Learning from history: memory, power, and the fruits of a life

Say: O ye that have eyes to see! The past is the mirror of the future. Gaze ye therein and be apprised thereof; perchance ye may be aided thereby to recognize the Friend and may be not the cause of His displeasure.

Today people deny the deeds of those who tyrannized in the past, while they commit tyranny worse than what was committed before, and they perceive it not. It is as though they feel secure from the grave and are guaranteed immortality.

In conclusion, I dare say that history should be like the inscription on Solomon's seal ring, becoming in future ages the bearer of truth and accepted by every nation and people. Otherwise, there are many histories and countless narratives.

It is always these kinds of tales that spoil matters, especially when they are without clear proof and evidence. People, due to hearing them repeatedly, come to believe them. For instance, Omar ibn Sa'd ibn Omar was the son of Sa'd Waqqas who conquered all of Iran for Islam. Similarly Sinan ibn Anas, son of Anas ibn Malik who was among the greatest companions of the Messenger of God - how did the matter become confused for them?

If a person desires to comprehend the wisdom of the present day events he must think of the past occurrences and realize how their true significances appeared years afterwards.

How can a reasonable and gallant soul consent to witness thousands of his fellow beings wallowing in blood and dust for the sake of a piece of land or for fame and renown, to hear the heart-rending cries of the wives and children of the slain, to see prosperous lands laid waste, and to have the wealth and resources which are the fruit of years of toil in agriculture, commerce and industry by the subjects of a realm expended in a single day on a battlefield of carnage and dishonor?

Calling 'Abdul Baha's attention to the monument, I remarked that it was higher than the Great Pyramid, whereupon 'Abdul Baha said that to many people the great Pyramid was the most to be admired structure in Egypt, but to him it had always produced an unpleasing impression, for it recalled to his mind the intense suffering of the thousands of slaves and captives who were under the oppressor who built the pyramid for his tomb.

Those who maintain that these modern concepts apply only to other countries and are irrelevant in Iran, that they do not satisfy her requirements or suit her way of life, disregard the fact that other nations were once as we are now. Did not these new systems and procedures, these progressive enterprises, contribute to the advancement of those countries? Were the people of Europe harmed by the adoption of such measures? Or did they rather by these means reach the highest degree of material development?

Look with penetrating vision into the earlier centuries - their conditions, their traces, their phases, their distinguished ones, and the wondrous events that transpired therein, their mysterious secrets, the diverse dispositions of their men, and the varying tastes of their luminaries - for verily the accounts of those who have gone before are a reminder and lesson to those who follow.

In the former generations that have passed away, there are lessons for us. When we consider our predecessors, their ways, and their worldly success and prosperity, we gain insight.

The purpose of history is to awaken those who come after. See in what path those who came before achieved success and prosperity, and follow that same path.

How wonderful it would have been if the history of the Prophets had been properly written, for it would then have served as a model for this time.

Say: Ponder ye on that which He hath sent down unto you, then observe and reflect upon the bygone ages and what God hath decreed therein.

All must ponder upon that which hath been mentioned, that perchance they may not be afflicted in the future with that which afflicted the former people.

Say: O ye who have gone astray! What was the outcome of all that the former people said and did, and what fruit did they reap?

Consider the past and the events that transpired therein. Is not the future like unto the past? Is not the past the very mirror of the future? Truly, that which thou findest in the past thou wilt see in the future, for both are subject to the same order. But each and all complain of the past and look expectantly toward the future, hopeful that their times of toil and weariness might pass, and that days of joy and peace may soon arrive.

The histories prior to Alexander, which were based on oral accounts current among the people, were put together later on. There are great discrepancies among them, and certainly they can never hold their own against Holy Writ. It is an accepted fact among historians themselves that these histories were compiled after Alexander, and that prior to his time history was transmitted by word of mouth.

In former cycles people used to relate by tradition the things which happened during the time of the Prophets; for instance, the disciples explained the miracles during the time of Christ; these statements were oral. But in this great day facts are established; what Baha'u'llah has performed was seen by the eyes.

Compared with the ancient history of the world the invention of writing is of quite recent date - only a number of thousand years. According to the theories held by the anthropologists and the students of ancient languages when the world of humanity was in its aboriginal state many wild, savage tribes roamed over vast stretches of desert without the instinct of habitation.

One that occurred a thousand years ago is forgotten in one that is taking place today. Some events occur which take away the memory of all past incidents. The incidents which occurred previous to the coming of Adam have vanished, because those which have occurred since have entirely erased them from the mind of man.

Ancient traces of the city of Nineveh, whose existence the historians of Europe once denied, were eventually discovered in the environs of Mosul - and these vestiges attested to the industries that had been developed and the advancements made in that age.

And in the Torah the story of Dhun-Nun is by the name of Jonah, and the Europeans completely denied this story, saying it was one of the false tales. They even said the city of Nineveh never existed.

Until one year when we were in Baghdad, near Mosul they excavated a place and found strange ancient artifacts.

And it became known that Nineveh was not false - it had been a great city, but in ancient times it had been swallowed up, sinking into the earth to a depth of three hundred cubits.

This matter pertains to the time of Decius, after Christ, but the reality of the matter is that it was a legend among the people. In the time of Muhammad, the Jews incited the Quraysh to ask about the People of the Cave. When asked, the Prophet said "I will tell you tomorrow" - according to one tradition after forty days, and according to another after three days. Since the Prophet knew it was a legend, He was reluctant to answer - He was neither willing to explicitly state it was a legend, nor willing to state something without reality. When He saw that the enemies would not desist, He therefore gave His answer in the form of truth. Since some matters are in fact legends, the Manifestations of God present them in forms of truth and explain them thus, for if they were to deny well-known accepted matters, opponents would attribute it to their ignorance.

O servant of the Abha Beauty! Regarding the mention of the length of life of the ancients, this is a relative matter, not according to current convention in these days. For in ancient times there were different kinds of years - some would count one lunar cycle as a year, some would count the solar cycle, and likewise they would name the cycle of each planet as a year, such as the lunar year, solar year, Venus year, Mercury year, Mars year, Jupiter year, and Saturn year, which refers to the orbital period of these planets.

Reflect upon the generations of old. Where is Alexander and his like? Where are their victorious standards and their upraised banners? Where are their brandished spears and their flying arrows? Where are their outstretched necks and their lofty palaces? … God hath brought them down from the highest chambers of their palaces to the lowest depths of their graves. Were anyone to search therein, could he distinguish the skulls of kings from subjects, or the fingers of the wealthy from the destitute?

[Then, after discoursing at length upon the histories of kings, and finally making mention of the death of Alexander, He said:]

When in the city of Zor the lamp of his life was extinguished and the last morn had dawned upon him, the wise men assembled by his corpse. One of them said, 'Gracious God! The whole world could not contain this ambitious man yesterday but today a small plot of earth is sufficient to hold him.' Another remarked, 'With all his greatness, glory and eloquence of speech, Alexander never advised us in such a manner as he is instructing us today with this silence.' Another said, 'A few hours ago this man considered himself the sovereign of the whole world but now it has become evident that he was a servant and a subject.'

Whoso ponders the lessons of history will learn that this sea has lifted up innumerable waves, yet in the end each has dissolved and vanished, like a shadow drifting by. The waves have perished, but the sea lives on.

… Gracious God! That royal edifice was once splendidly decked forth and fair. But there are spiders' webs today, where hung the curtains of gold brocade, and where the king's drums beat and his musicians played, the only sound is the harsh cries of kites and crows. "This is verily the capital of the owl's realm, where thou wilt hear no sound, save only the echo of his repeated calls."

Where is that Persian wave, where is that Alexandrian wave, where is that wave of Roman Augustus, where is that Arab wave, where is that wave of Bonaparte, where is that wave of Charlemagne, where is that wave of Hannibal - all vanished, dominion does not endure.

Physical conquests have no permanence; it is divine conquests that endure.

Youth is followed by old age, a tender plant becomes an old, decrepit tree, dynasties are born, wax strong, reach to the zenith of glory and then totter to the ground.

Where is the splendor of Parviz and his golden hoard, where is the leisure of the powerful and their tall mansions, where is the wealth of the tyrants and their serried hosts? Wert thou to see the palace of Khosrow today, thou wouldst find it barren save for the reverberations of the echo and the spider's web.

Profit by their example, O thou endued with understanding, and grieve not over that which hath befallen thee.

Glory be to God! The arch of Ctesiphon's palace, which was once adorned with the utmost ornaments, now has spider webs instead of gold-woven curtains. Instead of the royal drums that were beaten morning and evening (that is, the drum house), there is now the cawing of crows and ravens and the cry of owls. As is stated in the Tablet to the Sultan: "It has become as though it were the seat of the echo's rule, where nothing can be heard from its sides except the reverberation of its own sound."

The Caesars, Pharaohs and tyrants of the world in every age and cycle arose in oppression, vainly counting themselves as enduring and others as transient. Where are their stations and their palaces? Behold their graves, that perchance their extinction may remind you, their remoteness draw you near, and their darkness illuminate you.

Say: O people! Consider the generations of the past and what befell them, though they were mightier than you in strength, greater than you in glory, and more exalted than you in station. All of them went to their places and were buried with their deeds and returned to dust as they began the first time - and this is the evident truth.

Keep your gaze centred on Him Who is the Sovereign Word of Truth: Place your whole reliance upon Him, and beg of Him to destine for you what is meet and fitting. Resign your affairs into the hands of God, the Lord of creation. Call ye to mind the people of former ages: Whither are they sped, the prideful and vainglorious, the workers of iniquity and unrighteousness? Where are their hoards of treasure, their palaces, citadels and thrones? Reflect upon those bygone days, and the vicissitudes of which they tell, and be ye admonished thereby.

By God! Verily in the peoples of Noah, Hud, Lot, and Thamud, and the dwellers of Al-Hijr, and the Jews, and the kings of Saba, and the tyrants of Mecca, and the Caesars of the spacious lands, and the Chosroes of the crooked city, and the overthrown cities of ancient times, there is indeed a lesson for those possessed of understanding and insight who can discern the ends of things from their beginnings.

Look at the kings and queens who have passed! They all lie under the earth. No name and no trace, nor any monument or surviving fruit remained of them. Their life belonged to the world of dust and consequently it passed away and was extinguished.

In this century, how many families of kings and princes who were at the height of glory and wealth were scattered, left destitute and perished. But praise be to God that the loved ones of God day by day had their foundation made lofty and their structure made firm. They are successful in both worlds and eternal glory is specially theirs, even in the center of this dust-heap.

When a traveler passes through one of those old Saharas he sees here a monolith. "What is this?" he inquires "This is the last remain of the once flourishing Greek culture." the guide answers him. Then he observes dilapidated temples, tall granite pillars, miles of aqueducts, half-buried palaces, ivy-covered amphitheatres, excavated mausoleums. "What are these?" he asks with incredible amazement. "Oh! these are the silent tales of mighty civilizations."

Travelling is a very good thing. It opens the eyes and broadens the horizon. In the East one may behold vast and desert places where one lay peopled towns; this shows the Hand of Almighty God.

… When travelling one makes discoveries of strange things--i.e. The Emperors of Rome ruled over many thousands of people and were famous and powerful, but now the Emperors are dead and their power has vanished.

Consider how, may large cities have been built by ancient monarchs but today they are all destroyed and are hidden under the earth. Once they were thriving and progress into communities, now their voices are silenced.

In this mortal world every important matter hath an end; and every remarkable achievement a termination; none having permanent existence. For instance, consider how the important achievements of the ancient world have been totally exterminated and not a trace remaineth therefrom save the great Cause of the Kingdom of God, which hath no beginning and will have no end.

Today the people of the West take the utmost pride in Napoleon I, that such a great personage appeared in France. Germany glories in Frederick the Great, that such a renowned figure arose in Germany. Russia takes pride in Peter the Great, that such a dragon became a champion in the realm of Russia. England in Henry, America in Washington, and Italy in Garibaldi--in brief, every nation takes pride and glory in some renowned figure. However, all these great souls were setting stars, and "soon no trace of them, not even a whisper, will remain."

Consider those souls who lived in the days of the Manifestations of God - because they believed in those holy Manifestations, their descendants take pride in them to this day.

… This became a lesson - that the kings of the world who were conquerors of countries and wore crowns of emperors, like the Kayanids, Pishdadids, Sassanids, Abbasids, Umayyads and even Safavids, their lineage ended in utter abasement and lowliness.

Consider how lofty is His sovereignty!

Conversely, consider the case of Pharaoh. There is no sign of him, no name of him, no trace of him. The little name that remains of him is because he was a contemporary of His Holiness Moses. Otherwise, pharaohs were many.

The traces of Kings and queens have passed away but the services of the servants of God have been handled down from century to century. The descendents of Abbas established their seat of government in Bagdad and they ruled the Islamic world for 500 yrs. Persia and Turkestan, Egypte and Arabia and as far as the confines of Indus bowed to their authority. Thirty six Khalifs appeared one after another but today their memory is forgotten.

O thou Tahamtan! The legendary Rustam of Zabul, though he was a most mighty hero in the arena of bravery and courage and though in physical prowess was superior to every champion and in this wise his name was renowned in all the world, yet at the end through a ruse carried out by his brother, became entrapped in a deep pit and no trace of him didst remain.

O Faridun! Your namesake became obscure - his name is merely a word on tongues and lips, for his dominion was but the governance of a handful of dust, and his rule was without foundation.

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.

O servant of Baha! The renowned Ardishir renewed the sovereignty of the ancients and united and organized scattered territories. But what benefit was it, when in the end it became scattered again and resulted in ruin and desolation?

O servant of the Threshold of Baha! Your illustrious ancestor Nadir was unique in his time and a genius of that land and realm....

...that foundation ultimately collapsed and that victory became utter defeat. Palaces were transformed into tombs, and the royal diadem ended in a crypt full of fear and dread. How excellent are these words: "It is as though no one had ever dwelt between Hajun and Safa, nor had any nightly conversation taken place in Mecca. Yes, those people were there, but they were destroyed by the vicissitudes of nights and ill-fated stars."

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Nadir Shah was one of the great rulers of Persia and during his military career he conquered India and many other countries. He was a resourceful leader as well as a noble warrior.

O servant at the threshold of the Lord God! According to the accounts in some ancient histories, it appears that the first king who placed a crown upon his head, sat upon the throne, and adorned the diadem of kingship was Kiyumarth.

Kay Kavus was an arrogant man. Siyavash was more favored than he. Kavus took the daughter of the king of Yemen as his wife and loved her dearly. This Sudaba developed a desire for Siyavash, the son of Kavus, but Siyavash was too pure for this. Sudaba complained to Kavus that Siyavash had evil intentions toward her. Kavus became angry, but Siyavash's innocence was proven.

All people are ready to eat, yet if they wished to create a single grain they would be unable. God bears all the burdens for humanity, while mankind partakes of all these divine bounties. Among the Arabs it is customary that if someone drinks another's coffee and then betrays him, it is considered reprehensible. They say: "How could he drink his coffee and then betray him, oppose him, and act against him?" Such is the consideration given to a mere cup of coffee, yet mankind, having partaken of all these bounties, still proves faithless to God.

It is recorded in history that there was a king in Sistan. A thief named Ya'qub entered the royal treasury one night. As he was gathering the implements and jewels, he saw something white and shining in the darkness. Thinking it was a diamond, he touched it with his tongue. As it happened, it was salt, whereupon he left all the items and departed. In the morning, the treasurer came and saw that though the treasury wall had been breached, nothing had been taken. The king was amazed and ordered a herald to announce that the thief should come forward and would be granted immunity. The thief then told the story. The king said: "You deserve to hold high office because of this trustworthiness." He eventually became the king of Bukhara, rising from thief to sovereign.

The morals of tribal peoples are in many ways superior to those of city dwellers, for instance in forgiveness, generosity, and tolerance. If someone has killed another's father and then takes refuge in his tent, he is safe.

If one were to travel through the deserts of Central Asia he would observe how many cities, once great and prosperous like Paris and London, are now demolished and razed to the ground. … Formerly that plain bore the fruit of the finest civilizations of the past. Tokens of development and refinement were apparent all around, arts and sciences were well protected and promoted, professions and industries flourished, commerce and agriculture had reached a high stage of efficiency, and the foundations of government and statesmanship were laid on a strong and solid basis. Today that vast stretch of land hath become mostly the shelter and asylum of Turkoman tribes, and an arena for the ferocious display of wild beasts.

Divine and material sciences and arts progressed to such a degree that from the school of Turkistan emerged the geniuses of the time and the learned ones of the horizons. Even in the Persian language they gained such proficiency that the poets of Turkistan became renowned in East and West.

Afterwards decline occurred and that progress was transformed into regression. Those brilliant traces were lost and that civilizational luminosity was transformed into a strange dimness.

O loved ones of the Most Merciful in Hamadan! Verily this city of yours was once a mighty capital and the seat of supreme sovereignty in ancient times, and the fame of its people spread far and wide throughout all regions, such that past nations would follow their example in all matters pertaining to worldly prosperity. Then God stripped from them the garment of glory and wealth and clothed them in the cloak of poverty and extinction, due to how the hands of self and passion had played with their hearts.

O Thou sanctified Lord! From its earliest days, Thou didst make the soil of Persia to be musk scented and soul stirring, gem laden and knowledge bearing.

… For a time, the flame of its knowledge was extinguished and the star of its greatness hidden beneath a veil. Its vernal breezes gave way to autumnal blasts, and its delightsome rose-garden was filled with tares and thorns; its wellspring of limpid waters turned brackish and stale, and its greatest and most precious souls were made homeless wanderers in distant lands; its effulgent light was dimmed and its mighty river reduced to a narrow stream.

There was a time when Persia was like a fragrant Bouquet perfuming all the nostrils and she was the center of the glory and honor of the world of humanity. The inhabitants of Persia from a social, industrial, political and moral standpoint were superior to the rest of mankind.

Now the conditions are changed and the same lofty standard is not kept waving aloft. Like a great giant she is prostrated on the ground while groaning with a pitiful voice.

For a time, there came a decline and negligence appeared. The moon of its glory's zenith set, and the star of its wisdom and knowledge descended. The wise became foolish and the learned became ignorant. A light shone forth from a foreign land and an army arrived from a neighboring realm. The carpet of the Persians was rolled up and the joy of the Iranians came to an end. The bright day became dark in their sight and the rose garden became a thorny wilderness.

O beloved friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha! For one thousand three hundred years, the star of the Zoroastrians' existence had vanished in the west of non-existence. They had completely disappeared from sight, living scattered and disorganized, captive to the oppression of tyrants, until the world-illuminating Sun of Truth rose from the horizon of Iran.

When Manukji came to Bagdad and stood in His spiritual Presence he related many stories concerning the humiliation of the Parsees and how in his travels from India throughout Persia he found them in the lowest degree of dispersion and abasement; how the Persian authorities persecuted and drove them from pillar to post and how these creatures like sparrows were made captives in the cruel claws of the falcon and how they were maltreated in the cities of Yazd and Kerman.

If one goes to Persepolis, one can see how buildings are constructed. Yet there is no edifice that does not fall into ruin. Persepolis, with all its grandeur, was destroyed and demolished - what then of these lesser buildings?

… Now the Iranians of this time have reduced their country from that glory to this poverty and abasement, and still they strive in the ruination of their land. Indeed what ignorance does! We hope that it will again become better than before. That they will build a magnificent Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Persepolis. That Persepolis will become more prosperous than before.

All things are subject to change and transformation, to ascent and decline, like the human body.

What is needed is effort and striving and hope in divine confirmation, not heedlessness, pride, vanity and laxity. Since one has no encompassing knowledge of the consequences of affairs, therefore one must always take the path of mindfulness and wisdom, and learn lessons from the past for the future.

In such a day in former times, Iranians held a great festival, but in this time they are distressed. In truth, some ancient kings of Iran had a paternal relationship with their subjects and were caring. Although their sovereignty was absolute, most worked in consultation with ministers. How much the Nauruz gatherings were the cause of harmony and agreement! Every gathering in this festival became the cause of some beneficent decree. Great reforms would come about.

Among the ancient Persians this day was looked upon as the holy day of the year - a day when hospitals and charitable institutions were founded, collections for the poor were made and every effort put forth that it might not be allowed to pass without leaving some divine trace and throughout Persia one sees these historical traces.

From ancient times this festival has been a source of rejoicing. Following the reign of Zahhak, Jamshid ascended to the throne on Naw-Ruz. To commemorate this joyous occasion, they established a great temple wherein they kindled the sacred fire. Successive monarchs maintained this tradition until it became firmly established as a national and political festival. It came to pass that all means of jubilation would converge on this day. If engaged in warfare, victory would be achieved on this day. Every significant enterprise was inaugurated on this day of Naw-Ruz.

In Persia the great vernal feast has been respected from far-off ages. King Jamshid first built a gigantic fire-place and instituted a banquet on this day, and from this time the day of Naw-Ruz gradually came to be kept as a national feast. All victories were celebrated on this anniversary, and foundation stones of important buildings were laid on this day of the Naw-Ruz.

O longtime friend! The religion of Jamshid was one of truthfulness, friendship, good nature and goodness. For a brief time that religion held sway upon the earth, but after a short while it was forgotten.

Lycurgus, King of Sparta, who lived long before the day of Christ, conceived the idea of absolute equality in government. He proclaimed laws by which all the people of Sparta were classified into certain divisions. Each division had its separate rights and function. … He then left his kingdom, went into voluntary exile and never came back. No man ever made such a sacrifice to ensure equality among his fellowmen. A few years passed, and the whole system of government he had founded collapsed, although established upon such a just and wise basis.

No doubt you are aware that in the past ages a common language shared by various nations created a spirit of solidarity among them. For instance, 1,300 years ago, there were many divergent nationalities in the Orient. There were Copts in Egypt, Syrians in Syria, Assyrians and Babylonians in Bagdad and along the River Mesopotamia. There existed among these peoples rank hatred, but as they were gradually brought nearer through common protection and common interests, the Arabic language grew to be the means of intercommunication, and they became as one nation.

India had a great civilization in former times. That civilization spread from that part of Asia to Syria and Egypt; from Syria it was extended to Greece from whence it found its way to Arabia and Spain. Again, from Spain it spread over most of Europe.

When the Arabs conquered Persia after the appearance of Mohamad, they learned from the Persians the notes and measures and brought back with them to Bagdad the seat of Arabian Kalifat of the time. … From Bagdad the Arabs carried it to Cordova, Andelusia in Spain, where they had their Universities. Here many European students studied the Persian school of music and made it as a foundation for their further and more original compositions.

When the Children of Israel taught both material and religious sciences together in their schools, this resulted in the education of skilled individuals. However, later among the followers of religions, especially among Muslims, education in schools became limited to religious issues and discussions, and even that ended up being confined to debates about words.

For instance, the search for alchemy has brought into being thousands of useful medicines and the desire of finding a direct route to India from Europe became the cause of the discovery of America.

The Persians, the Austrians, the Germans, the French, the Italian and the English people belong to one common stock of Aryan race. Originally this sturdy race lived along the river of Ganges in India. This people grew rapidly in number and strength. Having become too numerous they migrated to the plateau of Iran (Persia). From the tableland of Iran a second migration was set in motion toward Caucasus. After many ages of expansion, the third migration started westward. Then a stream of migration at various periods flowed toward Europe, each one inhabiting a portion of the land.

The people of America in ancient times were close to Asia from the northern direction, meaning there was a strait in between. Therefore they say there was passage back and forth, and other signs also indicate interaction. … Surely in those regions too in ancient times the divine call was raised at some point, but it has now been forgotten.

But in very ancient times Asia led all the continents in civilization. At this time there was a connection between Asia and America which was lost and entirely forgotten.

As to the belief of the American Indians in the Great Spirit, this is explained by the fact that worship is inherent in the nature of man, who must have something above himself upon which he may depend.

When His Holiness Moses was guided by the divine fire and beheld a ray of light from the flame of Sinai, He arose to guide Israel. He led that lost and wandering people, who were captive to the oppression of tyrants and deprived of all sciences and arts, to the Holy Land.

For after a short time the teachings of Abraham were realized in the world: The Holy Land was given to His descendants; the foundations of the religion of God were established; Isaac and Jacob came into the world; Joseph became ruler in Egypt; Ishmael was blessed and illumined Mount Paran; Moses the Interlocutor appeared, beheld in the desert of Sinai the blazing fire of God in the Burning Bush, rescued the Israelites from their oppression and captivity at the hands of the Egyptians, led them to the Holy Land, and, through His teachings and His religion, which were consonant with the needs of the age, founded a mighty nation.

When Abraham was exiled from His home, God spoke to Him, "Do not be sad. I will give You the choicest land in the entire world." And if there were a land better than here, God would have given it to Abraham.

How would the lights of the Luminary of the horizons and Sun of Truth of the world of effulgence have shone upon the regions of the world, circled the dawning-places of existence, become established in the Holy Land, and how would all the future promises to Israel have been fulfilled? And how would the gathering of Abraham's children in the Promised Land according to God's promise have been made possible?

When spiritual power appeared among the Arabs, in a brief time they rose from the depths of ignorance to the heights of human glory, and were delivered from the lowest depths of vice to attain the greatest virtues of civilized life.

Before Muhammad, the Arabs were a savage people, more ignorant than animals. The Arabian Peninsula was immersed in intense darkness, but the morn of divine favor dawned and the lights of the Sun of Reality shone upon the Arabian desert. That land and region became illumined. In a short time, it reached the highest degrees of progress. To such an extent did the Arabs become the example for all nations and became renowned throughout all regions for their virtues and qualities.

They could never have exalted a people as base as the Israelites to the lofty heights they ultimately attained, nor formed a community as illustrious as that of the Christians. Furthermore, they could never have civilized the desert-dwelling wild ones of Arabia so thoroughly as to empower them to conquer great cities and transform the hearts of differing peoples, to the extent that that once brutal people had become enabled to so quickly establish the schools of Andalusia - schools which the denizens of Europe attended to learn the hallmarks of civilization, and returned to the West to promote the arts and sciences they had studied.

The Jews once turned to the Kingdom, but when they looked backward to mortal things, they became dispersed. Then Christ led men to the Kingdom; their signs have remained.

Under the teachings of Moses, the Israelites reached a high condition of fame and glory, riches and power - then their power began to wane as their religion became corrupted and the time came when a New Manifestation was needed and again the Divine Light appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ.

After this spiritual springtime comes summer, when trees bear fruit and seeds become harvest--meaning the tree of humanity bears fruit and becomes adorned with infinite virtues. Then comes the spiritual autumn, when the gifts of the divine spring remain no more and the effects of the heavenly spring decline. The merciful perfections diminish and human eminence is transformed. Winter arrives, severe cold encompasses all, lethargy and torpidity appear, despair and regret unveil their face, darkness prevails, heedlessness and error raise their pavilions. The world of spirit and consciousness becomes deprived of the breath of the All-Merciful, and sweet fragrances are cut off.

Then gradually that spring was followed by the autumn of death and decay. The teachings of Christ were forgotten. The Christly bounties ceased. Divine moralities disappeared. Day ended in night. The people became negligent and oblivious.

So there is always present the tendency to nullify the action of the Divine Law or Religion. The religion of Moses attained its highest development and before the time of Christ it had been acted upon by human forces. So, Christianity reached its zenith and outside forces entered until the Divine Law became to an extent superseded. A man may with the utmost care attend to a garden for a hundred years, but if it be neglected for a single year it will become a wilderness.

Indeed, if we were to closely consider this, we would see that the older societies are completely unaware of religion and are captives of nature. No sign of divine bounties is discerned among them, nor is any heavenly fragrance inhaled from them. They are governed by certain traditions and customs and follow the ways of their forefathers.

The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it cannot hear, it cannot remember anything. Why go so far back? Consider the laws of the Old Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their example nor keep his commands. So it is with many other religions.

This is why in the Middle Ages the Cause of God had reached such a state that no trace remained of Christ's teachings - Christian princes and kings all fell upon each other and there was constant warfare.

The religions of the past have fallen into decay on account of self-seeking leaders who in the course of time appropriated all the rights and powers unto themselves and looked down contemptuously upon the rest of their co-religionists as ignorant and deprived of the knowledge of God.

The decay of the nations and the degradation of the people have always proceeded from the ministers of religion.

When we consider the history of the people and government of France, it becomes clear that the reason for their irreligion, as well as their reluctance towards matters of spirituality, stems from the blind imitation of those religious leaders of the past who promoted, in the name of religion, all sorts of vain imaginings that were contrary to science and reason. As a result of their actions, the people developed an aversion to religion.

But since that time superstitions had crept into the religion and ideals of the East, and from many differing causes the ideals and characters of the Eastern peoples had gone down and down, lower and lower, while the Western peoples had been constantly advancing and struggling towards the Light.

There are living nations and dead nations. Syria lost its civilization through lethargy of spirit. The English nation is a living one, and when in this spiritual springtime the divine truth come forth with renewed vitality, the English will be like fruitful trees, and the Holy Spirit will enable them to flourish in abundance.

This is the first German house built in Haifa by the leader of colony, called Hertek who came here in 1870 with about 500 people who either accompanied him or immediately after his arrival followed him.

Hertek and his followers were men of religious zeal and spirituality. They were inspired by an ideal vision and filled with the holiest thoughts but their descendents have lost that fair, heavenly outlook and have turned unto busy farmers, merchants and traders.

From your travels in the western regions, Islamic lands, and certain parts of Europe, you have surely gained complete knowledge of the conditions of the deceased community. It is as you wrote - the water is stagnant, not flowing, and present happiness is but a mirage, not real water. Until one goes and sees, one cannot become aware of the true situation. It is as if there had never dwelt between Hajun and Safa a settler, nor had any night-talker passed evening hours in Mecca. Yes, the noble ones were its inhabitants, but they have all perished, and the ancestors are but stumbling blocks.

This Islamic nation that was once at such heights--what has become of it now that they must beseech the Christians to admit them to their hospitals? Later they turned away, declined, and completely forgot these things.

Indeed, the face of the world hath been turned toward irreligion. In all years, nay in all months, nay in all days, it hath been far from faith, certitude and knowledge, and close to conjecture and vain imaginings. For a time it shall continue thus, even as the duration thereof hath been revealed and recorded in the Book of God. But be not thou sorrowful, for the effulgences of the Sun of Truth shall assuredly absorb the superfluous moistures of nature and shall gather together the scattered letters.

And now, consider and reflect a moment upon the waywardness of this people. What could have been the reason for such denial and avoidance on their part? … Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns.

The point is that some imagine that when the light of prophethood dawned, all people cried out "We hear and we obey!" They know not what afflictions were visited upon those Essences of being, and what denial and pride they witnessed from all. This is why He says, "Is it not that whenever there came to you a Messenger with that which your souls desired not, you grew arrogant? Some you called impostors and some you slay."

Ponder attentively the accounts of the prophets and the Messengers of the past: how it was that they were calumniated against; in what manner they were treated; how it was that individuals became veiled from the Truth and were heedless of the Remembrance of their Lord.

In ancient times, the manifestations of falsehood who stood against the Dawning Places of the All-Merciful had, outwardly, some existence and appearance. Once there was the stubborn Nimrod who was lord of the world. At one time there was the great Pharaoh who was outwardly the philosopher of the Egyptians and renowned among all peoples, ruler of the realm of Egypt and unique among his contemporaries. Once there was the shameless Caiaphas who was chief of the learned ones and the greatest rabbi of the Israelites.

Have the tidings not reached you of those who lived before, who denied God's signs and mocked His Messengers, whereupon He seized them with manifest wrath? Fear ye God and reflect upon what hath passed, that ye may be guided in these days when signs descend from every direction.

Consider ye and call to mind the generations of old. Where are they who pronounced judgment against Muhammad, the Apostle of God? Where are they who clung to idols, turning away from God, the Lord of all men? Where are they who opposed the Spirit? Where are they who pronounced judgment against God's chosen ones and His messengers without clear proof or explicit Book?

Reflect, then consider the generations of old and what they wrought in their vain life. God seized them for their sins.

Turn not unto the world, but behold the generations of old, for therein lieth a lesson for men of understanding. Each hath attained according to his deeds - among them were those who found a goodly end, and among them were those who found an evil abode.

This is the custom and sentence of the people of bygone ages. Undoubtedly these things must transpire in these days even with a greater intensity.

That is why His Holiness the Christ sayeth: "Everything which hath happened in the cycles of the former prophets will certainly occur again in these days."

Convey my utmost respect to Reverend Mr. Van Kirk and tell him to reflect on past events in the time of Christ so present matters become clear and evident.

Verily, if in former dispensations souls harbored doubts, uncertainties and misgivings, it was because they observed that all the divines of the earth would deny and condemn, and none from other nations and peoples would praise even to the extent of a hair's breadth.

Say: O people, remember when Muhammad, the Messenger of God, came, the learned ones and every possessor of knowledge turned away from Him, while those who tended sheep believed in Him.

How many a learned one hath remained ignorant of the All-Knowing, how many a mystic hath denied the Self-Subsisting, and how many a heedless one hath been awakened by the Call and turned towards the Most Exalted Horizon.

How many a learned one hath been barred from the Most Great Ocean, and how many an ignorant one hath heard and hastened and partook and drank and said: "Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of all in the heavens and earth!"

In the time of Christ, the doors of the divine Kingdom were opened, but the people, being veiled, were negligent and in a deep sleep. Therefore, they were deprived of the spiritual glory.

Glorified be my Lord, the Most High! Look at the generations of old - did the ambiguous matters, the allegorical verses, and the words they clung to without clear explanation benefit them?

Glory be to God! Throughout ages and centuries they clung to names - consider what was and what became its fruit.

The Jewish doctors have interpreted the Bible according to their own selfish desires, and not that they have discovered the Truth. But regarding the word Israel, this is the title of Jacob himself and not that of his Children. Then from the word of "Bani Israel" Bani (descendants) was dropped and they sufficed with the word "Israel." In Encyclopaedia there are many such examples. The descendants of Ham are called "Ham," the descendants of Yafes are called "Yafes." The descendants of the Turks are named "Turks," and those of Yaarub are called "Arab." Examples such as these are many. Afterward the word Israel was used to denote the "people of God" as it is mentioned in the Bible, i.e., the nations of God. Thus it was gradually generalized as to denote all the souls who accepted the religion of God.

Consequently if the Mohamadans believe that their prophet is the 'seal of the prophets' they have simply followed in the same footsteps of the Jews and the Christians and must repudiate their own religion because others have a prior claim to such assertions.

O thou who art firm and steadfast in the Divine Covenant and Testament! Thy letter was received and its contents were clear and evident. Praise be to God that, through the grace of the glorious Lord, beneath the shadow of the Word of Unity and the resplendent Sign of Oneness, blessed souls have been raised up and confirmed who are firm pillars of the stronghold of the Covenant and solid foundations of the edifice of the Testament. They are mighty deterrents to the hosts of doubts and manifest dispellers of the storms of vain imaginings.

It is clear and evident that every mighty cause in existence must face intense opposition, and every sturdy ship must encounter massive waves. Similarly, such a Covenant will find violators of utmost strength, and such an ancient Testament will face opponents of greatest power. The vaster the ocean, the mightier its tempests; the firmer the edifice, the more exposed it is to the force of hurricanes.

Today, the balance of the Cause of God, the protection and preservation of the Religion of God, the well-being of the loved ones of God, the salvation of the servants of God, the safeguarding of the Word of God, and the diffusion of the fragrances of God are all dependent and conditional upon firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant and Testament of God. Should the slightest weakness and laxity occur, all matters would be disrupted and disordered.

Now, certain souls through subtle stratagems are contemplating the violation and breach of God's Covenant and the breaking and severing of the mighty Testament of the All-Merciful, thinking they shall achieve some result. But evil is that which they imagine! Soon thou shalt see them in manifest loss.

In utmost secrecy, they sometimes say "The Book of God sufficeth us," and at times they utter "the day when God will enrich all through His abundance." At one moment they claim that infallibility is denied and error and mistake are possible and expected; at another, they outwardly profess unity with their tongues while in reality they seek to demean and disparage. They utter "the One Lord hath no partner" yet through these words they aim to confuse minds and disturb thoughts. This is indeed "a word of truth intended for falsehood," for the Ancient Beauty--may my soul be offered up for His exalted threshold--hath no partner or likeness. God forbid! Indeed, befitting servitude and true worship of Him is impossible and unattainable, for He alone wished to be the Beloved of the worlds and the Goal of the mystics.

However, through such intimations, the people of doubts aim to scatter the Word of God, divide the party of God, and demean the Covenant and Testament of the All-Merciful, so that they might shake the weak souls with ornate speech. When such thoughts cross their minds, they raise the question of infallibility, although no one has claimed infallibility. When the weak-minded accept this, they secretly raise objections, and when this too is heard, they deny the Covenant and Testament from its foundation.

In truth, the very root and foundation of these insinuations and doubts they have inherited from 'Umar. For in the Sahih of Bukhari---that book of traditions which the people of Sunni Islam account among their sound and authoritative collections, whose transmitters are deemed trustworthy and whose authenticity is held to be above suspicion---it is recorded and set down that when the signs of ascension began to appear upon the blessed countenance of the Messenger of God---may the spirit of all worlds be a sacrifice unto Him---that is, when His radiant face grew flushed, He said: "Bring paper and pen, that I may write and declare something whereby ye shall not go astray after Me, and which ye may follow as your rule of conduct."

'Umar was present. He said: "The Book of God is sufficient for us." Thereupon some of the members of the Holy Household said: "Obey His command, [and bring paper and pen]." But the second Caliph, in reply---God forbid!---uttered with his tongue the words: "Indeed the man doth rave," meaning that, owing to the severity of His illness, the Prophet was speaking deliriously. We seek refuge with God from so false and foolish an utterance.

At all events, it was 'Umar who first pronounced the words, "The Book of God is sufficient for us," and the community of Islam, even unto this day, remaineth afflicted by their grievous consequences. One who is unaware of all the cycles, ages, events, stratagems, and whisperings that have come to pass might imagine that the utterers of "The Book of God is sufficient for us" belonged only to that former age and to none besides. The poor soul knoweth not that it is ever through such whisperings and such devices that disruption hath been wrought in the Religion of God and the Law of God, until the very foundation of the Cause hath been shaken.

And now these present sayings are among the hidden secrets of certain shallow-minded men who reckon themselves of the friends and believers; and should they but find a listening ear, they instill them there. The purport is this: that Your Honor should be watchful lest they trouble and unsettle the weak, and that day and night you should strive to strengthen and firmly establish the Covenant of God in the hearts of the friends, in such wise that, even if the hosts of Covenant-breaking should descend from heaven like unto the waves of buckets, they would be powerless to make a breach therein. Verily, thou art aided from this station; and we beseech God to illumine through thee the horizons of the hearts of them that turn unto Him.

Now these souls who create discord do so in the name of truth - later the result becomes clear. Jeroboam acted in the name of justice and equity, but afterwards the Children of Israel became idol worshippers.

Just the same as in the time of Christ. It has retarded the progress of His Cause, as Arius did. One million and a half souls were his followers even the Emperor at Constantinople. Arius was very eloquent. He proved the existence of something that did not exist. But the Ocean of Christ sent forth a wave and cast ashore Arius and all.

Nebuchadnezzar also inflicted many calamities upon the Children of Israel. Because the Children of Israel were wavering, doubts would continually arise for them. These doubts cast them into such afflictions.

"Then His Holiness Muhammad came. He guided them, supplicating and praying. He said: 'Consider the bygone nations. They finally regretted. You must not do the same.' They did not listen and at last they found they were mistaken.

Even Columbus and some ancient philosophers like Socrates were made to suffer but after a time the people took pride in praising them.

In the time of Christ, outwardly the acceptance of the disciples had no importance - people mocked them, saying "What station or worth do fishermen have?" They ridiculed and laughed at them. But later they understood what importance they had. Later it became clear and they regretted every moment of those times.

Do ye not look upon the present, nay rather look ye in the future. The Lord's Supper of His Holiness Christ during the lifetime of that divine Light had no importance in the estimation of the public but consider how the rays of that Sun of Reality illumined that meeting afterward.

"For instance, consider how many a thousand assemblages--religious, political and literary--have been organized in India, Persia, Turkestan, Chinese countries and, in a word, in every part of Asia. All these gave no result except that assemblage of the disciples of Christ on the mount fifty days after Christ's ascension.

During the first century of the holy Manifestations the beginning of the revelation is like the day, because the Sun of Reality is shining upon all the horizons, the stars are invisible. But in the second century, the station and the degree of the sincere ones will become evident. Their lights will become manifest and bright like unto the shining stars. The stations of the apostles of His Holiness Christ became known after three hundred years.

...

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Consider in history those noble souls who passed before: after their passing, none mourned them or raised lamentations in their calamity. No eye wept and no heart burned. Yet afterward, behold what mourning occurred and how conditions changed.

They thought that they had done well, that they had extinguished the Lamp, and that they had quenched the Fire which flamed in the tree of Christian certainty; nay, verily, that Lamp hath diffused its dazzling rays unto the Supreme Height and that Fire hath burned until it kindled the hearts of the righteous!"

You observe that the stony land, because it was the homeland of the Prophet, became the qiblih of the horizons - from all regions they turn toward the Mother of Cities, meaning Mecca, to pray. This was not known in the time of the Prophet, but became apparent afterwards.

In this world there is no soil as unproductive as the soil of Mecca. It is a desert of sand, black, bare mountains and barren sahara. There are no springs in Mecca. They bring in their drinking water from a very remote place. Now because this desert of shifting sand, these fearfully shaped dried mountains, this extremely hot climate became the birthplace of His Holiness Mohamad, the eyes of the Islamic world have turned toward it. Nearly three hundred thousands souls go yearly on a pilgrimage to Mecca to kiss the black sacred stone.

At the time of Muhammad's migration to Medina under divine protection, Abu Bakr, was with Him. He said to Abu Bakr, 'Be not afraid, God is with us.' These very words became afterwards the cause of his succession to the Caliphate because the word 'with us' included him also. Many proofs and arguments based on these words have been advanced. The value of this bounty, too, is not known now.

Christianity in France was emancipated in this manner. One of the monarchs in France realized that no matter how many Christians were slain, it bore no fruit. One day he summoned his ministers and consulted [with them]. Thereupon, he announced that he bore no opposition whatsoever to Christianity. This resulted in all the people being enticed to investigate, and gradually they became Christian.

In this Cause, it will also occur likewise.

Though the Baha'i school in Iran was closed, numerous schools have been established in civilized countries in Europe and America, even in Japan. Surely you have read the newspaper that was printed and sent from Japan, and a photograph of the Baha'i school established in Japan is being sent. The Iranian people have realized too late. When Sultan Muhammad the Conqueror had laid siege to Constantinople and was bombarding it, one of the ministers went to see the Patriarch, the head of all priests in the realm, and found him writing. The minister asked, "Your Eminence, what are you writing?" The Patriarch replied, "I am writing a book refuting Muhammad ibn Abdullah." The minister said, "O foolish ignorant one! You should have written your refutation when his banner was first raised in the Hijaz. Now that Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace be upon him, has Constantinople under artillery fire and his standard waves in Europe, you busy yourself writing refutations? O mindless one, O thoughtless one!" Then he struck the Patriarch hard on the back of the neck and said, "Get up and be gone!"

Even now the fanatical Persians are striving to close the school of the Baha'is---that school which is, first and foremost, a servant of the world of humanity and is founded upon the basis of the oneness of mankind. Yet, while in America, Africa, and Japan Baha'i schools are being established, what consequence can there be if they close them in Persia? Consider how, in Persia, in order to extinguish the Lamp of God, the nation and the government once arose with the utmost might. They hoisted the banner of tyranny and aggression; they uprooted thousands of Baha'i households; they made thousands of blessed souls the targets of darts and spears. At the very least, they tore twenty thousand persons limb from limb; they plundered and pillaged; they caused fathers to mourn their sons, rendered sons fatherless, and left children and women helpless and desolate. Nay, they even cut, with the dagger of cruelty and oppression, the throats of suckling babes. How many they tortured and chastised; how many they branded upon the breast; and at last, they beheaded them. Yet all this tyranny and injustice, inflicted by those pitiless oppressors, neither checked nor uprooted nor suppressed the Cause. Rather, day by day the melody of God waxed louder, and the fire of the love of God blazed with ever greater intensity, until it attained such a degree that it encompassed the world. Europe and America, Turk and Tajik, Asia and Africa, like two lovers, have clasped one another in their embrace, and the clarion-call of the oneness of humanity hath been raised aloft.

The utmost they can do is this: the Persians are laying the axe and adze unto the root of their own tree. For the Baha'is have so illumined Persia in the eyes of mankind that today a vast multitude from the seven climes reveres that land, inasmuch as the Sun of Truth hath risen from that horizon and it is the sacred homeland of His Holiness Baha'u'llah. Consider what a bounty the Lord God hath bestowed upon Persia and upon the Persians. But what avail? For should pearls and jewels fall into the hands of children, they will not adorn a crown or diadem; rather, they may be struck by the stone of cruelty and scattered abroad. Even as Rumi hath said: "A child will give a pearl away for a loaf of bread."

Wherefore, O loved ones of God, regard not the tyranny and injustice of the ignorant. Resist oppression with justice; meet iniquity with equity; requite bloodthirstiness with loving-kindness. Be well-wishers for the advancement of Persia and the Persians, and strive for the progress of universal civilization. Should they close the Baha'i school, open schools without name or designation, and fling wide their doors unto all peoples. So long as ye have life, offer up your lives in sacrifice; and so long as ye possess ability, promote learning, crafts, agriculture, and commerce. Recite this blessed verse: "Say: I ask of you no recompense for it; my recompense is only with God, the Lord of all worlds." And another verse: "Or dost thou ask of them tribute? But the tribute of thy Lord is better."

He saith: When ye arise to serve the Truth and become the means of guidance, seek ye no reward or wage, for your reward and recompense is with God.

Were they to journey through the wilderness and observe with care, they would see the traces of vanquished hosts and the defeated armies of those who came before: here lies a bent sword fallen to the ground, there a shield; in one place a tent-pole covered in dust, in another corner an ownerless bow and arrow; here a spear, and scattered remains of provisions; there ruined ramparts. The tombs of the Pharaohs still stand, and the fields where opponents of God's Cause disputed and contended can still be sensed.

Consider the earlier centuries how much the peoples of those times strove, struggled and showed great violence and ferocity, how much blood they shed but ultimately they only uprooted each other and entered the abyss of humiliation and remoteness.

Before that there is no record. During these six thousand years there has been constant war, strife, bloodshed. We can see at a glance the results, achievements and outcomes of war. The history of warfare and strife is known, the effect apparent.

From what I can gather from the events of my life, history clearly shows the wars that have been waged, the peace measures that were subsequently adopted, have proved inevitable failures.

In Persian I state: Alexandria, which was in truth the crown of Islamic cities and was like a bride among countries and lands, was seen stripped of the garments of security and tranquility and the ornaments of glory and prosperity by the might of English artillery. In ten hours its heights were brought low. The natives were in utmost weakness while the foreigners were exceedingly strong and triumphant.

If the Iranians and Turks had not opposed each other, all these kingdoms would still be under their power today. But they fell into such heedlessness that whenever the Turks were busy with conquests on the European frontiers, the Iranians, seeing them occupied, would attack them, and whenever the Iranians became thus engaged, the Turks would assault them. They gave each other no peace, and every day they pursued pleasure and personal gain and selfish aims until they squandered that glory and laid waste such prosperous realms.

The Beloved said:-

"It is evident that negligence from God brings a nation to this path; lack of administration throws people into such defeats. If the Turks were watchful of their interests, a thousand years may have passed without losing any of their domains.

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

Even in the time of the late Muzaffari'd-Din Shah, a political treatise was written and printed in India in Mishkin-Qalam's handwriting and distributed throughout Iran, and high and low became aware of its contents. Its essence was that clerical interference in political affairs produces general harm. In every age when they interfered, they ruined Iran, like in the time of Shah Sultan Husayn when they humiliated Iran before the Afghans and uprooted the Kayani dynasty, and likewise in Fath-'Ali Shah's time when they issued fatwas for war and jihad against Russia - all the clergy themselves went to jihad but in the end chose to flee, and so forth.

In the Russian-Iranian War, Iran was defeated; and, afterwards, seventy-six of the victors were assigned to settle various affairs and to dispatch the [Iranian] captives to Russia. There was a woman who had two children, whose husband had resisted arrest and avoided being sent [to Russia]. As a result, the Russians kept the wife under surveillance, and, once having discovered her in the public bath, seized her as she emerged. A tremendous commotion broke out in which the entire group of Russians perished.

During the time of Abdul Hamid, when volunteer military forces signed up to fight against Russia, each soldier was given a rifle and 200 bullets.

During the Russo-Turkish war about 40 years ago, it was announced one day that Russia is defeated. This news created a furor amongst the inhabitants of Acca and on that very evening illuminated all the streets and Bazaars. Next morning it was gravely and greviously given out that the Turkish Commander has been made a prisoner by the Russian Army and they are on their march to Constantinople. The same thing happened three or four years ago during the Turkish-Italian war in Tripoli.

Once Persia was engage[d] in war with a foreign Power. After a severe battle her army was defeated but the Military Censor sent word to Persia that the roy[al] Army has achieved a great victory and the inhabitants of every city must celebrate the occasion by a National festival, illumination and pyrot[ech]nics.

The annals of Turkey contain many curious incidents about the movement of troops by vessels from one country to another. The author writes, for instance, the army left from one place in 1550 and arrived safely at another point in 1556.

Before Shah Abbas, the Dutch seized the Persian Gulf with its seventeen islands belonging to Iran and developed them, taking them completely out of Iran's control. … After much dispute Shah Abbas returned the ships.

One of the characteristic signs of Fatali Shah's reign was the division of the various provinces of Persia amongst his sons. Each royal son was as a despote ruler in his own Province as his Sire. For example Tabriz was parceled out to one, Esphahan to another, Kermanshahan to a third and so on. All that they did was to pay an annual tribute to their father and the one that paid more was more favored in his estimation.

In the Middle Ages, when the kings of Germany and England were oppressed by the Pope, they would assist the Protestants.

After the death of one of the Khalifs two persons by the name of Mamoun and Ameen arose and claimed the right of succession. At the time Mamoun was in Khorassan and Ameen in Bagdad. That city being the Centre of the Islamic world and the seat of the Khalifate the latter took hold of this advantage and usurped the holy See, proclaiming himself the natural and rightful successor and demanding prompt allegiance on the part of his subjects.

Saladin I Ayyubi, meaning the son of Ayyub and nephew of Shirkuh, whose title was al-Malik al-Nasir, fought against and defeated the invading Crusaders. He conquered and recaptured Jerusalem, Karak, Nablus, Ashkelon, Jaffa, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre, Sidon - in short, all the cities that were in the hands of the Crusaders. He placed the prisoners in the fortress of Tyre and hastened to Egypt.

Then suddenly Crusader ships full of soldiers appeared before Tyre. They strove from without while the prisoners strove from within, and the Crusaders gained control of Tyre. From Tyre they arose and hastened toward Acre and besieged it. King Nasir Saladin rushed with utmost speed from Egypt to Syria. Observing that Acre was under siege, Saladin then besieged the Crusaders from the land side, and Acre fell under two sieges, for the Crusaders were besieging Acre while Saladin was besieging the Crusaders, and inside Acre were the Islamic defenders. Later the Crusaders gained control of Acre and killed the defenders. Winter came and Saladin fell ill, so the pillars of state deemed it advisable for him to return to Damascus to regain his health and wellness, and in spring to attack the Crusaders with a mighty army and reconquer Acre.

However, Saladin, King Nasir Ayyubi, died in Damascus and the fortress of Acre remained in Crusader hands. After a hundred years, Saladin King Mansur, who was related to Ayyub, conquered Acre and drove all the Crusaders from Syria.

That first Saladin's title was King Nasir, and the second Saladin's title was King Mansur. The first was the son of Ayyub, the second was from Ayyub's relations.

We were invited to dinner, as well as the Sheiks, and the Beloved gave a detailed stirring account of the history of Acca from the time it was taken by the Crusaders in 1104 A.D., its fortune in their hands till it was retaken by Saladin in 1187, how it was subsequently besieged and held by the Crusaders under Philip Augustus of France and Richard I of England in 1191 and given to the Knights of St John; how it feel into the hands of the Egyptians in 1291; then attacked and possessed by the Turks in 1517; how Napoleon Bonaparte besieged it for 61 days in 1799 but was saved by the skill of Jazzar Pasha and the timely assistance of Sir Sidney Smith; then its possession by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt in 1832 and its final surrender to the combined armies of the English, Austrians and Turks in 1840 and its restoration to Turkey at that date.

Isaiah 34: Refers to the prophecy of the degradation of Palestine and Elom until the end of days, and began at the time of the entrance of Titus A.D. 70. Then again Omar desolated it 635 A.D. Then the crusaders entered 1096 A.D. and made war with Islam, which lasted until 1272 A.D. but the conflict between Islam and Christianity lasted until 1844.

Napoleon entered Acca in 1812. The one to drive the crusaders out of Acca was Bebers, King of Egypt, Malik-a-tharhir.

"Syria" he said "has an important position strategically. Ancient nations conquering this country extended the boundary of their empire to all the then known parts of the world. The Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs and the Turks subsequently conquered this country and each in turn became a world-power. Because it is the connect[ing] link between Asia and Europe and Africa its importance cannot be overestimated.

Over the course of history, it has acquired many names. At first it was 'Auk, then became 'akur [Achor] and afterwards 'Akka. The Phoenicians raised this city and their custom was that when they built a town, whatever geometric figure it resembled, they would call it by that name. Since this city was triangular with curved sides, then they called it 'Auk, which had this meaning. Moreover, Haifa was known as Hayfu, meaning 'a town on the skirt of a mountain.'

Haifa is ancient. It is one of the Phoenician towns. Akko also is ancient. It was also Phoenician. Haifa or Caifa gets its name because it is at the foot of the mountain. The name is Phoenician, not Hebrew. These Phoenicians were here 2500 years before Christ.

As to Akka it is a City one direction of which is towards the River Jordan across which the Friend of God, Abraham, passed and in whose environs He called God His Lord using the melodies of the peoples of Paradise. In another direction it faces the Holy and Sacred Vale from which was raised the call of all the Prophets and Messengers saying: "Here we are! Here we are! O Lord our God!" Very soon We shall smell its air and We shall hear all that was raised therein.

This is the Holy Land from whence all the Prophets and Holy Men came. No country in the world has such a bright light of Religion. The Light of God has always shone upon the world from this land, and the Religion of God has had its Source and Revelation here. It is wonderful even in its physical conformation. The Phoenicians came from here. Their great civilizations spread from Syria. Abraham came to this land. Here His Teaching became known. The King of Salem, Melchizedek, came from this land. All the Prophets had their missions here.

"For this reason these places are called the Holy Land and eulogies and praises have been sung by all the seers and prophets of the past concerning these sacred grounds."

The Fragrances of the Holy-Spirit waft from this Sacred Spot. If the nostrils were open they could inhale these breaths. This Blessed Land is fragrant.

I never dreamed to buy land around the Lake of Galilee and by the river Jordan; but the Blessed Perfection commanded me to do so, in consideration of their biblical sacredness and the historical associations running back into the oldest antiquity, thus connecting in a prophetic manner this new Dispensation with Judaism and Christianity.

Already various Jewish Societies, benevolent and otherwise have founded thriving, progressive colonies in various parts of Palestine and Syria but they have done nothing for Tiberias. In the future they must turn more their attention to this town and the shores of this wonderful Lake.

Where are now those Greek Kings and Roman Imperators and Queenly ladies who lived in their palaces, danced in the moonlight and bathed in the hot springs of this valley? They laid the foundations of these stately buildings so deep and they reared their walls so high that they vainly thought the hand of time will not touch them. How would they feel if their ghosts returned and looked upon this dismal picture of complete desolation! The wild, roving Arabs pitching their tents in the ruins of those gorgeous palaces, they have become the dung-heaps of animals and men, stables for their asses and horses! Such sights give one much thought for reflection and contemplation!

Harum ar-Rashid wanted to excavate [the Pyramids] but was unsuccessful. [His son] Ma'mun then decided to carry out the same task and, after much effort and many searches, they found a tablet in the hieroglyphs script. There was someone in Europe who could read hieroglyphs. Upon the tablet was written the identity of the king-builder and the fact that it was so strongly built that no one could open it until the end of time. With this, Ma'mun discarded his plans.

When I was present at an important gathering in Alexandria, a certain patriot arose to voice his praise and support for his country. He recited a poem and then, with the utmost pride, he repeatedly made the following remark, which stirred those in attendance to more excitement than any of the other addresses had: 'We belong to the people who built the pyramids.'

He had drawn four hundred sketches on a single skin of a gazelle, which was kept in the Kasra palace. His designs were inscribed on the jeweled carpet and taken from Kasra palace to Medina [by conquering Arabs]. One piece of this carpet was sold for twenty thousand dinars.

During the Arab invasion of Persia, the treasury of that empire boosted of two most valuable treasures. The first was a parchment over which was drawn by Mani in miniature-forms 400 pictures of animals and the second was a royal rug the texture of which was woven with the gold and silver threads and the precious stones. In the confusion incident to the general rapine, the first was lost for ever and the second was brought to Arabia. In order that every general may receive something they cut the rug and every one received a small piece. The small piece which went to Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet was valued at 20,000 Dinars.

There were [certain tribes] prior to the time of Moses who numbered among the Arab clans that are no more, that is, no sign of them has remained. Their mention is made in the history of Islam, but they are not referenced in the Torah. … They disappeared as a result of floods, storms and earthquakes.

O intimates of the court of the Beloved! O adorers of the countenance of the Beloved! The entire region of Caucasia is regarded as attached to the Araxes River, which in the Qur'an hath been alluded to by the expression "the companions of Ar-Rass." A company of prophets, of whom all record hath been lost, were in ancient times raised up in that clime, and perfumed the world of humanity with the fragrant breaths of the All-Merciful.

Jesus was a dyer by trade. He also lived in Egypt 'Out of Egypt have I called My Son' (Matt. 2:15, Hos. 11:1) was spoken of Jesus. The 5th Gospel which is considered noncanonical gave other history of Jesus than is contained in the Gospels of the New Testament. There were fifty gospels, but only four were accepted as genuine by the priesthood.

Think of a monarch like Nero setting fire to a city and playing upon his lyre while it burned! What kind of a civilization was that?

What is barbarism? Barbarism is the unrestricted dominion of unbridled impulses. If the vernacular language shows slovenliness and arbitrariness, and is subordinated to the language of the material or spiritual conquerors and victors, it becomes the death-knell of the freedom of a people!

During the last days of our stay in Egypt, we went to Tanta for the repair of the tomb of Haji Abu'l Qasim and from there went to Mansurih. In Tanta one of the English officials was our friend, who held us in great honor and showed us great respect everywhere. Observing this, the natives were more respectful and polite to us than even to the said officer, and throughout the town, everyone, young and old, even the policemen in the street, saluted us.

Abdul-Baha has utmost joy at your presence, however affairs in these parts have become very difficult and in Adasiyyih and other places grievous events are occurring one after another. Those who are present have absolutely no rest and are greatly troubled.

Reflect upon the condition of those who came before - the truth will become evident and the end result will become clear. Children and descendants became disgusted with their sinful fathers and ancestors and were ashamed of their connection to them.

Consider how many famous ministers, distinguished scholars, eminent princes and great wealthy ones there were in former ages and earliest centuries. Each could have shone in those centuries like a brilliant sun in the ethereal heaven and like a lamp in the glass of the horizons, their lights of ancient glory becoming eternal bounty and everlasting splendor in the Kingdom of the Spirit of God.

Consider the early centuries - some souls lived in the utmost comfort and prosperity, and finally left behind the troubles of the world, while other souls who experienced various forms of cruelty in the path of faithfulness - their lights still shine bright from the horizon of the Kingdom, and their radiance, like the rays of the morning star, remains manifest and evident from the divine dawning-place.

Consider what the Arab poet has said: "Our insights are given us by those who came before us." In other words the past offers us a lesson in this regard for consider what little benefit it was to souls who passed the days of their lives in the utmost comfort and joy and ask thyself what real loss was suffered by others who spent their time afflicted by hardship in the path of God, the Revealer of verses.

Consider what example our predecessors set for us who follow after them, and what path of sacrifice they demonstrated for us. We too, God willing, must follow this straight path like the friends of old.

Look at the good, pure, and blessed souls in the early centuries - with what conduct and behavior, what detachment and extreme attraction they spread the divine fragrances and exalted the Word of God. "In those who have gone before in former ages, there are examples for us."

Look unto those who have been in the former ages--how they have resisted all nations and suffered all persecutions and afflictions, and how their stars shone, their attacks proved successful, their teachings established, their regions expanded, their hearts gladdened, their ideas cleared and their motives effective.

Consider what the Disciples of His Holiness Christ did by throwing away comfort and rest and devoting all their times to the promotion of the Cause.

To Miss Boylan and Edith Sanderson, in Thonon last summer, ‘Abdul Baha said: When Jesus Christ came to this world, He planted a tree. I have come to see what has become of that tree. The branches are all turned toward the earth. Turning to Edith, He said: Could you not help me to lift them up again toward Heaven?

Whatsoever hath occurred in the past, its remedy in this Day is easy and simple, but that which is missed by anyone today shall be impossible to remedy.

Feel impelled appeal entire body American believers to henceforth regard Nabil's soul-stirring Narrative as essential adjunct to reconstructed Teaching program, as unchallengeable textbook in their Summer Schools, as source of inspiration in all literary and artistic pursuits, as an invaluable companion in times of leisure, as indispensable preliminary to future pilgrimage to Baha'u'llah's native land, and as unfailing instrument to allay distress and resist attacks of critical, disillusioned humanity.

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Utilize, as extensively as you possibly can, the wealth of material which Nabil's stirring and precious narrative contains, and let it be your chief instrument wherewith you can feed the flame of enthusiasm that glows in every Baha'i heart and upon which the success of your magnificent, your incessand efforts must ultimately depend.

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