Exhortations and counsels: words that become a way of life

O 'Ali, son of Muhammad!

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.

Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face.

Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech.

Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men.

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Say not unto anyone that which thou wouldst not wish to hear from another, and desire not for any soul that which thou wouldst not desire for thyself.

And if you find a suffering soul, treat him with mercy and befriend him with forbearance, and if you encounter a soul of weak faith, remonstrate him not and exhort him with kindness and with a sweet and gentle tongue so that he may recognize the Faith of God in his inmost heart and comprehend that which he was bidden by the All-knowing, the All-Wise.

You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider all as your equals, recognizing them as the servants of one God. Know that God is compassionate toward all; therefore, love all from the depths of your hearts, prefer all religionists before yourselves, be filled with love for every race, and be kind toward the people of all nationalities.

Say: O servants! Hearken unto the counsels of the Wronged One. The first of all things and of every mention hath been the knowledge of God. He is the Sustainer of all and the Educator of all. The first thing that proceedeth from knowledge is the love and unity of the servants, for through unity are the horizons of the world illumined and brightened.

Say: O people! Fear God, shed not blood, oppose no soul, and be of the doers of good. Beware lest ye spread corruption in the land after its reformation, and follow not the ways of the heedless.

The divine friends must become entirely articulate and become the true dawn, and despite quietude give forth the gift of eloquence, meaning that with perfect dignity and composure they must awaken souls through their conduct and behavior. They must become the essence of sanctification and the sign of detachment. The lights of severance must shine from their faces and the signs of the Greater Guidance appear on their foreheads.

First--Truthfulness; no one should ever tell a lie!

Second--Honesty in all their transactions.

Third--Forbearance is necessary.

Fourth--They must observe the utmost kindness, so that all may consider themselves servants of each other, and be truthful and honest to all mankind.

Fifth--They must not disappoint anyone, but constantly endeavor to become more spiritual.

Abdul-Baha went on to say: "Be very kind and serve every one; become lovers of justice and pray for the whole of mankind; help the poor and the children; heal the sick; shelter the refugees; and be known by your lives as the children of God; so may that sun become the light of the world, casting its radiance upon East and West.

O ye two well-loved handmaids of God! Whatever a man's tongue speaketh, that let him prove by his deeds. If he claimeth to be a believer, then let him act in accordance with the precepts of the Abha Kingdom.

O Rahim! God willing, may you and the friends of God succeed in performing deeds that are acceptable in His sight. Today is the day of pure deeds, and deeds are the witness and testimony to words. Words without deeds were never and are not worthy of mention. We beseech God to aid all to perform deeds whose fragrance shall never be cut off from the world....

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Say: O My loved ones! Hold fast unto goodly deeds and follow not those who hold fast unto words rather than deeds. These, verily, are among the heedless. Say: It behoveth you that from you should be wafted the sweet savors of My morals and the holy, mighty, pure and radiant fragrances of My deeds throughout all worlds.

For today it is binding and obligatory upon everyone, whether female or male, that their deeds be in accordance with the divine good-pleasure. The Truth has, in most of His Tablets, commanded His maidservants and servants to perform praiseworthy deeds, for through goodly acts and pleasing conduct has the Cause of God been and continues to be made manifest among His servants.

Sow the seeds of love in the heart and not the seeds of hatred. The reflection in the glass proves whether we are laughing or frowning. By our actions we reveal what is growing in the heart. Actions are mirrors of the soul.

The greatness of the teachings of Baha'u'llah will be known when they are acted upon and practiced. Not one of a hundred has as yet come into force. All of your thoughts should be turned toward bringing these blessed teachings into practice.

Today one must aid the Cause of God through the hosts of spiritual virtues, goodly words, and deeds that are pleasing and acceptable. These hosts are and have ever been mightier than the hosts of the world.

The eye of God's loving-kindness is turned toward His loved ones, and He counseleth all to such deeds, actions and utterances as will cause the exaltation of God's Cause, and whose very performance will testify to their sanctity and detachment from whatsoever is contrary to the Book of God.

In most of the Divinely-revealed Tablets We have enjoined upon all wisdom, unity, laudable deeds and a praiseworthy character. Though all have read these, and become aware of the Divine precepts, yet have they remained far distant from the Straight Path, and given precedence rather to their own desires.

The point is that today there is no salvation or success except through following and acting according to divine counsels and exhortations. These heavenly teachings are what will revive Iran, but conditional upon their being put into practice.

We make mention of Our loved ones and counsel them to perform goodly deeds and display praiseworthy conduct, and to do that which distanceth man from ignorance and draweth him nigh unto knowledge, sanctifieth him from corruption and adorneth him with reformation.

We counsel the loved ones of God with that which conduceth to the elevation of souls and the reformation of the world. No host hath been or is mightier than goodly deeds and pure character. With these hosts must they conquer the citadels of hearts.

And after presentation of the letter, they said: God willing, may they hold fast to that which was imparted to them face to face, and in all circumstances call the people to goodly conduct and the fear of God, that perchance through the grace of the Lord the characteristics of the self and satanic imaginings may be lifted away and spiritual qualities may become manifest from the mines of the hearts of the servants.

Thou must needs hold fast to such goodly deeds and praiseworthy character that their fragrance shall be diffused. In all conditions God hath confirmed and will confirm thee.

Be thou assured and be of those who are steadfast.

We counsel all to observe that which hath been revealed in the Book of God. Whoso acteth in accordance therewith in this Day is reckoned among the people of Baha. Say: It behooveth you to observe goodly deeds, and again goodly deeds.

We counsel all to perform pure and holy deeds and to fear God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. One pure deed amongst the deeds of former centuries is as the sun amongst the stars.

Say: O people of the earth! Cast away vice and lay hold of virtue, by the command of One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Your riches and whatsoever ye possess shall profit you not. Cast away vain imaginings and take hold of that which hath been vouchsafed unto you from God, the Lord of all worlds.

We verily counseled the people aforetime through God's tender mercy, grace, compassion and justice, that every soul might adopt the character of their Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful. We beseech God to assist them in that which will bring tranquility to the hearts of His servants and through which His firm and wise Cause will be exalted.

O renowned Amir! The All-Powerful Lord is aware and witness that always, in bright nights and dark, at the time of supplication to the Lord, I repeatedly seek confirmation and success for you. Therefore 'Abdu'l-Baha hopes that the assistance and protection of the Kingdom of Mysteries will continue and persist.

And so it shall be, but conditional upon your being absolutely good and seeking God's good pleasure; becoming a divine mercy to the world of humanity; attaining endless life in this mortal world; becoming firm and steadfast; remaining constant in service to the known Person; becoming a zealous well-wisher and a cause of awakening and remembrance to the proud; constantly striving to improve the conditions of ruler and subject; serving the unity of the human world; being a guardian, protector, submissive and obedient to the throne of sovereignty; and guaranteeing the physical and spiritual happiness and comfort of the nation.

God willing, you will be assisted and confirmed in all these counsels, and you will find the doors of victory opened from every direction. And in this world assembly you will light a candle whose brilliant rays will shine upon centuries and ages, and you will render such service that its fame and renown will endure forever in both the earthly and heavenly kingdoms.

Therefore serve the divine court so that you may find your way to the lofty pavilion of the All-Merciful, and sacrifice yourself in the path of the Lord that you may find spirit and fragrance in the infinite world. And upon you be greetings and praise.

It is my hope that all the friends will arise in the service of the Cause; that they will live in accord with the Teachings of Baha'u'llah and the contents of my addresses; so that these Teachings may not become like Bible, unfulfilled.

Now if the friends of God were to act according to that first hadith, that is, according to one of the Tablets of the Ancient Beauty, may His glory be exalted, it would be better than waiting each day for a new letter and fresh instructions and in this state...

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Today is the day for the manifestation of deeds. We have ever counseled the servants of God to fear God [...] … It is hoped that the effulgences of the Luminary of utterance which have shone forth from the horizon of God's Book will illumine all and adorn them with the raiment of the Most Great Infallibility.

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We have counselled all in what shall profit them in the hereafter and in this world. Blessed are they who act!

Strive that from the trees of existence such fruits may appear and become manifest as befit the station of man. This is the counsel of the Peerless Friend unto thee and unto His friends.

Say: O people of Baha! Fix your gaze upon the Most Exalted Horizon and turn unto the Source of His Cause.

Today, goodly words and righteous deeds are the manifestors and revealers of His Cause. Blessed is he who holdeth fast unto them. Woe unto the heedless!

Man must needs possess human qualities. Through God's loving-kindness, all the friends must manifest goodly deeds and spiritual qualities. Every good deed is today, and shall continue to be, the cause of the exaltation of His Cause.

This Prisoner counseleth all to perform such deeds as shed abroad the fragrance of sincerity. Work ye according to that which ye have been commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Blessed is the soul whom the ornaments and colors of the world have not deprived of the ocean of divine knowledge.

Blessed art thou for having held fast unto that which is praiseworthy, detached from every remote clamourer. However, We counsel the loved ones to perform good deeds and display praiseworthy conduct, and to observe that which God hath revealed in His Book.

At all times one should consider positive possibilities in matters and attribute good intentions, or hidden obstacles. When this is one's approach, peace of mind and tranquility of conscience result; otherwise one is constantly tormented.

Associate amongst yourselves with love and affection, and be not of those who search into people's deeds to find fault with them. By My life! Such people are among the heedless. Do not pronounce as infidels those who have recognized God, and curse not those who recite the verses of God with humility. Thus does the Pen of your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, counsel you.

Some of the friends secretly criticize other friends and instigate backbiting with consummate gravity, calling it care for the Cause of God. You must certainly exercise the utmost vigilance and explicitly forbid everyone from this, for no habit is more harmful than this trait of fault-finding, especially in relation to the Cause of God. Never should anyone express a word or hint that is unworthy about any of the friends of God.

The disciples of Jesus, passing along the road and seeing a dead dog, remarked how offensive and disgusting a spectacle it was. Then Christ turning to them said, 'Yes, but see how white and beautiful are his teeth'----thus teaching that there is some good in everything.

As much as you can, show kindness to all people and befriend every stranger. Be gentle with every sinner like an intimate friend and treat every heedless one kindly like one who is aware. Do not hurt any heart, even if it belongs to an oppressor or traitor. Do not sadden any soul, even if it repeatedly gives poison. Seek freedom for every injured one and give joy and gladness to every dejected one.

And if there are any weak ones among the believers, deal with them gently and give counsel - do not be harsh, for harshness causes intensity and obstinacy. Leave them to themselves.

You must show the utmost consideration and conduct yourselves in a way that brings them joy. In this wondrous Dispensation, all matters must be carried out with gentleness and love. If some matter causes distress and anxiety among the women, show consideration and convince them, dealing with them with love and kindness, lest certain individuals with personal motives find an opportunity - for a few lie in wait for such occasions.

O friends! Listen with the ear of the soul to the counsels and admonitions of the Ancient Beauty. As much as you are able, hurt no one's feelings and sadden no heart. Be the cause of joy to hearts and the source of gladness to the world of humanity.

The friends of God must regard creation with the eye of loving-kindness and draw all to the horizon of guidance through kind counsels and goodly deeds.

We counsel all to love, mercy and fellowship. Verily He is the Lord of creation, the Merciful to His servants, the Protector of lands. There is none other God but He, the Commander in the beginning and in the end.

Under all conditions, hold fast to the cord of mercy and regard all with grace. Ye are the flowing rivers that branch from the Most Great Ocean; ye must sacrifice yourselves for the advancement of the world.

Be benevolent to all the people of the world. Uphold justice and equity among all the people. Be the sign of mercy and the dawning place of the compassion of The Ancient Beauty. Endeavor to reform and reconcile. Strive to acquire divine virtues and attributes, so that like unto the trees in the Garden of Mercy, ye may bear leaves and fruits and ye may be as generous as the abundant clouds of springtime.

You must at all times call every soul to forbearance and calm and encourage them to tread the path of godly character and spiritual truths, and inspire them to walk in the footsteps of the martyr in the path of God, Ism'u'llah Al-Asdaq.

We bid thee deal with kindness towards his family and with justice and equity in all matters. We have counseled thee and them that believe in Tablets numerous with that which shall cause the Cause of God to be exalted above all else and shall make manifest your station amongst the religions.

Deal with him in such matters that the fire of sedition may not be kindled between you, for this is nearer unto grace, and We have ever been gracious. Moreover, counsel him with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and contend not with him lest enmity arise between you, until God shall bring about His purpose.

We counsel you to fear God and to that whereby His Cause is exalted amongst the servants. Consort with all people with spirit and fragrance, and remind them with wisdom of that which will profit them in the beginning and the end.

With every group, even if it be an oppressive party, they must act with the utmost trustworthiness, religiosity and kindness. This is the path of the Baha'is, this is the way of the spiritual ones.

As much as you can, with an eloquent tongue engage in heavenly conversation, receive divine radiance, become a mirror of the higher realm, seek the comfort of creation, pursue friendship, search for truth, desire reconciliation, be kind, be generous, seek the freedom of both worlds.

At most it is that one is ignorant and should be taught, is sick and should be treated, and so on.

Tell them that if they would attain nearness to the Blessed Beauty they must love much, for love is everything.

Say: O servants! We have previously stated that ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. In the station of love and kindness be as rain-laden clouds, and in seizing the conditions of self and passion be as a blazing flame.

Verily she who did what she did erred and disobeyed her Lord and committed a grievous transgression. Thou shouldst not object to her - leave her to herself. Verily thy Lord is the Ruler over what He willeth. Such matters from the beginning should be conducted with kindness. This is what God hath decreed in His Gracious Book. And if you were not pleased with her actions, no blame attacheth to you.

As for the loss caused by the child, leave it to God, exalted be His glory, and be mindful of the wisdom mentioned in the Books and Tablets.

Be thou steadfast in thy love, then consort with the people with wisdom and speak unto them with wisdom, for this is a beautiful command.

O son of Abhar! Look not at the people and their deeds, neither be thou grieved by their derision, their words and their actions. Fix thy gaze upon the Most Sublime Horizon, and voice His praise in the kingdom of creation.

O Hasan! Beseech thou the True One to enable thee to build an edifice, whose foundation shall be piety, whose walls shall be divine confirmations, and whose roof shall be fidelity and truthfulness.

O servants! Practice truthfulness, turn not away from the destitute, make mention of Me before the great ones, and fear not.

O servants! Be pure in your deeds and follow the word of your Lord.

Verily My Most Exalted Pen counseleth all who are in the kingdom of creation to observe the Most Great Trustworthiness.

However, the cause of success and prosperity is trustworthiness and religiosity and effort and zeal, and conduct and movement according to divine teachings. Strive in your work but trust in God.

We counsel all to observe trustworthiness, chastity, sincerity and faithfulness. We beseech God to aid them all to perform good deeds and eschew evil, and likewise to adorn them with the ornament of unity. The world is illumined through unity and concord, and laid waste through discord and dissension. O friends! Know ye the value of these days and with utmost love, fellowship and wisdom, remind the servants, that perchance they may turn to the supreme horizon through the fragrances of utterance and hold fast unto the divine commandments.

It biddeth the people to observe justice and to work righteousness, and forbiddeth them to follow their corrupt inclinations and carnal desires, if perchance the children of men might be roused from their slumber.

Say: The Wronged One of 'Akka counseleth all to fear God and to that which exalteth the station of man. The true Law of God consisteth in such matters and deeds as are the cause and source of the manifestations of human stations. This is the good that hath been enjoined in all the Books of God, exalted be His glory, and whatsoever is contrary to this station is accounted as evil and must needs be shunned.

At this point They gained presence in the Holy Court and said to write to Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin: "O Zayn! The Wronged One counsels His loved ones with that which will elevate their stations before God: pure fear of God, goodly deeds, trustworthiness, religious devotion, chastity, truthfulness, patience, steadfastness, deliberation and reflection, and acting according to what they have been commanded in the Book.

Say: O people, fear God and associate not partners with Him, and think not evil thoughts, and slander not His chosen ones, and consume not the wealth of others, and commit not oppression and wickedness if ye be of those who are certain of God's decree in the Tree of His Cause.

May you become the cause of comfort for your subjects and the source of the dawning of the light of guidance. May you serve the throne with perfect trustworthiness and sincerity, educate human souls, bestow spirituality upon hearts, and kindle such a flame with the fire of the love of God that its heat will affect the liver of the ether and its luminous flame become the Light of Sinai.

O Feridun! Thy namesake did uproot the foundations of tyranny, and cleansed the realm of foes; he raised aloft the standard of Kavian, and laid the groundwork of justice. He nurtured the priests and exalted the peasants; he was a refuge to the helpless and a loving, compassionate friend to the distressed. Do thou likewise, according to thine own measure, follow the path of the righteous ones of old.

The loved ones of God must appear before all people adorned with the ornament of trustworthiness, truthfulness and purity, and must strive with all their might to foster the unity of hearts and fellowship of souls.

The friends of God must, with wisdom and utterance, deliver the oppressed servants from the claws of these oppressors. Blessed is the soul who hath firmly girded up the loins of endeavor for this service - such a one is recorded and mentioned in the Book of Names as being of the people of Baha....

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Those souls who today are sheltered beneath the shade of the Divine Word must first consider in all matters what benefits the Cause of God, and then attend to their own interests, so that the foundation may be established firm and solid.

Strive to attain nearness to reality through the acquisition of strength of character, through morality, through good works and helping the poor, through being consumed with the fire of the love of God and in discovering each day new spiritual mysteries. This is the path of intimate approach.

Counsel the servants to trustworthiness and godliness, and to that whereby the Word of God may be exalted amongst His servants. Verily thy Lord is the True Counsellor, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved. Hold thou fast in all conditions unto the wisdom that hath been sent down in the Book, a command from God, the Sovereign of the Kingdom.

O Salman! Hearken unto the Call from this Tree upraised in truth - verily there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful. Counsel the servants regarding trustworthiness and truthfulness, and to act according to what hath been revealed in the Tablets. He who casteth away trustworthiness is among the most contemptible of creatures. To this testifieth He with Whom is the knowledge of the Book. Say: O people! Adorn yourselves with the attributes of the All-Merciful in the realm of possibility. Beware lest ye follow your passions.

O My loved ones in that land! We counsel you to observe justice and equity, trustworthiness and religiosity, chastity and faithfulness. Your Lord, the All-Merciful, is verily the Expositor, the Mighty, the Loving. He created you, sustained you, assisted you in His Cause, and acquainted you with that which remained hidden from most of the learned. He counseleth you with that which shall profit you in all His worlds.

He counseleth you with that which draweth you nigh unto God, the Lord of all worlds - with trustworthiness, religious devotion, chastity and fidelity, and with that through which the essence of justice may be made manifest in the contingent world.

Say: It behooveth you to adorn yourselves with My attributes, that My qualities may be manifested through you among My servants. Thus have ye been commanded by One All-Knowing, All-Informed.

Adorn yourselves with the ornament of trustworthiness among all people, that through it God's sanctification may be made manifest in all else.

Say: O people! Follow not your vain imaginings, nor take the property of others wrongfully, nor dispute with anyone.

… Be emblems of guidance among all creatures and manifestations of the favors of your Lord, the Kind, the Merciful.

We have counseled all to be trustworthy, truthful and faithful, and to manifest those qualities through which the Cause of God was revealed in former ages. Blessed is he who hath heard and acted, and woe unto the heedless.

Today the courageous one, like a ray of light, becomes the cause of illumination of regions and localities, and the enlightenment of the world and radiance of creation lie in peace and reconciliation, and success and prosperity. As much as you can, be a cultivator of peace and a fruitful and productive tree. Therefore, seek the wellbeing of all the people of the world and the comfort and security of humanity. Lay the foundation of love and faithfulness and uproot the edifice of discord and cruelty. Practice friendship and truthfulness and seek peace and reconciliation. Be kind to all creation and solicitous of friends.

Counsel all the friends to patience, calm and dignity, and say: O friends of God in the earth! Ye are honored in all the divine worlds through the name of the True One, but in this transient world which will end more quickly than aught else, ye have been afflicted with abasement. In the path of the one true God ye have heard taunts and witnessed tribulation, ye have been imprisoned and have laid down your lives, but because of the tyranny of a few heedless ones, ye must not transgress the bounds of God -- that is, ye must not molest any soul.

In any case, if that oppressor showed cruelty, you show faithfulness; if he transgressed, you seek devotion. Extinguish the fire of that enmity with the water of love, and make patience and forbearance your shield against that sharp sword. As much as you can, show kindness and seek divine mercy, and demonstrate the utmost consideration and care.

Shed not blood, neither commit that which your hearts approve not, nor can reason accept. Purify your hearts from all earthly suggestions, that the revelation of your Lord, the All-Merciful, may be reflected therein. This is better for you than all that was and all that shall be.

Read ye the verses of God at eventide and at dawn.

We counsel thee and My loved ones in that land to be patient and forbearing, and to manifest that whereby the signs of justice may be revealed amongst the servants. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Patient, the All-Forbearing.

You must make firm the feet at the time when these trials transpire, and demonstrate forbearance and patience. You must withstand them with the utmost love and kindness; consider their oppression and persecution as the caprice of children, and do not give any importance to whatever they do.

Today everyone must follow God's command and nothing contrary to wisdom should proceed from him. In such case, should the manifestations of tyranny and wickedness arise to shed his blood, no harm shall come to pass, for it will have occurred in the path of God, and every soul shall taste of the cup of death. And if this inevitable decree occurs for the sake of God, it is surely better and more beloved.

Verily in the morning We sent down an epistle unto him who previously confirmed thy Lord's Cause, saying: Stand firm in that land and reform the deeds of those who spread corruption therein while claiming "We are the reformers."

… Say: O Yahya, recite unto him what God hath permitted thee and kindle him with thy Lord's fire, and fear not, for truly the Messengers fear not before Me.

Say: O people! Have mercy upon yourselves and upon the Soul of God that standeth over all things. If ye believe not, oppose Him not. Beware, O people! Fear ye God in His Cause, and cut not off the wafting of the breezes of grace from the right hand of glory and praise. Purify your ears that ye may hear what proceedeth from the mouth of God, your Lord, that perchance the breathings of the Spirit may transform you and draw you nigh unto the station of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Witnessed.

Praise be to the Lord of all being, Who hath forbidden His loved ones from corruption, conflict and contention, and kept them sanctified therefrom. Happy and blessed are they, for they have acted in accordance with that from which the Light of truthfulness and reformation hath shone forth resplendent. They have hearkened with their inner ears to divine counsels and have not permitted transgression thereof.

According to the Command, all friends must hold fast to patience and perseverance and keep their gaze fixed upon the horizons of divine ordinances. God, exalted be His glory, alone will grant victory and suffice against the evil of the oppressors. The victory of the friends has been and is spiritual qualities and pure, holy deeds.

We have forbidden all corruption, strife, contention and unseemly deeds, and have commanded that which God loveth. These matters are evident and clear to all. Nevertheless, the Name of God and His loved ones remain imprisoned in the prison of the oppressors. There hath befallen them that which hath caused the Supreme Paradise and the Most Exalted Heaven to weep.

Strive to have noble thoughts and sublime aspirations; endeavour to raise the minds of people and release them from this darkness of blind imitation.

And now, O seeker, it behooveth us firmly to cling unto the 'Urvatu'l-Vuthqa, that perchance we may leave behind the darksome night of error, and embrace the dawning light of divine guidance. Shall we not flee from the face of denial, and seek the sheltering shadow of certitude? Shall we not free ourselves from the horror of satanic gloom, and hasten towards the rising light of the heavenly Beauty?

Thus sayeth He, blessed and exalted be He: "O friends of God in His earth, His chosen ones in His lands, and His party among His creatures! Purify your hearts from the stories of the past, through attachment to which the feet of the people of the past have slipped, those who prided themselves over the world and all peoples."

Their purpose hath been and still is the guidance of mankind. Whatsoever is the cause of preservation of the servants and the exaltation of their stations is recorded in the Books. Blessed are they that understand and that act accordingly!

Divine counsels are a spiritual feast sent down from the heaven of the All-Merciful Will. The friends must appreciate the value of this everlasting bounty and not lose this most great favor and most perfect grace through the conjectures of transient souls.

O ye heedless ones, become mindful! O ye sleeping ones, be awakened! O ye blind ones, become seeing! O ye deaf ones, become hearing! O ye dumb ones, become speakers! O ye dead ones, become living! O ye deprived ones, take a portion! This is the effulgence of the Merciful and the moving of the Depthless Sea.

Draw them through the influence of Thine utterances unto the Dawning-Place of Thine inspiration, and to the Fountain of Thy Revelation, and to the Treasury of Thy wisdom.

Ponder, O people, then read what We have sent down in truth. Verily it guideth you unto My Straight Path. Hold fast unto the cord of your Lord's loving-kindness and abandon that which ye were commanded by every ignorant doubter.

If you desire a goodly life, scatter the seeds of wisdom in pure and goodly soil, that each grain may grow for you into seven green and blessed ears of corn. If you intend to build in the realm of contingent being, raise a glorious edifice with firm pillars, its foundation fixed at the central attractive point in the lowest depth and its highest chambers in the supreme zenith of the ether.

O divine friends! With heart and soul desire and seek confirmation from the All-Forgiving Lord, that each of you may become a brilliant star in the horizon of guidance, and a fruit-bearing tree in the Abha Paradise, and a bright lamp in the gathering of spiritual ones, and an ornament to the assembly in the gathering of the All-Merciful ones.

In truth, those regions have the utmost capacity, but souls are needed who will shine like candles in that niche and breathe the spirit of life into souls, guiding them to the path of guidance, so that divine inspirations may become manifest from human realities.

It is time for the friends to free themselves from every thought and occupy themselves with guiding the seekers and directing the lost. If they do this, the rays of the manifest light will, in a brief time, illuminate and brighten the face of the earth.

Remind thou the people of this Tablet and acquaint them with what God hath intended for them in the Book. We have sent down these verses unto thee that thou mayest recite them to those who have turned unto God, the Revealer of Books and the Manifestor of proof, that they may act upon what is contained therein and hold fast unto that which they have been commanded in the Tablets.

I too shall supplicate and implore at the divine threshold and seek boundless confirmation for you. This is due to my love for you, my compassion toward you, and my attachment to you. Therefore immerse yourself in this vast, surging ocean, soar in this lofty, ascending height, sing with the most wondrous melodies in this verdant garden, and hold fast to this firm cord.

O thou truthful servant of the Ancient Beauty!

Let thy mind be alert, thy heart alive. Be like a tidal wave in the sea of God's love that thou mayest cast ashore the pearls of truth and inner significance.

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My object in taking that long journey through the West- was to awaken them out of this sleep; that they may not grovel all the time in the world of matter and that they may not only think of eating and drinking.

It was beautiful to see how 'Abdu'l-Baha did not emphatically deny their assertions, but gave to understand that much of it was imagination.

Strive that from thee may appear a deed that shall enter and be preserved in the treasury of divine acceptance.

If you succeed in this, they will become laughing hundred-petaled roses in the divine rose garden, swaying cypresses by the divine stream, growing and flourishing in the spiritual garden, putting forth leaves and blossoms, bearing fresh fruit, and becoming the adornment of the highest paradise.

In brief, the hope of 'Abdu'l-Baha is this: that the descendents will bring glory to their predecessors, and that the sons will cause the garden of their fathers' hopes to flourish.

You are the children of the new time. Your thoughts should always be as to how you may become wise and good. You should seek sagacity and prudence, and to make progress in the right path.

He does not fretter away his time in idle pastimes and unprofitable pursuits.

There is an Arabic proverb which says: 'A dancer starts his performance by the slow motion of his shoulders, then little by little brings into poetic vibrations all the rest of his body.' Similarly a young man desiring to lay a good foundation for his later life must devote his first few years to the study of his chosen profession and forget all pleasures and sports which divert him from accomplishing his main purpose. This is success and prosperity.

We sent Munirih - the choice is yours. We gave permission for fifteen days of service. O leaf! The Tree commands: do not fall short in knowledge, calligraphy and character.

He said: "If they cannot arrange to go every Sunday, they must go every other Sunday, if not every other Sunday then once a month. But they must come together and must keep up the Sunday School."

O youth! God willing, through the bounties of the All-Merciful thou shalt be favored with His infinite divine outpourings. As thou hast been adorned in early youth with the recognition of the Dawning-Place of Revelation, beseech God that thou mayest be assisted in that which shall endure and remain permanent in the Book of the world.

And although they show perfect diligence and attention in service to Arbab Bahman, they must show even greater effort and demonstrate extreme zeal and dedication, for Arbab Bahman is truly good-natured and kind. They must show him consideration in all respects, for faithfulness to him is service to the Truth.

Since you are the descendant of that glorious one, you must follow his example and traverse the stages of servitude, engaging in service with heart and soul, sacrificing yourself, being joyous and successful, so that you too may become a sign of the All-Merciful at life's end and enter the divine world.

Act in such wise that you may shine forth in the Kingdom of God and adorn your countenance with the light of Baha and the radiance of the Covenant. Physical splendor lasteth but a moment, and the ocean of joy in this earthly realm is but a dewdrop. Show forth a lofty aspiration and be not content with a moment or a dewdrop.

Now, if thou wishest to know the true remedy which will heal man from all sickness and will give him the health of the divine kingdom, know that it is the precepts and teachings of God. Focus thine attention upon them.

Continue attending to affairs with the utmost joy, delight and greatest gladness. We beseech God to assist you in completing your tasks. You have truly undergone hardship, but arise to set matters right with perfect steadfastness.

Therefore I hope that through the aid of the Lord you will keep his lamp burning, water his cultivation, and nurture his sapling - nay, that you will be enabled to achieve even greater things, for his name was Rida-Quli while yours is Husayn-Quli. In any case, strive to fill his cup to overflowing and become the joy of the righteous ones.

O maidservant of God! I hope that through the grace and bounty of the Intended Lord and the Sovereign of the unseen and seen, He will raise up women who will be manifest signs of this Most Great Revelation and evident standards among the nations.

Therefore, his honored descendants must shine forth like stars from the dawning-place of divine favors. Each one must strive and arise so that this effulgent light may grow brighter day by day, and the radiance and beams of this star of sanctity may become more evident and manifest, and his eternal glory more clear and apparent.

You should stay and travel for a time in Zoshto and its surroundings so that, God willing, the blessed tree may take root in that field.

O handmaiden of God! Thy letter was received. The doors of the Kingdom are opened and the divine bounty is like the spring rain. Although the signs of material bounty are great, yet the true bounty is that of heaven, which bestows eternal life. Follow this and thy heart will become as beautiful as a garden, thine eyes illumined, thy spirit joyous and thy thoughts a comfort to souls.

You must do a little better. The better you do, the better it is. The wife must endure the husband and she must hold to every means to please the husband. The anxieties of a man are great and woman must sympathize; she must endure conditions.

Now you must return to that glorious tribe, associate with the khans, seek eternal glory for them, and befriend them with conduct befitting the people of Baha, so that you may educate them with divine education and raise them from the lowest depths to the highest heights.

Thereupon shall every difficulty be dissolved, every hope be fulfilled, souls be educated, the morals of all men be refined, minds advance, and chastity and the love of goodness be firmly established in hearts made mindful through the remembrance of God; and the divine fragrances shall perfume every country and every land. Wherefore, cleave thou unto the way of Christ and walk in His spacious field, and follow the people of God in every age and clime. As to political affairs, they are but transient and partial matters, yielding neither fruit nor true advantage; no man who hath tasted the sweetness of the love of God will busy himself therewith.

Keep the counsels of the Wronged One before your eyes, for whatsoever has been and is spoken is and shall be pure good. Hold fast to the Sure Handle and cling to the hem of the grace of the Lord of Names, and say:

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Name and Thy sovereignty and the power that has encompassed those in Thy earth and heaven, to make me in all conditions one who gazes upon Thy Throne whereon is established the Temple of Thy Cause and the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation.

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O my handmaiden! Rejoice in My mention, for it is better for thee than every deed and every wise command. Beware lest the veils of women hold thee back from the Lord of Names, or the deeds of the idolaters frighten thee from this clear announcement.

Strive ye, that through the name of the Beloved of the World, ye may preserve the pearls of the love of the Ancient Lord in the treasuries of hearts from thieves and robbers. This is the counsel of this Wronged One unto His leaves and handmaidens.

In the acquisition of perfection, negligence is not permissible. Exert thy utmost endeavor.

I counsel thee to be patient and tranquil, and to observe that which God hath revealed in His Book. Circle round the will of My Afnan, upon whom be My glory and My mercy and My loving-kindness, then follow what he commandeth thee.

The relatives, both men and women, must not delay for an instant in acquiring perfection. Thus have We counseled before and in this Manifest Tablet.

O My Afnan! Be thou speaking in My praise, gazing toward My horizon, turning unto My face, and standing firm in the service of My wondrous Cause. We have counseled thee with that which shall be a lamp unto thee in the worlds of thy Lord.

O people of Baha! Choose for yourselves a station between slowness and haste. Thus doth command you the Goal of all seekers, in Whose grasp lie the kingdoms of the heavens and earth.

When you consider the end results of things, reality will become evident and the outcome clear and manifest. In matters one must not look at the beginning - consideration of the end is necessary.

Under all conditions they must hold fast to the cord of wisdom. If a land is cultivated and achieves capacity, planting therein becomes necessary, and this is among those deeds which have been and are great in the sight of God. Otherwise, no. O my beloved! The cawing of the ignorant has prevented the people from the choice wine of the utterance of the Lord of Names.

In all circumstances hold fast to wisdom and cleave thereunto. The gatherings of friends, when they exceed the bounds of moderation, will become a cause of agitation among souls, for until this time the people of the earth, their divines, and their rulers have not been informed of the purpose of God, exalted be His glory.

Wisdom is a light that illuminates the world of knowledge. The friends must at all times observe wisdom and drink from its fountainhead. With utmost forbearance and through goodly utterances, they should lead people from the left hand of doubt to the right hand of certitude.

We counsel thee to observe wisdom lest there occur that which God abhorreth and the clamor of them that have denied the Day of Judgment be raised. Hold thou fast unto the cord of wisdom in all circumstances. Verily He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Beware lest the affairs of men grieve thee.

In all circumstances, keep thine eye upon wisdom. This is among the binding counsels of God which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in most of the Tablets.

O friends! Hold fast unto wisdom and unto that which God hath chosen. Act in accordance with that which draweth nigh the servants and causeth the dwellers of all lands to be attracted. This is the divine counsel whose light hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of grace. Blessed is he who hath witnessed and seen, and woe unto the heedless!

God willing, ye must be the dawning-places of divine counsels among mankind, that through your advice the heedless may turn to the ocean of certitude and the manifest horizon.

At all times ye must remind the people of that city of the divine verses with perfect wisdom, that perchance the darkness of the vain imaginings of heedless souls may not prevent the friends from the splendors of the rays of the Sun of Truth.

All are commanded today to observe wisdom, and this firm divine decree hath been revealed in most of the Tablets, for lack of wisdom hath been and shall be the cause of commotion among the people and the perturbation of souls.

That which is necessary today has been and will be to act according to the divine ordinances. One must summon the people to the highest horizon with the utmost wisdom and to act according to what hath been sent down in the Book.

Regarding your own duties that you had asked about - your duty is that in the land of Ya [Yazd] with utmost detachment, attraction, enthusiasm, calmness and dignity you should associate and gather with the loved ones of God. And if you observe two people between whom there is any dust [of disagreement], through whatever means possible create harmony between them. Similarly, move with perfect wisdom and guide the loved ones to wisdom and tolerance, lest people become alarmed and agitated due to lack of wisdom.

We have enjoined upon Our loved ones wisdom and utterance, the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of nations. Blessed is he who hath heard My call, and woe betide every froward denier. Thus have We lit the lamp of utterance in the niche of knowledge. Blessed is he who hath attained, and woe betide every heedless doubter.

O friends! Reflect upon the proof of the All-Merciful and deprive not yourselves of the eternal realms for the sake of ephemeral days. Cling ye to the cord of the Cause with such firmness that the entire world shall be powerless to separate you from it.

Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones and remind them of My Cause and what hath appeared in My days, lest the conditions of the powerful ones who have turned away from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, weaken them. Hold fast unto the cord of wisdom in all circumstances, lest there appear that which would sadden the hearts of those who have turned towards God.

Strive thou that in the days of God thou mayest act in a manner befitting and meet - that is, that ye may act according to that which hath been revealed in the Book of God and which causeth not the clamor of the people - so that the fragrance of holiness may be wafted from thee.

With the utmost friendliness and in a spirit of perfect fellowship take ye counsel together, and dedicate the precious days of your lives to the betterment of the world and the promotion of the Cause of Him Who is the Ancient and Sovereign Lord of all. He, verily, enjoineth upon all men what is right, and forbiddeth whatsoever degradeth their station.

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.

O loved ones of God! If you desire the joy and gladness, the repose of spirit and peace of conscience of 'Abdu'l-Baha, add to your unity and concord. Be as the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the flowers of one rose garden, and the links of one coat of mail. Soar in one atmosphere and sing in one melody and voice. This is the cause of eternal joy and the comfort of the heart in the everlasting world.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Now is the time for you to gird up the loins of endeavor and uproot this discord from among the friends.

The friends of God must gird up their loins to serve and become the cause of fellowship and unity of hearts and souls, and in all conditions be mindful of wisdom.

Beware lest ye commit that which would cause sedition. Be united in the Cause and be not of those who differ.

… Beware lest ye differ in God's Cause and follow the imaginings of the doubters.

Be united in the love of God and the Manifestation of His Cause. Beware lest ye differ in aught. Thus have ye been commanded by One Who is the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Remember God at all times, be not heedless of Him, and be not of the negligent. Verily, this Youth of God is among you, Who hath come to you with clear authority, Who forbiddeth you from tyranny and wickedness and commandeth you to righteousness and godliness.

Now I counsel all that, God willing, they may hereafter move in perfect unity and remain steadfast in the Cause, discerning with insight between truth and falsehood, for truth is as manifest from falsehood as the radiant morn from the dark night. Let them not cling to their own suppositions.

That honored one and the company of the fair-minded bear witness that this Wronged One hath at all times enjoined upon the peoples of the earth in general such counsels and wisdom as would extinguish the fire of hatred and sedition, conflict and corruption; and particularly hath given to the people of Baha counsels which, were they to be cast upon the rock, it would cry out and proclaim; and were they to be cast upon the earth, it would be stirred in attraction and circle round; and were they to be cast toward the heaven, it would be moved and would exclaim: "O people of creation! Be fair in the cause of God, then consider what hath appeared in truth.

We beseech God to set right the affairs of the Siyyids and We command them to unity and love and to that which God hath revealed in the Book. In this case they will surely witness that which will bring forth joy and gladness and delight and exultation, and all will be made happy.

Therefore fear ye, O people of the Bayan, for by this shall you be tested, and through your allegiance to Him Whom God shall make manifest shall you be delivered. Be not veiled by your circumstances, for all glory belongeth unto God and unto Him Whom God shall make manifest, if ye but knew.

O people of the Bayan! Don ye the shirt of wisdom! O people of the Bayan! Put on the robe of unity! For differences in your ranks return unto Him Whom God shall make manifest in such wise as to grieve Him. Therefore, fear ye God and differ not in any command or prohibition.

Say: First, detach yourselves from all things, then secondly believe in your Lord. And if ye do not do this, then at least feel shame. If ye cannot make Him happy, at least grieve Him not. This is the whole of your cause, this is the whole of your religion, this is all that would please you.

Say: O people! Fear God and pervert not the Word from its place - this is it, were you but fair-minded.

… Say: O people! Have mercy on yourselves and break not God's covenant and testament. This is sincere counsel, were you but hearing.

Choose ye nothing for yourselves except that ye desire it for God, the Lord of the worlds. Do no deed except that ye act sincerely for God, the Lord of the worlds. Hearken not to any word except that ye hearken through God, for God, the Lord of the worlds. Look not upon anything except that ye look through God, for God, the Lord of the worlds.

Restrain yourselves from sunrise to sunset. Thus doth the Beloved of mankind instruct you as bidden by God, the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained. It is not for anyone to exceed the limits laid down by God and His law, nor should anyone follow his own idle imaginings. Well is it with the one who fulfilleth My decrees for the love of My Beauty, and woe to the one who neglecteth the Dayspring of Command in the days of his Lord, the Almighty, the Omnipotent.

Grieve not at the thoughts of the deniers in your presence, but rely upon God, your Lord. Verily He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing in truth, and your Lord has power over all things.

O party of God! Fear God and follow not your desires. Follow what hath been sent down from the heaven of Command in My perspicuous Book. We have counseled you, and do counsel you, with that which will exalt the Cause of God and your stations.

In any case, thou must continually guide the loved ones of God to be firm and steadfast in the Covenant and Testament, so that when the waves of doubts crash against the mighty barrier of certitude, they are turned back and drown those same followers of ambiguous words.

This servant hopes that through the power of thy steadfastness every wavering one may become firm and every vain soul disappointed. May all return to the Covenant and Testament and become mindful of falling into loss.

Strive, therefore, in this world that thy purpose may be that which God hath purposed for thee, for that which He hath purposed should be the purpose of every soul. Choose not for thyself save that which He hath chosen for thee and commanded thee, for He is the Unconstrained, and hath chosen what His righteous servants, they that are among the most virtuous, have chosen.

Therefore must the loved ones of God carry out His commandments with the utmost joy and fragrance, and shun that which He hath forbidden. This is the supreme counsel that hath issued forth from the Pen of the Lord of eternity.

We counsel thee to be steadfast in this Cause, for through it the feet of them that have attained have slipped. Turn not unto the world and its affairs. In all matters place thy trust in God, the Single One, the All-Informed.

In any case, they will exercise the utmost scheming to cause thee to turn away from the Cause of God. O chosen one! Among all the servants, thou wert the first to attain unto God Himself and to believe in His presence. Stand thou firm in the Cause in such wise that through thy steadfastness all may become steadfast.

It is incumbent upon all the friends of God to protect these helpless people lest they become again afflicted with the vain imaginings of the former party and remain deprived of the recognition of the Purpose.

O Rida! Be content with what God hath been pleased with, and be not one who doubteth His Cause. … Purify thyself from the allusions of the people, then thy breast from that which hindereth thee from this bounty which hath encompassed all the worlds.

… Let not thy soul be troubled, and fear no one. Look unto God and what is with Him, not what is with thee.

Hold thou fast unto the cord of steadfastness in such wise that neither the affairs of men nor the veils of those who have disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Beloved, may disturb thee.

Remind the people of this announcement which hath been sent down in the Tablets. Say: O people! When ye hear the call of the Calf, leave it behind you. This is what God hath counseled you, for verily He is witness to all things.

Choose ye for yourselves what God hath chosen for you. … Rejoice ye in My remembrance of you and arise to that which profiteth you in the world to come and in this first life.

Thus doth command thee He Who hath spoken that there is none other God but I, the One Who commandeth, the All-Wise. Say: O people, hold fast unto that which draweth you nigh unto God and profiteth you in all His worlds. He, verily, is the Counselor, the All-Knowing.

Say: O people! Follow not your passions, nor walk in the footsteps of them who have denied God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. Beware lest the world beguile you from God, the Creator of earth and heaven. Cast away what ye possess in your search for that which is with your Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Say: Fear God and follow not your desires. Follow Him Who hath come to you with a manifest sovereignty. Beware lest the ornaments of the world withhold you from the Lord of Names. Leave behind what ye possess by command of God, the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

However, all must observe the divine ordinances. By My life! They will benefit you and will bring you to a station that cannot be described in words.

Beware lest anything prevent thee from the remembrance of thy Lord. Leave behind what is with the people and take hold of this Book through a power from thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Thus doth the Lord of all beings teach thee in the prison fortress of 'Akka. He, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

Hold fast unto the Book, then act according to that which hath been sent down therein from the Pen of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

We counsel thee and those who have believed to show forth such steadfastness as will cause the heaven of idle fancies to be cleft asunder, the earth of vain imaginings to be split open, and the mountain of the people's conceit to crumble.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause in such wise that the sincere ones may find in thee that which beseemeth the days of thy Lord, the All-Knowing. Preserve this most exalted station through the name of thy Lord, the Most Glorious.

Occupy thyself with the Kingdom as much as thou canst and forget all else save the True One; in order that thou mayest, day by day, find a new power in the Cause of God and gain a great stability.

O thou who hast acquired the light of guidance! Thy letter was received.

… Look not at the creatures but rather turn thy gaze to the Creator of creation.

Therefore strive within yourselves to reach such station in your love that ye move not save by His leave, nor turn save unto the paths of His good-pleasure, nor speak save that which ye are commanded in His Book. Thus did We counsel you before and thus do We counsel you at this time of separation from the shores of Iraq.

Follow in all matters thy Lord, the Lord of Revelation, in such wise that nothing shall prevent thee from celebrating His praise amongst His servants. This is what God hath chosen for His chosen servants who sleep in His love and arise in His remembrance and move by His command and proclaim wisdom among His creatures.

We counsel Our loved ones with that whereby the Cause of God and His sovereignty may be exalted. Beware lest ye abandon that which ye have been commanded by God, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

Say: Take ye what ye have been commanded and follow not those who have cast the laws of God behind their backs and followed every ignorant one who is rejected.

Be thou steadfast in this station in such wise that neither the doubts of men nor the allusions of the heedless shall cause thee to slip. Beware lest anything prevent thee from this most exalted station or any matter debar thee from this resplendent horizon.

Take ye, O My loved ones, the bounds and ordinances of God. Beware lest the intimations of such as have been heedless of God through following the promptings of self and desire debar you.

Therein doth God command you to practice righteousness and piety, and forbiddeth you from transgression and indecency, would that ye might understand.

O My loved ones! We counsel you to observe that which We have revealed in the Book. Hold fast unto it and be not of the heedless ones. Cast behind you the tales of old and cleave unto this Most Great Announcement.

Take hold of the Book of God with the power bestowed by Him, then act according to that which beseemeth His days. He, verily, is the True Counsellor, the Trustworthy. Be thou steadfast in that which is good and act in accordance with that which thou hast been commanded in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Hold fast with complete determination, lest diverse winds prevent thee. In all conditions, keep thy gaze fixed upon the Truth and remain detached and free from aught else.

The souls who have accepted must hold fast to the divine Tablets and act according to whatsoever hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in the Most Holy Book. This is a bounty whereunto nothing in the heavens and earth can be compared.

O people of Baha! Turn ye with all your being unto God and arise to serve the Cause with such strength of heart and resolve as to shake the mountains.

Leave thou those who have denied the signs of God, and take hold, with the hand of submission, of My mighty Tablet. We have commanded all to that which profiteth them. Some have turned towards it and some have turned away, and he who turneth away is among the distracted ones.

O peoples of the earth! The Object of your desire hath appeared, and He, verily, is the One promised in the Scriptures of God, your Lord and the Lord of all worlds. Beware lest the ornaments of the world debar you from God, the Lord of all names. Cast them behind you, turning your faces toward the court of your Lord, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Be thou occupied at all times with the remembrance of the All-Merciful, and strive in outward matters according to thy capacity. This is thy duty, and thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Ruler over what He willeth.

Grieve not on account of Our adversity, but be patient even as We have been patient. He, in truth, is the best of helpers. Remember thy Lord in the daytime and in the night season, and extol His praise amidst His servants. Haply the fire of His love will thereby be kindled in the hearts of the righteous, and all shall arise in turn to extol God, their Lord, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, and the Lord of your sires of old.

He is the One Who speaketh in the Kingdom of Utterance:

O Ali! Beseech God that He may draw thee to such a station wherein the clamor of men and the oppression of those in the land shall not prevent thee from Him. Today the limbs of the world are trembling and the tribes of the earth are quaking and disturbed. The recompense of the unseemly deeds of various peoples hath encompassed them.

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Know thou that protection lieth in God's hand - He protecteth whom He willeth through His sovereignty and none can avert that which is ordained.

Be thou at peace within thyself, then arise and say: "O people! The Beauty of Him Who was promised hath come with manifest sovereignty.

O leaf! Great is this Day and mighty is this Cause. You must at all times turn to the All-Merciful in such wise that the intimations of deluded souls will not cause you to slip.

We counsel thee to be steadfast and God-fearing in the Cause of God, the Lord of all mankind. Beware lest anything whatsoever debar thee from the Lord of Names or cause thee to tremble at the might of those who have denied the Day of Judgment.

Let not the might of the world frighten thee, nor the utterances of any deluded one cause thee grief. Hold fast unto God in all conditions and cling to His luminous hem.

In truth, steadfastness must be sought for the friends. This imperative divine Cause is, from one perspective, seen to be most easy, inasmuch as from the beginning that hath no beginning unto the end that hath no end, there hath not appeared, nor will there appear, treasures of utterance and knowledge like unto those that have been manifested in this Most Great Revelation.

Today from the rustling of the breezes of the gardens of utterance this word is heard: "O people of Baha! Look not upon the creatures and their clamor and oppression, but rather upon the Truth and His justice and sovereignty."

If others are caught in the sleep of heedlessness, you must become awakened and day and night seek forgiveness and beg pardon for sins. He says "Verily God loves those who turn in repentance" and likewise He says "Guard against an affliction that will not strike only those among you who have done wrong."

O handmaid of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting!

Do not imagine that you have been forgotten or that we have ceased to mention you. … The exigencies of the time and wisdom required that all should not be fettered.

… Indeed separation from the Holy Land was difficult for you, but one must be patient and forbearing. Besides submission and contentment what [choice is there]?

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Therefore the friends must supplicate to the Abha Kingdom and seek confirmation and success for Abdul-Baha, for the being is weak and the burden is heavy.

That which you had written was heard. God willing, the waters of the world shall not prevent you from the Kawthar of God, and gold shall not make you heedless of the divine path. We beseech God, the Lord of the Throne and earth, the Master of the hereafter and the former times, to assist His loved ones, His friends, and His chosen ones in that whereby the standards of guidance may be raised among all creation and the banners of proof and evidence upon the hills of contingent being.

O My loved ones! Hold fast to that which will exalt the Cause of God, then shun that which you have been forbidden in the Book of your Lord, the Evident, the All-Informed. Be not grieved at anything, for He is with you and ordains for you that which will profit you in this world and the next.

I counsel thee to fear God Who created thee by His command and made thee to be of the guided ones. Be patient in all that hath befallen Us and be not dismayed by anything. Therefore, be patient in thyself and be of the patient ones.

This Wronged One makes mention of the friends of God in all conditions and commands them to perform goodly deeds, manifest praiseworthy conduct, and fear God. His purpose has been and continues to be the exaltation of the Word of Unity.

A.B. My admonition to you is this. Be thoughtful of attaining to that which was the utmost desire of the Saints. Strive with all your heart and soul to attain to the Kingdom of God. This is my wish for you.

Abdu'l-Baha:

Is there any greater desire than this? It is a big desire. This desire cannot be compared to all others. It is hard to be steadfast, to follow the straight path -- there is nothing harder. There are many who take ten steps in this path, some travel ten miles, are tired, and then stop.

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Today is the Day to render victorious the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon every soul to summon the people to the divine realm with the utmost steadfastness. Make ye a mighty effort, so that perchance those who have strayed in the wilderness of self and passion may turn their faces toward the most holy and glorious horizon. From souls will come forth effects that are and ever shall be cherished, for the fruit of every soul is its effect. A soul without effect is, in the Most Sublime Vision, accounted as a tree without fruit.

Gird up the loins of endeavour, and step into the circle of the angels of the paradise of Oneness. Thus may ye, on the shores of the Most Great Ocean, net the fish that thirst for the seas of divine knowledge and, in the fields of unity, catch the gazelles that seek the meads of reality, so that through the unfailing aid and bounty of the Lord, ye may gather together all nations beneath the shade of the Word of Oneness.

It is hoped that, through the bounties of the All-Glorious Lord, thou wilt achieve even greater success than before, wilt cheer all the friends through distinguished services, and wilt, at all times, arise as an obedient servant to render service to the loved ones of God, for service to the loved ones of God is service to God. Glory be upon all who stand firm in the Covenant of God.

Gather then together the believers in that land round the all-embracing Word, the luminous bounty, the manifest sign, and the glorious banner of the Book of God and His Faith, so that they may be revived and refreshed through the breaths of this supreme bestowal, and may be so set ablaze with the immortal flame kindled in the sacred Tree that each may become a kindled torch, a shining orb, and a brilliant star.

Stand ye firm in the Cause of God in such wise that every wavering one may become steadfast and every mouldering bone may be set in motion. Strive ye that the darkness of contingent being may be illumined by the lights of the mention of the All-Merciful. God willing, may ye all arise to that which befits your stations and your relationship to God.

O Salman! Inform My servants not to spread corruption in the earth. Say: Hold fast to the cord of servitude, for through it God's Cause shall be made manifest, your influence shall be exalted among the servants, and the countenance of every sincere seeker shall be illumined. Then know, O Salman, that We desire from Our servants naught but that they speak with pure truthfulness and transgress not the bounds of justice.

They must not rest a moment nor take a breath of ease. Nay, rather, night and day must they be striving, working and serving! And with perfect severance, spirituality and the best intent and effort must they hasten to promulgate the Divine Teaching, and above all they must act according to the precepts and exhortations of His Holiness Baha'u'llah, for in this cycle of Baha'u'llah verbal confessions and acknowledgements, literal faith and certainty and external relations are of no avail.

Therefore, O thou who art firm in the Covenant, strive and make an effort and show determination so that thou mayest be among those who outstrip others in good deeds and become a manifestation of the gifts of the Lord of dazzling signs, becoming a bright star, and with the lights of humility, submissiveness, lowliness, supplication and detachment, make this transient world a mirror of the eternal realm.

O dove of the gardens of grace! It is time for singing, warbling and melodies, and the season for kindling the fire of the love of God. If in this Most Great Cycle, which shines bright like the sun among all other cycles, one remains silent and stunned, in what cycle will they become eloquent, speaking and explaining?

Therefore I hope that you will arise to exalt the Word of God, for today the hosts of divine confirmation and success are rushing forth and awaiting the arising of sincere souls. Whoever arises will be victorious and triumphant.

When I love people I do not tell them to their faces. You know how much I love Mirza-Abul-Fazl and Haji-Mirza-Heydar-Ali, but I have seldom told them to their faces.

Pay no attention - stay focused on your work.

Hold general meetings in your home and give eloquent talks with complete courage, and be assured that the breaths of the Holy Spirit will assist you and you will be victorious.

Why are you silent? Why are you quiet? Why are you sad? Why are you grieved? We who are servants at the threshold of the Beloved of the horizons - our joy and delight come from the exaltation of God's Cause, not from nightly drinking and the sound of harp and flute and drunken inclinations and emotions.

O thou my daughter in the Kingdom!

From the day of leaving Montreal until now I have not rested nor reposed for a moment. From morn until midnight I was engaged in heralding the Kingdom, and in numerous assemblages and meetings, even in the Jewish Temple, I raised the call proclaiming the Revelation of the Kingdom. Many a night I did not sleep, and on many a day, like unto a surging sea, I was in the utmost state of agitation. Praise be to God that in the great Jewish Temple in San Francisco, proofs were produced to demonstrate the truth of Christ's divine Revelation, and all listened with great joy. No one objected. At the end of the speech, they expressed utmost gratitude. One said, "I am ashamed to be a Jew, and I shall not be one hereafter". Another Jew, when he met us on the street, said, "Truly this speech was a speech of Isaiah the prophet". Likewise others encountering us on the street expressed the utmost gratitude. One would say, "Very good". Another would say, "Very beautiful". Yet another would say, "Very nice". In a word, we are caught in the midst of "beautiful", "good", and "nice".

I am very pleased with the glad tidings of the exaltation of the Cause of God in Montreal and the unity of the believers. Convey wondrous Abha greetings to all.

Strive as much as thou canst to manifest thyself in the world of existence and the realm of visibility with the utmost spiritual freshness, inner delicacy and luminous vigor, and to be stirred by the breezes from the garden of the Covenant.

My hope is that you may, by the aid of God, be enabled to remove the veils from the eyes of the wayward and to cleanse the minds of the malevolent.

Visit, on your way, Isfahan, Kashan, Tihran, and Khurasan. Proceed thence to Iraq, and there await the summons of your Lord, who will keep watch over you and will direct you to whatsoever is His will and desire.

Hearken thou unto My counsel, and unto that which the Tongue of God doth utter in this wondrous Age. Beware lest anything deter thee or any matter hinder thee. Strive within thyself, then endeavor in thine essence, that thou mayest be numbered among the righteous in this Cause, whereby the people of the realms of mystical insight are terrified, and the dwellers of the pavilions of certitude are dismayed, and the spirits of them that are nigh unto God are thunderstruck, and the mountain of the arrogant is crushed.

Convey the Cause of thy Lord with wisdom and utterance, then protect the servants from the arrows of those who have disbelieved in God, the Sovereign of existence. Be a servant of thy Lord's Cause and a guardian of the City of the Bayan, lest there enter it any immoral one who hath turned away from God, the Mighty, the Loving.

Be thou articulate in His remembrance and steadfast in His service in such wise that neither the veils of the world nor the allusions of them who have disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Loving, shall hold thee back.

Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Hearing, the Answering. Stand firm in the Cause through the power of thy Lord and remind the people with wisdom and utterance. He is, verily, the One Who commandeth in truth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Beware lest the affairs of men hold thee back from the truth. Leave the world behind and take what God hath sent down in His mighty Book.

Beware lest the veils of the world and its manifestations and colors prevent you. Arise to promote the Cause with complete dedication and great steadfastness, and summon humanity unto truth through wisdom and utterance.

Show ye an effort! Work unceasingly. Labor diligently;- so that the everlasting Bounty be realized, Eternal life be destined and the nostrils be perfumed with the holy Fragrances.

Put ye forth-extraordinary exertion by day and by night; so that ye may conduct yourselves in accord with the Divine Teachings; grant salubrious water to the thirsty ones and be the balm of heart and the healing of the spirit to the sick ones in both worlds.

O gentle branch of the Blessed Tree! For some time no letter has arrived and no fresh breeze has blown. Is laziness the cause, or coldness? If so, this is the utmost shame, for laziness and coldness cannot coexist with the warmth of the love of God. Until one burns, one cannot become a candle.

Therefore, guide everyone day and night to that which brings comfort to 'Abdu'l-Baha's heart, and lead them through blessed character and conduct. Be a divine counselor and guide to the path of spiritual joy and delight.

Raise thou this call as much as thou canst, and sound and blow this clarion continually night and day, so that the souls may become quickened and the people find eternal life.

O thou my kind friend!

I have the utmost love for thee and I ask God that thou mayest become assisted in the world and in the Kingdom and precede Paul and Peter in spreading the Word of God and diffusing the fragrances of God and become a manifest ensign in the regions of America.

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Stretch thy hand from thy sleeve and scatter the treasure of the spirit throughout the regions of the world. Put thy tongue and utterance to use in promoting the religion of God and exalting the Word of God, that thou mayest, like unto a polished sword, conquer territories and, like unto the morning breeze, bestow fresh life upon yearning hearts.

O Diya (Light)! Be luminous, so that you may bestow eternal illumination upon the world of humanity and dispel the sorrowful darkness of humankind. May you become a light from the Supreme Horizon and a radiant beam from the Abha Kingdom. And upon you be greetings and praise.

O my beloved! Arise from thy couch, stand up from thy resting place, and strive with utmost endeavor and consummate wisdom which cannot be surpassed to spread the divine fragrances until the horizons are perfumed and heedlessness and hypocrisy vanish.

May you be of those who have believed and obeyed; may you be of the few that are chosen rather than of the many that are called!

O Ahmad! Arise to that which will cause the exaltation of the Word of God, and with complete humility speak His praise. Verily, He maketh mention of him who maketh mention of Him, and ordaineth for him what beseemeth His glorious and wondrous bounty.

Fix in thy heart that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Majesty hath spoken, then make mention of it and be not of them that remain silent.

Be as standards upon the hills among the servants - this behooveth you, did ye but know. Be horizons of guidance among all creatures, such that all may receive blessings from your breaths and be illumined by the lamp of your utterance.

Thou must, with the utmost striving and endeavor, and with wisdom and utterance, engage in spreading the divine mention and verses. Verily He will assist thee and manifest for thee what hath been ordained for thee.

Blessed is the soul that ariseth today with complete sincerity and becometh adorned with that which guideth mankind and speaketh thereof.

All the Prophets and Messengers were sent by the Lord of the worlds so that, through the endeavors of those holy souls, the suns of spiritual virtues might shine forth from the horizons of human temples. Strive thou to attain to such a station that mention of it shall endure as long as God's most beautiful names endure.

Say: O servant, hear My words! By God the Truth, thou shalt not find for thyself a counselor more faithful than I. Tarry not upon the Path, but pass along it as a cloud passeth.

While time remaineth and opportunity existeth, strive that perchance thou mayest attain to that which beseemeth the days of God. This is the counsel of the Wronged One unto the friends of God. Blessed is he who heareth and acteth, and woe unto the heedless.

The Most Exalted Pen commands: O friends! Hold fast to that which is the cause of exaltation and elevation and the means of raising up the Cause among the servants of God - glorified be His majesty. Whatsoever He has commanded has been and continues to be for the good of His servants. Every person of insight bears witness to what has been mentioned, and every hearing ear is aware.

O people of God! Today the Blessed Tree hath no need of aught else to establish His Cause, for it hath appeared with countless sweet fruits, manifest and evident. Blessed is the one whom the doubts of the world have not prevented from turning to God nor held back from drawing nigh unto Him.

O Muhammad! Verily thy Lord hath been with His loved ones and heareth their call in His remembrance and praise - He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. We counsel thee and those who have believed with that which will exalt this mighty, wondrous Cause. Say: O people of God! Adorn your heads with the crowns of detachment and your temples with the raiment of chastity, trustworthiness, truthfulness and purity.

Strive, O people, that your names may be mentioned before the Throne and there may appear from you that whereby your remembrance shall endure through the eternity of God, the Lord of existence.

O handmaidens of God! Strive that ye may become the source of goodly deeds and that your mention may endure through the Most Great Remembrance.

O handmaid of Glory! Hold fast to the hem of grandeur and cling to the sure handle and trust in God. … Therefore strive for that which brings elevation and ascension in the Most Glorious Kingdom, that you may become a blazing star and a brilliant planet, a manifest sign and an unfurled banner, a radiation of manifest light and a splendor of the highest heaven.

In truth, the days have been fulfilled, the years have passed, the times are straitened, the cup of life has been muddied. Then, hasten ye in these days, and with great humility illumine the globe of fervent entreaty with the lights of His unfailing guidance that God shall make of thee a resplendent and radiant sign on the horizon of His oneness, and a conspicuous banner on the mount of His singleness.

Let thy food be the heavenly table and thy drink the sweet waters from the ocean of oneness. Let thy gift become the flowing treasure of God and thy bestowal the water of life from the garden of Paradise, so that thy name may be exalted in the divine world and thy designation honored in the heavenly Kingdom.

Now doth this servant submit: O brother, strive that in these divine days thou mayest acquire infinite bounties and be blessed with eternal favors. By the True One Himself, whatsoever is lost by any soul in this day shall be difficult to recover.

We convey greetings to the women of that land and bid them to sanctification, detachment, supreme chastity and supreme purity.

The first thing incumbent upon the friends of God is to purify their hearts from rancor and hatred, to sanctify and cleanse themselves from bestial qualities, and to act upon the divine ordinances with the utmost joy and fragrance.

Take ye the chalice of eternity from the fingers of holiness, then drink therefrom by the leave of your Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, and tarry not even for a moment.

… Cast away what ye possess and take what God hath graciously given you, then journey in the wilderness of His knowledge and tarry not even for a moment.

Know the value of this Day and occupy yourselves with service, that there might appear from you that which will endure through the eternity of My names and attributes.

At all times be engaged in the remembrance of the All-Merciful and summon the people to the direction of the All-Glorious. This is the fruit of human existence in this time and all times.

Take the cup of utterance from the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, then drink therefrom by this Name whereby the pillars of all lands have trembled.

These are not days of grief - be thou engaged in the remembrance of the All-Merciful with the utmost joy and fragrance. Forget not the divine counsels which thou didst hear face to face from the tongue of the Most Great Oneness, and speak not that which would cause the hearts of the servants to be consumed.

O people of the earth! Hearken unto the Call that hath been raised from this Station which hath been named the Heaven of Heavens in My Great Tablet. It summoneth you unto God and teacheth you that which shall profit you in the world to come and in this first life. He is verily the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

Strive thou to attain unto that which shall endure as long as the Kingdom of earth and heaven endureth. Thy Lord is, verily, the Rememberer, the Counselor, the Ordainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Strive, O people of the world, that there may be sent down from the Supreme Pen that which shall preserve your names, your spirits and your stations in a Book which none hath known save God, the Lord of Lords.

Know thou the worth of this most exalted station. We counsel thee with that which will cause the elevation of thy station. The world is transient - look not unto it, but rather unto Him Who created and manifested it. This Wronged One hath ever enjoined upon His servants that which is conducive to the appearance of divine bounty and blessing.

O Ismi al-Asdaq! Render thanks for that We called thee to appear before the Divine Presence, caused thee to hear and to behold the effulgences of the countenance of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Incomparable, the One, the Great; and sent thee back that thou mightest remind the people of that which thou didst behold and know, and summon them unto the Most Great Steadfastness, lest their feet slip by reason of the clamour of every sinful pretender. O My namesake! Call thou to mind, each day, that whereunto We admonished thee in Our presence. Verily thy Lord, He, in truth, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

This is a Day wherein the Remembrance calleth aloud with the most exalted call, summoning all unto the All-Knowing, the One. Grieve thou not over anything, but rejoice in the Book of thy Lord. Verily, He is with His accepted servants. We have aided thee and taught thee that which the learned and mystics of the earth know not, save whom God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, willeth. Be thou steadfast in the Cause and firm in the remembrance of thy Lord in such wise that the allusions of the wayward, who have cast the command of God behind their backs and followed every rebellious devil, shall not veil thee.

These exalted words were revealed in one of the Tablets addressed to one of the friends: Say: O My loved ones in My lands! Hearken unto the counsel of Him Who counseleth you for the sake of God. He verily created you and manifested for you that which exalteth you and profiteth you, and taught you His Straight Path and His Mighty Announcement. O Jalil! Counsel the servants to fear God.

Let not this perishable wealth bar you from attaining the presence of the sanctified Court of the Beloved, nor let this outward glory become a veil in the path of Truth. Unclose the eye of rectitude, open the vision of integrity, and bring the hearing of uprightness into the presence of God. Suffer not for a moment yourselves to be heedless, nor squander vainly this brief span of life in aught save the good-pleasure of God.

We counsel thee to remember God and praise Him in thy days. The world and all that thou beholdest today shall pass away, but there shall endure for thee what hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen in thy name in this forbidden station.

Say: O servants! Let not your station slip from your grasp. Know your worth and the worth of these days, and drink of the choice-sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting.

I swear by the Light of the world that any deed performed in these days for the sake of God shall be reckoned among the most excellent of deeds. Strive that ye may attain unto that which befitteth and beseemeth the Days of God.

Under all conditions be engaged in offering praise and thanksgiving to God, exalted be His glory, and be humble and lowly before His loved ones. This Wronged One conveyeth His greetings and salutations to all the friends and counseleth them to that which is seemly. All must adorn themselves with divine attributes and spiritual qualities, for the world and all that is therein are not worthy of attachment, as that which perisheth deserveth not to be loved.

Blessed is he who hath attained unto His mention, though it be through a single word, and joy be unto him who hath heard His most sweet call on this wondrous Day. O loved ones of the All-Merciful in all lands! Remember your Lord with spirit and fragrance, and hold fast unto that which ye have been commanded in His perspicuous Book. He hath commanded you that which profiteth you - to this testifieth every discerning knower.

Act ye in such wise as will cause your mention to endure in the Book which none toucheth save such as are steadfast and firm. Let not the affairs of the world sadden thee. Rejoice thou in this remembrance than which nothing that hath been created in the heavens or on earth can equal.

O friends! A time will come when I shall depart from among you. I have done what needed to be done. To the extent of my strength, I have served the Cause of Baha'u'llah. Day and night throughout my life I have not rested.

Therefore, O ye who are intoxicated with the wine of the divine covenant and O ye who are lovers of the countenance of Truth, strive to become the dawning-places of the signs of divine unity and the rising-points of the lights of the Glorious Lord.

Today the hosts which bear the standards of triumph and the banners of victory have been and continue to be goodly deeds and pleasing character.

O My Name! The divine counsels of the All-Merciful and the heavenly exhortations of the Lord are recorded and inscribed in every leaf, and the primary purpose hath been and is to extinguish the fire of hatred and animosity, and likewise to elevate and exalt their stations.