It behoveth everyone to traverse this brief span of life
with sincerity and fairness. Should one
fail to attain unto the recognition of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, let him at
least conduct himself with reason and justice.
Erelong these outward trappings, these visible treasures, these earthly
vanities, these arrayed armies, these adorned vestures, these proud and
overweening souls, all shall pass into the confines of the grave, as though
into that box. [1] In the eyes of those possessed of insight,
all this conflict, contention and vainglory hath ever been, and will ever be,
like unto the play and pastimes of children.
Take heed, and be not of them that see and yet deny.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Lawh-i-Ra’is’, addressed to Ottoman Prime Minister Ali Pasha; ‘Summons of the
Lord of Hosts’)
[1] A puppet show Baha’u’llah saw as a child
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“Recite ye the verses of God every morn and eventide.” (Bahá’u’lláh, ‘The Kitáb-i-Aqdas’)
June 8
…when Muhammad, the Prophet of God… appeared, the learned
men of Mecca and Medina arose, in the early days of His Revelation, against Him
and rejected His Message, while they who were destitute of all learning
recognized and embraced His Faith. Ponder a while. Consider how Balál, the
Ethiopian, unlettered though he was, ascended into the heaven of faith and
certitude, whilst ‘Abdu’lláh Ubayy, a leader among the learned, maliciously
strove to oppose Him. Behold, how a mere shepherd was so carried
away by the ecstasy of the words of God that he was able to gain admittance
into the habitation of his Best-Beloved, and was united to Him Who is the Lord
of Mankind, whilst they who prided themselves on their knowledge and wisdom
strayed far from His path and remained deprived of His grace. For this reason
He hath written: “He that is exalted among you shall be abased, and he that is
abased shall be exalted.” References to this theme are to be found in most of
the heavenly Books, as well as in the sayings of the Prophets and Messengers of
God.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 7
Consider the Dispensation of Jesus Christ. Behold, how all
the learned men of that generation, though eagerly anticipating the coming of
the Promised One, have nevertheless denied Him. Both Annas, the most learned
among the divines of His day, and Caiaphas, the high priest, denounced Him and
pronounced the sentence of His death.
- Baha’u’llah (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 6
The Cause is manifest, it shineth resplendent as the sun,
but the people have become veils unto themselves. We entreat God that He may
graciously assist them to return unto Him. He is, in truth, the Forgiving, the
Merciful.
- Baha’u’llah (Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
- Baha’u’llah (Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 5
If any man were to meditate on that which the Scriptures,
sent down from the heaven of God’s holy Will, have revealed, he would readily
recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be regarded as one soul, so
that the seal bearing the words “The Kingdom shall be God’s” may be stamped on
every heart, and the light of Divine bounty, of grace, and mercy may envelop
all mankind. The one true God, exalted be His glory, hath wished nothing for
Himself. The allegiance of mankind profiteth Him not, neither doth its
perversity harm Him.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 4
The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of
inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and
enable mankind to benefit therefrom.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 3
If the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to
allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love, every
understanding heart would apprehend the meaning of true liberty, and discover
the secret of undisturbed peace and absolute composure. Were the earth to
attain this station and be illumined with its light it could then be truly said
of it: “Thou shall see in it no hollows or rising hills.”
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 2
Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education
hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a
word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called
into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his
education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
June 1
Through the strengthening
power of My Name seize ye the chalice of knowledge, drink then your fill in
defiance of the people of the world who have broken the Covenant of God and His
Testament, rejected His proofs and clear tokens, and cavilled at His signs
which have pervaded all that are in heaven and on earth.
- Baha’u’llah ('Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
- Baha’u’llah ('Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 31
Through
the manifold attributes of these Essences of Detachment, [the “Prophets and
chosen Ones of God”] Who are both the first and the last,
the seen and the hidden, it is made evident that He Who is the Sun of Truth is
“the First and the Last, the Seen, and the Hidden.” [Qur’án
57:3] Likewise the other lofty names and exalted attributes of God. Therefore,
whosoever, and in whatever Dispensation, hath recognized and attained unto the
presence of these glorious, these resplendent and most excellent Luminaries,
hath verily attained unto the “Presence of God” Himself, and entered the city
of eternal and immortal life. Attainment unto such presence is possible only in
the Day of Resurrection, which is the Day of the rise of God Himself through
His all-embracing Revelation.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Iqan’)
May 30
In this Day a great
festival is taking place in the Realm above; for whatsoever was promised in the
sacred Scriptures hath been fulfilled. This is the Day of great rejoicing. It
behoveth everyone to hasten towards the court of His nearness with exceeding
joy, gladness, exultation and delight and to deliver himself from the fire of
remoteness.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 29
These Prophets and
chosen Ones of God are the recipients and revealers of all the unchangeable
attributes and names of God. They are the mirrors that truly and faithfully
reflect the light of God. Whatsoever is applicable to them is in reality
applicable to God, Himself, Who is both the Visible and the Invisible. The
knowledge of Him, Who is the Origin of all things, and attainment unto Him, are
impossible save through knowledge of, and attainment unto, these luminous
Beings who proceed from the Sun of Truth. By attaining, therefore, to the
presence of these holy Luminaries, the “Presence of God” Himself is attained.
From their knowledge, the knowledge of God is revealed, and from the light of
their countenance, the splendour of the Face of God is made manifest.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
May 28
Forget not My bounties while I am absent. Remember My days
during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote prison. And be
thou so steadfast in My love that thy heart shall not waver, even if the swords
of the enemies rain blows upon thee and all the heavens and the earth arise
against thee.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablet of Ahmad)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablet of Ahmad)
May 27
…all things are the
recipients and revealers of the splendours of that ideal King, and that the
signs of the revelation of that Sun, the Source of all splendour, exist and are
manifest in the mirrors of beings. Nay, were man to gaze with the eye of divine
and spiritual discernment, he will readily recognize that nothing whatsoever
can exist without the revelation of the splendour of God, the ideal King.
Consider how all created things eloquently testify to the revelation of that
inner Light within them. Behold how within all things the portals of the Ridván
of God are opened, that seekers may attain the cities of understanding and
wisdom, and enter the gardens of knowledge and power. Within every garden they
will behold the mystic bride of inner meaning enshrined within the chambers of
utterance in the utmost grace and fullest adornment.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Iqan’)
May 26
When
the Unseen, the Eternal, the divine Essence, caused the Day-star of Muhammad to
rise above the horizon of knowledge, among the cavils which the Jewish divines
raised against Him was that after Moses no Prophet should be sent of God. Yea,
mention hath been made in the scriptures of a Soul Who must needs be made
manifest and Who will advance the Faith, and promote the interests of the
people, of Moses, so that the Law of the Mosaic Dispensation may encompass the
whole earth.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
May 25
Cast away the things current amongst men and take fast hold
on that whereunto ye are bidden by virtue of the Will of the Ordainer, the
Ancient of Days. This is the Day wherein the divine Lote-Tree calleth aloud,
saying: O people! Behold ye My fruits and My leaves, incline then your ears
unto My rustling. Beware lest the doubts of men debar you from the light of
certitude. The Ocean of utterance exclaimeth and saith: ‘O ye dwellers on the
earth! Behold My billowing waters and the pearls of wisdom and utterance which
I have poured forth. Fear ye God and be not of the heedless.’
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 24
Thou hast made mention of the people of Tár. [A village near
Isfahan] We have set Our face toward the
servants of God therein and advise them first to consider that which the Point
of the Bayán hath revealed concerning this Revelation whereby all names and
titles have been shaken, the idols of vain imaginings have crumbled and the
Tongue of Grandeur hath, from the realm of glory, proclaimed: By the
righteousness of God! The Hidden Treasure, the Impenetrable Mystery, hath been
uncovered to men’s eyes, causing all things, whether of the past or of the
future, to rejoice. He hath said, and His word is the truth: ‘Of all the
tributes I have paid to Him Who is to come after Me, the greatest is this, My
written confession, that no words of Mine can adequately describe Him, nor can
any reference to Him in My Book, the Bayán, do justice to His Cause.’
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 23
Do not say, 'How can He speak of God while in truth His age
is no more than twenty-five?' Give ye ear unto Me. I swear by the Lord of the
heavens and of the earth: I am verily a servant of God. I have been made the
Bearer of irrefutable proofs from the presence of Him Who is the long-expected
Remnant of God. Here is My Book before your eyes, as indeed inscribed in the
presence of God in the Mother Book. God hath indeed made Me blessed,
wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon Me to observe prayer and fortitude
so long as I shall live on earth amongst you.
- The Báb (Selections from the
Writings of the Báb)
May 22
I am the Primal
Point from which have been generated all created things. I am the Countenance
of God Whose splendour can never be obscured, the Light of God Whose radiance
can never fade. Whoso recognizeth Me, assurance and all good are in store for
him, and whoso faileth to recognize Me, infernal fire and all evil await him...
- The Báb (Extract from an Epistle to Muhammad Shah, ‘Selections from the
Writings of the Báb)
May 21
Say: O peoples of
all faiths! Walk not in the ways of them that followed the Pharisees and thus
veiled themselves from the Spirit. They truly have strayed and are in error. The
Ancient Beauty is come in His Most Great Name, and He wisheth to admit all
mankind into His most holy Kingdom. The pure in heart behold the Kingdom of God
manifest before His Face. Make haste thereunto and follow not the infidel and
the ungodly… Thus hath it been decreed by the Pen of the Ancient of Days, as
bidden by Him Who is the Lord of the entire creation. He, verily, hath come
again that ye might be redeemed, O peoples of the earth. Will ye slay Him Who
desireth to grant you eternal life? Fear God, O ye who are endued with insight.
- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Pope Pius IX, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The
Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
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