The First And Foremost Duty Prescribed
Sources: Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha'u'llahThe first and foremost duty prescribed unto men, next to the recognition
of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, is the duty of steadfastness in His
Cause. Cleave thou unto it, and be of them whose minds are firmly fixed
and grounded in God. No act, however meritorious, did or can ever compare
unto it. It is the king of all acts, and to this thy Lord, the
All-Highest, the Most Powerful, will testify....
The virt
manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books.
Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while
communing with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath
decreed, contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience,
nay, thankfulness in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in
all circumstances, upon Him. These rank, according to the estimate of God,
among the highest and most laudable of all acts. All other acts are, and
will ever remain, secondary and subordinate unto them....
The spirit that animateth the human heart is the knowledge of God, and its
truest adorning is the recognition of the truth that "He doeth whatsoever
He willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth." Its raiment is the fear
of God, and its perfection steadfastness in His Faith. Thus God
instructeth whosoever seeketh Him. He, verily, loveth the one that turneth
towards Him. There is none other God but Him, the Forgiving, the Most
Bountiful. All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.
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