O ye faithful friends, O ye sincere servants of Baha'u'llah! Now, in the
midwatches of the night, when eyes are closed in slumber and all have laid
their heads upon the couch of rest and deep sleep, 'Abdu'l-Baha is wakeful
within the precincts of the Hallowed Shrine and, in the ardour of his
invocation uttereth this, his prayer:
O Thou kind and loving Providence! The east is astir and the west surgeth
even as the eternal billows of the sea. The gentle breezes of holiness are
diffused and, from the Unseen Kingdom, the rays of the Orb of Truth shine
forth resplendent. The anthems of divine unity are being chanted and the
ensigns of celestial might are waving. The angelic Voice is raised and,
even as the roaring of the leviathan, soundeth the call to selflessness
and evanescence. The triumphal cry Ya Baha'u'l-Abha resoundeth on every
side, and the call Ya 'Aliyyu'l-A'la ringeth throughout all regions. No
stir is there in the world save that of the Glory of the One Ravisher of
Hearts, and no tumult is there save the surging of the love of Him, the
Incomparable, the Well-Beloved.
The beloved of the Lord, with their musk-scented breath, burn like bright
candles in every clime, and the friends of the All-Merciful, even as
unfolding flowers, can be found in all regions. Not for a moment do they
rest; they breathe not but in remembrance of Thee, and crave naught but to
serve Thy Cause. In the meadows of truth they are as sweet-singing
nightingales, and in the flower-garden of guidance they are even as
brightly-coloured blossoms. With mystic flowers they adorn the walks of
the Garden of Reality; as swaying cypresses they line the riverbanks of
the Divine Will. Above the horizon of being they shine as radiant stars;
in the firmament of the world they gleam as resplendent orbs.
Manifestations of celestial grace are they, and daysprings of the light of
divine assistance.
Grant, O Thou Loving Lord, that all may stand firm and steadfast, shining
with everlasting splendour, so that, at every breath, gentle breezes may
blow from the bowers of Thy loving-kindness, that from the ocean of Thy
grace a mist may rise, that the kindly showers of Thy love may bestow
freshness, and the zephyr waft its perfume from the rose garden of divine
unity.
Vouchsafe, O Best Beloved of the World, a ray from Thy Splendour. O
Well-Beloved of mankind, shed upon us the light of Thy Countenance.
O God Omnipotent, do Thou shield us and be our refuge and, O Lord of
Being, show forth Thy might and Thy dominion.
O Thou loving Lord, the movers of sedition are in some regions astir and
active, and by night and day are inflicting a grievous wrong.
Even as wolves, tyrants are lying in wait, and the wronged, innocent flock
hath neither help nor succour. Hounds are on the trail of the gazelles of
the fields of divine unity, and the pheasant in the mountains of heavenly
guidance is pursued by the ravens of envy.
O Thou divine Providence, preserve and protect us! O Thou Who art our
Shield, save us and defend us! Keep us beneath Thy Shelter, and by Thy
Help save us from all ills. Thou art, indeed, the True Protector, the
Unseen Guardian, the Celestial Preserver, and the Heavenly Loving Lord.
O ye beloved of the Lord! On one side the standard of the One True God is
unfurled and the Voice of the Kingdom raised. The Cause of God is
spreading, and manifest in splendour are the wonders from on high. The
east is illumined and the west perfumed; fragrant with ambergris is the
north, and musk-scented the south.
On the other side the faithless wax in hate and rancour, ceaselessly
stirring up grievous sedition and mischief. No day goeth by but someone
raiseth the standard of revolt and spurreth his charger into the arena of
discord. No hour passeth but the vile adder bareth its fangs and
scattereth its deadly venom.
The beloved of the Lord are wrapped in utter sincerity and devotion,
unmindful of this rancour and malice. Smooth and insidious are these
snakes, these whisperers of evil, artful in their craft and guile. Be ye
on your guard and ever wakeful! Quick-witted and keen of intellect are the
faithful, and firm and steadfast are the assured. Act ye with all
circumspection!
'Fear ye the sagacity of the faithful, for he seeth with the divine
light!'
Beware lest any soul privily cause disruption or stir up strife. In the
Impregnable Stronghold be ye brave warriors, and for the Mighty Mansion a
valiant host. Exercise the utmost care, and day and night be on your
guard, that thereby the tyrant may inflict no harm.
Study the Tablet of the Holy Mariner that ye may know the truth and
consider that the Blessed Beauty hath fully foretold future events. Let
them who perceive take warning. Verily in this is a bounty for the
sincere!
Even as dust upon the Sacred Threshold, in utter humility and lowliness,
'Abdu'l-Baha is engaged in the promulgation of His signs in the daytime
and in the night season. Whensoever he findeth time he prayeth ardently,
and beseecheth Him tearfully and fervently, saying:
O Thou divine Providence, pitiful are we, grant us Thy succour; homeless
wanderers, give us Thy shelter; scattered, do Thou unite us; astray,
gather us to Thy fold; bereft, do Thou bestow upon us a share and portion;
athirst, lead us to the well-spring of Life; frail, strengthen us that we
may arise to help Thy Cause and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in
the pathway of guidance.
The faithless, however, by day and night, openly and privily do their
utmost to shake the foundations of the Cause, to root out the Blessed
Tree, to deprive this servant of service, to kindle secret sedition and
strife and to annihilate 'Abdu'l-Baha. Outwardly they appear as sheep, yet
inwardly they are naught but ravening wolves. Sweet in words, they are but
at heart a deadly poison.
O ye beloved ones, guard the Cause of God! Let no sweetness of tongue
beguile you--nay, rather consider the motive of every soul, and ponder the
thought he cherisheth. Be ye straightway mindful and on your guard. Avoid
him, yet be not aggressive! Refrain from censure and from slander, and
leave him in the Hand of God. Upon you rest the Glory of Glories.