“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 2 – Jalál/Glory
All mankind are powerless
to celebrate Thy glory
and the minds of men fall short
of yielding praise unto Thee.
(The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb, p.217)
First Day of Riḍván
Day 13 Qudrat/Power & Jalál/Glory
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
It is indeed in Our power
to take up a handful of dust
and to adorn it with the vesture of Our Names.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p.90)
He hath come from the heaven
of glory and power,
bearing the banners of Thy signs
and the standards of Thy testimonies.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p.115)
Day 14 Qawl/Speech & Jamál/Beauty
Sunday, April 21st, 2024
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 Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p.40)
Blessed the eye that is solaced by gazing at My beauty.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p.16)
Day 15 Masáʼil/Questions & Kamál/Perfection
Monday, April 22nd, 2024
His revelation of the Word embodies completely
the teachings of all the Prophets,
expressed in principles and precepts applicable
to the needs and conditions of the modern world,
amplified and adapted to present-day questions
and critical human problems.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.314)
His heavenly condition was also a perfect at all,
inasmuch as imperfection is contrary to perfection.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, p.603)
Day 16 S͟haraf/Honour & Fidál/Grace
Tuesday April 23rd, 2024
So rigid was the spirit of religious prejudice
that the faithless leaders
sanctioned the shedding of innocent blood,
the ruin of property
and the desecration of family honour.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p.289)
Eternal grace is never interrupted,
and a fruit of that everlasting grace is universal peace.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p.246)
Day 17 Sulṭán/Sovereignty & Idál/Justice
Wednesday, April 24th, 2024
Reflect then carefully that the sovereignty of God
is not accidental
but everlasting and eternal,
and that it necessitates the existence
of phenomenal being.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.272)
This is an attainment and blessing that,
if thou give thanks a thousand centuries and cycles,
thou wilt not be capable of doing it justice.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, p.689)
Day 18 Mulk/Dominion & Istijlál/Majesty
Thursday April 25th, 2024
Then know that for the dominion
of the reality of Christ
there is no beginning and there is no end.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, p.659)
This servant of the Threshold of His Majesty the eternal God,
hath always been and is in danger;
there hath never been a hope for rest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, p.25)
Day 19 ʻAláʼ/Loftiness & Istiqlál/Independence
Friday April 26th, 2024
Then observe how that persecution and scorn
were changed to glory, honor and reverence.
Ultimately, they (the Jews)
honored their sublime stations
and acknowledged their loftiness,
which was exalted, promoted and glorified
in the center of the horizons
until it reached the degree of exaggeration in deeds.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, p.175)
Let God’s beloved, each and every one,
be the essence of purity,
the very life of holiness,
so that in every country they may become famed
for their sanctity, independence of spirit, and meekness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p.203)
“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