In Ishqabad, the believers of God made the erection of the Temple conducive to affinity and unity, so that it really became the cause of oneness of the Word. Ye, also, make the erection of the Temple in America conducive to the unity and oneness of the believers—of the maid-servants and servants of the Merciful—so that, with one thought and one aim they engage themselves in the building of the Temple.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Extract from a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 2, April 9, 1914)
The everlasting glory of the friends, and the heavenly sublimity of the believers, is to teach the Cause of God, to spread the Fragrances of God, and to Promote the Word of God!
I hope you may become assisted and confirmed therein. Then you will become a member of the congregation of the elect and a light in the Divine Assemblage.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Extract from a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 2, April 9, 1914)
If a soul calls the people to the Kingdom of God according to the Teachings of Baha’u’llah, there will be many listeners.
First, one must teach by deeds; then speak the word! One must become thirsty; then the salubrious Water be offered. No matter how delicious the Water is, one who is not thirsty will not enjoy it. Therefore, make ye an effort, so that the people may become thirsty; then cause them to quaff from the Divine Chalice.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Extract from a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
Consider how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá forgot all thoughts and mentions and turned his face towards the countries and empires, cities and villages, mountains and deserts of the West. Day and night he was engaged in teaching the Cause and conveying the Message. The principle upon which his trip [throughout Europe and America] was directed was this verse:
"O God! Make all my ideals and thoughts One Ideal and One Thought, and suffer me to attain to an eternal, unchangeable condition in Thy Service!"
He sought no rest, neither did he breathe one breath of comfort. Notwithstanding the weakness of constitution, the infirmity of the body and the nervous fever, every night I was in a city, and each day among a community. Although at times I could not speak one word before large audiences, I delivered lengthy addresses. Working in this manner shall bear fruit.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
Through whichever country thou goest speak thou with moderation. Call the people to the oneness of the world of humanity; the dawn of the Sun of Reality from the horizon of Persia; the servitude of Abdul-Baha, and then explain the Centership of The Covenant—and no more… Speak in accordance with that which I used to speak in the meetings, i.e... speak with moderation.
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
It is very acceptable and seasonable that thou hast taken this voyage. The Apostles of His Holiness Christ were always traveling and calling the people to the Kingdom of God. Consequently, walk thou in their footsteps. Travel thou to every country and under all circumstances raise the Call of the Kingdom of God. Mankind, like unto children, are satisfied with water and clay, and love to play with their play-things. Their ambitions are very inferior. Praise be to God! that thou hast a lofty ambition; therefore arise in calling the people to the Kingdom of God.
This Call shall fill the East and the West, and will continue throughout all ages and cycles. It is endless. That is why in this day, the wise and perceiving souls exalt the ideal and engage in heralding the Kingdom of God!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
Now you must engage in the service of the Cause of God with the utmost firmness, steadfastness and resolution, and expend day and night in the promotion of the Religion of God. Do not unloose your tongues save for conveying the Message! Do not behold save the Kingdom of Abha! Wish for no other companion save the True One. Do ye not desire other associate save turning thy face toward the Supreme Horizon. Do ye not search for any other delicacy save the Heavenly Food, and do ye not hope for any other sweetness save the love of the Beauty of Abha.
Praise be to God, that the Standard of Victory is unfurled over that region, and the fame of The Covenant has reached the ear of every wise and intelligent person.
Spiritual means are prepared. The Merciful Table is spread and the Banquet and the Feast of the Lord is inexhaustible. Now is the time of attraction and ecstasy! —so that region may become wholly illumined and that worthless dust be changed into fragrant musk.
I declare by the Blessed Perfection — May my life be a sacrifice to His believers —that if the believers arise to act according to the good-pleasure of the Blessed Perfection, the lights will be revealed, the mysteries discovered, the veils rent asunder, the darkness dispelled, the verses of unity chanted, and the melodies of the spiritual music of the Glorious Lord sung!
Show ye an effort! Work unceasingly! Labor diligently—so that the Everlasting Bounty be realized, Eternal Life be destined, and the nostrils be perfumed with the Holy Fragrances!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
Those who have passed on through death, have a sphere of their own. It is not removed from ours. Their work—the work of the Kingdom—is ours; but it is sanctified from what we call time and place. Those who have ascended have different attributes from those who are still on earth, yet, there is no real separation.
In prayer there is a mingling of station, a mingling of condition. Pray for them, as they pray for you! When you do not know it, and are in receptive attitude, they are able to make suggestions to you, if you are in difficulty. This sometimes happens in sleep. But there is no phenomenal intercourse! That which seems like phenomenal intercourse has another explanation.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 19, March 2, 1914)
O People! The Doors of the Kingdom are opened: The Sun of Truth is shining upon the world: the Fountains of Life are flowing; the Daysprings of Mercy have appeared; the Greatest and Most Glorious Light is now manifest to illuminate the hearts of men.
Wake up and hear the Voice of God calling from all parts of the Supreme World—"Come unto Me, O ye children of men; come unto Me, O ye who are thirsty, and drink from this sweet Water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe."
These days are the days of faith and deeds—not the days of words and lip service: Let us arise from the sleep of negligence, and realize what a great feast is prepared for us; first eating thereof ourselves, then giving unto others who are thirsting for the Water of Knowledge, and hungering for the Bread of Life.
These Great Days are swiftly passing; and once gone they can never be recalled. So, while the Rays of the Sun of Truth are still shining and The Center of The Covenant of God is manifest, let us go forth to work.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
Know thou that the building of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is the greatest foundation in those regions. God said in the Qur’an: "Those who believe in God and the Last Day, shall build the Temples of God." It is incumbent upon thee, and upon all, to put forth the best efforts in these days, in building this glorious Temple: raising the tumult of commemoration therein, during the wing of the night, at dawn, and at eventide. It is incumbent upon ye (men and women) to be united in this Great Cause, so that ye may be confirmed by the Divine Bounty and Merciful Spirit; become increased with energy and power, gain a recompense and estimation. I implore God, and supplicate to Him to make your feet firm in the straight path and the upright Way.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet to Claudia Stuart Coles, received in September 1911; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 19, March 2, 1914)
Regarding the phrase “He is God!” written above the Tablets. By this Word is intended that no one hath any access to the Invisible Essence. The way is barred and the road is impassable. In this world all men must turn their faces toward “Him-whom-God-shall-Manifest.” He is the Dawning-place of Divinity and the Manifestation of Deity. He is the Ultimate Goal, the Adored One of all and the Worshipped One of all. Otherwise, whatever flashes through the mind is not that Essence of essences and Reality of realities; nay, rather it is pure imagination woven by man—consequently, it returns finally to the realm of suppositions and conjectures.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 18, February 7, 1914)
Know thou verily these Divine Teachings are heavenly and spiritual. They penetrate in the heart as the penetration of the heat of the sun, the outpouring of clouds and the blowing of vernal winds at morning-time upon the trees. When the lights (of these Teachings) arose, they became spread, just as the shining dawn spreads upon the horizons. These wonderful traces shall surely appear throughout all regions and their lights will shine forth during centuries and ages forevermore.
As to thy question: "Why pray? What is the wisdom thereof? For God has established everything and executes the affairs after the best order, and He ordains everything according to a becoming measure and puts things in their (proper) places with the greatest propriety and perfection—therefore, what is the wisdom in beseeching and supplicating and in stating one's wants and seeking help?"
Know thou, verily, it is becoming of a weak one to supplicate to the Strong One, and it behooveth a seeker of bounty to beseech the Glorious Bountiful One. When one supplicates to his Lord, turns unto Him and seeks Bounty from His Ocean, this supplication is by itself a light to his heart, an illumination to his sight, a life to his soul and an exaltation for his being.
Therefore, during thy supplication to God and thy reciting, "Thy Name is my healing"—consider how thine heart is cheered up, thy soul delighted by the spirit of the Love of God, and thy mind becomes attracted to the Kingdom of God! By these attractions, one's ability and capacity increase. When the vessel is widened the water increaseth, and when the thirst grows the bounty of the cloud becomes agreeable to the taste of man. This is the mystery of supplication and the wisdom of stating one's wants (i. e., praying).
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 18, February 7, 1914)
O thou, my spiritual philosopher!
Thy letter was received. In reality its contents were eloquent, for it was an evidence of thy literary fairness and of thy investigation of Reality… There were many Doctors amongst the Jews, but they were all earthly, but St. Paul became heavenly because he could fly upwards. In his own time no one duly recognized him; nay, rather, he spent his days amidst difficulties and contempt. Afterwards it became known that he was not an earthly bird, he was a celestial one; he was not a natural philosopher, but a divine philosopher.
It is likewise my hope that in the future the East and the West may become conscious that thou wert a divine philosopher and a herald to the Kingdom…
Thy respected wife in reality deserves the utmost consideration… Praise be to God that she is also thy co-worker and co-partner in the perfection of the Kingdom.
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no.17, January 19, 1914)
He is God!
O thou son of the Kingdom!
A copy of the book written by thee and forwarded to this spot was received. The friends are engaged in reading it. They praise and commend your book most highly and appreciatively, God willing, it will be translated and I will likewise read it. Thank thou God that thou art confirmed and assisted; thy aim is to render service to the Kinbdom of Abha, and thy object is the promotion of the Teachings of Baha’u’llah. Although the glory and greatness of this service is not known for the present, but in future ages it shall assume most great importance and will attract the attention of the most great scholars. Therefore, strive more and more as much as thou canst in this service, so that it may become the cause of thy everlasting glory and in the Kingdom of Abha thou mayst shine like unto a star.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 16, December 31, 1913)
Look thou with seeing eyes at the world about thee and at the inhabitants thereof. Upon the stage of this immense theatre, most spectacular plays are being enacted. On one side thereof thou wilt see the victorious and the vanquished legions of profit and loss. On the other side thou wilt observe the waves of the sea of folly rising and falling. Cries are being raised on every side and the agonies of revolution, revolt and unrest reach unto the ears of progressive men. There is a tremendous strike and clash between capital and labor, and the war between the aristocrats and democrats is carried on relentlessly with bow and arrow, sword and javelin. The phalanxes of a great army are drawn in battle array, each division taking its position. Armed troops and artillery are to be found in every part of the field. The flash of the swords of enmity blind the eyes from even the most remote distance, the lightning effect of breast-plate and lance and the sparkle of the bucklers of hatred light up the night and bewilder the sight. In short: strife, battle, slaughter and war are prepared in organized perfection.
On the other hand thou wilt hear that from every house strains of music are raised, and confusing melodies of harp, lyre, cymbal and flute are heard, and mad revellers are dancing to the tunes, while they are inebriated with the wine of vanishing pleasures. In one place thou wilt behold the wanton and soiled decorations, and in another the flimsy shows of the gilded class of creatures. On the one hand is to be seen the embellishment and luxury made possible through illicit wealth, and on the other hand, the ravishing of this mortal world of its beautiful appearance.
O ye children of the Kingdom! [1]
It is New Year; that is to say, the rounding of the cycle of the year. A year is the expression of a cycle (of the sun); but now is the beginning of a cycle of Reality, a New Cycle, a New Age, a New Century, a New Time and a New Year. Therefore, it is very blessed.
I wish this blessing to appear and become manifest in the faces and characteristics of the believers, so that they, too, may become a new people, and having found new life and been baptized with fire and spirit, may make the world a new world, to the end that the old earth may disappear and the new earth appear; old ideas depart and new thoughts come; old garments be cast aside and new garments put on; ancient politics whose foundation is war, be discarded and modem politics founded on peace, raise the standard of victory; the new star shine and gleam and the new sun illumine and radiate; new flowers bloom; the new spring become known; the new breeze blow; the new bounty descend; the New Tree give forth new fruit; the new voice become raised and this new sound reach the ears, that the new will follow the new, and all the old furnishings and adornments be cast aside and new decorations put in their places.
I desire for you all that you will have this great assistance and partake of this great bounty, and that in spirit and heart you will strive and endeavor until the world of war become the world of peace; the world of darkness the world of light; satanic conduct be turned into heavenly behavior; the ruined places become built up; the sword be turned into the olive branch; the flash of hatred become the flame of the love of God and the noise of the gun the voice of the Kingdom; the soldiers of death the soldiers of life; all the nations of the world one nation; all races as one race; all national anthems harmonized into one melody.
Then this material realm will be Paradise, the earth Heaven, and the world of satan become the world of angels.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 16, December 31, 1913)
[1] Revealed for the American Baha’is, who in 1906 had sent
a Naw-Ruz greeting to ‘Abdu’l-Baha