fire of His love in thy heart and cheering thy spirit with the cup of the
gift of thy Lord. I ask God to increase thy intoxication with this wine
and gladden thy spirit with this great gospel. I wrote letters to those
whose names thou didst mention in thy letter. Deliver them with rejoicing
face, revived heart, and tongue uttering the name of the Merciful.
"O thou who art confident in the appearance of the Kingdom..."
O thou who art confident in the appearance of the Kingdom of God! Verily I
read thy letter, which was beautifully composed and which proved thy great
love, the extent of thy knowledge and the illumination of thy sight, by
witnessing the signs whereunto the heads bow in reverence and faces show
respect.
O beloved! Thank God that He chose thee for His love and elected thy wife
for the calling of the appearance of the Kingdom of God. Verily, this is a
great favor, and wert thou aware of the results which will follow it in
the Kingdom of God, thou wouldst, verily, rejoice exceedingly and wouldst
call with loud voice: "Blessed are we for this great favor, and
glad-tidings be unto us for this glorious attainment."
Consider the past, so that thou mayest become informed of the mysteries
which shall be disclosed in the future. When the disciples were calling in
the name of Christ, the Jews scoffed, scorned and laughed at them. They
were saying, "They (i.e., the disciples) are taken with madness, and
madness is made an art." They even beat them with whips, threw stones at
them, prevented the people from approaching them, and were saying, "This
man (Christ) is naught but a sorcerer, blasphemeth God and is possess of a
devil."
Then observe how that persecution and scorn were changed to glory, honor
and reverence. Ultimately, they (the Jews) honored their sublime stations
and acknowledged their loftiness, which was exalted, promoted and
glorified in the center of the horizons until it reached the degree of
exaggeration in deeds. They made for them likenesses and pictures,
decorated with jewels shining in the eyes; they placed these likenesses or
pictures in the temples, churches and monasteries built on the tops of the
mountains, and worshipped them with respect, glory, majesty and reverence.
This is the condition of the neglectful ones who are deprived of the Truth
(the Manifestations of God) at the day of their existence among them.
After the ascension of their (the prophets') spirits unto the Center of
Purity and Piety, then the negligent ones repent and return, making
likenesses and pictures according to their own ideas, which do not bear
resemblance, and worship the same. This is the station of the ignorant
ones who are as animals, following every croaker and shaken by every wind.
"Forsake them to play in their shallow waters."
As to thee: Be happy because of what thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful,
hath given thee; choosing thee and thy esteemed wife for entrance into His
Kingdom, for calling in His name, praising Him in assemblies, gatherings
and meetings.
The truth I verily say unto thee, this divine grace cannot be exchanged
for the sovereignty of the earth, the east or the west. For that (the
worldly kingdom) is naught but dreams, torture to the spirit, trouble for
the hearts; its mortality is certain and its destruction a well known
fact--while this spiritual kingdom and divine grace will shine, and it is
an ABHA (Glorious) jewel which will glisten on the diadems of great glory
in the course of centuries and cycles.
"O thou who art directed unto God!..."
O thou who art directed unto God!
Thy revered wife, Mrs. ........, is indeed confirmed by the fragrances of
the spirit and rendered victorious by the hosts of the Kingdom. Verily,
she hath abandoned comfort and ease; calleth in the name of God in those
regions; hath remained firm in God's religion; and no power of test hath
shaken her. Rest thou assured! Her light shall shine in the globe of the
love of God and her face shall be illumined with the light of God's
bounty!
I pray for a heavenly blessing to descend upon the heart of [thy wife],
for she arose for the spreading of God's fragrances. I ask God to protect
thee and her from the winds of trial. May thy tongue be moved to utter
beautiful explanations and may the hearts of the people of Johnstown
(N.Y.) become tender, so that they may be guided to the Fountain of the
Water of Life and be illumined by the lights shining from the kingdom of
heaven.
(87) Be not in despair, but rather smile by the mercy of thy Lord; and be
not sorrowful when meeting with worldly difficulties and depressions, for
they pass away--and thine shall be immortality during ages and centuries,
times and cycles.
(88) Be not sad on account of poverty, nor be sorrowful when the people
scorn thee. Remember the poverty of Jesus, the persecution of the Jews to
His glorious person and the scorn of Him. Verily, that poverty is the
glory of the beginning and the ending. It is a light which hath illumined
the heavens and the earth. ***O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of
God!
***Consider not the present state, for it is the time of sowing seeds in
that country (America) and, of course, great difficulties are met with,
differences and hindrances of the people being severe. Firmness must
uphold us. As the servants and the maid-servants of the Merciful stand
firmly and persevere, the good see will soon grow and bear the fruit of
blessing. Then will spirit and fragrance prevail, and joy and rejoicing
come from the heavenly sphere; the sorrows and toils shall be forgotten
and the eternal peace and rest appear. I trust, through the bounty of
ABHA, that ye may be strengthened to serve and to spread the Word of
God.***
The giving .... the ring(89) of the Greatest Name is very beautiful. The
ring should be worn on the small finger of the right hand.
The prayer for forgiveness(90) is behalf of those who have passed,
ignorant, from this world, will be sent as requested.
Regarding the "two wings" of the soul: These signify wings of ascent. One
is the wing of knowledge, the other of faith, as this is the means of the
ascent of the human soul to the lofty station of divine perfections.***
"O Thou Forgiving Lord!..."
O Thou Forgiving Lord!(91)
Although certain souls finished the days of life in ignorance, were
estranged and selfish, yet the ocean of Thy forgiveness is, verily, able
to redeem and make free the sinners by one of its waves. Thou redeemest
whomsoever Thou willest and deprivest whomsoever Thou willest not(92) !
Shouldst Thou treat justly, we all are sinners and deserve to be deprived;
and shouldst Thou observe mercy, every sinner shall be made pure and every
stranger shall become a friend. Therefore, forgive and pardon and grant
Thy mercy unto all. Thou art the Forgiver, the Light-giver and the
Compassionate!
"O thou sign of the Love of God!..."
O thou sign of the Love of God!
Be rejoiced that thou hast held the cup of providence in thy hand and
drunk the choice wine of guidance, opened thine eye and witnessed the
lights of the Kingdom, unstopped thine ear and heard thy voice of the Lord
of Hosts.
Be not grieved at the death of thy dear daughter. This divine bird flew
away to the rose-garden of the Merciful and that plant of humanity
hastened to the garden of the Kingdom of El-ABHA. That drop returned to
the Most Great Sea and that ray betook herself to the Most Great Orb. Be
happy and thankful because thou wilt see her face shining in the divine
Kingdom and wilt find her as a lamp amid an assembly in the spiritual
heaven.
"O thou who art commemorating the praises of God!..."
O thou who art commemorating the praises of God!
Verily, I read thy letter of elegant expression, for which I supplicate to
God to make thee meek, humble and fit for the effulgence of the light of
His love among the maid-servants; and (I beg of God) to make all mankind
the children of His mercy! This is the utmost mercy of Abdul-Baha for
which he is endeavoring night and day and is summoning all to this
fountain which is flowing with the pure water of the gift of God. Verily,
I pray God to assembly all mankind in the shadow of the standard of peace
and under the tents of love in the Paradise of El-ABHA; so that all of
them may become the children of God and His beloved ones. Verily thy Lord
is compassionate to the servants who are rightly guided.
As to thee: Appreciate the value of thy father, for he taught thee to
await the manifestation of the Light of Lights. Verily he hath inhaled the
fragrance of the Paradise of El-ABHA and his nostrils are therewith
perfumed. Therefore, he bade thee to anticipate and prepare thyself for
the appearance of the Kingdom of God.
"O thou dear one!..."
O thou dear one!
Blessed art thou, for thou hast entered into the bosom of the training of
God and drunk the cup of knowledge while thou art young in age among
girls. Thank thou God for that He hath caused thee to taste the sweetness
of His love at thy earliest childhood. I beg of God to protect thee from
wavering in the Cause of God, to make thee firm in the Covenant of God, to
guard thy mother in the stronghold of His great Kingdom and to make thee a
girl successful and nurtured from the breast of the love of God, refreshed
from the milk of His knowledge in this great day.
"O thou young in age and great in mind!..."
O thou young in age and great in mind!
[There is] many a young child who is mature and grown up, and many an aged
[one] who is ignorant and stupid. Growth and maturity are in intellect and
understanding and not in age and duration of life. Verily thou hast know
thy Lord while thou art young in age; but there are thousands of women who
are heedless of the commemoration of God, veiled from the Kingdom of God
and deprived of the bounty of the gift of God. As to thee, thank thy Lord
for this great gift. I beg of God to heal thy mother, who is revered in
the Kingdom of God.
"O my God, my God!..."
O my God, my God!
I am a servant attracted to Thee, humbly coming to the door of Thy Oneness
and addressing the kingdom of Thy mercy.
Yes, my God, permit that I should be entirely Thine, occupied in thinking
of Thee, inflamed by the fire of Thy love and separated from all except
Thee, so that I may work in Thy Cause, spread Thy wisdom, transmit Thy
knowledge and the joy of knowing Thee.
Yes, my God, I am a flame lighted by the hand of Thy power. Do not permit
that it be extinguished by the winds of trials. Increase my love for Thee,
my ardor for the Beauty of Thy Oneness, the fire that burneth in me in the
Sinai of Thy Singleness, and the eternal life in me, through Thy bounty
and grace; for Thou art the Protector, the Watcher, the Pitiful and the
Merciful!
"O thou who art attached to the Beauty of God!..."
O thou who art attached to the Beauty of God!
Verily, I was rejoiced when I read thy excellent letter, which portrayed a
spiritual attraction and a rejoicing at the (news) of the merciful
Kingdom! Know thou verily, the hand of divine Providence hath attracted
thee to the Throne of the Kingdom, and the divine glad-tidings hath caused
such joy and happiness in thee, that thou hast removed the covering and
lifted the veiling from the Countenance of the Divine Beauty, beheld the
Brilliant Face through thine insight, and became cognizant of the
mysteries of purity and sanctity in this divine Cause!
Now, with a heart overflowing with the love of God, supplicate to God with
all joy, and thank thou God for this guidance and this high gift. And know
thou, that verily, the vanguards of the gifts of thy Lord shall overtake
thee from all sides (parts) when thy feet become firm in the Path.
"O thou who art attracted to the Light of Guidance!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Light of Guidance!
Verily, I read the signs of thy thanks to God, for He hath guided thee
unto the Path of the Kingdom, dispelled the darkness, caused thee to enter
into the light of faith, and awakened thee to the proof and argument. This
is through the grace of thy Lord, the Merciful, who hath chosen thee for
His knowledge and hath adorned thy head with the crown of His love which
is scintillating in the apex of glory and beneficence.
Verily, I beseech the Threshold of Mercifulness to kindle the lamp of
light within thy heart, so that thy breast may thereby be dilated and thy
soul rejoiced.
Thou art present in spirit in a meeting (in Acca) in which the gifts of
God are radiating, even though thou art remote in regard to body in the
far away land.
As to thy coming here now, this is not in accord with the wisdom revealed
in the Gospels. But the time shall come and thou wilt attain to the gifts
of thy Lord. But for the present, make thy tongue fluent in praising thy
clement Lord at every moment and time, so that thou mayest attain to all
good under the shadow of the Lord of Generosity and Beneficence.
"O thou who hast gained illumination from the Light of..."
O thou who hast gained illumination from the Light of Guidance!
Verily, I perused thy brilliant letter, which showed that thou hast
advanced toward God, thy sight illumined by witnessing the signs of God,
thy heart cheered by the sacred and spiritual breeze which is being blown
from the garden of the Kingdom of God.
It behooveth thee to spend thy life, body and blood in the path of God,
for this mighty gift.
Verily, I inhale the fragrance of faithfulness from the believers of that
brilliant and pure city. I beg of God to make His beloved and
maid-servants in that city as one band, united in soul, heart and tongue,
even as stars assembled in the constellation of Unity, although the
distance between them is extensive and the interval infinite.x
O maid-servant of God! Know thou, the first bounty from the True One is
love, unity and harmony, and without these all the deeds pass in vain and
give no result. Love is the result of the Manifestation and the glorious
purpose of the rising of Light on the Mount, in the Sinai of the Forgiving
Lord.
It is incumbent upon you (to act) with merciful harmony and spiritual
unity, so that the bounties of your Lord may embrace you and make you as
waves in this sacred, moving sea. This is seemly of the believing women!
This is the spirit of the assured women! This is the light of the peaceful
women! This is the ultimate wish of the attracted women!
Verily, I beseech God to illumine thy sight by witnessing the light of
hopes and cause thee to speak His praise among the maid-servants, and to
make thee steadfast in this path, on which feet have slipped through the
power of tests.
And I beg of Him to enable thee to confirm thy parents and make thee a
servant in His great vineyard, and cause the consolation of thine eye, thy
noble child, to enter the garden of His exalted Kingdom.
"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
Verily, I read thine excellent letter and was informed of thy turning unto
God, thy drawing near unto the lofty holy Threshold, thy drinking from the
Fountain of Life and that thine heart hath partaken of the lights of
heaven. Verily, I beg of God to ordain for thee in the future to come to
this Blessed and White Land, to cause thee to hear the melodies of the
Dove and to grant that thou mayest present thyself before the hands of
Abdul-Baha.
Exert thyself, O maid-servant of God, that thou mayest guide thy relatives
and bring union and accord among the beloved ones and harmony among the
maid-servants of God; and that thou mayest become of the myrtles of the
Paradise of Oneness and of the trees of the Reality of Singleness.
Every flock of the sheep of God which is protected under the shadow of the
Divine Shepherd will not be scattered, but when the sheep are dispersed
from the flock, they will necessarily be caught and torn by the wolf.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to flock together! It is incumbent
upon you to be united! It is incumbent upon you to expose yourselves to
the fragrances of God at every time and moment!
Verily, I am with you when you turn unto God and are attracted to the
fragrances of God, and I pray for confirmation, union, harmony and love in
your behalf.
Deliver my greetings and praise to the maid-servants of God there.
"O thou wonderful leaf of the Tree of the Love of God!..."
O thou wonderful leaf of the Tree of the Love of God!
All that thou hast written was perused. It was read from beginning to end,
and it caused joy and fragrance. But we write a brief but useful answer,
on account of the lack of leisure. Engage thou in commemorating God at
every morn and turn unto the Horizon of Mercifulness.
Take some honey, recite "Ya Baha-ul-ABHA," and eat a little thereof for
several days. For these thy prevailing diseases are not on account of
sins, but they are to make thee detest this world and know that there is
no rest and composure in this temporal life.
I beg of God that thou mayest find a cheerful life, cause the increase of
the longing of all present in the meetings of the maid-servants of the
Merciful One and bring joy and happiness to the handmaidens of God; so
that thou mayest diffuse the fragrances and chant the manifest verses.
Supplication to God at morn and eve is conducive to the joy of hearts, and
prayer cause spirituality and fragrance. Thou shouldst necessarily
continue therein.
I beg of God that the closed door may be opened before the face of the
friends and that they may be enabled to visit the Holy Threshold.
Trust thou in the divine grace and have hope in the merciful gift. If thou
wishest for everlasting joy and happiness, engage thou in delivering
(teaching) the Cause of God night and day, for the commemoration of God
attracts confirmation and assistance like unto a magnet.
"O thou maid-servant of God!..."
O thou maid-servant of God!
Thy letter was received and thy words produced effect in the hearts. For
thy letter showed thy love for the Glorious Lord, proved thy knowledge of
His Highness, the Merciful One, and indicated thy effort and exertion in
unifying the beloved ones and creating harmony among the chosen ones.
O thou esteemed (or dear) maid-servant of God! All that thou hast looked
upon--even in the dominion of Victoria, the Queen of England--is but an
image on the water and a mirage of phantasms! That which is a reality and
is eternal and everlasting is the love of God, is the knowledge of His
Highness, the Forgiver, is the spread of the perspicuous religion of God,
the uplifting of the Word of God, and the diffusion of the lights of the
guidance of God!
I beg of God, that thou and thy revered husband and thy affectionate
father will be confirmed by the gift of the Merciful One; and that thy
brother will also follow you, in order that he may, through the gems and
pearls of the guidance of God, wear a kingly crown on his head.
O thou favored maid-servant of God! I give thee the name Natekah (i.e.,
Speaker--gifted with speech; it can also be written Nate_gh_eh), in order
that thou mayest find an eloquent speech in teaching (the Truth); that
thou mayest kindle the lamp of light in those parts, especially in
Baltimore, and bestow joy and happiness upon the hearts through the
commemoration of God.
My good pleasure is in this, that thou shouldst devote thy time wholly to
teaching (the Truth), so that thou mayest train the souls, illumine the
eyes, and make the ears hearing.
"O thou bird who art warbling in the Garden of the..."
O thou bird who art warbling in the Garden of the Guidance of God!
Verily, I read thy excellent and brilliant letter. It showed how thou hast
sought the fire of guidance from the Sinaitic Tree, and art shining by the
light of faithfulness of the Supreme Concourse.
Blessed art thou; again, blessed art thou! Glad-tidings be unto thee;
again, glad-tidings be unto thee!
Appreciate the worth of this peerless and choice Pearl (of the Truth). By
the life of God, verily, this is the most splendid jewel which glitters on
the crown of glory, among all the people of the world.
"O ye two doves, flying in the verdant Gardens of the..."
O ye(93) two doves, flying in the verdant Gardens of the Kingdom!
Thank ye your Lord for that by reason of which He hath guided you into the
Path of Safety, led you unto the Fountain of Life, turned your faces unto
the Lord of the evident Signs, and baptized you with the Water of Life,
and the everlasting spirit of safety, in this new and glorious century.
Your pictures came to the presence of the servant of God, who is
supplicating to His Kingdom that He may cause to descend upon you the
heavenly blessings. He was rejoiced by seeing your likenesses, for his
spirit is attached to the Spirit. And from the flowers, which were
enclosed in your note, he has smelled the scent of the gardens of your
hearts, which are ornamented by the flowers of faith and assurance; and I
ask God to continue sending upon you the gifts of His merciful benevolence
at all times.
"O thou who art attracted to the Bounty of El-ABHA!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Bounty of El-ABHA!
Verily, I have read thine excellent message, which announced thy praise to
thy Supreme Lord, and I have understood thine effort and endeavor in
spreading the perfume of guidance and propagating the Supreme Word!
Verily, I implore God to keep thee and thy wife steadfast in such service
with which both of your faces may shine in the Concourse of El-ABHA!
Indeed, this is the treasure of the Kingdom, which (treasure) ceaseth not;
and I beg of Him to cause you (both) to be in no need of the false beauty
of the world and to be as two rising stars in the horizon of existence!
"O thou messenger in the command of God!..."
O thou messenger in the command of God!
Blessed art thou for guiding ........ unto the Fountain of the Water of
Life, caused him to enter the Ark of Safety, demonstrated unto him the
manifest signs, and proved to him the elegant proofs. May God reward thee
with the best of rewards, in the end and the beginning. Therefore,
continue spreading the fragrances of God in this new age, which dawns as
the sun with the lights of favors unto the horizon of ages and
centuries.***
"O thou maid-servant of God!..."
O thou maid-servant of God!
Be rejoiced at the mercy of God and be delighted by the remembrance of thy
Master! Thank thou Him, for He hath removed the veils from thy wight and
shown thee a Glorious Face! Blessed art thou, as thou hast sought
martyrdom in the Cause of God! Know thou verily, He will strengthen thee
to the service of His Cause in His vineyard.
"O thou who art set aglow with the Fire of the Love of..."
O thou who art set aglow with the Fire of the Love of God!
Thy letter reached me and I noted its beautiful contents. I ask God to
augment thy faith, certainty, steadfastness and firmness, that thus thou
mayest be a cause for enkindling the fire of the love of God in the hearts
of the maid-servants of God.
We sent thee a rosary, as thou didst so wish. Mention God(94) with this
and thus thou mayest be strengthened in spirit and fragrance, in joy and
love.
Convey my greeting and praise to thy honorable husband, Mr. ........, the
beloved, the precious and honored.
"O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom of..."
O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom of God!
I received thy letter and was informed of the content of thy speech.
Know thou, verily, Baha' was the Sun of Love and Peace, who shone forth
with the Light of Guidance and was a Spirit of Life to all regions. The
signs of His effulgence shall appear when the love of God shall influence
the hearts, just as the soul influenceth bodies. The clouds of darkness
shall be dispelled from the manifest light of love and peace, and from the
abundant bounty of reconciliation and tranquillity.
As to thee: Do not look at thy weakness and impotence; nay, look at the
power of thy Lord, which hath surrounded all regions. The sea of
forgiveness hath moved and the waves of pardon and beneficence have
submerged the people of sin. Be isolated from the grades of self and
desire, so that thou mayest succeed in that which behooveth the service of
the Kingdom of God, and that thou mayest be healed from every disease and
sickness.
As to the "white dove," it is the Holy Spirit. It shall flutter over thee
and over the head of the beloved of God.
Verily I beseech God to assist thee with the spirit of knowledge and
enable thee to be good and benevolent to all the people of religions.
"O thou who art advancing toward the Divine..."
O thou who art advancing toward the Divine Kingdom!