power of faith; power of the spirit
Editorial introduction
One grain of faith, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, is enough to make a person refuse, even at the point of a bayonet, to deal unjustly with another. Courage of that kind is where the power of faith first shows itself: not in miracles but in a self that cannot be made to do wrong. From there the images grow bolder. Divine confirmation turns a drop into a sea and a gnat into an eagle; a steadfast soul is a lamp kept burning inside its glass while the winds blow; people whose outward standing seemed least promising, women among them, become the valiant ones. Jesus’ word about faith the size of a mustard seed moving a mountain belongs to the same startling arithmetic of small beginnings and great results [1]. When the Writings speak of armies and victory, the weapons they name are righteousness, assurance and love, and hatred is quenched with the water of patience. Such strength is given to be spent in service, and it leads on to the power of love, to the spirit of faith that enlivens a soul, and to the influence one steadfast person can have on many.
Faith is the centre of human virtues. Through the light of Faith justice is established. For if one has one grain of Faith in his heart, if they oblige him with the point of bayonet to act unjustly toward another he will not do it.
God willing, confident and steadfast souls shall become the cause of the exaltation of the Word and the advancement of existence, and in every place and station they shall quench and extinguish the fire of hatred, animosity, rebellion and immorality with the pure water of patience, steadfastness, reliance and detachment.
Know then that true kingship is spiritual sovereignty and conscious dominion. The greatest king is one who rules over his own base desires and commanding self, and who reigns over the regions of hearts, souls and consciousness of the people of understanding.
He can never find peace but through effort and resignation, so that, notwithstanding all efforts in worldly affairs, the human heart remains free and happy. He neither becomes proud on attaining wealth and position nor becomes dejected on losing them. This station can be attained only through the power of faith.
This power is a celestial power, not earthly; and this sovereignty is of the Kingdom, not of fear.
O thou sign of the love of God!
In the physical realm power is a matter of attribution, but seek thou spiritual power and ascendancy that under the shadow of the true Sovereign thou mayest show forth true potency and conquer the hearts in such wise that like unto the spirit thou mayest flow in the very veins and sinews.
O would that all the friends were like this, evincing such patience, calm, and imperturbability! Praise be to God that ye have carried off the ball of victory and success in this arena, and made manifest the power of faith and certitude. As a result of this, rest assured that the light of truth will shine forth in that country with such brilliance that the gloom of error will be annihilated and destroyed.
Though human nature is weak and cannot endure severe blows, yet the spirit is at the height of power and can withstand a hundred thousand calamities in the path of the Most Glorious. Give thanks to God that thou hast resisted through the power of the spirit and hast endured these difficulties in the path of the King of Oneness.
It is difficult for the weak ones to endure the tests but for souls like you, it is very easy. It is my hope that during the time of tests thou mayest remain in the utmost firmness and steadfastness, so that like unto a lamp thou mayest be protected within the glass, and be not extinguished by the blowing of winds.
No temptation and allurement whatsoever must ever extinguish the Fire of Faith in the heart of a Baha'i; because it is a fire ignited by the Hand of the Blessed Perfection.
This is clear and evident; none can deny it, for the favors of Baha'u'llah and the power of His Covenant can transform a drop into an ocean, a gnat into a soaring eagle, a weak plant into a blessed tree, a feeble child into a mighty man, a mustard seed into a great mountain, and one unknown into one renowned throughout all regions.
His Favors will change the drop into the sea; the small plant is developed into a mighty, overshadowing tree; the weak gnat is transformed into a powerful eagle; the impotent is strengthened, the old is rejuvenated, the patient is healed, the unknown is made famous, the babe attains the age of maturity and the "nothing" becomes "everything".
But the weakest of souls, when they entered beneath the shadow of the Lord of Mercy, their star shines bright and their lamp radiates, their fame spreads and their voice rises high, their banner is unfurled and their tent raised up, their light is brilliant and their secret manifest - even if outwardly they were but shepherds or the most feeble of humans.
Sanctified and holy is the Lord who has made the poor so noble and the weak so mighty and powerful.
The mighty ones have become the frailest amongst the feeble, the powerful ones have turned into weak creatures; and the handmaidens of the Lord have become the valiant heroes of the field.
Now if you too desire an overwhelming power, like Tahirih become an unsheathed sword and a soaring eagle. And upon you be greetings and praise. Convey the most wondrous and glorious greetings to the respected young maidens, the handmaidens of the All-Merciful.
Be like Mary Magdalene, whose faith was so strong that it was never shaken, even for a moment, when Christ was put to death; but with steadfast faith in him she went to his discouraged disciples and renewed and rekindled in their hearts the waving light of their faith by reminding them of the promise their Lord had made to them of his constant presence, and showing them that it was really of little consequence whether he was with them in the body or not.
And now I give you a commandment which shall be for a covenant between you and Me -- that ye have faith be steadfast as a rock that no storms can move, that nothing can disturb, and that it endure through all things even to the end; even should ye hear that your Lord has been crucified, be not shaken in your faith; for I am with you always, wether living or dead, I am with you to the end. As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the balance -- this is the balance.
When I leave this world I wish my heart be entirely assured and confident and know that the Blessed Perfection has such servants who will arise to serve His Cause with miraculous Faith and extraordinary courage.
This pure servitude is a magnet that draweth the confirmations of the One True God. A listless person deserveth naught but stillness and lethargy, but the servants of the Desired One are worthy and befitting of radiant light and the flame of Sinai.
If thou wish to advance daily endeavor in guiding the creatures, raise the summons of the Kingdom, give sight to the blind, and make the deaf hearing, for the creatures are all blind save the soul who becomes perceiving through the light of Faith. All are deaf save the one who hears the Call of the Kingdom.
Therefore hath the Abha Beauty, the Incomparable Beloved, shone forth in this glorious and distinguished age from the horizon of Divine Unity and appeared with the brilliance of the lights of truth. The pious ones who possess a seeing eye have the bounty of beholding Him, those with a hearing ear have hearkened unto His Call and those who are cognisant have attained unto the Divine mysteries.
Some were awakened by this effulgence, raising their heads from the pillow of sleep. These souls spread throughout all regions, busying themselves with wandering through gardens and meadows, beholding the beauty of the Sun, acquiring boundless lights, and attaining divine bounties.
When the spirit is confirmed and assisted by the confirmation of the Holy Spirit then it will show its effect in every condition of the world of existence.
It is the Spirit that gives wings to man so that he may soar in the immensity of God's Kingdom. It is the Spirit that is the Collective Center of all the perfections. Take away the spirit from man and he is an animal...
While physical strength is a blessing, it has no real importance, for the mountain ox, the Arabian camel, and the Indian elephant possess strength that is impossible and unattainable in the human body. But observe the spiritual strength of man: a small Arab child can bring two thousand Arabian camels under control, and a frail Indian child can subdue a mighty elephant. Thus it becomes clear that human distinction lies in the power of the spirit, not of the body.
Although thou art old in age, yet thou art young in spirit and have freshness and vivacity, vigor and strength, beauty and sweetness.
Otherwise all powers, limbs and pillars would be useless and neglected, and their deeds would be like a desert mirage.
For it is the spiritual power of religion that rules over hearts and spirits, it is the love of God and fear of God that penetrates the veins and nerves, and preserves consciences and innermost thoughts.
For the order and arrangement of the world and the comfort and tranquility of nations, the conduct and behavior of a religious common person is more beneficial than the actions of an irreligious scholar, especially in situations where political laws and power are not effective and restraining, and thoughts of glory, fear and fame do not intervene. At such times the value of divine education and the influence and results of spiritual teachings become evident.
Therefore it is impossible for the people of the world to be convinced except through the power of faith, for faith is the solver of every difficulty.
Thus we must strive for the religion of God to gain influence. Through the power of the religion of God every difficult matter becomes easy. The power of religion makes kings submissive and overcomes those with influence.
Consequently it is impossible that 'economic contentment' be realized by the people of the world save through the transforming power of faith. For faith is the solvent for every problem.
Believing that God is present in nature has never been enough. This belief has never founded, and could never found, a civilization. But belief in God's Chosen Ones, His Prophets, through Whom come the living waters of His revelation, has created structures in the life of man that the revolution of many ages and cycles could not destroy, and brought him holy light that time could never dim.
Man in this age has learned the weight of the sun, the path of a star, the movement of an eclipse - the advance step now is to learn the expansion of the inflexible law of matter into the subtler kingdom of spirit, which contains a finer gravitation which holds the balance of power from age to age unbroken.
Blessed is that soul who knows that against all appearances, the nature of things works for truth and right forever… The emancipated soul sees with the eyes of perfect faith because it knows what vast provisions are made to enable it to gain the victory over every difficulty and trial.
But that which is lasting and enduring, with consequences following one upon another through the passage of centuries and ages, is, praise be to God, already achieved.
The lights of earthly sovereignty shall eventually fade, yet the light of this torch shall endure even from all eternity to all eternity. The more this light burneth, the more shall its radiance wax and its rays more resplendent shine, for the oil of this lamp is guidance from the All Merciful and its wick is provided through the bounty of the Lord.
In any case, if thou seekest an enduring sovereignty, seek Alexandrian might in the divine realm, and if thou desirest to be King of Kings, enter beneath the shade of poverty and dervishhood in the path of God, that thou mayest become the immortal Dhul-Qarnayn.
Should any one arise steadfast in the Cause of God and faithful to the Covenant of God, the hosts of the universe would be unable to withstand him nor could any of the powers of the world confront him.
The Bahais are the Army of God. Their defensive armors or weapons are: First, Faith; second, Assurance; third, Severance; fourth, Complete Attraction to the Kingdom of ABHA. If they are armed with these weapons, they will gain the victory in whatever field they may enter. As long as he is not equipped with these weapons, he will not be successful.
Make your assault with the power of faith and certitude, launch night raids with the weapons of righteousness, and with the fire of the love of God raise such a commotion that the armies of error will be scattered, the ranks of self and passion will be broken, and the might of the hosts of guidance will become manifest.
This Army of God knows no defeat, and those who are enlisted in it will be reinforced by the invincible powers.
In the heavenly Books, they have considered at most one believer equal to ten deniers, as it states in the Qur'an: "If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred." Now praise be to God, in the Cause of God one person has become victorious over two hundred people.
Governments have secret alliances with each other of which no one is aware, but these schemes will reach nowhere. Whoever remains under the shadow of the blessed teachings and adheres to the sacred principles, he will be confirmed.
By God! Should a soul detach itself from all who are in the heavens and on earth, and arise for that which God hath willed, God would through it render victorious His sincere loved ones, and the standards of the idolaters would vanish from all parties.
Arise to promote the Cause with an authority from Us and a steadfastness from Our presence, and fear not those who have strayed from the path of the Cause and were among the people of the veils. Leave all contingent things behind thee, then ascend by the power of faith unto the paradise of the All-Merciful, that thou mayest hear the call of the All-Glorious from the fire kindled in the Tree.
It is with the power of faith that we ascend to the highest apex and attain honor in the all-glorious Kingdom.
Can the power of creation prevent Us? Nay, by My true Self, even should every possessor of might and dominion rise against Us.
For shouldst thou attain unto this station, thou wilt have attained unto all good, and all the peoples of the world - the deniers and the idolaters - will be powerless to prevent thee and will not hold thee back from the mention of the Peerless Friend.
Then if thou glorifiest God thy Lord, all things will glorify with thee, and if thou movest, every mighty and lofty mountain will move with thee, and the stones and trees will remember with thee. None knoweth this save them that are endowed with true vision.
Among them, it is applied to men who are like lightning in the days of God, such that they pass by all who are in the heavens and the earth in less than a moment, and for this reason is this name applied to them, if ye be of those who know.
With utmost steadfastness and firmness they bore every cruelty and endured every tyranny and aggression. Consider what miracle the power of certitude and the might of faith reveals!
Consider how a servant of the Abha Beauty, all alone, outwardly bereft of all aid and assistance, converseth in the way he did with such a person, proveth equal to the task, and causeth wonder.
[The people] would prostrate themselves before the stones upon which the apostles had sat, and this is due to their connection with God and from the power of the persistence of their reality, such that even their sitting upon a stone has this effect.
Although those with experience, like His Holiness the Spirit [Christ], have said that the Greatest Name has an effect even on solid rock, in truth it has absolutely no effect on a fool, for foolishness is the wrath of the Divine Unity and has no remedy.
Be thou of such countenance that the faces of the heavens and earth may be illumined thereby. Thus doth command thee the tongue of holy love. Be thou of such manner that should the idolaters behold thee, their foundations would be shaken, and should the believers see thee, their hearts would surge with the surging of love from this Fire which hath been kindled in the blessed Mount Sinai.
I entertain the firm hope that, through the bountiful favor of the Ever-Living, the All-Powerful, this long wait of thine will culminate in a new effulgence: that is, that thou wilt discover a fresh ardor and devotion, and wilt kindle such a spark that the fame of thy love shall reach all quarters of the globe.
Every object in this world has the power of combustion. The objects by themselves and in themselves will not be ignited. A flame is necessary.
After all, my Messenger and Presenter and Kindler is aflame with the fire of the love of the All-Merciful. In truth, right is with him, therefore I beseech and hope from God, exalted be His glory, that his mention and his light may forever shine forth through the oil of wisdom and the utterance of God - exalted be His station - and remain manifest and evident in the niche of the world with a clear light.
O thou who gazest upon God! What shall I write, for the effulgences of the bounties of the Abha Beauty have encompassed the kingdom of existence, and the call of the Herald of favors is raised from the Supreme Horizon: "O ye who seek! The door of the most great bounty is opened wide, and the outpourings of the cloud of greatest mercy are manifest.
I swear by the Beloved of the world that in this Day the steadfast and upright souls are mentioned before God as pearls of the ocean of names and are recorded by the Most Exalted Pen as letters of the Book.
Each one of you, in the scroll of the glorious, is first in the book of guidance, and chief amongst the god-fearing in the most exalted Paradise.
For thought and discussion