- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
May 5
May 4
O peoples of the world! Forsake all evil, hold fast that
which is good. Strive to be shining examples unto all mankind, and true
reminders of the virtues of God amidst men.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of
Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 3
We exhort mankind in these days when the countenance of
Justice is soiled with dust, when the flames of unbelief are burning high and
the robe of wisdom rent asunder, when tranquillity and faithfulness have ebbed
away and trials and tribulations have waxed severe, when covenants are broken
and ties are severed, when no man knoweth how to discern light and darkness or
to distinguish guidance from error.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah
revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
May 2
In another passage He saith: “Woe to every lying sinner, who
heareth the verses of God recited to him, and then, as though he heard them
not, persisteth in proud disdain! Apprise him of a painful punishment.” [Qur’án 45:6] The
implications of this verse, alone, suffice all that is in heaven and on earth,
were the people to ponder the verses of their Lord. For thou hearest how in
this day the people disdainfully ignore the divinely-revealed verses, as though
they were the meanest of all things. And yet, nothing greater than these verses
hath ever appeared, nor will ever be made manifest in the world! Say unto them:
“O heedless people! Ye repeat what your fathers, in a bygone age, have said.
Whatever fruits they have gathered from the tree of their faithlessness, the
same shall ye gather also. Ere long shall ye be gathered unto your fathers, and
with them shall ye dwell in hellish fire. An ill abode! the abode of the people
of tyranny.”
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
May 1
Likewise, He saith: “Such are the verses of God: with truth
do We recite them to Thee. But in what revelation will they believe, if they
reject God and His verses?” [1] If thou wilt grasp the implication of this
verse, thou wilt recognize the truth that no manifestation greater than the
Prophets of God hath ever been revealed, and no testimony mightier than the
testimony of their revealed verses hath ever appeared upon the earth. Nay, this
testimony no other testimony can ever excel, except that which the Lord thy God
willeth.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
[1] Qur’án 45:5
April 30
Consider the lamp which is hidden under a bushel. Though its
light be shining, yet its radiance is concealed from men. Likewise, consider
the sun which hath been obscured by the clouds. Observe how its splendor
appeareth to have diminished, when in reality the source of that light hath
remained unchanged. The soul of man should be likened unto this sun, and all
things on earth should be regarded as his body. So long as no external
impediment interveneth between them, the body will, in its entirety, continue
to reflect the light of the soul, and to be sustained by its power. As soon as,
however, a veil interposeth itself between them, the brightness of that light
seemeth to lessen.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
April 29
…compared with all other proofs and tokens, the
divinely-revealed verses shine as the sun, whilst all others are as stars. To
the peoples of the world they are the abiding testimony, the incontrovertible
proof, the shining light of the ideal King. Their excellence is unrivalled,
their virtue nothing can surpass. They are the treasury of the divine pearls
and the depository of the divine mysteries. They constitute the indissoluble
Bond, the firm Cord, the Urvatu’l-Vuthqá, [the Sure Handle] the
inextinguishable Light. Through them floweth the river of divine knowledge, and
gloweth the fire of His ancient and consummate wisdom.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Iqan’)
April 28
When it [human soul] leaveth the body, however, it will
evince such ascendancy, and reveal such influence as no force on earth can
equal. Every pure, every refined and sanctified soul will be endowed with
tremendous power, and shall rejoice with exceeding gladness.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
April 27
Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is
independent of all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth
signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between
his soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily
ailments. Consider the light of the lamp. Though an external object may
interfere with its radiance, the light itself continueth to shine with
undiminished power. In like manner, every malady afflicting the body of man is
an impediment that preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might and
power.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
April 26
Be united, O kings of the earth, for thereby will the
tempest of discord be stilled amongst you, and your peoples find rest, if ye be
of them that comprehend. Should any one
among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is
naught but manifest justice. Thus did We
exhort you in the Tablet sent down aforetime, [1] and We admonish you once
again to follow that which hath been revealed by Him Who is the Almighty, the
All-Wise. Should anyone seek refuge with
you, extend unto him your protection and betray him not. Thus doth the Pen of the Most High counsel
you, as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Queen Victoria, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of
the Lord of Hosts’)
[1] The Súriy-i-Mulúk
April 25
Were man to study with deep insight God’s holy Words and
ponder them in his heart, he will surely realize that their one aim is to so
unite the world that the divers peoples on earth may be regarded even as one
soul, that the seal of “Unto God is all dominion” may be stamped upon the tablet
of every heart and that the splendors of loving kindness, of grace and mercy
may be shed upon all mankind.
- Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet, Baha’i News no. 49,
March 1931)
April 24
God has ever regarded the hearts of His servants, and this too
by reason of His most great favor, that perchance mortal souls may be cleansed
and sanctified from earthly states and may attain unto the everlasting places.
But that Real King is in Himself sufficient unto Himself and independent of
all; neither does any advantage accrue to Him from the love of contingent
beings, nor does any hurt befall Him from their hatred. All earthly places
appear through Him and unto him return, and God singly and alone abides in His
own place which is holy above space and time, mention and utterance, sign,
description and definition, height and depth. And no one knows this save Him
and whosoever has knowledge of the Book.
- Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet, Baha’i
News no. 48, February 1931)
April 23
Attract the hearts of men, through the call of Him, the one
alone Beloved. Say: This is the Voice of God, if ye do but hearken. This is the
Dayspring of the Revelation of God, did ye but know it. This is the
Dawning-Place of the Cause of God, were ye to recognize it. This is the Source
of the commandment of God, did ye but judge it fairly. This is the manifest and
hidden Secret; would that ye might perceive it. O peoples of the world! Cast
away, in My name that transcendeth all other names, the things ye possess, and
immerse yourselves in this Ocean in whose depths lay hidden the pearls of
wisdom and of utterance, an ocean that surgeth in My name, the All-Merciful.
Thus instructeth you He with Whom is the Mother Book.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of
Remembrance’)
April 22
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)
April 21
The Best-Beloved is come. In His right hand is the sealed
Wine of His name. Happy is the man that turneth unto Him, and drinketh his
fill, and exclaimeth: “Praise be to Thee, O Revealer of the signs of God!” By
the righteousness of the Almighty! Every hidden thing hath been manifested
through the power of truth. All the favours of God have been sent down, as a
token of His grace. The waters of everlasting life have, in their fullness,
been proffered unto men. Every single cup hath been borne round by the hand of
the Well-Beloved. Draw near, and tarry not, though it be for one short moment.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)
April 20
This is the Day whereon naught can be seen except the
splendours of the Light that shineth from the face of Thy Lord, the Gracious,
the Most Bountiful. Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of
Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being
a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the
All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)
April 19
The Divine Springtime is come, O Most Exalted Pen, for the
Festival of the All-Merciful is fast approaching. Bestir thyself, and magnify,
before the entire creation, the name of God, and celebrate His praise, in such
wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new. Speak, and hold
not thy peace. The day-star of blissfulness shineth above the horizon of Our
name, the Blissful, inasmuch as the kingdom of the names of God hath been
adorned with the ornament of the name of thy Lord, the Creator of the heavens.
Arise before the nations of the earth, and arm thyself with the power of this
Most Great Name, and be not of those who tarry.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of
Remembrance’)
April 18
Today the friends of God must appear in such wise among
God’s servants that by their actions they may lead all unto the pleasure of the
Lord of Glory. I swear by the Sun of the Horizon of Holiness that the friends
of God never have regarded nor will regard the earth or its transitory riches.
- Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet, Baha’i News no. 48, February 1931)
April 17
…today victory neither has been nor will ever be opposition
to any one, nor strife with any person; but rather what is well-pleasing is
that the cities of men’s hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of
selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of wisdom and of
exhortation. Every one, then, who desires victory must first subdue the city of
his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must
protect it from remembering aught beside God; afterwards, let him turn his
efforts toward the citadel of the hearts of others.
- Baha’u’llah (From a
Tablet, Baha’i News no. 48, February 1931)
April 16
It has been known that God, glorious is His mention, is
sanctified from the world and what is therein, and that the meaning of victory
is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with another. The Lord of “He
doeth what he willeth” has committed the kingdom of creation, both land and
sea, into the hand of kings, and they are the manifestations of the divine
power according to the degrees of their ranks; verily, He is the potent, the
sovereign. But that which God, glorious is His mention, has desired for himself
is the hearts of His servants which are treasuries of praise and love of the
Lord and stores of divine knowledge and wisdom.
- Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet,
Baha’i News no. 48, February 1931)
April 15
The friends of God must be adorned with the ornament of
justice, equity, kindness and love. As they do not allow themselves to be the
object of cruelty and transgression, in like manner they should not allow such
tyranny to visit the handmaidens of God. He, verily, speaketh the truth and
commandeth that which benefitteth His servants and handmaidens. He is the
Protector of all in this world and the next.
- Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet, The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)
April 14
O rulers of the earth! Be reconciled among yourselves, that
ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories
and dominions. Beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the All-Knowing, the
Faithful.
- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Queen Victoria, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of
Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
April 13
The eye of My loving-kindness weepeth sore over you,
[“leaders of religion”] inasmuch as ye have failed to recognize the One upon
Whom ye have been calling in the daytime and in the night season, at even and
at morn. Advance, O people, with snow-white faces and radiant hearts, unto the
blest and crimson Spot, wherein the Tree beyond which there is no passing is
calling: ‘Verily, there is none other God beside Me, the Omnipotent Protector,
the Self-Subsisting!’
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
April 12
God testifieth to the unity of His Godhood and to the
singleness of His own Being. On the throne of eternity, from the inaccessible
heights of His station, His tongue proclaimeth that there is none other God but
Him. He Himself, independently of all else, hath ever been a witness unto His
own oneness, the revealer of His own nature, the glorifier of His own essence.
He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Beauteous.
He is supreme over His servants, and standeth over His
creatures. In His hand is the source of authority and truth. He maketh men
alive by His signs, and causeth them to die through His wrath. He shall not be
asked of His doings and His might is equal unto all things. He is the Potent,
the All-Subduing. He holdeth within His grasp the empire of all things, and on
His right hand is fixed the Kingdom of His Revelation. His power, verily,
embraceth the whole of creation. Victory and overlordship are His; all might
and dominion are His; all glory and greatness are His. He, of a truth, is the
All-Glorious, the Most Powerful, the Unconditioned.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)
- Baha’u’llah (‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)
April 11
O ye leaders of religion in Persia! Who is the man amongst
you that can rival Me in vision or insight? Where is he to be found that dareth
to claim to be My equal in utterance or wisdom? No, by My Lord, the
All-Merciful! All on the earth shall pass away; and this is the face of your
Lord, the Almighty, the Well-Beloved.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the
Wolf’)
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