When the mystery of God is taught to a man, an old Persian saying holds, his eyes are opened and his lips are sealed. The Writings return to that wisdom often, and to the tradition that the sign of intellect is contemplation and the sign of contemplation is silence. Silence becomes a fortress for the servants of God, an ornament that guards them from the spark of careless speech, and a source of steadfastness in times of danger. When words are needed, the best are few and full of benefit, like the brief letter of Solomon to the Queen of Sheba. Ecclesiastes, too, sets a time to keep silence beside a time to speak [1]. Yet the divine voice calls the soul out of the garment of silence altogether when the theme is His remembrance. Learning which moment is which leads into wisdom and the restraint against idle talk and backbiting, and toward the deeds that alone give words their weight.
Thou hast prayed and supplicated to God that thou mayest be protected from temptation, discover the inner life, close thy lips and find great confirmation. It is said in the Persian language that when a man is taught the mystery of God, his eyes are opened but his lips are sealed. I ask of God that thou mayest be protected and preserved from losing thy footing and in the time of testing remain firm and steadfast.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Jun-08, to Cora H Ditmars -- AB06599)
02
The Seal of the Prophets and Guide of all paths - may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake - hath said: "O Abu Dharr! For everything there is an evidence: the evidence of intellect is contemplation, and the evidence of contemplation is silence." And likewise He hath said: "O Abu Dharr! The most excellent worship is silence."
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1308-10-29 [1891-Jun-7], to Aqa Siyyid Ahmad Afnan -- BH02558)
03
The virtues of silence are many. In truth it is a mighty fortress for the protection of the servants.
… Let this matter not escape the notice of that spiritual friend. The perfect mystics, mature scholars, and those possessed of protection and preservation have complained of speech and praised and extolled silence. The servant beseeches his Lord to adorn His servants with the ornament of silence and protect them from the spark of speech.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1306-09-11 [1889-May-11], to Aqa Muhammad Rida Nahhas -- BH00990)
04
Silence and quietude are the cause of steadfastness and firmness, because promotion is forbidden in these parts and this prohibition is explicitly stated.
It is said that the most eloquent letter written in ancient times was that of Solomon to Bilqis of Sheba. … Observe how concise and beneficial it is - forbidding pride and haughtiness, which is the root of all vices, and calling to submission, which is the mother of all virtues. Thus it becomes clear that prolixity and verbosity yield no fruit. A letter should be comprehensive in meaning while being beneficial and concise in both word and meaning.
Come forth from the garment of silence, then be one who crieth out between the heavens and the earth. … For silence is praiseworthy except in My remembrance, the Mighty, the Inaccessible; and patience is commendable except in My love - this is a revelation from One Who is Mighty, Beautiful.