“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
Year 181 B. E. – Ḥubb/Love– Month 14 – Qawl/Speech
Fair speech and truthfulness,
by reason of their lofty rank and position,
are regarded as a sun shining
above the horizon of knowledge.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 40)
Day 16 S͟haraf/Honor & Jalál/Glory
Saturday, December 7th, 2024
Observe carefully how education
and the arts of civilization bring honor,
prosperity, independence
and freedom to a government and its people.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 111)
In the same way there is a priority
with regard to glory — that is to say,
the most glorious precedes the glorious.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 116)
Day 17 Sulṭán/Sovereignty & Jamál/Beauty
Sunday, December 8th, 2024
For well nigh two thousand years
this sovereignty of Christ
hath been established,
and until now it endureth,
and to all eternity that Holy Being
will be exalted upon an everlasting throne.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 44)
If man did not exist,
this world would have no beauty,
no eternity, no object.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 128)
Day 18 Mulk/Dominion & Kamál/Perfection
Monday, December 9th, 2024
In reality His Holiness Christ was glorified
with an eternal sovereignty
and everlasting dominion,
spiritual and not temporal.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 74)
When we come to the estate of man,
we find his kingdom is vested
with a divine superiority.
Compared to the animal,
his perfection or his imperfection is superior.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 111)
Day 19 ʻAláʼ/Loftiness & Fidál/Grace
Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
Likewise, if we are born
from the matrix of this physical and phenomenal environment
into the freedom and loftiness
of the spiritual life and vision,
we shall consider this mortal existence
and its blessings as worthless by comparison.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 90)
It is hoped that ye will be nurtured
in the shade of the lote-tree of Divine Grace,
and practice that which God desireth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveller’s Narrative, p. 84)
Year 181 B. E. – Ḥubb/Love– Month 15 – Masáʼil/Questions
This international tongue
will be used in the work of the parliament of man —
a supreme tribunal of the world
which will be permanently established
in order to arbitrate international questions.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 84)
Day 1 Bahá/Splendour & Idál/Justice
Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
Every evidence falleth short
of Thine unknowable Essence
and every light retreateth
and sinketh below the horizon
when confronted with but a glimmer
of the dazzling splendour of Thy might.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 207)
These are the appointed days
which ye have been yearningly awaiting in the past
— the days of the advent of divine justice.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 161)
Day 2 Jalál/Glory & Istijlál/Majesty
Thursday, December 12th, 2024
Manifest, in the realm of glory
and through the power of truth,
are the Remembrance of God and His Day
before the eyes of the angels that circle His mercy-seat.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 68)
THE glory of Him Whom God shall make manifest
is immeasurably above every other glory,
and His majesty is far above every other majesty.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 156)
Day 3 Jamál/Beauty & Istiqlál/Independence
Friday, December 13th, 2024
Number me, O my God,
with those who are privileged
to fix their gaze upon Thy Beauty
and who take such delight therein
that they would not exchange a single moment thereof
with the sovereignty
of the kingdom of heavens and earth
or with the entire realm of creation.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 214)
We are but the embodiments of poverty,
of nothingness, of helplessness
and of perdition,
while Thy whole Being betokeneth wealth,
independence, glory, majesty and boundless grace.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 179)
“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