Peerless is this Day, for it is as the eye to past ages and
centuries, and as a light unto the darkness of the times.
- Baha’u’llah (Quoted
by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)
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Though—as Thou beholdest me, O my God—I be dwelling in a
place within whose walls no voice can be heard except the sound of the echo,
though all the gates of ease and comfort be shut against us, and thick darkness
appear to have compassed us on every side, yet my soul hath been so inflamed by
its love for Thee, that nothing whatsoever can either quench the fire of its
love or abate the consuming flame of its desire. Lifting up its voice, it
crieth aloud amidst Thy servants, and calleth them, at all times and under all
conditions, unto Thee.
Behold the disturbances which, for many a long year, have
afflicted the earth, and the perturbation that hath seized its peoples. It hath
either been ravaged by war, or tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities.
Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath
paused to reflect what the cause or source of that may be. Whenever the True
Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo, they all denounced Him as a
mover of mischief and rejected His claim. How bewildering, how confusing is
such behavior! No two men can be found who may be said to be outwardly and
inwardly united. The evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere,
though all were made for harmony and union.
There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the
world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly
Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances
under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and
exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few
which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a
reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed with the power of faith,
shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension
amongst you. Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you. This,
verily, is the most exalted Word which the Mother Book hath sent down and revealed
unto you. To this beareth witness the Tongue of Grandeur from His habitation of
glory.
Blessed, doubly blessed, is the ground which His
[‘Abdu’l-Baha’s] footsteps have trodden, the eye that hath been cheered by the
beauty of His countenance, the ear that hath been honoured by hearkening to His
call, the heart that hath tasted the sweetness of His love, the breast that
hath dilated through His remembrance, the pen that hath voiced His praise, the
scroll that hath borne the testimony of His writings.
I beseech Thee, by Thy Most Great Name, to open the eyes of
Thy servants, that they may behold Thee shining above the horizon of Thy
majesty and glory, and that they may not be hindered by the croaking of the
raven from hearkening to the voice of the Dove of Thy sublime oneness, nor be
prevented by the corrupt waters from partaking of the pure wine of Thy bounty
and the everlasting streams of Thy gifts.
Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the
cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain
would hope that the people of Bahá may be guided by the blessed words: ‘Say:
all things are of God.’ This exalted utterance is like unto water for quenching
the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts and breasts of
men. By this single utterance contending peoples and kindreds will attain the
light of true unity. Verily He speaketh the truth and leadeth the way. He is
the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the Gracious.
Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest commander that can
render the Cause of God victorious, and the hosts which best befit this
commander have ever been and are an upright character and pure and goodly
deeds.
…when, as bidden by Thee, [God] I arose and called out, by
Thy leave, all Thy creatures, the wayward among Thy servants opposed me. Some
turned away from me, others disowned my claim, a few hesitated, while others
were sore perplexed, notwithstanding that Thy testimony was set forth before
the followers of all religions, and Thy proof demonstrated unto all the peoples
of the earth, and the signs of Thy might so powerfully manifested as to
encompass the entire creation.
This is the Chief of all days and the King thereof. Great is
the blessedness of him who hath attained, through the sweet savor of these
days, unto everlasting life, and who, with the most great steadfastness, hath
arisen to aid the Cause of Him Who is the King of Names. Such a man is as the
eye to the body of mankind.
Please God, the peoples of the world may be led, as the
result of the high endeavors exerted by their rulers and the wise and learned
amongst men, to recognize their best interests. How long will humanity persist
in its waywardness? How long will injustice continue? How long is chaos and
confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord agitate the face of
society?... The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every direction, and
the strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily increasing. The
signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the
prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective. I beseech God, exalted
be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth, may grant
that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them, and aid them to accomplish
that which beseemeth their station.
It is incumbent upon them who are in authority to exercise
moderation in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation
will cease to exert a beneficial influence. Consider for instance such things
as liberty, civilization and the like. However much men of understanding may
favorably regard them, they will, if carried to excess, exercise a pernicious
influence upon men...
Our hope is that the world’s religious leaders and the
rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the
rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them, after meditating on its needs, take
counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a
diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth...
The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental
purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the
interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of
love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension
and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and
immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and
chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of
countless centuries undermine its structure.
Verily God will raise up Him Whom God shall make manifest,
and after Him Whomsoever He willeth, even as He hath raised up prophets before
the Point of the Bayán. He in truth hath power over all things.
Great is your blessedness, inasmuch as ye have forsaken your
homes and wandered the land for the love of your Lord, the Almighty, the
Ancient of Days, until ye entered the Land of Mystery at a time when the fire
of oppression was ablaze and the croaking of the raven of discord had been
raised. Ye are My partners in My tribulations, for ye were present with Us
during the darksome night in which the hearts of those who testify to the unity
of God were agitated. Ye entered this land for the sake of Our love, and
departed therefrom through Our command. By the righteousness of God! Because of
you the earth itself glorieth over heaven. How excellent is this most sublime,
this glorious and exalted bounty! Ye have been deprived of your nest, O birds
of eternity, for the sake of your Lord, the Unconstrained, but your true abode
is beneath the wings of the grace of the All-Merciful. Blessed are they that
understand.