A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
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A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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The Last Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
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With the passing of its beloved leader, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the
Bahá’í Faith entered on a new phase of its history. This new
phase represents a higher state in the existence of the same
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spiritual organism, a more mature and consequently a more
responsible expression of the faith felt by its members.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá had devoted His superhuman energy and unique
capacity to the task of spreading His love for Bahá’u’lláh
throughout the East and West. He had lighted the candle of
faith in countless souls. He had trained and guided them in the
attributes of the personal spiritual life. In view of the momentous
importance of the Last Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
the gravity of the issues it raises and the profound wisdom
underlying its provisions, we give a few extracts which vividly
portray the spirit and leading principles which animated and
guided ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and are transmitted as a rich heritage to
His faithful followers:—
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O ye beloved of the Lord! In this sacred Dispensation,
conflict and contention are in no wise permitted. Every
aggressor deprives himself of God’s grace. It is incumbent
upon everyone to show the utmost love, rectitude of conduct,
straight forwardness and sincere kindliness unto all
the peoples and kindreds of the world, be they friends or
strangers. So intense must be the spirit of love and loving
kindness, that the stranger may find himself a friend, the
enemy a true brother, no difference whatsoever existing
between them. For universality is of God and all limitations
earthly. … Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá, that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancor may vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of Unity. Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you show your fidelity unto them, should they keep aloof from you attract them to yourself, should they show their enmity be friendly towards them, should they 259 poison your lives, sweeten their souls, should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their sores. Such are the attributes of the sincere! Such are the attributes of the truthful. |
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O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon you to
be submissive to all monarchs that are just and to show
your fidelity to every righteous king. Serve ye the sovereigns
of the world with utmost truthfulness and loyalty.
Show obedience unto them and be their well-wishers.
Without their leave and permission do not meddle with
political affairs, for disloyalty to the just sovereign is
disloyalty to God Himself. This is my counsel and the commandment of God unto you. Well is it with them that act accordingly. |
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Lord! Thou seest all things weeping over me and my kindred
rejoicing in my woes. By Thy Glory, O my God!
Even amongst mine enemies, some have lamented my
troubles and my distress, and of the envious ones a number
have shed tears because of my cares, my exile and
my afflictions. They did this because they found naught in
me but affection and care and witnessed naught but kindliness
and mercy. As they saw me swept into the flood of
tribulation and adversity and exposed even as a target to
the arrows of fate, their hearts were moved with compassion—“The Lord is our witness; naught have we seen from
him but faithfulness, generosity and extreme compassion.”
The Covenant-breakers, foreboders of evil, however,
waxed fiercer in their rancor, rejoiced as I fell a victim to
the most grievous ordeal, bestirred themselves against me
and made merry over the heartrending happenings around
me. I call upon Thee, O Lord my God! with my tongue and with all my heart, not to require them for their cruelty and their wrong-doings, their craft and their mischief, for they are foolish and ignoble and know not what they do. They 260 discern not good from evil, neither do they distinguish right from wrong, nor justice from injustice. They follow their own desires and walk in the footsteps of the most imperfect and foolish amongst them. O my Lord! Have mercy upon them, shield them from all afflictions in these troubled times and grant that all trials and hardships may be the lot of this Thy servant that hath fallen into this darksome pit. Single me out for every woe and make me a sacrifice for all Thy loved ones. O Lord, Most High! May my soul, my life, my being, my spirit, my all be offered up for them. O God, my God! Lowly, suppliant and fallen upon my face, I beseech Thee with all the ardor of my invocation to pardon whosoever hath hurt me, forgive him that hath conspired against me and offended me, and wash away the misdeeds of them that have wrought injustice upon me. Vouchsafe unto them Thy goodly gifts, give them joy, relieve them from sorrow, grant them peace and prosperity, give them Thy bliss and pour upon them Thy bounty. |
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The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all
earthy things, forsook all their cares and belongings,
purged themselves of self and passion and with absolute
detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling
the peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance, till at
last they made the world another world, illumined the
surface of the earth and even to their last hour proved
self-sacrificing in the pathway of that Beloved One of God.
Finally in various lands they suffered glorious martyrdom.
Let them that are men of action follow in their footsteps!
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O God, my God! I call Thee, Thy Prophets and Thy
Messengers, Thy Saints and Thy Holy Ones, to witness
that I have declared conclusively Thy Proofs unto Thy
loved ones and set forth clearly all things unto them, that
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they may watch over Thy Faith, guard Thy Straight Path
and protect Thy Resplendent Law. Thou art, verily, the
All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
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With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, the time had come to establish
the administrative order which has been termed the pattern
and nucleus of the world order which it is the special mission
of the religion of Bahá’u’lláh to establish. The Will and Testament
of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá consequently marks a turning point in
Bahá’í history, dividing the era of immaturity and irresponsibility
from that era in which the Bahá’ís themselves are destined
to fulfill their spirituality by enlarging its scope from the realm
of personal experience to that of social unity and cooperation.
The three principal elements in the administrative plan left
by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are:—
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1. “The Guardian of the Cause of God,”
2. “The Hands of the Cause of God,” and
3. “The Houses of Justice, Local, National and
International.”
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The Local and National Houses of Justice are at the present time designated Local and National Assemblies, as previously indicated.
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