"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 178 B. E. – Abad/Eternity  - Month 2 - Jalál/Glory

High, immeasurably high art Thou
above the endeavors of the evanescent creature
to soar unto the throne of Thine eternity,
or of the poor and wretched
to attain the summit of Thine all-sufficing glory!
From eternity Thou didst Thyself
describe Thine own Self unto Thy Self,
and extol, in Thine own Essence,
Thine Essence unto Thine Essence.
I swear by Thy glory, O my Best-Beloved!
Who is there besides Thee
that can claim to know Thee,
and who save Thyself
can make fitting mention of Thee?
Thou art He Who,
from eternity,
abode in His realm,
in the glory of His transcendent unity,
and the splendors of His holy grandeur.
(Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, p. 328)

Day 17 - Sultán/Sovereignty & Jalál/Glory  

This phenomenal world
will not remain in an unchanging condition
even for a short while.
Second after second
it undergoes change and transformation.
Every foundation will finally become collapsed;
every glory and splendor will at last vanish and disappear,
but the Kingdom of God is eternal
and the heavenly sovereignty and majesty will stand firm, everlasting.
Hence in the estimation of a wise man
the mat in the Kingdom of God is preferable
to the throne of the government of the world.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 79)

Until the heavenly civilization is founded,
no result will be forthcoming from material civilization,
even as you observe.
See what catastrophes overwhelm mankind.
Consider the wars which disturb the world.
Consider the enmity and hatred.
The existence of these wars and conditions
indicates and proves that the heavenly civilization has not yet been established.
If the civilization of the Kingdom be spread to all the nations,
this dust of disagreement will be dispelled,
these clouds will pass away
and the Sun of Reality
in its greatest effulgence and glory will shine upon mankind.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 13)

Day 18 - Mulk/Dominion & Jamál/Beauty

O my dear!
If thou lovest to be happy and pleasant,
this is the cup that is full of the wine of glee and delight;
and if thou desirest to have the ancient glory,
the eternal retinue and everlasting dominion,
thou must look after these gifts
which wave in the horizon of bounty with a brilliant light
to all sides and regions.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 155)

O my friend,
isolate all thy faculties and senses
from every other mention and thought,
and follow the example of `Abdu'l-Bahá
in servitude to the Holy and Exalted Threshold.
Hasten to the field of sacrifice,
craving for the most great martyrdom;
expend thy life
and all of thy grades of love
for God
and in attraction to the Beauty of El-ABHÁ.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 164)

Day 19 - `Ala'/Loftiness & Kamal/Perfection

 Abandon the concerns of mankind
and be naturalized with the attributes of the angels of the Supreme Concourse,
because these angels humble themselves to the lowest thing of the things
despite their honor, glory,
the loftiness of station
and the greatness of their might.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 77)

The aim of the appearance of the Blessed Perfection
-- may my life be a sacrifice for His beloved ones! --
was the unity and agreement of all the people of the world.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 119)

Year 178 B. E. – Abad/Eternity - Month 3 - Jamál/Beauty

Arise thou to serve the Cause and say:
I swear by the righteousness of God!
Verily this is the Primal Point,
arrayed in His new attire
and manifested in His glorious Name.
He at present beholdeth everything from this Horizon.
Indeed He is supreme over all things.
Amongst the Concourse on High
He is known as the Most Great Announcement
and in the Realms of Eternity as the Ancient Beauty,
and before the Throne by this Name  
which hath caused the footsteps of them that are endued with understanding to slip.
(Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 182)

Day 1 - Bahá/Splendour & Fidál/Grace

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. 216)

I IMPLORE Thee
by the splendour of the light of Thy glorious face,
the majesty of Thine ancient grandeur
and the power of Thy transcendent sovereignty to ordain for us at this moment
every measure of that which is good and seemly
and to destine for us every portion of the outpourings of Thy grace.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 186)

Day 2 - Jalál/Glory & `Idál/Justice

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. 216)

Do Thou graciously forgive me
for the things that I have wrought in Thy holy presence,
and look not upon me with the glance of justice,
but rather deliver me through Thy grace,
treat me with Thy mercy
and deal with me according to Thy bountiful favours,
as is worthy of Thy glory.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 208)

Day 3 - Jamál/Beauty & Istijlál/Majesty

THROUGHOUT eternity Thou hast been, O my Lord,
and wilt ever remain the One true God,
while all else save Thee
are needy and poor.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 193)

Thou art the Ancient of Days
Whom none can ever describe
through the evidences of Thy glory and majesty,
and Thou art the mighty One
Whom none can ever comprehend
through the revelations of Thy greatness and beauty,
inasmuch as the expressions of majesty and grandeur
and the attributes of dominion and beauty
are but the tokens of Thy divine Will
and the effulgent reflections of Thy sovereignty
which, by reason of their very essence and nature,
proclaim that the way is barred
and bear witness that the pathway is inaccessibly beyond the reach of men.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 212)

Day 4 - `Azamat/Grandeur & Istiqlál/Independence

THE glory of Him Whom God shall make manifest
is immeasurably above every other glory,
and His majesty is far above every other majesty.
His beauty excelleth every other embodiment of beauty,
and His grandeur immensely exceedeth every other manifestation of grandeur.
(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 156)

No Lord but Thee do we invoke, O God our Lord,
nor do we implore blessings or grace from anyone but Thee,
O Thou Who art the God of mercy unto this world and the next.
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

*********

Bahá'i Calendar - Daily Focal Points for Divine Guidance: Home Page