Upon him be Baha’u’l-Abha!
He Is God
O Thou Servant of the
Beauty of Abha!
I received thy letter and the books that thou hadst sent
have been received. Convey, on my behalf, most wonderful Abha, greetings unto
Mr. Albert R. Windust, Miss Gertrude Buikema and Miss Mary Lesch. During hours
of leisure, when in the middle of the night I engage in supplications, I shall
beg for assistance and favor in their behalf. Indeed, they have made a great
effort in the printing and publication of the Letters (i.e. Tablets) [1]
As to the difference between the natural (i.e. physical or
material) civilization which is in the present day in force, and the Divine
civilization which shall be of the results of The House of Justice: The
material civilization prevents and safeguards people from committing evil
deeds, through the force of the laws of retaliation and correction. Thus, you
see how prohibitory laws and rules of correction are constantly in circulation
and yet, by no means, any (adequate) law of retribution is to be found; and in
all the cities of Europe and America spacious prison buildings have been
founded and established for correcting and punishing the criminals.
But the Divine civilization will so train mankind that no soul will commit crimes, except rare (or few) individuals, which exception is of no importance whatsoever. Consequently, there is much difference between preventing people from evil actions and crimes through correction and retaliation or through violent punishment, and so training them, enlightening them and spiritualizing them that they will shun crimes and evil deeds without any fear (however) of punishment, prevention or retaliation. Nay, they will consider crimes themselves as the greatest punishment and mightiest retribution, will be attracted to the virtues of the human world and devotedly spend their lives in that which is conducive to the enlightenment of mankind and to spreading qualities acceptable in the Threshold of the Almighty.
Consequently, consider what a difference and distinction is
there between the material civilization and the Divine civilization! The
natural civilization prevents men from doing harm and wrong through force and
punishment and thus withholds them from committing crimes. But the Divine
civilization so trains men that the human individuals avoid sins without having
any fear from (material) punishment; and the very sin itself becomes unto them
as the severest punishment. And they will engage in acquiring human virtues,
gaining that by which mankind will be uplifted and that which will enlighten
the human world with the utmost zeal and fervor.
O Thou Creator! Bring the American friends nigh unto the
Kingdom of Abha and suffer their deeds and actions to be in conformity with the
Commandments and Exhortations written in the Tablets. Make them firm in Thy
Love and steadfast in Thy Cause. Attract them unto the Baha’i Beauty and cause
them to attain infinite warmth and fervor. Bestow upon them a firm footing and
give them a heavenly power in order that they may engage in Thy service and
spread the Signs of the Kingdom.
Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty! Thou art the
Compassionate, the Gracious, the Seer!
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
Convey, on my behalf, the most wonderful Abha, greeting to
his honor, Mr. MacNutt and Mrs. MacNutt.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
[1] Refers to the compilation of three volumes of “Tablets
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha”, by the Baha’i Publishing Society in America.
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 3, April 28, 1911)
