Beautify your tongues, O people with truthfulness, and adorn
your souls with the ornament of honesty. Beware, O people, that ye deal not
treacherously with anyone. Be ye the trustees of God amongst His creatures, and
the emblems of His generosity amidst His people.” (Baha’u’llah, quoted by
Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)
January 18
One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so
elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can
tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath
spent itself and vanished.... Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be righteous,
be righteous.... Say: O people of God! That which can insure the victory of Him
Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on earth, have been set down in
the sacred Books and Scriptures, and are as clear and manifest as the sun.
These hosts are such righteous deeds, such conduct and character, as are
acceptable in His sight. Whoso ariseth, in this Day, to aid Our Cause, and
summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright
conduct, the influence from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused
throughout the whole world. (Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The
Advent of Divine Justice’)
January 17
O ye beloved of the Lord! Commit not that which defileth the
limpid stream of love or destroyeth the sweet fragrance of friendship. By the
righteousness of the Lord! Ye were created to show love one to another and not
perversity and rancour. Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for
your fellow-creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all
mankind. Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful and
your heart enlightened. Abase not the station of the learned in Bahá and
belittle not the rank of such rulers as administer justice amidst you. Set your
reliance on the army of justice, put on the armour of wisdom, let your adorning
be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the
well-favoured of God. (Baha’u’llah, ‘Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the
Kitab-i-Aqdas; compilation ‘Unlocking the Power of Action’, prepared by the
Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)
January 16
O SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and
forfeit not thy portion from My wondrous fountain, lest thou shouldst thirst
for evermore. (Baha’u’llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
January 15
Indeed the actions of man himself breed a profusion of
satanic power. For were men to abide by and observe the divine teachings, every
trace of evil would be banished from the face of the earth. However, the widespread differences that exist among mankind and the
prevalence of sedition, contention, conflict and the like are the primary
factors which provoke the appearance of the satanic spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit
hath ever shunned such matters. A world in which naught can be perceived save
strife, quarrels and corruption is bound to become the seat of the throne, the
very metropolis, of Satan. (Baha’u’llah, ‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after
the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
January 14
Certain deeds that are undertaken in this day are intended
to emblazon the name of God, and the Pen of the Most High hath fixed a
recompense for those who perform them. Indeed, should any soul breathe but a
fleeting breath for the sake of God, his recompense will become manifest, as
attested by this mighty verse which was sent down from the empyrean of the
Divine Will to the Lord of Mecca, [Muhammad] blessed and glorified be He: “We
did not appoint that which Thou wouldst have to be the Qiblih, but that We
might know him who followeth the Apostle from him who turneth on his heels.” [Qur’án
2:143] (Baha’u’llah, ‘The Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to
Mánikchí Sáhib and Other Writings’)
January 13
…reflect upon the state and condition of Mary. So deep was
the perplexity of that most beauteous countenance, so grievous her case, that
she bitterly regretted she had ever been born. To this beareth witness the text
of the sacred verse wherein it is mentioned that after Mary had given birth to Jesus,
she bemoaned her plight and cried out: “O would that I had died ere this, and
been a thing forgotten, forgotten quite!” [Qur’án 19:22] I swear by God! Such
lamenting consumeth the heart and shaketh the being. Such consternation of
soul, such despondency, could have been caused by no other than the censure of
the enemy and the cavilings of the infidel and perverse. Reflect, what answer
could Mary have given to the people around her? How could she claim that a Babe
Whose father was unknown had been conceived of the Holy Ghost? Therefore did
Mary, that veiled and immortal Countenance, take up her Child and return unto
her home. No sooner had the eyes of the people fallen upon her than they raised
their voice saying: “O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of wickedness,
nor unchaste thy mother.” [Qur’án 19:28]
And now, meditate upon this most great convulsion, this
grievous test. Notwithstanding all these things, God conferred upon that
essence of the Spirit, Who was known amongst the people as fatherless, the
glory of Prophethood, and made Him His testimony unto all that are in heaven
and on earth. (Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan)
January 12
O Fourth Letter of this Temple[1], betokening the attribute of
Grace! We have made thee the
manifestation of grace betwixt earth and heaven. From thee have We generated all grace in the
contingent world, and unto thee shall We cause it to return. And from thee shall We manifest it again,
through a word of Our command. Potent
am I to accomplish whatsoever I desire through My word “Be”, and it is! Every grace that appeareth in the world of
being hath originated from thee, and unto thee shall it return. This, verily, is what hath been ordained in a
Tablet which We have preserved behind the veil of glory and concealed from
mortal eyes. Well is it with them that
deprive themselves not of this manifest and unfailing grace. (Baha'u'llah,
Suriy-i-Haykal, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
[1]The last Arabic letter of the
word Haykal (Temple) is Lám. As was mentioned in comments associated with
Paragraph 1.37: The word Haykal (Temple) is composed in Arabic of the four
letters Ha', Ya', Káf and Lám (HYKL). Its first letter is taken to symbolize
the word Huviyyah (Essence of Divinity); its second letter the word Qadir
(Almighty), of which Ya' is the third letter; its third letter the word Karim
(All-Bountiful); and its fourth letter the word Fadl (Grace), of which Lám is
the third letter. (Reflecting on
Baha’i Writings: The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
January 11
Do Thou bless, O Lord my God, the Primal Point, through Whom
the point of creation hath been made to revolve in both the visible and
invisible worlds, Whom Thou hast designated as the One whereunto should return
whatsoever must return unto Thee, and as the Revealer of whatsoever may be
manifested by Thee. Do Thou also bless such of His Letters as have not turned
away from Thee, who have been firmly established in Thy love, and clung
steadfastly to Thy good-pleasure. Bless Thou, likewise, as long as Thine own Self
endureth and Thine own Essence doth last, them that have suffered martyrdom in
Thy path. Thou art, verily, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (Baha’u’llah,
‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)
January 10
Blessed art thou, doubly blessed art thou! Thou art reckoned
amongst those handmaidens whose love for their kin hath not prevented them from
attaining the shores of the Sea of Grace and Mercy. God willing, thou shalt
rest eternally neath the shade of the favours of the All-Merciful and shalt be
assured of His bounties. Engage in the praise of the True One and rejoice in
His loving-kindness. (Baha’u’llah, The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)
January 9
Consider the mercy of God and His gifts. He enjoineth upon
you that which shall profit you, though He Himself can well dispense with all
creatures. Your evil doings can never harm Us, neither can your good works
profit Us. We summon you wholly for the sake of God. To this every man of
understanding and insight will testify. (Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
January 8
O concourse of the faithful! Verily the object of each and
every sign revealed by God in the Scriptures or in the world at large or in the
hearts of men is but to make them fully realize that this Remembrance is indeed
the True One from God. Verily God is cognizant of all things through the power
of eternal Truth... (The Báb, ‘Selections
from the Writings of the Báb’)
January 7
By the Day-Star of ancient mysteries! The sweet-scented
fragrance of every breath breathed in the love of God is wafted in the court of
the presence of the Lord of Revelation. The reward of no good deed is or ever
will be lost. (Baha’u’llah, The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)
January 6
The Pen of Revelation exclaimeth: “On this Day the Kingdom
is God’s!” The Tongue of Power is calling: “On this Day all sovereignty is, in
very deed, with God!” The Phoenix of the realms above crieth out from the
immortal Branch: “The glory of all greatness belongeth to God, the
Incomparable, the All-Compelling!” The Mystic Dove proclaimeth from its
blissful bower, in the everlasting Paradise: “The source of all bounty is
derived, in this Day, from God, the One, the Forgiving!” The Bird of the Throne
warbleth its melody in its retreats of holiness: “Supreme ascendancy is to be
attributed, this Day, to none except God, Him Who hath no peer nor equal, Who
is the Most Powerful, the All-Subduing!” The inmost essence of all things
voiceth in all things the testimony: “All forgiveness floweth, in this Day,
from God, Him to Whom none can compare, with Whom no partners can be joined,
the Sovereign Protector of all men, and the Concealer of their sins!” The
Quintessence of Glory hath lifted up its voice above My head, and crieth from
such heights as neither pen nor tongue can in any degree describe: “God is my
witness! He, the Ancient of everlasting days is come, girded with majesty and
power. There is none other God but Him, the All-Glorious, the Almighty, the
All-Highest, the All-Wise, the All-Pervading, the All-Seeing, the All-Informed,
the Sovereign Protector, the Source of eternal light!” (Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings
form the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
January 5
Let thy soul glow with the flame of this undying Fire that burneth
in the midmost heart of the world, in such wise that the waters of the universe
shall be powerless to cool down its ardor. Make, then, mention of thy Lord,
that haply the heedless among Our servants may be admonished through thy words,
and the hearts of the righteous be gladdened. (Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings form the
Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
January 4
O ye that circle the throne of glory! Hearken unto My Call
which is raised from the midst of the Burning Bush, ‘Verily I am God and there
is none other God but Me. Hence worship Me, and for the sake of Him Who is the
Most Great Remembrance, offer ye prayers, purged from the insinuations of the
people, for verily your Lord, the One true God, is none other than the
Sovereign Truth. Indeed such as invoke others besides Him are deservedly
numbered among the inmates of the fire, while He Who is the Remembrance of God
verily abideth, firm and undeviating, on the Path of Truth amidst the Burning
Bush.’... (The Báb, ‘Selections from
the Writings of the Báb’)
January 3
…there occurred the attempt upon the life of His Majesty,
may God, exalted and glorified be He, assist him. Those days were troublous
days, and the fires of hatred burned high. Many were arrested, among them this
Wronged One. By the righteousness of God! We were in no wise connected with
that evil deed, and Our innocence was indisputably established by the
tribunals. Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and from Níyávarán, which was
then the residence of His Majesty, conducted Us, on foot and in chains, with bared
head and bare feet, to the dungeon of Tihrán. A brutal man, accompanying Us on
horseback, snatched off Our hat, whilst We were being hurried along by a troop
of executioners and officials. (Baha’u’llah, ‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
January 2
Such arts and sciences … as are productive of good results,
and bring forth their fruit, and are conducive to the well-being and
tranquility of men have been, and will remain, acceptable before God. (Baha’u’llah,
‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
January 1
Know also that the soul is endowed with two wings: should it
soar in the atmosphere of love and contentment, then it will be related to the
All-Merciful. And should it fly in the atmosphere of self and desire, then it
will pertain to the Evil One; may God shield and protect us and protect you
therefrom, O ye who perceive! Should the soul become ignited with the fire of
the love of God, it is called benevolent and pleasing unto God, but should it
be consumed with the fire of passion, it is known as the concupiscent soul.
Thus have We expounded this subject for thee that thou mayest obtain a clear
understanding. (Baha'u'llah, Súriy-i-Ra’ís, ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
December 31
Cleave thou to the fear of God and to whatsoever hath been
revealed in His Book: thus biddeth thee He Who is the Word of Truth and the
Knower of things unseen. Say: trustworthiness is the sun of the heaven of My
commandments, truthfulness is its moon, and praiseworthy attributes are its
stars. Yet the people, for the most part, understand not. (Baha’u’llah, The
Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Trustworthiness)
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