Immeasurably exalted is Thy true state above the description
or knowledge of anyone besides Thee, and sanctified art Thou from the
glorification of Thy creatures and the praise of Thy servants in their attempts
to ascend unto Thee. Whatsoever appeareth from Thy servants is limited by the
limitations of their own selves and is created by their own idle fancies and
imaginings.
Alas, alas, O my Beloved, for mine inability to befittingly
praise Thee and for my shortcomings during Thy days! If I acclaim Thee, O my
God, as Him Who knoweth all things, I readily perceive that shouldst Thou point
to a mute rock with a single finger of Thy will, Thou wouldst enable it to
unfold the knowledge of all past and future ages; and if I extol Thee as the
All-Powerful, I find that one word issuing from the mouth of Thy purpose is
sufficient to convulse the heavens and the earth.
Thy glory beareth me witness, O Beloved of all that
recognize Thee, should any learned one fail to confess his ignorance before the
revelations of Thy knowledge, he would be accounted the most ignorant of Thy
people; and should any mighty one refuse to admit his weakness before the
evidences of Thy power, he would be considered the weakest and the most
heedless of Thy creatures. Given my knowledge and certainty that this is so,
how can I extol Thee or describe and praise Thee? Wherefore, knowing my
weakness, I have hastened toward the shelter of Thy strength; and realizing my
poverty, I have sought refuge under the shadow of Thy wealth; and recognizing
my powerlessness, I have arisen to stand before the tabernacle of Thy power and
might. Wilt thou cast away this poor one after he hath taken no one but Thee as
his succourer, or turn away this stranger after he hath found no one but Thee
to be his true beloved?
- Baha’u’llah (compilation: The Importance of Obligatory
Prayer and Fasting, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House
of Justice)