"Do they desire to tarry when their foot is in the stirrup?"

" ... that there may appear in the end what began in the beginning. Do they desire to tarry when their foot is in the stirrup? Or do they see any return in their going? No, by the Lord of Lords, save in the Resurrection! On that day men shall arise from the tombs and shall be questioned concerning their riches. Happy that one whom burdens shall not oppress on that day whereon the mountains shall pass away and all shall appear for the questioning in the presence of God the Exalted! Verily He is severe in punishing."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Picasso

‘All that is thereon is transient, and there remaineth [only] the face of My Lord’

"... Of glory shall any glory endure, or of abasement any abasement? Or shall he endure who used to stay himself on high cushions, and who attained in splendor the utmost limit? No, by My Lord the Merciful! ‘All that is thereon is transient, and there remaineth [only] the face of My Lord’ the Mighty, the Beneficent. What buckler hath not the arrow of destruction smitten, or what pinion hath not the hand of fate plucked? From what fortress hath the messenger of death been kept back when he came? What throne hath not been broken, or what palace hath not been left desolate? Did men but know what pure wine of the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, was beneath the seal, they would certainly cast aside reproach and seek to be satisfied by this Servant ..."


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative,
 quoting Bahá'u'lláh



Bonnard

‘Do ye disavow Us for aught save that We believe in God, and what hath been sent down unto Us, and what was sent down before?’

"‘Do ye disavow Us for aught save that We believe in God, and what hath been sent down unto Us, and what was sent down before?’"


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative, Qur’án 5:64.










Klein

"Why do ye outwardly claim to be shepherds, while inwardly ye have become the wolves of My sheep?"

“‘O faithless ones! Why do ye outwardly claim to be shepherds, while inwardly ye have become the wolves of My sheep? Your likeness is like unto the star before the morning, which is apparently bright and luminous, but really causeth the misguidance and destruction of the caravans of My city and country.’"

‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
A Traveler’s Narrative, quoting a Hidden Word (E.G.Brown's translation)










Alsaii

"Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word .."

"... The will of the Eternal King hath ever been to purify the hearts of [His] servants from the promptings of the world and what is therein, so that they may be prepared for illumination by the effulgences of the Lord of the Names and Attributes. Therefore must no stranger find his way into the city of the heart, so that the Incomparable Friend may come unto His own place—that is, the effulgence of His Names and Attributes, not His Essence (exalted is He), for that Peerless King hath been and will be holy for everlasting above ascent or descent. Therefore today “victory” neither hath been nor will be opposition to anyone, nor strife with any person; but rather what is well-pleasing is that the cities of [men’s] hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of the Word, of Wisdom, and of Exhortation. Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must protect it from remembering aught beside God: afterwards let him turn his regards towards the cities of [others’] hearts. This is what is intended by “victory”: sedition hath never been nor is pleasing to God, and that which certain ignorant persons formerly wrought was never approved...."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Ellsworth Kelly

" ... the meaning of “victory” is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with anyone."

“‘He is God, exalted is He. “‘It hath been known that God (glorious is His mention) is sanctified from the world and what is therein, and that the meaning of “victory” is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with anyone. The Lord of He doeth what He will 29 hath committed the kingdom of creation, both land and sea, into the hand of kings, and they are the manifestations of the Divine
Power according to the degrees of their rank: verily He is the Potent, the Sovereign. But that which God (glorious is His mention) hath desired for Himself is the hearts of His servants, which are treasures of praise and love of the Lord and stores of divine knowledge and wisdom. ..."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative


 29. Qur’án 3:35; 22:19.



Alsaii

‘if God toucheth thee with a hurt there is no dispeller thereof save Him’

"‘Say, all is from God’24 is a sound and sufficient argument, and ‘if God toucheth thee with a hurt there is no dispeller thereof save Him’25 is a healing medicine.”"


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative



24. Qur’án 4:80. 
25. Qur’án 6:17; 10:107.

Henry Moore