O ye who are sincere! O ye who are firm in the Covenant of G.o.d in this new cycle!
Verily I praise G.o.d for that He confirmed you in the service of the Cause of G.o.d in His great vineyard.
Write to Mrs. ........ and convey to her greetings and praise and say to her that her Lord will aid and strengthen her in attaining her desire.
Convey my greeting and salutation unto the maidservant of G.o.d, the attracted one, Mrs. ........, the respected. I ask G.o.d to make her a spreader of the new Gospel, an utterer in praise of her Lord in that vast region.
Convey my kindness and love unto the maid-servant of G.o.d, who is thrilled by the fragrances of G.o.d, Miss ........ of [that place] so that she may be rejoiced by my greeting to her, the fullness of my favor, and that she may be drawn by the love of G.o.d even as the magnet attracts the iron.
O my precious friends in the Kingdom of G.o.d, the members of the Spiritual Meeting! Communicate with all parts of Persia; write replies to the letters which are sent to you, with all joy, happiness, fragrance and spirituality; because the friends of G.o.d in Persia are all rejoiced in commemorating you in the meetings and a.s.semblies, in houses and Mashrak-el-Azcars.(13)
"O ye who are attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."
O ye who are attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!
Verily I read your letters which uttered your steadfastness in the Cause of G.o.d, your firmness in His Religion and your joy by the breezes wafted from the garden of the Kingdom of G.o.d.
The truth, I say unto you, "Verily, the Supreme Concourse utter praise upon you, because ye forsook the desires of self, were illumined by the light of guidance, clothed yourselves with the garment of sanct.i.ty and called in the Name of El-Abha among the people. Verily, ye shall reap what ye sow and obtain the fruits of what ye plant. This is a pre-ordained fact."
O ye beloved of G.o.d! When the winds blow severely, rains fall fiercely, the lightning flashes, the thunder roars, the bold descends and storms of trial become severe, grieve not; for after this storm, verily, the divine spring will arrive, the hills and fields will become verdant, the expanses of grain will joyfully wave, the earth will become covered with blossoms, the trees will be clothed with green garments and adorned with blossoms and fruits. Thus blessings become manifest in all countries. These favors are results of those storms and hurricanes.
The discerning man rejoiceth at the day of trials, his breast becometh dilated at the time of severe storms, his eyes become brightened when seeing the showers of rain and gusts of wind, whereby trees are uprooted; because he foreseeth the result and the end (of these trials), the leaves, blossoms and fruits (which follow this wintry storm); while the ignorant (short-sighted) person becometh troubled when he seeth a storm, is saddened when it raineth severely, is terrified by the thunder and trembleth at the surging of the waves which storm the sh.o.r.es.
As ye have heard of the former times, when (for example) Christ-glory be to Him! -appeared, a storm of trials arose, afflictions appeared, the winds of tests blew, the thunder of temptation descended and hosts of people (Pharisees) surrounded the houses of the friends; then the weak ones were shaken and were misled after once being guided; but the disciples withstood the hardships and endured the storms of ordeals, remaining firm in the Religion of G.o.d. Then observe that which occurred after the storm and what appeared subsequent to that severity, whereby the members (followers) trembled.
G.o.d hath changed the sorrow to joy, the destructive darkness of calamity into the shining light from the Supreme Concourse. The people at the beginning persecuted and reviled the believers in G.o.d and said of them: "These are the people of aberration." Then, when their light appeared, their stars shone and their lamps illuminated, the people returned into love and affinity; they prayed to them, offered words of glory night and day (in their name) and remembered them in eulogy, reverence, honor and majesty.
Therefore, O ye beloved of G.o.d, be not grieved when people stand against you, persecute you, afflict and trouble you and say all manner of evil against you. The darkness will pa.s.s away and the light of the manifest signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and the Light of Reality will shine forth from the unseen [Kingdom] of El-Abha. This we inform you before it occurs, so that when the hosts of people arise against you for my love, be not disturbed or troubled; nay, rather, be firm as a mountain, for this persecution and reviling of the people upon you is a pre-ordained matter. Blessed is the soul who is firm in the path!
"O thou servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou servant(14) of G.o.d!
***Trust no man save him whose breast hath been dilated by G.o.d through the light of faith, whom G.o.d hath confirmed in His Religion, and who is severed from all else save G.o.d and attracted by His Fragrances.
In future, of course, certain people will come to you claiming faith; do not believe them nor trust them, unless after critical examination, search and investigation, and a long period of waiting, they shall appear to be faithful and truthful in word, confident in heart, attracted in spirit, pure in intention, patient in hardship, enduring the most severe tests; then a.s.sociate with them. Because some sects will send certain men to mingle with you in order to throw suspicion upon those who are weak, therefore avoid them carefully.*** But let such [deliberations] be hidden that you may not become a cause of hindrance [to such souls].(15)
"O ye firm ones in the Covenant!..."
O ye firm ones in the Covenant!
The report of [your meeting] was noted. All the arrangements of the meeting are suitable and acceptable. The reading of the Tablets which are sent to special persons dependeth upon their consent. First send the Tablets to them and if they should agree, the same may be read in the meeting. All the arrangements were good and suitable.
A special letter is enclosed for the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs. ........
Forward it. As to letters for Chicago and its vicinity, if G.o.d so willeth (Inshallah), they will be sent through the House of Spirituality. As to the copying of the Tablets in a book for the House of Spirituality, this dependeth upon the consent of the receivers of the Tablets. If the owners of the Tablets consent, copies should be kept and collected in the House of Spirituality and it will be acceptable. Nevertheless, this should be with perfect consent of the receivers.
Regarding arrangements for the Bahai Sunday meeting for the purpose of worship, this is very suitable. But, in a meeting for worship, first, prayer should be chanted and supplication made until all gather; then communion should be made. After praying, sacred readings with melodious voices should be read by all together. As this is the commencement of holding meetings, this is sufficient.
"O G.o.d! O G.o.d!..."
O G.o.d! O G.o.d!(16)
Thou dost look upon us from Thine unseen Kingdom of Oneness, [beholding]
that we have a.s.sembled in this Spiritual Meeting, believing in Thee, confident in Thy signs, firm in Thy Covenant and Testament, attracted unto Thee, set aglow with the fire of Thy love, sincere in Thy Cause, servants in Thy vineyard, spreaders of They Religion, worshipers of Thy Countenance, humble to Thy beloved, submissive at Thy door and imploring Thee to confirm us in the service of Thy chosen ones. Support us with Thine unseen hosts, strengthen our loins in Thy servitude and make us submissive and worshiping servants, communing with Thee.
O our Lord! Turn our faces unto Thy divine face; feed us from Thy heavenly table by Thy G.o.dly grace; help us through the hosts of Thy supreme angles and confirm us by the holy ones of the Kingdom of Abha.
Verily Thou art the Generous, the Merciful! Thou art possessor of great bounty and verily Thou art the Clement and Gracious!
"O ye who are attracted! O ye who are firm! O ye..."
O ye who are attracted! O ye who are firm! O ye who are zealous in the service of the Cause of G.o.d and are sacrificers of possessions and lives for the promotion of the Word of G.o.d!
I perused your recent letter, dated *** and my heart was filled with joy through its beautify meanings and its eloquent contents. Truly they were suggested by the breaths of confirmation from the Glorious Lord.
O friends of Abdul-Baha and his co-sharers and partners in the servitude of the Lord of Hosts! Verily, the greatest affair and the most important matter today is to establish a Masharak-el-Azcar(17) and to found a Temple from which the voice of praisings may rise to the Kingdom of the majestic Lord. Blessings be upon you for having thought to do so and intending to erect such an edifice, advancing all in devoting your wealth in this great purpose and in this splendid work. You will soon see the angels of confirmation following after you and the hosts of reinforcement crowding before you.
When the Mashrak-el-Azcar is accomplished, when the lights are emanating therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves therein, the prayers are performed with supplication towards the mysterious Kingdom (of heaven), the voice of glorification is raised to the Lord, the Supreme, then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall be dilated and overflow with the love of the All-living and Self-existent (G.o.d). The people shall hasten to worship in that heavenly Temple, the fragrances of G.o.d will be elevated, the divine teachings will be established in the hearts like the establishment of the Spirit in mankind; the people will then stand firm in the Cause of your Lord, the Merciful. Praise and greetings be upon you.
"O ye who are chosen! O ye who are firm! O ye who..."
O ye who are chosen! O ye who are firm! O ye who are calling! O ye who are sincere!
Verily I praise my Supreme Lord for choosing you to call in His Name among the people, for attracting you to the beauty of El-Abha and for strengthening you in rendering His Cause victorious.