30 Nov | a.m

These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 13

The Reality of the divine Religions is one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two. All the prophets are united in their message, and unshaken. They are like the sun; in different seasons they ascend from different rising points on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet gave the glad tidings of the future, and every future has accepted the past.

- Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 28

29 Nov | p.m

Thou hast asked concerning the fundamentals of religion and its ordinances: Know thou that first and foremost in religion is the knowledge of God. This attaineth its consummation in the recognition of His divine unity, which in turn reacheth its fulfilment in acclaiming that His hallowed and exalted Sanctuary, the Seat of His transcendent majesty, is sanctified from all attributes. And know thou that in this world of being the knowledge of God can never be attained save through the knowledge of Him Who is the Dayspring of divine Reality.

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 115

29 Nov | a.m

Indeed no religion shall We ever inaugurate unless it be renewed in the days to come.  This is a promise We solemnly have made.  Verily We are supreme over all things

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 158

From the seed of reality, religion has grown into a tree which has put forth leaves and branches, blossoms and fruit. After a time this tree has fallen into a condition of decay. The leaves and blossoms have withered and perished; the tree has become stricken and fruitless. It is not reasonable that man should hold to the old tree, claiming that its life forces are undiminished, its fruit unequalled, its existence eternal. The seed of reality must be sown again in human hearts in order that a new tree may grow therefrom and new divine fruits refresh the world.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Bahá Section, p. 226

28 Nov | p.m

It is incumbent upon the kings and the spiritual  leaders of the world to lay fast hold on religion, inasmuch as through it the fear of God is instilled in all else but Him.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 27

28 Nov | a.m

Religion is, verily, the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world, and of tranquillity amongst its peoples.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 27

… religion is a mighty bulwark. If the edifice of religion shakes and totters, commotion and chaos will ensue and the order of things will be utterly upset, for in the world of mankind there are two safeguards that protect man from wrongdoing. One is the law which punishes the criminal; but the law prevents only the manifest crime and not the concealed sin; whereas the ideal safeguard, namely, the religion of God, prevents both the manifest and the concealed crime, trains man, educates morals, compels the adoption of virtues and is the all-inclusive power which guarantees the felicity of the world of mankind.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Bahá Section, p. 289

25 Nov | p.m

O ye beloved of God! Repose not yourselves on your couches, nay bestir yourselves as soon as ye recognize your Lord, the Creator, and hear of the things which have befallen Him, and hasten to His assistance. Unloose your tongues, and proclaim unceasingly His Cause.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 330

25 Nov | a.m

O MY SERVANT!

The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth. Such men are verily counted as among the dead, nay better are the dead in the sight of God than those idle and worthless souls.

- Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

Man reacheth perfection through good deeds, voluntarily performed, not through good deeds the doing of which was forced upon him.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 115

24 Nov | p.m

Occupy thyself, during these fleeting days of thy life, with such deeds as will diffuse the fragrance of Divine good pleasure, and will be adorned with the ornament of His acceptance.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 76

We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.

 

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

-Aristotle, 384 BC-322 BC

24 Nov | a.m

It is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 248

Faith does not consist in belief, it consists in deeds. It is not sufficient to believe in Bahá’u’lláh and to say, "I am of the people of El-Abhá"; we must act in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, who commands us to become centers of divine attraction, so that the attributes of God may emanate from us, that we may become wise and well intentioned to all the peoples of the earth in order to better the condition of all.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 41

23 Nov | p.m

Say: O people of God! That which can ensure the victory of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on earth…are such righteous deeds, such conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight. Whoso ariseth, in this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence flowing from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout the whole world.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 286

23 Nov | a.m

Such is the true meaning of rendering assistance unto God. Sedition hath never been pleasing unto God, nor were the acts committed in the past by certain foolish ones acceptable in His sight.... The beloved of the Lord must, in this day, behave in such wise amidst His servants that they may by their very deeds and actions guide all men unto the paradise of the All-Glorious.

- Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 109

To express his gratitude for the favors of God man must show forth praiseworthy actions. In response to these bestowals he must render good deeds, be self-sacrificing, loving the servants of God, forfeiting even life for them, showing kindness to all the creatures.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 236

22 Nov | p.m

The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 156

In order that glorification and thanks may be shown for these bounties, the word and actions must be in accordance with the advices and behests of His Highness Baha'u'llah. Thanks does not depend upon words but upon deeds!

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v2, p. 345

22 Nov | a.m

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.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 305

Thou hast said aright, that verily, Abdul-Bahá looketh to deeds and not words. Even as it was said by Christ, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v2, p. 311

21 Nov | p.m

Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure, as decreed in God's mighty and guarded Tablets. All that which ye potentially possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition. Your own acts testify to this truth.
- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 148

Love manifests its reality in deeds, not only in words - these alone are without effect. In order that love may manifest its power there must be an object, an instrument, a motive.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 35

21 Nov | a.m

The Cause of God hath come as a token of His grace. Happy are they who act; happy are they who understand; happy the man that hath clung unto the truth, detached from all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 138

Act in accordance with the counsels of the Lord: that is, rise up in such wise, and with such qualities, as to endow the body of this world with a living soul, and to bring this young child, humanity, to the stage of adulthood.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 33

19 Nov | a.m

[Isaiah] saith: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the splendor of our God."

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 146

Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you.  Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers. Rejoice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty, Baha’u’llah, is directed upon you.  Rejoice, for Bahá’u’lláh is your Protector.  Rejoice, for the everlasting glory is destined for you.  Rejoice, for the eternal life is awaiting you.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 214

18 Nov | p.m

O SON OF MAN!

Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

It is the wish of our heavenly Father that every heart should rejoice and be filled with happiness, that we should live together in felicity and joy. The obstacle to human happiness is racial or religious prejudice, the competitive struggle for existence and inhumanity toward each other.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 468

18 Nov | a.m

Thou hast made mention of the loved ones in those regions. Praised be God, each one of them attained the honour of being remembered by the True One - exalted is His glory - and the names of them, one and all, flowed from the Tongue of Grandeur in the kingdom of utterance. Great indeed is their blessedness and happiness, inasmuch as they have drunk the choice wine of revelation and inspiration from the hand of their Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 76

17 Nov | p.m

If thou embracest the Truth, everything good and seemly shall be set down for thee in the Book of God, and by virtue of this thou wilt rejoice in the all-highest Paradise until the following Resurrection.

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 109

Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 214

17 Nov | a.m

SAY, by reason of your remembering Him Whom God shall make manifest and by extolling His name, God will cause your hearts to be dilated with joy, and do ye not wish your hearts to be in such a blissful state? Indeed the hearts of them that truly believe in Him Whom God shall make manifest are vaster than the expanse of heaven and earth and whatever is between them.

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 145

O ye apostles of Bahá’u’lláh! May my life be sacrificed for you!... My thoughts are turned towards you, and my heart leaps within me at your mention. Could ye know how my soul gloweth with your love, so great a happiness would flood your hearts as to cause you to become enamored with each other.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in Citadel of Faith, p. 27

15 Nov | p.m

Verily this is the Day in which both land and sea rejoice at this announcement, the Day for which have been laid up those things which God, through a bounty beyond the ken of mortal mind or heart, hath destined for revelation. Ere long will God sail His Ark upon thee [O Carmel], and will manifest the people of Bahá who have been mentioned in the Book of Names.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 16

15 Nov | a.m

And all this, when the Day of Resurrection hath been ushered in, and the Trumpet hath been sounded, and all the denizens of earth and heaven have been gathered together, and the Balance hath been appointed, and the Bridge hath been laid, and the Verses have been sent down, and the Sun hath shone forth, and the stars have been blotted out... These things have all come to pass, and yet to this day not a single one of these people hath recognized them! They all lie as dead within their own shrouds, save those who have believed and repaired unto God, who rejoice in this day in His celestial paradise, and who tread the path of His good-pleasure.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 19

14 Nov | a.m

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 affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled - what harm is there in this?.... Yet do We see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah

13 Nov | a.m

O SON OF MAN!

Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

…if the human spirit will rejoice and be attracted to the Kingdom of God, if the inner sight becomes opened, and the spiritual hearing strengthened, and the spiritual feelings predominant, he will see the immortality of the spirit as clearly as he sees the sun, and the glad tidings and signs of God will encompass him.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Bahá Section, p. 325

11 Nov | p.m

…they that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly - their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqán, p. 1

11 Nov | a.m

And if, confirmed by the Creator, the lover escapes from the claws of the eagle of love, he will enter the Valley of knowledge and come out of doubt into certitude, and turn from the darkness of illusion to the guiding light of the fear of God.

- Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 11

As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the standard - this is the standard - this is the standard.

- Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 503

9 Nov | p.m

Therefore, those who in every subsequent Dispensation preceded the rest of mankind in embracing the Faith of God, who quaffed the clear waters of knowledge at the hand of the divine Beauty, and attained the loftiest summits of faith and certitude, these can be regarded, in name, in reality, in deeds, in words, and in rank, as the "return" of those who in a former Dispensation had achieved similar distinctions.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqán, p. 158

9 Nov | a.m

Hearken thou unto the Words of thy Lord and purify thy heart from every illusion so that the effulgent light of the remembrance of thy Lord may shed its radiance upon it, and it may attain the station of certitude.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 182

Faith is the magnet which draws the confirmation of the Merciful One.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 62

8 Nov | p.m

Therefore, those who in every subsequent Dispensation preceded the rest of mankind in embracing the Faith of God, who quaffed the clear waters of knowledge at the hand of the divine Beauty, and attained the loftiest summits of faith and certitude, these can be regarded, in name, in reality, in deeds, in words, and in rank, as the "return" of those who in a former Dispensation had achieved similar distinctions.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqán, p. 158

8 Nov | a.m

The world is illumined with the effulgent glory of His countenance. And yet, behold how far its peoples have strayed from His path! None have believed in Him except them who, through the power of the Lord of Names, have shattered the idols of their vain imaginings and corrupt desires and entered the city of certitude.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 12

7 Nov | p.m

The world is illumined with the effulgent glory of His countenance. And yet, behold how far its peoples have strayed from His path! None have believed in Him except them who, through the power of the Lord of Names, have shattered the idols of their vain imaginings and corrupt desires and entered the city of certitude.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 12

7 Nov | a.m

Hearken thou unto the Words of thy Lord and purify thy heart from every illusion so that the effulgent light of the remembrance of thy Lord may shed its radiance upon it, and it may attain the station of certitude.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 182

Faith is the magnet which draws the confirmation of the Merciful One.

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 62

4 Nov | a.m

True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self. 

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

3 Nov | p.m

The source of error is to disbelieve in the One true God, rely upon aught else but Him, and flee from His Decree.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

3 Nov | a.m

The source of all learning is the knowledge of God, exalted be His Glory, and this cannot be attained save through the knowledge of His Divine Manifestation.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

The essence of abasement is to pass out from under the shadow of the Merciful and seek the shelter of the Evil One.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

2 Nov | p.m

The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy. This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendour hath revealed.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

2 Nov | a.m

The source of all evil is for man to turn away from his Lord and set his heart on things ungodly.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

The most burning fire is to question the signs of God, to dispute idly that which He hath revealed, to deny Him and carry one's self proudly before Him.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

1 Nov | p.m

The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself, on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

1 Nov | a.m

The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151

The essence of true safety is to observe silence, to look at the end of things and to renounce the world.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 151