I have come in the shadows of the clouds of glory, and am
invested by God with invincible sovereignty. He, verily, is the Truth, the
Knower of things unseen.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah’)
April 19
I have come in the shadows of the clouds of glory, and am
invested by God with invincible sovereignty. He, verily, is the Truth, the
Knower of things unseen. 
April 18
…Jesus, the Spirit of God…hath once more, in My person, been
made manifest unto you. Deal with Me as ye wish, for I have vowed to lay down
My life in the path of God. I will fear no one, though the powers of earth and
heaven be leagued against Me.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah’)
April 17
It behoveth the people of Bahá to die to the world and all
that is therein, to be so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of
Paradise may inhale from their garment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity,
that all the peoples of the earth may recognize in their faces the brightness
of the All-Merciful, and that through them may be spread abroad the signs and
tokens of God, the Almighty, the All-Wise.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the
Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
April 16
God alone—exalted be His glory—is cognizant of the things
which befell this Wronged One. Every day bringeth a fresh report of stories
current against Us at the Embassy in Constantinople. Gracious God! The sole aim
of their machinations is to bring about the extermination of this servant. They
are, however, oblivious of the fact that abasement in the path of God is My
true glory. In the newspapers the following hath been recorded: “Touching the
fraudulent dealings of some of the exiles of Akká, and the excesses committed
by them against several people, etc....” Unto them who are the exponents of
justice and the daysprings of equity the intention of the writer is evident and
his purpose clear. Briefly, he arose and inflicted upon Me divers tribulations,
and treated Me with injustice and cruelty.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of
the Wolf’)
April 15
Describing the people of Bahá, the Most Sublime Pen hath
sent down these words: “These, verily, are men who if they come to cities of
pure gold will consider them not; and if they meet the fairest and most comely
of women will turn aside.” Thus hath it been sent down by the Most Sublime Pen
for the people of Bahá, on the part of Him Who is the Counsellor, the
Omniscient.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 14
In the estimation of men of insight whatsoever befalleth in
the path of God is manifest glory and a supreme attainment. Already We have
said: “Glory to Thee, O my God! But for the tribulations which are sustained in
Thy path, how could Thy true lovers be recognized; and were it not for the
trials which are borne for love of Thee, how could the station of such as yearn
for Thee be revealed?”
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 13
O Son of Being! Busy not thyself with this world, for with
fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
April 12
In the concluding passages of the Tablet to His Majesty the
Emperor of Paris (Napoleon III) these exalted words have been revealed:
“Exultest thou over the treasures thou dost possess, knowing they shall perish?
Rejoicest thou in that thou rulest a span of earth, when the whole world, in
the estimation of the people of Bahá, is worth as much as the black in the eye
of a dead ant? Abandon it unto such as have set their affections upon it, and
turn thou unto Him Who is the Desire of the world.”
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to
the Son of the Wolf’)
April 11
O Son of Man! For everything there is a sign. The sign of
love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
April 10
And it came to pass that on a certain day a needy man came
to visit this Soul, craving for the ocean of His knowledge. While conversing
with him, mention was made concerning the signs of the Day of Judgment,
Resurrection, Revival, and Reckoning. He urged Us to explain how, in this
wondrous Dispensation, the peoples of the world were brought to a reckoning,
when none were made aware of it. Thereupon, We imparted unto him, according to
the measure of his capacity and understanding, certain truths of Science and ancient
Wisdom. We then asked him saying: “Hast thou not read the Qur’án, and art thou
not aware of this blessed verse: ‘On that day shall neither man nor spirit be
asked of his Sin?’ Dost thou not realize
that by ‘asking’ is not meant asking by tongue or speech, even as the verse
itself doth indicate and prove? For afterward it is said: ‘By their countenance
shall the sinners be known, and they shall be seized by their forelocks and
their feet.’”
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
April 9
This is the day which God hath announced through the tongue
of His Apostle. [Muhammad] …This is the day whereon He Who is the Dayspring of
Revelation hath come with clear tokens which none can number. This is the day
whereon every man endued with perception hath discovered the fragrance of the
breeze of the All-Merciful in the world of creation, and every man of insight
hath hastened unto the living waters of the mercy of his Lord, the King of
Kings.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 11
O Son of Man! For everything there is a sign. The sign of
love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
April 8
O heedless one! [1] Rely not on thy glory, and thy power.
Thou art even as the last trace of sunlight upon the mountain-top. Soon will it
fade away as decreed by God, the All-Possessing, the Most High. Thy glory and
the glory of such as are like thee have been taken away, and this verily is
what hath been ordained by the One with Whom is the Mother Tablet. Where is he
to be found who contended with God, and whither is gone he that gainsaid His signs,
and turned aside from His sovereignty? Where are they who have slain His chosen
ones and spilt the blood of His holy ones? Reflect, that haply thou mayest
perceive the breaths of thine acts, O foolish doubter! Because of you the
Apostle (Muhammad) lamented, and the Chaste One (Fátimih) cried out, and the
countries were laid waste, and darkness fell upon all regions. O concourse of
divines! Because of you the people were abased, and the banner of Islám was
hauled down, and its mighty throne subverted. Every time a man of discernment
hath sought to hold fast unto that which would exalt Islám, ye raised a clamor,
and thereby was he deterred from achieving his purpose, while the land remained
fallen in clear ruin.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
[1] Shaykh Muhammad-Taqi, known as Aqa Najafi, a son of
Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir who was stigmatized by Baha’u’llah as 'Wolf'. After the
death of his father in 1883, Aqa Najafi succeeded him as a leading mujtahid of
Isfahan. He was an inveterate enemy and formidable opponent of the Cause of
Bahá'u'lláh. (Adib Taherzadeh, ‘The Revelation of Baha’u’llah, vol. 4)
April 7
O ye loved ones of God! Drink your fill from the wellspring
of wisdom, and soar ye in the atmosphere of wisdom, and speak forth with wisdom
and eloquence. Thus biddeth you your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 6
O thou who art gone astray! If thou hast any doubt
concerning Our conduct, know thou that We bear witness unto that whereunto God
hath Himself borne witness ere the creation of the heavens and of the earth,
that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Bounteous. We
testify that He is One in His Essence, One in His Attributes. He hath none to
equal Him in the whole universe, nor any partner in all creation. He hath sent
forth His Messengers, and sent down His Books, that they may announce unto His
creatures the Straight Path.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 5
Gracious God! So great is the folly and perversity of the
people, that they have turned their face toward their own thoughts and desires,
and have turned their back upon the knowledge and will of God—hallowed and
glorified be His name!
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
April 4
I sorrow not for the burden of My imprisonment. Neither do I
grieve over My abasement, or the tribulation I suffer at the hands of Mine
enemies. By My life! They are My glory, a glory wherewith God hath adorned His
own Self. Would that ye know it!
The shame I was made to bear hath uncovered the glory with
which the whole of creation had been invested, and through the cruelties I have
endured, the Day Star of Justice hath manifested itself, and shed its splendor
upon men.
My sorrows are for those who have involved themselves in
their corrupt passions, and claim to be associated with the Faith of God, the
Gracious, the All-Praised.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah’)
April 3
It hath been enjoined upon you to purify your means of
sustenance and other such things through payment of Zakát.[Tithes] Thus hath
it been prescribed in this exalted Tablet by Him Who is the Revealer of verses.
We shall, if it be God’s will and purpose, set forth erelong the measure of its
assessment. He, verily, expoundeth whatsoever He desireth by virtue of His own
knowledge, and He, of a truth, is Omniscient and All-Wise.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
[For a brief explanation of Zakák please see Vision
and Insights – daily gems]
April 2
The Lord hath decreed, moreover, that the deceased should be
enfolded in five sheets of silk or cotton. For those whose means are limited a
single sheet of either fabric will suffice. Thus hath it been ordained by Him
Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. It is forbidden you to transport the
body of the deceased a greater distance than one hour’s journey from the city;
rather should it be interred, with radiance and serenity, in a nearby place.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
April 1
The Lord hath decreed that the dead should be interred in
coffins made of crystal, of hard, resistant stone, or of wood that is both fine
and durable, and that graven rings should be placed upon their fingers. He,
verily, is the Supreme Ordainer, the One apprised of all.
The inscription on these rings should read, for men: “Unto
God belongeth all that is in the heavens and on the earth and whatsoever is
between them, and He, in truth, hath knowledge of all things”; and for women:
“Unto God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is
between them, and He, in truth, is potent over all things”.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
March 31
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
March 30
Certain ones among both commoners and nobles have objected
that this wronged One is neither a member of the ecclesiastical order nor a
descendant of the Prophet. Say: O ye that claim to be just! Reflect a little
while, and ye shall recognize how infinitely exalted is His present state above
the station ye claim He should possess. The Will of the Almighty hath decreed
that out of a house wholly devoid of all that the divines, the doctors, the
sages, and scholars commonly possess His Cause should proceed and be made
manifest.
The Breathings of the Divine Spirit awoke Him, and bade Him
arise and proclaim His Revelation. No sooner was He roused from His slumber
than He lifted up His voice and summoned the whole of mankind unto God, the
Lord of all worlds. We have been moved to reveal these words in consideration
of the weakness and frailty of men; otherwise, the Cause We have proclaimed is
such as no pen can ever describe, nor any mind conceive its greatness. To this
beareth witness He with Whom is the Mother Book.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from
the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
March 29
Lay not aside the fear of God, O ye the learned of the
world, and judge fairly the Cause of this unlettered One to Whom all the Books
of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, have testified. ...Will not the
dread of Divine displeasure, the fear of Him Who hath no peer or equal, arouse
you? He Whom the world hath wronged hath, at no time, associated with you, hath
never studied your writings, nor participated in any of your disputations. The
garb He weareth, His flowing locks, His headdress, attest the truth of His
words. How long will ye persist in your injustice? Witness the habitation in
which He, Who is the incarnation of justice, hath been forced to dwell. Open
your eyes, and, beholding His plight, meditate diligently upon that which your
hands have wrought, that haply ye may not be deprived of the light of His
Divine utterance, nor remain bereft of your share of the ocean of His
knowledge.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
March 28
This is a Day, the Light of which Thou hast sanctified above
the sun and its effulgence. Thou hast called it "The Day of God!"
Nothing is to be seen therein but Thy Supreme Self, and naught is to be
remembered save Thy sweetest Name. Wherefore, when He appeared, the foundations
of nations trembled, the learned were bewildered and the wise men were
confounded, save those who came near unto Thee, took from the hand of Favor the
pure wine of Thy Inspiration, and drank in Thy Name, saying: "Praise be unto Thee, O Desire of the nations! Praise
be to Thee, O Beloved of the hearts of the yearning!"
- Baha’u’llah (Star
of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
March 27
…by “Resurrection” is meant the rise of the Manifestation of
God to proclaim His Cause, and by “attainment unto the divine Presence” is
meant attainment unto the presence of His Beauty in the person of His
Manifestation. For verily, “No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all
vision.” (Qur’an 6:103)
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
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