Morning
O Ancient Beauty! Turn aside from the unbelievers and that which they possess, and waft over all created things the sweet savours of the remembrance of Thy Beloved, the Exalted, the Great. This remembrance quickeneth the world of being and reneweth the temples of all created things. Say: He, verily, hath established Himself upon the Throne of might and glory. Whosoever desireth to gaze upon His countenance, lo, behold Him standing before thee! Blessed be the Lord Who hath revealed Himself in this shining and luminous Beauty. Whosoever desireth to hearken unto His melodies, lo, hear them rising from His resplendent and wondrous lips! And unto whosoever desireth to be illumined by the splendours of His light, say: Seek the court of His presence, for God hath verily granted you leave to approach it, as a token of His grace unto all mankind.
- Baha'u'llah (‘Suriy-i-Haykal, ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
Evening
In this valley [the Valley of True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness] the wayfarer passeth beyond the stages of the “unity of existence” and the “unity of appearance” and reacheth a unity that is sanctified above both of these stations. [1] Ecstasy alone can encompass this theme, not utterance nor argument; and whosoever hath dwelt at this stage of the journey, or caught a breath from this garden, knoweth whereof We speak.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Seven Valleys’, revised translation by the Baha’i World Center included in
‘The Call of the Divine Beloved’)
[1] A reference to two Súfí concepts. The doctrine of the
unity of existence is commonly ascribed to Ibnu’l-Arabí (1165–1240), that of
the unity of appearance to Ahmad Sirhindí (1564–1624). See ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some
Answered Questions, chapter 82
