Quote of the Day, 19 Qawl 173 BE

“O phoenix of that immortal flame kindled in the sacred Tree! Bahá’u’lláh — may my life, my soul, my spirit be offered up as a sacrifice unto His lowly servants — hath, during His last days on earth, given the most emphatic promise that, through the outpourings of the grace of God and the aid and assistance vouchsafed from His Kingdom on high, souls will arise and holy beings appear who, as stars, would adorn the firmament of divine guidance; illumine the dayspring of loving-kindness and bounty; manifest the signs of the unity of God; shine with the light of sanctity and purity; receive their full measure of divine inspiration; raise high the sacred torch of faith; stand firm as the rock and immoveable as the mountain; and grow to become luminaries in the heavens of His Revelation, mighty channels of His grace, means for the bestowal of God’s bountiful care, heralds calling forth the name of the One true God, and establishers of the world’s supreme foundation.

These shall labour ceaselessly, by day and by night, shall heed neither trials nor woe, shall suffer no respite in their efforts, shall seek no repose, shall disregard all ease and comfort, and, detached and unsullied, shall consecrate every fleeting moment of their lives to the diffusion of the divine fragrance and the exaltation of God’s holy Word. Their faces will radiate heavenly gladness, and their hearts be filled with joy. Their souls will be inspired, and their foundation stand secure. They shall scatter in the world, and travel throughout all regions. They shall raise their voices in every assembly, and adorn and revive every gathering. They shall speak in every tongue, and interpret every hidden meaning. They shall reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom, and manifest unto everyone the signs of God. They shall burn brightly even as a candle in the heart of every assembly, and beam forth as a star upon every horizon. The gentle breezes wafted from the garden of their hearts shall perfume and revive the souls of men, and the revelations of their minds, even as showers, will reinvigorate the peoples and nations of the world.

I am waiting, eagerly waiting for these holy ones to appear; and yet, how long will they delay their coming? My prayer and ardent supplication, at eventide and at dawn, is that these shining stars may soon shed their radiance upon the world, that their sacred countenances may be unveiled to mortal eyes, that the hosts of divine assistance may achieve their victory, and the billows of grace, rising from His oceans above, may flow upon all mankind. Pray ye also and supplicate unto Him that through the bountiful aid of the Ancient Beauty these souls may be unveiled to the eyes of the world.”

- Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 18 Qawl 173 BE

"Alas for them! They have deluded themselves with a fable, and to indulge their appetites they have done away with their own selves. They gave up everlasting glory in exchange for human pride, and they sacrificed greatness in both worlds to the demands of the insistent self. This is that of which We have forewarned you. Erelong shall ye behold the foolish in manifest loss."

- Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 17 Qawl 173 BE

"Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth."

- Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah

Quote of the Day, 16 Qawl 173 BE

"Say: O people! Sow not the seeds of discord among men, and refrain from contending with your neighbor, for your Lord hath committed the world and the cities thereof to the care of the kings of the earth, and made them the emblems of His own power, by virtue of the sovereignty He hath chosen to bestow upon them. He hath refused to reserve for Himself any share whatever of this world’s dominion."

- Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah

Quote of the Day, 15 Qawl 173 BE

"The Guardian reveals what the Scripture means; his interpretation is a statement of truth which cannot be varied. Upon the Universal House of Justice, in the words of the Guardian, ‘has been conferred the exclusive right of legislating on matters not expressly revealed in the Bahá’í Writings.’ Its pronouncements, which are susceptible of amendment or abrogation by the House of Justice itself, serve to supplement and apply the Law of God. Although not invested with the function of interpretation, the House of Justice is in a position to do everything necessary to establish the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh on this earth."

- Letter from the Universal House of Justice, 9 March 1965

Quote of the Day, 14 Qawl 173 BE

“Even as the believer, the denier who turneth away from God doth at the same time cup his hands and drink from the sea of His bestowals.”

- Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 13 Qawl 173 BE

"Indulge not your bodies with rest, but work with all your souls, and with all your hearts cry out and beg of God to grant you His succour and grace. Thus may ye make this world the Abhá Paradise, and this globe of earth the parade ground of the realm on high. If only ye exert the effort, it is certain that these splendours will shine out, these clouds of mercy will shed down their rain, these life-giving winds will rise and blow, this sweet-smelling musk will be scattered far and wide."

- Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 12 Qawl 173 BE

“...the satanic secrets and deeds done in the gloom of night shall be laid bare and manifest before the peoples of the world.”

- Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh

Quote of the Day, 11 Qawl 173 BE

"A council fire shall be kindled for all the nations. It shall be lit for the Cherokee and the Wyandot. We will also kindle it for the seven nations living toward the sunrise, and for the nations that live toward the sunset. All shall receive the Great Law and labor together for the welfare of man."

- The Great Peacemaker (Deganawida), Native American prophet

Quote of the Day, 10 Qawl 173 BE

"...know thou that, verily, the hosts of confirmation from the Kingdom of God will assist every soul who is severed from aught else save God, is associated with the commemoration of God and is rejoiced at the glad-tidings of God. Cut thyself from this world and rely on the Supreme Concourse, so that thou mayest hear the call from the Lofty Apex and thy face may become illuminated with a light shining forth from the Kingdom of El-ABHA."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 1

Quote of the Day, 9 Qawl 173 BE

"...is it not love for God that burns away all veils of estrangement and division and binds hearts together in perfect unity? Is it not His love that spurs you on in the field of service and enables you to see in every soul the capacity to know Him and to worship Him? Are you not galvanized by the knowledge that His Manifestation gladly endured a life of suffering out of His love for humanity?"

- Ridvan message from the Universal House of Justice, 2010 AD / 167 BE

Quote of the Day, 8 Qawl 173 BE

“...earthly sovereignty is of no worth, nor will it ever be, in the eyes of God and His chosen Ones.”

- Bahá'u'lláh, Kitab-i-Iqan

Quote of the Day, 7 Qawl 173 BE

"And thou wilt take up thy life in thine hand, and with infinite
longing cast it before the new Beloved One."

- Baha'u'llah, Seven Valleys

Quote of the Day, 6 Qawl 173 BE

“Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God.”

- Bahá’u’lláh, Seven Valleys

Quote of the Day, 5 Qawl 173 BE

"Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Quote of the Day, 4 Qawl 173 BE - Day of the Covenant

"The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsan, the Afnan and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: 'When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [Abdu'l-Bahá]."

- Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Ahd (Book of the Covenant)

Quote of the Day, 3 Qawl 173 BE

"The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book; inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit."

- Selections from the Writings of the Báb

Quote of the Day, 2 Qawl 173 BE

"Approach not those who are drowned in the sea of this world, but rather be enkindled by the fire of the love of God. Be thou such a flame whereby the hearts may be set aglow."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 1

Quote of the Day, 1 Qawl 173 BE

"...it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. God knoweth, and ye know not."

- Qur'an 2:216

Quote of the Day, 19 Qudrat 173 BE

“...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

- Romans 8:28

Quote of the Day, 18 Qudrat 173 BE

“Arise and, armed with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.”

- Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

Quote of the Day, 17 Qudrat 173 BE

"Know thou, verily, there are many veils in which the Truth is enveloped: gloomy veils; then delicate and transparent veils; then the envelopment of Light, the sight of which dazzles the eyes, as doth the sun which is enveloped only in its own light and, as we look at it, the sight is blinded and eyes are dazzled.

I beg of God to remove all the veilings and familiarize the light with all eyes, so that man may not be veiled from witnessing the Sun of Truth."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 1

Quote of the Day, 16 Qudrat 173 BE

“The eye of divine mercy casteth its glance upon all that is past.”

- Bahá’u’lláh, Tabernacle of Unity

Quote of the Day, 15 Qudrat 173 BE

"Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning. A rose is beautiful in whatsoever garden it may bloom. A star has the same radiance if it shines from the east or the west.

All the prophets of God have come to unite the children of men and not to disperse them; to put in action the law of love and not enmity.

We must banish prejudice. Religious, patriotic, racial prejudices must disappear, for they are the destroyers of human society.

We must become the cause of the unity of the human race."

- Words attributed to Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy

Quote of the Day, 14 Qudrat 173 BE

"How vast is the Revelation of Bahá’u'lláh! How great the magnitude of His blessings showered upon humanity in this day! And yet, how poor, how inadequate our conception of their significance and glory!"

- Letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Baha'is of the World, March 21, 1930

Quote of the Day, 13 Qudrat 173 BE

"Speak thou no word of politics; thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man's joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them, make thou no mention of the earth's kings, and the worldly governments thereof."

- Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha

"The Guardian wishes me to draw the attention of the Friends through you that they should be very careful in their public addresses not to mention any political figures - either side with them or denounce them. This is the first thing to bear in mind. Otherwise they will involve the friends in political matters, which is infinitely dangerous to the Cause."

- From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, January 12, 1933

Quote of the Day, 12 Qudrat 173 BE

“To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man.”

- Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

Quote of the Day, 11 Qudrat 173 BE

“To deepen in the Cause means to read the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master so thoroughly as to be able to give it to others in its pure form. There are many who have some superficial idea of what the Cause stands for. They, therefore, present it together with all sorts of ideas that are their own. As the Cause is still in its early days we must be most careful lest we fall under this error and injure the Movement we so much adore. There is no limit to the study of the Cause. The more we read the Writings the more truths we can find in them and the more we will see that our previous notions were erroneous.”

- From a letter dated 25 April 1926 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer

Quote of the Day, 10 Qudrat 173 BE

"O God, my God, my Beloved, my heart's Desire."

- The Báb, Baha'i Prayers

Quote of the Day, 9 Qudrat 173 BE

“The principle of the Oneness of Mankind — the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh revolve — is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope. … Its message is applicable not only to the individual, but concerns itself primarily with the nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It does not constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal, but stands inseparably associated with an institution adequate to embody its truth, demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its influence. It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced. It constitutes a challenge, at once bold and universal, to outworn shibboleths of national creeds — creeds that have had their day and which must, in the ordinary course of events as shaped and controlled by Providence, give way to a new gospel, fundamentally different from, and infinitely superior to, what the world has already conceived. It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world — a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of the national characteristics of its federated units.”

- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah

Quote of the Day, 8 Qudrat 173 BE

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

- Matthew 5:44

Quote of the Day, 7 Qudrat 173 BE

 “In every century a particular and central theme is, in accordance with the requirements of that century, confirmed by God. In this illumined age that which is confirmed is the oneness of the world of humanity. Every soul who serveth this oneness will undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed.”

- Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 6 Qudrat 173 BE

"O thou servant of Baha'! Thou hast asked regarding the political affairs. In the United States it is necessary that the citizens shall take part in elections. This Is a necessary matter and no excuse from it is possible. My object in telling the believers that they should not interfere in the affairs of government is this that they should not make any trouble and that they should not move against the opinion of the government but obedience to the laws and the administration of the commonwealth is necessary. Now, as the government of America is a republican form of government, it is necessary that all the citizens shall take part in the elections of officers and take part in the affairs of the republic."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 2

Quote of the Day, 5 Qudrat 173 BE

"The mystery of sacrifice is that man should sacrifice all his conditions for the divine station of God. The station of God is mercy, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, favor, grace and giving life to the spirits and lighting the fire of His love in the hearts and arteries."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 1

Quote of the Day, 4 Qudrat 173 BE

"For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul."

- Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan

Quote of the Day, 3 Qudrat 173 BE

“They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples.”

- Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Aqdas

Quote of the Day, 2 Qudrat 173 BE

"That seeker should, also, regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul."

- Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan

Quote of the Day, 1 Qudrat 173 BE

"Are those who know equal to those who know not?"

- Qur'an 39:9

Quote of the Day, 19 ‘Ilm 173 BE

“I beg of God to illumine you with the light of his love so that you may enter into the kingdom and draw nigh unto the threshold. His bounties are inexhaustible and this world is very dark.”

- Words attributed to `Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy

Quote of the Day, 18 ‘Ilm 173 BE

“...let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”

- Words attributed to Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks

Quote of the Day, 17 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"We entreat Our loved ones not to besmirch the hem of Our raiment with the dust of falsehood, neither to allow references to what they have regarded as miracles and prodigies to debase Our rank and station, or to mar the purity and sanctity of Our name."

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Quote of the Day, 16 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"...the power of the Covenant will protect the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh from the doubts of the people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the Cause of God and the firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can conserve the oneness of the Bahá'í world save the Covenant of God; otherwise differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass the Bahá'í world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant and nothing else...."

- `Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan

Quote of the Day, 15 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself."

- Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Quote of the Day, 14 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"Upon the Universal House of Justice, in the words of the Guardian, 'has been conferred the exclusive right of legislating on matters not expressly revealed in the Bahá'í Writings.' Its pronouncements, which are susceptible of amendment or abrogation by the House of Justice itself, serve to supplement and apply the Law of God. Although not invested with the function of interpretation, the House of Justice is in a position to do everything necessary to establish the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh on this earth. Unity of doctrine is maintained by the existence of the authentic texts of Scripture and the voluminous interpretations of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, together with the absolute prohibition against anyone propounding 'authoritative' or 'inspired' interpretations or usurping the function of Guardian. Unity of administration is assured by the authority of the Universal House of Justice."

- The Universal House of Justice, from a letter dated 9 March 1965

Quote of the Day, 13 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"...it is made indubitably clear and evident that the Guardian of the Faith has been made the Interpreter of the Word and that the Universal House of Justice has been invested with the function of legislating on matters not expressly revealed in the teachings. The interpretation of the Guardian, functioning within his own sphere, is as authoritative and binding as the enactments of the International House of Justice, whose exclusive right and prerogative is to pronounce upon and deliver the final judgment on such laws and ordinances as Bahá'u'lláh has not expressly revealed. Neither can, nor will ever, infringe upon the sacred and prescribed domain of the other. Neither will seek to curtail the specific and undoubted authority with which both have been divinely invested."

- Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated 8 February 1934

Quote of the Day, 12 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"Verily Thy lovers thirst, O my Lord; lead them to the wellspring of bounty and grace. Verily, they hunger; send down unto them Thy heavenly table. Verily, they are naked; robe them in the garments of learning and knowledge.

Heroes are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. Guides are they, make them to speak out with arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are they, cause them to pass round the cup that brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, make them to be songsters that carol in fair gardens, make them lions that couch in the thickets, whales that plunge in the vasty deep."

- Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha

Quote of the Day, 11 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"The mystery of sacrifice is that man should sacrifice all his conditions for the divine station of God. The station of God is mercy, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, favor, grace and giving life to the spirits and lighting the fire of His love in the hearts and arteries."

- Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, Volume 1

Quote of the Day, 10 ‘Ilm 173 BE

"..God proveth His servants and sifteth them, separating the believer from the infidel, the detached from the worldly, the pious from the profligate, the doer of good from the worker of iniquity, and so forth. Thus hath the Dove of holiness proclaimed: 'Do men think when they say 'We believe' they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?' "

- Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries

Quote of the Day, 9 ‘Ilm 173 BE

“...it behoveth him who is the recipient of an inward or outward gift or who partaketh of the bread of heaven to inform and invite his friends with the utmost love and kindness. If they respond favourably, his object is attained; otherwise he should leave them to themselves without contending with them or uttering a word that would cause the least sadness.”

- Bahá’u’lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity