October 24

Morning

Wert thou to quaff the mystic Wine of everlasting life from the chalice of the words of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, thou wouldst be enabled to forsake all that thou dost possess and to proclaim My Name before all mankind. Cleanse then thy soul with the waters of detachment. Verily, this is the Remembrance that hath shone forth above the horizon of creation, which shall purge thy soul from the dross of the world.  

- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Napoleon III, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

Evening

October 23

Morning

…in every age, the reading of the scriptures and holy books is for no other purpose except to enable the reader to apprehend their meaning and unravel their innermost mysteries. Otherwise reading, without understanding, is of no abiding profit unto man. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)

Evening

October 21

Morning

Commit not, O people, that which dishonoureth your name and the fair name of the Cause of God amongst men. Beware lest ye approach that which your minds abhor.  Fear God and follow not in the footsteps of them that are gone astray. 

- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Napoleon III, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

Evening

October 20

Morning

Verily, this is the Remembrance that hath shone forth above the horizon of creation, which shall purge thy soul from the dross of the world. Abandon thy palaces to the people of the graves, and thine empire to whosoever desireth it, and turn, then, unto the Kingdom. This, verily, is what God hath chosen for thee, wert thou of them that turn unto Him… Shouldst thou desire to bear the weight of thy dominion, bear it then to aid the Cause of thy Lord. Glorified be this station which whoever attaineth thereunto hath attained unto all good that proceedeth from Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. 

- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Napoleon III, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

Evening

October 19

Morning

Forget the world of creation, O Pen, and turn thou towards the face of thy Lord, the Lord of all names. Adorn, then, the world with the ornament of the favours of thy Lord, the King of everlasting days. For We perceive the fragrance of the Day whereon He Who is the Desire of all nations hath shed upon the kingdoms of the unseen and of the seen the splendour of the light of His most excellent names, and enveloped them with the radiance of the luminaries of His most gracious favours — favours which none can reckon except Him, Who is the omnipotent Protector of the entire creation. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)

Evening

October 18

Morning

Say: This is the Paradise on whose foliage the wine of utterance hath imprinted the testimony: “He that was hidden from the eyes of men is revealed, girded with sovereignty and power!” This is the Paradise the rustling of whose leaves proclaimeth: “O ye that inhabit the heavens and the earth! There hath appeared what hath never previously appeared. He Who, from everlasting, had concealed His Face from the sight of creation is now come.” From the whispering breeze that wafteth amidst its branches there cometh the cry: “He Who is the sovereign Lord of all is made manifest. The Kingdom is God’s,” while from its streaming waters can be heard the murmur: “All eyes are gladdened, for He Whom none hath beheld, Whose secret no one hath discovered, hath lifted the veil of glory, and uncovered the countenance of Beauty.” 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)

Evening

October 17

Morning

O my ill-wishers! The Day Star of eternal Guidance beareth me witness: Had it been in my power, I would have, under no circumstances, consented to distinguish myself amongst men, for the Name I bear utterly disdaineth to associate itself with this generation whose tongues are sullied and whose hearts are false. And whenever I chose to hold my peace and be still, lo, the voice of the Holy Ghost, standing on my right hand, aroused me, and the Supreme Spirit appeared before my face, and Gabriel overshadowed me, and the Spirit of Glory stirred within my bosom, bidding me arise and break my silence. If your hearing be purged and your ears be attentive, ye will assuredly perceive that every limb of my body, nay all the atoms of my being, proclaim and bear witness to this call: “God, besides Whom is none other God, and He, Whose beauty is now manifest, is the reflection of His glory unto all that are in heaven and on earth.” 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Evening

October 16

Morning

Know verily that whenever this Youth turneth His eyes towards His own self, he findeth it the most insignificant of all creation. When He contemplates, however, the bright effulgences He hath been empowered to manifest, lo, that self is transfigured before Him into a sovereign Potency permeating the essence of all things visible and invisible. Glory be to Him Who, through the power of truth, hath sent down the Manifestation of His own Self and entrusted Him with His message unto all mankind. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Evening

October 15

Morning

This is the Day whereon the unseen world crieth out: “Great is thy blessedness, O earth, for thou hast been made the footstool of thy God, and been chosen as the seat of His mighty throne.” The realm of glory exclaimeth: “Would that my life could be sacrificed for thee, for He Who is the Beloved of the All-Merciful hath established His sovereignty upon thee, through the power of His Name that hath been promised unto all things, whether of the past or of the future.” This is the Day whereon every sweet smelling thing hath derived its fragrance from the smell of My garment—a garment that hath shed its perfume upon the whole of creation. This is the Day whereon the rushing waters of everlasting life have gushed out of the Will of the All-Merciful. Haste ye, with your hearts and souls, and quaff your fill, O Concourse of the realms above! 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)

Evening

October 14

Morning

This is the Day whereon naught can be seen except the splendours of the Light that shineth from the face of Thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful. Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)

Evening

October 13

Morning

It behoveth the people of Bahá to die to the world and all that is therein, to be so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of Paradise may inhale from their garment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity, that all the peoples of the earth may recognize in their faces the brightness of the All-Merciful, and that through them may be spread abroad the signs and tokens of God, the Almighty, the All-Wise. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Evening

October 12

Morning

Describing the people of Bahá, the Most Sublime Pen hath sent down these words: “These, verily, are men who if they come to cities of pure gold will consider them not; and if they meet the fairest and most comely of women will turn aside.” Thus hath it been sent down by the Most Sublime Pen for the people of Bahá, on the part of Him Who is the Counsellor, the Omniscient. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Evening

October 11

Morning

In the estimation of men of insight whatsoever befalleth in the path of God is manifest glory and a supreme attainment. Already We have said: “Glory to Thee, O my God! But for the tribulations which are sustained in Thy path, how could Thy true lovers be recognized; and were it not for the trials which are borne for love of Thee, how could the station of such as yearn for Thee be revealed?” 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Evening

October 10

Morning

In the concluding passages of the Tablet to His Majesty the Emperor of Paris (Napoleon III) these exalted words have been revealed: “Exultest thou over the treasures thou dost possess, knowing they shall perish? Rejoicest thou in that thou rulest a span of earth, when the whole world, in the estimation of the people of Bahá, is worth as much as the black in the eye of a dead ant? Abandon it unto such as have set their affections upon it, and turn thou unto Him Who is the Desire of the world.” 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Evening

October 9

Morning

And it came to pass that on a certain day a needy man came to visit this Soul, craving for the ocean of His knowledge. While conversing with him, mention was made concerning the signs of the Day of Judgment, Resurrection, Revival, and Reckoning. He urged Us to explain how, in this wondrous Dispensation, the peoples of the world were brought to a reckoning, when none were made aware of it. Thereupon, We imparted unto him, according to the measure of his capacity and understanding, certain truths of Science and ancient Wisdom. We then asked him saying: “Hast thou not read the Qur’án, and art thou not aware of this blessed verse: ‘On that day shall neither man nor spirit be asked of his Sin?’  Dost thou not realize that by ‘asking’ is not meant asking by tongue or speech, even as the verse itself doth indicate and prove? For afterward it is said: ‘By their countenance shall the sinners be known, and they shall be seized by their forelocks and their feet.’”  

- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)

Evening

October 8

Morning

O ye loved ones of God! Drink your fill from the wellspring of wisdom, and soar ye in the atmosphere of wisdom, and speak forth with wisdom and eloquence. Thus biddeth you your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Evening

October 7

Morning

God willing, thou wilt consider the Cause of God with a keen eye, an illumined heart, and a dilated breast and wilt meditate thereupon, that haply thou mayest discover the pearls of the ocean of true understanding. Verily, We heard thy mention and remembered thee with this mention through which the portals of true knowledge are opened before the face of all creation. Glorified be the All-Merciful, Who hath appeared through the Manifestation of His inviolable and infallible decree. Erelong will the world and all that is therein—whether riches, people, sciences, or arts—pass away. Naught shall remain but the decree that belongeth to Him Who hath testified in Himself and by Himself, before the creation of all things, that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. It is incumbent upon all to adhere to wisdom, to consort with all peoples with radiance and joy, and to make known to them with wisdom that which is hidden from the eyes of the heedless. Praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds. 

- Bahá’u’lláh (Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh; online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

Evening

October 6

Morning

It hath been enjoined upon you to purify your means of sustenance and other such things through payment of Zakát.[Tithes] Thus hath it been prescribed in this exalted Tablet by Him Who is the Revealer of verses. We shall, if it be God’s will and purpose, set forth erelong the measure of its assessment. He, verily, expoundeth whatsoever He desireth by virtue of His own knowledge, and He, of a truth, is Omniscient and All-Wise. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Evening

October 5

Morning

O Muhammad! This Wronged One hath summoned all the peoples of the world to the Eternal King and guided them to that which is conducive to their tranquillity. But the heedless ones of the earth have clung to idle fancies and vain imaginings and turned away from the manifest Truth. Instead of certitude, they have held fast to delusion, and in place of Him Who is the Ever-Abiding, they have taken an idol and worshipped it. This is the condition of the people. I swear by the Day-Star that shineth above the horizon of Utterance! This Wronged One hath desired naught but the highest good, and hath spoken no word except to enjoin that which is right and through which is revealed what beseemeth human dignity. They perpetrated against Him what none other hath been made to endure. We have heard in the Path of God the clash of the swords of the enemies and the roar of the horses of the ungodly, but have remained patient through His grace and providence. We beseech Him at all times to aid His servants to do His will and to enable them to attain unto his good-pleasure. He, in truth, is the Lord of all being and the Possessor of this world and of the next. 

- Bahá’u’lláh (Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh; online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

Evening

October 4

Morning

The Lord hath decreed, moreover, that the deceased should be enfolded in five sheets of silk or cotton. For those whose means are limited a single sheet of either fabric will suffice. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. It is forbidden you to transport the body of the deceased a greater distance than one hour’s journey from the city; rather should it be interred, with radiance and serenity, in a nearby place. 

- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Evening