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 may arise; that they may
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!
23 Upon you be Baha'u'l-Abha!
Supplication
O GOD, my God! Thou seest how black darkness is enshrouding all regions,
how all countries are burning with the flame of dissension, and the fire
of war and carnage is blazing throughout the East and the West. Blood is
flowing, corpses bestrew the ground, and severed heads are fallen on the
dust of the battlefield.
O Lord! Have pity on these ignorant ones and look upon them with the eye
of forgiveness and pardon. Extinguish this fire, so that these dense
clouds which obscure the horizon may be scattered, the Sun of Reality
shine forth with the rays of conciliation, this intense gloom be dispelled
and the resplendent light of peace shed its radiance upon all countries.
O Lord! Draw up the people from the abyss of the ocean of hatred and
enmity, and deliver them from this impenetrable darkness. Unite their
hearts, and brighten their eyes with the light of peace and
reconciliation. Deliver them from the depths of war and bloodshed, and
free them from the darkness of error. Remove the veil from their eyes, and
enlighten their hearts with the light of guidance. Treat them with Thy
tender mercy and compassion, and deal not with them according to Thy
justice and wrath which cause the limbs of the mighty to quake.
O Lord! Wars have persisted. Distress and anxiety have waxed great and
every flourishing region is laid waste.
O Lord! Hearts are heavy, and souls are in anguish. Have mercy on these
poor souls and do not leave them to the excesses of their own desires.
O Lord! Make manifest in Thy lands humble and submissive souls, their
faces illumined with the rays of guidance, severed from the world,
extolling Thy Name, uttering Thy praise, and diffusing the fragrance of
Thy holiness amongst mankind.
O Lord! Strengthen their backs, gird up their loins, and enrapture their
hearts with the most mighty signs of Thy love.
O Lord! Verily, they are weak, and Thou art the Powerful and the Mighty;
they are impotent, and Thou art the Helper and the Merciful.
O Lord! The ocean of rebellion is surging, and these tempests will not be
stilled save through Thy boundless grace which hath embraced all regions.
O Lord! Verily, the people are in the abyss of passion, and naught can
save them but Thine infinite bounties.
O Lord! Dispel the darkness of these corrupt desires, and illumine the
hearts with the lamp of Thy love through which all countries will erelong
be enlightened. Confirm, moreover, Thy loved ones, those who, leaving
their homelands, their families and their children, have, for the love of
Thy Beauty, traveled to foreign countries to diffuse Thy fragrances and
promulgate Thy teachings. Be Thou their companion in their loneliness,
their helper in a strange land, the remover of their sorrows, their
comforter in calamity. Be Thou a refreshing draught for their thirst, a
healing medicine for their ills and a balm for the burning ardor of their
hearts.
Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Lord of grace abounding, and,
verily, Thou art the Compassionate and the Merciful.
9: TABLET TO THE BAHA'IS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES
_Revealed on February 2, 1917, in Isma'il Aqa's room at the house of
'Abdu'l-Baha in Haifa, and addressed to the Baha'is of the nine
Northeastern States of the United States: Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and New York. _
1
_He is God!_
O ye real friends:
2 All countries, in the estimation of the one true God, are but one
country, and all cities and villages are on an equal footing. Neither
holds distinction over another. All of them are the fields of God and the
habitation of the souls of men. Through faith and certitude, and the
precedence achieved by one over another, however, the dweller conferreth
honor upon the dwelling, some of the countries achieve distinction, and
attain a preeminent position. For instance, notwithstanding that some of
the countries of Europe and of America are distinguished by, and surpass
other countries in, the salubrity of their climate, the wholesomeness of
their water, and the charm of their mountains, plains and prairies, yet
Palestine became the glory of all nations inasmuch as all the holy and
divine Manifestations, from the time of Abraham until the appearance of
the Seal of the Prophets (Muhammad), have lived in, or migrated to, or
traveled through, that country. Likewise, Mecca and Medina have achieved
illimitable glory, as the light of Prophethood shone forth therein. For
this reason Palestine and Hijaz have been distinguished from all other
countries.
3 Likewise, the continent of America is, in the eyes of the one true God,
the land wherein the splendors of His light shall be revealed, where the
mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled, where the righteous will abide
and the free assemble. 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'an, "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 wanteth 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"(14)--may be
realized.
4 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.
5 In brief, in these nine blessed states 'Abdu'l-Baha 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.
6 Now the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful must
irrigate these fields and with the utmost power engage themselves in the
cultivation of these heavenly plantations so that the seeds may grow and
develop, prosperity and blessing be realized and many rich and great
harvests be gathered in.
7 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.
8 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 you, and again blessed are you!"
9 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 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
enriched the poor; 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 are Thy servants and Thy poor ones; we are remote and
yearn for Thy presence, are athirst for the water of Thy fountain, are
ill, longing for Thy healing. We are walking in Thy path and have no aim
or hope save the diffusion of Thy fragrance, so that all souls may raise
the cry: O God, "Guide us to the straight path."(15) May their eyes be
opened to behold the light, and may they be freed from the darkness of
ignorance. May they gather around the lamp of Thy guidance. May every
portionless one receive a share. May the deprived become the confidants of
Thy mysteries.
O Almighty! Look upon us with the glance of mercifulness. Grant us
heavenly confirmation. Bestow upon us the breath of the Holy Spirit, so
that we may be assisted in Thy service and, like unto brilliant stars,
shine in these regions with the light of Thy guidance.
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Wise and the Seeing.
10: TABLET TO THE BAHA'IS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES
_Revealed on February 3, 1917, in Haifa in Isma'il Aqa's room, and
addressed to the Baha'is of the sixteen Southern States of the United
States: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. _
1 O ye blessed, respected souls:
2 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 the 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.
3 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.
4 Even the holy, divine Manifestations have had a nature in the 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
coordination.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 It is about twenty-three 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 greatest 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 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.
9 Nearly two thousand 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, erelong that province became illumined.
Thus it has become evident how the power of the Kingdom works!
10 Therefore, rest ye assured in the confirmations of the Merciful and the
assistance of the Most High; become ye sanctified above and purified from
this world and the inhabitants thereof; suffer your intentions to work 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.
11 Upon you be greeting and praise!
Every soul who travels through the cities, villages and hamlets of these
states and is engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, should
peruse this commune every morning:
O MY God! O my God! Thou seest me in my lowliness and weakness, occupied
with the greatest undertaking, determined to raise Thy word among the
masses and to spread Thy teachings among Thy peoples. How can I succeed
unless Thou assist me with the breath of the Holy Spirit, help me to
triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious kingdom, and shower upon me Thy
confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of
water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns? O my Lord!
Assist me with Thy triumphant and effective might, so that my tongue may
utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow
with the wine of Thy love and knowledge.
Thou art the Omnipotent and the Doer of whatsoever Thou willest.
11: TABLET TO THE BAHA'IS OF THE CENTRAL STATES
_Revealed on February 8, 1917, in Baha'u'llah's room at the house of Abbud
in Akka, and addressed to the Baha'is of the twelve Central States of the
United States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. _
1
_He is God!_
O ye old believers and intimate friends:
2 God says in the great Qur'an: "He specializes for His Mercy whomsoever
He willeth."(16)
3 These twelve Central States of the United States are like unto 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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 raised uninterruptedly from the Supreme
Concourse.
7 Third: During the American journey 'Abdu'l-Baha 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.
8 Fourth: 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.
9 Fifth: The first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in America was instituted in
Chicago, and this honor and distinction is infinite in value. Out of this
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, without doubt, thousands of Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars
will be born.
10 Likewise (were instituted in Chicago) 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 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.
11 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. Exert yourselves; your mission is
unspeakably glorious. Should success crown your enterprise, America will
assuredly evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will
emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plentitude of
its majesty and glory, be firmly established.
12 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 in the Kingdom
of God is preferable to the throne of the government of the world.
13 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-Baha depends upon
this! I hope that you may become confirmed therein.
14 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 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 ecstasy. It is
certain that such will be the consummation.
Let the spreaders of the fragrances of God recite this prayer every
morning:
O LORD, my God! 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 splendors of Thy
light, inclined my ear to the melodies of the birds of holiness from the
kingdom of mysteries and attracted my heart with Thy love among the
righteous.
O Lord! Confirm me with the Holy Spirit, so that I may call in Thy Name
amongst the nations, and give the glad tidings of 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 lowly,
honor me through admitting me into Thy kingdom. I am remote, cause me to
approach the threshold of Thy mercifulness. O Lord! Make me a brilliant
lamp, a shining star and a blessed tree, adorned with fruit, its branches
overshadowing all these regions. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful
and Unconstrained.
12: TABLET TO THE BAHA'IS OF THE WESTERN STATES
_Revealed on February 15, 1917, in Baha'u'llah's room at the house of
Abbud in Akka, and addressed to the Baha'is of the eleven Western States
of the United States: New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California,
Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. _
1
_He is God!_
O ye friends and the maidservants of the Merciful, the chosen ones of the
Kingdom: