On the calendar below, click your cursor on the date you would like to go to for suggested readings, or scroll down to see all the suggestions, statrting with January first.
The Search for Truth
Man must cut himself free from all prejudice and from the result of his own imagination, so that he may be able to search for truth unhindered.
Truth is one in all religions, and by means of it the unity of the world can be realized.
All the peoples have a fundamental belief in common. Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the
nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united.
The Unity of Mankind
The one all-loving God bestows His divine Grace and Favour on all mankind; one and all are servants of the Most High, and His Goodness, Mercy and loving
Kindness are showered upon all His creatures. The glory of humanity is the heritage of each one.
All men are the leaves and fruit of one same tree, they are all branches of the tree of Adam, they all have the same origin. The same rain has fallen
upon them all, the same warm sun makes them grow, they are all refreshed by the same breeze. The only differences that exist and that keep them apart are
these: there are the children who need guidance, the ignorant to be instructed, the sick to be tended and healed; thus, I say that the whole of humanity
is enveloped by the Mercy and Grace of God. As the Holy Writings tell us: All men are equal before God. He is no respecter of persons.
Religion should be the Cause of Love and Affection
Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth, give birth to spirituality, and bring life and
light to each heart. If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a
religion would be a truly religious act. For it is clear that the purpose of a remedy is to cure; but if the remedy should only aggravate the
complaint it had better be left alone. Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion. All the holy prophets were as doctors
to the soul; they gave prescriptions for the healing of mankind; thus any remedy that causes disease does not come from the great and supreme
Physician.
The Unity of Religion and Science
We may think of science as one wing and religion as the other; a bird needs two wings for flight, one alone would be useless. Any religion that
contradicts science or that is opposed to it, is only ignorance -- for ignorance is the opposite of knowledge.
Religion which consists only of rites and ceremonies of prejudice is not the truth. Let us earnestly endeavour to be the means of uniting religion
and science.
'Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, said: 'That which is in conformity with science is also in conformity with religion'. Whatever the intelligence of
man cannot understand, religion ought not to accept. Religion and science walk hand in hand, and any religion contrary to science is not the truth.
Prejudices of Religion, Race or Sect destroy the foundation of Humanity
All the divisions in the world, hatred, war and bloodshed, are caused by one or other of these prejudices.
The whole world must be looked upon as one single country, all the nations as one nation, all men as belonging to one race. Religions, races, and
nations are all divisions of man's making only, and are necessary only in his thought; before God there are neither Persians, Arabs, French nor
English; God is God for all, and to Him all creation is one. We must obey God, and strive to follow Him by leaving all our prejudices and bringing
about peace on earth.
Equal opportunity of the means of Existence
Every human being has the right to live; they have a right to rest, and to a certain amount of well-being. As a rich man is able to live in his
palace surrounded by luxury and the greatest comfort, so should a poor man be able to have the necessaries of life. Nobody should die of hunger;
everybody should have sufficient clothing; one man should not live in excess while another has no possible means of existence.
Let us try with all the strength we have to bring about happier conditions, so that no single soul may be destitute.
The Equality of Men -- equality before the Law
The Law must reign, and not the individual; thus will the world become a place of beauty and true brotherhood will be realized. Having attained
solidarity, men will have found truth.
The steed of this Valley is patience; without patience the wayfarer on this journey will reach nowhere and attain no goal. Nor should he ever be
downhearted; if he strive for a hundred thousand years and yet fail to behold the beauty of the Friend, he should not falter. For those who seek the
Ka'bih [1] of "for Us" rejoice in the tidings: "In Our ways will We guide them." [2] In their search, they have stoutly girded up the loins of service,
and seek at every moment to journey from the plane of heedlessness into the realm of being. No bond shall hold them back, and no counsel shall deter
them.
[1 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means"goal."]
Unless ye must, Bruise not the serpent in the dust, How much less wound a man. And if ye can, No ant should ye alarm, Much less a brother harm.
Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the clay of My command I made thee to appear, and have ordained for thy training every atom in existence
and the essence of all created things. Thus, ere thou didst issue from thy mother's womb, I destined for thee two founts of gleaming milk, eyes
to watch over thee, and hearts to love thee. Out of My loving-kindness, 'neath the shade of My mercy I nurtured thee, and guarded thee by the
essence of My grace and favor. And My purpose in all this was that thou mightest attain My everlasting dominion and become worthy of My invisible
bestowals. And yet heedless thou didst remain, and when fully grown, thou didst neglect all My bounties and occupied thyself with thine idle
imaginings, in such wise that thou didst become wholly forgetful, and, turning away from the portals of the Friend didst abide within the courts
of My enemy.
The higher plane, however, understandeth the lower. The animal, for instance, comprehendeth the mineral and vegetable, the human understandeth the
planes of the animal, vegetable and mineral. But the mineral cannot possibly understand the realms of man. And notwithstanding the fact that all
these entities co-exist in the phenomenal world, even so, no lower degree can ever comprehend a higher.
The furthermost limits of this bird of clay are these: he can flutter along for some short distance, into the endless vast; but he can never soar
upward to the Sun in the high heavens. We must, nevertheless, set forth reasoned or inspired proofs as to the existence of the Divine Being, that
is, proofs commensurate with the understanding of man.
And each one of these members hath its own special function. The mind force -- whether we call it pre-existent or contingent -- doth direct and
co-ordinate all the members of the human body, seeing to it that each part or member duly performeth its own special function. If, however,
there be some interruption in the power of the mind, all the members will fail to carry out their essential functions, deficiencies will appear
in the body and the functioning of its members, and the power will prove ineffective.
Likewise, look into this endless universe: a universal power inevitably existeth, which encompasseth all, directing and regulating all the parts
of this infinite creation; and were it not for this Director, this Co-ordinator, the universe would be flawed and deficient. It would be even as
a madman; whereas ye can see that this endless creation carrieth out its functions in perfect order, every separate part of it performing its own
task with complete reliability, nor is there any flaw to be found in all its workings. Thus it is clear that a Universal Power existeth, directing
and regulating this infinite universe. Every rational mind can grasp this fact.
Meditate on what the poet hath written: "Wonder not, if my Best-Beloved be closer to me than mine own self; wonder at this, that I, despite such
nearness, should still be so far from Him."... Considering what God hath revealed, that "We are closer to man than his life-vein," the poet hath, in
allusion to this verse, stated that, though the revelation of my Best-Beloved hath so permeated my being that He is closer to me than my life-vein, yet,
notwithstanding my certitude of its reality and my recognition of my station, I am still so far removed from Him. By this he meaneth that his heart,
which is the seat of the All-Merciful and the throne wherein abideth the splendor of His revelation, is forgetful of its Creator, hath strayed from His
path, hath shut out itself from His glory, and is stained with the defilement of earthly desires.
It may be that a man who has every material benefit, and who lives surrounded by all the greatest comfort modern civilization can give him, is denied the
all important gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is indeed a good and praiseworthy thing to progress materially, but in so doing, let us not neglect the more important spiritual progress, and close
our eyes to the Divine light shining in our midst.
Only by improving spiritually as well as materially can we make any real progress, and become perfect beings. It was in order to bring this spiritual
life and light into the world that all the great Teachers have appeared. They came so that the Sun of Truth might be manifested, and shine in the hearts
of men, and that through its wondrous power men might attain unto Everlasting Light.
This physical universe is infinite, and if material existence is endless, how much more so are the worlds of God! When we think of the visible worlds as
infinite, how can we think that the worlds of God are limited? There is no beginning and no end to the material or spiritual worlds. Man passes through
different phases and when in a lower consciousness he cannot comprehend the consciousness above. When we were in the state of the unborn child we had no
knowledge of the world of man. If the vegetable kingdom could speak it would cry out, "Where is the world of man?" We cry out, "Where is the kingdom of
the spirit?"
O concourse of the faithful! Incline your ears to My Voice, proclaimed by this Remembrance of God. Verily God hath revealed unto Me that the Path of
the Remembrance which is set forth by Me is, in very truth, the straight Path of God, and that whoever professeth any religion other than this
upright Faith, will, when called to account on the Day of Judgement, discover that as recorded in the Book no benefit hath he reaped out of God's
Religion...
Fear ye God, O concourse of kings, lest ye remain afar from Him Who is His Remembrance [the Báb], after the Truth hath come unto you with a Book and
signs from God, as spoken through the wondrous tongue of Him Who is His Remembrance. Seek ye grace from God, for God hath ordained for you, after ye
have believed in Him, a Garden the vastness of which is as the vastness of the whole of Paradise. Therein ye shall find naught save the gifts and
favours which the Almighty hath graciously bestowed by virtue of this momentous Cause, as decreed in the Mother Book.
This light of the intellect is the highest light that exists, for it is born of the Light Divine.
The light of the intellect enables us to understand and realize all that exists, but it is only the Divine Light that can give us sight for the
invisible things, and which enables us to see truths that will only be visible to the world thousands of years hence.
It was the Divine Light which enabled the prophets to see two thousand years in advance what was going to take place and today we see the realization of
their vision. Thus it is this Light which we must strive to seek, for it is greater than any other.
At this time and at this period we must avail ourselves of this most great opportunity. We must not sit inactive for one moment; we must sever ourselves
from composure, rest, tranquillity, goods, property, life and attachment to material things. We must sacrifice everything to His Highness, the Possessor
of existence, so that the powers of the Kingdom may show greater penetration and the brilliant effulgence in this New Cycle may illumine the worlds of
minds and ideals.
'Should Prayer take the form of action?'
'Abdu'l-Baha:
At a time when the East was enshrouded with superstition and hatred, Baha'o'llah flooded these regions with his glorious light. Under the chains he
unfurled the flag of the oneness of the world of humanity; in the prisons he spread the principles of universal peace and brotherhood; from behind the
barracks he wrote his famous epistles to the kings and rulers of the world, arraigning the oppressors of the earth and calling upon them in the name of
God the exalted not to place their sovereignty above that of His Highness the Almighty. He admonished them on the part of the wronged ones to listen to
the call of the new day else their kingdoms would pass out of their hands and would fall into the hands of others. "Know that brotherhood hath been
proclaimed - even so hath this matter been recorded upon a mighty tablet with the strong pen of God."[1]
It is because we have shut our eyes to the underlying principle of all religions, that God is one, that He is the Father of us all, that we are all
immersed in the ocean of His mercy and sheltered and protected by His loving care.
Especially to those whose thoughts are material and retrograde show the utmost love and patience, thereby winning them into the unity of fellowship
by the radiance of your kindness.
If you are faithful to your great work, following the Holy Sun of Truth without swerving, then will the blessed day of universal brotherhood dawn
on this beautiful city.
Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
As He exhorted the people to do away with strife and discord, so I wish to explain to you the principal reason of the unrest among nations. The
chief cause is the misrepresentation of religion by the religious leaders and teachers. They teach their followers to believe that their own form
of religion is the only one pleasing to God, and that followers of any other persuasion are condemned by the All-Loving Father and deprived of His
Mercy and Grace. Hence arise among the peoples, disapproval, contempt, disputes and hatred. If these religious prejudices could be swept away, the
nations would soon enjoy peace and concord.
The second is the love that flows from man to God. This is faith, attraction to the Divine, enkindlement, progress, entrance into the Kingdom
of God, receiving the Bounties of God, illumination with the lights of the Kingdom. This love is the origin of all philanthropy; this love
causes the hearts of men to reflect the rays of the Sun of Reality.
The third is the love of God towards the Self or Identity of God. This is the transfiguration of His Beauty, the reflection of Himself in the
mirror of His Creation. This is the reality of love, the Ancient Love, the Eternal Love. Through one ray of this Love all other love exists.
The fourth is the love of man for man. The love which exists between the hearts of believers is prompted by the ideal of the unity of spirits.
This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love reflected in the heart. Each sees in the other the Beauty
of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in love. This love will make all men the
waves of one sea, this love will make them all the stars of one heaven and the fruits of one tree. This love will bring the realization of true
accord, the foundation of real unity.
But the love which sometimes exists between friends is not (true) love, because it is subject to transmutation; this is merely fascination. As
the breeze blows, the slender trees yield. If the wind is in the East the tree leans to the West, and if the wind turns to the West the tree
leans to the East. This kind of love is originated by the accidental conditions of life. This is not love, it is merely acquaintanceship; it is
subject to change.
When Jesus came He lighted the flaming torch of truth, and carried it aloft so that the whole world might be illumined thereby. After Him
came His chosen apostles, and they went far and wide, carrying the light of their Master's teaching into a dark world -- and, in their
turn, passed on.
Then came Muhammad, who in His time and way spread the knowledge of truth among a savage people; for this has always been the mission of
God's elect.
So, at last, when Baha'u'llah arose in Persia, this was His most ardent desire, to rekindle the waning light of truth in all lands.
All the holy ones of God have tried with heart and soul to spread the light of love and unity throughout the world, so that the darkness of
materiality might disappear and the light of spirituality might shine forth among the children of men. Then would hate, slander and murder
disappear, and in their stead love, unity and peace would reign.
This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is
the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have
kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity.
My God, my Fire and my Light! The days which Thou hast named the Ayyam-i-Ha (the Days of Ha, Intercalary days) in Thy Book have begun, O Thou Who
art the King of names, and the fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe is approaching.
I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by these days and by all such as have during that period clung to the cord of Thy commandments, and laid hold on the
handle of Thy precepts, to grant that unto every soul may be assigned a place within the precincts of Thy court, and a seat at the revelation of the
splendors of the light of Thy countenance.
These, O my Lord, are Thy servants whom no corrupt inclination hath kept back from what Thou didst send down in Thy Book. They have bowed themselves
before Thy Cause, and received Thy Book with such resolve as is born of Thee, and observed what Thou hadst prescribed unto them, and chosen to follow
that which had been sent down by Thee. Thou seest, O my Lord, how they have recognized and confessed whatsoever Thou hast revealed in Thy Scriptures.
Give them to drink, O my Lord, from the hands of Thy graciousness the waters of Thine eternity. Write down, then, for them the recompense ordained for
him that hath immersed himself in the ocean of Thy presence, and attained unto the choice wine of Thy meeting.
I implore Thee, O Thou the King of kings and the Pitier of the downtrodden, to ordain for them the good of this world and of the world to come. Write
down for them, moreover, what none of Thy creatures hath discovered, and number them with those who have circled round Thee, and who move about Thy
throne in every world of Thy worlds. Thou, truly, art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation and
mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind. Enmity is now the result of prejudice only.
In the Hidden Words Baha'u'llah says, "Justice is to be loved above all." Praise be to God, in this country the standard of justice has been raised; a
great effort is being made to give all souls an equal and a true place. This is the desire of all noble natures; this is today the teaching for the East
and for the West; therefore the East and the West will understand each other and reverence each other, and embrace like long-parted lovers who have found
each other.
There is one God; mankind is one; the foundations of religion are one. Let us worship Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets and Messengers who
have manifested His brightness and glory.
.
Detachment does not consist in setting fire to one's house, or becoming bankrupt or throwing one's fortune out of the window, or even giving away all
of one's possessions. Detachment consists in refraining from letting our possessions possess us. A prosperous merchant who is not absorbed in his
business knows severance. A banker whose occupation does not prevent him from serving humanity is severed. A poor man can be attached to a small thing.
By God, the True One, verily, the gifts of God are in such profusion as to rush like a torrent, overflow as a sea, and shower as rain. Gird up thy
loins, strengthen thy back, make firm thy feet, and exert thyself in quickening souls, dilating breasts, illumining insights, giving hearing to
ears, and attracting hearts. Unseal the jars of the choice wine of the love of God, and give the craving ones to drink from this cup which is
overflowing with the knowledge of God.
A letter which was signed by you in general was received. Its content was of the utmost beauty, sweetness, eloquence and perfection. While reading
it the utmost happiness was produced. It spoke of fasting during the month of the Fast. Happy is your condition for you have executed the divine
command; and have arisen to fast in these blessed days. For this physical fasting is a symbol of the spiritual fasting, that is, abstaining from
all carnal desires, becoming characterized with the attributes of the spiritual ones, attracted to the heavenly fragrances and enkindled with the
fire of the love of God.
[1 Revealed in response to a supplication signed by 489 believers in America during the period of the 19-day fast in 1906.]
"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them
that worship therein. ...
This reed is a Perfect Man Who is likened to a reed, and the manner of its likeness is this: when the interior of a reed is empty and
free from all matter, it will produce beautiful melodies; and as the sound and melodies do not come from the reed, but from the flute
player who blows upon it, so the sanctified heart of that blessed Being is free and emptied from all save God, pure and exempt from the
attachments of all human conditions, and is the companion of the Divine Spirit. Whatever He utters is not from Himself, but from the
real flute player, and it is a divine inspiration. That is why He is likened to a reed; and that reed is like a rod -- that is to say, it
is the helper of every impotent one, and the support of human beings. It is the rod of the Divine Shepherd by which He guards His flock and
leads them about the pastures of the Kingdom.
This is the century of the Blessed Perfection!
This is the cycle of the light of His beauty!
This is the consummate day of all the Prophets!
These are the days of seed sowing. These are the days of tree planting. The bountiful bestowals of God are successive. He who sows a seed
in this day will behold his reward in the fruits and harvest of the heavenly Kingdom. This timely seed, when planted in the hearts of the
beloved of God, will be watered by showers of divine mercy and warmed by the sunshine of divine love. Its fruitage and flower shall be the
solidarity of mankind, the perfection of justice and the praiseworthy attributes of heaven manifest in humanity. All who sow such a seed
and plant such a tree according to the teachings of Baha'u'llah shall surely witness this divine outcome in the degrees of its perfection
and will attain unto the good pleasure of the Merciful One.
Rejoice with great joy, for God hath made thee "the Day Spring of His light," inasmuch as within thee was born the Manifestation of His
Glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee -- a name through which the Day Star of grace hath shed its splendor,
through which both earth and heaven have been illumined.
Rejoice with great joy, for God hath made thee "the Day Spring of His light," inasmuch as within thee was born the Manifestation of His
Glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee -- a name through which the Day Star of grace hath shed its splendor,
through which both earth and heaven have been illumined.
This phenomenal world will not remain in an unchanging condition even for a short while. Second after second it undergoes change and
transformation. Every foundation will finally become collapsed; every glory and splendor will at last vanish and disappear, but the Kingdom
of God is eternal and the heavenly sovereignty and majesty will stand firm, everlasting. Hence in the estimation of a wise man the mat in
the Kingdom of God is preferable to the throne of the government of the world.
Prosperity, contentment, and freedom, however much desired and conducive to the gladness of the human heart, can in no wise compare with the
trials of homelessness and adversity in the pathway of God; for such exile and banishment are blessed by the divine favour, and are surely followed
by the mercy of Providence.
Service of the friends is service to the Kingdom of God, and consideration shown to the poor is one of the greatest teachings of God.
Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almight God is the education and training of children, young plants
of the Abha Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of
education, will one day bejewel the crown of abiding glory. It is, however, very difficult to undertake this service, even harder to succeed in
it. I hope that thou wilt acquit thyself well in this most important of tasks, and successfully carry the day, and become an ensign of God's
abounding grace; that these children, reared one and all in the holy Teachings, will develop natures like unto the sweet airs that blow across
the gardens of the All-Glorious, and will waft their fragrance around the world.
The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled, so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and consume
the veil of self, and passion. He must also be utterly humble and lowly so that others may be edified, and be totally self-effaced and
evanescent so that he may teach with the melody of the Concourse on high -- otherwise his teaching will have no effect.
They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that with which the sovereignty of earth
and heaven can never be compared. From them they will inhale the divine fragrance of My worlds—worlds which today none can discern save those
who have been endowed with vision through this sublime, this beauteous Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure unto those
spiritual worlds that can neither be expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed be those who hearken.
Assist ye, O My people, My chosen servants who have arisen to make mention of Me among My creatures and to exalt My Word throughout My
realm. These, truly, are the stars of the heaven of My loving providence and the lamps of My guidance unto all mankind. But he whose words
conflict with that which hath been sent down in My Holy Tablets is not of Me. Beware lest ye follow any impious pretender. These Tablets are
embellished with the seal of Him Who causeth the dawn to appear, Who lifteth up His voice between the heavens and the earth. Lay hold on this
Sure Handle and on the Cord of My mighty and unassailable Cause.
Endeavour your utmost to compose beautiful poems to be chanted with heavenly music; thus may their beauty affect the minds and impress the
hearts of those who listen.
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily, I chanted thy poem. Its significance was beautiful, its composition eloquent and its words excellent. It was like the melody of
the birds of holiness in the paradise of El-ABHA. The breasts of the maid-servants of the Merciful were exhilarated by its chanting. Blessed
art thou for uttering forth such an excellent poem and brilliant pearl.
Verily, these verse shall be sung in the divine meetings and in the assemblages of the spiritual in the course of ages and centuries to come,
for thou hast uttered the praise of thy Lord and expressed significant meanings in eulogy of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Clement. All poems
shall be forgotten in the course of time save those that are extraordinary; thy poem shall be chanted with melody and best voices in the Center
of Worship (or Mashrak-el-Azcar) forevermore.
Regarding arrangements for the Baha'i Sunday meeting for the purpose of worship, this is very suitable. But, in a meeting for worship, first,
prayer should be chanted and supplication made until all gather; then communion should be made. After praying, sacred readings with melodious
voices should be read by all together. As this is the commencement of holding meetings, this is sufficient.
The teaching work should under all conditions be actively pursued by the believers because divine confirmations are dependent upon it.
Should a Baha'i refrain from being fully, vigorously and wholeheartedly involved in the teaching work he will undoubtedly be deprived
of the blessings of the Abha Kingdom. Even so, this activity should be tempered with wisdom -- not that wisdom whish requireth one to
be silent and forgetful of such an obligation, but rather that which requireth one to display holy divine tolerance, love, kindneww,
patience, a goodly character, and holy deeds. In brief, encourage the friends individually to teach the Cause of God and draw their
attention to this meaning of wisdom mentioned in the Writings, which is itself the essence of teaching the Faith -- but all this to be
done with the greatest tolerance, so that heavenly assistance and divine confirmation may aid the friends.
Happy art thou to have obtained so heavenly a gift. Blessed art thou to be favoured with His divine bestowals. The glory of God
rest upon thee and upon them that hold fast unto the sure handle of His Will and holy Covenant.
You have asked whether it is permissible for the friends to recite prayers other than those revealed by the Central Figures of our
Faith, prefacing your query by citing an instance when a prayer from a different source was chanted at a Baha'i public meeting. No
prohibition has been found in the Baha'i Writings against the recitation at public gatherings of prayers other than those provided
in Baha'i Scriptures. You are no doubt aware that in devotional programs at Baha'i Houses of Worship it is permissible to include
scriptures from other revealed religions, which may include prayers. You did not specifically mention whether your concern was about
prayers originating from other sacred scriptures or from compositions by individuals. Baha'is are generally encouraged to use the
Creative Word, including those prayers and Tablets revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab and 'Abdu'l-Baha which are authenticated and
published in our Baha'i literature. A letter dated 8 August 1942, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual Assembly,
indicates that while spontaneous prayer is permitted, the revealed verses are preferred because "the revealed Word is endowed with
a power of its own". The friends, therefore, must use them in their own supplications with radiant joy. This does not mean, however,
that in addition to such prayers, they may not, in private, use their own words whenever they feel the inclination to do so.
The House of Justice has not prescribed any set forms to be adopted in a Holy Shrine, whether it be in prayer, meditation or reading
of the Holy Scriptures, as long as the practices followed do not disturb the devotions of others who are in the Shrine. It does not
favour the adoption of the practice of songs being sung with musical accompaniment in close proximity to the Shrines. As you can well
understand, such singing could well disturb those who, within the Shrines, are engaged in their devotions.
There are, of course, special occasions, such as the commemoration of Holy Days at the Baha'i World Centre, when prayers and devotional
readings are recited at a gathering held near a Shrine, and the Tablet of Visitation chanted. A devotional programme, with soloists and
orchestral accompaniment, is also planned at the entrance to the Terraces adjoining the Shrine of the Bab, in May 2001.
...the flourishing of the community, especially at the local level, demands a significant enhancement in patterns of behaviour: those
patterns by which the collective expression of the virtues of the individual members and the functioning of the Spiritual Assembly are
manifest in the unity and fellowship of the community and the dynamism of its activity and growth. This calls for the integration of the
component elements - adults, youth and children - in spiritual, social, educational and administrative activities; and their engagement
in local plans of teaching and development. It implies a collective will and sense of purpose to perpetuate the Spiritual Assembly through
annual elections. It involves the practice of collective worship of God. Hence, it is essential to the spiritual life of the community that
the friends hold regular devotional meetings in local Baha'i centres, where available, or elsewhere, including the homes of believers.
Therefore, ye friends of God! Appreciate ye the value of this time and be ye engaged in the sowing of the seeds, so that you may
find the heavenly blessing and the lordly bestowal. Upon you be Baha'u'l-Abha!
Baha'is have the bounty of having the prayers revealed by the Manifestations of God, the Bab and Baha'u'llah, as well as by
'Abdu'l-Baha, which guide us in our devotions, but there is no prohibition of the reading of prayers or selections from the Sacred
Writings of other religions. However, the Guardian stated, "It would be wiser for the Baha'is to use the meditations given by
Baha'u'llah and not use any set form of meditation given by someone else."
January 02 (03 Sharaf/Honor)
January 03 (04 Sharaf/Honor)
January 04 (05 Sharaf/Honor)
January 05 (06 Sharaf/Honor)
January 06 (07 Sharaf/Honor)
January 07 (08 Sharaf/Honor)
January 08 (09 Sharaf/Honor)
January 09 (10 Sharaf/Honor)
[2 Qur'an 29:69: "And whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them."]January 10 (11 Sharaf/Honor)
January 11 (12 Sharaf/Honor)
January 12 (13 Sharaf/Honor)
January 13 (14 Sharaf/Honor)
January 14 (15 Sharaf/Honor)
January 15 (16 Sharaf/Honor)
January 16 (17 Sharaf/Honor)
January 17 (18 Sharaf/Honor)
January 18 (19 Sharaf/Honor)
January 19 (1 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 20 (2 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 21 (3 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 22 (4 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 23 (5 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 24 (6 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 25 (7 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 26 (8 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 27 (9 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 28 (10 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 29 (11 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 30 (12 Sultan/Sovereignty)
January 31 (13 Sultan/Sovereignty)
February 1 (14 Sultan/Sovereignty)
February 2 (15 Sultan/Sovereignty)
February 3 (16 Sultan/Sovereignty)
December 26th, 1912
'Yes: In the Baha'i Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability,
conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the
fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind
and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing
in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise'.February 4 (17 Sultan/Sovereignty)
[1 Many of the events which Baha'o'llah prophesied are taking place today and many are yet to come.]February 5 (18 Sultan/Sovereignty)
[1 Cf. Mark 16:15.]February 6 (19 Sultan/Sovereignty)
February 7 (1 Mulk/Dominion)
February 8 (2 Mulk/Dominion)
February 9 (3 Mulk/Dominion)
February 10 (4 Mulk/Dominion)
February 11 (5 Mulk/Dominion)
February 12 (6 Mulk/Dominion)
February 13 (7 Mulk/Dominion)
February 14 (8 Mulk/Dominion)
February 15 (9 Mulk/Dominion)
February 16 (10 Mulk/Dominion)
February 17 (11 Mulk/Dominion)
February 18 (12 Mulk/Dominion)
February 19 (13 Mulk/Dominion)
February 20 (14 Mulk/Dominion)
February 21 (15 Mulk/Dominion)
February 22 (16 Mulk/Dominion)
February 23 (17 Mulk/Dominion)
February 24 (18 Mulk/Dominion)
February 25 (19 Mulk/Dominion)
February 26 (1st day of Ayyam-i-Ha/Intercalary Days)
February 27 (2nd day of Ayyam-i-Ha/Intercalary Days)
February 28 (3rd day of Ayyam-i-Ha/Intercalary Days)
February 29 (4th day of Ayyam-i-Ha/Intercalary Days)
March 1 (5th day of Ayyam-i-Ha/Intercalary Days)
March 2 (1 Alá/Loftiness)
March 3 (2 Alá/Loftiness)
March 4 (3 Alá/Loftiness)
March 5 (4 Alá/Loftiness)
March 6 (5 Alá/Loftiness)
March 7 (6 Alá/Loftiness)
March 8 (7 Alá/Loftiness)
March 9 (8 Alá/Loftiness)
March 10 (9 Alá/Loftiness)
March 11 (10 Alá/Loftiness)
March 12 (11 Alá/Loftiness)
March 13 (12 Alá/Loftiness)
March 14 (13 Alá/Loftiness)
March 15 (14 Alá/Loftiness)
March 16 (15 Alá/Loftiness)
March 17 (16 Alá/Loftiness)
March 18 (17 Alá/Loftiness)
March 19 (18 Alá/Loftiness)
March 20 (19 Alá/Loftiness)
March 21 (1 Bahá/Splendor)
March 22 (2 Bahá/Splendor)
March 23 (3 Bahá/Splendor)
March 24 (4 Bahá/Splendor)
March 25 (5 Bahá/Splendor)
March 26 (6 Bahá/Splendor)
1. O SON OF SPIRIT!
My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.March 27 (7 Bahá/Splendor)
March 28 (8 Bahá/Splendor)
March 29 (9 Bahá/Splendor)
March 30 (10 Bahá/Splendor)
March 31 (11 Bahá/Splendor)
April 1 (12 Bahá/Splendor)
April 2 (13 Bahá/Splendor)
April 3 (14 Bahá/Splendor)
April 4 (15 Bahá/Splendor)
April 5 (16 Bahá/Splendor)
April 6 (17 Bahá/Splendor)
April 7 (18 Bahá/Splendor)
April 8 (19 Bahá/Splendor)
April 9 (1 Jalal/Glory)
April 10 (2 Jalal/Glory)
April 11 (3 Jalal/Glory)
April 12 (4 Jalal/Glory)