He Is Indeed A True Believer In The Unity Of

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

He is indeed a true believer in the unity of God who, in this Day, will

regard Him as One immeasurably exalted above all the comparisons and

likenesses with which men have compared Him. He hath erred grievously who

hath mistaken these comparisons and likenesses for God Himself. Consider

the relation between the craftsman and his handiwork, between the painter

and his painting. Can it ever be maintained that the work their hands hav

produced is the same as themselves? By Him Who is the Lord of the Throne

above and of earth below! They can be regarded in no other light except as

evidences that proclaim the excellence and perfection of their author.



O _Sh_ay_kh_, O thou who hast surrendered thy will to God! By

self-surrender and perpetual union with God is meant that men should merge

their will wholly in the Will of God, and regard their desires as utter

nothingness beside His Purpose. Whatsoever the Creator commandeth His

creatures to observe, the same must they diligently, and with the utmost

joy and eagerness, arise and fulfil. They should in no wise allow their

fancy to obscure their judgment, neither should they regard their own

imaginings as the voice of the Eternal. In the Prayer of Fasting We have

revealed: "Should Thy Will decree that out of Thy mouth these words

proceed and be addressed unto them, 'Observe, for My Beauty's sake, the

fast, O people, and set no limit to its duration,' I swear by the majesty

of Thy glory, that every one of them will faithfully observe it, will

abstain from whatsoever will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so

until they yield up their souls unto Thee." In this consisteth the

complete surrender of one's will to the Will of God. Meditate on this,

that thou mayest drink in the waters of everlasting life which flow

through the words of the Lord of all mankind, and mayest testify that the

one true God hath ever been immeasurably exalted above His creatures. He,

verily, is the Incomparable, the Ever-Abiding, the Omniscient, the

All-Wise. The station of absolute self-surrender transcendeth, and will

ever remain exalted above, every other station.



It behoveth thee to consecrate thyself to the Will of God. Whatsoever hath

been revealed in His Tablets is but a reflection of His Will. So complete

must be thy consecration, that every trace of worldly desire will be

washed from thine heart. This is the meaning of true unity.



Do thou beseech God to enable thee to remain steadfast in this path, and

to aid thee to guide the peoples of the world to Him Who is the manifest

and sovereign Ruler, Who hath revealed Himself in a distinct attire, Who

giveth utterance to a Divine and specific Message. This is the essence of

faith and certitude. They that are the worshipers of the idol which their

imaginations have carved, and who call it Inner Reality, such men are in

truth accounted among the heathen. To this hath the All-Merciful borne

witness in His Tablets. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.