This is a beautiful assembly. I am very happy that white and black are
together. This is the cause of my happiness, for you all are the servants
of one God and, therefore, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. In the
sight of God there is no distinction between whites and blacks; all are as
one. Anyone whose heart is pure is dear to God--whether white or black, red
or yellow. Among the animals colors exist. The doves are white, black,
red, blue; but notwithstanding this diversity of color they flock together
in unity, happiness and fellowship, making no distinction among
themselves, for they are all doves. Man is intelligent and thoughtful,
endowed with powers of mind. Why, then, should he be influenced by
distinction of color or race, since all belong to one human family? There
is no sheep which shuns another as if saying, "I am white, and you are
black." They graze together in complete unity, live together in fellowship
and happiness. How then can man be limited and influenced by racial
colors? The important thing is to realize that all are human, all are one
progeny of Adam. Inasmuch as they are all one family, why should they be
separated?
I had a servant who was black; his name was Isfandiyar. If a perfect man
could be found in the world, that man was Isfandiyar. He was the essence
of love, radiant with sanctity and perfection, luminous with light.
Whenever I think of Isfandiyar, I am moved to tears, although he passed
away fifty years ago. He was the faithful servant of Baha'u'llah and was
entrusted with His secrets. For this reason the _Sh_ah of Persia wanted
him and inquired continually as to his whereabouts. Baha'u'llah was in
prison, but the _Sh_ah had commanded many persons to find Isfandiyar.
Perhaps more than one hundred officers were appointed to search for him.
If they had succeeded in catching him, they would not have killed him at
once. They would have cut his flesh into pieces to force him to tell them
the secrets of Baha'u'llah. But Isfandiyar with the utmost dignity used to
walk in the streets and bazaars. One day he came to us. My mother, my
sister and myself lived in a house near a corner. Because our enemies
frequently injured us, we were intending to go to a place where they did
not know us. I was a child at that time. At midnight Isfandiyar came in.
My mother said, "O Isfandiyar, there are a hundred policemen seeking for
you. If they catch you, they will not kill you at once but will torture
you with fire. They will cut off your fingers. They will cut off your
ears. They will put out your eyes to force you to tell them the secrets of
Baha'u'llah. Go away! Do not stay here." He said, "I cannot go because I
owe money in the street and in the stores. How can I go? They will say
that the servant of Baha'u'llah has bought and consumed the goods and
supplies of the storekeepers without paying for them. Unless I pay all
these obligations, I cannot go. But if they take me, never mind. If they
punish me, there is no harm in that. If they kill me, do not be grieved.
But to go away is impossible. I must remain until I pay all I owe. Then I
will go." For one month Isfandiyar went about in the streets and bazaars.
He had things to sell, and from his earnings he gradually paid his
creditors. In fact, they were not his debts but the debts of the court,
for all our properties had been confiscated. Everything we had was taken
away from us. The only things that remained were our debts. Isfandiyar
paid them in full; not a single penny remained unpaid. Then he came to us,
said good-bye and went away. Afterward Baha'u'llah was released from
prison. We went to Ba_gh_dad, and Isfandiyar came there. He wanted to stay
in the same home. Baha'u'llah, the Blessed Perfection, said to him, "When
you fled away, there was a Persian minister who gave you shelter at a time
when no one else could give you protection. Because he gave you shelter
and protected you, you must be faithful to him. If he is satisfied to have
you go, then come to us; but if he does not want you to go, do not leave
him." His master said, "I do not want to be separated from Isfandiyar.
Where can I find another like him, with such sincerity, such faithfulness,
such character, such power? Where can I find one? O Isfandiyar! I am not
willing that you should go, yet if you wish to go, let it be according to
your own will." But because the Blessed Perfection had said, "You must be
faithful," Isfandiyar stayed with his master until he died. He was a point
of light. Although his color was black, yet his character was luminous;
his mind was luminous; his face was luminous. Truly, he was a point of
light.
Then it is evident that excellence does not depend upon color. Character
is the true criterion of humanity. Anyone who possesses a good character,
who has faith in God and is firm, whose actions are good, whose speech is
good--that one is accepted at the threshold of God no matter what color he
may be. In short--praise be to God!--you are the servants of God. The love
of Baha'u'llah is in your hearts. Your souls are rejoicing in the glad
tidings of Baha'u'llah. My hope is that the white and the black will be
united in perfect love and fellowship, with complete unity and
brotherhood. Associate with each other, think of each other, and be like a
rose garden. Anyone who goes into a rose garden will see various roses,
white, pink, yellow, red, all growing together and replete with adornment.
Each one accentuates the beauty of the other. Were all of one color, the
garden would be monotonous to the eye. If they were all white or yellow or
red, the garden would lack variety and attractiveness; but when the colors
are varied, white, pink, yellow, red, there will be the greatest beauty.
Therefore, I hope that you will be like a rose garden. Although different
in colors, yet--praise be to God!--you receive rays from the same sun. From
one cloud the rain is poured upon you. You are under the training of one
Gardener, and this Gardener is kind to all. Therefore, you must manifest
the utmost kindness towards each other, and you may rest assured that
whenever you are united, the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha will
reach you, the heavenly favors will descend, the bounties of God will be
bestowed, the Sun of Reality will shine, the cloud of mercy will pour its
showers, and the breeze of divine generosity will waft its fragrances upon
you.
I hope you will continue in unity and fellowship. How beautiful to see
blacks and whites together! I hope, God willing, the day may come when I
shall see the red men, the Indians, with you, also Japanese and others.
Then there will be white roses, yellow roses, red roses, and a very
wonderful rose garden will appear in the world.
10 November 1912
Talk at 1901 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C.