not believe them nor trust them, unless after critical examination, search
and investigation, and a long period of waiting, they shall appear to be
faithful and truthful in word, confident in heart, attracted in spirit,
pure in intention, patient in hardship, enduring the most severe tests;
then associate with them. Because some sects will send certain men to
mingle with you in order to throw suspicion upon those who are weak,
therefore avoid them carefully.*** But let such [deliberations] be hidden
that you may not become a cause of hindrance [to such souls].(15)
"O ye firm ones in the Covenant!..."
O ye firm ones in the Covenant!
The report of [your meeting] was noted. All the arrangements of the
meeting are suitable and acceptable. The reading of the Tablets which are
sent to special persons dependeth upon their consent. First send the
Tablets to them and if they should agree, the same may be read in the
meeting. All the arrangements were good and suitable.
A special letter is enclosed for the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........
Forward it. As to letters for Chicago and its vicinity, if God so willeth
(Inshallah), they will be sent through the House of Spirituality. As to
the copying of the Tablets in a book for the House of Spirituality, this
dependeth upon the consent of the receivers of the Tablets. If the owners
of the Tablets consent, copies should be kept and collected in the House
of Spirituality and it will be acceptable. Nevertheless, this should be
with perfect consent of the receivers.
Regarding arrangements for the Bahai Sunday meeting for the purpose of
worship, this is very suitable. But, in a meeting for worship, first,
prayer should be chanted and supplication made until all gather; then
communion should be made. After praying, sacred readings with melodious
voices should be read by all together. As this is the commencement of
holding meetings, this is sufficient.
"O God! O God!..."
O God! O God!(16)
Thou dost look upon us from Thine unseen Kingdom of Oneness, [beholding]
that we have assembled in this Spiritual Meeting, believing in Thee,
confident in Thy signs, firm in Thy Covenant and Testament, attracted unto
Thee, set aglow with the fire of Thy love, sincere in Thy Cause, servants
in Thy vineyard, spreaders of They Religion, worshipers of Thy
Countenance, humble to Thy beloved, submissive at Thy door and imploring
Thee to confirm us in the service of Thy chosen ones. Support us with
Thine unseen hosts, strengthen our loins in Thy servitude and make us
submissive and worshiping servants, communing with Thee.
O our Lord! Turn our faces unto Thy divine face; feed us from Thy heavenly
table by Thy godly grace; help us through the hosts of Thy supreme angles
and confirm us by the holy ones of the Kingdom of Abha.
Verily Thou art the Generous, the Merciful! Thou art possessor of great
bounty and verily Thou art the Clement and Gracious!
"O ye who are attracted! O ye who are firm! O ye..."
O ye who are attracted! O ye who are firm! O ye who are zealous in the
service of the Cause of God and are sacrificers of possessions and lives
for the promotion of the Word of God!
I perused your recent letter, dated *** and my heart was filled with joy
through its beautify meanings and its eloquent contents. Truly they were
suggested by the breaths of confirmation from the Glorious Lord.
O friends of Abdul-Baha and his co-sharers and partners in the servitude
of the Lord of Hosts! Verily, the greatest affair and the most important
matter today is to establish a Masharak-el-Azcar(17) and to found a Temple
from which the voice of praisings may rise to the Kingdom of the majestic
Lord. Blessings be upon you for having thought to do so and intending to
erect such an edifice, advancing all in devoting your wealth in this great
purpose and in this splendid work. You will soon see the angels of
confirmation following after you and the hosts of reinforcement crowding
before you.
When the Mashrak-el-Azcar is accomplished, when the lights are emanating
therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves therein, the
prayers are performed with supplication towards the mysterious Kingdom (of
heaven), the voice of glorification is raised to the Lord, the Supreme,
then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall be dilated and overflow
with the love of the All-living and Self-existent (God). The people shall
hasten to worship in that heavenly Temple, the fragrances of God will be
elevated, the divine teachings will be established in the hearts like the
establishment of the Spirit in mankind; the people will then stand firm in
the Cause of your Lord, the Merciful. Praise and greetings be upon you.
"O ye who are chosen! O ye who are firm! O ye who..."
O ye who are chosen! O ye who are firm! O ye who are calling! O ye who are
sincere!
Verily I praise my Supreme Lord for choosing you to call in His Name among
the people, for attracting you to the beauty of El-Abha and for
strengthening you in rendering His Cause victorious.
I trust in Him to make your faces shine forth with glorious lights in that
clime, glistening as the face of heaven by the light of the early dawn,
unto the horizons.
Verily I herald unto you the confirmations which will sustain you by the
mercy of your Lord. For ye have arisen with all your power to serve God's
Cause in that vast region. Ponder over this great bounty and manifest
attainment!
I send you the glad-tidings of the erection of the Temple of worship
(Mashrak-el-Azcar) in Ishkabad [Russia], with all joy and great happiness.
The friends of God assembled together with rejoicing and conveyed the
stones themselves, upon their backs, while attracted by the love of God
and for the glory of God. Soon that great Temple will be completed and the
voice of prayer and praise shall ascend to the sublime Kingdom.
I was rejoiced through your endeavors in this glorious cause, made with
joy and good interest. I pray God to aid you in exalting His Word and in
establishing the Temple of Worship, through His grace and ancient mercy.
Verily you are the first to arise for this glorious cause in that vast
region. Soon will ye see the spread of this enterprise in the world and
its resounding voice shall go through the ears of the people in all parts.
Exert your energy in accomplishing what you have undertaken, so that this
glorious Temple may be built, that the beloved of God may assemble therein
and that they may pray and offer glory to God for guiding them to His
Kingdom.
Convey my greeting and praise to the beloved of God in that city.
"Your three reports, together with the public..."
(18) Your three reports, together with the public announcement(19), were
received. Praise be to God! all the contents indicated firmness,
spirituality and goodness. The friends of the Spiritual Meeting are indeed
manifesting efforts in the Cause of God. Soon the unseen strength of
heaven will become evident, and such zeal and earnestness will become
manifest in that country that it will affect all parts of the world.
Souls are like unto mirrors, and the bounty of God is like unto the sun.
When the mirrors pass beyond all coloring and attain purity and polish,
and are confronted with the sun, they will reflect in full perfection its
light and glory. In this condition one should not consider the mirror, but
the power of the light of the sun, which hath penetrated the mirror,
making it a reflector of the heavenly glory.
I hope that the House of Spirituality will become a heavenly mirror and
the lights of the Sun of Truth will so penetrate it that all parts will be
illuminated through it.
Your public announcement was carefully considered, and in some places
slight corrections were made, and it was returned to you. This
announcement should be given forth with wisdom, and not in haste, for it
would be a cause of stirring up. When ye find a soul manifesting a demand
for Truth, then ye may give this to him, that he may be informed of the
rudiments of the Cause.
But my name should be confined to Abdul-Baha in all writings. This is the
collective name which will gather all the people, and it is the strong
fortress and protection of the Cause of God. The beloved ones must limit
themselves to this. However, ye may mention me as the Light of the Love of
God, the Flame of the Guidance of God and the Banner of Peace and Harmony.
I trust in God that ye may ever be confirmed through the Holy Spirit.
"O ye spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha!..."
O ye spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha!
Your long letter was considered and its contents were a source of
happiness. Thank God that ye, western friends, have become dawning-points
of the love of God and stars of knowledge leading to Him; night and day
are ye thinking of imparting life to souls and of educating people of
discernment.
Regarding the blessed word, the Greatest Name: Its writing or spelling is
according to its pronunciation (i.e., it is spelled as it is pronounced)
in the Persian language. Baha is correct; Beha is incorrect. However this
question must not cause inharmony and grief among the friends. This truth
shall become manifest.
Should ye attribute a mistake to a person, it will be a cause of offense
and grief to him--how much greater would this be if it is attributed to a
number of people! How often it hath occurred that a slight difference hath
caused a great dissension and hath been made a reason for division. Now,
you write Baha'u'llah,(20) but do not object to any person. All will
eventually follow the correct spelling.
O ye beloved ones of God! The manifestation of the Light of Unity is for
binding together the people of the world. If this unity is not attained,
the tree of life is made fruitless, the heavenly bounty is not utilized.
The blessed blood (of the saints) was shed for bringing about unity and
harmony. These souls gave their lives as sacrifice in order to produce the
love that bindeth the hearts of all the people. Therefore, ye should all
spend your efforts in uniting and reconciling (the people), so that the
light of God's love may permeate the universe.
The Spiritual Meeting of men (House of Spirituality) and the Spiritual
Meeting of women (Assembly of Teaching) in Chicago are indeed endeavoring
to serve. If they unite, as they should, they will produce great results.
Especially, if the Spiritual Meetings of Chicago unite with those of New
York and become bound together, in a short while the fragrance of the
divine garden, which giveth life, will perfume all regions.
"O ye spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha!..."
O ye spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha!
Your letter was considered; its contents were a source of satisfaction to
the heart and its meaning indicative of firmness and steadfastness in the
Cause of God.
That gathering is under the shelter and protection of the mighty Lord. I
hope that, as it should be, ye may be confirmed by the fragrance of the
Holy Spirit and day by day may grow in love for God and attraction to the
eternal beauty of the Sun of the horizons.
The spiritual love of God maketh man pure and holy and clotheth him with
the garment of virtue and purity. And when man attacheth his heart wholly
to God and becometh related to the Blessed Perfection, the divine bounty
will dawn. This love is not physical, nay, rather, it is absolutely
spiritual.
The souls whose consciences are enlightened through the light of the love
of God, they are like unto shining lights and resemble stars of holiness
in the heaven of purity.
The real and great love is the love of God. That is holy above the
imaginations and thoughts of men.
The beloved of God must each be the essence of purity and holiness; so may
they be known by their purity, freedom and meekness in every land; they
may drink from the eternal chalice of the love of God, enjoy its ecstasy,
and through meeting the Beauty of Abha, they should be joyful, active,
aglow with zeal and wonderful. This is the station of the sincere. This is
the quality of those who are firm. This is the illumination of the faces
of those who are near.
Therefore, O ye friends of God, ye must in perfect purity attain spiritual
unity and agreement to a degree that ye may express one spirit and one
life.
In this condition physical bodies play no part: the command and authority
are in the hand of the spirit. When the spirit becometh all inclusive, the
Spiritual union shall be attained. Night and day endeavor to attain
perfect harmony; be thoughtful concerning your own spiritual developments
and close your eyes to the shortcomings of one another.
By good deeds, pure lives, humility and meekness be a lesson for others.
Abdul-Baha wisheth no one's heart to feel hurt, nor will he be a source of
grief to any one; for there is no greater satisfaction than being a source
of joy to the hearts.
I ask God that ye may become like angels of heaven, sources of happiness
to souls.
"O ye dear friends of Abdul-Baha!..."
O ye dear friends of Abdul-Baha!
The blessed letter indicating the election of the Spiritual Meeting was
received and proved a source of joy. Thank God, the beloved of that city,
in perfect unity, love and oneness, held the new election and were
confirmed and strengthened to elect such holy souls as are near the divine
Threshold and known by the republic of the beloved to be firm and
steadfast in the Covenant.
Now they (the members of Spiritual Meeting) must, in perfect spirit and
fragrance, in sincerity of heart, in attraction by the fragrances of God
and by the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, engage in service; in the
promotion of the Word of God; the diffusion of the fragrances of God; the
training of the souls; the promulgation of the most great peace. They must
raise the Banner of Guidance and become the host of the Supreme Concourse.
Indeed, blessed souls have been elected. When I read their names,
spiritual joy was immediately realized, for, praise be to God! certain
souls have appeared in that continent who are servants of the kingdom,
self-sacrificing ones of the Peerless Majesty.
O ye friends of mine! Illuminate the meeting with the light of the love of
God, make it joyful and happy through the melody of the Kingdom of
holiness, and with heavenly food and through the "Lord's Supper"(21)
confer life.
Congregate in the utmost of joy and happiness and commence with this
commune:
O Lord of the Kingdom! Although we are assembled, yet we are Thy scattered
ones; captives of Thy Shining Face. Although we are incapable, yet we
anticipate the manifestation of Thy strength and ability. Although we are
without capital and commodity, yet we are aided by the treasury of the
Kingdom. Although we are a drop, yet we emanate from Thy sea of seas.
Although we are an atom, yet we are illumined by Thy most bright Sun.
O Lord! Confirm us so that each one in this gathering become a bright
candle, a witness of the meeting, a caller to the Kingdom; that the world
of matter become the mirror of heaven.
O ye dear friends of mine! The assemblies of those regions must be
connected with one another and must communicate (correspond) with each
other. Even communicate with the assemblies of the East, so that this may
become the means of the great unity and concord.
O ye spiritual friends! Firmness (constancy) must reach a degree that if
all the souls (Bahais) be destroyed by the evil wishers and there remain
but one, that one singly and alone should be capable of withstanding all
who live on earth, and of spreading the fragrances of holiness.
Therefore, when any terrible new or calamitous tidings reach you from the
land of desire (Acca), ye should not grow cold, sad, or be affected
thereby. Nay, rather, ye must immediately in the utmost firmness, arise
for the service of the Kingdom.
This servant of the Threshold of His Majesty the eternal God, hath always
been and is in danger; there hath never been a hope for rest. The utmost
of his hopes is that in the arena of martyrdom the cup of grace become
replete and the wine of great bounty lend the wondrous ecstasy. This is
the utmost of my hopes and desires.
The Tablets of Israghat, Tarazat, Bescharat, Tajaliat and Kalamat,(22)
according to what is heard have been translated and printed in those
regions. Hasten to become imbued with the qualifications and attributes
set forth therein.
And this letter(23) will close with reverential greetings, in the utmost
kindliness, from me to the beloved ones and to the maid-servants of the
Merciful.
"*** Thou has written concerning the Board of..."
(24) *** Thou has written concerning the Board of Consultation.
It is very proper thou shouldst exert thyself with heart and soul so that
this assembly shall become a source of merciful events, and enter the
shadow of the protection and preservation of His Highness, the One God.
The more this gains strength and becomes effective, the greater will
become the penetration of the Word of God, and the more will the doors of
confirmation be opened.
As to the Assembly of Teaching, the revered members of which are the
maid-servants of the Merciful, they are also assisted by the help and the
providence of the Beauty of El-ABHA. They will soon discover that they are
strengthened by the invisible hosts, and rendered successful by the
abundant bounty of the Kingdom of the Forgiving Lord. They will set such a
flame to the regions as will kindle the heart of the universe, and will
cause the pillars of the world to tremble. But all of their mention and
thought in their meeting should be confined to teaching the truth, and to
constantly persuade people in pure and divine brilliancy and in absolute
godlike spirituality. They should not interfere with the affairs which
have regard to the Board of Consultation, because confusion of thought
conduces to division and causes disturbance to the mind, and then pure
spirituality would cease. But if all mentions are turned into one mention,
and all thoughts concentrated in one point, then man will find (a higher)
spirit, and witness (a higher) confirmation. His power and penetration
will increase, and his armies and hosts will gain successive victories. By
this it is intended that the assembly of the maid-servants of the Merciful
should be with pure spirituality and with absolute brilliancy, and become
a torch of that blessed fire, a center of the merciful feelings.
The Assembly of Teaching is in this day of the first importance, and is
promised to be assisted and protected through the assistance of His
Highness, the One God.
Announce infinite glad-tidings to the revered maid-servants of God--the
members of the merciful assembly, so that they may arise with the utmost
tranquillity (to further) prosperity and success, because Abdul-Baha is
their strong and firm assistant through the help and the providence of the
Lord of Hosts.
Concerning organizing Houses of Justice of men and Assemblies of Teaching
of maid-servants of God, the more endeavor is made, the more agreeable it
will be. It is very useful. Likewise, electing men and women teachers, and
their traveling and journeying in all parts, and their going and coming in
cities and villages, is greatly conducive to the solidity of the Cause.***
"O ye leaves of the Paradise of El-ABHA, and the maid-servants..."
O ye leaves(25) of the Paradise of El-ABHA, and the maid-servants of the
Merciful!
Verily, I read your words of thanksgiving to God, and of celebrating the
praise of God, for that He hath illuminated your faces with the lights of
guidance, hath transfigured Himself on your hearts with the bounties of
spirit, and hath made you as lofty and magnificent trees bearing ripened
fruits in the Paradise of El-ABHA. These signs will surely become manifest
in your faces, these lights will shine within your hearts, the splendor of
oneness will envelop you, and your brows will glitter with rays shining
from the Kingdom of El-ABHA.
O maid-servants of the Merciful! Know that, verily, this day is the day of
teaching, this day is the day of diffusing the fragrances of God, being
severed from aught else save God, attracted to the Word of God, and
clinging to the Covenant of God. There is no work greater than this. Be ye
entirely spiritual, purely brilliant, cut your dependence from any other
mention, thought or purpose, and confine your mentions, thoughts and
occupations to spreading the fragrances of God, and devote your attention
to this great work. By God, the True One, verily, the Sun of Truth will
cast forth its lights in your assemblies and will make you shining lamps,
glittering stars, brilliant signs, and as souls attracted to the Holy
Spirit. This is the great prosperity! This is the manifest light!
Upon you be greeting and praise!
"When you assemble in the meeting of teaching (the..."
When you assemble in the meeting of teaching (the truth), it is incumbent
on you to chant the following supplication and commune:
O God, O God! We are Thy humble and submissive servants, leaves of Thine
exalted and verdant paradise, drops from the basins of Thine abundant
mercy, and scattered particles flying about in Thy shining rays.
O Lord, O Lord, render us successful through Thy conquering power, in that
which Thou lovest and approvest, so that we may become standards of
guidance, signs of Thy Kingdom, the El-ABHA [and that we may] adore Thee,
supplicate before the Kingdom of Thy mercy, beseech Thy realm of might, be
submissive to Thy servants, humble before Thy maid-servants, severed from
aught else save Thee, sincerely turned unto Thy face, aflame with the fire
of Thy love, diffusing Thy fragrances, united in Thy Cause, of one accord
in Thy religion, and firm in Thy Covenant. O God, strengthen us through
the fragrances of Thy sanctity, that we may become sanctified from the
stain of egotism and lust, baptized with Thy Holy Spirit, with the fire of
Thy love and the water of Thy bounty.
Verily, Thou art the Bestower, the Assister, the Confirmer, the
Beneficent, the Merciful!
"O ye verdant and flourishing leaves of the Blessed..."
O ye verdant and flourishing leaves(26) of the Blessed Tree!
Verily, I read your letter, which expressed your spiritual attraction to
the fragrances of God, your service to the Cause of God, your firmness in
the Covenant of God, your joy in this blessed and great day, your union
and harmony in the religion of God, your happiness in diffusing the light
of the knowledge of God, and your work in the Vineyard of God--the Paradise
of El-ABHA. Such prosperity, success, blessing and salvation behooveth one
like you! Blessed are ye, O ye stars who are beaming with the light of the
love of God! Blessed are ye, O ye lamps lighted with the fire of the love
of God! Blessed ye are, O ye who are attracted to the Kingdom of God!
Glad-tidings be unto you, O you who are severed from aught else save God!
Blessed ye are, O ye pure and chaste ones! Glad-tidings be unto you
through the gift of the Covenant, from the light of which all regions are
illuminated! Be rejoiced that the lights of the Sun of Truth are shining
forth unto all parts; be gladdened at the gifts of your Lord, which have
surrounded all the universe; dilate your breasts by chanting the verses of
God, and console your eyes by witnessing the bounties of the Supreme
Concourse.
By God, the True One, verily, the angels of heaven praise you every morn
and eve from the loftiest apex, and announce to you a favor which will
surely appear as clear and lucid as the sun in mid-day. Then your faces
will shine with a light which will gleam forth unison and harmony, in
diffusing the fragrances of God, in preaching the Beauty of El-ABHA, and
promoting the word of God. Let each one of you be attracted to the love of
the other, so that ye may become as fountains flowing from one source,
stars beaming with one life, myrtles verdant and flourishing by the
abundance of one rain. By this your hearts will be purified, your
consciences illumined, your souls made clear, your banners hoisted, and ye
will become signs of guidance among the maid-servants, standards of
chastity and piety throughout all the nations of the earth, and the
appearances of the gifts of your Lord among women.
Verily, I implore God to gaze upon you with the eye of His mercy, to raise
you through a godlike power, to move you by the breezes of His glory, to
make you fluent in irrefutable and divine proofs and arguments, to sever
you from the world and all therein, to purify and sanctify you from every
material grade, and enable you to diffuse the bounties of the Divine
Worlds.
"O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!..."