January 5
There are people who every night until morning busy
themselves with the worship of God, and even at present when the Day-Star of
Truth is nearing its zenith in the heaven of its Revelation, they have not yet
left their prayer-rugs. If any one of them ever heard the wondrous verses of
God recited unto him, he would exclaim: ‘Why dost thou keep me back from
offering my prayers?’ O thou who are wrapt in veils! If thou makest mention of
God, wherefore sufferest thou thyself to be shut out from Him Who hath kindled
the light of worship in thy heart? If He had not previously revealed the
injunction: ‘Verily, make ye mention of God’[Qur’án 8:47;
33:41; 62:10], what would have prompted thee to offer devotion unto God, and
whereunto wouldst thou turn in prayer? (The Báb, excerpt from the Persian
Bayan, ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
