"This is the first age, and the early beginnings of the dispensation of the Most Great Light ..."

 

House of the Báb, Shiraz, Iran

"Now amidst all the peoples of the world must the beloved arise, with a heart even as the day-star, a strong inward urge, a shining brow, a musk-scented breath, a tongue speaking ever of God, an exposition crystal-clear, a high resolve, a power born of heaven, a spiritual character, a confirmation nothing short of the divine. Let them one and all become as a splendour on the horizon of heaven, and in the skies of the world a dazzling star. Let them be fruitful trees in the celestial bowers, sweet-scented blooms in the divine gardens; let them be verses of perfection on the page of the universe, words of oneness in the Book of Life. This is the first age, and the early beginnings of the dispensation of the Most Great Light, wherefore, within this century, virtues must be acquired, goodly qualities must be perfected within this span of time. In these very days the Abhá Paradise must pitch its pavilions on the plains of the world. The lights of reality must now be revealed, and the secrets of God’s bestowals must now be made known, and now must the olden grace shine forth and this world change into the pleasure-ground of heaven, the garden of God. And out of pure hearts, and through heavenly bounties, all the perfections, qualities and attributes of the divine must now be made manifest."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, sec. 193, p. 232

" ... ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out distinguished and brilliant as the sun among other souls."

 

"O army of God! Through the protection and help vouchsafed by the Blessed Beauty— may my life be a sacrifice to His loved ones—ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out distinguished and brilliant as the sun among other souls. Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a centre of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the world, so that the people of that city may cry out and say: “This man is unquestionably a Bahá’í, for his manners, his behaviour, his conduct, his morals, his nature, and disposition reflect the attributes of the Bahá’ís.” Not until ye attain this station can ye be said to have been faithful to the Covenant and Testament of God...."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá  pp. 70–71)

"Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without."

 

 Bahji Pine © 2020 Chuck Egerton

"Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech."

~Bahá’u’lláh

Excellence in All Things: A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. pp. 4-5 November 1990

"Tell him, no one in this world can claim any relationship to Me except those who ..."

Khaled al-Saai

"Tell him, no one in this world can claim any relationship to Me except those who, in all their deeds and in their conduct, follow My example, in such wise that all the peoples of the earth would be powerless to prevent them from doing and saying that which is meet and seemly."

~Bahá’u’lláh

Cited by Shoghi Effendi, in “God Passes By” p. 133

"The companions of God are, in this day, the lump that must leaven the peoples of the world."

Gabon Mask

"The companions of God are, in this day, the lump that must leaven the peoples of the world. They must show forth such trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and character that all mankind may profit by their example."

~Bahá’u’lláh 

Cited in Shoghi Effendi, “The Advent of Divine Justice” p. 23

"Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches...."

Ahmad Mater

"...Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday. Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.... Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high or low...."

~Bahá’u’lláh

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 138

"Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind ..."

Girls emancipated from slavery New Orleans

"...Say: Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

~Bahá’u’lláh

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, sec. 139, p. 305