Hidayatu'llah Dihqani -- a Baha'i martyr

Hidayatu'llah Dihqani was executed in Shiraz, Iran, on March 17, 1981

The “Clouds” of God’s “Mercy are full of the Waters of Compassion”

If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers how can it hope for happiness? If it does not put its hope and trust in God’s Mercy, where can it find rest? Oh, trust in God! for His Bounty is everlasting, and in His Blessings, for they are superb. Oh! put your faith in the Almighty, for He faileth not and His goodness endureth forever! His Sun giveth Light continually, and the Clouds of His Mercy are full of the Waters of Compassion with which He waters the hearts of all who trust in Him. His refreshing Breeze ever carries healing in its wings to the parched souls of men! Is it wise to turn away from such a loving Father, Who showers His blessings upon us, and to choose rather to be slaves of matter

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, Paris, November 21, 1911; ‘Paris Talks’)

1844: A New Manifestation of God in Persia

In 1844, when Bahá'u'lláh had almost reached the age of 27, a new Messenger of God (Manifestation of God) by the name of the Báb (the Gate) declared His Mission to humanity in Shiraz, Persia. The Báb announced that He was the Gate and Forerunner to an even greater revelation, Whose advent was close at hand, by Whose will He moved, and in Whose path He longed to sacrifice His life. He also announced that He was the Qa'im - the Messenger of God promised in the Qur’an Who would usher in a new age of righteousness. In the late summer of that year Bahá'u'lláh received the news of the Báb’s Declaration through Mulla Husayn - the Báb’s very first disciple. 

(Adapted from ‘Call to Remembrance’, by Geoffry Marks)

A non-Baha’i at Feast

…when a non-Bahá'í does appear at a Feast he should not be asked to leave; rather the Assembly should omit the consultative part of the Feast, and the non-Bahá'í should be made welcome. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 24 March 1970 to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The Nineteen Day Feast)

August 15, 1912: 'Abdu'l-Baha at the Parson's home

Left to right: Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani, Edward Getsinger, Mirza Ali-Akbar Nakhjavani, Dr Amin Farid, Ahmad Sohrab, Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Mirza Valiyu'llah-i-Varqa, and Siyyid Asadu'llah

The sufferings of Baha’u’llah: “By Thy might! No pen can recount them, nor can any tongue describe or number them.”

Glorified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest my dwelling-place, and the prison into which I am cast, and the woes I suffer. By Thy might! No pen can recount them, nor can any tongue describe or number them. I know not, O my God, for what purpose Thou hast abandoned me to Thine adversaries. Thy glory beareth me witness! I sorrow not for the vexations I endure for love of Thee, nor feel perturbed by the calamities that overtake me in Thy path. My grief is rather because Thou delayest to fulfill what Thou hast determined in the Tablets of Thy Revelation, and ordained in the books of Thy decree and judgment.

My blood, at all times, addresseth me saying: “O Thou Who art the Image of the Most Merciful! How long will it be ere Thou riddest me of the captivity of this world, and deliverest me from the bondage of this life? Didst Thou not promise me that Thou shalt dye the earth with me, and sprinkle me on the faces of the inmates of Thy Paradise?” To this I make reply: “Be thou patient and quiet thyself. The things thou desirest can last but an hour. As to me, however, I quaff continually in the path of God the cup of His decree, and wish not that the ruling of His will should cease to operate, or that the woes I suffer for the sake of my Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, should be ended. Seek thou my wish and forsake thine own. Thy bondage is not for my protection, but to enable me to sustain successive tribulations, and to prepare me for the trials that must needs repeatedly assail me. Perish that lover who discerneth between the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his beloved! Be thou satisfied with what God hath destined for thee. He, verily, ruleth over thee as He willeth and pleaseth. No God is there but Him, the Inaccessible, the Most High.” 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)

1919: A group of Baha'is assembled on Mt. Carmel

Shoghi Effendi is standing front row, fourth from the left.

Next world and condition of those who didn’t embrace the Cause of Baha’u’llah

Question: If one refuses the Cause of Baha’u’llah during his lifetime, may he hear of it after death?

Answer: Yes, he will hear of it in his next life, but through the mercy of God alone, not through his own ability.

Question: Are we not able, through love and faith, to make those on the other side hear of the Cause who had not heard of it while on earth?

Answer: Yes, surely sincere prayer always has its effect, and it has a great influence in the other world. We are never cut off from those who are there. The real and genuine influence is not in this World but in that other.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 18, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, 31 December 1911)

Trustworthiness: - the “greatest of adornments”

O people! The goodliest vesture in the sight of God in this day is trustworthiness. All bounty and honour shall be the portion of the soul that arrayeth itself with this.  

- Baha'u'llah  (From a Tablet; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Trustworthiness)

Illumined Tablet of the Báb

Baha’u’llah asks God to ordain for ‘Abdu’l-Baha “that which Thou hast destined for Thy Messengers and the Trustees of Thy Revelation”

Thou knowest, O my God, that I desire for Him [‘Abdu’l-Baha] naught except that which Thou didst desire, and have chosen Him for no purpose save that which Thou hadst intended for Him. Render Him victorious, therefore, through Thy hosts of earth and heaven... Ordain, I beseech Thee, by the ardor of My love for Thee and My yearning to manifest Thy Cause, for Him, as well as for them that love Him, that which Thou hast destined for Thy Messengers and the Trustees of Thy Revelation. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Powerful. 

- Baha'u'llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in 'The World Order of Baha'u'llah')

Some Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an

Verily we have revealed to thee as we revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him, and as we revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and to David gave we Psalms.

Of some apostles we have told thee before: of other apostles we have not told thee - And discoursing did God discourse with Moses.

Apostles charged to announce and to warn, that men, after those apostles, might have no plea against god. And God is Mighty, Wise!

But God is himself witness of what He hath sent down to thee: In His knowledge hath He sent it down to thee. The angels are also its witnesses; but God is a sufficient witness!

(The Qur’an, Surih Women, translated by Rodwell)

Places visited by the Báb

If the Báb wanted He could have removed “the veil” so all would recognize Him as their “Best-Beloved”

In brief, I hold within My grasp whatsoever any man might wish of the good of this world and of the next. Were I to remove the veil, all would recognize Me as their Best-Beloved, and no one would deny Me. Let not this assertion astound Your Majesty; inasmuch as a true believer in the unity of God who keepeth his eyes directed towards Him alone will regard aught else but Him as utter nothingness. 

- The Báb  (‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb')

“True joy comes from the tranquility of heart, and this state comes from faith!”

Then He [‘Abdu’l-Baha] spoke at length of the "Composure of Heart," or "Tranquility of the Soul." 

He said:

"This" is a state of true faith which gives man such assurance and conviction of God's bounty, that all the trials and sufferings of this earth cannot affect him."

Speaking of true joy and happiness. He said in part: 

"If a man is not happy in his life, death is better than such a life. True joy comes from the tranquility of heart, and this state comes from faith! Praise be to God who gave us tranquility of heart! This is why we are always happy. I pray and supplicate to the Beauty of Abha to bless all the servants and maid-servants with true happiness resulting from the tranquility of heart." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

'Abdu'l-Baha with German officers in Haifa

Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh in His Handwriting

Need God’s assistance to “enable me to cleave steadfastly to Thy Love and Thy remembrance”

I entreat Thee to enable me to cleave steadfastly to Thy Love and Thy remembrance. This is, verily, within my power, and Thou art the One that knoweth all that is in me. Thou, in truth, art knowing, apprised of all. 

- Bahá’u’lláh (Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh)

Baha’i Song: Rejoice, Rejoice for a New Day has Dawned

Rejoice, rejoice for a new day bas dawned

The whole wide world is all one fold

Rejoice, rejoice for a new day has dawned

The plan of God has now been told

The Promised One by the name of Bahá

Came to bring a new day

Let us be happy, let us say:

Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá.

Say Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá (2X)

Spanish:

circa 1912: The Hannen family in Washington DC

The family of Joseph and Pauline Hannen - left to right: Amelia Knobloch, Alma Knobloch, Carl A. Hannen, Pauline, Hannen, and Joseph Hannen