humility; meekness; lowliness
Editorial introduction
Humility sounds like a small virtue until one notices how much it asks. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sends help to a friend in need on condition that no one learns the name, tells a giver in a famine to feel indebted to the poor for accepting, and asks each person to suppose that another possesses a gift they themselves lack. Lowliness of this kind is not timidity. It belongs with courage, with the refusal to bow before any human being, with the dignity of honest work, and with a strength that proves itself at the threshold of God rather than over other people. The Pharisee and the publican in Luke [1] show how piety curdles into comparison; the Tao Te Ching’s water, benefiting all while seeking the low place [2], and its seas, fed by every valley stream because they lie beneath them [3], ask what kind of leadership does not weigh on those it serves. From here the path leads toward pride and vanity, toward the attachments loosened by detachment, and toward the servitude ‘Abdu’l-Bahá claimed as his own crown.
Therefore, without mentioning their names or allowing anyone to catch wind of it in a way that would cause them humiliation, rather privately tell the friends that 'Abdu'l-Baha has written that assistance should be collected and sent for one of the dear friends of God.
That which is conducive to the progress of souls, is humility and meekness, gentleness and evanescence. Every individual must suppose another to be the possessor of a gift of which he himself is deprived. This will cause every one to be humble and meek before another.
Souls must become submissive and humble through spirit and joy. They should witness such perfections among the loved ones of God, observe such conduct and behavior, that they are compelled to submission and humility.
You must feel indebted to the poor for accepting, otherwise no matter how much one gives, when accompanied by a sense of having bestowed a favor, it becomes as scattered dust. One must feel grateful that they accept.
O friends! Show forth a mighty effort, spread your wings, and soar in these luminous heights until ye become the essence of humility and are effaced and annihilated from your own existence. Through the intensity of your submissiveness, become like unto the earth trodden under foot, yet bestowing bounty and blessing.
O thou strong one!
The proof of true strength is to manifest humility, meekness, and lowliness at the Threshold of the One True God.
Despite such might, be ye sources of humility and manifestations of meekness, that others may perceive from you the fragrance of My characteristics, whereby every knowing and discerning one is adorned.
The deed which is conducive to humility, meekness, submissiveness, evanescence, is accepted by God. The action which in the least connotes existence, pride, self-projection is human and not accepted by the Lord of mankind.
O divine friends! The thick cloud that today prevents the Sun of Truth from shining is the cloud of self and desire, and the mist of pride and vainglory of the foolish. What causes the greatness of the human world is humility and submissiveness, evanescence and nothingness. For lowliness and brokenness are the resplendent crown of Abdul-Baha, and evanescence, nothingness, and utter self-effacement are the glorious diadem of this servant at the Threshold of the Almighty.
The Most Exalted Pen hath testified to thy acceptance, humility, submissiveness and service, and this testimony is more beloved before God than all that thou hast seen and heard.
One must never feel superior to anyone else. This feeling destroys all vestiges of friendship and love. I give thee this advice to be remembered throughout all thy life: "Whenever thou seest that a person feels to the measure of one atom superior to another or prefers himself to his brother or sister have no hope in him. He is deprived of the Bounties and Mercies of God."
Show honor and respect, care and service. Consider yourselves as servants and others as masters. Account yourselves as imperfect and all others as perfect. That is, conduct yourselves as an imperfect one would show respect to a perfect being, or as one lowly would behave before one great.
If someone commits a fault and I treat them with kindness, this is not due to negligence. Rather, since I acknowledge my own deficiencies and am mindful of my own state, I do not censure others.
So Abdul-Baha wishes a sin covering eye and conceals the people's faults as far as possible; for he considers himself incapable and deficient in the Servitude of the Lord. Therefore, being engaged in his own short-comings, he does not care about the sins of others, but always ask remission and forgiveness for them, and seeks bounty and grace in their behalf.
The sin of this servant is the greatest of sins, and the transgression of this shelterless one is greater than a mighty mountain. First forgive the shortcomings of this disordered one, then the sin of every ignorant wrongdoer.
One must always search for his own shortcomings so that he may repent at the threshold of Oneness and become protected and guarded; otherwise, pride and haughtiness will take possession of one's heart and this will cause deprivation of the bounties of the Court of Singleness.
During the recitation they should maintain silence, and if someone wishes to speak, it should be with utmost humility, in eloquent speech and fluent expression.
Rather, we are a captive, a stranger, simple and poor, humble and lowly at the threshold of the Almighty Lord. We are His displaced and helpless ones.
Still I endure, I do not distance myself - whoever distances themselves from me, I draw near; whoever shows pride, I show humility and submissiveness. I am content that a hundred thousand arrows strike my breast rather than dust settle on anyone.
For instance, if a person shows humility for the sake of God towards the friends of God, this humility in truth returns to God, as it stems from his faith in God.
...if someone shows humility for God's sake toward the friends of God, this humility in truth returns to God, as it stems from his faith in God. In this case, if the other person does not reciprocate in like manner or displays pride, the insightful person has attained and will attain to the exaltation of his own deed and its reward, while the harmful effect of the opposing person's action returns to himself.
Let us all associate with one another with the utmost poverty and selflessness, with evanescence, and radiance of spirit, with meekness and holy humility.
Assembly means the diffusion of the divine fragrances, not merely a gathering. Assembly means humility and submissiveness toward the loved ones of God. Assembly means the exaltation of the Word of God. Assembly means sanctification and purification from all else save God.
I swear by the blessed, holy and sanctified spirit of that Sun of Truth, the Lord of the House (may my spirit, being and essence be sacrificed for its dust), that the ultimate desire of my heart and soul is to be honored to sweep that pure threshold with my eyelashes.
And now you must, through the assistance and grace of the Most Glorious Beauty, be in the utmost joy, gladness and delight, and soar to such heights that your humility becometh the radiance of sovereignty in both worlds, your servitude the essence of spirituality in both realms, your prostration the vision of the Beauty of the Lord of the East and the Lord of the West, and your bowing down the rising of the lights of both horizons.
Each soul must strive to follow others and show greater humility and submissiveness, always seeing deficiency in himself and keeping his own sins before his eyes. He should never utter a word indicating displeasure, never complain about anyone, open his mouth in thanksgiving, and praise and extol all the friends.
Then the awning of the mercy of thy Lord will be hoisted and those souls who are free from the filth of prejudice, contradictions and presumption and are filled with a love that imparts affinity, intimacy, affection, meekness and humbleness will be sheltered under it.
Lower thy wing of mercy unto the believers.
Verily, I would kiss the dust trodden by the feet of God's chosen ones.
Grow daily in humility and meekness, until thou attainest eternal glory and everlasting grace.
The humbler and lowlier a person shall be the nearer to and more acceptable at the threshold of God is he.
Therefore, O my God, what is the state of my soul which is lower than dust that it should praise the Mighty, the All-Bestowing?
… Therefore, O my God, cast me into the seas of bewilderment and rapture, and plunge me into the depths of effacement and wonderment and ecstasy, and cause me to take refuge in the nest of my silence and stillness and deprivation, and to acknowledge and confess my lowliness and neediness and poverty and want.
Now return and strive with utmost humility, submissiveness and lowliness to create love between the friends of God. Endeavor and be enthusiastic that perhaps a new love may arise and become the cause of `Abdu'l-Baha's heart's joy.
I said in reply: "O esteemed Hajj! I am indeed of little means and great need, devoid of power and stripped of strength, extremely weak and full of compassion. How is this possible for me? Can a drop have waves, or an atom reach heights, or dust have existence, or air have presence?
Now in gratitude for these confirmations, you must acquire qualities sweeter than honey and more fragrant than musk and ambergris. That is, you must entirely forget your former conduct and behavior, and show the utmost humility and lowliness toward the loved ones of God. Never cause any heart to be saddened. You associated with Abdul-Baha for a time and observed his conduct, behavior, humility and lowliness. This was the pattern to follow. Now all the friends have complaints about you to a degree beyond description.
However, humility is among the requirements of servitude to that Luminous Beauty, therefore being ashamed is freedom, and embarrassment is the cause of increased bounty.
Consider service to the friends as the highest gift in the human world. Count humility and submissiveness as eternal glory and consider self-effacement and evanescence as the gift of the Supreme Concourse.
O 'Ali, humble and submissive one! Today the eternal glory of the human world lies not in attributes and qualities of pride. I have addressed thee as the humble 'Ali for this reason: the greatness of you and me and the honor and station of all lies in servitude and lowliness at His blessed Threshold.
In this Day the friends of God must be in the utmost lowliness and humility, effacement and annihilation of self, true poverty, stillness and dignity.
By God, it is essential to heal the relationship between His Holiness 'Ali-Qabli-Akbar, His Holiness Furughi, and their honors Nayyir and Sina, and by whatever means possible bring about reconciliation, and likewise with all the friends. The divine friends must deal and associate with each other in the utmost humility and submissiveness, so that self-effacement, evanescence, servitude and faithfulness may govern the pillars of existence. "The master of the people is their servant." "Whoever wishes to be first among you must be last, and whoever wishes to be your master must be your servant."
As for this servant's station - the Ancient Beauty, may my spirit be sacrificed for His loved ones, nursed 'Abdu'l-Baha from the breast of servitude and nurtured him in the embrace of effacement, evanescence, servitude and detachment. I swear by the face, hair and nature of that peerless Beloved that nothing is sweet to my taste except the honey of servitude, and nothing causes my joy and delight except the pure wine of complete effacement and utter extinction.
That faithful friend is truly self-sacrificing and detached from name and fame. He treads the path of evanescence and seeks the good-pleasure of Baha'u'llah.
Would that 'Abdu'l-Baha could also achieve this so that servitude to the Threshold would be realized. Until now nothing but shortcoming has appeared from me, but God willing, henceforth through divine confirmation a sacrificial movement will be made.
Pride and haughtiness are the worst qualities. If a person becomes the possessor of the whole world he must not become proud. Humility is the most shining star in the crown of man.
And if the words of these have influence upon anyone, this is not from them but from what hath been ordained in the words by the presence of One mighty and wise. Their likeness in the sight of God is as a lamp from which servants receive light while it consumeth itself and becometh of those that are consumed.
Hear My words: oppose not him who counsels you, be not impatient with him who admonishes you, and follow not your giving with injury. Rather, be humble before the loved ones of God, the Lord of the first and the last. Abandon learning, for it has barred you from the Sovereign of all knowledge. Prefer him who counsels you over yourself; better would it be for you to walk barefoot, sleep without a pillow, and lament in the wilderness than to sadden one who has believed and been guided.
Yes, this befits souls who are content and pleasing to God, and in this station, shame is the essence of nobility and the magnet that attracts divine assistance and grace. A servant must be like this, even if he be a lamp from the highest heaven - he should always see his own shortcomings, even if he be a most grateful servant.
O seeker of truth! Those souls who counted themselves among the people of truth and considered themselves discoverers of mysteries and secrets have grown cold and withered at the obstacle of unconsciousness, and like the dead have crept disappointed, frustrated and hopeless into the pit of contemplation and mystical unveiling. You who neither claimed gnosis nor pretended knowledge of the secrets of truth have, praise be to God, attained and reached that which was the ultimate hope of true mystics.
What is desired today is that all should appear among people with purity, sanctity, humility, submissiveness and pure servitude, so that all people may turn toward God's direction through witnessing the deeds and actions of those assured souls.
As much as thou art able, despite thy weakness, walk in field and farm, and with utmost humility, submissiveness, self-effacement and evanescence, cry out "Glad tidings! Glad tidings!"
Know ye of a certainty that in this Day whosoever, with utter humility and lowliness, submission and meekness, absolute nothingness and complete evanescence, diffuses the divine fragrances, the Kingdom of existence will confirm them and the powers of the Realm of Names will grant success.
The more the believers humble themselves at the Divine Threshold, the more powerful and universal will be the descent of the Holy Spirit of new dedication upon them.
But these things should be the cause of humility and self-effacement. We must not consider that they are due to our addresses or our eloquence.
The divine ideals are humility, submissiveness, annihilation of self, perfect evanescent, charity and loving-kindness. You must die in self and live in God.
Rather, girls ought to be trained in such a manner that from day to day they will become more self-effacing, more humble, and will defer to and obey their parents and forebears, and be a comfort and a solace to all.
Blessed are the children, of whom His Holiness Christ said: 'Of such are the Kingdom of Heaven.' Children have no worldly ambitions. Their hearts are pure. We must become like children, crowning our heads with the crown of severance (from all material things of the earth); purifying our hearts, that we may see God in His Great Manifestations, and obey the laws brought to us by those, His Messengers.
Never, never do this, this is worse than all things. Man is a sinful blunderer, therefore he must acknowledge his faults.
We must speak with gentleness and brotherliness. We must not backbite. We must speak about each other with consideration and infinite courtesy. We must adorn our temples with extreme politeness. We must not be rude to any human being.
Perhaps you have heard something about Ibn-Abhar. He is a Persian teacher and one of the greatest in knowledge and spirituality and holds a very high position among the believers' still, when asked by anyone about any other certain believer he generally replies, "I am not worth to unloose the latchet of his shoes."
A workman who had left his bag of tools in the hall was welcomed with smiling kindness by 'Abdu'l-Baha. With a look of sadness the man said: "I don't know much about religious things, as I have no time for anything but my work."
One should not have expectations from others. One should always consider oneself at fault and say that what should have been accomplished by one's hand was not achieved.
I am humble. I am meek. The Blessed Perfection has trained and educated me with the power of humility and renunciation.
O Ali Akbar! Whosoever is the servant of the believers is the leader of the friends, and whosoever is the thrall of the Beloved ones is the sovereign of both worlds. The service of the friends is service to the True One, and Thralldom of the Holy Court is dominion over East and West. Blessed is everyone who serves the friends of God.
Thou hast been cut from aught else save God and hast been made a maid-servant for the men of God.
This is not servitude but sovereignty, and this is not service but chieftainship and greatness! This is the garment of everlasting glory with which thou hast clothed thyself, and this is the rose of eternal exaltation with which thou hast adorned thy head. It is said in the New Testament: "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
For this reason His Holiness Christ says:- 'the last shall be the first, the least amongst you in the Kingdom is the greatest.' Whosoever desires to walk in the Path of the Kingdom - so that he may reach the Court of the Almighty - he must be a true servant.
The Path of God cannot be compared with the paths of men. The humbler is man in the Path of God, the more exalted is he; the greater is his meekness and submissiveness the more beloved is he; the more is he surrounded with tests and trials the vaster the tranquility and composure of his spirit.
As soon as one feels a little better, a little superior to the rest he is in a dangerous position, and unless he casts away the seed of such an evil thought he is not a fit instrument for the service of the Kingdom.
Meekness and humility are the hallmarks of faith. As soon a believer feels himself the least bit superior to others, the beginning of his spiritual decline is commenced, all unaware to himself.
Thus whosoever is the helper and servant of the Word of God, he is the hand of God. This is the intended meaningâ€"not the mere word and phrase. Whosoever is more self-effaced in the Cause of God is the more confirmed; and whosoever is more humble is the more near unto Him.
They do not arrogate unto themselves any title or any position. You will know them by their humility, sincerity, deeds, severance, knowledge, spirituality and attraction.
He should be a person free from all thoughts of name and rank; rather, he should say, 'I am unworthy and incapable of this position and cannot bear this great burden.'
The attributes of Lordship and the titles of Divinity are reserved for the Sacred Being. The utmost praise and glorification for us is effacement and nothingness, weakness and lowliness at the Threshold of Grandeur. This is the supreme gift, this is the greatest mercy, this is the heaven of refuge, this is the most exalted paradise, this is the sovereignty of earth and heaven, this is transcendent glory, this is the sublime station, this is the great bounty, this is the manifest triumph.
My dominion is my humility, my submissiveness, my lowliness, my abasement, my supplication and my beseeching unto God--this is that permanent reign which no one is able to dispute, gainsay or usurp!
For the crown of servitude to the Threshold befits the brow of humanity, and the diadem of humility and submissiveness adorns the head of all people.
Know thou this: that in truth and essence, in identity and attributes, in capacity and desert, I am the servant of the servants of the Blessed Beauty.
When he read the decree he wrote in reply "His Excellency Mirza Sadiq is not worthy of a thousand tumans salary" and returned the salary.
But when thou meetest the loved ones of God, become an obedient son and a nursing child, for these souls are the dawning-places of the grace of the Blessed Beauty - may my spirit, my very being, my essence be sacrificed for them. The more thou showest humility before these brilliant stars and shining orbs, the more will thy power of fatherhood increase and thy paternal authority grow.
The friends here are anxious to know if I like these rooms! They do not know what we had to go through in the past.
… Now the kind friends here wish to know if I like these magnificent rooms!
He supplicated, saying:
"O God, one sinner seeketh the intercession of another sinner. How can I be his intercessor, when I myself am conscious of my own sin?" At the end he saith: "O God, since the blood of a company of Muslims is in danger of being shed in vain, and the Shah hath sought me as an intercessor that he may pardon them, for the sake of that good deed I intercede for him, while confessing mine own sin.
This servant has ever mentioned and continues to mention each one in the Most Holy Court, and requests all to beseech God to protect this servant from error, mistake and from all that is unworthy of God.
Make thy provision the Word that hath issued from My mouth at the time of thy turning toward the land of Baha, thy shield the fear of God, and thy weapon humility and lowliness before the face of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
Pride not yourselves over those whom We have sanctified from earthly adornments, and humble yourselves before those who have turned unto the Intended One.
As you are Afnans of the Blessed Tree, you must exercise the utmost care in all matters and avoid suspecting others as much as possible. I beseech God to increase, day by day, your faith and certitude, your humility and submissiveness, your poverty and self-effacement, and your complete evanescence.
In the station of servitude, he must be utter powerlessness and absolute poverty - existence must become pure non-existence, humility must become complete humility.
God willing, we hope that henceforth they will be seen as an unbroken circle, regarding the good of all as the good of each and the good of each as the good of all. This servant knoweth not what to say. Where are the souls that bow down before the face of God? Where are the hearts that are humble before God's command? Whoso truly attaineth unto the fragrance of these days, naught but humility and submissiveness will be manifest from him, for exaltation of station and loftiness of rank have been and shall be manifested through humility before God.
The ones in real authority are known by their humility and self-sacrifice and show no attitude of superiority over the friends.
How humble and meek he was! We tried our best to persuade him to keep a servant with him, he would gently decline. He desired to serve the believers personally. Whenever the believers and the non-believers called on him, although he was sick, weak and in fever, yet he would get up and prepare tea and serve his callers with his own hands.
… During all the days of his life, I never heard from him the word "I" - "I" said so or "I" wrote so and so. He would say "this servant requested them" or "this servant begged the believers".
In reality, how much does ambition debase man! Conversely, humility and evanescence elevate him. He sought everything but found nothing. In contrast, Aqa Mirza Haydar-'Ali sought nothing but found everything. Day by day, whatever the former wanted and did not find, the latter found without wanting it. The former was in sobriety but became effaced, while the latter was effaced but attained sobriety.
In Mazandaran one night when Quddus met Babu'l-Bab [Mulla Husayn] and heard words of grace and wisdom from his tongue, the latter immediately arose to serve the former like a humble servant. In the morning the companions saw that although Babu'l-Bab was the leader of the companions and master of the friends, he stood with utmost reverence before Quddus with hands folded across his chest, such that all were astonished at his humility.
Such an illustrious person threw himself at Sayyah's feet and perfumed and illumined his face and hair with the mud from Sayyah's feet, because he had come from the presence of the Beloved of all worlds.
The believers asked him several times to call on the Blessed Perfection but he would flatly refuse while saying:- 'How can I, the essence of sin stand in the Presence of the essence of Holiness! I am not worthy of this privilege! Whenever I find that I have attained to this merit I will go but not now, not now.'
Once when I lived in Baghdad I was invited to the home of a poor thorn-picker. In Baghdad the heat is even more intense that in Syria and it was a very hot day. But I walked twelve miles to the thorn-pickeris hut. Then his wife made a little cake out of some meal for me, and burnt it in cooking it. Still that was the best reception I ever attended.
"Oh, my King," replied Ios, "When first I beheld thee I was a poor ignorant shepherd boy, but thou hast raised me to this lofty state through thy pure bounty and generosity, therefore, I never wish to forget from what I came, but to remain ever humble and grateful to thee. Thus I come each night to reflect on what I was and what Thou has made me through Thy bounty, generosity and favor.
And if ye appear among the servants with humility, submissiveness, and other qualities of truth, the hem of sanctity will remain pure and unstained from the calumnies of Satan and his manifestations, and the lies of the slanderers will become manifest and evident to all the peoples of the world.
And so, as time passed, wherever that beautiful man went, in his simplicity, not knowing any good that he did, his path became a blessing. … And so, as time passed, even his name was forgotten and he was called "The Holy Shadow".
One must know the value and be grateful, and take refuge in God from self-centeredness. Man must remain in a state of fear and hope. When one thinks of slipping, one's bones should shatter, yet one should not despair of God's threshold. If I write even a single greeting, I know it is through the aid and grace of the Blessed Beauty.
Once a Pharisee and a Publican entered the Temple to pray. The Pharisee said: 'Thank God I am not as other men.' The other said: 'God have mercy upon me, a sinner!'
Christ said that the Pharisee's praying was not accepted in the Kingdom of GOD, but the prayer of the poor man was accepted.
Thank God, because the first self-conceited one was Satan. A man must never consider himself greater than others. Rather, he must always be humble and self-effacing. The bird, as long as it sees itself at a low level, is given impetus to soar and progress; but the moment it fancies itself high in the air, it begins to descend.
When I was in Alexandria, Ahmad Ariss, the Minister of [one word cut off] of the Khedivial Court called upon me and proposed to me that he would like to arrange a meeting between his Highness the Khedive and myself. I told him tha[t] I am not interested in such royal visits, that I am the friend of the poor and would consider it always a great honor to be received by them.
Abdul Baha: I did not insist. Sometimes a king will not accede to the request of his Prime Minister but will grant the request of a farmer. I did not insist. I used only to supplicate. As he did not accede, I did not persist.
Our Beloved sometimes once in a week would call on Baha'u'llah and always, as a sign of respect would sit near the door.
Abdul Baha: She had passed her thirtieth year and after five years she was martyred. That is, when she was martyred she was about forty years old. The work, not the age of a person is the important thing. She was very humble. She would treat any other woman as if she were that person's maidservant.
The defeat was his utmost glory. It was quite the opposite. The things that are the cause of glory in the world are considered shame in the Kingdom, and that which is humility in the world is glory in the Kingdom.
For example, Christ confirmed the Law of Moses; and the Primal Point---may my spirit be a sacrifice unto Him---showed the utmost humility and lowliness toward the Apostle of God and the Imams of guidance.
A man who does good and does not talk about it is perfect. The man who does very little good and magnifies it in his speech, is not good. if I love you, you know it, I need not tell you all the time; on the other hand, if I did not love you, you would know it also, and you would not believe me if I said I did love you a thousand times.
"Are there not many followers in the Turkish Empire?" "No," and again 'Abdul-Baha reiterated the non-importance of numbers. The journalist seemed very much taken aback. He evidently expected 'Abdul-Baha to boast of a large following.
In such case, one melts away at the mention of anything that carries the slightest scent of unacceptability, let alone stating it explicitly. This is a station where allusion has no place and investigation falls short.
I beg of God that you may become more enlightened, more severed, more spiritual, more aflame and that you may be humble and submissive, for as long as man does not consider himself to be good but regards himself as weak and deficient, he progresses; but the moment he considers himself good and says, "I am perfect", he falls into pride and retrogresses.
In this court we must be humble and meek, active and progressive, wide-awake and thoughtful, true and sincere, noble and good, straightforward and zealous.
[I said, "I wish to teach this Message of Light and Truth, but I feel that my efforts are small and unimportant." He answered,]
The mountain is large, but it has no intelligence. The diamond is small, but it is filled with light. The elephant produces no melody; the nightingale's song is like the music of Heaven.
When a person is humble and becomes selfless, then he grows hopeful [of divine assistance].
We, too, are confident of the bounties and confirmations of the Blessed Beauty. Insha'llah, you will also be fruitful and productive. Be confident.
Although Abdu'l-Baha considers himself as a drop, yet this drop is connected with the Most Great Sea. Although he looks upon himself as an atom, yet this atom is related to the world-illuminating Sun. As is said: "The originator of all these voices is the King himself" or in other words: "It is through his assistance."
This help and assistance are from Him and these confirmations are through His bounty and favor; otherwise, we are nothing but weak servants. We are as reeds and all these melodies are from Him. We are ants and this dignity of Solomon is from Him. We are servants and this heavenly dominion is from Him.
This is because they are mindful of the Bounties of God and day by day they become humbler and meeker and more gentle and sweet toward their fellow-men.
An intelligent man is never vain nor does he inflate himself with the idea of personal superiority. Nay rather he is ever humble and meek. By considering himself inferior to others, his own spiritual station is unconsciously promoted.
We must always think of our own humility and poverty. We must realize that we are simply nothing, less than nothing. All that we have in this world is through the Bounty and Favor of the King of Kings. We must think and ponder over our origin: What are we? Who are we? It is only through His Grace and Bestowal that we have attained to these spiritual stations.
Happy are you who are engaged in serving the poor. My greatest happiness is this, that I may be counted among the poor.
However,
If a person today should, for God's sake, show deference to another, would this detract from his station? Nay, by My true Self! Rather would he be exalted and God Himself would raise him up.
Powerlessness and contrition have ever been beloved in the most holy court. This is the station of servitude which none have attained save the near ones among the servants of God.
With utmost lowliness and supplication beseech ye the Self-Sufficing Lord that He may assist you to mention Him, to praise Him, and to remain steadfast in His Cause.
We are all poor at His Door, weak before His Power, lowly at His Threshold, and we possess the power of neither good nor harm.
Look not at thine own insignificance, but rather gaze upon the supreme favors of the Most Great One. The confirmation of the Ancient Beauty, like a breeze, bestows new life upon the trees of existence, grants blossoms and fruit to barren trees, and fresh and tender fruits, transforming black soil into the flowers and fragrant herbs of highest paradise.
If we look to our own reality, we are but dust in the path, yet if we look to His grace, we are dawning-places of lights.
O Creator! Although we are but useless grass, yet we are of Thy garden. Though we are but young trees, bare of leaves and blossoms, yet we are of Thy orchard.
Thou wert exceedingly ashamed of thyself and wert wholly detached of thyself for thou dost consider thyself a sinner. This very condition of humility, lowliness and confession of thine own sin is indicative of the purity and sanctity of thy soul, for every sinner consider himself an eminent person and every eminent person considers himself a sinner.
My God, my God! You know and see my condition, my poverty, my powerlessness, my lowliness, my brokenness, the burning of my fires, the flowing of my tears, the end of my patience and composure, the scattering of my affairs, the dispersion of my gathering, the shaking of my pillars, the trembling of my limbs, my weakness, my humiliation, my descent, my fall, and my despair from the abundance of my shortcomings.
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
When a just man looks to himself he will become characterized with the utmost humility and submission. He will observe that he is less than an atom and lower than the earth.
Therefore 'Abdu'l-Baha's constant wish is that he too may become aware that he is but a particle, yet visible in the ray of the sun, and a drop, yet confirmed through the assistance of the Ocean of Oceans. When he looks at himself he becomes ashamed and abased, but when he observes the favors of the Lord he becomes hopeful and his cup overflows.
The magnet for this grace is like a torrent - turning to God, detachment from all else, humility and submissiveness toward the loved ones, service to the Cause of God, and diffusing the divine fragrances.
Verily I pray unto my Lord with all humbleness, meekness, obedience and submissiveness--which demolisheth every edifice of self-exaltation--that He shall strengthen thee by the fragrances of holiness and the breath of the Spirit of Truth and cause thee to be dedicated (or severed) unto God, purged and purified from the dross of the world, holy and sanctified from carnal passions, sacrificing thy soul to the beloved of God, contented with that which the Lord hath granted thee in the world, anxious to perform noble and good deeds while following the teachings of God, and in all things adhering to the law of God.
Thou didst crown this poor servant with the diadem of service and didst cast the chain of Thy loving providence about the neck of this wretched one.
...When any soul turns unto the omnipotent Lord with perfect humility and submissiveness, and becomes abashed and ashamed of his own shortcomings, there is no doubt that such a soul is inspired by divine inspiration, for there is no excellence greater than when a person discovers and acknowledges his own imperfections. Praise be to God that thou art walking in His path and art illumined by the light of His Kingdom and art drawing therefrom.
Humility and lowliness are, in all cases, evidence of nobility. … For however much we may strive and be moved and cry out, we cannot fulfill the thanksgiving due for even a single one of God's bounties. Therefore we are ashamed, embarrassed, sorrowful, and bow our heads in humility. This bashfulness is sufficient proof of sincerity of purpose, nobility of nature, purity of character, and steadfastness in the Covenant of the Most Great Unity....
Praise be to God that we are small and insignificant, not great, pompous and arrogant, full of cruelty and devoid of wisdom and fidelity.
We must serve at the Divine Threshold with complete effacement and nothingness and render service, so that through pure grace and bounty we may be accepted at that Court.
But alas, how can this weak gnat soar in the heights of the eagle! Yet since I confess to my powerlessness, the assistance and favor of the Blessed Beauty dawns every moment like the morning, and the power of the victory of the Kingdom of the King of Kings becomes manifest.
In order to offer our thankfulness to the Beauty of Abha for this Bestowal and Gift day by day we must increase our effort and exertion, day by day we must add to our meekness and humility, we must augment our faith and assurance and know of a certainty that all these things belong to Him and not through our exertion.
Lord! Make me as dust trodden by the feet of Thy loved ones, and as scattered particles beneath the sandals of Thy devoted ones.
Know therefore that the highest hope of this wingless bird is to soar in the apex of servitude, not that of freedom; to fly in the nadir of thraldom, not the apogee of lordship. … Upon the brow of this servant, the crown of servitude is preferable to the diadem of lordship, for this hath ever been, and is now, my pride and glory.
Know thou, therefore, that this garment of servitude is a robe of everlasting glory on thy shoulders and this dust of thraldom to which thou hast stooped is a diadem worthy of princes in the Realm of eternity. It is for this same reason that the treasured crown of this lowly one is to be a servant at the threshold of the Abha Beauty and my greatest glory is to attain this station of thraldom.
Know ye the value of this consummate bounty, and regard yourselves as sheer nothingness, complete poverty, and utter weakness. Whosoever becometh more evanescent becometh more lasting, and whosoever becometh poorer becometh richer. Honor is commensurate with affliction, and greatness in proportion to lowliness. This is the characteristic of God's well-favored ones and the attribute of those who are virtuous.
Likewise, all the friends of God must arise to serve one another with the utmost humility, submissiveness, lowliness and contrition.
What power hath a feeble servant, and what flight can a frail gnat attempt? How far the heights of glory from the wing and feather of the bird of abasement!
Therefore 'Abdu'l-Baha with the utmost contrition, fear and apprehension of the tests of God implores toward the Kingdom of Abha and beseeches for the gifts of Firmness and Steadfastness and with the utmost humility and meekness entreats constancy and determination…
Rather, at every moment my heart doth cry, "Would that I were dust whereupon tread the feet of Thy sincere ones among Thy loved ones and Thy chosen ones among Thy pure ones!"
Lord, I am ailing, heal me; stammered, unloosen my tongue; accustom me with humiliation and extreme lowliness; save me from splendor and arrogance; preserve me from every dissolute and infidel; save me from the darkness of suspicions that have spread in the lands, make my feet firm on Your straight way and undeviating path; not adopting the way of error as the Way but adopting the path of righteousness as the Way.
I am but a feeble ant which Thou hast led to the court of Thy majesty and generosity. I am as one lost, Thou hast guided me to the most great shelter and the impenetrable sanctuary. I am sore sick, Thou hast bestowed divine healing. I am abased, Thou hast showered upon me eternal glory.
O Lord! Who are we and what are we? Whatever exists is Thee. What shall we say and what path shall we tread? Thou art the Speaker and the Guide.
I have no way and no means except to acknowledge my powerlessness and shortcoming, as though I were weaving a veil in the heights of the ether with the web of my delusions.
I lower my wings and humble myself in the dust of servitude before the might of Thy Divinity and the greatness of Thy Lordship, acknowledging my errors and my great sins and my abundant shortcomings and transgressions and misdeeds.
My God, my God! How can I remember You and call upon You when all my conditions, powers, pillars and senses confess my powerlessness and inadequacy in performing all the obligations You have ordained for Your servants?
Thou seest me humble before the might of Thy Lordship, submissive before the greatness of Thy Divinity, abased before the dominion of Thy Oneness, imploring the Kingdom of Thy Mercifulness, lowering my wings before Thy servants, self-effacing before the people of Thy lands, fearful of Thy awe, hopeful of Thy bestowal.
How sweet it is, O my God, in moments of helplessness to acknowledge weakness and brokenness and to shun pride and arrogance. Sufficient for me, O my God, is my helplessness, my poverty, my lowliness, my abasement, my evanescence and my nothingness.
O Lord! We are weak ones; shelter us in the cave of Thy might and power. We are poor; enrich us from the treasuries of Thy grace and bounty. We are helpless; we have taken refuge at the gate of Thy oneness. We are sick; we have sought healing from the source of Thy cure.
I am lowly, hoping for the outpourings of Your Lordship; I am poor, desiring the manifestation of the treasures of Your Mercy; I am insignificant, seeking help from the power of Your Oneness.
My God, my God! These are servants who are abased before the glory of Thy Lordship, who bow down at the threshold of Thy mercy, who are humbled before Thy might and the majesty of Thy oneness, who are turned toward Thee and trust in Thee and supplicate before Thee.
O my Lord! I am but a feeble ant, a frail gnat with broken wings, my feet weary from traversing the wilderness of separation.
Today, whoever is in utmost poverty and nothingness, and is humble before the Divine Threshold, will witness assistance and bounty, and attain victory and triumph.
Although they lift up the head of pride, show thou greater humility and meekness and treat them with the utmost submission and lowliness.
I divest myself of every garment except the robe of lowliness and contrition in the court of Thy Divine Oneness.
I commune with Thee, O my God, my face bowed to the dust, awaiting the wonders of Thy favors, my forehead upon the dust in humility before Thy glory and sovereignty, supplicating Thy kingdom, entreating Thy dominion, hoping for Thy pardon and forgiveness, seeking Thy grace and benevolence. I know not by what countenance to turn to Thee, with what heart to place my trust in Thee, with what spirit to make humble supplication before Thee.
Yet my tongue is weary of speech, my wing is broken from flight, my mind is bewildered from comprehension, and my capacity falls short of true knowledge. I remember Thee while acknowledging my error in praising Thee, and my inadequacy and lassitude in offering laudations and attributes before Thy Holy Court.
O thou kind Lord! What fruits can human endeavours and the striving of a destitute bird bring forth without Divine confirmation, decree and guidance? In the end, it will be doomed to loss, disappointment and penitence. We are incapable, powerless, weak, feeble and contemptible.
By the life of the Beloved! Were I not beholding His wisdom, I would not have mentioned Myself save in pure servitude, for this is the desire of My heart, and unto this testify My spirit, My soul and My being, could ye but understand.
The Ever-Living, the Most Ancient
Radiant praise, adorned, resplendent, ascending, and soaring to the atmosphere of the holy nearness of my Beloved Who, with but one melody from the songs of the celestial Dove, one warble from the eternal Nightingale, and one breath from the divine Bird, hath illumined all those who dwell in the clouds of unknowing with the brilliance of His holy splendor and adorned all scattered elements with the radiance of His intimate beauty. Yet He hath manifested but a single point from His Book of Glory, whereupon all have become deluded and lost, and have remained deprived of the mysteries and inner meanings of the verdant pavilions and the beautiful couches. They imagine themselves to be guided and righteous. Nay! By the Lord of the heavens, they are liars and corrupters! Now that the light of the morn of faithfulness hath sunk into the realm of the unseen, and the darkness of the night of blindness hath encompassed the face of the earth, such gloom hath descended from the friends upon the page of ink that its mere mention causeth sorrow to both the seen and unseen worlds. Glory be to God! To such a degree hath the emblem of grief appeared upon His countenance. Verily we are God's, and verily unto our Lord do we return.
Say: O people of the Bayan! Were ye to awaken even slightly and ascend somewhat toward the holy heaven of the Eternal Sovereign, ye would realize how ye have divided the blessed, universal, and eternal Word. By Him Who is the Educator of the seen and unseen and the Sovereign of existence and Ultimate Goal, whatsoever your hands and tongues have wrought is evident and manifest before Him from Whose knowledge nothing whatsoever in the kingdoms of earth and heaven is hidden. Ye shall soon behold its fruits, and these same deeds and actions of yours shall return unto you at the time of return. Verily we are God's, and verily unto Him do we return. O my God, my Lord and my Beloved! I know not which decree Thou hast ordained concerning me, nor what Thou hast destined for my countenance. Dost Thou wish to abandon me among the oppressors among Thy servants? Here am I, present before Thee in faithfulness. Or dost Thou wish to take my soul in this house in utter abasement? By Thy glory! I seek no refuge save in Thy captivating beauty.
Glorified art Thou, O my Beloved! I shall surely bear witness unto Thee in that hour before the countenance of the King of Thy munificence, and I shall surely call upon Thee in the sacred mysteries before the presence of the Sovereign of Thy holiness, that Thou art God, there is none other God but Thee, alone with no partner. Thou hast ever been established in the mystery of Glory, and Thou shalt ever remain at rest upon the throne of the heavens. None can ascend to the atmosphere of the King of Thy attraction, nor can any soul mount up to the threshold of the Sovereign of Thy self-subsistence. All desire union with Thee and Thy presence, yet none hath the means to soar to the heaven of Thy divine unity, nor any proof to enter the precincts of intimate fellowship with the King of Thy divinity.
Glorified art Thou, O my God and my Lord! Since I find no portion save in the warbling of Thy verses, and no glory save in the remembrance of Thy favors, I shall commune with Thee in this night before Thee with praise of Thine own Essence and attributes of Thine own Self, that perchance my heart may find peace amid the surging winds of sorrow for Thy loved ones, and my soul find rest amid the manifestation of the standards of grief from the people of Thy chosen ones.
Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou dost witness my state in this solitary house while Thy loved ones do with Thy countenance as they please. Thou knowest my secret amidst the letters of heaven while Thy chosen ones do with Thy glory as they desire. Thou hearest my cry in utter abasement while the pious think of Thee as they wish. Glorified, glorified art Thou! I see all this as naught but Thy doing unto me and Thy favor upon me. Thine is the praise in all of this, and Thine is the gratitude in all of this, for Thou art the Truth, there is no God but Thee, and we are all believers in this.
Praise be to God Who hath enriched the Glory with the mystery of faithfulness, and hath seated him upon the crimson throne, and hath caused him to warble the verses of attraction on this sorrowful night, though most people neither witness nor give thanks. Praise be to God Who hath established the Light in the mystery of Glory, and hath made him witness from the divine realm among the countenances of heaven, and hath tried him among the hands of the ungodly in the realm of creation, though most people neither witness nor know. Praise be to God Who hath mounted me upon the steed of light, and hath established me upon the yellow rafraf of might in the most hidden essences of the Most Glorious, though most people neither see nor understand. Praise be to God Who hath caused me to ascend to the court of mighty divinity, and hath brought me into being at the radiance of the countenance of glory, and hath admitted me into the house of identity behind the veils of grandeur, though most people neither give thanks nor comprehend. Then after all this, they deny and say what they know not, and judge what they perceive not.
O Dove of Eternity, Cockrel of Oneness, Bird of Glory, Manifestation of Divinity, and Radiance of Beauty! Say: O People of the Book! Why do you deny Us? Why do you reject Us? Are We not the verses of joy? Are We not the warbling of the Lord upon Mount Sinai? Why do you harm Us? How do you grieve Us? Are We not the hidden secret revealed in the Psalms? Are We not the countenance of the Ever-Living, the All-Forgiving? Are We not the mist of camphor? Are We not the clear signs of Oneness made manifest? Why do you drive Us from Our homes? Why do you imprison Us in Our dwellings? Are We not the Beauty of Glory in the darkness of night? Are We not the Beloved in the midst of the letter "Ha" with the hidden mystery? Are We not the Loved One in the heart of Glory with the melodies of resurrection? Are We not the Singer in the heaven of the heart with the warbling of birds? Why do you turn away from Us, slay Us, and forsake Us? By God, the Truth! There shall descend upon you the mighty, powerful grasp, and there shall appear unto you a severe, overwhelming punishment. Soon shall you know who it is that shall be visited by a humiliating chastisement, and you shall find no escape from Our grasp.
Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee, O my Beloved, my Companion, my Witnessed One! I seek Thy forgiveness at this moment for my transgressions before Thee and for my warbling in Thy kingdom. I am certain that all that hath been and shall be revealed is the description of Thy Self and none other, the mark of Thy mercy and naught else. O my God and my Lord! How can I seek Thy forgiveness for my grievous sins and my great transgressions, knowing that all this was naught but the warbling of the Dove of Thine eternity in my heart, the surging of the waves of Thy love in my breast, and the manifestation of the countenance of Thy identity in my heart? Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I am not an existence that I should implore before Thee, nor am I anything that I should mention myself before the court of Thy glory, nor am I a countenance that I should radiate in Thy kingdom, nor am I one who stands that I should raise the banners of Thy victory, nor am I a glory that I should shine in the heaven of Thy majestic manifestations, nor am I one who waits that I should await the days of Thy manifestation, nor am I one who sits that I should arise for Thy Cause, nor am I a presence that I should abide in the house of Thy glory. For all this was but the signs of Thy Self in Thy dominion and the tokens of Thy Being in Thy lands, and they shall never ascend to the heaven of Thy identity nor rise to the clouds of Thy oneness. Glory be unto Thee! Verily, I have been among the sinners before Thee, and the first of the penitent, and the first of the worshippers.
Never be saddened, for it is not permitted. His honor - upon him be God's blessings - is missing and cannot be found. I remember Mirza Akbar and Mirza Isma'il. Divide the other candy and give it to them in service. His honor, the Most Excellent of the Excellent ones, possesses the utmost affection. This writing is for some of you; some complaints about the loved ones that do not concern you.
I, for my part, have ever concealed -- and still conceal -- myself beneath coarse garments woven of camel's hair, that I might not be known by any name, nor be described by any station. And yet, the oceans of pre-existence, by the grace of God, are continually flowing within the heart; still not a drop thereof appeareth outwardly, and the pages of inner meanings are hidden within the breast, and no letter thereof is seen upon the tablets of the world. I seek no end but a fancied servitude, I desire naught but utter nothingness.
Glory be to God! How can there be existence for aught else before the manifestation of Him Who is the Sovereign Truth? What station hath nothingness in the presence of the revelation of the standards of pre-existence? What mention can be made of the ephemeral before the Eternal Throne? Where is the non-existent servant in the court of the Sovereign Lord? What position hath the slave before the Master, or the abject before the Mighty, or the lowly before the Exalted?
In this state it is ascribed unto truth and returneth unto Him; otherwise it is reckoned among the followers of self and passion and returneth unto them.
… The soul that is, in this day, submissive to God and holding fast unto Him - all names are its names and all stations are its stations.
The man of insight is ever abashed and humbled, for he describes Him Who all limbs and members acknowledge through the word "indescribable," and makes mention of that Station which is confessed through the word "unmentionable." Every person of experience detects from description the fragrance of limitation, and from mention and praise the scent of comprehension.
I swear by the Sun of Truth that this servant sees himself as lower than even a small bird, for that which today befits divine grace, this Day of God, and celestial bounty and mercy has not been manifested from him. For every good deed manifested by one of the loved ones, this servant utters "Would that I...", and for every praiseworthy characteristic shown by one of the chosen ones, this ephemeral one remembers "Would that I were with him."
Rather, this servant of Thine is a servant to those who serve Thee, prostrate before those who prostrate themselves to Thee, a servant to those who serve Thy Cause, submissive to Thy sovereignty, a helper to those who seek Thee, and an aid to those who aid Thee in Thy heaven and desire to assist Thee in Thy lands.
And in mentioning deeds, His words: "O my God! My very existence is a sin, so how then when I commit another sin? My Lord, I know that were I to perform for Thee every deed encompassed by Thy knowledge, I would not have remembered Thee as Thou hast remembered me, nor would I have known Thee as Thou hast made Thyself known to me.
O my God! What am I that I should stand before the city of Thy holiness and utter praise? What am I, O my Beloved, but a mote -- nay, less than the least of motes -- that I should have a station in the court of Thy sanctity in fidelity?
Know thou in the shadow of these words that shame and abasement exist only in the failure to know God and attain His good-pleasure, for this is so in the estimation of God and the people of truth.
I have no glory save in acknowledging the fire of my limitations, in recognizing the nothingness of my being, in confessing the ultimate bounds of my selfhood, and in accepting the supreme parameters of my identity.
How dare I venture to praise you or utter words of adulation in your presence? Nay, by your glory, I hold you above every description save your own self-description, and deem you sanctified beyond every attribute save those of your own essence. What am I and what right have I to stand before your glory? What am I and what station have I before your majesty? What am I and what position have I before your grandeur? What am I and what praise can I offer before your holy might?
Then walk upon the earth in humility, without sandals, in the manner of a soul whom the All-Merciful shall call to account on the Day of Judgment - and thou hast indeed come to know this with true knowledge. And glorify God secretly in thy walk with the greatest tranquility.
By the might of Thy Essence and the greatness of Thy names, I have acknowledged servitude and shortcoming in every matter before Thee, and I seek Thy forgiveness for whatsoever Thou detestest in the path of Thy good-pleasure, and I turn unto Thee as befitteth Thee and as Thou deservest.
O my God! In this state, having closed mine eyes to myself - for verily I possess neither profit nor harm, neither life nor resurrection for my own self - I make representation to Thy chosen ones, Thy pure ones and Thy loved ones.
What can this heedless servant mention that would be worthy of your hearing, and what can this ignorant one present that would merit the attention of that Beloved One? For mere nothingness to show a trace of existence is a grievous sin, and for utter non-existence to claim being is a great error.
Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee, O my Beloved! How exalted are the stations of Thy sovereign glory, and how abject are the ranks of Thy servant's lowliness in his love for Thee! How resplendent are the manifestations of Thy wealth, and how evident are the expressions of poverty in Thy servant!
We raised him to this station because he showed no pride when the Sun of Sanctification dawned from the horizon of this Garment which the idolaters had stained crimson with the blood of hatred.
O my God, my Lord, my Master, my Beloved, my Heart's Desire! Every time I intended to make mention of Thee, such perspiration of shame encompassed me that I found myself bewildered and dumbfounded. How can a tongue of rebellion be capable of mentioning that station where pure sanctification itself is counted among the sinners?
O Mihdi! At the end of his letter was this verse: "We are ashamed that on the Day of Recompense we did not commit a sin worthy of His forgiveness." This verse was mentioned repeatedly. Well spoken indeed!
In these days thou must walk among the servants with the utmost submissiveness, humility and pure servitude, for the manifestation of the Cause and the stability of weak souls depend upon these things.
For no sin is greater than that the non-existent should make mention of the King of existence, or that the evanescent should manifest itself before the Worshipped One, for by this would be affirmed the existence of aught beside Thee in the court of Thy glorious unity, and the appearance of aught other than Thee at the dawning of the sun of Thy oneness, after my tongue and the tongues of all created things bear witness that Thou wert in the loftiness of Thy singleness and naught was with Thee, and that Thou art in the heights of Thy detachment and nothing is with Thee.
O my Lord! Thou seest the poor one hastening to the gate of Thy bounty and the weary one turning toward the kingdom of Thy utterance. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which lieth with Thee. O my God, my Lord, my Master and my Hope! I testify that I know not what profiteth me in Thy worlds. Thou knowest me better than I know myself.
As for thy expression of humility and lowliness before the Most Holy Court, after it was presented, these blessed words were spoken: This humility and lowliness of thine is, before God, exalted be His glory, greater than the might and power of those who possess power.
I bear witness before God and those in His presence that this weak servant hath no purpose contrary to the good-pleasure of the Lord of the World and those who possess His authority. Although my very existence is absolute sin, yet since my heart is steadfast in the unity of God, exalted be His remembrance, in the prophethood of His Messenger, and in the authority of those who possess His authority, and my tongue confesseth all that hath been revealed from God, I have hope in His mercy and have never desired aught contrary to His good-pleasure.
Let the copy of the Arabic folio be conveyed by the students to every land, that all may be assured that I am but a servant -- without learning and without claim. Whoso pronounceth concerning this lowly one a judgment of belief to the weight of an atom, God, the All-Knowing, shall question him thereof on the Day of Resurrection.
Know that you seek one who is capable of understanding all mysteries and knowledgeable of all sciences in detail. God and His chosen ones bear witness that I neither was nor am such a one.
Their Station is equal in degree and their authority in these days with the people. One must be humble and cast aside pride. Does humility decrease one's station? In Malachi it says, "In the Day of God the proud shall be humbled." Malachi Chapter 4--The sincere believers who humble themselves shall in this day prosper.
And God forbid that, from the mention of these divine words, such a thought should arise that this servant layeth claim to even one word of these stations. I beg forgiveness of God for this. Verily, I am a servant who hath believed in God and in His verses, and I have no condition save abasement, brokenness, weakness, and utter nothingness in all states and circumstances; nor have I any hope save absolute servitude unto God, the True, the Mighty, the Compelling.
The tongue of the friends of God must be the interpreter of this servant's tongue, and their pen the interpreter of this servant's pen. Let no one address me or mention me except by this mighty attribute. This is the attribute that expandeth my breast, gladdeneth my spirit, refresheth my heart, causeth my branch to flourish, perfumeth my nostrils, illumineth my face, brighteneth mine eye, delighteth mine ear - and I have no name, nor sign, nor attribute, nor description, nor title, nor praise except this wise remembrance.
But that which is essential to the acknowledgment of this word (i.e., Abdul-Baha) is attraction to the love of God, service to the Cause of God, diffusing the Word of God, severance from all else save God, affinity, union and oneness, humility, meekness, nothingness and servitude to the beloved of God.
O God! You know that if someone were to strike my heart, it would be more pleasant to me than for someone to reinterpret this explicit statement. O Lord! You know that my veins, roots, limbs, members, pillars, soul and heart tremble and burn at any word other than servitude to the Abha Beauty.
I am averse to every praise and aloof from every description. My joyful cry is the call "O servant of Baha" and my resurrection is beneath the banner of "O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious!"
O Lord! Preserve me from every title, attribute and name that may be uttered by the tongue of Thy loved ones, save the word that signifies servitude to Thy Baha and the sign that indicates evanescence and extinction before the manifestation of any of Thy signs.
Abdul Baha calls himself 'Abdul Baha', but you can tell them the Blessed Beauty gives him other titles. But Abdul Baha says 'Abdul Baha' so that Nakazeen shall have no grounds (for opposition). Tell them Abdul Baha says: 'I am Abdul Baha.' The Nakazeen mention those other names so that they may be able to cause trouble. One cannot speak in glorification of one's self. The others should do that. If one says, 'I am polite. I have done such and such good actions,' - that would be a sign of hypocrisy.
Although I say always that I am 'Abdu'l-Baha, a servant of God, still people refer to me as a messenger and a prophet. It would be better if they would not attribute such titles to me.
In the days of the Blessed Beauty, I never had a desire to write. The friends even complained about it. In reply I finally wrote to Varqa saying, 'When the shrill of the Supreme Pen can be heard, what is the need of my writing?' However, in the days of the Most Great Luminary others wrote, referring to themselves, as the great sun of God.
The temple of this servant is adorned with the raiment of lowliness, not the garment of pride, and the head of this lowly one is honored by the crown of humility and need, not of privilege and distinction. We are all servants at the Threshold and self-sacrificing attendants.
I have had no purpose except service to the Cause of God and no intention except the exaltation of the Word of God. I am utter nothingness and absolute non-existence. I claim no station such that high and low, base and noble would be imagined, or inner and outer would be supposed, and I seek no matter such that obedient and disobedient, wavering and steadfast would be pursued. I am a servant among the servants of the Blessed Beauty and an atom in the light of the Sun of Oneness.
And know with certainty that there is no glory for man except servitude to Baha, and no eternal life except in complete effacement and annihilation. Until one becomes effaced in the Truth, one cannot become eternal through the Truth.
Whosoever desires to be first among you must be last. This is the way and path of 'Abdu'l-Baha. This is the ultimate desire of 'Abdu'l-Baha - to be a true servant of the divine friends.
O maid-servant of God! Speak of my servitude unto God, of my humbleness and submissiveness to the Beloved of God, and of my evanescence, nothingness and utter meekness to the Threshold of Baha. Verily, I am the servant of Baha, the slave of Baha and the captive of Baha. I have no grade but this and I do not possess anything for myself.
Although I am not worthy to place upon my head a hat like that majestic crown, yet such is my desire.
And after the Ascension, despite countless obstacles and problems, like the humblest of servants I arose to serve all, bore all minor and major hardships with perfect gratitude and contentment, felt indebted to all, and showed the utmost humility, meekness and submissiveness to all.
O thou who art enkindled with the fire of the love of God! The most resplendent and brilliant jewel in the glorious crown is none other than servitude at the Sacred Threshold and humility and submissiveness at the gate of divine Oneness.
It is my station and my mission that I should glory in the Supreme Concourse that I am the lowliest servant of the friends of the Abha Beauty, and in the Abha Kingdom I take pride that I am the humblest bondsman of the friends of the Most Great Name.
The interpretation of the dream is that the Cause of God will achieve the utmost exaltation in Iran, especially in Iraq in places connected to them. And seeing the prayer beads indicates that truly these prayer beads were from me. But the name "Asghar" (smaller) indicates that one must act with kindness and humility toward all people.
God addresses them thus only for a wisdom, that those possessed of understanding might humble themselves and submit, and abase themselves before the Mighty, the Bestower, and not become proud even if they ascend to the highest chambers, but rather awaken to how the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting addressed the Great Beloved, the Honored Light, the Guide of nations, and the Speaker of the Most Great Name with such decisive address and reproof.
Rather, one should say: "Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I am but one of Thy servants, and an atom in the realms of Thy creation. Had it not been for Thy inspiration of Thy praise, Thy support in Thy remembrance, Thy teaching me the interpretation of Thy verses, and Thy establishing me in Thy Cause, I would have been scattered dust, a vanishing shadow, and a mirage in the desert which the thirsty imagines to be water.
This servant's freedom lies in this bondage, and his sacred glory in servitude at the Sacred Threshold.
Therefore we must all arise with utmost strength to serve and show servitude to the Ancient Beauty (may my spirit be sacrificed for His loved ones), so that we may illumine the horizons with the lights of servitude and bestow life upon the world of existence through the spirit of poverty, evanescence, helplessness and supplication, and through the melody of the wondrous songs of servitude cause the foundations of the world to quake.
He has named himself Abdu'l-Baha and placed the crown of this servitude upon his head. This diadem from the brilliant jewels of the Great Treasure is what he has chosen to wear upon his head. … For the Holy Manifestations always arose to establish the exaltation of their own station, while this servant Baha's endeavor is toward effacement and establishing servitude and his own abasement.
Furthermore, 'Abdu'l-Baha with such humility, submissiveness, poverty and self-effacement teaches all and explicitly cries out "Become manifest to the claimants that 'Abbas was but a dog at Thy threshold." Despite this, is it permissible for any soul to entertain desires? We are all servants at that Threshold, lowly and watchful. If there is any glory it lies in effacement, nothingness and servitude at the Sacred Threshold - otherwise the sovereignty of both worlds is the greatest abasement.
In truth, if you wish to make 'Abdu'l-Baha's taste sweet and his spirit find eternal joy, compose a poem and create verses that from beginning to end express 'Abdu'l-Baha's servitude, self-effacement, humility, lowliness, nothingness, non-existence, submissiveness and utter effacement at the threshold of Baha.
Odes, praises and attributes befit the Sacred Threshold, and we are but servants and lowly attendants at that Blessed Court. Therefore, when we hear descriptions that reflect our true station, we become joyous and delighted.
For 'Abdu'l-Baha, the utmost praise is servitude and lowliness before the Sacred Threshold. This is my cup of joy, this is my birdsong, this is my lamp of light.
O composer of scattered pearls! The brilliant poem which, like radiant gems and gleaming pearls, was scattered from the shell of your inspired talent brought boundless joy and delight, for this verse expresses the religion, belief and intimate disposition of 'Abdu'l-Baha:
"You are the servant of the Greatest Name, I do not say you are God,
But show compassion to my helplessness and lowliness"
Well done!
All mentions regarding this servant are excessive and deficient save pure servitude and bondage to the Threshold and guardianship of the Court of the Lord.
From earliest childhood this palate has drunk pure milk from the breast of servitude, and been nurtured in the embrace of subjection, growing accustomed to servanthood rather than lordship, and finding joy in humility and lowliness rather than exaltation.
I swear by the face and hair of the Most Glorious Beloved that no blessing or praise makes me more delighted and happy than being 'Abdu'l-Baha.
How excellent are these words:
"How can I raise my head before the Friend in shame, When no worthy service from my hands there came?"...
Now it has become evident, for night and day I am consumed with this regret that no service was rendered by my hands and I was not successful in any act of obedience.
"How can I raise my head in shame before the Friend, when no worthy service was rendered by my hands?"
O stringer of scattered pearls! Your talent flows freely and your refreshing poetry is like pure sweet water - novel, eloquent and masterful. But alas! It does not accord with 'Abdu'l-Baha's taste. I sprinkle the dust of servitude upon my head, but the poets would like to place a crown of grandeur upon it. I taste the sweetness of the honey of servitude, while they pour the bitter drink of magnificence, majesty and loftiness into my mouth.
Whosoever is humble, he is the most noble and whosoever is dispossessed of passion and desire, he possesses everything. Therefore, walk ye in the footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Baha for he is in the utmost state of humility and submissiveness.
Apart from various affairs, meetings, occupations, and endless concerns, a journey was made to the Western world with a stay of several days. The intention was that despite utmost weakness, a mighty call might be raised, hoping for the aid and favor of the Blessed Beauty - otherwise what power has this feeble gnat, what strength and might has this atom of poverty and evanescence?
How can a subjugated ant engage in servitude to the All-Forgiving Lord? And how can a weak bird become a soaring eagle except through the confirmation of the Abha Kingdom and the assistance of the Concourse on High?
Now, with utmost humility and submissiveness in servitude and bondage to the servants of the threshold of the Abha Beauty, accompany and agree with 'Abdu'l-Baha. Be self-effacing before all and rid thyself of all existence before everyone.
We must not look to ourselves, for we are poor, abject, as nothing, and seeking refuge. Rather must we fix our gaze upon the benevolence and favors of the Incomparable Lord, which is an endless ocean and a luminous star in the heavens.
Don the garments of holiness and adorn thy head with the crown of humility and lowliness before the dominion of the Lord of Hosts.
I swear by the Ancient Beauty that if I had time and found opportunity, I would wish to serve and show humility and submissiveness before each one of the friends. But what can I do, as I have neither opportunity nor time nor strength nor power nor ability? Therefore I am ashamed and restless and weary of myself.
Become the lowliest servant to the servants of the Blessed Beauty, may my spirit be sacrificed for His servants, so that you may attain the glory of all kings and monarchs.
Then I submitted "Powerlessness and poverty." They said: "This is an acceptable gift, for it cannot be found at this Threshold."
The purpose is that any soul who is in the utmost poverty, powerlessness and weakness is acceptable.
The poet says:
"Being shamestruck with my incapacity, how can I raise my head before my Beloved!
Because I have been unable to render unto him one single unselfish service worthy of him!
There is no station more glorious than to be a servant of the friends of God. The servant of God's beloved ones is a servant of the Blessed Beauty. The slave of God's beloved ones is a slave of the Blessed Beauty.
But with complete sincerity of heart and perfect humility and submissiveness...
In any case, since you are aware of His station, rank, worth, grandeur and nobility, you should visit those holy sites with utmost humility and submissiveness, and ask God to let you inhale the perfumed breeze of that divine garden of holiness from those lands.
O thou Name! Beware lest this station make thee heedless of humility before God, the Almighty, the Powerful. Know thou that thy relationship to Us is as the relationship of all else - there is no difference between thee and what is beneath thee of all that hath been created between the heavens and the earth.
That he has acknowledged his shortcomings and sought forgiveness - blessed is he, and exalted is he who has been made to know humility and supplication in the days of his Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.
O daughter of the Kingdom!
Ye made mention of Jinab-i-Amin's journey on foot from the land of Rasht to the land of Qaf. O Samandar! We bear witness that he was mounted upon the finest steed in all the world and was seated in the most exalted carriage of all nations, for this walking on foot is a testament to humility, submissiveness, resignation, contentment and detachment. Thy Lord is verily the All-Knowing Expositor, the All-Wise Rememberer.
Repent and turn unto God, and grieve not those in whose hearts thou findest the sweet fragrance of My love. Rather, lower unto them the wing of humility, purely for My sake.
We have finished our work here. We have sown a seed. Many souls have been attracted and transformed. Every day we have seen gifts such as fruit, flowers, honey and sweets which have been placed here anonymously and without show. This is a proof of the sincerity of their hearts.
Blessed art thou, O Trustworthy One, for having adorned thy temple with the armor of humility and the robe of submissiveness, and thy head with the crown of detachment. If the loved ones attain to the sweetness of this station, they shall not remain deprived of the greatest bounty by the bounties of the world. Humility, submissiveness, and other praiseworthy attributes and goodly deeds are considered among the divine hosts under the Supreme Commander, and the Supreme Commander has been and ever shall be the fear of God."
This servant and your honor and all friends must pray that perchance doubts and vain imaginings may be truly lifted from among the people and that the friends of Truth may hold fast unto the cord of providence with perfect humility and submissiveness and pure servitude.
This evanescent servant requests that you convey expressions of his utter nothingness and evanescence to the Afnan who are present in that land, especially to those gentlemen who have returned from the Desired Land. … Without God's grace and His mercy and compassion, this servant has been and is as one non-existent, and has been and is as nothing.
O Kamal! The Self-Sufficient, the Most High, counseleth thee to render thy humility and reverence wholly unto God alone. This is a word wherewith We counseled thee in Baghdad - keep it before thine eyes as a command from Me, and I am the True Counselor.
Were there justice, we should, throughout our lives, be engaged in thanksgiving, be occupied in praise, and be characterized by humility. This is the truth of what was submitted.
What else can this evanescent one mention after the dawning of the lights of the Sun of divine favor? Who and what am I? I am lower than dust and more traceless than nothingness.
This evanescent servant perceiveth his own shortcoming to such degree that he is ashamed even to express his deficiency and counteth even this among the gravest of sins, for some time ago I was honored to receive Thy blessed handwriting, yet I was negligent in offering a response.
What can this evanescent servant say? In these days he is so occupied that not a moment's respite can be found. Outwardly, I have not seen and do not see this weak existence capable of performing this momentous task.
O My handmaiden! Lowliness is the cause of elevation and justice is the source of power. Consider the lowliness of dust - from it pure jewels appear, and from the earth the Manifestations of the names of the Lord of Lords become manifest and evident.
Therefore, regarding this servant and other friends who have drunk from the cup of Baha, if in the station of description you would mention them with these words that were stated, it has been and will be more beloved in the sight of God, for glory and grandeur and majesty and all names and their kingdom and all attributes and their dominion have circled and will circle round the Ancient Being, and none besides Him is worthy.
The abundancies of God are, to love each other, to speak the truth, to cut our hearts from the world, to be reverent, to be humble, to be hospitable.
… This is my first charge to you--to cut your hearts from the world; second, to love each other very much, to be servants to each other and to know that you are less than anyone else; third, if anyone does something you do not like, forgive him; you must always look at the good and not the bad.
The beloved ones must think ever less of themselves and more of others. They must never think of themselves as being superior. Consciously they must forget self and annihilate their ego in the sea of God's Mercy ....
I regret most exceedingly that up to this time I have been unable to render one worthy service to the Cause of God and the believers of the Merciful. I confess my own shortcomings; Although from a general standpoint no man can render adequate service at the Divine Threshold.
O my dear one! This day is the day of purification, the day of sanctification, the day of turning toward God, the day of severance from all else save God, the day of lowliness and humiliation, the day of serving the beloved ones of God, the day of becoming utterly destitute of and free from egotism and desire and the day of purity and sacrifice in the path of God.
Perfection is impossible without humility;
Humility unattainable without the love of God;
The love of man is essential to the love of God;
The love of God is inaccessible without the love of humanity;
The love of humanity is a glittering generality without social service;
Social service is a mere catch-word without sacrifice and severance.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
O My servants! Be as resigned and submissive as the earth, that from the soil of your being there may blossom the fragrant, the holy and multicolored hyacinths of My knowledge. Be ablaze as the fire, that ye may burn away the veils of heedlessness and set aglow, through the quickening energies of the love of God, the chilled and wayward heart. Be light and untrammeled as the breeze, that ye may obtain admittance into the precincts of My court, My inviolable Sanctuary.
He has commanded us not to be content with lowliness, humility and meekness, but rather to become manifestations of selflessness and utter nothingness.
...the believers must recognize the importance of intellectual honesty and humility. In past dispensations many errors arose because the believers in God's Revelation were over-anxious to encompass the Divine Message within the framework of their limited understanding, to define doctrines where definition was beyond their power, to explain mysteries which only the wisdom and experience of a later age would make comprehensible, to argue that something was true because it appeared desirable and necessary. Such compromises with essential truth, such intellectual pride, we must scrupulously avoid.
For when I first turned my mind to the Scriptures, I did not think what I am saying now; they seemed to me unworthy of comparison with the majesty of Ciceronian rhetoric. My pride shunned their modest style, and my eyes could not penetrate their inner secrets. It was the same Scripture which grows up with the little children; but I disdained to be a little child, and, swollen with my pride, fancied myself an adult.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
For thought and discussion