Commune to be read by the friends of God in Persia

He is God!

Thou seest me, O my God, on this lofty mountain; the sublime and supreme threshold; the shelter of every great one and the refuge of all the glorious and noble.

Verily, the youths whose hearts were burning with the fire of the love of God in the past ages have taken shelter therein—the meeting place of the prophets, the refuge of his holiness Elijah, the shelter of Isaiah. The spirit of God, Jesus, the Christ—upon Him be greeting and praise!—passed over it, and in the Supreme Threshold, pressed by the feet of the Lord of Hosts.

O Lord, this is a mountain to which Thou hast given the name Carmel in the Torah. And thou hast attributed it to Thyself in the innermost heart of the tablets and scriptures.

O Lord, verily, I invoke Thee in this Supreme Threshold, under the wing of the gloomy nights; pray to Thee with throbbing heart and flowing tears, imploring Thee, supplicating between Thy hands and cry, O my Lord, verily, the fire of battles is raging in the valleys, hills and streams, and the fire of war is burning even under the seas and high in the air, in destruction and devastation. The earth is enveloped by its own fires and the seas are encompassed by its storms, thunderbolts and floods.

O Lord, the souls are stifling, the death rattle is in their throats, the earth quakes and has become so small that even the birds are frightened in their nests and the animals terrified in their lairs and caves.

We hear only the sighs of the maidens and the cries of the orphans, the moaning of the mothers, the tears of the fathers because of false reports. We see only tears flowing from every bereaved mother and the heart of every father, bereft of sons, burning. Towns are being devastated, people are perishing, the children are made orphans and the women are becoming widows. And this is only because of our heedlessness of Thy commemoration and our deprivation of Thy love. Verily, we have been occupied with ourselves. The intoxication of passion seized us; we have taken the road of heedlessness and blindness; have abandoned the path of guidance and have chosen the path of obstinacy and forgotten the commandments of the ancient scriptures. We have forsaken the exhortations in the preserved tablets and parchments—the great verses.

To Jenabe Amin

He is God!

O Jenabe Amin!

Although the doors are closed, the ways and the roads are severed and the means of communication are lost, yet the ideal ties and inner communications still exist. Though the mirror and the lights are far apart, yet the uniting force of the rays and the outpouring of reflections are strong and continuous.

The friends of God must move and conduct themselves with the utmost uprightness and power, so that all that are in the world of existence may become amazed at their firmness and steadfastness, their dignity and might.

This servant day and night is thinking of the friends in the utmost joy and fragrance, supplicating to His Holiness, The Merciful, for unlimited confirmations, so that every drop may become like unto the ocean, full of waves, and every atom expand in the rays of the sun. This is not much to ask of the favor of God.

Convey the utmost longing to every one of the friends. Praise be to God! through the assistance and the bounty of His Holiness, the Single, we are in perfect health on Mount Carmel, at the home of his honor, Aqa Abbas Quli. On account of the severance of communication, to inquire about the friends and convey news of the safety here, his honor, Haji Ramazan is sent, because no one else is able to travel this road in these days.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 14, November 23, 1917)

Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension and the growth of the Faith

O ye friends of God and assistants of ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

When the Sun of Truth was concealed behind the cloud of glory, the orb of the universe disappeared from the dawning-place of the visible and shone forth in the invisible world, and conferred successive bounties upon the contingent world, then from the unseen realms, the bats began to move, opened their wings and flew around. They supposed they could interrupt the glorious bounties of that beautiful face, quench the shining rays of the Sun of Truth; extinguish the ignited fire and destroy the praiseworthy light; for they imagined that on account of the departure of His Highness the desired One, the divine foundations would be demolished and the blessed tree uprooted. Evil was that which they imagined and thou findest them in this day in manifest loss.

For, according to what was heard, the enemies in some of the lands, upon receiving the news of the most great disaster, held banquets. They rejoiced and made merry, celebrated festivals, burned incense, served sweets and flowers, lit many a candle, mixed honey and wine, played lutes and harps, spent that evening in cheerfulness and gladness until dawn, and sought delight and pleasure. But (they were) heedless that the bounty of that Sun has no end, the torrent of that rain is free from interruption, the radiance of that blessed Orb is continual, and that the dominion of the “Merciful One (who) is established upon the Throne” is permanent. Nay, rather, the human temple, like unto a cloud, prevents (people) from beholding the rays of the Sun. Therefore, it is said in the Gospel that when His Highness the Promised One comes, he shall be mounted on a cloud; but when that noble cloud is concealed, then shall the disk of the sun become manifest and transmit intense rays throughout all regions.

To Miss Jean Masson, Chicago

O thou respected one, a herald of the Kingdom of God!

The article that thou hast written concerning the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar contained eloquent paragraphs and wonderful and subtle significances. At the time of writing the power of attraction was manifest and apparent and the real Teacher was instructing and inspiring. Consequently, it was composed in the utmost fluency and eloquence.

Today, whosoever turns his face toward the Lord of the Kingdom and, with sincere intention, taking the pen in his hand, engages his time in writing, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit shall confirm him and the power of the Kingdom of God shall instruct him.

Therefore, rest thou assured in the divine graces and occupy thy time with the utmost power and seriousness in writing and composition, in talking and explanation.

Consider, how in former ages a number of women became confirmed and assisted in the demonstration of faith and assurance and how in this mortal world they left behind immortal names.

To Miss Agnes Alexander

O thou daughter of the kingdom! Thy letter dated July 15th, 1916, received. Its contents indicated that thou hast organized a meeting in Japan. Consider thou what a great favor God has bestowed that such spiritual meetings are being held in Tokyo and such heavenly gifts are being distributed! God says in the Qur’an: “The example of the people of faith is like unto a field which obtains freshness and verdancy from the rain descending from the clouds, attaining to full fruition and finding the blessing of the Kingdom! There is no doubt that day by day it will grow and develop and in the end the ears of the sheaves will be laden with God’s benediction, bringing forth an hundred fold.”

Now, ye are the fields of the plain of Reality and are under the protection of the educative rays of the Sun of Truth. At every moment ye obtain a new vitality from the rain of divine bestowals and ere long ye will produce full grown seeds which are blessed by the care and attention of the Divine Farmer. There is no doubt that such will be the end.

Convey on my behalf the utmost longing greeting to the friends residing in Tokyo as well as the recently arrived travellers and say to them: All the individuals of humanity are farmers. Every soul sows a certain kind of seed, but at the season of the-harvest there will be gathered no result, except from the seeds which are sown by the believers of God. That alone will obtain heavenly blessing. Reflect that His Holiness Christ and His Holiness Muhammad scattered such holy seeds the fruits of which are being gathered till now; but all the other farmers were finally doomed to regret and disappointment.

Upon ye be greeting and praise.

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To Mr. Fulsuta San

O thou who art guided by the Light of Guidance! Thy first and second letters were received. Praise be to God, that the light of guidance shone forth, the glass of the heart became luminous and the darkness of ignorance dispelled. The Most Great Guidance is a crown, the brilliant gems of which will shine upon all the future ages and cycles. If it is placed on the head of a servant, he will become the object of the envy of the kings; for this is an imperishable crown and an everlasting sovereignty. God says in the great Qur’an: “He specializes with His mercy whomsoever He desireth.”

Praise be to God, that thou hast become specialized with divine favor and bounty. Thou didst become awake, beheld the lights and hearkened unto the melody of the Supreme Concourse. In the glorious Gospel it is said: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” That is you have found this bestowal; you have paid nothing for it: therefore give it to others without any exchange. Now with a heavenly power, with a lordly gift, with spiritual morals, with God-like deeds and with supreme glad tidings be thou engaged in the promotion of the teachings of God in Japan. The confirmation of the Kingdom shall encompass you and the cohorts of the realm of might will grant triumph.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To the maidservant of God, Miss Agnes Alexander

Upon her be greeting and praise!

O thou heavenly daughter!

Thy letter through Mr. Hannen received from Japan, likewise the letters of Mr. Fukuta. The contents of both letters imparted exceeding joy, for each word was an eloquent tongue explaining the wonders of the love of God and elucidating the story of the attraction of the heart with the breaths of the holy spirit.

Praise be to God, that thou hast become assisted to promulgate the Word of God in Japan. Ere long this circle in Japan will be enlarged, obtaining heavenly blessing.

God says in the glorious Qur’an: “A seed, growing out of it seven ears and every ear containing one hundred kernels, and God is able to double this for whomsoever He willeth." This verse means this: Whenever the word of truth is proclaimed it is like unto a seed which sown in a pure soil brings forth seven ears and every ear produces one hundred kernels and God says again that for whomsoever He desireth He will double this number, that is: He will make the seven hundred kernels fourteen hundred.

Now I hope that thy call in Japan may be like unto that seed, so that it may obtain heavenly blessing and benediction and the souls be educated and taught the oneness and singleness of God, the truthfulness of the prophets and the usefulness of the divine teachings.

An answer is written to the letters of Mr. Fukuta and forwarded. Present it to him.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To Maria P. Wilson, Malden, Mass.

O thou my respected hostess! The days that I was a guest in thy home are ever before my sight. They then include happy days, for they passed away in joy.

Truly, I say, with all thy power thou didst serve us and displayed towards us the utmost kindness. This service appeared through the sincerity of thine intention, thy love for humanity, and thy praiseworthy morals. At present, also, thou art engaged day and night in the service of the Kingdom of God, and art occupied in the promotion of heavenly teachings. Plant thou a tree which may yield sweet fruits throughout all eternity. Scatter thou such pure seeds which may produce various crops in the future ages and cycles, This is made possible through self-sacrifice in the path of God, and complete evanescence in the love of God—so that no trace of self, ego and desires be left behind; thus thou mayest consecrate thyself wholly and entirely to the heavenly Beloved.

Convey on my behalf to each and all the friends—men and women—my loving and yearning greetings.

Upon thee be greeting and praise.

- 'Abdu’l-Baha  (Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s vision for Green Acre

O thou maid-servant of God! Thy letter was received. Thy desire to serve Green Acre is in reality a very important matter. This name (Green Acre) must appear with all its significant meaning, that is Green Acre must become the reflection of the plain of Acca, and attain to the utmost verdancy, greenness and artistic beauty. Its charms and wonder lie in this, that it may become the center of the Baha’is and the cry of 'Ya Baha’u’l-Abha' be raised from all its direction. I hope that all thy aspirations may become fully realized. Upon thee be greeting and praise."

- 'Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

“seeds which are sown by the believers of God”

All the individuals of humanity are farmers. Every soul sows a certain kind of seed, but at the season of the harvest there will be gathered no result, except from the seeds which are sown by the believers of God. That alone will obtain heavenly blessing. Reflect that His Holiness Christ and His Holiness Muhammed scattered such holy seeds the fruits of which are being gathered till now; but all the other farmers were finally doomed to regret and disappointment. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)