Justice is, in this day, bewailing its plight, and Equity
groaneth beneath the yoke of oppression. The thick clouds of tyranny have darkened
the face of the earth, and enveloped its peoples. Through the movement of Our
Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new
life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All
created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration. This is
the most great, the most joyful tidings imparted by the Pen of this Wronged One
to mankind. Wherefore fear ye, O My well-beloved ones? Who is it that can
dismay you? A touch of moisture sufficeth to dissolve the hardened clay out of
which this perverse generation is moulded. The mere act of your gathering
together is enough to scatter the forces of these vain and worthless people.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 15
O people! Hearken
unto that which hath been revealed by your All-Glorious Lord, and turn your
faces unto God, the Lord of this world and of the world to come. Thus doth He Who is the Dawning-Place of the
Daystar of divine inspiration command you as bidden by the Fashioner of all
mankind. We, verily, have created you
for the light, and desire not to abandon you unto the fire. Come forth, O people, from darkness by the
grace of this Sun which hath shone forth above the horizon of divine
providence, and turn thereunto with sanctified hearts and assured souls, with
seeing eyes and beaming faces. Thus
counselleth you the Supreme Ordainer from the scene of His transcendent glory,
that perchance His summons may draw you nigh unto the Kingdom of His names.
- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Pope Pius IX,
Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
June 14
Consider, how can he that faileth in the day of God’s
Revelation to attain unto the grace of the “Divine Presence” and to recognize
His Manifestation, be justly called learned, though he may have spent aeons in
the pursuit of knowledge, and acquired all the limited and material learning of
men? It is surely evident that he can in no wise be regarded as possessed of
true knowledge. Whereas, the most unlettered of all men,
if he be honoured with this supreme distinction, he verily is accounted as one
of those divinely-learned men whose knowledge is of God; for such a man hath
attained the acme of knowledge, and hath reached the furthermost summit of
learning.
- Baha’u’llah (The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
- Baha’u’llah (The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
June 13
Shouldst thou step into the realm of complete detachment,
thou wilt readily testify that no day is mightier than this Day, and that no
resurrection more awful than this Resurrection can ever be conceived. One
righteous work performed in this Day, equalleth all the virtuous acts which for
myriads of centuries men have practised—nay, We ask forgiveness of God for such
a comparison! For verily the reward which such a deed deserveth is immensely beyond and above the estimate of men.
- Baha’u’llah (The
Kitab-i-Iqan’)
June 12
Say, verily, the good-pleasure of Him Whom God shall make
manifest is the good-pleasure of God, while the displeasure of Him Whom God
shall make manifest is none other than the displeasure of God. Avoid ye His
displeasure, and flee for refuge unto His good-pleasure. Say, the living guides
to His good-pleasure are such as truly believe in Him and are well-assured in
their faith, while the living testimonies of His displeasure are those who,
when they hear the verses of God sent forth from His presence, or read the
divine words revealed by Him, do not instantly embrace the Faith and attain
unto certitude.
- The Báb (‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)
June 11
O thou who hast
fixed thy gaze upon My countenance! Say: O ye heedless ones! By reason of a
droplet ye have deprived yourselves of the ocean of heavenly verses and for the
sake of an insignificant atom ye have shut yourselves out from the splendours
of the Day-Star of Truth. Who else but Bahá hath the power to speak forth
before the face of mankind? Judge ye fairly and be not of the unjust. Through
Him the oceans have surged, the mysteries have been divulged and the trees have
lifted up their voices exclaiming: The kingdoms of earth and heaven are God’s,
the Revealer of signs, the Fountainhead of clear tokens. Peruse ye the Persian
Bayán revealed by Him Who heralded this Revelation and look at it with the eye
of fairness. Verily He will guide you aright to His Path. At this moment He
proclaimeth that which His tongue had formerly uttered when He was seated upon
the throne of His most exalted Name.
- 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 10
Hearken unto the words of the one true God and pride thyself
not in the things of this world. What
hath become of those like unto thee who falsely claimed lordship on earth, who
sought to quench the light of God in His land and to destroy the foundation of
His mighty edifice in His cities? Where
are they to be seen now? Be fair in thy
judgement and return unto God, that perchance He might cancel the trespasses of
thy vain life. Alas, We know that thou
shalt never attain unto this, for such is thy cruelty that it hath made hell to
blaze and the Spirit to lament, and hath caused the pillars of the Throne to
shake and the hearts of the faithful to tremble.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Lawh-i-Ra’is’, addressed to Ottoman Prime Minister Ali Pasha; ‘Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Lawh-i-Ra’is’, addressed to Ottoman Prime Minister Ali Pasha; ‘Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
June 9
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
- 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
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)
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