(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun-16, to Baha'is of Kirmanshah -- AB00104)
Light and darkness: seeing, receiving, and illuminating a life
light and darkness
Editorial introduction
Love is light wherever it dwells, and hatred is darkness wherever it nests: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá turns the oldest of images into a test that can be applied to any room, any friendship, any heart. From there the subject opens outward. Sunlight reveals the world yet cannot understand it; the light of the intellect sees and knows; the light of guidance is born of God Himself. The heart is a glass and the human reality a niche, so that receiving light and giving it become one movement, as the Qur’án’s parable of the lamp already suggests [1]. Darkness, in this teaching, is not a rival power but an absence, which is why prejudice, selfishness and oppression can be dispelled rather than fought on their own terms. The dark pupil gathers light, the beloved’s dark hair conceals radiance, and colour refuses to hold still as a symbol. To walk this way is to learn what it means to become a source of light for others, to ask what guidance really is, and to discover, in the question of whether evil exists at all, why the night must pass.
Selected passages
At night, when a lamp is brought into a room, all things at once become manifest, and such is the power of love.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to E.J. Rosenberg et al, spoken around Feb. 1901 -- ABU1391)
I liken you to the pupil of the eye. You are black and it is black, yet it becomes the focus of light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Louis Gregory, spoken on 1911-Apr-15 -- ABU3487)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-05 in Paris -- ABU0755)
He said:
"The light is of four kinds: first, the light of the sun. It reveals objects to our perception, but cannot itself realize them. Second, the light of the eye. It can realize objects, but cannot understand them. Third, the light of wisdom. This both realizes and understand objects. Fourth, the Light of Guidance. This is the Supreme Light, the conscious Reality which comprehends mysteries."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Louis Gregory, spoken on 1911-Apr-30 -- ABU3447)
O thou well-known and renowned Baha'i! That heart of crystal has, praise be to God, become a lamp of light. And since both knowledge and love have combined within it, light upon light has become manifest and apparent.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Muhammad Hasan Bulurfurush Ahdiyyih -- AB06669)
O thou true believer! The reality of man is a niche of light and a glass of revelation. When this reality gaineth freshness, beauty and purity; the effulgence of the lamp of divine guidance and the gracefulness and purity of the glass of capacity are interconnected and the truth of "Light upon Light" will be manifest and recognised.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11194)
I swear by the Ancient Beauty and the Most Great Name that if we move and behave according to the divine counsels and admonitions, and our deeds and words conform to the commands of the Chosen Beauty, this dark world will become a luminous realm and this abode of nothingness will become a radiant world of existence and a place where divine signs are made manifest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1894 ca. -- AB04249)
Thou must instruct the people of the world in the Love of God, that they may eradicate the foundation of warfare and strife, be attracted by the Glad-tidings of the Kingdom of Abha, lay the basis of love and amity, raise the melody of amity, and the oneness of the Kingdom of humanity; transmute tyranny and persecution into love and faithfulness, efface the traces of bloodshed and carnage; construct the edifice of reconciliation, dispel the darkness of estrangement, diffuse the light of unity; change the poison of animosity into the honey of sympathetic affection; destroy the religious, national and social prejudices from the individuals of humanity; live and act, with and toward each other as though they were from one race, one country, one religion, and one kind.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB09104)
The star of happiness is in every heart, but we have to disperse the clouds, so that it can shine radiantly.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jan-07 in Haifa -- ABU2691)
For example, light is created by God, but when you put away the light from a room, it becomes dark. Darkness is not created by God--the lack of light is called darkness. God has created guidance; misleading is lack of guidance. When you turn yourself from guidance you place yourself in misleading.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 ca. -- AB01454)
For example darkness is evil. It is the absence of light. Whenever there is no light there is darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a stranger, spoken on 1914-May-09 -- ABU2786)
Darkness is the absence of light, there could be no lower plane in that respect.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr and Mrs Hannen, spoken on 1909-Feb-23 -- ABU3064)
The non-existence of light is darkness. The lack of sight is blindness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Breakwell, Hopper, Brittingham, spoken around 1901-Sep-04 -- ABU2521)
When there is no light, there is darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. Jan. 1909 -- ABU2849)
Nonexistence is darkness, existence is light. Light comes and darkness goes, not that darkness becomes light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Dec-26 in London -- ABU2254)
For in all degrees of existence there are two aspects: one aspect is the court of divine bestowal and the other aspect is the court of the demons. Paradise and hell are visible in all stations. Whatever is of the attributes of the All-Merciful is paradise and gardens, and whatever results from deficiency is the reality of the fires.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Huviyyih -- AB05756)
O my sister, here we come up against the mystery of evil, the mystery of wickedness, which our limited understanding, our earth-bound senses, cannot solve in this earthly life. But if we gaze with burning eyes into the darkness of this abyss, it is given - at least to the sincere seeker after God - to receive an enlightening glimmer of understanding here and there in the darkness of evil.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken to Miss N. on 27 Jan 1910 -- ABU0069)
O ye who are near to the Court of Grandeur! It is morning and the Sovereign of the East has cast His rays upon plain and wilderness, making all things visible. Although it is a sign of the Sun of Truth, it has no knowledge of things, despite the fact that its lights make all things manifest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Nov-05, to Haydar Quli Khan et al -- AB04442)
In the books of Divine Philosophy, the term light is frequently mentioned. Some religious leaders still teach today that by light is meant the accidental phenomenal radiation from the sun which falling on physical bodies affects the optic nerves and results in sight: but this solar light is a phenomena which has no virtue of its own and is not so exceptional or remarkable as to claim superiority over other known phenomena of nature.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at House of the Master in Haifa, 1919-Aug-04 -- ABU0637)
O resplendent lamp! What light more luminous than that of the love of God? What ray more effulgent than that of the knowledge of God? The external light is created by waves in the ether It is an accident that emanates from light-giving bodies and it enables objects to become visible and apparent to the sight.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Aug-18, to Aqa Mirza Ataullah Tabib Sirajul-Hukama -- AB07435)
O luminous lamp! The greatest of lamps, the electric light, nevertheless illumines only a limited distance nearby for several hours and miles. But the celestial lamp shines like the brilliant morning light unto the horizons, its light spreading from the earthly kingdom to the heavenly kingdom, and its radiance extending from the Supreme Concourse to the human realm.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1899-Jun-29, to Dr Baiz -- AB09007)
O ignited candle! Shouldst thou kindle a mortal torch, its light would, of necessity, be transient and the circle of thy union lit by a dreary lamp, a spluttering taper. Such material illumination may last until the break of day but by the following dusk it will have been extinguished.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1895-Aug or <, to Mirza Muhammad Baqir Khan Shirazi -- AB07459)
Abdul Baha: There is no great hurry. We have lived here many years without electric lights, and a little while longer to wait will make no difference; what is important is the spiritual light. I hope that you will all attain to that. We can illumine this room with a simple lamp, but the spiritual electric light is very important.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mrs C., spoken on 1920-Oct-23 -- ABU1200)
No matter how small is a room and how simply it is furnished, yet when a candle is ignited therein we exclaim 'the room is lighted!' Therefore you must make an effort to enkindle the lamp of guidance in your hearts, otherwise a well furnished room without lamp, a heart without spirituality and a meeting without the power of the Love of God are anomalies.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jun-01 in Tiberias -- ABU2179)
A home without children is like a home without light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mrs Maxwell, spoken on 1912-Sep-06 -- ABU3563)
(Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Iqan (The Book of Certitude), 1278 ca. [1861-1862], to Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad, great uncle of the Bab (Khal-i-Akbar) -- BH00002)
The worth of day appears through night, and its station shines through darkness. The lamp of night speaks of and indicates its station, while day itself reveals and manifests the station of day. Yet night stands opposite to day, and day opposite to night - both are limited. We seek a day that has no night following it, one illumined by the light of the Beloved's face, not by the light of sun or moon.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1303-06-10 [1886-Mar-16], to Siyyid Yahya Unsi -- BH00864)
This earthly realm is sometimes dark and sometimes light, but praise be to God, the world of heart and soul is ever shining and bright through heavenly grace. Glory be to God! The earthly globe is always half light and half dark, but the pure heart and soul are ever luminous.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun ca., to Farani, Mir Muhammad Bayk et al -- AB11719)
Consider what a difference there is between that which shines in the night and this which is brilliant and radiant in the day!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Hurmuzdiyar Ibn Bahram -- AB08581)
O candle of the love of God! The luminous morn of guidance is rising and shining from the horizon of the Supreme Concourse. What is wonderful is that this bright morn causes the appearance of the lights of the luminous lamps, and from the spreading of the gleam of that dawn, the light of the candle becomes more manifest and evident.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1901 or < -- AB07468)
I have caused the living waters to issue from the Kawthar of My mouth, even as I have concealed the living sun behind My hair. In truth, within the darkness of My hair I have hidden the light of My beauty: though dark in its outer being, its inner being is light upon light, upon all light. Thus have the secrets been revealed by the Pen of the Unconstrained.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablet of the Hair 2, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH11210)
O Thou Who hast made the Point the ornament of Beauty on the Tablet of Manifestation, and suspended the threads of darkness upon the sphere of light, whereby Thou hast adorned the page of light with the darkness of night, and made the fountain of sweet water to flow in the abode of fire, and ordained the spring of life to be in the treasury of flames, and joined them together in such wise that they shall never be separated throughout all ages!
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablet of the Hair 6, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH08601)
By the life of that Light in the Furqan and that Light in the Bayan, there is no light before God more near in the Book, yet people do not know. Soon thou shalt behold the angels of Paradise and of the All-Highest descending there, and they shall be empowered by God's light. And verily, God hath specially chosen from all names the name of Light, since no veil remaineth therein that would prevent it from the affirmation of affirmations.
(The Báb, Panj Sha'n (Book of the Five Modes), 1266-04 ca. [1850-Feb] -- BB00005)
Blessed be He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of the beauty of the heavens and of the earth and of whatsoever lieth between them, and He is the Creator, the All-Beautiful. Blessed be He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of the majesty of the heavens and of the earth and of whatsoever lieth between them, and He is the Creator, the All-Glorious. Glorified be He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of the light of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them, and verily He is the Manifest Creator!
(The Báb, Kitab-i-Jaza' (Book of the Reckoning), 1264-05-05 ca. (Chihriq) [1848-Apr-9], to Mulla Husayn, Quddus, 'Abdu'l-Vahhab, Aba 'Ali, Hasan, 'Azim, Yahya and others -- BB00004)
He createth whatsoever He willeth by His command. He is indeed the Powerful, the Mighty, the Sovereign. Say: Verily God causeth the causes to flow without a cause and createth them anew even as He created them the first time. All are subservient unto Him, all worship Him. Say: Verily everything within its bounds is a cause for the creation of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever lieth between them, but ye do not perceive. Were it not for the ink whose splendor...[nothing would exist. How then do ye acquire what is ordained in the heavens and earth and whatsoever lieth between them?
(The Báb, Kitab-i-Asma' (Book of Names), 1264 (late) or early 1265 [1848-1849] -- BB00003)
O thou who art attracted to the glorious Beauty of the Lord of Grandeur!
The Light of Truth shineth radiantly in the lamp of Divine Unity and in the niche of Oneness. Its world illuminating rays have been diffused even as the light of the morn to all directions. "God is the light of the heavens and of the earth."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or < -- AB08039)
At this time when the effulgence of that Self-Subsisting Sun [Baha'u'llah] hath from the unseen aspect of existence cast its rays across the earth and heaven and irradiated the farthest horizons with its dawning lights of primal unity, such souls as have sought shelter beneath His all embracing Word should themselves become as resplendent stars. They should become scintillating suns that all the lamps of existence may be illumined through these rays that emanate from the divine light "Its similitude is that of a niche in which there is a lamp [footnote: Qur'anic verse of light]
The radiance streaming forth from this point of dawn is like a lamp in this material world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Siyyid Muhammad brother of Siyyid Buzurg -- AB06300)
O what glad tidings for those souls who in this luminous century of the Most Great Name and Merciful age of the Blessed Beauty have become, like pure niches and luminous crystal, light upon light through the confirmations of the Lord of the dawning, from the lamp of morn.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911-Apr ca., to Shirazi, Husayn Ali (Bandar Abbas) et al -- AB03818)
O thou who art illumined by the light of divine guidance!
When the candle of guidance is kindled within the glass of the heart, it dispels the darkness of error that stems from worldly limitations.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Muhammad Mihdi son of Mulla Abutalib -- AB05296)
Thou hast lit the lamp of guidance in the glass of thy heart and witnessed the light of grace from the dawning-place of the All-Merciful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Tuba daughter of Fatimih -- AB07488)
From the Dawning-Place of Lights, such brilliant rays struck the window of your heart that the darkness of error was eclipsed and the great light of guidance became manifest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or < -- AB07552)
Light the lamp of recognition in the glass of heart and soul, and raise high the banner of the Covenant.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB06656)
But when light is poured upon this phase, and if this phase of the soul is capable of receiving it, then "truth hath come and falsehood vanisheth, for falsehood is of short duration" -otherwise, darkness will surround it from all directions and it will be deprived of association with the Supreme Concourse and will remain in the lowest depths.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 or < -- AB00620)
That divine trust is a brilliant light, while these natural emanations are the darkness of the furnace. … That flame is the radiance of supreme guidance, which brings forth into the realm of visibility whatever lies latent within man as a divine trust, enabling it to overcome the darkness of the natural world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Dec-18, to Muntazimul-Hukama -- AB04068)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Chapter 31, Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, 1904 ca. -- AB01521)
Be ye ashamed before God and war not against His Self, deny not His power, dispute not His verses, and take not your idle fancies as objects of worship besides Him. Among these are those who love not the Day because their souls have grown accustomed to the Night, and when the Day appeareth it obliterateth its traces and radiance until no vestige thereof remaineth visible.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Suriy-i-Zuhur nazzala li-'Abdu'r-Rahim, to Abdur-Rahim -- BH00569)
How many a darkness hath been illumined by the splendors of the Countenance, and how many a light hath been veiled through following its desires!
(Bahá’u’lláh, ca. 1289-1290? -- BH07832)
I wish for them this illumination. I desire for them this luminosity; so that they may rejoice the hearts and spiritualize the souls - but alas! How often they let the cloud of self and ego becloud the horizon and thus prevent the stars of their divine verities from shinning!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on board the SS Celtic at sea, 1912-Dec-10 -- ABU2407)
The slumber of idle fancies hath prevented the world from beholding the lights of truth and perceiving the effulgences of the Day-Star of divine favor.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305-09-24 [1888-Jun-4], to Siyyid Aqa Afnan et al -- BH00673)
The gate of heaven hath been opened, and the ocean of meeting hath surged, yet most of the people of creation perceive it not.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298-06-03 [1881-May-3], to Mirza Fathullah -- BH07059)
"The blind eye finds naught from the shining sun's rays save heat." They have eyes but do not see with them, and ears but do not hear with them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Baha'is of the world -- AB01940)
The rays of divine manifestation have spread like the gleaming dawn and its effulgence has struck both sight and insight. Every eye and insight that possessed the power of vision was illumined, while those weak of sight and limited in insight, lacking the power of vision, shut their eyes and, like bats, crept into the cave of darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Khajih Rabi et al -- AB05301)
The seeing ones had their eyes brightened while the bats found their abode and dwelling in the cave of darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Abdu'l-Husayn Muharrir Ra'fat (Isfahan) -- AB05822)
O thou bird of knowledge, lift up voice and chant thy melodies in the garden of the divine Covenant and O thou phoenix of certitude, illumine thou thy eyes with rays from the luminary of divine bounties. They who follow their selfish desires are like bats which cover their faces and hide themselves from the light when it shine upon them. The fire of the love of God will melt away all coldness and frigidity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897-Feb-07, to Yusif Vujdani -- AB03438)
Every bat will flee from the life-bestowing sun and every dung beetle will shun the holy fragrances. The noble worm hath a mighty adversary in the manifest light, and the glowing flame is a great calamity for the thief of the dark night.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Jinab Nun Za -- AB03106)
Shame upon them and away with them, for they have closed their eyes to the lights and walked in the darkness of a pitch-black night in this age of illumination.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Ghulam-Husayn Tahhan -- AB06646)
By thy life! The Sun of Reality, from the Kingdom of its invisibility, bestoweth its lights and rays upon all horizons. Yet those who are veiled remain behind a dark, gloomy, and pitch-black veil - darkness upon darkness upon darkness - and they find no guidance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897-Nov-23, to Haji Iman Zanjani et al -- AB09017)
The dream you saw is a remedy for every ailing sufferer, but a thousand proofs cannot overcome the vain imaginings of any Covenant-breaker, for to those of bat-like nature, the brilliant rays of the Sun of Truth cause blindness of sight and provoke anger.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911-Aug-06, to Ustad Ali Akbar -- AB03685)
The light of truth hath radiated from the Sun of Divinity to the horizons in such a manner that the East and the West are illumined. But, alas! the blind do not see and the deaf do not hear the divine proclamation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904 ca., to May Simpkins -- AB04791)
Praise be to God that the hidden outpourings have encompassed the realm of existence from all directions, and the effulgent lights from the Abha Kingdom have illumined the sanctified spiritual realities. Strange it is that the veiled ones are overcome by the darkness of blindness, and the concealed ones are hidden behind the veils of concealment.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1894 ca., to Siyyid Murtida -- AB08749)
O thou who art attracted by the fragrances of God! The morn of the bounties of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, hath dawned, risen, shone forth and become manifest from the horizons of creation, and the daybreak hath smiled with the lights of certitude, while the people remain in layers of darkness one above another, their eyes blind and their ears deaf.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1892-Aug-11, to Haji Muhammad Karim -- AB09078)
The sun hath risen from the dawning-place of hopes and the dayspring of prosperity, and its rays have enveloped the world. Those possessed of sight beheld those lights and received their portion from the mysteries of truth, while the blind were deprived, fell into despair, and were rejected and cast out.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB10866)
The Sun of Reality is in the height of its power and majesty but they prefer dark rooms and the light of the candles.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the Master's entourage, spoken at Baltimore Hotel on 1913-May-09 -- ABU2891)
The gardener has enkindled many shining lights. All of a sudden he observes these people are trying to extinguish these lights one by one. He demands of them: 'Why are you doing this?' They say: 'We love darkness. We want to steal and rob men.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1914-Jul-20 -- ABU0286)
And whenever I seek to illuminate them with the lights of Thy countenance to deliver them from the darkness of their own selves, they flee and conspire to slay me.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH09563)
O friend! In these days when the bird of knowledge is caught in the talons of the ignorant, and the lights of the sun of fairness are hidden behind the veil of tyranny, where is there opportunity for speech or station for expression? Today concealment is necessary, for the birds of night are beyond counting and all seek darkness. In such case there is no station or rank for light.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298 ? [1880-1881] -- BH01934)
O Hasan! The Light is imprisoned in darkness, and the Speaker of the Mount is forbidden to speak, for the ears of the world are occupied with listening to unworthy tales, while the Tongue of Truth uttereth Its own praise and pondereth upon Its manifestation and mysteries and signs.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305 ? [1887-1888], to Hasan -- BH10923)
The darkness of oppression hath encompassed the world. God willing, ye shall not in this darkness be deprived of the lights of the divine Day.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299 ? [1881-1882], to Husayn -- BH10001)
The world is illumined by the light of knowledge, yet darkened by the dust of the hearts of the transgressors. … With this great tribulation and mighty darkness that hath encompassed the world, how can the peoples be worthy of the effulgent dawnings of the Sun of divine favor?
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305-07-01 [1888-Mar-14], to Siyyid Ali Yazdi Husband of Hubbiyyih -- BH01003)
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier, to Aqa Shaykh Sadiq -- BH03389)
Consider how the darkness of error has environed all the regions and how the world of morality is full of gloom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul-20, to David S M Unger -- AB04351)
The darkness of the world of nature has encompassed the kingdom of creation. In these tenebrous darknesses tremendous calamities are hidden for mankind, except those souls who have drawn light from the Sun of Reality.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916-Dec-25, to Juanita Storch -- AB01098)
For the darkness of the world of nature is intense; until the light of the Most Glorious Kingdom encompasses all, the bright morn of reality will not shine forth from the darkness of the natural world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-May-31, to Curnuck, Florence S et al -- AB04504)
O respected friend, you observe how darkness has encompassed everything, therefore a great illumination must appear to dispel this intense darkness. Thus, hope lies in the lights of the dawn of guidance which will again rise from the East and spread across the horizons.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Feb-03, to Weardale -- AB05931)
For this pitch darkness a dispeller is needed, and for these devastating trials a remover is required. For darkness there can be no dispeller save light, and for the sorrowful darkness of night there can be no remover save the luminous lamp.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or < -- AB08850)
The ordeals of this mortal world are like unto a dark night and the Glad-tidings like the brilliant lamps. If mankind live in this darkness without the light of these lamps, unquestionably they will perish through the intensity of grief and affliction.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Mar-14 ca., to Madame Hysands Moro -- AB04216)
Spiritual happiness is light, while sorrow is darkness.
This happiness is glad-tidings, while sorrow is disappointment.
This happiness is the Kingdom while sorrow is the earthly world.
This happiness is life, while sorrow is non-existence.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 ca. -- AB03576)
Man, in the darkness of error, finds naught but grief and gloom. He is ever despairing, sorrowful and heavy-hearted. But when the light of faith shines forth in the realm of the heart, eternal joy appears and the darkness of sorrow and gloom vanishes away.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul ca., to Doring, Mr et al -- AB08717)
"How should we gain eternal happiness?"
Answer:- You must enter in the Kingdom of Abha. In the Kingdom of Abha, there is light upon light. The darkness of sorrow and pain is banished forever from that region.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a woman questioner, spoken at Grand Hotel on 1913-Apr-22 -- ABU2621)
When thou findest the way to the Kingdom, the earthly world shall be of no account; and when thou art illumined the darkness will not affect thee—nay, rather the four corners of the earth will then be radiant and every thorn will become a rose and a rose-garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904-Oct-18, to Roy C Wilhelm -- AB05095)
O God! O Thou Who quickenest the souls with the pervasive spirit of forgiveness after they have died in a state of sin and transgression, Who illuminest the darkness of error with the radiance shining from the kingdom of clemency, Who transmutest our shortcomings into merits!
The power of Thy forgiveness transmuteth the pitch darkness of transgression into the shining light of the Luminary of bounty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Naddaf, Muhammad Rida et al -- AB05496)
Grant peace to Isfandiyar-i-Bahram, make him of good name, bestow heavenly messages upon him, make him joyous, deliver him from the darkness of gloom, and make him like the bright morning light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Feb-25, to Khusraw, Bahram et al -- AB06470)
O basil of the rose garden of faith in the Beauty of the All-Merciful! It is night and darkness has encompassed the horizons in all six directions, and this divine bird has illumined and brightened its nest and dwelling place of the heart with the lights of remembrance and thoughts of the All-Merciful's loved ones.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1892-Sep-15, to Jamalud-Din son of Mirza Yusuf Naqqash Nayrizi -- AB07429)
Thanks be to God! that in that city which is often dark because of cloud, mist and smoke, such bright candles (as you) are glowing, whose emanating light is God's guidance, and whose influencing warmth is as the burning Fire of the Love of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914, to Baha'is of London -- AB03648)
He is the Light of the World!
… We remember all the Persian brothers who are intoxicated with the sweet wine and are radiant and bright from the light of God's sun, and we greatly long to see their blessed faces.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893 ca., to Nush (Bombay) et al -- AB03210)
The escort of divine providence has arrived and the light of hidden favors has shone forth, and the heart and mind of your honor and the respected wife and honored sister, the revered ladies, have become illumined.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Henry Moses -- AB06237)
Now the intent is that you should become like two celestial figures, bright and luminous, and shine forth in the zenith of the All-Merciful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Yahya Khan et al -- AB06180)
Those two figures are mere imagination, but you two figures shall, God willing, be two real figures in the heaven of steadfastness to the Covenant, so that from the brilliance of your stellar light the circle of the equator, nay rather the temperate zone, may be illumined.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Samandari, Tarazullah et al -- AB07395)
And unto my Turkish friends bear this Turkish message of mine: O my dear friends and my honored helpers!
The Abha Beauty, the Beloved of the worlds, hath lifted the veils in this world and manifested Himself like unto the sun. His beauty shineth radiantly. The sagacious and intelligent Turks with discerning hearts are delighted, their eyes are bright and they are bewildered. Well done! A thousand times well done! For those Turks are wise and discerning.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911-Jul-30, to Usku'i, Haydar Ali (Son of Karbala'i Hasan of Matanih) et al -- AB01605)
The divine Bahram bestowed truth and tranquility upon existence and shone forth from the East of the universe with heavenly radiance, transforming the darkness of demons into celestial light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1895-Aug or <, to Manuchir (Shiraz) -- AB07578)
Every people awaits the dawning of the Sun of Truth from the horizon of hope, every sect watches for the appearance of brilliant lights from a most luminous dayspring, and every people is promised the manifestation of the Lord of existence - the One promised to the Jews, the One awaited by the people of the Gospel through the grace of the Loving Lord, the One whose appearance in the visible realm was foretold in the tongue of the Praised One Muhammad - so that by His dawning from the horizon of the world, the intense darkness may be dispelled and the dense clouds over the horizons of the nations may be removed, and the forces of ignorance may be scattered while the angel of knowledge and virtue prevails, and those possessed of true understanding may be empowered while the helpers of failure are dispersed, and the morn of guidance may appear and the lamp of wisdom may shine forth, and every crookedness may be straightened and every deviation set right, and all doubts may vanish and the veils may be lifted from the face of reality.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893 ca. -- AB03561)
The light of divine unity hath shone forth when darkness had encompassed all creatures - this is a bounty whose mention all pens are powerless to make. The limbs of darkness have trembled at this light shining from the horizon of this station.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1292-10-02 [1875-Nov-1], to Mirza Ali Akbar -- BH03173)
Verily He is the Glory of God unto all who are in the kingdom of command and creation, and the Lamp of Guidance unto all who are in the heavens and on earth.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Seal of Baha'u'llah 06 -- BH11475)
This is a Book which guideth all the worlds and from which light shineth forth, visible to those possessed of keen insight, lest anyone go astray after the Light hath shone forth from its Niche with wondrous radiance, illuminating all regions - if ye be aware of this.
(Bahá’u’lláh, to Aqa Muhammad Rida Nahhas -- BH06319)
Thus have We illumined the heaven of utterance with the Sun of knowledge.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298-07-14 [1881-Jun-12], to Aqa Siyyid Abdul-Hadi -- BH06238)
Through one blessed word that shone forth from the Dayspring of the mouth of the All-Merciful, the measure of all people's deeds became clear and evident, and through that same word a distinction was drawn between the righteous and the wicked, and between the people of Paradise and of the Fire.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1293? [1875-1876] -- BH01735)
The peoples shall differ regarding this Ancient Light, and hatred shall appear among them concerning this Mighty Pillar, that the good may be distinguished from the evil, and light from darkness.
(Bahá’u’lláh -- BH07222)
When darkness had encompassed all created things, We manifested Our Self, the Truth, as a token of grace from the Mighty, the All-Wise. Among the people are those who cling to darkness, and among them are those who have set their faces toward the Ultimate Goal and have attained the lights of their Lord's countenance, the All-Informed.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296 ? [1878-1879], to Muhammad qabl Rida -- BH08330)
In the days of Revelation, the people of light and of fire are both present. The people of light are known - "Thou shalt know them by their marks, the radiance of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." And the people of fire are those who rejected God's counsel and manifested rebellion and wickedness, who exchanged trustworthiness for treachery and justice for tyranny.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1307 ? [1889-1890], to Siyyid Ali Yazdi Husband of Hubbiyyih -- BH11717)
Today the whispers of Satan are evident and the breezes of the All-Merciful are wafting. Cast off the former and take hold of the latter.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299 ? [1881-1882], to Isma'il -- BH01535)
From the ruined, transient, limited houses, seek refuge in the mighty pillar of unity, and shunning darknesses above darknesses, hold fast and cling to manifestation above manifestation, radiance above radiance, and light above light.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH01905)
All praise be to God Who hath manifested the Most Great Luminary from the horizon of the world. And He hath arisen and sparked and shed its radiance and been unfolded upon the horizon of nations. And He hath illuminated the thick darkness and rent asunder the enshrouding veil of the most gloomy night with effulgent rays and shining Glory that is being diffused in the dawning places of God's decree.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897 or < -- AB02853)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Jun-17, to Words spoken into a phonograph -- AB03597)
O luminous friends of Abdul-Baha! When the Sun of Truth shone forth from the horizon of oneness with an unprecedented luminosity, it illumined all regions. East and West became bright and radiant, and North and South were lit with a brilliant dawn. No darkness remained and no error truly persisted.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904 ca., to Baha'is of Bombay -- AB01021)
The Sun of Truth with one ray rent asunder and destroyed all those veils and shrouds, and shone so brilliantly at the meridian of the heavens that the contingent world became illumined with the lights of the realm of the unconstrained, and the dark dwelling of the horizons became resplendent with the effulgence of the Supreme Horizon.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB02007)
O servant of God! The infinite bounty has manifested with such radiance that it has illumined East and West with the light of reality. One effulgence from the Kingdom of the Luminary of the horizons makes the world bright and radiant, and one breath from the Abha Paradise makes East and West an eternal rose garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun-07, to Mirza Ali-Muhammad -- AB06063)
The effulgences of the Sun of Reality have illumined both East and West.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Oct-31, to Agnes B Alexander -- AB06177)
And the Holy Temple of the Most Glorious Beauty has been established upon the throne of grandeur and power, and the lights have shone forth from the Kingdom of the Unseen, and the rays of that effulgence have encompassed all regions.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1898-Feb-17, to Aqa Husayn Hakim -- AB11054)
The Sun of Reality has shone forth, the gates of the Kingdom have opened, divine bestowals have become manifest, heavenly outpourings have encompassed all.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-May-09 in Paris -- ABU1925)
O servant of God! It is morning, and the horizons of contingent being are illumined by the rays of the Eastern Sun, and the dawning-places of heart and soul are radiant and effulgent with the beams of the Sun of Truth.
As the Primal Dawn, the manifest Light hath so brilliantly shone forth from the zenith of the most exalted Heaven that the darkness of the night of idle fancies is wholly dispelled and brought to naught.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Siyyid Muhammad Husayn -- AB07959)
O manifestation of guidance! When the light of truth shone forth from the Pole of the world and raised its banner in the Orient of Oneness, those with sight were stirred to excitement and cried out "O glad tidings! … Motion and movement appeared in the world of creation and the darkness of ignorance was transformed by the light of knowledge.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Hidayat Khan servant of Masud -- AB06319)
Thus existence was illumined by the brilliant light, and tongues were moved by the manifest Command, and souls were brightened by the shining star, and hearts were watered by this flowing spring.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-May-16, to Khadijih Zanjani -- AB11914)
I offer thanks to God for in that village the light of truth shone forth and the sun of guidance arose.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Jan-07, to Baha'is of Rusht (Tabriz) -- AB11983)
Is it not suffused with lights? The Candle of the world is bestowing Light upon all Assemblages. Is it not luminous? The True Orb is slowly rising from the Dawning-place of the Most High. Is it not glorious?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB03580)
The sun of the divine sphere has shone forth from the east of love and kindness, casting its light in utmost brilliance upon all the world. The seeing ones became joyful while the blind began to wail and lament.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893 ca., to Zoroastrian Baha'is -- AB03649)
And among them were those who rejoiced, whose scales were heavy, whose commerce prospered, who were given their book in their right hand, whose faces were illumined, whose mouths smiled, whose hearts soared with joy at meeting their Lord and with longing to behold the beauty of their Creator, who enjoyed the blessings and drank from the spring of life, and whose eyes were brightened by beholding the manifest light shining from the dawn of certitude.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or < -- AB04926)
The light has blazed forth, the darkness of night has been dispelled, the cup whose mixture is camphor has circulated, the signs of the Day of Resurrection have appeared, the wings of eagles have spread, the gates of joy have opened, and those who are firm are eternally abiding in what their souls desire, giving thanks to their Lord for what He has given them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897-Jun-06, to Siyyid Husayn Afnan -- AB04927)
That dust and darkness has vanished, and the favors of the Lord are complete.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-Apr-28, to Jinab Bahram et al -- AB05663)
You were unaware of the Kingdom of Heaven and became aware. You were deprived of the breaths of the Holy Spirit and received an abundant share. You hastened from the world of darkness to the world of light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-May-26, to Hans Ritter Von Liemert -- AB04829)
O thou who art guided by the Light of Guidance!
The material world is gloomy. Praise be to God! thou hast been led to the illumined realm. Darkness hath environed all the inhabitants of the globe, but thou hast found guidance. The souls are dead; thou hast been quickened through the Spirit of Truth. The eyes are blind; thine eyes became bright by beholding the lights.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Miss M Beeler -- AB06918)
This thy servant hath abandoned superstitions, emerged from darkness and hath entered into Thy Light which hath shone forth to the world!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 ca., to Mr Brown -- AB06008)
Verily, thou shouldst be rejoiced with this Light, which is shining to the Easts of the earth and the Wests thereof, and be illumined thereby, so that thou becomest saved with thy whole being from the gloomy darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1915 or <, to Anna M M Fultz -- AB07715)
O thou who hast heard the Call and hast responded, "Here am I, O my Lord, the Most Glorious!" If thou wouldst direct thy gaze to the most exalted horizon, thou wouldst witness the lights of the Kingdom of Abha that have illumined the horizons of creation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Abu'l-Qasim Khan -- AB07806)
Hasten to the light shining in the glass of ascension!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1898-Jan-27, to Mirza Ali Asghar nephew of Mirza Muhammad Rida Khan -- AB04580)
And thou shalt see beneath the shade of the Tree that which shall dispel the darkness of obscurity with brilliant rays and a lamp that was luminous with the light of acceptance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897-May-22, to Jinab Nun Za -- AB05424)
O manifestation of the greatest guidance! If you were to open a hundred thousand tongues in thanksgiving to God that the dawn of guidance has broken, the light of truth has shone forth, and soul and heart have attained their utmost desire, you would still fall short in offering thanks and find no recourse except to express helplessness and supplication.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-Mar-07, to Shafi Khan -- AB04838)
And thou, give thanks to thy Lord with utmost joy for having lit brilliant lamps in the darkness of night and quickened those souls through the breaths of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1896 ca., to Ibrahim Effendi Khayrullah -- AB06509)
The light of divine favor is shining and will shine from century to century.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU1015)
Soon shalt thou witness its effects from all directions. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.
… Neither the clouds nor the veils of those who have disbelieved in the Day of Judgment can prevent it.
(Bahá’u’lláh, ca. 1289-1290?, to Aqa Siyyid Jafar Afnan son of Khal-i-Asghar -- BH07088)
O thou who art guided by the Supreme Guidance!
The Sun of Truth hath not shone forth from the Horizon of Oneness with such radiance that Its rays could be concealed by the veils of the people of contingent being.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Badi -- AB06352)
The Ancient Power will assuredly prevail over newly-arising might, and the effulgence of light will prove fatal to the thick darkness of night and dispel it.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Asadullah Shirazi -- AB10569)
What can earthly power do against celestial might? And what can contingent darkness accomplish against divine light?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904-Sep or < -- AB05730)
Can darkness ever obliterate the light or is it not light that overcomes the darkness? What vain imaginings are these! What foolish thoughts of ignorant minds!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Muhammad Ali -- AB09470)
But observe how the power of divine revelation has always overcome delusions and the lights of inspiration have dispelled darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1901 ca., to Mashadi Iskandar, Amir Arsalan et al -- AB04264)
My purpose is this: The power of spirituality emanating from the Most Great Name [Baha'u'llah] may my life be a sacrifice to His loved ones will so affect the world that all the contrary powers of darkness will be obliterated in the dusk of nothingness. This is naught but the light-giving truth. Other than this is manifest error.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 ca. -- AB01961)
Darkness cannot face the light, and Satan the loser cannot resist the brilliant meteor, and the filthy dung beetle cannot prevent the sweet fragrance of the Most Glorious Paradise.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Muhammad Baqir Khan Shirazi -- AB01782)
O ye loved ones of God! When the Star of the Covenant and the radiant Morn shone forth from the Covenant of the worlds(?), the eyes of the lovers were illumined, their hearts gladdened and their breasts, even as the wilderness of Sinai, have found delight through the effulgent glory.
… And when yet others began uttering idle words such as, "The darkness prevaileth over the light," the Morn of Truth hath been shedding its radiance in the plenitude of its resplendency.
… The sorry birds of darkness have become the bondslaves of ignominy and torment!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Baha'is of Antep -- AB12086)
The ranks of darkness, like armies of bats, are being routed and scattered by the assault of the forces of light, and the clouds and mists of veils are dissipating and vanishing from the brilliant rays.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 or <, to Karbala'i Qasim Badkubihi -- AB11884)
Glad tidings follow one upon another from the Abha Kingdom, and a mighty host like a devastating flood surges forth from the Supreme Concourse, engaging fiercely in battle with the forces of darkness, plunging into the depths of struggle and combat.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Muhammad Hasan Adib -- AB11879)
Then, they entered the field of contention and strife of which they attacked the people of darkness and the army of error with brilliant radiance as they rent asunder the troops and crushed thousands of them, hence, the entire place hath become illuminated, the face of the heaven hath shone brightly, the lights glittered and the darkness hath unveiled by the fire of the blessed Tree in the Paradise of thy Glorious Lord.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Baha'is of the United States -- AB01032)
"The Bahai Grand Army consists of the invisible angels of the Supreme Concourse. Our swords are the Words of Light. Our armament is the armament of heaven. We are fighting against the forces of darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Apr. 1913 in Stuttgart -- ABU1806)
We are fighting against the forces of darkness.
… Your war confers life, the other war brings death. Your war is the cause of the illumination of humankind, their war is the means of the darkness of the hearts. Your war is victory upon victory, their war is defeat upon defeat. Your war is the source of construction, their war is the origin of destruction.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a group of friends, spoken at Hotel Marquardt on 1913-Apr-26 -- ABU1388)
However, martyrdom is to give up one's life once and race to the highest heaven, but it is even more pleasant on this plane to sacrifice a hundred thousand lives at every moment with utmost joy and delight, to arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of Oneness, to charge into the field of valor and guidance, to scatter the forces of error and darkness through the lights of the Dawning-Place of Oneness, to break apart the ranks of the army of heedlessness, to arrange the spiritual battle lines, to organize the army of inner meanings, to raise high the banner of knowledge, to launch a mighty attack upon the forces of ignorance and unawareness, and then, having returned victorious from this struggle, to set out for the feast of the Abha Kingdom, advancing with drums and retinue and parasol and standard, hastening to the Abha Kingdom with perfect gladness and bounties, with drums and verses of triumph and victory and banners of ascendancy and conquest - this is more pleasant and more attractive.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB03192)
O distinguished and eminent scholar, verily the Greatest Name and the Most Ancient Light has cast unto you the keys to the gates of the hearts of the world and the keys to unlock the hearts of all peoples, so that you might commence with divine victories and commentaries upon the texts of consciousness, and expand your breast with the light of knowledge, and illuminate your heart with the lamp of arts, and brighten your face with the radiance of the All-Merciful, and cause you to speak with the essence of utterance and the reality of exposition, and scatter from your mouth luminous and unique gems and brilliant pearls of praise, and cause to flow from the spring of your nature the pure water of Paradise, and cause to gush forth from the wellsprings of your being the fountains of wisdom and the heavenly stream, so that in this time you might stride forth in the arena and loose the reins and raise the spears and scatter the forces of darkness and disperse the gathering of the base, and charge through the ranks and attack the thousands, and light the lamp of guidance in the niche of that furthest shore and raise the banner of success in those regions, until you are supported by the hosts of the Most Glorious Kingdom and aided by the angels of the Supreme Concourse.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Mulla Abdu'llah Fadil Zarqani (Rafi) -- AB03023)
We must strive with our lives so that these mighty forces are spent on the general happiness and comfort of the human world and become the cause of life rather than destroying the foundation of humanity - that they bestow love upon hearts rather than creating hatred and enmity because of vain imaginings.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913 ca., to Dunlop, Chair of Int'l Theosophical Summer School -- AB01146)
See what has happened to this world. There is tumult and darkness upon darkness. Perhaps you may be the cause that through you it will be illumined. It is a world of carnage, a world of bloodshed, rancour and hatred. God willing, you may convert this world into the world of the Kingdom, that it may become a divine world, that these gloomy clouds may pass away and the Sun of Truth shine with divine splendour This is real service and anything besides that is all imagination, mirage, waves of the ocean, storms, and eventually it is lost.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Latimer, Esslemont, Randall et al, spoken on 1919-Nov-27 -- ABU0720)
The East is the dawning-place of lights and the place where divine revelation descends. The Sun of Truth has ever risen from the eastern horizon and illumined the world.
Therefore we hope that once again the reality of the teachings of the sacred religions, which is one teaching, will again illumine the horizons and the oneness of the human world will be proclaimed, and these dark clouds of war and conflict and imitative prejudices will be dispersed, and the light of truth will illumine both East and West.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-Jul-18, to Exarch John Haddad -- AB06803)
Today all the inhabitants of the world are submerged in the darkness of dogmas and religions, sectarian, racial and political prejudices; peradventure, God willing thou mayst become a brilliant star and cause the disappearance of these darknesses from those parts;- so that the light of Divine Love may illumine those regions and the Flag of the Oneness of the world of humanity be upraised.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Feb-10, to Rev. C.J. Street -- AB04604)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-May-22, to Baha'is of Chicago, IL -- AB00388)
Convey the Most Glorious and Wondrous Greetings to each of the friends and say: Praise be to God, the dark clouds of oppression have dispersed. It is hoped that the lights of justice and fairness will shine forth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1918-Oct-16, to Muhammad Taqi Isfahani -- AB03390)
Make them successful in servitude to Thee and make them manifestations of Thine divine inspirations. Cast a ray from the lights of Thy oneness and transform the darkness of estrangement into the light of unity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Friends at funeral of Aqa Mirza Ali Muhammad Khayyat et al -- AB00894)
Among the handmaidens, shine forth like a candle, turn thine eyes away from the world and all within it, and burn like aloe and ambergris in the fire of the love of the Beauty of Baha, until the darkness of night becomes day and "We have made the sign of the night to pass away and We have made the sign of the day manifest" becomes evident.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1896-Aug-16, to Zahra Khanum (Thamarih) -- AB03983)
O thou who art enkindled with the fire of the love of God! At this time when stillness and lifelessness have seized the pillars of existence of the people of the world, come thou and kindle a fire of love in the heart of contingent being, and set ablaze the soul of the world, that perchance in this ephemeral dust-heap the spiritual traces of the Eternal Beauty may become manifest and visible, and the divine illumination may dispel the pitch-black darkness of the horizons through the beauty of the Beloved of the horizons, and the morn of oneness may dawn and shine forth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Jan-24, to Mirza Isma'il brother of Mirza Ibrahim Khan -- AB03765)
Lethargy and coldness have encompassed the world - set aflame the heart of the world! Darkness and heedlessness have surrounded creation - spread rays and lights upon the horizons! This flame is the mention of God and these lights are the knowledge of Truth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Shaykh Kazim Qazvini (Samandar) -- AB04024)
Therefore, at all times strive with the utmost effort to exalt the Word and illumine hearts and eyes, and dispel the thick darkness arising from error through the light of divine guidance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Hooper Harris -- AB06451)
O thou shining ray! Verily, the ray, being transmitted from the etheric sphere, rends the space and reaches the surface of the earth and dispels the gloomy darkness. Verily, be thou one of the rays of the Sun of Truth and then thou wilt cause the darkness of error to disappear and wilt change its intense obscurity into a discovering light which will guide (the people) unto the Kingdom of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1915 or <, to Walter L Babbitt -- AB10689)
It is hoped through the confirmation of the Peerless Lord that day by day thou mayest become more luminous and more intoxicated, and become the cause of the ignition of frozen essences and the cause of growth in barren lands. … Thou makest the weak-willed become heroes of the field, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the mute speaking, the heedless mindful, the sleeping wakeful, the extinguished aflame, and thou changest darkness into light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Ibn-i-Abhar -- AB11774)
With the lantern of Baha'u'llah in her hand, fearlessly she walks abroad while the night of ignorance is inky dark; the winds of prejudice howling; the hobgoblins of illiteracy intimidating; the fanaticism of the Mullahs surging; the nightmare of unexpected attacks growling; the powers of darkness surrounding and oriental fanaticism staring in the eyes.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mon. Richard, spoken at Baltimore Hotel on 1913-May-10 -- ABU0870)
All the believers, both men and women, in the West and in the East, must consider themselves the spreaders of the contents of these Epistles; so that the rays of the Sun of Truth may ere long illumine all the continents and islands of the globe, and the dark clouds of prejudice and ignorance be dispelled.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3268)
Therefore, the greatest service to be rendered to the human world is to guide it to the right Path, to be the means of the salvation of the souls,- so that the dark ones may become illumined, the defective perfect, the earthly ones, heavenly; extinct ones enlightened; the satanic ones angelic - thus they may all attain to eternal life.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a pilgrim, spoken on 1914-Mar-05 -- ABU2390)
It is my hope that very luminous lights may be enkindled in this tent so that the darkness may be dispelled. These lights are yourselves. It is my hope that you may cast your rays all around; that you may bestow lights - so that you may become able to free these souls from the darkness of the world of nature.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Rue St. Didier 30 on 1913-Jan-28 -- ABU2276)
Similarly there are some enkindled souls whose very presence in a meeting changes its atmosphere, suffering the people to become truly spiritual, turning their faces towards God; others like unto the black smoke, darken the horizon of the minds.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-May-02 -- ABU2349)
These souls will give such light that it will dispel the darkness of the horizons.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 ca. -- AB01368)
In these days, through the assistance and bounty of the Most Great Unity, I await the appearance of souls who will blaze like an ignited fire in all hearts and who will be raised like a manifest standard from the highest heaven. They shall surge like the waves of the sea and, like a luminous star in the ethereal horizon, shall beam with light and be inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit. They shall become brilliant lamps and radiant lights shining forth from the Sinai of manifestation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Hand of the Cause Ali Muhammad Ibn Asdaq -- AB08756)
Their traces shall appear and their lights shall shine.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916 or < -- AB11527)
When they moved, the light shone forth and spread across the face of the sky, becoming brilliant stars.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1300-02-02 [1882-Dec-13], to Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani (Haji Amin) -- BH02313)
O sapling of the garden of conscience! The Day of God has come when the true Sun rose, appeared and shone forth from the divine horizon, and Its radiant lights from the Sun of Truth illumined earth and heaven. Now It shines in the realm of placelessness while It has set from the horizon of the contingent world. The darkest night has encompassed all. The loved ones of the All-Merciful must each become like a lamp aflame.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Nov-02 -- AB10131)
I hope that all may become bright as the candle through the light of the love of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1905-Jun-11, to Beatrice Davies -- AB04430)
O Diya (Light)! Be luminous, so that you may bestow eternal illumination upon the world of humanity and dispel the sorrowful darkness of humankind. May you become a light from the Supreme Horizon and a radiant beam from the Abha Kingdom. And upon you be greetings and praise.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1901 ca., to Diyaullah son of Javan Rawhani -- AB10929)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Oct-19 in Paris -- ABU0899)
O My loved ones! Look not upon the sedition and its darkness, but rather gaze upon the Sun from which nothing has withheld It, and be illumined by Its lights from this Quarter unto which the hearts of those near unto God have been attracted.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH09605)
If you observe, in these times the horizon of existence is hidden and concealed behind dark clouds, yet know with certainty that ere long this luminous dawning place will be cleansed of these dense and darksome clouds and will manifest such clarity, delicacy and brilliance that the horizons will become illumined.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Masih et al -- AB03010)
Soon shall the veils be lifted, the covering removed, and darkness shall be dispelled by a brilliant dawn shining upon the horizons.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Siyyid Mihdi Yazdi the martyr -- AB06511)
Although today the people are deprived of beholding the lights of the Sun due to the clouds of fancy and imagination, yet ere long the fingers of destiny shall rend asunder the intervening veil and the rays of the Sun shall encompass all.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH08638)
This darkness will pass away and the illumination of God's Kingdom will enlighten hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1915-Apr-24, to Tupakian Khan Persian General Consul in New York -- AB01754)
The clouds of vain imaginings have dissipated and the Sun of the horizons has shone forth in utmost beauty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-Jan-15, to Scott, Edwin et al -- AB12101)
It is clear and evident that a dead and withered body needs spirit, and the adorning trees of existence only sway with the breeze of grace, and pitch darkness is only dispelled by the dawn of light upon light, and regions only find new life through the advent of spring.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-Oct-10, to Nasrullah Baqiruf -- AB11809)
We must make these blind eyes seeing. We must confer hearing to these deaf ears. We must bestow the power of speech to these dumb ones. Then out of this dark soil, which is the world of nature, variegated flowers and fragrant tulips will grow.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Rue St. Didier 30 on 1913-Jan-28 -- ABU1393)
The Cause of God is the remedy for every disease, the Light which dispels every darkness, the Knowledge that does away with every form of ignorance, the beautiful springtime of Truth that throws back the frosty winter of simulation and falsehood.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-Mar-15 -- ABU1507)
The darkness covering the face of the earth will not disappear save through this Light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to two Zoroastrian pilgrims, spoken on 1914-May-31 -- ABU2568)
The world is very dark and the only light which is capable to penetrate through this darkness is the Light of the Love of God and entrance into the Kingdom of Baha'u'llah.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Grand Hotel in Vienna, 1913-Apr-23 -- ABU2779)
When the Light of His favor is shed upon us the darkness is fled.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3110)
"What of the dark night, when the Sun is not shining?"
"The darkness of night is past, the Sun has risen."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. Nov. 1911 in Paris -- ABU3085)
With those who are against the Centre of the Covenant you must not associate at all. When you find that a soul has turned away from the Covenant you must cut yourself off completely from him. You will know these people. You will see it in their faces. You will see a dimness on the faces, like the letting down of a veil.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Juliet Thompson, spoken on 1912-Nov-12 -- ABU3182)
I raise the dead, I deliver those who are in darkness and guide them into the realm of Light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jun-30 -- ABU3030)
Then ignorance was changed into knowledge--misguidance into guidance, savagery into domesticity--wandering life to civilized life--and their evil to good--until all the nations were submissive to them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Alma Albertson et al, spoken on 1900-Dec-02 -- ABU0272)
Its light illumines the world and its appearance is the most luminous sun of the Kingdom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Aqa Muhammad Baqir brother of wife of Mirza Hidayat -- AB00704)
The light of guidance hath shone forth from the supreme horizon, and the star of eternal glory hath risen from the dawning-place of possibility. It is strange that India, despite its capacity, hath not yet been illumined by this effulgence.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Abdur-Rahman Chashti -- AB09420)
Nothing can resist this spread except a conquering, pure, sanctified and heavenly force, for darkness can only be dispelled by light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Apr-26, to Riyad Salim -- AB12091)
This grace and favor is like unto a lamp. You must know its worth and ever feed this lamp with the oil of detachment and sincerity in the Cause of God, that it may grow brighter day by day and illuminate the world. Otherwise it will be extinguished and darkness will again prevail.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Scott, Edwin et al -- AB12100)
May they dispel these darknesses--these darknesses of heedlessness of truth, these darknesses of attachment to this mortal world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Sep-08 in Haifa -- ABU1836)
Bestow a ray and grant an effulgence that the darkness of night may vanish and the radiance of light become clear and manifest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Mirza Husayn Aliuf Ouskouli -- AB10921)
I pray that this darkness may be dispelled and the light of the Kingdom may envelop the world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some Greek passengers, spoken en route to Salt Lake City on 1912-Oct-26 -- ABU2581)
I beg of God that this lustrous Brilliancy shine in such wise in the heart of Humanity, and make such a deep and imperishable impression, that the world of darkness be entirely illuminated.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Dec-12, to Flora M Clark -- AB05789)
May God reward you with abundant recompense and make your endeavors appreciated, and make your hearts lamps of piety, your spirits lanterns of guidance, and your faces stars by which the veils of darkness are rent asunder.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Sadat Khams -- AB05062)
Lead them from the dark world to the world of light.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul ca., to Mihrbanu Bahman Kaykhusraw -- AB06275)
The glory shining from the horizon of My tender mercy be upon you and upon those who have turned to God on this Day wherein trembling hath seized the inhabitants of all regions, save those whom God hath protected, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1300-11 [1883-Sep], to Haji Abdul-Muhammad Zarqani -- BH03208)
I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all darkness hath been dispelled and all light hath dawned forth, and the Face hath been illumined in the heaven of all possibilities, and Beauty hath shone forth in the kingdom of all created things, to guard the bearer of this Tablet through Thy sovereignty and power.
(Bahá’u’lláh, to mother of Ibrahim (pilgrim) -- BH11087)
The Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth and saith: O God of the world and Lord of eternity! I beseech Thee by the fire wherewith the hearts of Thy chosen ones were set ablaze in Thy days, and by the light whereby the faces of Thy creation were illumined, and by the Name which Thou hast made the balance of Thy Cause and the path of Thy sovereignty amongst Thy creatures, that Thou mayest open, through the key of Thy craftsmanship, unto every atom a door leading to Thy presence and a way unto the ocean of Thy reunion.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1294 ? [1876-1877], to Shaban-Ali -- BH09754)
And glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned toward the Dayspring of the divine exposition in this darkness that hath encompassed the worlds, save whom thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful, hath willed.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH11807)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- How does beginning with love and hatred affect your understanding of the later images of light and darkness?
- What distinctions do the readings draw among physical sight, understanding, and spiritual guidance?
- How do the dark pupil and the imagery of the beloved’s hair complicate a fixed interpretation of color?
- What helps you read severe or martial images in relation to the passages on reconciliation, justice, and life-giving service?
- How might acknowledging the limits of understanding change the way we respond to another person’s sorrow or uncertainty?
- What would it mean in a particular home, friendship, or community to kindle a lamp through knowledge, love, and action?