Thee and directs herself unto Thee, asking Thee to shed Thy divine mercies
upon her, to manifest Thy spiritual mysteries and to show forth Thy
majesty unto her. O Lord! O Lord! Illumine the sight of my husband, cheer
his breast by the light of knowing Thee, attract his heart unto Thy
manifest Beauty and gladden his spirit by the manifestation of Thy radiant
light. O Lord! Withdraw the veil from his sight, grant him Thy compassion,
exhilarate him with the wine of Thy love among the people, make him an
angel of Thine walking upon the earth, let his spirit soar unto heaven and
make him a lamp glistening with the light of Thy knowledge in the
community. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Precious, the Bestower!
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Be rejoiced through the grace of thy Lord and happy through the bounties
of thy God, the Most Merciful of the Merciful. Thy Lord hath indeed chosen
thee for His love, guided thee unto the straight path, attracted thee by
the magnet of His knowledge, from among women, and crowned thee with the
diadem of guidance among the maid-servants. Praise thy Lord for this great
favor, heavenly mercy and bounty which hath no equal in the world of
creation. Gladden the maid-servants of the Merciful through the grace of
thy Lord. Thus their breasts may become dilated by the holy fragrances
emanating from the Kingdom of El-ABHA.
Soon the lights will glisten and the Sun of Truth will shine with the
burning ray in that country. At that time the maid-servants who are firm
and constant will rejoice; while every doubtful soul who wavers will
regret. Woe unto him, woe unto him, in that day wherein the beloved will
attain joy by the surrounding Kingdom of thy Lord, the Precious, the
Beneficent! Verily, the end is for them who are ushered into the tent of
the Covenant of thy merciful Lord.
"O thou who art turning unto the Kingdom of God!..."
O thou who art turning unto the Kingdom of God!
Verily I am acquainted with the contents of the letter which thou hast
addressed to ............ the servant of God, and I find its significance
excellent, proclaiming the Truth about which there can be no doubt or
uncertainty.
Now the day has arrived in which the edifice of God, the divine sanctuary,
the spiritual temple, shall be erected in America! I entreat God to assist
the confirmed believers in accomplishing this great service and with
entire zeal to rear this mighty structure which shall be renowned
throughout the world. The support of God will be with those believers in
that district that they may be successful in their undertaking, for the
Cause is great and great; because this is the first Mashrak-el-Azcar in
that country and from it the praise of God shall ascend to the Kingdom of
Mystery and the tumult of His exaltation and greetings from the whole
world shall be heard!
Whosoever arises for the service of this building shall be assisted with a
great power from His Supreme Kingdom and upon him spiritual and heavenly
blessings shall descend, which shall fill his heart with wonderful
consolation and enlighten his eyes by beholding the glorious and eternal
God!
Give my greetings and salutations to thy honorable husband and say to him
from me: "Notice the sign which shall soon appear in those regions and
then your searching heart shall be assured. Verily thy Lord is the
Powerful!"
"O thou who art assured by the grace of thy Lord!..."
O thou who art assured by the grace of thy Lord!
I have perused thy excellent letter which shows that thou art turning thy
face unto the living, eternal One and grasping the hem of His Grandeur and
thy attraction unto the Call of thy Supreme Lord. Well done! Well done! O
maid-servant of God, for thou hast believed in the Glorious Beauty (of
El-ABHA) and art confirmed in the manifestation of the Kingdom of God,
during this time.
It behooveth thee to sever thyself from all desires save thy Lord, the
Supreme, expecting no help or aid from anyone in the universe, not even
from thy father or children. Resign thyself to God! Content thyself with
but little of this world's goods! Verily, economy is a great treasure. If
one of thy relations oppress thee, complain not magnificent patience
during every calamity and hardship. Verily thy Master is the Lord of
Faithfulness! Forgive and overlook the shortcomings which have appeared in
that one, for the sake of love and affection. Know that nothing will
benefit thee in this life save supplication and invocation unto God,
service in His vineyard, and, with a heart full of love, be in constant
servitude unto Him.
If thy daily living become difficult, soon (God) thy Lord will bestow upon
thee that which shall satisfy thee. Be patient in the time of affliction
and trial, endure every difficulty and hardship with dilated heart,
attracted spirit and eloquent tongue in remembrance of the Merciful.
Verily this is the life of satisfaction, the spiritual existence, heavenly
repose, divine benediction and the celestial table! Soon thy Lord will
extenuate thy straightened circumstances even in this world.
"O thou dear servant of God!..."
O thou dear servant of God!
Thy letter was received and its contents noted. As to instructions which
thou desirest, they are as follows:
Believe in God; turn unto the Supreme Kingdom; be attracted unto the
Beauty of ABHA; remain firm in the Covenant; yearn for ascending unto the
heaven of the sun of the universe; be disinterested in the world; be alive
with the fragrances of holiness in the Kingdom of the Highest; be a caller
to love; kind to the human race; gentle with humanity; interested in all
the people of the world; wish for harmony and seek friendship and honesty.
Be a healing for every wound, a remedy for every sick, a source of harmony
among the people; chant the verses of guidance; pray to God; arise for the
guidance of the people; let thy tongue explain and thy face illumine with
the glowing of the love of God. Rest not a moment and breathe not a breath
of repose until thou becomest a sign of God's love and a banner of God's
favor.
"O thou who art hoping for the Kingdom!..."
O thou who art hoping for the Kingdom!
Thank thou God that He hath guided thee, led thee to the Kingdom of Being,
ushered thee under the shade of the bounties of the Lord of Hosts, and
that thou hast stepped into the Paradise of ABHA.
Do not grieve on account of the death of thy son, neither sigh nor lament.
That nightingale soared upward to the divine rose-garden; that drop
returned to the most great ocean of Truth; that foreigner hastened to his
native abode; and that ill one found salvation and life eternal.
Why shouldst thou be sad and heartbroken? This separation is temporal;
this remoteness and sorrow is counted only by days. Thou shalt find him in
the Kingdom of God and thou wilt attain to the everlasting union. Physical
companionship is ephemeral, but heavenly association is eternal. Whenever
thou rememberest the eternal and never ending union, thou wilt be
comforted and blissful.
"O dear servant of God!..."
O dear servant of God!
Thy letter hath arrived and the contents have given glad-tidings that the
ground for the Temple hath been bought and also told about the meeting
which was held concerning the needs for the Temple. From this news great
fragrance and joy were produced. Thanks be to God that thou wast helped to
establish a meeting for this purpose. I hope that the members of this
meeting will become the receivers of the divine benevolence and be aided
by the heavenly assistances. But consult with the House of Spirituality of
Chicago. Ye must all be perfectly united and harmonious until, through
this harmony, ye may perpetually receive help from the Kingdom of God.
Concerning the members of this spiritual meeting, you suggested that they
be selected from all the spiritual meetings of the other cities of
America. I quite approve and am very much pleased with this plan. This
will become the cause of harmony in the Word in all America. Therefore,
ask every spiritual meeting in the other cities that they will each select
one and send him, and from these selected ones and with those who are
selected from the Chicago meetings, establish a new meeting for the
provision of the needs of the Temple. If this be established with perfect
fragrance and joy, it will produce great results. In this new meeting,
especially for the establishment of the Temple, ladies are also to be
members.
Give to all the divine friends the glad-tidings of the boundless heavenly
blessings and tell them that the glances of the eyes of Providence are
upon them and the perfect favor and bounty are descending upon them.
"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
Thy letter, concerning the celebration of the anniversary of the
declaration of His Holiness the Supreme(60)--may my spirit be sacrificed
for Him!--which was held on the land of the Mashrak-el-Azcar(61), was read.
The utmost joy was attained, for--praise be to God! --the friends of the
Merciful passed some time on that day joyous and singing in the land of
the Mashrak-el-Azcar and enjoyed commemorating the Lord of the verses with
the greatest joy.
That melody was heard by the Supreme Concourse and that rose-song of the
nightingale of faithfulness gladdened the people of the rose-garden of
ABHA.
I am hopeful that, during the coming Rizwan(62), a great feast shall be
held in the land of the Mashrak-el-Azcar, a spiritual celebration prepared
and the melodies of the violin and the mandoline and hymns in praise and
glorification of the Lord of Hosts make all the audience joyous and
ecstatic.
A few days ago an epistle was written--therefore, brevity is considered
here.
Treat thy dear daughter, for me, with the utmost kindness and, likewise,
the other friends and maid-servants of the Merciful.
"O attracted maid-servant of God!..."
O attracted maid-servant of God!
The epistle written (and sent) through Mirza...... was received. The
account of the land designated for the Mashrak-el-Azcar, of your placing
therein, in company with Mrs. ........, nine stones and pouring thereon
attar, water and olive oil, and of your commemorating the Beauty of ABHA
and His Holiness the Supreme(63), was all understood.
That land is blessed because it is mentioned by the name of
Mashrak-el-Azcar. Surely, the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the
Merciful in all the cities of America must put forth the utmost of effort
in order that the Mashrak-el-Azcar be raised in that land.
I am hopeful through the aids and confirmations of God that the beloved
ones and maid-servants of the Merciful may achieve this service.
Express the utmost love and kindliness on behalf of Abdul-Baha to all the
beloved and the dear maid-servants of the Merciful, especially Mrs.
.......... and thy dear daughter.
"O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of God!..."
O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of God!
I have considered thy writing, which indicates brightness of heart and the
love of God. Blessed art thou for having been thus favored and for having
attained to guidance.
You have asked me two questions: "That if the same spirit is manifest in
all the Manifestations and Prophets, then what is the distinction or
difference between Christ (or rather Jesus) and the other Prophets; also
[what is the difference] between Father and Son?"
Know that the human spirit is one, but it manifests itself in various
members of the body in a certain (measure or) form. The human spirit is
existent in the sight (eyes); it is also existent in the brain, which is
the location of great functions and powers; it is also existent in the
heart, which organ is largely connected with the brain or the center of
the mind, and the heart, or that center which is connection with the
brain, has a distinct and separate function, effect and appearance. In
this connection, the hair and nails have no command (nor direct feeling).
Figuratively speaking, the Father is the center of the brain and the Son
is the center of the heart; the rest of the Prophets are members and
parts. Fatherhood and Prophethood, in this case, are two expressions of
the same thing, as man and creature are two names of the same reality. The
word "man," however, is greater than the word "creature" because it bears
a weightier meaning than the name "creature"; both are the same.
O maid-servant of God! I pray God to confirm thee forever anew. Give
greeting to thy dear mother. Superstition hath somewhat overcome her. When
the imagined Satan overpowers, let her say: "O Baha-el-ABHA!" She should
then turn to the highest Kingdom. Thus will the imagined Satan leave her.
[She] has a form of obsession; therefore, you may not heed her sayings.
Cultivate the land and thus, through its fruits, you will obtain benefits.
God will relieve you from care (on account) of your mother.
Give your good husband my spiritual greeting. I pray that he may be made a
recipient of the divine bounties and attain to the grace of God.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of Holiness!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of Holiness!
Be dilated in thy heart by the gentle breeze which emanates from the
garden of Eternal Life and enkindled in the Tree of Sinai in the center of
Paradise; so that thou mayest be a pillar of fire and a cloud of light in
this age, wherein a drop grows into a large wave of the sea, and a lamp
glistens with the light of the dazzling stars, and this is from the power
which is manifested by thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful. ***
Be firm in the worship of God, fasting, praying, imploring and invoking
unto thy God, the Generous; so that He shall destine to thee the honor of
sacrifice in the path of thy Beloved, the Ancient.
I ask God to grant thee thy greatest wish in this wonderful time.
"O thou who art cheered through the Fragrances of..."
O thou who art cheered through the Fragrances of God!
When thou desirest and yearnest for meeting in the world of vision; at the
time when thou art in perfect fragrance and spirituality, wash thy hands
and face, clothe thyself in clean robes, turn toward the court of the
Peerless One, offer prayer to Him and lay thy head upon the pillow. When
sleep cometh, the doors of revelation shall be opened and all thy desires
shall become revealed.
Endeavor to guide thy mother and confirm her in faith; when the heart
becometh confident, the imagination of Satan and evil vanisheth away. If
the heart becometh absolutely tranquil, suspicion and imagination will
entirely pass away.
"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
Thy letter was read and I am very happy that thou art active and full of
life through the spirit of Life and that thou art firm and steadfast in
this great Cause.
To enter the Kingdom is easy, but to remain firm and constant is
difficult. The planting of trees is easy, but their cultivation and
training to strengthen their roots and to make them firm is difficult.
Now, as thou art a firm tree, thou shalt certainly grow and send out
branches, leaves and blossoms and bear fruits.
These branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits are the souls who may be
guided, through the providence of God, by thee. Therefore, thou art
confirmed and strengthened.
Some of the friends intended to visit the Holy Land, but hindrances
prevented them and they have deferred their coming. You should also remain
with your mother and serve her until a suitable time arrives.
Give my greetings and praise to my spiritual friend [thy husband] and
gladden him with the joyful tidings of God; also, give the same to the
friends of God and His maid-servants.
"O thou who has sought shelter in the Impregnable..."
O thou who has sought shelter in the Impregnable Cave!
Verily, the glad-tidings of God have encompassed Abdul-Baha from all
directions. While his heart is beating with the love of God, he holds a
cup full of the knowledge of God in his right hand and wishes to give the
seekers to drink of this wine, so that they may, perchance, be exhilarated
with this cup, which is overflowing with the signs of God.
Be thou rejoiced at these words, because thou wilt partake of this wine
which refreshes hearts and souls.
"O thou who art confessing the Oneness of God!..."
O thou who art confessing the Oneness of God!
Verily, I read thy letter and I besought God to cause thee to promulgate
His divine Manifestation, to be rejoiced at the bounty of His Kingdom, to
adhere to His Testament, to hold fast to the hem of the robe of His
grandeur, to exert thyself in His Cause, to desire the unity of His dearly
beloved ones, and the harmony amongst His chosen ones and to endeavor to
remove the doubts which are being emanated from deceitful souls.
By the might of my Lord, verily, the Lord will assist only those who will
remain firm in His Cause, and desire union, love, humility and
submissiveness, and to become separated from aught else save God. Every
forehead which is illuminated with these lights will be a lamp of guidance
and a star whereby all horizons will be lighted.
Exert thyself with all thy heart and soul and with all strength, so that
thou mayest become a sign of firmness and as a banner of the Word of God
which may wave on every lofty edifice through the favor of thy Glorious
Lord.
As to thy question concerning the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes: This is
prophecy regarding the coming of Jesus in that book, the signs and marks
of which were fulfilled with the appearance of the Promised One of the
Bible(64) ; but since the Jews did not understand the meaning thereof, so
they denied Jesus and-- God forbid! --said that He was the deformed
(Antichrist). Then it is said by Jesus in the Gospel, that similar signs
would appear in the "last day"--or in other words--in the day when Christ
will come the second time in this world.
The interpretation of these statements is mentioned in the clearest manner
and with the most wonderful proofs in the Book of Ighan(65) . His honor,
Ali-Kuli-Khan, has already translated this Book which will soon be
published in America(66) . Then you will be informed of the explanation
and interpretation of these verses and statements as elucidated by the
Blessed Perfection. Therefore my interpretation is not necessary.
As to thy question concerning the 54th chapter of Isaiah: This chapter
refers to the Exalted Leaf, the mother of Abdul-Baha. As a proof to this
it is said: "For more are the children of the desolate, than the children
of the married wife." Reflect upon this statement and then upon the
following: "And thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate
cities to be inhabited." And truly the humiliation and reproach which she
suffered in the path of God is a fact which no one can refute. For the
calamities and afflictions mentioned in the whole chapter are such
afflictions which she suffered in the path of God, all of which she
endured with patience and thanked God therefor and praised Him, because He
had enabled her to endure afflictions for the sake of Baha'. During all
this time, the men and women (nakazeen) persecuted her in an incomparable
manner, while she was patient, God-fearing, calm, humble and contented
through the favor of her Lord and by the bounty of her Creator.
As to thee--O thou who art confessing the Oneness of God! --rise with all
thy power to keep firm in the Testament of God, and firmly believe that,
verily, all troops are defeated save those of the Testament and all
banners are reversed, save that of the Covenant of God, which will wave
over all horizons and will overshadow the hosts of spirit, love and peace,
while agitated by the breeze of the favor of God. Be thou of the number of
this great host and among the vanguard of this great and powerful army.
"O thou illumined youth!..."
O thou illumined youth!
Thank thou God, for that the tongues spoke in thy praise and the pends
moved with thy love, thy knowledge and thy enkindlement by the fire of the
love of God. One of them is the pen of Abdul-Baha. Therefore, be a sign of
knowledge, standard of assurance and a light of God, so that thou mayest
become strengthened by the breaths of the Holy Spirit in these days.
"O thou revered sincere one!..."
O thou revered sincere one!
Know thou, verily, the brilliant realities and sanctified spirits are
likened to a shining crescent. It has one face turned toward the Sun of
Truth, and another face opposite to the contingent world. The journey of
this crescent in the heaven of the universe ends in (becoming) a full
moon. That is, that face of it which is turned toward the divine world
becomes also opposite to the contingent world, and by this, both its
merciful and spiritual, as well as contingent, perfections become
complete.
"O thou servant of God!..."
O thou servant of God!
Thy letter was received. Thou hast spoken concerning thy lack of ability
and capacity. Wert thou without ability and capacity, thou wouldst not
have advanced toward the Kingdom of ABHA.
Consider how there are thousands of heedless souls who are asleep, while
there is one who is conscious and awake! Even as His Holiness Christ has
said, the friends of God are the salt of the earth, and the salt is but a
little part of the whole. Undoubtedly the friends of God have been endowed
with ability and capacity, on which account this became of the "chosen"
and not of the "called."
O thou spiritual friend! This world is a prison for heavenly souls, and
this earthly world is but a cage, and not a nest, unto the divine birds. A
prisoner who is awake and conscious will certainly seek for freedom, and a
mindful bird will certainly wish for deliverance from the cage. When the
heart becometh free from attachment unto this world, it will crave for the
world of the Kingdom and seek for eternal life.
"O thou who are enkindled by the fire of the Love of..."
O thou who are enkindled by the fire of the Love of God!
Verily, I received thy good and beautiful letter and I found it to be a
sign of thy love and an evidence of thy being attracted to the Beauty of
El-ABHA. I ask God to make thee a caller to the Kingdom of El-ABHA, in
those regions; to give thee a draught of the wine of grace, to attract
thee to the center of guidance, to cause thee to ascend unto the Supreme
World and to confirm thee by the fragrances of the Holy Spirit, until thou
mayest guide the people unto the kingdom of immortality, revive the hearts
by the fragrances of God and plant the seed of guidance in the field of
the souls, by a help from thy Lord, the Merciful, the Clement.
As to the wonderful melody whereby thy spirit was revived, verily it is a
melody of the melodies of the divine music, which will cause the spirits
to ascend unto the Supreme Horizon and will (cause) the mysteries to be
unfolded.
O maid-servant of God! Be one of the angels of peace and a saint in the
world. Verily thy Lord will cause thee to listen to that wonderful melody,
through the spiritual instrument.
Regarding thy visit to this region(67), it is not permissible at this
time. But when the time comes, permission will be granted thee to present
thyself at this Source of Light and Dawning-Point of the love of thy Lord,
the Forgiver.
"O thou who art made happy by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art made happy by the Fragrances of God!
Verily, I have not forgotten thee and will never forget thee. I supplicate
my Lord and thy Lord to make thee a sign of His love among the
maid-servants of the Merciful and an overflowing chalice with the wine of
His knowledge among the women, so that thou be filled with the love of thy
Lord and be severed from aught else save Him. Verily thy Lord is the
Generous and the Giver. He will give thee what will dilate thy breast,
enlighten thine eyes and attract thee in all conditions and circumstances.
"Convey my love to the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........,..."
(68) Convey my love to the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........, and say:
"Serve God all you can, for this service is eternal and lasting."
"O maid-servant of God!..."
O maid-servant of God!