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
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 Dayspring of Mercy hath 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."
Now is the time! Now is the accepted time!
Look ye at the time of Christ:- had the people realized that the Holy Spirit of God was speaking to them through His Divine Mouth, they would not have waited three centuries before accepting Him.
And now is it meet for you that you are sleeping upon the beds of idleness and neglect, while the Father, whose coming Christ foretold, has come among us, and opened the Greatest Door of Bounteous Gifts and Divine Favors?
Let us not be like those in past centuries, who were deaf to His Call, and blind to His Beauty; but let us try and open our eyes, that we may see Him; and open our ears that we may hear Him; and cleanse our hearts that He may come and abide in our temples.
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 ore 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 (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 4, no.
15, December 12, 1913)
Know thou, verily I say unto thee that the conditions of this mortal world, even if it be the kingship of the whole expanse of this globe, is ephemeral. It is an illusion. It is ended in nothing; neither does it contain any results, nor, in the estimation of God, is it equal to the wing of a mosquito.
Where are the kings and the queens? Where are the palaces and their mistresses? Where are the imperial thrones and jewelled crowns? Where are the mighty rulers of Persia, Greece and Rome? Verily, their palaces are in ruin and desolation, their thrones destroyed, and their crowns thrown to the dust.
But the signs of anyone of the maid-servants of God who arose in the diffusion of the Fragrances of God, serving the Kingdom of God, summoning the people to the Word of God, are widely spread eternally and handed down through centuries and cycles; her dawn is ever luminous; her star always shining; her flag continually flying; her station divinely glorified; her crown scintillating; her message living; her fame immortal; her voice resonant, her spirit in the apex of the Kingdom and her effulgence in the horizon of the Realm of Might.
I beg of God to make thee one of these maid-servants.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, quoted in ‘Diary of Mirza
Ahmad Sohrab,’ July 24, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 15, December 12,
1913)
The glad-tidings of the Kingdom of Abha are effective over the hard stone and resuscitates the dried bones. Like unto the down pouring of the vernal shower, they cause the growth of roses and hyacinths, jasmines and jonquils out of the black soil! Although the inhabitants of that city are submerged in the sea of materialism and it may take some time before they are awakened, yet the Melody of the Kingdom of Abha shall finally quicken them; the Cup of the Love of God will become full to overflowing, impart a wonderful exhilaration and allay the thirst of the thirsty ones.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, quoted in ‘Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab,’ July 24, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 15, December 12, 1913)
If thou desirest to be confirmed in the service of the Kingdom of God, live in accord with the Teachings of Baha’u’llah, and that is:—real love for the world of humanity and the utmost of kindness for the believers of God. This real love, like unto the magnetic power, attracts the Divine confirmations.
If a soul calls the people to the Kingdom of God according to the Principles of Baha’u’llah there will be many listeners. First one must teach by deeds; then speak The Word! First 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 (From a Tablet, quoted in ‘Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab,’ July 24, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 15, December 12, 1913)
That which is the most important of all the affairs in this day is to teach the Cause of God! You must engage in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, so that ye may impart life to the worlds, illumine the dark regions, confer new existence upon these mouldering, dead bodies, make intelligent and mindful these negligent hearts. Thus may they free themselves from this nether world and soar toward the Universe of the Almighty!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 15, December 12, 1913)
Upon whom be Baha’u’l-Abha
Thy letter, dated July 3, 1913, was received. Its contents indicated the firmness and steadfastness of the believers of God and told of the holding of a divine meeting in your radiant, charming country place. Praise be to God, that that day was spent in the utmost joy and happiness. That annual memorial meeting will be the souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, especially when it is passed with infinite delight and gladness. [1]
The confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha sall descend uninterruptedly upon those souls who are firm in The Covenant. Thou hast well observed that every firm one is assisted and aided and every violator is degraded, humiliated and lost. It is very astonishing that people are not admonished. They have observed how Mirza Mohammed Ali, on account of the violation of The Covenant, descended to the lowest degree of humiliation and yet they do not become mindful. They have seen how others through disobedience to the Testament have fallen into a well of degradation, and yet they are not awakened.
This Covenant is The Covenant of His Holiness Baha’u’llah. Now its importance is not known befittingly, but in the future it shall attain to such a degree of importance that if a king violates to the extent of one atom, he shall be cut off immediately.
Consider that during the life of Christ— may my life be a sacrifice to Him! —His Cause had no importance whatsoever; nay, rather the people scoffed and ridiculed Him and according to the Text of the Gospel, they called Him, Beezlebub. Now you can see the importance which it had later.
In short, thank thou God, that—praise be to Him!—in the garden of The Covenant thou art like a fragrant hyacinth and in the congregation of the love of God like an ignited candle.
Convey the wonderful Abha greeting to his honor Mr. Harris and his honor Mr. Hoar and all the believers in God.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 14, November 23, 1913)
[1] Refers to a Feast given at West Englewood, N. J., June
29, 1913, by the Bahais of New York city and vicinity, in commemoration of the
Feast given by Abdul-Baha on the same date in 1912
He is God!
O respected personage, thou seeker of Reality!
Thy letter was received. It was not a letter but a mirror in which was reflected the images of Reality. Therefore, through its reading and perusal the happiness of the heart was obtained. If the earthly house is destroyed, be thou not sad—may the palace of the Kingdom be upraised!
O thou bird of Reality! If thy terrestrial nest is ruined, be thou not unhappy—the heavenly nest is destined for thee. His Holiness, the Christ, the Holy Manifestations and the apostles possessed no nest whatsoever in this mortal world but in the universe of God, a glorious palace. It is hoped that through the Divine Bestowal, in a lofty station, in the universe of God, a radiant palace may become prepared for thee.
Consider that the palaces of former kings, from the day of Adam to the present time, are destroyed and ravaged by the relentless hand of time, but the towering palace of the believers of God are eternally built and never subject to destruction. Reflect carefully and thou shalt observe that all the foundations are uprooted but the foundation of the apostles of Jesus, which is becoming firmer and loftier day by day.
It is my hope that thou shalt likewise lay the basis of such a lofty palace. The foundation of this palace is to summon the people to the Call of the Kingdom of God; its galleries are the Principles of Baha’u’llah and its decorations the writings of the world of humanity; its radiant lamps are the lights of the Divine Kingdom.
Therefore, strive as much as thou canst to quicken the dead souls, to guide the erring ones, to cause to drink those who are thirsty and invite those who are hungry to sit around the heavenly table and partake of the Divine Food.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 13, November 4, 1913)
He is God!
O thou my doctor!
Thy letter was received. Thou hast written regarding thy aims. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! I hope that you may become confirmed therein, because the worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting; more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the teachings of His Holiness Baha’u’llah would be spread, the hearts illuminated, the spirits glorified and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.
I hope that the believers of God will shun completely backbiting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting is the cause of Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to the extent of one word, he may become dishonored among all the people, because the most hateful characteristic of man is fault-finding. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects.
It is related that His Holiness Christ—May my life be a sacrifice to Him! — one day, accompanied by His apostles, passed by the corpse of a dead animal. One of them said: "How putrid has this animal become!" The other exclaimed: "How it is deformed!" A third cried out: "What a stench! How cadaverous looking!" But His Holiness Christ said: "Look at its teeth! How white they are!" Consider, that He did not look at all at the defects of that animal; nay, rather, He searched well until He found the beautiful white teeth. He observed only the whiteness of the teeth and overlooked entirely the deformity of the body, the dissolution of its organs and the bad odor.
This is the attribute of the children of the Kingdom. This is the conduct and the manner of the real Baha’is. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station.
Upon thee and upon them be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 11, September 27, 1913)
Praise be to God that the New York believers became confirmed in the accomplishment of a great service and held in that city the consultation Convention for the erection of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar. They displayed the utmost of effort until that Convention was inaugurated with infinite perfection. They exercised the greatest of love and kindness towards all the delegates who had come from the different states. They invited and entertained the delegates in their homes. With perfect affection they spread before them the banquet of hospitality. Every one became grateful and happy. This event will adorn an important and blessed page in the Bahai history. ‘Abdu’l-Baha is pleased with every one and supplicates and entreats toward the Kingdom of Baha’u’llah and begs inexhaustible confirmations for the friends.
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 10, September 8, 1913)
Convey the wonderful Abha greeting to the believers. Chicago, in comparison with the cities of America, was in advance and numerically contained more Bahais, but when the stench (vile odor) of the nakazeen [Covenant-breakers] was spread in that city, there was a stagnation. The Cause in other cities of America is progressing day unto day, but Chicago is stationary. Therefore, strive that the sweet fragrance of the Testament and the Covenant may become diffused, the nostrils of the spiritual ones become perfumed, the banner of Ya Baha’u’l-Abha be unfurled and the tent of the Oneness of the world of humanity be pitched. Then ye shall observe that Chicago has become the Paradise of Abha. These few nakazeen cannot accomplish anything worthwhile. The utmost is this, that they will be the means of the drooping of the believers of God in that city. A person deprived of the spirit of the Covenant is sentenced as dead. The dead surely disintegrate. Therefore, breathe the spirit of the Covenant and the Testament as much as ye can in the hearts, so that the souls may progress day unto day and obtain a new exhilaration.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 10, September 8, 1913)
Upon him be Baha’u’l-Abha!
He is God!
O thou my spiritual son!
Thy letter written on ...., 1913, was duly received. Thank God that thou art firm and steadfast in the Cause. Today the magnetic power that attracts the divine confirmation is firmness and steadfastness. The tree whose root is firm will yield luscious fruit. The building whose foundation is solid will stand the rush of torrent and hurricane. The steamer which is built strongly will resist the battling waves. Therefore, thank thou God that thou art aided in firmness and steadfastness. Likewise, thy kind father and mother. I beg from the divine Favors that each one of you may be in the utmost state of firmness and steadfastness like unto a mountain and withstand the attack of all the people of the earth. Then ye shall observe how the divine confirmations shall descend uninterruptedly.
Convey on my behalf respectful greeting to all the believers and the maid-servants of the Merciful who are firm in the Covenant and the Testament.
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 10, September 8, 1913)
O servant of God!
Know thou, verily, the fragrances of the Garden of the Covenant have perfumed all regions, the Standard of the Testament is waving upon the castles of glory, and there is no refuge for those who flee from this strongly fortified Fortress!
Do the people of surmise imagine that there is for them any other retreat than this blessed Region from which the Lights have shone forth, the mysteries have appeared and the signs are being diffused?
O servant of God! Arise to promote the Word of God, to promulgate The Covenant of God, and chant the Verses of God with such power whereby the elements of discord may tremble in those regions!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 10, September 8, 1913)
He is God!
O thou whom my heart addresses!
Know thou, verily, The Covenant is an Orb which shines and gleams forth unto the universe. Verily, its light will dispel darkness, its sea will cast out the thick froth of suspicions upon the shore of perdition. Verily, naught in the world can ever resist the Power of the Kingdom. Should all mankind assemble, could they prevent the sun from its light, the winds from their blowing, the clouds from their showers, the mountains from their firmness or the stars from their beaming? No! By thy Lord, the Clement! Everything (in the world) is subject to corruption; but the Covenant of thy Lord shall continue to pervade all regions.
Address thou the waverers and say: "Have ye forgotten that which transpired in the time of Christ? Are ye not informed of the events which took place in His blessed Day? Did not the Pharisees rise against Him? Did they not give verdict to the shedding of His blood, to the murder of His friends and to oppressing His chosen ones? Have ye not heard concerning the heretics, the violators of His Covenant (who appeared) after Him? Are ye not informed of those kings, princes, learned and prominent men who persecuted Him? Did ye not see what has been the end of the persecutors?"
And do thou advise them and illumine their inmost part, and say unto them: "By God, the True One! Verily, ‘Abdu’l-Baha is assisted by the Beauty of Abha who helps him with a Power whereunto all the heads are made humble. You shall surely find the banner of hypocrisy reversed, the foundations of discord demolished and the Standards of Peace and Harmony waving throughout all regions!"
Upon them be Baha’u’l-Abha!
He is God!
O ye dear sons and beloved daughters of ‘Abdu’l-Baha!
When the days that I was your associate and intimate, pass before the mind, the heart is stirred into cheerfulness. What blessed days they were! What radiant nights they were! They will never be forgotten.
With the memory of you every morning I arise and every evening I raise the song of supplication toward the Kingdom of Abha and beg assistance and confirmation for you. I hope that, in Stuttgart, the Ensign of Signs may become unfurled, and the fire of the love of God may send forth such flames as will enlighten all around; that each one of those blessed souls may become like unto a lamp diffusing the light of guidance in all directions.
I send to those parts his honor, Mirza Ali Akbar, and his honor, Mirza Lotfullah, that they may associate with the friends, convey to them the yearnings of the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and explain the degrees of the powers of the Covenant and the importance of the Center of the Testament. These two persons are very blessed.
Assuredly the believers shall obtain joy and happiness through meeting them. Know ye this, that today the greatest of all affairs is obedience to the Center of God's Covenant; the power of the Covenant shall stir the regions, and the spirit of the Covenant shall resuscitate.
Therefore, all the believers, in all the meetings and gatherings, must mention the Covenant and raise the song of the Covenant.
Upon ye be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 9, August 20, 1913)
Upon her be Baha’u’l-Abha!
He is God!
O thou beloved maid-servant of God!
Thy letter was received. It was an indication that thou art spending thy days in the commemoration of the Blessed Perfection, and art firm and steadfast in the Covenant and Testament and art holding fast to the "Strong Rope."
Today firmness in the Covenant is the means of the promotion of the Word of God, and conducive to the effect of the word of man. Any explanation which does not accord with the Covenant will have no effect whatsoever. Therefore, whosoever herald the Covenant of God, unquestionably he is confirmed.
This has been tried a thousand times. Any soul who violates the Covenant and Testament the least degree, immediately he is cut off; even in this material world he will become afflicted with remorse and regret. Consequently, as much as ye are able, call the people to the Covenant and make the souls firm and steadfast.
Upon ye be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 5, June 5, 1913)
He is God!
O thou who host turned thy face towards the Kingdom!
I read what thou hadst written. Know thou that there is in
the world of existence a Center, for each great matter, and bounties shower
from that Center. For instance, in the circle of the sun, the sun is the center
of the light. Likewise there is a real Center for pure Love and now that Center
is manifest in this world, from which the Lights of Love reflect to all parts
of the Universe.
If thou partake but one ray from that Center, thou wouldst become sell-sufficient from the world, finding a new condition and witnessing an exaltation which overshadows all the existence.
Pray God that thou mayest catch with all thy exertion the Lights of Love from that Center.
Upon thee be greetings and praise!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
September 5, 1905 (Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 4, May 17, 1913)
O Friends of God! O spiritual companions!
The Lord of the peoples of the world declares in the beneficent Qur’an: "And there is for you in the Prophet of God a good example": That is to say, to follow His Holiness is a good example and to imitate that Real Leader is the means of acquiring success in both of the worlds. The followers of the Prophet were commanded to follow Him in all affairs and manners, and when some individuals, having recognized this safe path as the Straight Road, traveled therein, they became Kings in the Land of the Righteous and the Kingdom of the Elect.
And those souls who tried to acquire comfort with ease, deprived themselves of all bounties and perished in the lowest ditch of despair. Their days came to an end and their happiness terminated. Their bright morn became dark, and their transparent cup became full of dregs and rust. Their uprising star descended, and their bright luminary set.
But those pure souls who followed (in the footsteps of the Prophet) shone in the Highest Horizon as the Stars of Guidance and arose from the Dawning-place of hopes with matchless brilliancy. They sat on the Throne of the Kingdom of Eternity and rested on the couch of Divine Success. Their traces are clear and their lights brilliant; their star is luminous and their attendants are the armies of angels of the Heavens of Immortality. Their palace is firm and their edifice is strong. Their light is illumining the world and their heat is confirming the world.
Now judge for yourselves: Those souls who followed in the wake of that Manifest Light acquired such bounties and stations! If we now follow in the footsteps of the Most Glorious Beauty (Baha’u’llah) and the most Exalted Majesty (the Báb) - may my life be a sacrifice for those who suffered martyrdom in Their path - what would be the result?
Upon him be Baha’u’l-Abha!
O thou illumined youth and my spiritual beloved!
Thy letter was received and its perusal imparted happiness impossible to describe. It was an indication of the loftiness of thy nature, the strength of thy effort and the purity of thy intentions. ‘Abdu’l-Baha's happiness is caused by such matters.
If the material luxuries of the whole earth were available to ‘Abdu’l-Baba, He would not think for one moment that there is such a thing as comfort and luxury in the world. But when a soul-perfuming fragrance wafts from the rose-garden of the hearts of the friends to the nostrils of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, such joy is realized that involuntarily I render thanksgiving unto the Blessed Perfection Who has trained such servants.
In brief, your letter imparted to me the utmost happiness. This thought of yours is very appropriate.[1] I hope that a new quickening may be produced in the hearts of the believers, and great firmness and steadfastness become manifest, that this may lead to the guidance of others.
Therefore, with a divine power, a heavenly resolution and purpose, an eloquent tongue and a heart overflowing with the Love of God, take in thy hands the Tablets and travel throughout the cities, even as far as Honolulu in Hawaii. Travel thou in all the American cities. Call everyone to firmness in the Covenant! Exhilarate every one with the spiritual wine of the Covenant! And guide everyone to the diffusion of the fragrance of GOD! Raise the cry of ‘Ya-Baha’u’l-Abha!’ and call the name of "Ya-Ali’u’l-Alá [2]
Awaken the friends, for ere long a test shall come. Perchance some persons outwardly firm and inwardly wavering shall come to those parts in order to weaken the faith of the friends in the Covenant of God. Let them be awake! Let them be mindful! As soon as they see a trace of violation of the Covenant, they must hold aloof from the violator. Day and night let them strive so that the Lights of the Kingdom of Abha may encircle the globe and the darkness of error may entirely be dispelled...
Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
[1] *Referring to a letter telling of the spiritual
awakening among the people caused by ‘Abdu’l-Baha's visit in America.
[2] “O Thou the Exalted, the Most Exalted”. A form of the
name of the Báb, used as an invocation.
Upon them be Baha’u’l-Abha!
He is God!
O ye spiritual friends of Abdu'l-Baha!
"Perfume Thou the East! Illumine Thou the West! Bestow Thou light to the North! Grant Thou life to the South!” This verse bath been revealed from the lips of the Center of the Covenant one year after the departure of Baha’u’llah. But the Nakazeen [the Covenant-breakers] (not understanding its spiritual purport) wondered and derided. Praise be to God! that now its signs have become manifest, its powers evident, and its proof plain. Thanks be unto Him! that the East and the West are stirred into cheerfulness, and through the Holy Fragrances all directions are perfumed.
The Blessed Perfection, in a clear text, hath promised us in the Book: "Verily I behold you from the horizon of Abha and will make victorious whomsoever will arise in the service of my Cause with the hosts of the Supreme Concourse and the cohorts of the favored angels." Praise be to God! that this victory and confirmation became visible and manifest and hath shone forth from the horizon of the world like unto the sun.
Therefore, O ye friends of God! Show ye forth an earnest endeavor and display ye a resolute effort, so that ye may become assisted in the adoration of the Ancient Beauty and the Manifest Light; to be the cause of spreading the light of the Sun of Truth; to infuse into the dead, antiquated body of the world a new spirit; to cast in the fields of the hearts pure seeds; to arise in the service of the Cause; to speak with eloquent tongues; to become candles of guidance in the assemblage of the world; to become shining stars in the horizon of the existent being; to become merciful birds in the rose garden of oneness; to sing the melodies of realities and significances; to spend every breath of your existence in the service of this conspicuous light; so that in the end ye may be freed from loss and failure and attain to the inexhaustible treasury of the Kingdom.
For the life of man is wholly subject to danger and impermanency. A person cannot put his assurance even in one moment's continuity Notwithstanding this, the nations of the world, deceived by the mirage of superstition, imagine themselves secure in the heavenly way. Alas! Alas! Former communities in bygone ages entertained the same perishing thoughts; but by one of those periodical fluctuations they were all hidden under the ground, and afflicted with deprivation and loss, except those souls who had become pure evanescence and had arisen with a great self-abnegation in the path of God. Such souls shine forth as brilliant stars from the horizon of the Ancient Glory, and the results which emanated from their lives in succeeding ages and cycles are the proofs of this statement. Therefore, do not ye rest, neither day nor night; seek not ye for composure; talk ye of the mystery of servitude, and seek ye the path of thralldom; so that through the promised confirmations ye may receive assistance from the Kingdom of Oneness.
God, the Maker of the worlds, hath created the realm of humanity to be the Paradise of Eden (or the Garden of Paradise) if the edifice of Peace, Reconciliation, Love, and Faithfulness is founded on a solid and firm basis; nay, rather, He bath willed it to become the mirror, reflecting the Delectable Paradise. Then, and not until then, will all the divine bounties become manifold; happiness and wellbeing infinite; the virtues of the world of humanity revealed and resplendent; and the rays of the Sun of Reality visible from every direction.
Consider that his holiness Adam and others were living in Paradise. But as soon as strife became known between Him and Satan, everyone was driven away from Eden, so that the children of humanity might learn a lesson and realize that quarrels and strife, even though with Satan, are conducive to deprivation.
Therefore, in this radiant century, according to the heavenly teachings, altercation and dispute are not allowable, even though assailed by Satan himself.
Astonishing is it, that notwithstanding the inculcation of this lesson, yet man bas remained ignorant. From one end of the world to the other, the realm of humanity is engaged in hostilities and war. There is enmity between the religions. There is hatred between the classes. There is war between the fatherlands. There is contention between the diplomats. How delightful it would now be could these black clouds be dispersed from the horizon of the world, letting the light of Reality shine; the dust of slaughter and the crime of shedding blood be swept away; the breeze of providence from the Dawning Place of Peace and Salvation be wafted; thus the world would become a new world, and the face of the earth receive new life from the rays of the divinely effulgent light of God.
He is God!
O my true friends!
The friends on their return from Stuttgart are praising all the friends of the Merciful in that city, saying: Praise be to God! that the friends are in utmost attachment and are ignited by the Fire of the Love of God. They are occupied in naught but the Divine commemoration. And also the contents of your letter proved your great love.
It seems that the Light of the Sun of Truth will shine powerfully in Stuttgart and all over Germany; the Breath of the Holy Spirit will show forth a great result, and the Bounty of the Word of God will spread over all.
I give you the Glad tidings that your advancement in the Divine Kingdom will be great and that the Doors of the Kingdom are opened to all the people of Germany.
Who will embrace it first? I hope that the called ones of Germany may become the chosen ones.
Therefore you should seek no rest; nay rather endeavor day and night to guide the people, to give sight to the blind, to give life to the dead and to grant Everlasting Life.
Upon you be the Glory of God!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17, January 19, 1912)
O daughter of the Kingdom!
Your letter arrived, and its contents showed that Mr. Gregory, by visiting the blessed Tomb, hath received a new power, and obtained a new life. When he arrived at Stuttgart, although black of color, yet he shone as a bright light in the meeting of the friends. Verily, he hath greatly advanced in this journey, he received another life and obtained another power. When he returned, Gregory was quite another Gregory. He hath become a new creation. Reflect on the Grace of the Kingdom of Abha and see how it enlightened such a person. It has made him spiritual, heavenly, divine and a manifester of the graces of the world of humanity. This man shall progress.
Thank God that you esteem Miss Knobloch, because she was the cause of your guidance. With weeping and supplication I ask from the Kingdom of Abha, that He may vouchsafe heavenly blessings upon your father, mother, sisters and brothers; and graciously enlighten Frl. Schaffer, Frl. Andrassy and Frau. Kusterer with the Light of Guidance.
Convey my greetings to Herr Kruttner, and Herr Richard Bauerle. I supplicate to the Divine Glory, and ask for them bright hearts, merciful spirits, seeing eyes and hearing ears.
I ask God to make you a firm rooted, verdant and fruitful tree in the Paradise of Abha…
Upon thee be the Glory of the Most Glorious!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17, January 19, 1912)
O friends and maidservants of the Merciful!
Thanks be to God! that you have been gathered together and celebrated the birthday of the Báb with much joy and amity and were engaged in remembering God.
From the rose garden of that meeting a beautiful fragrance has reached to the nostrils of these friends, and the light of God's love hath shone; therefore, it was a cause of delighting the hearts of these friends. I ask God, by His infinite mercy, that such meetings may be held often.
Likewise, that the entertainment every nineteen days may become current among you; so that the friends and maidservants of the Merciful may be engaged in praising and remembering God and singing to Him, and may become the cause of guiding the people.
Upon you all be the Glory of the Most Glorious!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17, January 19, 1912)
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-Baha 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."
O ye friends of God and the beloved maidservants of the True One!
‘Abdu'l-Baha has the utmost longing to meet you, but now he is obliged to return to the East, for he has promised many friends and they having traveled a long way, will be disappointed if the meeting is not brought about.
Therefore, he has returned to Egypt and hopes that during the next spring no obstacle may arise, so that with infinite joy and fragrance he may hasten to America to meet the friends, to unfurl the banner of rejoicing, to spread the Glad Tidings of the Kingdom of Abha, to illumine the meetings and gatherings with the Rays of the Sun of Truth, to perfume the nostrils with the Fragrances of Holiness, to impart gladness and delight to the hearts, to attract the souls to the Realms of Might, to grant the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that in this nether world the congregation of the Righteous Ones may be firmly established.
Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! The bounties of the Most Great Name are descending. Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! The Lights of the Kingdom of Abha are shining. Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! The Doors of Heaven are opened and the call of the Kingdom is raised.
Upon you be Baha’u’l-Abha!
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)
Upon her be Baha’u’llah
He is God!
O thou who art enkindled by the fire of the love of God!
Verily, I have perused thy beautiful letter of wonderful composition, which proveth thy firmness, assurance and steadfastness in the faith; and thy singing the verses of holiness to thy Merciful Lord. Blessed art thou from this great gift. Joy be unto thee from this vast providence.
Know thou that the building of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is the greatest foundation in those regions. God said in the Koran, ''It is those who believed 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 effort in these days, in building this glorious Temple; raising the tumult of commemorations therein, 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 Him to make your feet firm in the straight path, and in the upright way.
(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)
May God assist him!
Upon them be the Glory of God!
In regard to the STAR OF THE WEST which in Rasht fell into
the hands of strangers. There was a wisdom in this. It will have great effect
in the future. The editors of the newspapers are mistaken. The literature of
the Baha’is has encircled the world and not alone Persia. The derision and the
scorn of the editors of the newspapers will be the cause of their own undoing
and regret. They must loosen their tongues in thankfulness and praise and
glorification that Praise be to God Persia has found such influence in America
that a magazine like unto the STAR OF THE WEST is founded. This behooveth them
to be thankful and not complain. This is the cause of the glory of Persia and
the Persians and not their shame. How long this community does not behold the
wonders and miracles of Thy Lord!
Through the maid servant of God, Mrs. Helen S. Goodall, to
the Members of the Assembly of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, San Francisco, California.
He is God!
He is God!