QUESTION: Concerning the definition of old age.
ANSWER: To the Arabs it denoteth the furthest extremity of
old age, but for the people of Bahá it is from the age of seventy.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Questions and Answers’; ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 23
O Shaykh! Reflect upon these words addressed by Him Who is
the Desire of the world to Amos. He saith: “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel,
for, lo, He that formeth the mountains and createth the wind, and declareth
unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth
upon the high places of the earth, the Lord, the God of Hosts, is His name.” He
saith that He maketh the morning darkness. By this is meant that if, at the
time of the Manifestation of Him Who conversed on Sinai anyone were to regard
himself as the true morn, he will, through the might and power of God, be
turned into darkness. He truly is the false dawn, though believing himself to
be the true one. Woe unto him, and woe unto such as follow him without a clear
token from God, the Lord of the worlds.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of
the Wolf’)
June 22
The Word of God is the king of words and its pervasive
influence is incalculable. It hath ever dominated and will continue to dominate
the realm of being. The Great Being saith: The Word is the master key for the
whole world, inasmuch as through its potency the doors of the hearts of men,
which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked. No sooner had but a
glimmer of its effulgent splendour shone forth upon the mirror of love than the
blessed word ‘I am the Best-Beloved’ was reflected therein.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 21
Thou knowest full well that We perused not the books which
men possess and We acquired not the learning current amongst them, and yet
whenever We desire to quote the sayings of the learned and of the wise,
presently there will appear before the face of thy Lord in the form of a tablet
all that which hath appeared in the world and is revealed in the Holy Books and
Scriptures. Thus do We set down in writing that which the eye perceiveth.
Verily His knowledge encompasseth the earth and the heavens.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 20
Consider Hippocrates, the physician. He was one of the
eminent philosophers who believed in God and acknowledged His sovereignty.
After him came Socrates who was indeed wise, accomplished and righteous. He
practised self-denial, repressed his appetites for selfish desires and turned
away from material pleasures. He withdrew to the mountains where he dwelt in a
cave. He dissuaded men from worshipping idols and taught them the way of God,
the Lord of Mercy, until the ignorant rose up against him. They arrested him
and put him to death in prison. Thus relateth to thee this swift-moving Pen.
What a penetrating vision into philosophy this eminent man had! He is the most
distinguished of all philosophers and was highly versed in wisdom. We testify
that he is one of the heroes in this field and an outstanding champion
dedicated unto it. He had a profound knowledge of such sciences as were current
amongst men as well as of those which were veiled from their minds. Methinks he
drank one draught when the Most Great Ocean overflowed with gleaming and
life-giving waters. He it is who perceived a unique, a tempered, and a
pervasive nature in things, bearing the closest likeness to the human spirit,
and he discovered this nature to be distinct from the substance of things in
their refined form. He hath a special pronouncement on this weighty theme.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 19
Verily, the philosophers have not denied the Ancient of
Days. Most of them passed away deploring their failure to fathom His mystery,
even as some of them have testified. Verily, thy Lord is the Adviser, the
All-Informed.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the
Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 18
The essence and the fundamentals of philosophy have emanated
from the Prophets. That the people differ concerning the inner meanings and
mysteries thereof is to be attributed to the divergence of their views and
minds.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 17
QUESTION: Should a person wish to fast at a time other than
in the month of ‘Alá, is this permissible or not; and if he hath vowed or
pledged himself to such a fast, is this valid and acceptable?
ANSWER: The ordinance of fasting is such as hath already
been revealed. Should someone pledge himself, however, to offer up a fast to
God, seeking in this way the fulfilment of a wish, or to realize some other
aim, this is permissible, now as heretofore. Howbeit, it is God’s wish, exalted
be His glory, that vows and pledges be directed to such objectives as will
profit mankind.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Questions and Answers’; ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 16
O Shaykh! Peruse that which Isaiah hath spoken in His Book.
He saith: “Get thee up into the high mountain, O Zion, that bringest good
tidings; lift up Thy Voice with strength, O Jerusalem, that bringest good
tidings. Lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: ‘Behold your
God! Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for
Him.’” This Day all the signs have appeared. A Great City hath descended from
heaven, and Zion trembleth and exulteth with joy at the Revelation of God, for
it hath heard the Voice of God on every side. This Day Jerusalem hath attained
unto a new Evangel…
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
June 15
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan)
June 14
And likewise, He saith: “As for those who believe not in the
verses of God, or that they shall ever meet Him, these of My mercy shall
despair, and these doth a grievous chastisement await.” [Qur’án 29:23]
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan]
June 13
Carmel, in the Book of God, hath been designated as the Hill
of God, and His Vineyard. It is here that, by the grace of the Lord of
Revelation, the Tabernacle of Glory hath been raised. Happy are they that
attain thereunto; happy they that set their faces towards it. And likewise He saith:
“Our God will come, and He will not be silent.”
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the
Son of the Wolf’)
June 12
O Shaykh! Enter thou My presence, that thou mayest behold
what the eye of the universe hath never beheld, and hear that which the ear of
the whole creation hath never heard, that haply thou mayest free thyself from
the mire of vague fancies, and set thy face towards the Most Sublime Station,
wherein this Wronged One calleth aloud: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty,
the All-Praised!”
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
June 11
We have not entered any school, nor read any of your
dissertations. Incline your ears to the words of this unlettered One, wherewith
He summoneth you unto God, the Ever-Abiding. Better is this for you than all
the treasures of the earth, could ye but comprehend it.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle
to the Son of the Wolf’)
June 10
QUESTION: Concerning the sacred verse: “Recite ye the verses
of God every morn and eventide.”
ANSWER: The intention is all that hath been sent down from
the Heaven of Divine Utterance. The prime requisite is the eagerness and love
of sanctified souls to read the Word of God. To read one verse, or even one
word, in a spirit of joy and radiance, is preferable to the perusal of many
Books.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Questions and Answers’; ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 9
Say: This, verily, is the heaven in which the Mother Book is
treasured, could ye but comprehend it. He it is Who hath caused the Rock to
shout, and the Burning Bush to lift up its voice upon the Mount rising above
the Holy Land, and proclaim: ‘The Kingdom is God’s, the sovereign Lord of all,
the All-Powerful, the Loving!’
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
June 8
Although it is recognized that the contemporary men of
learning are highly qualified in philosophy, arts and crafts, yet were anyone
to observe with a discriminating eye he would readily comprehend that most of
this knowledge hath been acquired from the sages of the past, for it is they
who have laid the foundation of philosophy, reared its structure and reinforced
its pillars. Thus doth thy Lord, the Ancient of Days, inform thee. The sages
aforetime acquired their knowledge from the Prophets, inasmuch as the latter
were the Exponents of divine philosophy and the Revealers of heavenly
mysteries. Men quaffed the crystal, living waters of Their utterance, while
others satisfied themselves with the dregs. Everyone receiveth a portion
according to his measure. Verily He is the Equitable, the Wise.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 7
When the eyes of the people of the East were captivated by
the arts and wonders of the West, they roved distraught in the wilderness of
material causes, oblivious of the One Who is the Causer of Causes, and the
Sustainer thereof, while such men as were the source and the wellspring of
Wisdom never denied the moving Impulse behind these causes, nor the Creator or
the Origin thereof. Thy Lord knoweth, yet most of the people know not.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 6
Those who have rejected God and firmly cling to Nature as it
is in itself are, verily, bereft of knowledge and wisdom. They are truly of
them that are far astray. They have failed to attain the lofty summit and have
fallen short of the ultimate purpose; therefore their eyes were shut and their
thoughts differed, while the leaders among them have believed in God and in His
invincible sovereignty. Unto this beareth witness thy Lord, the Help in Peril,
the Self-Subsisting.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the
Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
June 5
Say: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert
its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional
upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and
pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as
prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets. Meditate upon that which hath streamed
forth from the heaven of the Will of thy Lord, He Who is the Source of all
grace, that thou mayest grasp the intended meaning which is enshrined in the
sacred depths of the Holy Writings.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah
revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
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