" ... for a name alone is not sufficient in this day: rather what is requisite and fitting is a matching character, a reality that correspondeth to the name."

 

Owl - photo by Trina G.

"The maidservant of God Khurshíd in the Land of Alif

He is the Most Glorious.

O Khurshíd! Thy letter hath come into the presence of God, and attained unto the court wherein His mercy-seat hath been established. Thanks and praise be unto Him. O Khurshíd! Strive that thou mayest become in reality like unto thy name—a heavenly luminary shining brilliantly above the horizon of the firmament of love;¹ for a name alone is not sufficient in this day: rather what is requisite and fitting is a matching character, a reality that correspondeth to the name. How many are the souls who, though in name “Beloved”,² are in reality detested of the Lord! Please God, thou wilt, both inwardly and outwardly, exemplify thy name.

I swear by the Day-Star of the heaven of Divine Unity! Were the sun of this physical heaven to be acquainted with the sorrows that have afflicted the Beauty of the All-Merciful, it would rise no more above its dawning-place, and would divest itself of the robe of its refulgency and light. Howbeit, We have concealed Our woes from all created things, lest they that are the embodiments of names in the kingdom of creation should be consumed away.

Be not then afflicted, and occupy thyself at all times with the remembrance of the Well-Beloved. Be not saddened by the sorrows of the world, nor gladdened by its joys, for with the swiftness of lightning both shall pass away and come to naught. Detach thy heart from all that perisheth, and enter thou the imperishable dominion. Render thanks unto the Well-Beloved that thou hast attained unto His love, a love that purifieth the soul of sickness and transgression, and answereth one’s wants and needs. Please God thou wilt remain constant in His love, and wilt not deviate from the straight path of His Cause. The sign of those that love Him, however, is that they should walk in the ways of His good-pleasure, and not in the pathway of their evil passions and desires. Abide thou ever neath the shadow of His mercy, and detach thyself from all save Him. Do thou convey Our salutation and blessing to all those handmaidens who are devoted unto Him. The Glory of God rest upon you."

—Bahá’u’lláh

1 A punning reference to the fact that the addressee’s name, “Khurshíd”, is also the Persian word for “sun”.
2 i.e, who bear the name “Maḥbúb” or “Maḥbúbih” (“Beloved”).

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/404852139

"Through the benevolent exertions of these souls, the world is radiant and luminous with the light of justice and equity."

 

St. Croix photo by Trina G. 

"Glory be to the Lord of the world, and thanks be to the Hands of His Cause, and praise be to the Trustees of His House of Justice, who, in their endeavours to raise aloft His Word and exalt His utterance, have renounced themselves and all created things, and are regardful of and tenaciously adhering to whatsoever will promote the Cause of God. We fain would hope that there may appear from these chosen ones of God, who are related to the Most Great Name, that which in the realm of action shall be the king of deeds, and in the realm of speech the prince of utterances. Through the benevolent exertions of these souls, the world is radiant and luminous with the light of justice and equity. Glorified be the majesty of God, our Lord and the Lord of the Mighty Throne."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/393829373

“The destructive effects of inequality prevent men from maturing and developing the qualities necessary to meet the challenges of the new millennium."

"Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God."

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)

www.bahai.org/r/156706577 

“Men have an inescapable duty to promote the equality of women. The presumption of superiority by men thwarts the ambition of women and inhibits the creation of an environment in which equality may reign. The destructive effects of inequality prevent men from maturing and developing the qualities necessary to meet the challenges of the new millennium. “As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities,” the Bahá’í Writings state, “so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.”

( ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks: Addresses Given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911, 12th ed. (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), 40.33)  Quoted in Two Wings of a Bird – National Spiritual Assembly of United States

"Every handmaiden who attaineth unto the recognition of the King of Names is accounted in the Book of God a true man, and so recorded by the Pen of the Most High."

 

Monticello cabin for the enslaved, © Chuck Egerton 2024

"He it is Who shineth forth in splendour from the supreme horizon.

O My handmaiden! How many the men who, throughout the centuries and ages, expectantly awaited the promised Manifestation, yet when His radiance dawned above the horizon of the world all turned away from Him but for a few. Every handmaiden who attaineth unto the recognition of the King of Names is accounted in the Book of God a true man, and so recorded by the Pen of the Most High. Yield thou thanks unto the Best-Beloved of the world, for having graciously assisted thee to recognize the Dayspring of His perspicuous signs and the Dawning-Place of His undoubted proofs. Great is this bounty, and mighty this bestowal. Do thou preserve it in the name of the one true God."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/057512604

"Most of the wealth of men is not pure."

 

photo by Margarete P.

"O Samandar! How many are the souls who, with the utmost endeavour and effort, collect a handful of worldly goods and greatly rejoice in this act, and yet in reality the Pen of the Most High hath decreed this wealth for others; that is, it is not meant to be their lot or it may even fall into the hands of their enemies! We seek shelter in God from such an evident loss. One’s life is wasted; by day and by night, troubles are endured, and wealth becometh a source of affliction. Most of the wealth of men is not pure. Should they follow what is revealed by God, they would assuredly not be deprived of His grace and they would, in all circumstances, be protected under His bounty and blessed by His mercy."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/772109960

"The world is evanescent, and one’s life fleeting."

 

photo by Trina G.

"O Zayn! It behoveth thee to entreat God to graciously enable His faithful servants to meet the obligation of Ḥuqúq. The world is evanescent, and one’s life fleeting. Therefore if one is privileged to offer that which is binding upon him, such an act hath ever been and will be nearer to piety and righteousness.... It is incumbent upon everyone to fulfil that which hath been set forth in the Book of God, exalted be His glory."

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/793994980

“We, verily, have ordained for him this exalted station, this high designation."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024

"What thou hadst written regarding martyrdom in the Path of God was presented, and He spoke thus, supreme is His Power: “We, verily, have ordained for him this exalted station, this high designation. Well it is with him that he attained this station prior to its appearance, and We accepted from him that which he intended in the path of God, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.” "

—Bahá’u’lláh

(Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh)
www.bahai.org/r/632401213