“Recite ye the verses of God every morn and eventide.” (Bahá’u’lláh, ‘The Kitáb-i-Aqdas’)

February 23

O Tongue of this Temple!  We, verily, have created thee through Our name, the All-Merciful, have taught thee whatsoever had remained concealed in the Bayán, and have bestowed upon thee the power of utterance, that thou mayest make mention of Mine exalted Self amidst My creatures.  Proclaim, then, this wondrous and mighty Remembrance, and fear not the manifestations of the Evil One.  Thou wert called into being for this very purpose by virtue of My transcendent and all-compelling command.  Through thee have We unloosed the Tongue of Utterance to expound all that hath been, and We shall again, by My sovereign power, unloose it to speak of that which is yet to come.  Erelong shall We bring into being through thee eloquent tongues that will praise and extol Me amongst the Concourse on high and amidst the peoples of the world.  Thus have the verses of God been revealed, and thus hath it been decreed by the Lord of all names and attributes.  Thy Lord, verily, is the True One, the Knower of things unseen.  Nothing whatsoever shall prevent these tongues from magnifying their Creator.  Through them, all created things shall arise to glorify the Lord of names and to bear witness that there is none other God save Me, the All-Powerful, the Most-Glorious, the Best-Beloved.  Nor shall those who make mention of Me speak aught unless they be inspired by this Tongue from its lofty station.  Few, however, are they who understand!  No tongue is there that speaketh not the praises of its Lord and maketh not mention of His Name.  Amongst the people, however, are those who understand and utter praises, and those who utter praises, yet understand not. (Baha’u’llah, Súriy-i-Haykal, ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)