Eschew all manner of wickedness, for such things are
forbidden unto you in the Book which none touch except such as God hath
cleansed from every taint of guilt, and numbered among the purified.” 
The civilization so often vaunted by the learned exponents
of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation,
bring great evil upon men.... If carried to excess, civilization will prove as
prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the
restraints of moderation.
Disencumber yourselves of all attachment to this world and
the vanities thereof. Beware that ye approach them not, inasmuch as they prompt
you to walk after your own lusts and covetous desires, and hinder you from
entering the straight and glorious Path.
Know of a certainty that in every Dispensation the light of
Divine Revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their
spiritual capacity. Consider the sun. How feeble its rays the moment it
appeareth above the horizon. How gradually its warmth and potency increase as
it approacheth its zenith, enabling meanwhile all created things to adapt
themselves to the growing intensity of its light. How steadily it declineth
until it reacheth its setting point. Were it, all of a sudden, to manifest the
energies latent within it, it would, no doubt, cause injury to all created
things.... In like manner, if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the
earliest stages of its manifestation, the full measure of the potencies which
the providence of the Almighty hath bestowed upon it, the earth of human
understanding would waste away and be consumed; for men's hearts would neither
sustain the intensity of its revelation, nor be able to mirror forth the
radiance of its light. Dismayed and overpowered, they would cease to exist.
Let not, however, thy soul grieve over that which God hath
rained down upon Us. Merge thy will in His pleasure, for We have, at no time,
desired anything whatsoever except His Will, and have welcomed each one of His
irrevocable decrees. Let thine heart be patient, and be thou not dismayed.
Follow not in the way of them that are sorely agitated.
Recall thou to mind My sorrows, My cares and anxieties, My
woes and trials, the state of My captivity, the tears that I have shed, the
bitterness of Mine anguish, and now My imprisonment in this far-off land. God…
beareth Me witness. Couldst thou be told what hath befallen the Ancient Beauty,
thou wouldst flee into the wilderness, and weep with a great weeping… Be thou
grateful to God, that We have refused to divulge unto thee the secrets of those
unsearchable decrees that have been sent down unto Us from the heaven of the
Will of thy Lord, the Most Powerful, the Almighty.
Say: It behoveth you, O Ministers of State, to keep the
precepts of God…and to be of them who are guided aright. Better is this for you
than all ye possess, did ye but know it. If ye transgress the commandment of
God, not one jot or one tittle of all your works shall be acceptable in His sight.
Ye shall, erelong, discover the consequences of that which ye shall have done
in this vain life, and shall be repaid for them. This, verily, is the truth,
the undoubted truth.
Call Thou to remembrance Thine arrival in the City
(Constantinople), how the Ministers of the Sulṭán thought Thee to be
unacquainted with their laws and regulations, and believed Thee to be one of
the ignorant. Say: Yes, by My Lord! I am ignorant of all things except what God
hath, through His bountiful favor, been pleased to teach Me. To this We
assuredly testify, and unhesitatingly confess it.
That which hath touched this Wronged One is beyond compare
or equal. We have borne it all with the utmost willingness and resignation, so
that the souls of men may be edified, and the Word of God be exalted.
Consider that which the Merciful Lord hath revealed in the
Qur’án, exalted are His words: “Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or
likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents...”
Observe how loving-kindness to one’s parents hath been linked to recognition of
the one true God! Happy they who are endued with true wisdom and understanding,
who see and perceive, who read and understand, and who observe that which God
hath revealed in the Holy Books of old, and in this incomparable and wondrous
Tablet.
The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent
instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity
amongst men. The progress of the world, the development of nations, the
tranquillity of peoples, and the peace of all who dwell on earth are among the
principles and ordinances of God.
It is incumbent upon everyone to firmly adhere to and
observe that which hath streamed forth from Our Most Exalted Pen. God, the True
One, beareth Me witness, and every atom in existence is moved to testify that
such means as lead to the elevation, the advancement, the education, the
protection and the regeneration of the peoples of the earth have been clearly
set forth by Us and are revealed in the Holy Books and Tablets by the Pen of
Glory.
Whatever hath been constructed for the worship of the one
true God, such as mosques, chapels and temples, must not be used for any
purpose other than the commemoration of His Name. This is an ordinance of God,
and he who violateth it is verily of those who have transgressed. No harm
attacheth to the builder, for he hath performed his deed for the sake of God,
and hath received and will continue to receive his just reward.
Religion bestoweth upon man the most precious of all gifts,
offereth the cup of prosperity, imparteth eternal life, and showereth
imperishable benefits upon mankind. It behoveth the chiefs and rulers of the
world, and in particular the Trustees of God’s House of Justice, to endeavour
to the utmost of their power to safeguard its position, promote its interests
and exalt its station in the eyes of the world. In like manner it is incumbent
upon them to enquire into the conditions of their subjects and to acquaint
themselves with the affairs and activities of the divers communities in their
dominions.
The purpose of religion as revealed from the heaven of God’s
holy Will is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world;
make it not the cause of dissension and strife.
O Jalíl! He Whom the world hath wronged now proclaimeth: The
light of Justice is dimmed, and the sun of Equity veiled from sight. The robber
occupieth the seat of the protector and guard, and the position of the faithful
is seized by the traitor. A year ago an oppressor ruled over this city, and at
every instant caused fresh harm. By the righteousness of the Lord! He wrought
that which cast terror into the hearts of men. But to the Pen of Glory the
tyranny of the world hath never been nor will it ever be a hindrance.
The people aforetime joined partners with God, though they
professed belief in His unity; and although they were the most ignorant amongst
men, they considered themselves the most accomplished. But, as a token of
divine retribution upon those heedless ones, their erroneous beliefs and
pursuits have, in this Day of Judgement, been made clear and evident to every
man of discernment and understanding.
The fruits that best befit the tree of human life are
trustworthiness and godliness, truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than
all, after recognition of the unity of God, praised and glorified be He, is
regard for the rights that are due to one’s parents. This teaching hath been
mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed by the Most Exalted Pen.
The Birth of the Abhá Beauty was at the hour of dawn on the
second day of the month of Muharram, [1] the first day of which marketh the
Birth of His Herald. These two days are accounted as one in the sight of God.
O Muhammad! The Ancient of Days hath turned His countenance
towards thee, making mention of thee, and exhorting the people of God to
educate their children. Should a father neglect this most weighty commandment
laid down in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas by the Pen of the Eternal King, he shall forfeit
rights of fatherhood, and be accounted guilty before God. Well is it with him
who imprinteth on his heart the admonitions of the Lord, and steadfastly
cleaveth unto them. God, in truth, enjoineth on His servants what shall assist
and profit them, and enable them to draw nigh unto Him. He is the Ordainer, the
Everlasting.
The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by
day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its
plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. Its perversity
will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly
appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then, and only
then, will the Divine Standard be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise
warble its melody.
Say: He is not to be numbered with the people of Bahá who
followeth his mundane desires, or fixeth his heart on things of the earth. He
is My true follower who, if he come to a valley of pure gold, will pass
straight through it aloof as a cloud, and will neither turn back, nor pause.
Such a man is, assuredly, of Me. From his garment the Concourse on high can
inhale the fragrance of sanctity.... And if he met the fairest and most comely
of women, he would not feel his heart seduced by the least shadow of desire for
her beauty. Such an one, indeed, is the creation of spotless chastity. Thus
instructeth you the Pen of the Ancient of Days, as bidden by your Lord, the
Almighty, the All-Bountiful.
A just king is the shadow of God on earth. All should seek shelter under the shadow of
his justice, and rest in the shade of his favour. This is not a matter which is either specific
or limited in its scope, that it might be restricted to one or another person,
inasmuch as the shadow telleth of the One Who casteth it. God, glorified be His remembrance, hath
called Himself the Lord of the worlds, for He hath nurtured and still nurtureth
everyone. Glorified be, then, His grace
that hath preceded all created things, and His mercy that hath surpassed the
worlds.