He is God!
O servant of the True One!
What thou hadst written was known. It was a clear evidence of thy thoughtfulness
and mindfulness in the Cause of the most Merciful One. I supplicate God that
thou mayest at every moment advance in the grades of divine love and devotion,
spiritual attraction and merciful sentiments; and be benevolent and a comfort
to both friends and strangers.
It is mentioned in the Gospel that a man called His
Holiness, Christ, "Good Master".
His Holiness said unto him, "Why callest thou Me good? None is good
save One, that is God." So 'Abdu'l-Bahá wishes a sin covering eye and
conceals the people's faults as far as possible; for he considers himself
incapable and deficient in the Servitude of the Lord. Therefore, being engaged
in his own short-comings, he does not care about the sins of others, but always
asks remission and forgiveness for them, and seeks bounty and grace in their
behalf.
If a fault is committed by someone and I treat him with
kindness, this is not on account of my negligence; but as I acknowledge my own
short-comings and am cognizant of my own state, I do not show any opposition to
others.
It is recorded in the Gospel that an adulteress was brought to the presence of Jesus Christ and confessed her sin. Those present asked Him why He did not command her to be stoned. He said, he who does not deserve a legal punishment, that is to say, "he that is without sin", may get up and stone the adulteress. All of them looking upon themselves found themselves sinful, and "went out one by one".
Now it is this condition which must always be had under
consideration, otherwise the matter will be difficult. It is said in the Qur'án, "Hadst thou
been severe and hard-hearted, they had surely separated themselves from about
Thee." But the people must be just. If, notwithstanding their injustice,
they receive favours, this will make them mindful and admonished. As to my
short-comings in case of other persons who are firm, devoted and steadfast: I
always acknowledge and confess my weakness and my failure and the beloved of God
will certainly excuse. When a letter is received from them, I have done my best
possible to send them an answer.
Moreover writing letters has nothing to do with that pure, spiritual and
divine love. Many persons in the blessed
days (i.e., in the time of the Blessed Perfection) were recipients of favours,
and had numerous long Tablets, but in this day wavered in such a manner that
they did not hearken to or obey the divine commandments, and overlooked even
the commands revealed in their own Tablets. Yet there are some other souls who
have in this day not, been addressed in the Day of the Blessed Perfection. This
is from the Bounty of God; He grants to whomsoever He willeth. God is the possessor of Great Bounty.
The essential thing and the real nearness to God, is to be
steadfast in the Religion of God, to serve His Cause and to be in Servitude at
the Threshold of Unity. This is necessary.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)
