Knowledge Must Result In Action
Sources: 'abdu'l-baha In LondonA representative from a well known society made reference to its meetings
for the purpose of a search into the reality of truth, and 'Abdu'l-Baha
said I know of your work. I think a great deal of it. I know your desire
is to serve mankind, and to draw together Humanity under the banner of
Oneness; but its members must beware less it become only a discussion.
Look about you. How many committees have been formed, and living for a
little while, have died! Committees and Societies can not create or give
life.
People get together and talk, but it is God's Word alone that is powerful
in its results. Consider for a moment: you would not trade together if you
had no income from it and derived no benefit! Look at the followers of
Christ. Their power was due to their ardour and their deeds. Every effort
must have its result, else it is not a true effort. You must become the
means of lighting the world of humanity. This is the infallible proof and
sign. Every progress depends on two things, knowledge and practice. First
acquire knowledge, and, when conviction is reached, put it into practice.
Once a learned man journeyed to see me to receive my blessing, saying he
knew and comprehended the Baha'i teachings. When I told him that he could
receive the blessings of the Holy Spirit at any time when he put himself
in a receptive attitude to accept them, he said he was always in a
receptive attitude.
'What would you do,' I asked 'if I were to suddenly turn and strike you?'
He instantly flared with indignation and strode angrily about the room.
After a little I went over and took his arm, saying, 'But you must return
good for evil. Whether I honoured you or despised you, you should follow
the teachings; now you merely read them. Remember the words of Jesus who
said, 'The first shall be last, and the last first.' The man turned, shook
my hand and departed, and I have since heard of many kind acts he has
done.
When 'Abdu'l-Baha was addressed by the name of prophet, he answered, My
name is 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Servant of God [literally, the Slave of
Glory.](1)
More
-
I Give Praise To Thee, O My God, That The Fragrance
I give praise to Thee, O my God, that the fragrance of Thy loving-kindness hath enraptured me, and the gentle winds of Thy mercy have inclined me in the direction of Thy bountiful favors. Make me to quaff, O my Lord, from the fingers of Thy bounte... I Give Praise To Thee, O My God, That Thou Hast
I give praise to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast awakened me out of my sleep, and brought me forth after my disappearance, and raised me up from my slumber. I have wakened this morning with my face set toward the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy Re... I Give Thee Thanks, O My God, For That Thou Hast
I give Thee thanks, O my God, for that Thou hast made me to be a target for the darts of Thine adversaries in Thy path. I offer Thee most high praise, O Thou Who art the Knower of the seen and unseen and the Lord of all being, that Thou hast suffe... I Have Risen This Morning By Thy Grace, O My
I have risen this morning by Thy grace, O my God, and left my home trusting wholly in Thee, and committing myself to Thy care. Send down, then, upon me, out of the heaven of Thy mercy, a blessing from Thy side, and enable me to return home in safe... I Have Wakened In Thy Shelter, O My God, And It
I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Day-Spring of T... I Know Not, O My God, What The Fire Is Which
I know not, O my God, what the Fire is which Thou didst kindle in Thy land. Earth can never cloud its splendor, nor water quench its flame. All the peoples of the world are powerless to resist its force. Great is the blessedness of him that hath d... I Know Not, O My God, What The Fire Is With Which
I know not, O my God, what the Fire is with which Thou didst light the Lamp of Thy Cause, or what the Glass wherewith Thou didst preserve it from Thine enemies. By Thy might! I marvel at the wonders of Thy Revelation, and at the tokens of Thy glor... I Know Not, O My God, Whether I Should Speak
I know not, O my God, whether I should speak forth the wonders of Thy praise among Thy servants, and lay bare before them the secrets of Thy mercy and the mysteries of Thy Cause, or keep them wrapped up within the receptacle of my heart. Though th... I Sorrow Not For The Burden Of My Imprisonment
I sorrow not for the burden of My imprisonment. Neither do I grieve over My abasement, or the tribulation I suffer at the hands of Mine enemies. By My life! They are My glory, a glory wherewith God hath adorned His own Self. Would that ye know it!... I Swear By The Beauty Of The Well-beloved!
I swear by the beauty of the Well-Beloved! This is the Mercy that hath encompassed the entire creation, the Day whereon the grace of God hath permeated and pervaded all things. The living waters of My mercy, O 'Ali, are fast pouring down, and Mine... Ideals Of East And West
One of the organizers of the Races Congress present spoke of the Western ideals of Baha'u'llah as differing from those of former prophets which were tinged with the ideas and civilization of the East. He then asked whether Baha'u'llah had made a s... If It Be Your Wish O People To Know
If it be your wish, O people, to know God and to discover the greatness of His might, look, then, upon Me with Mine own eyes, and not with the eyes of any one besides Me. Ye will, otherwise, be never capable of recognizing Me, though ye ponder My ... If Ye Meet The Abased Or The Down-trodden
If ye meet the abased or the down-trodden, turn not away disdainfully from them, for the King of Glory ever watcheth over them and surroundeth them with such tenderness as none can fathom except them that have suffered their wishes and desires to ... In This Day The World Is Redolent With The Fragrances Of The
IN this day the world is redolent with the fragrances of the robe of the Revelation of the Ancient King ... and yet, they (divines) have gathered together, and established themselves upon their seats, and have spoken that which would put an animal... Inspired Messengers
When asked if it would be always necessary for prophets to come from time to time--would not the world in the course of events through progress reach to a full realization of God?--'Abdu'l-Baha replied: Mankind needs a universal motive power to qu... Introduction
_We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem Us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of... Introduction
This year, the 149th of the Baha'i era, marks the Centenary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, Bearer of the universal Revelation of God destined to lead humanity to its collective coming of age. That this occasion should be observed by a community ... It Hath Been Decreed By Us That The Word
It hath been decreed by Us that the Word of God and all the potentialities thereof shall be manifested unto men in strict conformity with such conditions as have been foreordained by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We have, moreover, ord... It Is Clear And Evident That When The Veils
It is clear and evident that when the veils that conceal the realities of the manifestations of the Names and Attributes of God, nay of all created things visible or invisible, have been rent asunder, nothing except the Sign of God will remain--a ... It Is Evident That Every Age In Which A Manifestation
It is evident that every age in which a Manifestation of God hath lived is divinely ordained, and may, in a sense, be characterized as God's appointed Day. This Day, however, is unique, and is to be distinguished from those that have preceded it. ... It Is Our Wish And Desire That Every One Of
It is Our wish and desire that every one of you may become a source of all goodness unto men, and an example of uprightness to mankind. Beware lest ye prefer yourselves above your neighbors. Fix your gaze upon Him Who is the Temple of God amongst ... It Is Our Wish To Remember The Abode Of
It is Our wish to remember the Abode of supreme blissfulness (Tihran), the holy and shining city--the city wherein the fragrance of the Well-Beloved hath been shed, wherein His signs have been diffused, wherein the evidences of His glory have been... Kaiser Wilhelm I
O KING of Berlin! Give ear unto the Voice calling from this manifest Temple: Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Everlasting, the Peerless, the Ancient of Days. Take heed lest pride debar thee from recognizing the Dayspring of Divine Revel... Know Assuredly That Just As Thou Firmly
Know assuredly that just as thou firmly believest that the Word of God, exalted be His glory, endureth for ever, thou must, likewise, believe with undoubting faith that its meaning can never be exhausted. They who are its appointed interpreters, t... Know Of A Certainty That In Every Dispensation
Know of a certainty that in every Dispensation the light of Divine Revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their spiritual capacity. Consider the sun. How feeble its rays the moment it appeareth above the horizon. How grad... Know Thou Of A Certainty That The Unseen
Know thou of a certainty that the Unseen can in no wise incarnate His Essence and reveal it unto men. He is, and hath ever been, immensely exalted beyond all that can either be recounted or perceived. From His retreat of glory His voice is ever pr... Know Thou That According To What Thy
Know thou that, according to what thy Lord, the Lord of all men, hath decreed in His Book, the favors vouchsafed by Him unto mankind have been, and will ever remain, limitless in their range. First and foremost among these favors, which the Almigh... Know Thou That Every Created Thing Is A
Know thou that every created thing is a sign of the revelation of God. Each, according to its capacity, is, and will ever remain, a token of the Almighty. Inasmuch as He, the sovereign Lord of all, hath willed to reveal His sovereignty in the king... Know Thou That Every Hearing Ear If Kept
Know thou that every hearing ear, if kept pure and undefiled, must, at all times and from every direction, hearken to the voice that uttereth these holy words: "Verily, we are God's, and to Him shall we return." The mysteries of man's physical dea... Know Thou That When The Son Of Man
Know thou that when the Son of Man yielded up His breath to God, the whole creation wept with a great weeping. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. Its evidences, as witnessed in all the peoples of... Know Verily That The Essence Of Justice
Know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinances prescribed by Him Who is the Manifestation of the Self of God amongst men, if ye be of them that recognize this truth. He doth verily incarnate the ... Know Verily That Whenever This Youth
Know verily that whenever this Youth turneth His eyes towards His own self, he findeth it the most insignificant of all creation. When He contemplates, however, the bright effulgences He hath been empowered to manifest, lo, that self is transfigur... Knowledge Must Result In Action
A representative from a well known society made reference to its meetings for the purpose of a search into the reality of truth, and 'Abdu'l-Baha said I know of your work. I think a great deal of it. I know your desire is to serve mankind, and to ... Lauded And Glorified Art Thou O Lord My
Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord, my God! How can I make mention of Thee, assured as I am that no tongue, however deep its wisdom, can befittingly magnify Thy name, nor can the bird of the human heart, however great its longing, ever hope to ... Lauded And Glorified Art Thou, O Lord My God!
Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou art He Who from everlasting hath been clothed with majesty, with authority and power, and will continue unto everlasting to be arrayed with honor, with strength and glory. The learned, one and all... Lauded And Glorified Art Thou, O My God! I Entreat
Lauded and glorified art Thou, O my God! I entreat Thee by the sighing of Thy lovers and by the tears shed by them that long to behold Thee, not to withhold from me Thy tender mercies in Thy Day, nor to deprive me of the melodies of the Dove that ... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Darkness
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Darkness hath fallen upon every land, and the forces of mischief have encompassed all the nations. Through them, however, I perceive the splendors of Thy wisdom, and discern the brightness of the light of Thy pro... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! How Great
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! How great is Thy might and Thy sovereignty; how vast Thy strength and Thy dominion! Thou hast called into being Him Who speaketh in Thy name before all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, and hast bidden Him ... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! I Am Thy
Lauded be Thy Name, O Lord my God! I am Thy servant who hath laid hold on the cord of Thy tender mercies, and clung to the hem of Thy bounteousness. I entreat Thee by Thy name whereby Thou hast subjected all created things, both visible and invisi... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! I Entreat
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! I entreat Thee by Thy Name through which the Hour hath struck, and the Resurrection came to pass, and fear and trembling seized all that are in heaven and all that are on earth, to rain down, out of the heaven of... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! I Testify
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! I testify that Thou wast a hidden Treasure wrapped within Thine immemorial Being and an impenetrable Mystery enshrined in Thine own Essence. Wishing to reveal Thyself, Thou didst call into being the Greater and t... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Thou Beholdest
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest how my gaze is fixed toward Thy tender mercies, and how mine eyes are bent upon the horizon of Thy grace, and Thy loving-kindness, and how my hands are stretched out unto the heaven of Thy bestowal... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Thou Dost
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou dost witness that Thy will hath prevailed over all created things, and Thy mercy hath surpassed all who are in heaven and on earth. And when Thou didst purpose to unveil Thy sovereignty, and to glorify Thy w... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Thou Seest
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou seest me in this day shut up in my prison, and fallen into the hands of Thine adversaries, and beholdest my son (The Purest Branch) lying on the dust before Thy face. He is Thy servant, O my Lord, whom Thou ... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Thou Seest
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou seest how Thy servants have everywhere been compassed with tribulations, how their adversaries have all risen up against them and grievously wronged them. Thy glory beareth me witness! Were all the wicked do... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Thou Seest
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou seest how I have turned myself toward Thee, and set my face in the direction of Thy grace and Thy gifts. I implore Thee, by Thy name through which Thou didst enable all them that have recognized Thy unity to... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God And The God Of
Lauded be Thy name, O my God and the God of all things, my Glory and the Glory of all things, my Desire and the Desire of all things, my Strength and the Strength of all things, my King and the King of all things, my Possessor and the Possessor of... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! Aid Thou By
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Aid Thou by Thy strengthening grace Thy servants and Thy handmaidens to recount Thy virtues and to be steadfast in their love towards Thee. How many the leaves which the tempests of trials have caused to fall, and how... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! I Am So Carried
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I am so carried away by the breezes blowing from Thy presence that I have forgotten my self and all that I possess. This is but a sign of the wonders of Thy grace and bountiful favors vouchsafed unto me. I give praise... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! I Can Discover
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I can discover no one in Thy realm who can befittingly turn unto Thee, or is able to adequately hearken unto what hath gone out of the mouth of Thy will. I beseech Thee, therefore, O Thou Who art the Possessor of the ... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! I Entreat Thee
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I entreat Thee by the fragrances of the Raiment of Thy grace which at Thy bidding and in conformity with Thy desire were diffused throughout the entire creation, and by the Day-Star of Thy will that hath shone brightl... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! I Testify That No
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I testify that no thought of Thee, howsoever wondrous, can ever ascend into the heaven of Thy knowledge, and no praise of Thee, no matter how transcendent, can soar up to the atmosphere of Thy wisdom. From eternity Th... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! Thou Beholdest
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Thou beholdest me in the clutches of my oppressors. Every time I turn to my right, I hear the voice of the lamentation of them that are dear to Thee, whom the infidels have made captives for having believed in Thee an... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! Thou Beholdest
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Thou beholdest how the tempestuous winds of tests have caused the steadfast in faith to tremble, and how the breath of trials hath stirred up those whose hearts had been firmly established, except such as have partake... Lauded Be Thy Name, O My God! Thou Seest How
Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Thou seest how I have been sorely vexed among Thy servants, and beholdest the things that have befallen me in Thy path. Thou knowest full well that I have not spoken a word but by Thy leave, that my lips have never be... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Thou In Whose Hands Is
Lauded be Thy name, O Thou in Whose hands is the kingdom of all names, and in the grasp of Whose might are all that are in heaven and all that are on earth! I entreat Thee, by Him Who is Thy Most Effulgent Name Whom Thou hast made a target for the... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Thou Who Art My God
Lauded be Thy name, O Thou Who art my God and throbbest within my heart! Thou art well aware and dost witness that whatsoever shameth them that are dear to Thee must shame also Him Who is the Manifestation of Thyself and the Day-Spring of Thy Reve... Lauded Be Thy Name, O Thou Who Beholdest All
Lauded be Thy name, O Thou Who beholdest all things and art hidden from all things! From every land Thou hearest the lamentations of them that love Thee, and from every direction Thou hearkenest unto the cries of such as have recognized Thy sovere... Lay Not Aside The Fear Of God O Kings Of
Lay not aside the fear of God, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed. Observe the injunctions laid upon you in His Book, and take good heed not to overstep their limits. Be vigilant, that ... Lay Not Aside The Fear Of God O Ye The
Lay not aside the fear of God, O ye the learned of the world, and judge fairly the Cause of this unlettered One to Whom all the Books of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, have testified. ...Will not the dread of Divine displeasure, the fear... Lend An Ear Unto The Song Of David He Saith: 'who Will
LEND an ear unto the song of David. He saith: 'Who will bring me into the Strong City?' The Strong City is Akka, which hath been named the Most Great Prison, and which possesseth a fortress and mighty ramparts... Peruse that which Isaiah hath spok... Let Not Your Hearts Be Perturbed O People
Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the... Let Nothing Grieve Thee O Land Of Ta
Let nothing grieve thee, O Land of Ta (Tihran), for God hath chosen thee to be the source of the joy of all mankind. He shall, if it be His Will, bless thy throne with one who will rule with justice, who will gather together the flock of God which... Let Thine Ear Be Attentive O Nabil-i-'azam
Let thine ear be attentive, O Nabil-i-'Azam, to the Voice of the Ancient of Days, crying to thee from the Kingdom of His all-glorious Name. He it is Who is now proclaiming from the realms above, and within the inmost essence of all created things:...