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“O God, my God! Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils of…” |
O God, my God! Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils of
self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving
kindness from all rancour, hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable
stronghold of Thy Cause and, safe from the darts of
doubtfulness, make them the manifestations of Thy glorious Signs,
illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring
of Thy Divine Unity, gladden their hearts with the verses revealed
from Thy Holy Kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thy all-swaying
power that cometh from Thy Realm of Glory. Thou art the All-bountiful,
the Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious!
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O ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh
that this wronged and broken winged bird will have taken its flight
unto the celestial concourse, when it will have hastened to the
Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will have been either
lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the Afnán, that
are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have branched from the
Tree of Holiness; the Hands, (pillars) of the Cause of God, (the
glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved
ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul
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and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach
His Cause and to promote His Faith. It behooveth them not to rest
for a moment, neither to seek repose. They must disperse themselves
in every land, pass by every clime and travel throughout all
regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end they must
raise in every land the triumphal cry “O Thou the Glory of Glories!”
(Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá), must achieve renown in the world wherever
they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and
must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the
light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world,
that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse
may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet
savors of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly,
hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly.
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In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance
of the nations and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of
utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation
itself. This wronged servant has spent his days and night in promoting
the Cause and urging the peoples to service. He rested not
a moment, till the fame of the Cause of God was noised abroad in
the world and the celestial strains from the Abhá Kingdom roused
the East and the West. The beloved of God must also follow the
same example. This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement
of servitude to the Threshold of Bahá!
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The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly 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 my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged
one, it is incumbent upon the Aghsán (Branches), the Afnán
(Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause
of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi
Effendi—the youthful branch branched from the two hallowed and
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sacred Lote-Trees and the fruit grown from the union of the two
offshoots of the Tree of Holiness,—as he is the sign of God, the
chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom
all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God and His
loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God
and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants.
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The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of
God, as well as the Universal House of Justice, to be universally
elected and established, are both under the care and protection of
the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His
Holiness, the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them
both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso obeyeth him
not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth
against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso
opposeth him hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath
contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with
God; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso disbelieveth in
him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth, separateth himself
and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself
and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation,
the vengeance of God rest upon him! The mighty stronghold shall
remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the
guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members
of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands
of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and
subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto
him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed
the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert
His word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition.
Beware, beware, lest the days after the ascension (of Bahá’u’lláh)
be repeated when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty and rebellious
and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and
perturbed and poisoned others. No doubt every vainglorious one
that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his
evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would he seize
upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the
gathering of the people of Bahá. My object is to show that the
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Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon
as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the
guardian of the Cause of God cast him out from the congregation
of the people of Bahá and in no wise accept any excuse from him.
How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth,
that it might sow the seeds of doubt in the hearts of men!
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O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the guardian
of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall
become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing.
He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from
all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in
himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus,
should the first-born of the guardian of the Cause of God not
manifest in himself the truth of the words:—“The child is the
secret essence of its sire,” that is, should he not inherit of the
spiritual within him (the guardian of the Cause of God) and his
glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must
he (the guardian of the Cause of God), choose another branch to
succeed him.
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The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own
number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important
services in the work of the guardian of the Cause of God.
The election of these nine must be carried either unanimously or
by majority from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God
and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give
their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the Cause
of God hath chosen as his successor. This assent must be given in
such wise as the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished.
(secret ballot)
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O friends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated
and appointed by the guardian of the Cause of God. All must be
under his shadow and obey his command. Should any, within or
without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey
and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon
him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God.
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The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse
the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning,
to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and
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under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things.
They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners,
their deeds and their words.
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This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction
of the guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually
urge them to strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability
to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples
of the world, for it is the light of Divine Guidance that causeth all
the universe to be illumined. To disregard, though it be for a
moment, this absolute command which is binding upon everyone, is
in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as
the Abhá Paradise, that the surface of the earth may become
heavenly, that contention and conflict amidst peoples, kindreds, nations
and governments may disappear, that all the dwellers on
earth may become one people and one race, that the world may
become even as one home. Should differences arise they shall be
amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal, that
shall include members from all the governments and peoples of the
world.
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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, straightforwardness 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. Thus
man must strive that his reality may manifest virtues and perfections,
the light whereof may shine upon everyone. The light of the
sun shineth upon all the world and the merciful showers of Divine
Providence fall upon all peoples. The vivifying breeze reviveth
every living creature and all beings endued with life obtain their
share and portion at His heavenly board. In like manner, the affections
and loving-kindness of the servants of the One True God must
be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind. Regarding
this, restrictions and limitations are in no wise permitted.
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Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples,
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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 be unjust toward you
show justice towards them, should they keep aloof from you attract
them to yourself, should they show their enmity be friendly towards
them, should they 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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And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must
be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members
must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of
knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and
the well-wishers of all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal
House of Justice, that is, in all countries, a secondary House
of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice
must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body all
things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations
that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body
all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the guardian of the
Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for
life of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations,
he must appoint one to represent him. Should any of the members
commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the guardian of the
Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him,
whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead.
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