so that the truth may become clear and
manifest; thus ye may fully realize that this is the time for the diffusion of
the fragrances.
The magnanimity of man must be heavenly -- or, in other words, it must
be assisted by the divine confirmation, so that he may become the cause of the
illumination of the world of humanity.
Upon you be greeting and praise.
Haifa, Palestine,
April 1, 1916.
979. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
in the Western States of the United States: New Mexico,
Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Montana,
Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah. Upon them be
Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
O ye friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful, the chosen ones of
the Kingdom! The blessed State of California bears the utmost similarity to the
Holy Land -- that is, the country of Palestine. The air is of the utmost
temperance, the plain very spacious, and the fruits of Palestine are seen in
that State in the utmost freshness and delicacy. When
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ was travelling and journeying through
those States, he found himself in Palestine, for from every standpoint there was
a perfect likeness between this region and that State. Even the shores of the
Pacific Ocean, in some instances, show perfect resemblance to the shores of the
Holy Land -- and even the flora of the Holy Land have grown on those shores --
the study of which has led to much speculation and wonder.
Likewise in the State of California and other Western States,
wonderful scenes of the world of nature, which bewilder the minds of men, are
manifest. Lofty mountains, deep canyons, great and majestic waterfalls, and
giant trees are witnessed on all sides, while its soil is in the utmost
fertility and richness. That blessed state is similar to the Holy Land and that
region and that country like unto a delectable paradise, in many ways identical
with Palestine. Now just as there are natural resemblances, heavenly
resemblances must also be acquired.
The lights of the divine traces are manifest in Palestine.
The
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majority of the Israelitish Prophets raised the call of the Kingdom of
God in this holy ground. Having spread the spiritual teachings, the nostrils of
the spiritually-minded ones became fragrant, the eyes of the illumined souls
became brightened, the ears were thrilled through this song, the hearts obtained
eternal life from the soul-refreshing breeze of the Kingdom of God and gained
supreme illumination from the splendor of the Sun of Reality. Then from this
region the light was spread to Europe, America, Asia, Africa and
Australia.
Now California and the other Western States must earn an ideal
similarity with the Holy Land, and from that state and that region the breaths
of the Holy Spirit be diffused to all parts of America and Europe, that the call
of the Kingdom of God may exhilarate and rejoice all the ears, the divine
principles bestow a new life, the different parties may become one party, the
divergent ideas may disappear and revolve around one unique center, the East and
the West of America may embrace each other, the anthem of the oneness of the
world of humanity may confer a new life upon all the children of men, and the
tabernacle of Universal Peace be pitched on the apex of America; -- thus Europe
and Africa may become vivified with the breaths of the Holy Spirit, this world
may become another world, the body politic may attain to a new exhilaration, and
just as in the state of California and other Western States the marvelous scenes
of the world of nature are evident and manifest, the great signs of the Kingdom
of God may also be unveiled; -- so that the body may correspond with the spirit,
the outward world may become a symbol of the inward world, and the mirror of the
earth may become the mirror of the Kingdom, reflecting the ideal virtues of
heaven.
During my journey and travelling in those parts, I beheld wonderful
scenes and beautiful panoramas of nature, orchards and rivers; national parks
and general conclaves; deserts, plains, meadows and prairies, and the grains and
fruits of that region greatly attracted my attention; even to the present moment
they are in my mind.
Particularly was I greatly pleased with the meetings in San Francisco
and Oakland, the gatherings in Los Angeles, and the believers who came from the
cities of other states. Whenever their faces cross my memory, immediately
infinite happiness is realized.
Therefore I hope that the divine teachings like unto the rays
of
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the sun may be diffused in all the Western States, and the blessed
Verse of the Qur’án: “It is a good City and the Lord is the
Forgiver!” may become realized. Likewise, the significance of another
Qur’ánic Verse: “Do ye not travel through the land and
behold the traces of the Mercy of God?” become revealed in the utmost
effulgence.
Praise be to God that through the divine bounty and providence, in
that region the field of service is vast, the minds are in the utmost degree of
intelligence and progress, sciences and arts are being promoted, the hearts like
unto mirrors are in the utmost state of purity and translucency, and the friends
of God are in perfect attraction. Therefore it is hoped that meetings of
teaching will be organized and instituted, and for the diffusion of the
fragrances of God wise teachers may be sent to cities, even to
villages.
The teachers of the Cause must be heavenly, lordly and radiant. They
must be embodied spirit, personified intellect, and arise in service with the
utmost firmness, steadfastness and self-sacrifice. In their journeys they must
not be attached to food and clothing. They must concentrate their thoughts on
the outpourings of the Kingdom of God and beg for the confirmations of the Holy
Spirit. With a divine power, with an attraction of consciousness, with heavenly
glad tidings and celestial holiness they must perfume the nostrils with the
fragrances of the Paradise of ‘Abhá.
The following Commune is to be read by them every day:
O God! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very
slow -- assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and
salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the
illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions,
exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs
of guidance!
O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support
save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in
Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thy angels, make me victorious in the
promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy
creatures. Verily, Thou art the custodian of the poor and the defender of the
little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained!
Haifa, Palestine,
February 15, 1917.
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He is God!
980. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
in the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada:
O ye daughters and sons of the Kingdom!
Although in most of the states and cities in the United States --
praise be to God -- the fragrances of God are diffused and innumerable souls are
turning their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the
states the flag of oneness is not upraised as it ought to be and must be, and
the mysteries of the Holy Books, like the Bible, the Gospel and the
Qur’án, are not promulgated. Through the unanimous effort of the
friends, the banner of oneness must be unfurled in those states, and the divine
teachings be promoted, so that they may also receive a portion and a share of
the heavenly bestowals and the most great guidance. Likewise in the Provinces of
Canada, such as Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Ungava,
Keewatin, Mackenzie, Yukon and the Franklin Islands in the Arctic Circle -- the
believers of God must become self-sacrificing and like unto the candles of
guidance become ignited in the Provinces of Canada. Should they show forth such
a magnanimity, it is assured that they will obtain universal divine
confirmations, the heavenly cohorts will reinforce them uninterruptedly, and a
most great victory will be obtained. Perchance, God willing, the call of the
Kingdom may reach the ears of the Eskimos, the inhabitants of the Islands of
Franklin in the north of Canada, as well as Greenland. Should in Greenland the
fire of the love of God be ignited, all the ices of that continent will be
melted and its frigid climate will be changed into a temperate climate -- that
is, if the hearts will obtain the heat of the love of God, that country and
continent will become a divine garden and a lordly orchard, and the souls, like
unto the fruitful trees, will obtain the utmost freshness and delicacy.
Magnanimity is necessary, heavenly exertion is called for. Should you display
an effort, so that the fragrances of God be diffused amongst the Eskimos, its
effect will be very great and far-reaching. God says in the great
Qur’án: “A day will come wherein the lights of unity will
enlighten all the world. The earth will be irradiated with the light of its
Lord.”
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In other words: “The earth will become illumined with the light
of God. That light is the light of unity.” “There is no God but
God.” The continent and the islands of Eskimos are also parts of this
earth. They must similarly receive a portion of the bestowals of the most great
guidance.
Upon you be greeting and praise.
Haifa, Palestine,
April 5, 1916.
981. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
in the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, Prince Edward
Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon,
Mackenzie, Keewatin, Ungava, Franklin Islands and
Greenland:
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
O ye kind friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful!
In the great Qur’án, God says: “Thou shalt see no
difference in the creatures of God.” In other words, He says: From the
ideal standpoint, there is no variation between the creatures of God, because
they are all created by Him. From the above premise, a conclusion is drawn,
that there is even no difference between the various countries; nevertheless the
future of the Dominion of Canada is very great, and its historical events
infinitely glorious. Thus it shall become the object of the glance of providence
and the manifestation of the favors of the Supreme Lord.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ during his journey and sojourn through that Dominion obtained the utmost joy. Before my departure, many souls warned me not to travel to Montreal, saying, the majority of the inhabitants are
Catholics, and are in the utmost fanaticism, that they are submerged in the sea
of imitations, that they have not the capability to hearken to the call of the
Kingdom of God, that the veil of bigotry has so covered the eyes that they have
deprived themselves from beholding the signs of the most great guidance, and
that the dogmas have taken possession of the hearts entirely, leaving no trace
of reality. They asserted that should the Sun of Reality shine with perfect
splendor throughout that Dominion, the dark, impenetrable clouds of
superstitions have
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so enveloped the horizon that it would be utterly impossible for any
one to behold its rays.
But these stories did not have any effect on the resolution of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’. He, trusting in God, turned his face
toward Montreal. When he entered that city he observed all the doors open, he
found the hearts in the utmost receptivity and the ideal power of the Kingdom of
God removing every obstacle and obstruction. In the churches and meetings of
that Dominion he called men to the Kingdom of God with the utmost joy, and
scattered such seeds which will be irrigated with the hand of Divine Power.
Undoubtedly those seeds will grow, becoming green and verdant, and many rich
harvests will be gathered. In the promotion of the divine principles he found
no antagonist and no adversary. The believers he met in that city were in the
utmost spirituality, and attracted with the fragrances of God. He found that
through the effort of the maid-servant of God, Mrs. Maxwell, a number of the
sons and daughter of the Kingdom in that Dominion were gathered together and
associated with each other, increasing this joyous exhilaration day by day. The
time of sojourn was limited to a number of days, but the results in the future
are inexhaustible. When a farmer comes into the possession of a virgin soil, in
a short time he will bring under cultivation a large field. Therefore I hope
that in the future Montreal may become so stirred, that the melody of the
Kingdom may travel to all parts of the world from that Dominion and the breaths
of the Holy Spirit may spread from that center to the East and the West of
America.
O ye believers of God! Do ye not look upon the smallness of your
number and the multitudes of the nations. Five grains of wheat will be endued
with heavenly blessing, whereas a thousand tons of tares will yield no results
or effect. One fruitful tree will be conducive to the life of society, whereas
a thousand forests of wild trees offer no fruits. The plain is covered with
pebbles, but precious stones are rare. One pearl is better than a thousand
wildernesses of sand; especially this pearl of great price, which is endowed
with divine blessing. Ere long thousands of other pearls will be born from It.
When that pearl associates and becomes the intimate of the pebbles, they also
all change into pearls.
Therefore, again I repeat, that the future of Canada,
whether
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from the standpoint of civilization or from the viewpoint of the
virtues of the Kingdom is very great. Day by day civilization and freedom shall
increase. Likewise the cloud of the Kingdom will water the seeds of guidance
sown in that Dominion. Consequently, rest ye not, seek ye no composure, attach
not yourselves to the luxuries of this ephemeral world, free yourselves from
every attachment, and strive with heart and soul to become fully established in
the Kingdom of God. Gain ye the heavenly treasures. Day by day become ye more
illumined. Draw ye nearer and nearer unto the threshold of oneness. Become ye
the manifestors of spiritual favors and the dawning places of infinite lights!
If it is possible, send ye teachers to other portions of Canada, likewise
dispatch ye teachers to Greenland and the home of the Eskimos.
As regards the teachers, they must completely divest themselves from
the old garments and be invested with a new garment. According to the statement
of Christ, they must attain to the station of rebirth: -- that is, whereas in
the first instance they were born from the womb of the mother, this time they
must be born from the womb of the world of nature. Just as they are now totally
unaware of the experiences of the foetal world, they must also forget entirely
the defects of the world of nature. They must be baptized with the water of
life, the fire of the love of God and the breaths of the Holy Spirit; be
satisfied with little food, but take a large portion from the heavenly table.
They must disengage themselves from temptation and covetousness, and be filled
with the spirit. Through the effect of their pure breath, they must change the
stone into the brilliant ruby and the shell into pearl. Like unto the cloud of
vernal shower, they must transform the black soil into the rose garden and
orchard. They must make the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the extinguished
one enkindled and set aglow, and the dead quickened.
Upon you be Bahá’u’lláh
El-Abhá!
The spreaders of the fragrances of God should peruse every morning the following supplication:
Praise be to Thee, O God! Verily, these are Thy servants, who are
attracted by the fragrances of Thy Mercifulness, enkindled by the ignited fire
in the tree of Thy Singleness and their eyes are brightened by beholding the
effulgences of the light in the Sinai of Thy Oneness!
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O Lord! Loosen their tongues in Thy commemoration amongst Thy people; suffer them to speak Thy Praise through Thy Favor and Grace, assist them with
the cohorts of Thy Angels, strengthen their loins in Thy service and make them
the signs of Thy Guidance amongst Thy creatures!
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Exalted, the Pardoner and the
Merciful!
O God! O God! Thou beholdest this weak one begging the strength of
Thy Kingdom! This poor one supplicating the treasures of Thy heaven! This
thirsty one longing for Thy Fountain of the water of eternal life! This sick
one invoking Thy perfect recovery through Thy boundless Mercy, which Thou hast
specialized for Thy chosen servants in Thy Supreme Kingdom!
O Lord! I have no other helper save Thee; no other comforter beside
Thee, and no other sustainer except Thee! Assist me with Thy Angels in the
diffusion of Thy holy fragrances and the dissemination of Thy teachings amongst
Thy elected people!
O Lord! Suffer me to sever myself from aught else save Thee, holding
fast to the hem of Thy Garment; make me sincere in Thy religion, firm in Thy
love and living in accordance with that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy
Book.
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Omnipotent!
Haifa, Palestine,
February 21, 1917.
982. To the Assemblies and Meetings of the believers of God and
the maid-servants of the Merciful in the United States and
Canada!
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
O ye blessed souls!
I desire for you eternal success and prosperity and beg perfect
confirmation for each one in the divine world. My hope for you is that each one
may shine forth like unto the morning star from the horizon of the world and in
this Garden of God become a blessed tree, producing everlasting fruits and
results.
Therefore I direct you to that which is conducive to your heavenly
confirmation and illumination in the Kingdom of God!
It is this: Alaska is a vast country; although one of the
maid-servants
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of the Merciful has hastened to those parts, serving as a librarian in
the Public Library, and according to her ability is not failing in teaching the
Cause; yet the call of the Kingdom of God is not yet raised through that
spacious territory.
His Holiness Christ says: Travel ye to the East and to the West of
the world and summon the people to the Kingdom of God. Hence the mercy of God
must encompass all humanity. Therefore do ye not think it permissible to leave
that region deprived of the breezes of the Morn of Guidance. Consequently,
strive as far as ye are able to send to those parts fluent speakers, who are
detached from aught else save God, attracted with the fragrances of God, and
sanctified and purified from all desires and temptations. Their sustenance and
food must consist of the teachings of God. First they must themselves live in
accordance with those principles, then guide the people. Perchance, God
willing, the lights of the most great guidance may illumine that country and the
breezes of the rose garden of the love of God may perfume the nostrils of the
inhabitants of Alaska. Should ye become confirmed in thus rendering such a
service, rest ye assured that ye shall crown your heads with the diadem of
everlasting sovereignty, and at the threshold of oneness you will become the
favored and accepted servants.
Likewise the Republic of Mexico is very important. The majority of
the inhabitants of that country are devoted Catholics. They are totally unaware
of the reality of the Bible, the Gospel and the new divine teachings. They do
not know that the basis of the religions of God is one and that the Holy
Manifestations are like unto the Sun of Truth, rising from the different dawning
places. Those souls are submerged in the sea of dogmas. If one breath of life
be blown over them, great results will issue therefrom. But it is better for
those who intend to go to Mexico to teach, to be familiar with the Spanish
language.
Similarly, the six Central American Republics, situated south of
Mexico -- Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the
seventh country Belize or British Honduras. The teachers going to those parts
must also be familiar with the Spanish language.
You must give great importance to teaching the Indians, i.e., the
aborigines of America. For these souls are like the ancient inhabitants of
Peninsular Arabia, who previous to the Manifestation
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of His Holiness Muhammad were treated as savages. But when the
Muhammadic light shone forth in their midst, they became so illumined that they
brightened the world. Likewise, should these Indians and aborigines be educated
and obtain guidance, there is no doubt that through the divine teachings, they
will become so enlightened as in turn to shed light to all regions.
All the above countries have importance, but especially the Republic
of Panama, wherein the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans come together through the
Panama Canal. It is the center for travel and passage from America to other
continents of the world, and in the future it will gain most great
importance.
Likewise the Islands of the West Indies, such as Cuba, Haiti, Puerto
Rico, Jamaica, the Islands of the Lesser Antilles, Bahama Islands, even the
small Watling Island, have great importance; especially the two black Republics,
Haiti and Santo Domingo, situated in the cluster of the Greater Antilles.
Likewise the cluster of the Islands of Bermuda and the Atlantic Ocean have
importance.
In a similar way, the Republics on the Continent of South America, --
Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, French Guiana,
Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela; also the Islands in the
North, East and West of South America, such as Falkland Island, Galapago, Juan
Fernandez, Tobago and Trinidad. Likewise the city of Bahia, situated on the
eastern shore of Brazil. Because it is some time that it has become known by
this name, its efficacy will be most potent.
In short, O ye believers of God! Exalt your effort and magnify your
aims. His Holiness Christ says: Blessed are the poor, for theirs shall be the
Kingdom of Heaven. In other words: Blessed are the nameless and traceless
poor, for they are the leaders of mankind. Likewise it is said in the
Qur’án: “We desire to bestow our gifts upon those who have
become weak on the face of the earth, and make them a nation and the heirs (of
spiritual truth).” Or, we wish to grant a favor to the impotent souls and
suffer them to become the inheritors of the Messengers and
Prophets.
Therefore, now is the time that you may divest yourselves from the
garment of attachment to this phenomenal realm, be wholly severed from the
physical world, become angels of heaven and travel and teach through all these
regions.
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I declare by Him, beside whom there is no one, that each one of you
shall become the Israel of Life, blowing the breath of life in the souls of
others.
Upon you be greeting and praise!
Supplication
O Thou Incomparable God! O Thou Lord of the Kingdom! These souls are
Thy heavenly army. Assist them and with the cohorts of the Supreme Concourse,
make them victorious; so that each one of them may become like unto a regiment
and conquer these countries through the love of God and the illumination of
divine teachings.
O God! Be Thou their supporter and their helper, and in the
wilderness, the mountain, the valley, the forests, the prairies and the seas, be
Thou their confidant -- so that they may cry out through the power of the
Kingdom and the breath of the Holy Spirit!
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Omnipotent, and Thou art the Wise, the Hearing and the Seeing.
Haifa, Palestine,
April 8, 1916
.
983. To the Assemblies and meetings of the believers of God
and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the United States
and Canada:
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
He is God!
O ye heavenly souls, sons and daughters of the Kingdom!
God says in the Qur’án: “Take ye hold of the Cord of God, all of you, and become ye not disunited.”
In the contingent world there are many collective centers which are
conducive to association and unity between the children of men. For example,
patriotism is a collective center; nationalism is a collective center; the union
of ideals is a collective center, and the prosperity of the world of humanity is
dependent upon the organization and promotion of the collective centers.
Nevertheless, all the above institutions are in reality, the matter and not the
substance, accidental and not eternal -- temporary and not everlasting. With
the appearance of great revolutions and upheavals, all these collective centers
are swept
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away. But the Collective Center of the Kingdom, embodying the
Institutes and Divine Teachings, is the eternal Collective Center. It
establishes relationship between the East and the West, organizes the oneness of
the world of humanity, and destroys the foundation of differences. It overcomes
and includes all the other collective centers. Like unto the ray of the sun, it
dispels entirely the darkness, encompassing all the regions, bestows ideal life,
and causes the effulgence of divine illumination. Through the breaths of the
Holy Spirit it performs miracles; the Orient and the Occident embrace each
other, the North and South become intimates and associates; conflicting and
contending opinions disappear; antagonistic aims are brushed aside, the law of
the struggle for existence is abrogated, and the canopy of the oneness of the
world of humanity is raised on the apex of the globe, casting its shade over all
the races of men. Consequently, the real Collective Center is the body of the
divine teachings, which include all the degrees and embrace all the universal
relations and necessary laws of humanity.
Consider! The people of the East and the West were in the utmost
strangeness. Now to what a high degree they are acquainted with each other and
united together! How far are the inhabitants of Persia from the remotest
countries of America! And now observe how great has been the influence of the
heavenly power, for the distance of thousands of miles has becomes identical
with one step! How various nations that have had no relations or similarity
with each other are now united and agreed through this divine potency! Indeed
to God belongs power in the past and in the future! And verily God is powerful
over all things!
Consider! When the rain, the heat, the sun and the gentle zephyrs
co-operate with each other, what beautiful gardens are produced! How the
various kinds of hyacinths, flowers, trees and plants associate with each other
and are conducive to the adornment and charm of one another! Hence the oneness
of the bounty of the sun, the oneness of rain and the oneness of the breeze have
so overcome all other considerations that the variety of hues, fragrances and
tastes have increased the adornment, the attraction and sweetness of the whole.
In a similar manner, when the divine collective center and the outpouring of the
Sun of Reality and the breaths of the Holy Spirit are brought together, the
variety of races and the differences existing between countries
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will become the cause of the embellishment, decoration and elegance of
the world of humanity.
Therefore, the believers of God throughout all the Republics of
America, through the divine power, must become the cause of the promotion of
heavenly teachings and the establishment of the oneness of humanity. Every one
of the important souls must arise, blowing over all parts of America the breath
of life, conferring upon the people a new spirit, baptizing them with the fire
of the love of God, the water of life, and the breaths of the Holy Spirit -- so
that the second birth may become realized. For it is written in the Gospel:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
spirit is spirit.”
Therefore, O ye believers of God in the United States and Canada!
Select ye important personages, or that they by themselves becoming severed from
rest and composure of the world, may arise and travel throughout Alaska, the
Republic of Mexico, and south of Mexico, in the Central American Republics, such
as Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Belize; and
through the great South American Republics, such as Argentine, Uruguay,
Paraguay, Brazil, French Guiana, Dutch Guiana, British Guiana, Venezuela,
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile; also in the group of the West Indies Islands,
such as Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, and the group of
Islands of the Lesser Antilles, the Islands of Bahama and the Islands of
Bermuda; likewise to the Islands of the East, West and South of South America,
such as Trinidad, Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands, Juan Fernandez and
Tobago. Visit ye especially the city of Bahia, on the eastern shore of Brazil.
Because in the past years this city was christened with the name, BAHIA, there
is no doubt that it has been through the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit.
Consequently, the believers of God must display the utmost effort,
upraise the divine melody throughout those regions, promulgate the heavenly
teachings and waft over all, the spirit of eternal life; so that those Republics
may become so illumined with the splendors and the effulgences of the Sun of
Reality that they may become the objects of the praise and commendation of all
other countries. Likewise, ye must give great attention to the Republic of
Panama, for in that point the Occident and the Orient find each other united
through the Panama Canal, and it is also situated between the two great oceans.
That place will becomes
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very important in the future. The Teachings once established there,
they will unite the East and the West, the North and the South.
Hence the intention must be purified, the effort ennobled and exalted,
so that ye may establish affinity between the hearts of the world of humanity.
This glorious aim will not become realized save through the promotion of divine
teachings which are the foundations of the holy religions.
Consider how the religions of God served the world of humanity! How
the religion of Torah became conducive to the glory and honor and progress of
the Israelitish nation! How the breaths of the Holy Spirit of His Holiness
Christ created affinity and unity between divergent communities and quarreling
families! How the sacred power of His Holiness Muhammad became the means of
unity and harmonizing the contentious tribes and the different clans of
Peninsular Arabia -- to such an extent that one thousand tribes were welded into
one tribe, strife and discord was done away with, all of them unitedly and with
one accord strove in advancing the cause of culture and civilization, and thus
were freed from the lowest degree of degradation, soaring toward the height of
everlasting glory! Is it possible to find a great Collective Center in the
phenomenal world than this? In comparison to this Divine Collective Center, the
national collective center, the patriotic collective center, the political
collective center and the cultural and intellectual collective center are like
child’s play!
Now strive ye that the Collective Center of the sacred religions, for
the inculcation of which all the Prophets were manifested and which is no other
than the spirit of the Divine Teachings, -- be spread in all part of America; --
so that each one of you may shine forth from the horizon of Reality like unto
the morning star, divine illumination may overcome the darkness of nature, and
the world of humanity may become enlightened. This is the most great work!
Should ye become confirmed therein, this world will become another world, the
surface of the earth will become the delectable Paradise, and eternal
Institutions be founded.
Let whosoever travels to different parts to teach, peruse over
mountain, desert, land and sea this supplication!
O God! O God! Thou seest my weakness, lowliness and humility amongst Thy creatures; nevertheless I have trusted on Thee
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and have arisen in the promotion of Thy Teachings amongst Thy strong
servants, relying on Thy power and might!
O Lord! I am a broken-winged bird and desire to soar in this Thy
space to which there is no limit. How is it possible for me to do this save
through Thy providence and grace, Thy confirmation and assistance!
O Lord! Have pity on my weakness and strengthen me with Thy
power!
O Lord! Have pity on my impotency and assist me with Thy might and
majesty!
O Lord! Should the breaths of the Holy Spirit confirm the weakest of
creatures, he shall attain to the highest station of greatness and shall possess
anything he desireth. Indeed Thou hast assisted Thy servants in the past, and
they were the weakest of Thy creatures, the lowliest of Thy servants and the
most insignificant of those who lived upon the earth; but through Thy sanction
and potency they took precedence over the most glorious of Thy people and the
most noble of Thy mankind. Whereas formerly they were as moths, they became
royal falcons and whereas before they were as bubbles they became seas. Through
Thy bestowal, Thy mercy and Thy most great favor they became stars shining in
the horizon of guidance, birds singing in the rose-gardens of immortality, lions
roaring in the forest of knowledge and wisdom and whales swimming in the oceans
of life.
Verily, Thou art the Clement, the Powerful, the Mighty, and the Most
Merciful of the Merciful!
Haifa, Palestine,
March 8, 1917.
984. To the believers and the maid-servants of the Merciful of
the Bahá’í Assemblies and meetings in the United
States and
Canada!
He is God!
O ye real Bahá’ís of America!
Praise be to His Highness the Desired One that ye have become
confirmed in the promotion of divine teachings in that vast Continent, raised
the call of the Kingdom of God in that region and announced the Glad tidings of
the manifestation of the Lord of Hosts and His Highness the Promised One.
Thanks be unto the Lord that ye have become assisted and confirmed in this
aim.
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This is purely through the confirmations of the Lord of Hosts and the
breaths of the Holy Spirit. At present your confirmation is not known and
understood. Ere long ye shall observe that each one of you like unto a
brilliant and shining star will diffuse the light of guidance from the horizon
and that ye have become the cause of eternal life to the inhabitants of
America.
Consider! The station and the confirmation of the apostles in the
time of Christ was not known, and no one looked on them with the feeling of
importance -- nay, rather, they persecuted and ridiculed them. Later on it
became evident what crowns studded with the brilliant jewels of guidance were
placed on the heads of the apostles, Mary Magdalene and May the mother of
John.
Likewise your confirmation is not known at the present time. I hope
that ere long it may throw a mighty reverberation through the pillars of the
earth. Therefore it is the hope of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ that
just as ye are confirmed and assisted on the continent of America, ye may also
be confirmed and assisted in other continents of the globe: -- that is, ye may
carry the fame of the Cause of God to the East and to the West and spread the
Glad tidings of the appearance of the Kingdom of the Lord of Hosts throughout
the five continents of the world.
When this divine call travels from the continent of America to Europe,
Asia, Africa, Australia and the Islands of the Pacific, the American believers
shall be established on the throne of everlasting Glory, the fame of their
illumination and guidance shall reach to all regions and the renown of their
greatness become world-wide. Therefore, a party, speaking the languages,
severed, holy, sanctified and filled with the love of God, must turn their faces
to and travel through the three great island groups of the Pacific Ocean, --
Polynesia, Micronesia and Mylanesia, and the islands attached to these groups,
such as New Guinea, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Philippine Islands, Solomon Islands,
Fiji Islands, New Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Bismarck
Archipelago, Ceram, Celebes, Friendly Islands, Samoa Islands, Society Islands,
Caroline Islands, Low Archipelago, Marquesas, Hawaiian Islands, Gilbert Islands,
Moluccas, Marshall Islands, Timor and the other Islands. With hearts
overflowing with the love of God, with tongues commemorating the mention of God,
with eyes turned to the Kingdom of God, they must deliver the Glad tidings of
the manifestation of the Lord of Hosts to all the people. Know ye
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of a certainty that in whatever meeting ye may enter, in the apex of
that meeting the Holy Spirit shall be waving and the heavenly confirmations of
the Blessed Perfection shall encompass all.
Consider ye, that Miss Agnes Alexander, the daughter of the Kingdom,
the beloved maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection, traveled alone to Hawaii and
the Island of Honolulu, and now she is gaining spiritual victories in Japan!
She became the cause of the guidance of a gathering of people.
Likewise Miss Knobloch traveled alone to Germany. To what a great
extent she became confirmed! Therefore, know ye of a certainty that whosoever
arises in this day to diffuse the divine fragrances, the cohorts of the Kingdom
of God shall confirm him and the bestowals and the favors of the Blessed
Perfection shall encircle him.
O how I long that it could be made possible for me to travel through
these parts, even if necessary on foot and with the utmost poverty, and while
passing through the cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, cry at the
top of my voice: “Yá Bahá’u’l-‘Abhá!” and promote the divine teachings. But now this is not feasible for me, therefore I live in great regret; perchance, God willing, ye may become assisted therein.
At this time, in the Islands of Hawaii, through the efforts of Miss
Alexander, a number of souls have reached the shore of the sea of faith!
Consider ye, what happiness, what joy is this! I declare by the Lord of Hosts
that had this respected daughter founded an empire, that empire would not have
been so great! For this sovereignty is eternal sovereignty and this glory is
everlasting glory.
Likewise, if some teachers go to other islands and other parts, such
as the continent of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, also to Japan, Asiatic
Russia, Korea, French Indo-China, Siam, Straits Settlements, India, Ceylon and
Afghanistan, most great results will be forthcoming. How good would it be were
there any possibility of a commission composed of men and women, to travel
together through China and Japan, -- so that this bond of love may become
strengthened, and through this going and coming they may establish the oneness
of the world of humanity, summon the people to the Kingdom of God and spread the
teachings.
Similarly, if possible, they should travel to the continent
of
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Africa, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Madeira Islands, Reunion
Islands, St. Helena, Zanzibar, Mauritius, etc., and in those countries summon
the people to the Kingdom of God and raise the cry of: “Yá
Bahá’u’l-‘Abhá!” They must also upraise the flag
of the oneness of the world of humanity in the island of
Madagascar.
Books and pamphlets must be either translated or composed in the
languages of these countries and Islands, to be circulated in every part and in
all directions.
It is said that in South Africa, a diamond mine is discovered.
Although this mine is most valuable, yet after all it is stone. Perchance, God
willing, the mine of humanity may be discovered and the brilliant pearls of the
Kingdom be found.
In brief, this world-consuming war has set such a conflagration to the
hearts that no word can describe it. In all the countries of the world the
longing for Universal Peace is taking possession of the consciousness of men.
There is not a soul who does not yearn for concord and peace. A most wonderful
state of receptivity is being realized. This is through the consummate wisdom
of God, so that capacity may be created, the standard of the oneness of the
world of humanity be upraised, and the fundamentals of Universal Peace and the
divine principles be promoted in the East and the West.
Therefore, O ye believers of God! Show ye an effort and after this
war spread ye the synopsis of the divine teachings in the British Isles, France,
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro,
Bulgaria, Greece, Andora, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, San Marino, Balearic
Isles, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, Malta, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland
Islands, Hebrides and Orkney Islands.
In all these countries, like unto the morning stars shine ye forth
from the horizon of guidance. Up to this time you have displayed great
magnanimity, but after this, ye must add a thousand times to your effort and
throughout the above countries, capitals, islands, meetings and churches, invite
mankind to the Kingdom of ‘Abhá! The circle of your exertion must become
widened. The more it is broadened and extended, the greater will be your
confirmation.
Ye have observed that while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ was in the utmost
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bodily weakness and feebleness, while he was indisposed, and had not
the power to move -- notwithstanding this physical state he traveled through
many countries, in Europe and America, and in churches, meetings and conventions
was occupied with the promotion of the divine principles and summoned the people
to the manifestation of the Kingdom of ‘Abhá. Ye have also observed how
the confirmations of the Blessed Perfection encompassed all. What result is
forthcoming from material rest, tranquillity, luxury and attachment to this
corporeal world! It is evident that the man who pursues these things will in
the end become afflicted with regret and loss.
Consequently, one must close his eyes wholly to these thoughts, long
for eternal life, the sublimity of the world of humanity, the celestial
developments, the Holy Spirit, the promotion of the Word of God, the guidance of
the inhabitants of the globe, the promulgation of the Universal Peace and the
proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity! This is the work!
Otherwise like unto other animals and birds one must occupy himself with the
requirements of this physical life, the satisfaction of which is the highest
aspiration of the animal kingdom, and one must stalk across the earth like unto
the quadrupeds.
Consider ye! No matter how much man gains wealth, riches and opulence in this world, he will not become as independent as a cow. For these fattened
cows roam freely over the vast tableland. All the prairies and meadows are
theirs for grazing, and all the springs and rivers are theirs for drinking! No
matter how much they graze, the fields will not be exhausted! It is evident
that they have earned these material bounties with the utmost
facility.
Still more ideal than this life is the life of the bird. A bird, on
the summit of a mountain, on the high, waving branches, has built for itself a
nest more beautiful than the palaces of the kings! The air is in the utmost
purity, the water cool and clear as crystal, the panorama charming and
enchanting. In such glorious surroundings, he expends his numbered days. All
the harvests of the plain are his possessions, having earned all this wealth
without the least labor. Hence, no matter how much man may advance in this
world, he shall not attain to the station of this bird! Thus it becomes evident
that in the matters of this world, however much man may strive and work to the
point of death,
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he will be unable to earn the abundance, the freedom and the
independent life of a small bird. This proves and establishes the fact that man
is not created for the life of this ephemeral world: -- nay, rather, is he
created for the acquirement of infinite perfections, for the attainment to the
sublimity of the world of humanity, to be drawn nigh unto the divine threshold,
and to sit on the throne of everlasting sovereignty!
Upon you be Bahá El-Abhá!
Supplication.
Any soul starting on a trip of teaching to various parts, and while
sojourning in strange countries, may peruse the following supplication: -- day
and night.
O God! O God! Thou seest me enamored and attracted toward Thy
Kingdom, the El Abhá, enkindled with the fire of Thy love amongst
mankind, a herald of Thy Kingdom in these vast and spacious countries, severed
from aught else save Thee, relying on Thee, abandoning rest and comfort, remote
from my native home, a wanderer in these regions, a stranger fallen on the
ground, humble before Thy exalted threshold, submissive toward Thy most high
realm, supplicating Thee in the middle of nights and in the heart of evenings,
entreating and invoking Thee in the morn and eve; -- so that Thou mayest assist
me in the service of Thy Cause, the promotion of Thy Teachings and the
exaltation of Thy Word in the Easts of the earth and the Wests
thereof.
O Lord! Strengthen my back and confirm me in Thy servitude with all
my powers, and do not leave me alone and by myself in these
countries.
O Lord! Associate with me in my loneliness and accompany me in my
journeys through these foreign lands.
Verily, Thou art the confirmer of whomsoever Thou willest in that
which Thou desirest, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Omnipotent:
Haifa, Palestine,
April 11, 1916.
985. To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful
of the Bahá’í Assemblies in the United States of
America
and Canada!
Upon them be Bahá’u’lláh El-Abhá!
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He is God!
O ye apostles of Bahá’u’lláh -- May my life
be a ransom to you!
The blessed Person of the Promised One is interpreted in the Holy Book
as the Lord of Hosts, i. e., the heavenly armies: By heavenly armies those
souls are intended who are entirely freed from the human world, transformed into
celestial spirits and have become divine angels. Such souls are the rays of the
Sun of Reality who will illumine all the continents. Each one is holding in his
hand a trumpet, blowing the breath of life over all the regions. They are
delivered from human qualities and the defects of the world of nature, are
characterized with the characteristics of God, and are attracted with the
fragrances of the Merciful. Like unto the apostles of Christ, who were filled
with Him, these souls also have become filled with His Holiness
Bahá’u’lláh, i.e., the love of
Bahá’u’lláh has so mastered every organ, part and limb
of their bodies, as to leave no effect by the promptings of the human
world.
These souls are the armies of God and the conquerors of the East and
the West. Should one of them turn his face toward some direction and summon the
people to the Kingdom of God, all the ideal forces and lordly confirmations will
rush to his support and reinforcement. He will behold all the doors open and
all the strong fortifications and impregnable castles razed to the ground.
Singly and alone he will attack the armies of the world, defeat the right and
left wings of the hosts of all the countries, break through the lines of the
legions of all the nations and carry his attack to the very center of the power
of the earth. This is the meaning of the Hosts of God.
Any soul from among the believers of
Bahá’u’lláh who attains to this station, will become
known as the Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore strive
ye with heart and soul -- so that ye may reach this lofty and exalted position,
be established on the throne of everlasting glory, and crown your heads with the
shining diadem of the Kingdom, whose brilliant jewels may irradiate upon
centuries and cycles.
O ye kind friends! Uplift your magnanimity and soar high toward the
apex of heaven -- so that your blessed hearts may become illumined more and
more, day by day, through the Rays of the Sun of Reality, i. e., His Holiness
Bahá’u’lláh; at every moment
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the spirits may obtain a new life, and the darkness of the world of
nature may be entirely dispelled -- thus ye may become incarnate light and
personified spirit, become entirely unaware of the sordid matters of this world
and in touch with the affairs of the divine world.
Consider ye what doors His Holiness
Bahá’u’lláh has opened before you, and what a high and
exalted station He has destine for you, and what bounties He has prepared for
you! Should we become intoxicated with this cup, the sovereignty of this globe
of earth will become lower in our estimation than the children’s plays.
Should they place in the arena the crown of the government of the world, and
invite each one of us to accept it, undoubtedly we shall not condescend, and
shall refuse to accept it.
To attain to this supreme station is, however, dependent on the
realization of certain conditions:
The first condition is firmness in the Covenant of God. For the power
of the Covenant will protect the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh
from the doubts of the people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the
Cause of God and the firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can
conserve the oneness of the Bahá’í world save the Covenant
of God; otherwise differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass the
Bahá’í world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of
the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant and nothing else. Had the
Covenant not come to pass, had it not been revealed from the Supreme Pen and had
not the Book of the Covenant, like unto the ray of the Sun of Reality,
illuminated the world the forces of the Cause of God would have been utterly
scattered and certain souls who were the prisoners of their own passions and
lusts would have taken into their hands an axe, cutting the root of this Blessed
Tree. Every person would have pushed forward his own desire and every
individual aired his own opinion! Notwithstanding this great Covenant, a few
negligent souls galloped with their chargers into the battlefield, thinking
perchance they might be able to weaken the foundation of the Cause of God: but
praise be to God all of them were afflicted with regret and loss, and ere long
they shall see themselves in poignant despair. Therefore, in the beginning one
must make his steps firm in the Covenant -- so that the confirmations of
Bahá’u’lláh may encircle from all sides, the cohorts
of the Supreme
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Concourse may become the supporters and the helpers, and the
exhortations and advices of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, like unto
the pictures engraved on stone, may remain permanent and ineffaceable in the
tablets of the hearts.
The second condition: Fellowship and love amongst the believers. The
divine friends must be attracted to and enamored of each other and ever be ready
and willing to sacrifice their own lives for each other. Should one soul from
amongst the believers meet another, it must be as though a thirst one with
parched lips has reached to the fountain of the water of life, or a lover has
met his true beloved. For one of the greatest divine wisdoms regarding the
appearance of the Holy Manifestations is this: The souls may come to know each
other and become intimate with each other; the power of the love of God may make
all of them the waves of one sea, the flowers of one rose garden, and the stars
of one heaven. This is the wisdom for the appearance of the Holy
Manifestations! When the most great bestowal reveals itself in the hearts of
the believers, the world of nature will be transformed, the darkness of the
contingent being will vanish, and heavenly illumination will be obtained. Then
the whole world will become the Paradise of ‘Abhá, every one of the
believers of God will become a blessed tree, producing wonderful
fruits.
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. Just at this moment I am engaged in your
commemoration and this heart is in the utmost glow and excitement! Were ye to
realize how this conscience is attracted with the love of the friends,
unquestionably ye would obtain such a degree of joy and fragrance that ye would
all become enamored with each other!
The third condition: Teachers must continually travel to all parts of
the continent, nay, rather, to all parts of the world, but they must travel like
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, who journeyed throughout the cities of
America. He was sanctified and free from every attachment and in the utmost
severance. Just as His Holiness Christ says: “Shake off the very dust
from your feet.”
Ye have observed that while in America many souls in the utmost of
supplication and entreaty desired to offer some gifts, but this servant, in
accord with the exhortations and behests of the Blessed Perfection, never
accepted a thing, although on certain
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occasions we were in most straitened circumstances. But on the other
hand, if a soul for the sake of God, voluntarily and out of his pure desire,
wishes to offer a contribution (toward the expenses of a teacher) in order to
make the contributor happy, the teacher may accept a small sum, but must live
with the utmost contentment.
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 save God, how
can he teach severance to others!
In short, O ye believers of God! Endeavor ye; so that ye may take
hold of every means in the promulgation of the religion of God and the diffusion
of the fragrances of God.
Amongst other things is the holding of the meetings for teaching -- so
that blessed souls and the old ones from amongst the believers may gather
together the youths of the love of God in schools of instruction and teach them
all the divine proofs and irrefutable arguments, explain and elucidate the
history of the Cause, and interpret also the prophecies and proofs which are
recorded and are extant in the divine Books and Epistles regarding the
Manifestation of the Promised One, so that the young ones may go in perfect
knowledge in all these degrees.
Likewise, whenever it is possible a committee must be organized for
the translation of the Tablets. Wise souls who have mastered and studied
perfectly the Persian, Arabic and foreign languages, or know one of the foreign
languages -- must commence translating Tablets and books containing the proofs
of this Revelation, and publishing those books, circulate them throughout the
five continents of the globe.
Similarly, the Magazine, the Star of the West, must be edited in the
utmost regularity, but its contents must be the promulgator of the Cause of God
-- so that both in the East and the West, they may become informed of the most
important events.
In short, in all the meetings, whether public or private, nothing
should be discussed save that which is under consideration, and all the articles
be centered around the Cause of God. Promiscuous
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talks must not be dragged in and contention is absolutely
forbidden.
The teachers travelling in different directions must know the language
of the country in which they appear. For example, a person being proficient in
the Japanese language may travel to Japan, or a person knowing the Chinese
language may hasten to China, and so forth.
In short, after this universal war, the people have obtained
extraordinary capacity to hearken to the divine teachings, for the wisdom of
this war is this: That it may become proven to all that the fire of war is
world-consuming, whereas the rays of peace are world-enlightening. One is
death, the other is life; this is extinction, that is immortality; one is the
most great calamity, the other is the most great bounty; this is darkness, that
is light; this is eternal humiliation and that is everlasting glory; one is the
destroyer of the foundation of man, the other is the founder of the prosperity
of the human race.
Consequently, a number of souls may arise and act in accordance with
the aforesaid conditions, and hasten to all parts of the world, especially from
America to Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, and travel through Japan and
China; in brief, they may travel though all the continents and islands of the
globe. Thus in a short space of time, most wonderful results will be produced,
the banner of Universal Peace will be waving on the apex of the world and the
lights of the oneness of the world of humanity may illumine the
universe.
In brief, O ye believers of God! The text of the Divine Book is this:
If two souls quarrel and contend about a question of the Divine questions,
differing and disputing, both are wrong. The wisdom of this incontrovertible
law of God is this: That between two souls from amongst the believers of God,
no contention and dispute might arise; that they should speak with each other
with infinite amity and love. Should there appear the least trace of
controversy, they must remain silent, and both parties must continue their
discussions no longer, but ask the reality of the question from the Interpreter.
This is the irrefutable command!
Upon you be Bahá El-Abhá!
Page 545
Supplication.
O God! O God! Thou seest that black darkness hath encompassed all
the regions, all the countries are burning with the conflagration of dissension
and the fire of war and carnage is ignited in the Easts of the earth and the
Wests thereof. The blood is being shed, the corpses are out-stretched and the
heads are decapitated and thrown on the ground in the battlefield.
Lord! Lord! Have pity on these ignorant ones, look upon them with
the eye of forgiveness and pardon. Extinguish this fire -- so that these gloomy
clouds covering the horizon may be scattered; the Sun of Reality may shine forth
with the rays of conciliation; this darkness be rent asunder and all the
countries be illumined with the lights of peace.
Lord! Awaken them from the depths of the sea of animosity, deliver
them from these impenetrable darknesses, establish affinity between their hearts
and enlighten their eyes with the light of peace and
reconciliation.
Lord! Rescue them from the fathomless depths of war and bloodshed!
Arouse them out of the gloom of error, render asunder the veil from their eyes,
brighten their hearts with the light of guidance, deal with them through Thy
favor and mercy and do not treat them according to Thy justice and wrath through
which the backs of the mighty ones are shaken!
Lord! Verily, the wars have prolonged, the calamities have increased,
and every building hath turned into ruin.
Lord! Verily, the beasts are agitated and the souls are convulsed.
Have mercy on these poor ones and do not leave them to do with themselves that
which they desire!
Lord! Send forth throughout Thy countries humble and submissive
souls, their faces illumined with the rays of guidance, severed from the world,
speaking Thy remembrance and praise and diffusing Thy holy fragrances amongst
mankind!
Lord! Strengthen their backs, reinforce their loins and dilate their
breasts with the signs of Thy most great love.
Lord! Verily, they are weak and Thou art the Powerful and the Mighty,
and they are impotent and Thou art the Helper and the Merciful!
Lord! Verily, the sea of transgression is waving high and
these
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hurricanes will not be calmed down save through Thy boundless grace
which hath embraced all the regions!
Lord! Verily, the souls are in the deep valleys of lust and nothing
will awaken them save Thy most wonderful bounties.
Lord! Dispel these darknesses of temptations and illumine the hearts
with the lamp of Thy love, through which all the countries will be enlightened.
Confirm those believers who, leaving their countries, their families and their
children, travel throughout the regions for the sake of the love of Thy beauty,
the diffusion of Thy fragrances and the promulgation of Thy teachings. Be thou
their companion in their loneliness, their helper in a strange land, the remover
of their sorrow, the comforter in their calamity, their deliverer in their
hardship, the satisfier of their thirst, the healer of their malady and the
allayer of the fire of their longing.
Verily, Thou art the Clement, the Possessor of Mercy, and Verily, Thou
art the Compassionate and the Merciful.
Haifa, Palestine,
April 19, 20 and 22, 1917.
986. Just as the earth attracts everything to the center of gravity,
and every object thrown upward into space will come down, so also material ideas
and worldly thoughts attract man to the center of self. Anger, passion,
ignorance, prejudice, greed, envy, covetousness, jealousy and suspicion prevent
man from ascending to the realms of holiness, imprisoning him in the claws of
self and the cage of egotism. The physical man, unassisted by the divine power,
trying to escape from one of these invisible enemies, will unconsciously fall
into the hands of another. No sooner does he attempt to soar upward than the
density of the love of self, like the power of gravity, draws him to the earth.
The only power that is capable of delivering man from this captivity is the
power of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. The attraction of the power of the
Holy Spirit is so effective that it keeps man ever on the path of upward
ascension. The malevolent forces of no enemy will touch those sanctified souls
who have made this universal power their guide. With tranquil heart and assured
spirit they are flying upward day and night, journeying through the illimitable
space of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
987. The Bahá’ís are ordered to establish the
oneness of mankind;
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if they cannot unite around one point how will they be able to bring
about the unity of mankind? The purpose of the Blessed Beauty in entering into
this Covenant and Testament was to gather all the existing beings around one
point so that the thoughtless souls, who in every cycle and generation have been
the cause of dissension, may not undermine the Cause. He has, therefore,
commanded that whatever emanates from the Center of the Covenant is right, and
under His protection and favor, while everything else is error.
988. All previous Books are subordinate to this Book of the Covenant,
for it has been revealed subsequent to all the previous ones. He has named it
the “Book of the Covenant,” therefore consider that if the friends
remain firm in the Covenant will there be any misunderstandings among them? No,
by God! Except those souls who have an evil intention and are thinking of
leadership and of forming a party; those souls, although they have written
epistles with their own pen and have execrated the violators, denouncing them as
having destroyed the foundation of the monument erected by His Holiness
Bahá’u’lláh, and have written that He has written this
Covenant with His own pen and that whoever deviated the least from the Center of
the Covenant is of the people of treachery and well deserves the wrath of God --
these souls are themselves at present among the pioneers of violation. This is
because of their personal motives, for they had thought of securing leadership
and wealth, but when they considered that in remaining firm in the Covenant
their purpose would not be realized, they deviated from it. ... Their lie is now
manifest. Notwithstanding this, some souls who are not aware of this fact waver
when those people cast the seeds of suspicion. ... The Covenant of God is like
unto a vast and fathomless ocean. A billow shall rise and surge therefrom, and
all accumulated foam it shall cast ashore.
989. When the foundation of the Mashriqu‘l-Adhkár is laid in America, and that divine edifice is completed, a most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear in the world of existence. The Mashriqu‘l-Adhkár will become the center around which all these universal Bahá’í activities will be clustered. From that point of light, the spirit of teaching,
spreading the Cause of God and promoting the teachings of God, will permeate to
all parts of the world.
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990. The darkness of this gloomy night shall pass away. Again the
Sun of Reality will dawn from the horizon of the hearts. Have patience, wait but
do not sit idle; work while you are waiting; smile when you are wearied with
monotony; be firm while everything around you is being shaken; be joyous while
the ugly face of despair grins at you; speak aloud while the malevolent forces
of the nether world try to crush your mind; be valiant and courageous while men
all around you are cringing with fear and cowardice. Do not yield to the
overwhelming power of tyranny and despotism. Serve the cause of democracy and
freedom. Continue your journey to the end. The bright day is coming. The
nucleus of the new race is forming. The harbinger of the new ideals of
international justice is appearing. The trees of hope will become verdant; the
copper of scorn and derision will be transmuted into the gold of honor and
praise; the arid desert of ignorance will be transformed into the luxuriant
garden of knowledge; the threatening clouds shall be dispelled and the stars of
faith and charity will again twinkle in the clear heaven of
consciousness.
991. All the believers, both men and women, in the West and in the
East, must consider themselves the spreaders of the contents of these Epistles;
so that the rays of the Sun of Truth may ere long illumine all the continents
and islands of the globe, and the dark clouds of prejudice and ignorance be
dispelled.
992. I desire that every one of the believers may become an ignited
candle in the assemblage of the world of humanity, and conducive to
others’ eternal life. Today the confirmations of the Kingdom of
‘Abhá are with those who renounce themselves, forget their own
opinions, cast aside personalities and are thinking of the welfare of others.
Whosoever has lost himself, has found the universe and the inhabitants thereof!
Whosoever is occupied with himself is wandering in the desert of heedlessness
and regret! The master-key of self-mastery is self-forgetfulness. The road to
the palace of life is through the path of renunciation.
993. To the beloved of the Lord, the friends in truth, and the
signs of the All-Merciful throughout the East, throughout
the West.
May the Glory of the Lord All-glorious rest upon them all!
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HE IS GOD!
O ye faithful friends!
O ye sincere servants of Bahá’u’lláh!
Now, in the mid-watches of the night -- when eyes are closed in
slumber and men have laid their heads upon the couch of rest and soundly sleep
-- is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, within the precincts of the
hallowed shrine, wakeful; and in the ardor of his invocation utters this, his
prayer:
O Thou Kind and Loving Providence! Astir is the East, and the West
surgeth even as the eternal billows of the sea. The gentle gales of Holiness
are diffused and, from the Unseen Kingdom, shine forth resplendent the rays of
the Orb of Truth. The anthems of Divine Unity are chanted, and the ensigns of
Celestial Might are waving. The angelic Voice is raised and, even as the
roaring of leviathan, is the call to selflessness and evanescence. The triumphal
cry: O Thou the Glory of Glories! resounds on every side, and the call: O Thou
Most High! rings throughout all regions. No stir save the Glory of the One
Heart-Ravisher is raised in the world, and no tumult is there save the surging
of the love of Him, the Incomparable, the Well-Beloved!
The beloved of the Lord, with their musk-scented breath, burn brightly
as a candle in every clime; and the friends of Him, the All-Merciful, are in all
regions even as the unfolding flowers. Not for a moment do they rest; they
breathe not, but in remembrance of Thee; and crave not, but to serve Thy Cause.
In the meadows of Truth they are as the nightingales of sweet melodies, and in
the flower garden of Guidance they are even as the brightly colored bloom. With
mystic flowers they adorn the garden walks of Reality; as the swaying cypress
they bedeck the riverbanks of Divine Will. Above the Horizon of Being they
shine as radiant stars. In the firmament of the world they gleam as resplendent
orbs. The manifestations are they of Celestial Grace, and daysprings of the
Light of Divine Assistance.
Grant, O thou Loving Lord, that all may stand firm and steadfast and
shine with everlasting splendor, that thereby the gentle gales at every breath
may blow from the bowers of Thy Loving-kindness, and from the ocean of Thy Grace
an emanation may arise, that the kindly showers of Thy Love may bestow
freshness,
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and the zephyr waft to us its perfume from the rose garden of Divine
Unity.
Vouchsafe, O Best-Beloved of the world! a ray from Thy Splendor. O
Well-Beloved of mankind, shed upon us the Light of Thy Countenance!
O God Omnipotent, do Thou shield us and be our refuge, and, O Lord of
Being, show forth Thy Might and Thy Dominion!
O Thou Loving Lord! The movers of sedition are, in some regions,
astir and active, and by night and day are inflicting a grievous
wrong.
Even as wolves, despots are lying in wait, and the wronged, innocent
fold has neither held nor succor. Bloodhounds are on the trail of the gazelles
of the fields of Divine Unity, and the Pheasant in the mounts of Heavenly
Guidance by the ravens of envy is pursued.
O Thou Divine Providence! Preserve Thou and protect us! O Thou who
art our Shield, save us and defend us! Keep us beneath Thy Shelter, and by Thy
Help save us from all ill. Thou art indeed the True Protector, the Unseen
Guardian, the Celestial Watcher, and the Heavenly Loving Lord!
O ye beloved of the Lord!
On one side is the Standard of the One True God unfurled and the Voice
of the Kingdom raised, the Cause of God is spreading, and manifest in splendor
are the wonders from on high; illumined is the East and perfumed is the West,
fragrant with ambergris is the North and musk-scented is the South.
On the other side, they that are faithless wax in their hate and
rancor, and even stir up grievous sedition and mischief. No day passeth but
some man raiseth the standard of revolt and spurs his charger into the arena of
discord. At every hour the vile adder beareth its fangs and scattereth its
deadly venom.
The beloved of the Lord are wrapped in utter sincerity and devotion,
unmindful of this rancor and malice. Smooth and insidious are these snakes,
these whisperers of evil, artful in their craft and guile. Be ye on your guard,
and ever wakeful! Quick-witted and keen of intellect are the faithful, and firm
and steadfast are the assured! Act ye with all circumspection!
“Fear ye the sagacity of the faithful, for he seeth with the
Light Divine!” (Qur’án)
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Beware lest any soul should privily cause disruption or stir up
strife. In the Cause of the Impregnable Stronghold be ye brave warriors; and,
for the Goodly Mansion, a valiant host. Exercise the utmost care, and day and
night be on your guard, that thereby the tyrant may not inflict
harm.
Study the Tablet of “The Holy Mariner”* that ye may know the Truth, and consider that the Blessed Beauty hath fully foretold future
events. Let them who perceive, take warning!
Like dust at the Sacred Threshold, in utter humility and lowliness,
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ is engaged in the promulgation of his
Signs through the daytime and the night season; whensoever he findeth time he
prayeth ardently, and inspireth, saying:
O Thou Divine Providence! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy Succor;
homeless and wanderers, give us Thy Shelter; scattered, do Thou unite us;
astray, join us to the Fold; bereft, do Thou bestow upon us a portion and a
share; athirst, lead us to the wellspring of Life; frail, strengthen us that we
may arise to exalt Thy Cause and present ourselves a living sacrifice in the
pathway of Guidance.
The faithless, however, by day and night, openly and privily exert
their utmost to shake the foundations of the Cause, to root out the Blessed
Tree, to deprive this servant from service, to kindle secretly sedition and
strife, and to annihilate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’! Outwardly they
appear as sheep, yet inwardly are naught but ravening wolves. Sweet in words,
yet at heart a deadly poison.
O ye beloved ones! Guard the Cause of God! Let no sweetness of
tongue beguile you -- nay, rather consider the motive of every soul, and ponder
the thought he cherisheth. Be ye straightway mindful and on your
guard.
Avoid, yet be not aggressive!
Turn away from censure and from slander!
Leave him in the Hand of God!
Upon you rest the Glory of Glories!
994. Consider! The Divine Gardener cuts off the dry or weak branch
from the good tree and grafts to it a branch from another tree. He both
separates and unites. This is that which His
F1 Chapter V.
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Holiness Christ says: that from all the world they come and enter the
Kingdom, and the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out.
FROM THE WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ’
O ye beloved of the Lord! In this sacred Dispensation, conflict and
contention are in nowise permitted. Every aggressor deprives himself of
God’s grace. It is incumbent upon ever one to show the utmost love,
rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness and sincere kindliness unto all the
peoples and kindreds of the world, whether they be friends or strangers. So
intense must be the spirit of love and loving-kindness that the stranger may
find himself regarded as a friend, and the enemy as a true brother, no
difference whatsoever existing between them. For universality is of God and all
limitations are earthly.
Thus man must strive that his reality may manifest virtues and
perfections, the light whereof may shine upon all. The light of the sun shineth
upon the whole world and the merciful showers of the Divine Providence fall upon
all peoples. The vivifying breeze inspireth every living creature, and all
beings endowed with life obtain their share and portion at His heavenly board.
In like manner, the affections and loving-kindness of the servants of the One
True God must be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind. Regarding
this, restrictions and limitations are is no wise permitted.
Wherefore, O my loving friend! Consort with all the peoples, kindred
and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness,
faithfulness, kindliness, goodwill and friendliness; that all the world of being
may be filled with the holy ecstacy 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 earth may give way to the Light
of Unity. Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you, show fidelity
unto them; should they be unjust towards you, show justice towards them; should
they hold aloof from you, attract them to yourselves; should they disclose
enmity, be friendly to them; should they poison your lives, sweeten their souls;
should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their hurts. Such are the
attributes of the sincere! Such are the attributes of the
truthful!
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O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the
Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for such souls as these cause
the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary
results.
O God! my God! Thou seest this wronged servant of thine held fast in
the claws of ferocious lions, of ravening wolves, bloodthirsty beasts.
Graciously assist me, through my love for Thee that I may drink deep of the
chalice that brimmeth over with faithfulness to Thee and is filled with Thy
bountiful Grace; so that, fallen upon the dust, I may sink prostrate and
senseless whilst my vesture is dyed crimson with my blood. This is my wish, my
heart’s desire, my hope, my pride, my glory. Grant, O Lord, my God and my
Refuge, that in my last hour, my end may even as musk shed its fragrance of
glory! I call Thee to witness that no day passeth but that I quaff my fill from
this cup, so grievous are the misdeeds wrought by them that have broken the
Covenant, kindled discord, showed their malice, stirred sedition in the land and
dishonored Thee amidst Thy servants. Lord, shield Thou from these
Covenant-breakers the mighty stronghold of Thy Faith, and protect Thy secret
Sanctuary from the onslaught of the ungodly.
Thou art in truth the Mighty, the Powerful, the Gracious, the
Supreme!
O ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh that this
wronged and broken-winged bird shall have taken its flight unto the Celestial
Concourse; when it shall have hastened to the realm of the Unseen, and its
mortal frame shall have been either lost or hidden beneath the dust; it is
incumbent upon the Branches that are steadfast in the Covenant of God and have
branched from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands of the Cause of God (the Glory of
the Lord rest upon them); and all the friends and loved ones, one and all, to
bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord to diffuse the
sweet savors of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His Faith. It behooveth
them not to rest for a moment, nor to seek repose. They must disperse
themselves in every land, pass by every clime, and travel throughout all
regions. Bestirred, without rest, and steadfast to the end, they must raise in
every land the triumphal cry “Yá
Bahá’u’l-‘Abhá!” (O Thou the Glory of Glories!) must achieve renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a torch in every meeting, and must kindle the flame of Divine
Page 554
Love in every assembly; that the Light of Truth may rise resplendent in
the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout the West
a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word of God; that the sweet
savors of holiness may be diffused; that faces may radiantly shine; that hearts
may be filled with the Divine Spirit, and souls may attain the life of
heaven.
The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things,
forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion,
and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide, calling the peoples of the
world to the Divine Guidance, until at last they made the world another world,
illumined the surface of the earth, and even to their last hour, proved
self-sacrificing in the pathway of the Beloved One of God. Finally in various
lands they suffered glorious martyrdom. Let them that are men of action follow
in their footsteps.
This is the foundation of the faith of the people of Bahá, may
my life be offered up for them! His Holiness the Exalted, the Báb, is
the Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God and the Forerunner of the
Ancient Beauty: 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.
Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn, and all that is not expressly
recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which
this body, whether unanimously or by a majority, doth carry, that is verily the
truth and the purpose of God Himself. Whoso deviates therefrom is verily of
those that love discord, hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord
of the Covenant.
O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon you to be submissive
to all monarchs that are just, and 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. This is my counsel and the commandment
of God unto you. Well is it with them that act accordingly.
O God, my God! I call Thee, Thy Prophets and Thy
Messengers,
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Thy Saints and Thy Holy Ones, to witness that I have declared
conclusively Thy proofs unto Thy loved ones, and set forth clearly all things
unto them, that they may watch over Thy Faith, guard Thy straight path and
protect Thy resplendent Law. Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
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