Call Thou To Mind The Behavior Of A_sh_raf's

Sources: Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha'u'llah

Call thou to mind the behavior of A_sh_raf's mother, whose son laid down

his life in the Land of Za (Zanjan). He, most certainly, is in the seat of

truth, in the presence of One Who is the Most Powerful, the Almighty.



When the infidels, so unjustly, decided to put him to death, they sent and

fetched his mother, that perchance she might admonish him, and induce him

to recant his faith, and follow in the footsteps of th m that have

repudiated the truth of God, the Lord of all worlds.



No sooner did she behold the face of her son, than she spoke to him such

words as caused the hearts of the lovers of God, and beyond them those of

the Concourse on high, to cry out and be sore pained with grief. Truly,

thy Lord knoweth what My tongue speaketh. He Himself beareth witness to My

words.



And when addressing him she said: "My son, mine own son! Fail not to offer

up thyself in the path of thy Lord. Beware that thou betray not thy faith

in Him before Whose face have bowed down in adoration all who are in the

heavens and all who are on the earth. Go thou straight on, O my son, and

persevere in the path of the Lord, thy God. Haste thee to attain the

presence of Him Who is the Well-Beloved of all worlds."



On her be My blessings, and My mercy, and My praise, and My glory. I

Myself shall atone for the loss of her son--a son who now dwelleth within

the tabernacle of My majesty and glory, and whose face beameth with a

light that envelopeth with its radiance the Maids of Heaven in their

celestial chambers, and beyond them the inmates of My Paradise, and the

denizens of the Cities of Holiness. Were any eye to gaze on his face, he

would exclaim: "Lo, this is no other than a noble angel!"