“the worst of all qualities and the most odious of all attributes, and the very foundation of all evil”

Consider that the worst of all qualities and the most odious of all attributes, and the very foundation of all evil, is lying, and that no more evil or reprehensible quality can be imagined in all existence. It brings all human perfections to naught and gives rise to countless vices. There is no worse attribute than this, and it is the foundation of all wickedness. Now, all this notwithstanding, should a physician console a patient and say, “Thank God, you are doing better and there is hope for your recovery”, although these words may be contrary to the truth, yet sometimes they will ease the patient’s mind and become the means of curing the illness. And this is not blameworthy. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)

"…the aim of communities emerging across the globe that are patterned on Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings"

...this is the aim of communities emerging across the globe that are patterned on Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

• These communities are striving to focus the light of those teachings on the chronic problems that afflict the societies around them;
• they are devising programmes of practical action centred on spiritual precepts.
• These are communities that champion the education of both girls and boys under all circumstances;
• that subscribe to an expanded conception of worship which includes work carried out in the spirit of service;
• that look to spiritual aspirations, rather than self-interest, as the ever-flowing springs of motivation;
• and that inculcate a resolve to advance individual and social transformation. They seek to bring about spiritual, social, and material progress simultaneously.
• Above all, these are communities that define themselves by their commitment to the oneness of humanity.
• They value the rich diversity represented by all the world’s kindreds, while maintaining that one’s identity as a member of the human race has precedence before other identities and associations.
• They affirm the need for a global consciousness, arising from a shared concern for the well-being of humankind,
• and they count all the peoples of the earth as spiritual brothers and sisters.

Not content with simply belonging to such communities, Bahá’u’lláh’s followers are making constant effort to invite like-minded souls to join them in learning how to put His teachings into effect. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated October 2019 on the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Birth of the Báb, addressed to ‘all who have come to honour the Herald of a new Dawn’; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

Human soul “acts in two ways”: (1) through means such as eyes, ears and tongue; and (2) without such means as in dreams and visions

 The spirit acts in two ways: One way is by instruments; that is, it sees with the eyes, it hears with the ears and speaks with the tongue. These instruments work by the spirit, which is their motor; though its senses are manifested by the body, they come from the faculty of the spirit. The other way is that of being and acting without instruments; as in dreams and visions, it sees without eyes, hears without ears, speaks without the tongue, walks without feet. All the faculties of the spirit are clear and distinct in the world of visions. Hence it is evident that the spirit acts in two ways: First, by the instruments of the body; second, without the instruments of the body. …

The body is like the crystal and the spirit is like the light. Though the crystal be extremely transparent, its brilliancy and splendor belong to the brightness of the light. To be luminous, the light does not need the crystal, but the crystal to be bright needs the light. Even so the spirit does not live by the body, but the body lives by the spirit.

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s amazing scientific knowledge

While walking in the stern of the ship [sailing to America] in the afternoon ‘Abdu'l-Bahá said:

“It is the twelfth day of our voyage. We have traveled a quarter of the way around the globe and have traversed six degrees of longitude. Here it is afternoon, while in Egypt it is the middle of the night at this time.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 6, 1912, aboard the Cedric, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Máh-Kú 1848: The Báb’s last words to Mullá Husayn: - “You are destined to exhibit such courage, such skill and heroism as shall eclipse the mightiest deeds of the heroes of old.”

As the Báb bade His last farewell to Mullá Husayn, He addressed him in these words: “You have walked on foot all the way from your native province to this place. On foot you likewise must return until you reach your destination; for your days of horsemanship are yet to come. You are destined to exhibit such courage, such skill and heroism as shall eclipse the mightiest deeds of the heroes of old. Your daring exploits will win the praise and admiration of the dwellers in the eternal Kingdom. You should visit, on your way, the believers of Khúy, of Urúmíyyih, of Marághih, of Milán, of Tabríz, of Zanján, of Qazvín, and of Tihrán. To each you will convey the expression of My love and tender affection. You will strive to inflame their hearts anew with the fire of the love of the Beauty of God, and will endeavour to fortify their faith in His Revelation. From Tihrán you should proceed to Mázindarán, where God’s hidden treasure will be made manifest to you. You will be called upon to perform deeds so great as will dwarf the mightiest achievements of the past. The nature of your task will, in that place, be revealed to you, and strength and guidance will be bestowed upon you that you may be fitted to render your service to His Cause.” 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

A broad list of ‘Abdu’l-Baha's counsels: - summarized by the Universal House of Justice

[2018] Three brief years remain until the centenary of the Master’s passing, when Bahá’ís the world over will gather and take account of the distance traversed over the first century of the Formative Age. May His loved ones, individually and collectively, little by little and day by day, increasingly embody His counsels:

• to be united in the Cause and firm in the Covenant;
• to avoid calumny and never speak ill of others;
• to see no strangers but regard all as members of one family;
• to set aside divergent theories and conflicting views and pursue a single purpose and common goal;
• to ensure that the love of Bahá’u’lláh has so mastered every organ, part, and limb as to leave no effect from the promptings of the human world;
• to arise with heart and soul and in one accord to teach the Cause;
• to march in serried lines, pressed together, each supporting the others;
• to cultivate good character, perseverance, strength, and determination;
• to know the value of this precious Faith, obey its teachings, walk in this road that is drawn straight, and show this way to the people.

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 26 November 2018 to the Bahá’ís of the World; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022’)

The “divinely-ordained function” of Baha’i Temple

It is with hearts brimming with joy that we greet you on this historic occasion, when the doors of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Colombia are opened to all. The Temple that has been built through strenuous effort over four years is now ready to assume its divinely-ordained function—a place “solely designed and entirely dedicated to the worship of God”; “a place of great happiness and joy”; “a collective centre for men’s souls” which “forgeth bonds of unity from heart to heart”; “a means for the exaltation of the Word of God”. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 22 July 2018 to ‘The Friends Gathered in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, for the Dedication of the House of Worship’; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

“evils and vices, which are, for the most part, the direct consequences of the 'weakening of the pillars of religion'”

Not only must irreligion and its monstrous offspring, the triple curse that oppresses the soul of mankind in this day, be held responsible for the ills which are so tragically besetting it, but other evils and vices, which are, for the most part, the direct consequences of the "weakening of the pillars of religion," must also be regarded as contributory factors to the manifold guilt of which individuals and nations stand convicted. The signs of moral downfall, consequent to the dethronement of religion and the enthronement of these usurping idols, are too numerous and too patent for even a superficial observer of the state of present-day society to fail to notice.

• The spread of lawlessness, of drunkenness, of gambling, and of crime;
• the inordinate love of pleasure, of riches, and other earthly vanities;
• the laxity in morals, revealing itself in
• the irresponsible attitude towards marriage,
• in the weakening of parental control,
• in the rising tide of divorce,
• in the deterioration in the standard of literature and of the press, and
• in the advocacy of theories that are the very negation of purity, of morality and chastity —

these evidences of moral decadence, invading both the East and the West, permeating every stratum of society, and instilling their poison in its members of both sexes, young and old alike, blacken still further the scroll upon which are inscribed the manifold transgressions of an unrepentant humanity. 

- Shoghi Effendi ('The Promised Day is Come')

“an essential preliminary” for those who plan to participate in teaching campaigns

 Those who participate in such a [“teaching”] campaign, whether in an organizing capacity, or as workers to whose care the execution of the task itself has been committed, must, as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties,

• thoroughly familiarize themselves with the various aspects of the history and teachings of their Faith.
• In their efforts to achieve this purpose they must study for themselves, conscientiously and painstakingly, the literature of their Faith, delve into its teachings, assimilate its laws and principles, ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes, commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers, master the essentials of its administration, and keep abreast of its current affairs and latest developments.
• They must strive to obtain, from sources that are authoritative and unbiased, a sound knowledge of the history and tenets of Islám—the source and background of their Faith—and approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur’án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and Bahá’í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God.
• They must devote special attention to the investigation of those institutions and circumstances that are directly connected with the origin and birth of their Faith, with the station claimed by its Forerunner, and with the laws revealed by its Author. 

- Shoghi Effendi (‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

‘Abdu’l-Baha explains how our attitude and behavior should be towards other human beings

O ye Cohorts of God! Praise be to God! —that the Blessed Perfection hath freed the necks from the bonds and fetters and released all from racial attachments by proclaiming, “Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.” Be ye kind to the human world, and be ye compassionate to the race of man, deal with the strangers as you deal with the friends, be ye gentle toward the outsiders as you are toward the beloved ones, know the enemy as the friend, look upon the satan as upon the angel, receive the unjust with the utmost love like unto a faithful one, and diffuse far and wide the fragrances of the musk of the gazelles of Kheta and Khotan [1] to the nostrils of the ravenous wolves.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)

[1] Kheta and Khotan are two cities in China celebrated for having large numbers of musk-producing animals. The reference here symbolizes the severed and detached believers who are diffusing the fragrance of the Word of God.

Proofs that Bahá’u’lláh’s “divine Revelation is that same heavenly Kingdom which Christ said was nigh” – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains

O thou seeker after Truth! Thy letter was received and thy purpose became known. Thou hast asked: If this divine Revelation is that same heavenly Kingdom which Christ said was nigh, then by what proof and testimony can this be demonstrated, and by what tidings can it be announced? There is no time for a detailed reply, so a brief account is provided.

Know thou that the proofs of the truth of this new Kingdom are the same as those of the Kingdom of Christ. The proof of the subsequent Kingdom is the same as that of the previous one—nay, it is the mightiest proof!

Proofs are of two kinds: those for the common people and those for the learned. The latter will not be convinced by the proofs for the former, who, likewise, will not be assured by the proofs for the latter. The common people seek miracles and marvels, while the learned regard these not as proof; these neither satisfy their search nor quench their thirst. Rather, they seek conclusive rational proofs. Thus, as thou art endowed with a keen vision and a sound mind, we will set forth conclusive and rational proofs that leave none the possibility for denial.

We say that the purpose underlying the advent of the Kingdom is the edification of the souls of men, the progress of the world of humanity, the manifestation of the love of God, the establishment of fellowship and unity amongst all peoples, the appearance of divine perfections, and the realization of the glory of the human race. This is the purpose of the advent of the Kingdom, and this is its result. Observe, then, how the edifying power of Bahá’u’lláh hath enlightened the darksome East, transformed voracious beasts into heavenly angels, endowed the ignorant with knowledge, and caused ravening wolves to become as gazelles in the meads of oneness. Those who, because of custom or belief, rose in enmity against all peoples now associate with all in a spirit of perfect unity. Those who used to burn the Holy Bible out of exceeding ignorance now set forth the truths and mysteries of the Old and New Testaments. In a brief span of time, He so educated His followers that, even in chains and stocks, and under the threat of swords and blades, they would raise the cry of “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!” and would offer sugar candy to their executioners that they might strike the final blow with sweetened mouths. Thou dost surely recall the story of Peter the disciple, and the crowing of the cock!

The incredible, awe-striking power of the Manifestation of God

It is in Our power, should We wish it, to enable a speck of floating dust to generate, in less than the twinkling of an eye, suns of infinite, of unimaginable splendor, to cause a dewdrop to develop into vast and numberless oceans, to infuse into every letter such a force as to empower it to unfold all the knowledge of past and future ages. 

- Baha’u’llah (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, The Power of Divine Assistance)

2017: “the single greatest worldwide opportunity there has ever been for connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh”

The signs could hardly be more promising, then, for what the coming year might bring. And what could be more fitting to offer the Blessed Beauty on the two hundredth anniversary of His Birth than the earnest striving of His loved ones to extend the reach of His Faith? The first of the two bicentenaries to be celebrated by the Bahá’í world is thus an occasion with prospects most thrilling. Viewed aright, this year presents the single greatest worldwide opportunity there has ever been for connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh. In the months ahead, let all be mindful of this precious chance and alert to the possibilities that exist in every space for acquainting others with His life and sublime mission. 

- The Universal House of Justice (Ridvan 2017 message; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

Mary Magdalene asked Roman emperor to spare the executioners of Jesus Christ and the Jews who “were responsible for killing Christ” – ‘Abdu’l-Baha relates

Following the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, among the services Mary Magdalene rendered was that, by some means or other, she secured a meeting with the emperor of Rome.[1] That meeting took place at a time when Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas were both aware that the Jews had levelled unfounded allegations against Jesus Christ, and that He was in fact innocent of any crime. Pilate and Herod, therefore, began to persecute the Jews. When the emperor of Rome inquired about the reason for her visit, Mary Magdalene replied, “I have come on behalf of the Christians; they have asked that the executioners of Jesus Christ be spared punishment, and the Jews be left undisturbed. Since Pilate and Herod persecuted the Jews, even though the Jews were responsible for killing Christ, He would not at all be pleased if anyone attempted to exact vengeance upon them.” These remarks from Mary Magdalene pleased the emperor greatly and made a profound impression on him. As a result, the emperor decreed that the Jews were to be left alone. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 22 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

[1] Apparently a reference to Tiberius, the second Roman emperor.

Auxiliary Board Members: their broad range of responsibilities

These consecrated officers of the Cause constitute an institution originally conceived and created by Shoghi Effendi to assist the Hands of the Cause of God in their “dual and sacred task of safeguarding the Faith and of promoting its teaching activities.” Now serving as auxiliaries to the Continental Counsellors,

• they and their assistants play a decisive part in the unfoldment of the global Plans,
• bringing to the work breadth of vision and clarity of thought,
• flexibility and resourcefulness.
• In cluster after cluster, from the first stirrings of activity, they labour alongside the friends, assisting individuals, communities, and institutions
•  to focus their attention on the Plan,
• to maintain a conception of what needs to be done and the next steps to be taken,
• and to appreciate the complementarity of the efforts of all the friends and the need for mutual support. 
• And in every aspect of their service, they foster a spirit of love and unity.

The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 25 November 2016 to the Bahá’ís of the World regarding the total number of the Auxiliary Board members worldwide; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

“The signs of…progress” in “the evolution of the new World Order [that] are being stimulated by the spiritual forces released through the unfoldment of the Divine Plan”

During this period, the adoption of an evolving framework for action has enabled the friends to progressively nurture and refine essential capacities, giving rise to simple acts of service at first, leading to more elaborate patterns of action, which in turn demanded the development of capacities still more complex. In this way, a systematic process of human resource development and community building has been started in thousands of clusters—and, in many of them, become far advanced. The focus has not been solely on the individual believer, or the community, or the institutions of the Faith; all three inseparable participants in the evolution of the new World Order are being stimulated by the spiritual forces released through the unfoldment of the Divine Plan. The signs of their progress are more and more apparent:

•  in the confidence that countless believers have acquired to share accounts of Bahá’u’lláh’s life and discuss the implications of His Revelation and peerless Covenant;
• in the growing contingents of souls who, as a result, have been attracted to His Cause and are contributing to the achievement of His unifying vision;
• in the ability of Bahá’ís and their friends, at the very grassroots of the community, to describe in eloquent terms their experience of a process capable of transforming character and shaping social existence;
• in the significantly larger numbers of those indigenous to a country who, as members of Bahá’í institutions and agencies, are now guiding the affairs of their communities;
• in the reliable, generous, and sacrificial giving to the Fund, so vital for sustaining the advancement of the Faith;

Dust from the Shrine of the Báb Placed in the Chile Temple

29 April 2015

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahái Friends,

The swiftly advancing construction work of the last continental House of Worship paused today as the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Chile, together with a handful of believers, assembled to mark a moment of significant symbolism. Having been hand carried from the Holy Land to Santiago, a small ornamental silver case containing dust lovingly collected decades earlier from the sacred space of the inner Shrine of the Báb by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum was ceremoniously set within a cavity at the heart of the wooden carving of the Greatest Name designed to adorn the apex of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. This bold yet graceful calligraphic piece, crafted by a local artisan from the timber of the roble pellín tree native to Chile, is now raised into its permanent position twenty-nine metres above ground, framed against the sky, at the perfect centre of the Temple.

The Universal House of Justice

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

The reported response of Napoleon III to Baha’u’llah’s first Tablet and the resulting conversion of the transmitter of the second Tablet

It is reported that upon receipt of this first Message that superficial, tricky, and pride-intoxicated monarch flung down the Tablet saying: “If this man is God, I am two gods!” The transmitter of the second Tablet had, it is reliably stated, in order to evade the strict surveillance of the guards, concealed it in his hat, and was able to deliver it to the French agent, who resided in Akká, and who, as attested by Nabíl in his Narrative, translated it into French and sent it to the Emperor, he himself becoming a believer when he had later witnessed the fulfillment of so remarkable a prophecy. 

- Shoghi Effendi (‘The Promised Day Is Come’)

The unbelievable capacity released by the Báb

“The Báb,” ‘Abdu’l Bahá, moreover, has written, “hath said: ‘Should a tiny ant desire, in this day, to be possessed of such power as to be able to unravel the abstrusest and most bewildering passages of the Qur’án, its wish will no doubt be fulfilled, inasmuch as the mystery of eternal might vibrates within the innermost being of all created things.’ If so helpless a creature can be endowed with so subtle a capacity, how much more efficacious must be the power released through the liberal effusions of the grace of Bahá’u’lláh!” 

- Shoghi Effendi (Quoting ‘Abdu’l-Baha in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)