“The Word of God
is the king of words
and its pervasive influence is incalculable.
It hath ever dominated
and will continue to dominate
the realm of being…
…The Word is the master key for the whole world
inasmuch through its potency
the doors of the hearts of men,
which in reality are the doors of heaven,
are unlocked…”
Bahá’u’lláh
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Year 180 B. E. – Bahá/Splendour – Month 1 – Bahá/Splendour
I entreat Thee by this great, this wondrous splendour
and by the glory of Thine exalted sovereignty,
O Thou Who art the Lord of indomitable power,
to transform us through Thy bounty
into that which Thou Thyself dost possess
and enable us to become fountains of Thy light,
and graciously vouchsafe unto us
that which beseemeth the majesty of Thy transcendent dominion.
(The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb, p. 180)
Day 5 – Núr/Light & Jalál/Glory
He of a truth is the Light
in the kingdom of heaven and earth
and whatever is between them.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 154-155)
Write down for us then whatsoever is of Thee,
and forgive us for what we are.
Verily Thou art the Lord of power and glory,
the Lord of all the worlds.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 185)
Day 6 – Rahmat/Mercy & Jamál/Beauty
Indeed all are but paupers
in the face of Thy tender mercy,
and lowly servants
before the tokens of Thy loving-kindness.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 172)
How can I extol the effulgent beauty of Thy Lordship,
conscious as I am of my nothingness
before the habitation of Thy glory?
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 217)
Day 7 – Kalimát/Words & Kamál/Perfection
TAKE heed
to carefully consider the words of every soul,
then hold fast to the proofs
which attest the truth.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 134)
NO created thing shall ever attain its paradise
unless it appeareth in its highest prescribed degree of perfection.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 88)
Day 8 – Kamál/Perfection & Fidál/Grace
With fixed and steady gaze,
born of the unerring eye of God,
scan for a while the horizon of divine knowledge,
and contemplate those words of perfection
which the Eternal hath revealed,
that haply the mysteries of divine wisdom,
hidden ere now beneath the veil of glory
and treasured within the tabernacle of His grace,
may be made manifest unto you.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 16)
O Fourth Letter of this Temple,
betokening the attribute of Grace!
We have made thee the manifestation of grace
betwixt earth and heaven.
From thee have We generated all grace
in the contingent world,
and unto thee shall We cause it to return.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 46)
Day 9 – Asmá‘/Names & `Idál/Justice
We found you, as We found most men,
worshipping names which they mention during the days of their life,
and with which they occupy themselves.
No sooner do the Bearers of these names appear,
however, than they repudiate them,
and turn upon their heels.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 111)
In these days truthfulness
and sincerity are sorely afflicted
in the clutches of falsehood,
and justice is tormented by the scourge of injustice.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 39)
Day 10 – `Izzat/Might & Istijlál/Majesty
I swear by Thy might!
The arrows that transfix us in Thy path
are the ornaments of our temples,
and the spears which pierce us in our love
for Thee are as silk unto our bodies.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, p. 218)
The Hand of Omnipotence
is stretched forth from behind the clouds;
behold ye it with new eyes.
The tokens of His majesty and greatness are unveiled;
gaze ye on them with pure eyes.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity, p. 75)
Day 11 – Mashíyyat/Will & Istiqlál/Independence
Place not thy reliance on thy treasures.
Put thy whole confidence in the grace of God,
thy Lord. Let Him be thy trust in whatever thou doest,
and be of them that have submitted themselves to His Will.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 65)
Even as He hath said:
“O men! Ye are but paupers in need of God;
but God is the Rich, the Self-Sufficing.”
By ‘riches’ therefore is meant independence of all else but God,
and by ‘poverty’ the lack of things that are of God.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 143)
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“The understanding of His words
and the comprehension of the utterances of the Birds of Heaven
are in no wise dependent upon human learning.
They depend solely upon purity of heart,
chastity of soul,
freedom of spirit.”
Bahá’u’lláh