Written in the year 1875, the original Persian text was lithographed in Bombay in 1882. The first English translation was published in London, 1910, and later in Chicago, 1918, under the title Mysterious Forces of Civilization. The present translation by Marzieh Gail, a more accurate rendering, reflects the mastery of both languages possessed by an accomplished author whose father was Persian and whose mother was American, and who has lived for years in both countries.
The name 'Abdu'l-Baha has attained unique fame throughout the East and the West, a symbol of wisdom, nobility, heroism and complete consecration to the cause of spiritual unity and universal peace. His name is a title meaning “Servant of Baha." (i.e., Servant of Baha'u'llah) …
The Secret of Divine Civilization consists of a message addressed to the rulers and the people of Persia.. . .
The Western reader will not fail to note that 'Abdu'l-Baha employed passages from the Qur'an on which to establish the spiritual significances of His theme and to press His appeal to the Islamic nation of Persia. Since the Qur'an is little known in the West, these passages have an incidental importance in making the Western reader more familiar with the Holy Book of the Arabic and Persian peoples at a time when understanding of the Orient is direly needed in Europe and America.
(Horace Holley, July 4, 1956)