New website for resources about 'Abdu'l-Bahá during the Centenary of His Ascension

Remembering 'Abdu'l-Bahá

" ... grant that my speech may bear a trace of the influence of Thine own exalted Word ..."

 

"Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God, for guiding me unto the horizon of Thy Revelation and for causing me to be mentioned by Thy Name. I beseech Thee, by the spreading rays of the Daystar of Thy providence and by the billowing waves of the Ocean of Thy mercy, to grant that my speech may bear a trace of the influence of Thine own exalted Word, attracting thereby the realities of all created things. Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest through Thy wondrous and incomparable Utterance."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/908556715

"Vouchsafe, then, unto him the good of both this world and the next ..."

 

"He is the Peerless!

Praise be unto Thee, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Exalted Name in the Tabernacle of effulgent splendour, and by Thy Most Sublime Word in the Dominion of transcendent glory, to protect this servant, who hath enjoyed companionship with Thee, hearkened unto the accents of Thy voice and recognized Thy proof. Vouchsafe, then, unto him the good of both this world and the next, and grant unto him the station of righteousness in Thy presence, that his feet may not slip from Thine all-glorious and most exalted path."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/192482602

"Thou didst summon me, and I hastened unto Thee, entering beneath the shade of Thy mercy ..."

 

"He is the All-Glorious!

Praise be to Thee, O my God! Thou didst call me, and I answered Thee. Thou didst summon me, and I hastened unto Thee, entering beneath the shade of Thy mercy and seeking shelter at the threshold of the door of Thy grace. Thou hast nurtured me, O Lord, through Thy providence, chosen me for Thee alone, created me for Thy service, and appointed me to stand before Thee. I beseech Thee, by Thine all-glorious Name and by Thy beauty that hath dawned above the horizon of Thy most exalted Essence, to cause me to be related to Thee even as Thou hadst done so aforetime, and not to separate me from Thyself. Cause then to appear from me, O my God, that which is worthy of Thee. Thou art, in truth, powerful over all things."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/016961632

"I beseech Thee, O Lord of the world, by Thy Most Great Name whereby the limbs of the people were shaken ..."

 

"O my God! O my God! I testify that this is Thy Day which hath been mentioned in Thy Books, Thy Epistles, Thy Psalms and Thy Tablets. In it Thou hast manifested that which was hidden in Thy Knowledge and stored up in the repositories of Thine unfailing protection. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the world, by Thy Most Great Name whereby the limbs of the people were shaken, to assist Thy servants and Thy handmaidens to become steadfast in Thy Cause and to arise in Thy service.

Verily, Thou art potent to do whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. Thou protectest whomsoever Thou willest through Thy Power and Dominion. And verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Subduing, the Most Powerful."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/921482489

“Thou seest me, O my God, detached from all save Thee and cleaving unto Thee. Guide me, then, in all mine affairs unto that which profiteth me for the glory of Thy Cause and the loftiness of the station of Thy loved ones.”

 

Eyeglasses of Bahá'u'lláh

"In regard to his affairs, let him repeat nineteen times: “Thou seest me, O my God, detached from all save Thee and cleaving unto Thee. Guide me, then, in all mine affairs unto that which profiteth me for the glory of Thy Cause and the loftiness of the station of Thy loved ones.” Let him then reflect upon the matter and undertake whatever cometh to mind. This vehement opposition of the enemies will indeed give way to supreme prosperity."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/050834733

" ... those who believe in God and the Last Day and who do good have their reward with their Lord. They have nothing to fear, and they will not sorrow."

The Cow (42-46)

And do not obscure truth by falsehood,

or knowingly conceal the truth;

and be constant in prayer,

and give charity,

and worship with the worshipful.

Do you command people to be just

when you forget yourselves

even though you read the Book?

Now won't you understand? 

And seek help

with patience and prayer;

though it is indeed hard

except for the humble,

those who consider

that they will meet their Lord,

and that they will return to God.

(48)

And be wary of a day

when no soul can compensate

for another soul at all,

and no intercession is accepted from it,

and no ransom is taken from it,

and they will not be helped.

(62)

Be they Muslims, Jews,

Christians, or Sabians,

those who believe in God and the Last Day

and who do good

have their reward with their Lord.

They have nothing to fear,

and they will not sorrow.

(83)

Worship nothing but God;

be good to your parents and relatives,

and to the orphan and the poor.

Speak nicely to people,

be constant in prayer,

and give charity.

The Essential Koran, The Heart of Islam, pp. 8-9

Translated and presented by Thomas Cleary

"In hunger, all justice is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and in satiety, all grace is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!"

"He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of might and grandeur!

O God, my God! I yield Thee thanks at all times and render Thee praise under all conditions.

In prosperity, all praise is Thine, O Lord of the Worlds, and in its absence, all gratitude is Thine, O Desire of them that have recognized Thee!

In adversity, all honour is Thine, O Adored One of all who are in heaven and on earth, and in affliction, all glory is Thine, O Enchanter of the hearts of those who yearn after Thee!

In hardship, all praise is Thine, O Thou the Goal of them that seek after Thee, and in comfort, all thanksgiving is Thine, O Thou whose remembrance is treasured in the hearts of those who are nigh unto Thee!

In wealth, all splendour is Thine, O Lord of them that are devoted to Thee, and in poverty, all command is Thine, O Thou the Hope of them that acknowledge Thy unity!

In joy, all glory is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and in sorrow, all beauty is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!

In hunger, all justice is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and in satiety, all grace is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!

In my homeland, all bounty is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and in exile, all decree is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!

Under the sword, all munificence is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and in the safety of home, all perfection is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!

In the lofty mansion, all generosity is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God, and upon the lowly dust, all favour is Thine, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God!

In prison, all fidelity is Thine, O Thou the Bestower of gifts, and in confinement, all eternity is Thine, O Thou Who art the ever-abiding King!

All bounty is Thine, O Thou Who art the Lord of bounty, and the Sovereign of bounty, and the King of bounty! I bear witness that Thou art to be praised in Thy doings, O Thou Source of bounty, and to be obeyed in Thy behests, O Thou Ocean of bounty, He from Whom all bounty doth proceed, He to Whom all bounty doth return!"

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/715760313

"Mystics! What was hidden now stands for all to see."

 

Crimson Clover © 2021 Chuck Egerton

O Nightingales!
An Ode by Bahá’u’lláh

Nightingales! The season of flowers and trees has come. Mystics! What was hidden now stands for all to see.

 
Lovers! Look! Your Beloved just unveiled her face. Seekers! Look now on the One you had longed to see. 

Beauty has dawned, the lights of God shine bright. Flee the prison of your self—Rise up and be free.

That veiled Beloved, Ruler of the highest realm, now walks here, as Joseph did, through square and alley.

 
She was hidden ‘neath the Mount of infinity. 
She was there concealed from us for eternity. 

Look! She has dawned now, like the morning sun, 
shedding her light from mountain to prairie. 

 
For the fragrance of Her musk-laden locks, 
for the sweetness, the sugar of Her lips, 

Her lovers now will roam the marketplace
seeking the door of the perfumery. 

Wine jars overflow, reason is struck dumb. 
Mortal poison turns to balm—the Cup of God is heavy.

 
Prayer beads for infidels, hypocrisy no more. 
The men devoted to Her love drink in the winery. 

False piety in hiding now, deceit is so ashamed. 
Her slender body floats like a bird over land and sea. 

The hidden Treasure manifest, 
now the phoenix of soul flies free. 

All mysteries have been unveiled, 
and all the veils burned utterly. 

The nightingale leaps to the rose. 
The lover dives into love’s sea. 

The caged parrot returns to the forest. 
Strangers are friends: and strangers friends will be.

Provisional Translation by Nader Saiedi and Anthony A. Lee

http://www.elixir-journal.org/issue6/translation1.php

"Give me then to drink from the cup that brimmeth with the sealed wine of Thy glory."

 

"Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! Sanctify mine eye, and mine ear, and my tongue, and my spirit, and my heart, and my soul, and my body, and mine entire being from turning unto anyone but Thee. Give me then to drink from the cup that brimmeth with the sealed wine of Thy glory."

—Bahá’u’lláh
(Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/533738942

"But high endeavour and self-sacrifice are needed and the concentration of one’s thoughts is required for the tree of hope to yield its fruit and results to be achieved."

 ...

White Iris © 2021 Chuck Egerton

"Speak openly of all the signs of the Kingdom of God that ye have witnessed with your own eyes and share with the utmost happiness and exultation all that ye have heard of the divine teachings. I fervently supplicate God to bring assurance to your souls and to raise you up with such steadfastness that each of you may withstand an entire nation. May you become so inebriated with the wine of the love of God that ye may cause your hearers to dance with blissful rapture to the song and melody of the love of God.

 
This is the time for gladness, the day of joy and exhilaration, for, praised be God, all doors are opened wide through the bounty of the Abhá Beauty. But high endeavour and self-sacrifice are needed and the concentration of one’s thoughts is required for the tree of hope to yield its fruit and results to be achieved."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks)
www.bahai.org/r/600834684

"Render a myriad thanks unto the All-Glorious, Who hath guided thee on this path and enabled thee to attain the threshold of the Omniscient Lord ..."

 

Crimson Clover  ©2021 Chuck Egerton

Happy Ridván!

"O pilgrim of the Sacred Dust!

Render a myriad thanks unto the All-Glorious, Who hath guided thee on this path and enabled thee to attain the threshold of the Omniscient Lord, to find refuge within the stronghold of His favours, and to obtain that which is the ultimate hope and desire of all His chosen ones.

Now, as thou returnest to Ishqábád, thou must take with thee armfuls of flowers as a gift from the heavenly rose-garden that their sweet scent may perfume the nostrils and stir the senses of the youth. For these lovely youth are the children of the realms above and the tender plants of the all-highest Paradise. They are flowers and fragrant herbs in the garden of certitude, the jasmine and eglantine of the All-Merciful Lord. They have been nursed at the breast of Divine unity and nurtured in the bosom of the wondrous Cause of God. They have become fresh and verdant through the outpourings of the clouds of loving-kindness.

O youth of this century of God! In this new age, this century of the Glorious Lord, ye must be so attracted to the Blessed Beauty and so enthralled by the Beloved of the World that ye may become the embodiments of the truth of this verse: 

I am lost, O Love, possessed and dazed, 
Love’s fool am I, in all the earth.¹

1 Marzieh Gail’s translation, published in Memorials of the Faithful, pp. 22, 30.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks)
www.bahai.org/r/553813452

"these verily attained, after ascending to the Divine Kingdom, unto the Refulgent Light."

"As for thy question concerning those righteous souls who passed away ere they heard the Call of this Revelation, know thou that those who ascended unto God ere they heard this Call, but who followed the precepts of Christ and walked in the Straight Path—these verily attained, after ascending to the Divine Kingdom, unto the Refulgent Light."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks)
www.bahai.org/r/871217998

"Helpless are we, yet our refuge and shelter is Bahá’u’lláh."

 

'Abdu'l-Bahá in front of his house.

"Praise be to God that ye are present in this radiant assemblage and have turned your faces toward the Kingdom of Abhá! That which ye behold is from the grace and bounty of the Blessed Perfection. We are as atoms and He is the Sun of Truth. We are as drops and He is the Most Great Ocean. Poor are we, yet the outpouring of the treasury of the Kingdom is boundless. Weak are we, yet the confirmation of the Supreme Concourse is abundant. Helpless are we, yet our refuge and shelter is Bahá’u’lláh.

Praise be to God! His signs are evident.
Praise be to God! His light is shining.
Praise be to God! His ocean is surging.
Praise be to God! His radiance is intense.
Praise be to God! His bestowals are abundant.
Praise be to God! His favours are manifest.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The Morn of Guidance hath dawned.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The Sun of Truth hath shone forth.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The breeze of favour hath wafted.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The showers of the clouds of divine bounty have poured down.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The Sun of the supreme horizon hath shed its radiance upon all the world with boundless effulgence.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The hearts of all are in the utmost purity.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! His all-encompassing splendour hath been revealed.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The celestial concourse is astir.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! Zion is rapt in ecstasy.
Glad tidings! Glad tidings! The Kingdom of God is filled with exultation and joy." ¹

1. A Tablet of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá chanted by Him, the recording of the latter part of which is played for Bahá’í pilgrims during their visit to the House of the Master in Haifa.
(Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks)
www.bahai.org/r/272079006

"Wherefore, O faithful friends, raise ye the triumphal cry of Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá!"

 

"O ye beloved friends of God and handmaids of the Merciful!

Call ye to mind the blessed Name of our peerless Beloved, the Abhá Beauty, in an uplifting spirit of unbounded ecstasy and delight, then unloose your tongues in His praise in such wise that the realm of the heart may be purged from the woes and sorrows of the world of water and clay, that the great heights of spiritual perception may be unveiled before your eyes, that the glorious signs of His Divine Unity may shine resplendent, a fresh outpouring of His grace may stream forth, and a liberal effusion of celestial confirmations may be vouchsafed unto you.

His Name is indeed the healing medicine for every illness, and imparteth warmth unto those chilled with cold. It is the sovereign remedy and the supreme talisman. It is the source of life in both worlds, and of salvation unto such as have gone astray. Today this hallowed Name serveth as a shield for all mankind, and as a veritable refuge for the children of men. It is the wondrous accent of the Lord of Mercy, and His celestial melody.

Wherefore, O faithful friends, raise ye the triumphal cry of Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá! O ye who yearn after the Beauty of the Almighty! Lift up your faces toward the Supreme Horizon. Rest not, even for a moment. Breathe not a single breath save in remembrance of His love and in recognition of His grace, in the promulgation of His Utterances and the vindication of His Testimonies.

Verily, this is the Magnet of divine confirmations. This is the mighty Force which will surely attract heavenly assistance."

(Extract from a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá)
www.bahai.org/r/520360382

“We will not chastise them if they had not been sent a Messenger.”

 

"In ancient times the people of America were, through their northern regions, close to Asia, that is, separated from Asia by a strait. For this reason, it hath been said that crossing had occurred. There are other signs which indicate communication.
As to places whose people were not informed of the appearance of Prophets, such people are excused. In the Qur’án it hath been revealed: “We will not chastise them if they had not been sent a Messenger.”¹

Undoubtedly in those regions the Call of God must have been raised in ancient times, but it hath been forgotten now."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks)
www.bahai.org/r/311166249

1. Qur’án 17:15