87
Sources: Gems Of Divine MysteriesO My brother! In this stage, which marketh the beginning of the
journey, thou shalt behold divers stations and differing signs, even as
was mentioned in connection with the City of Search. All these hold true
in their respective planes. It behoveth thine eminence in this station to
consider each created thing in its own place, neither abasing nor exalting
its true rank. For instance, if thou wert to reduce the unseen world to
the realm of creation, this would be an act of sheer blasphemy, and the
converse would likewise be the essence of impiety. Wert thou, however, to
describe the unseen world and the realm of creation within their own
stations, this would be the undoubted truth. In other words, wert thou to
witness any transformation in the realm of the divine unity, no greater
sin could be conceived in all creation, but wert thou to consider
transformation in its own place and understand it accordingly, no harm
could befall thee.
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7: O Son Of Man! If Thou Lovest Me Turn Away From Thyself; And If
O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee. ... 8
This is the text of that which was revealed aforetime in the first Gospel, according to Matthew, regarding the signs that must needs herald the advent of the One Who shall come after Him. He saith: "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them ... 8 And When The Sun Of Truth And Utterance Shall Set
turn your faces towards the Spot that We have ordained for you 6 Baha'u'llah ordains His resting-place as the Qiblih after His passing. The Most Holy Tomb is at Bahji, Akka. 'Abdu'l-Baha describes that Spot as the luminous Shrine, the place a... 80
We render thanks unto God for that which He hath bestowed upon us of His grace. He it is Who hath caused us to be assured of the truth of His Faith--a Faith which the combined forces of earth and heaven are powerless to resist. He it is Who hath enab... 80 O Ye Men Of Justice! #52
It has been elucidated in the writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi that, while the membership of the Universal House of Justice is confined to men, both women and men are eligible for election to Secondary and Local Houses of Justi... 80: O My Servants! Ye Are The Trees Of My Garden; Ye Must Give Forth
O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of ... 81
But hear, O My brother, My plaint against them that claim to be associated with God and with the Manifestations of His knowledge, and yet follow their corrupt inclinations, consume the substance of their neighbour, are given to wine, commit murder, d... 81 The Penalties For Wounding Or Striking A Person Depend Upon The
severity of the injury; for each degree the Lord of Judgement hath prescribed a certain indemnity. 56 While Baha'u'llah specified that the extent of the penalty depends upon the severity of the injury, there is no record of His having set out the... 81: O My Servant! The Basest Of Men Are They That Yield No Fruit
O MY SERVANT! The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth. Such men are verily counted as among the dead, nay better are the dead in the sight of God than those idle and worthless souls. ... 82
These people, however, have turned aside from all this and placed instead their affections upon that which accordeth with their own corrupt inclinations. Thus do they roam in the wilderness of arrogance and pride. I bear witness at this moment that G... 82 Verily It Is Enjoined Upon You To Offer A Feast Once In Every Month #57
This injunction has become the basis for the holding of monthly Baha'i festivities and as such constitutes the ordination of the Nineteen Day Feast. In the Arabic Bayan the Bab called upon His followers to gather together once every nineteen days ... 82: O My Servant! The Best Of Men Are They That Earn A Livelihood
O MY SERVANT! The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling and spend upon themselves and upon their kindred for the love of God, the Lord of all worlds. The mystic and wondrous Bride, hidden ere this beneath the veiling of utte... 83
Quaff then, O My brother, from the living waters that We have caused to flow in the oceans of these words. Methinks the seas of grandeur are surging within them, and the gems of divine virtue are shining within and upon them. Divest then thyself of t... 83 If Ye Should Hunt With Beasts Or Birds Of Prey
invoke ye the Name of God when ye send them to pursue their quarry; for then whatever they catch shall be lawful unto you, even should ye find it to have died. 60 By this law, Baha'u'llah greatly simplifies practices and religious regulations o... 84
Know thou, moreover, that in this most hallowed and resplendent city thou shalt find the wayfarer to be lowly before all men and humble before all things. For naught doth he behold save that he perceiveth God therein. He beholdeth the effulgent glori... 84 Hunt Not To Excess #60
While hunting is not forbidden by Baha'u'llah, He warns against excessive hunting. The Universal House of Justice will, in due course, have to consider what constitutes an excess in hunting. ... 85
Know, however, that the seeker, at the outset of his journey, witnesseth change and transformation, as hath already been mentioned. This is undoubtedly the truth, as hath been revealed concerning those days: "On the day when the earth shall be change... 85 He Hath Granted Them No Right To The Property Of Others #61
The injunction to show kindness to Baha'u'llah's kindred does not give them a share in the property of others. This is in contrast to Shi'ih Muslim practice, in which lineal descendants of Muhammad are entitled to receive a share of a certain tax.... 86
In this station, all changing and varying realities are manifest before thee. Whosoever denieth this truth hath verily turned aside from the Cause of God, rebelled against His rule, and gainsaid His sovereignty. For it is indeed within the power of H... 86 Should Anyone Intentionally Destroy A House By Fire
him also shall ye burn; should anyone deliberately take another's life, him also shall ye put to death. 62 The law of Baha'u'llah prescribes the death penalty for murder and arson, with the alternative of life imprisonment (see note 87). In ... 87
O My brother! In this stage, which marketh the beginning of the journey, thou shalt behold divers stations and differing signs, even as was mentioned in connection with the City of Search. All these hold true in their respective planes. It behoveth t... 87 Should Ye Condemn The Arsonist And The Murderer To Life Imprisonment
it would be permissible according to the provisions of the Book. 62 Shoghi Effendi, in response to a question about this verse of the Aqdas, affirmed that while capital punishment is permitted, an alternative, life imprisonment, has been provide... 88
By My Lord! Notwithstanding all that We have revealed unto thee of the mysteries of utterance and the degrees of exposition, methinks I have spoken not a single letter of the ocean of God's hidden knowledge and the essence of His inscrutable wisdom. ... 88 God Hath Prescribed Matrimony Unto You #63
Baha'u'llah, in one of His Tablets, states that God, in establishing this law, has made marriage a fortress for well-being and salvation. The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.C.1.a.-o., summarizes and synthesizes the provisions in the Kitab... 89
Know thou, moreover, that the bird that taketh flight in the atmosphere of the realm on high will never be able to soar unto the heaven of transcendent holiness, nor taste of the fruits which God hath brought forth therein, nor quaff from the streams... 89 Beware That Ye Take Not Unto Yourselves More Wives Than Two
Whoso contenteth himself with a single partner from among the maidservants of God, both he and she shall live in tranquillity. 63 While the text of the Kitab-i-Aqdas appears to permit bigamy, Baha'u'llah counsels that tranquillity and contentm... 8: O Son Of Glory! Be Swift In The Path Of Holiness And Enter The
O SON OF GLORY! Be swift in the path of holiness, and enter the heaven of communion with Me. Cleanse thy heart with the burnish of the spirit, and hasten to the court of the Most High. ... 8: O Son Of Spirit! There Is No Peace For Thee Save By Renouncing
O SON OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me; for it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved alone and above all that... 9
In the second Gospel, according to Mark, the Dove of holiness speaketh in such terms: "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."(7) And it singeth la... 9 We Have Set Forth The Details Of Obligatory Prayer In Another Tablet#8
The original Obligatory Prayer had for reasons of wisdom been revealed by Baha'u'llah in a separate Tablet (Q and A 63). It was not released to the believers in His lifetime, having been superseded by the three Obligatory Prayers now in use. Sh... 90
Comprehend, in like manner, every station, sign, and allusion, that thou mayest perceive all things in their own place and consider all matters in their proper light. For in this station, the City of Divine Unity, are to be found those who have enter... 90 He Who Would Take Into His Service A Maid May Do So With Propriety #63
Baha'u'llah states that a man may employ a maiden for domestic service. This was not permissible under Shi'ih Muslim practice unless the employer entered into a marriage contract with her. Baha'u'llah emphasizes that the service referred to in thi... 91
Know then that all thou hast heard and witnessed that Daystar of Truth, the Primal Point, ascribe to Himself from the designations of former times is only on account of the weakness of men and the scheme of the world of creation. Otherwise, all names... 91 This Is My Bidding Unto You; Hold Fast To It As An Assistance To Yourselves #63
While marriage is enjoined in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Baha'u'llah clarifies that it is not obligatory (Q and A 46). Shoghi Effendi, in a letter written on his behalf, also declared that marriage is by no means an obligation, and he affirmed that in the... 92
Know, moreover, that all that We have mentioned concerning these journeys is intended for none but the elect amongst the righteous. And shouldst thou spur on the charger of the spirit and traverse the meads of heaven, thou wouldst complete all these ... 92 We Have Conditioned It Upon The Permission Of Their Parents #65
In a letter written on his behalf, Shoghi Effendi has commented on this provision of the law: Baha'u'llah has clearly stated the consent of all living parents is required for a Baha'i marriage. This applies whether the parents are... 93
O My brother! If thou be a champion of this arena, speed within the lands of certitude, that thy soul may be delivered in this day from the bondage of misbelief, and that thou mayest perceive the sweet savours that waft from this garden. Verily, the ... 93 No Marriage May Be Contracted Without Payment Of A Dowry #66
The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.C.1.j.i.-v., summarizes the main provisions concerning the dowry. These provisions have their antecedents in the Bayan. The dowry is to be paid by the bridegroom to the bride. It is fixed at 19 mithqals... 94
His fragrant breaths diffused in Eastern lands could well To sick ones in the West restore their sense of smell!(59) ... 94 For City-dwellers At Nineteen Mithqals Of Pure Gold And For
village-dwellers at the same amount in silver 66 Baha'u'llah specifies that the criterion for determining the dowry payment is the location of the permanent residence of the bridegroom, not of the bride (Q and A 87, 88). ...