In these tumultuous days when the lovers of the Best Beloved
are remote from their homeland, associated with their fellow-believers in other
lands, and participating in the services of the loyal supporters throughout the
world, we felt it necessary to convey our thoughts to those distinguished
friends, with absolute sincerity and affection, and invite them to that which
we believe can guarantee their tranquillity and happiness, as well as their
eternal salvation and redemption, so that with firm steps and sure hearts they
may, God willing, withstand the onslaughts which have and will afflict all the
countries of the globe. Thus they may fix their gaze on the dawn of the
fulfilment of the soul- vitalizing promises of God and remain certain that
behind these dark clouds the Sun of the Will of God is shining resplendent from
its height of glory and might. Before long these dark clouds of contention,
negligence, fanaticism, and rebellion shall disperse, the day of victory shall
dawn above the horizon, and a new age shall illumine the world. It should not
be surmised that the events which have taken place in all corners of the globe,
including the sacred land of Iran, have occurred as isolated incidents without
any aim and purpose. According to the words of our beloved Guardian, "The
invisible hand is at work and the convulsions taking place on earth are a
prelude to the proclamation of the Cause of God." This is but one of the
mysterious forces of this supreme Revelation which is causing the limbs of mankind
to quake and those who are drunk with pride and negligence to be thunderstruck
and shaken. To the truth of this testifies the sacred verse: "The world's
equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great,
this new World Order," and the repeated warnings of the Pen of the Most
High, such as:
“The world is encircled with calamities. Even if at times
some good may be evident, it is inevitable that a great calamity followeth --
and yet no one on earth hath perceived its origin.”
“The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by
day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its
plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. Its perversity
will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly
appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then and only then
will the Divine Standard be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise warble
its melody.”
Similarly, the Pen of the Centre of the Covenant has repeatedly
prophesied the intolerable calamities which must beset this wayward humanity
ere it heeds the life- giving Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh.
“Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They
will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear
them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is the
impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws,
exhortations and teachings, the source of life on earth.”
Every discerning eye clearly sees that the early stages of
this chaos have daily manifestations affecting the structure of human society;
its destructive forces are uprooting time-honoured institutions which were a
haven and refuge for the inhabitants of the earth in bygone days and centuries,
and around which revolved all human affairs. The same destructive forces are
also deranging the political, economic, scientific, literary, and moral
equilibrium of the world and are destroying the fairest fruits of the present
civilization. Political machinations of those in authority have placed the seal
of obsolescence upon the root principles of the world's order. Greed and
passion, deceit, hypocrisy, tyranny, and pride are dominating features
afflicting human relations. Discoveries and inventions, which are the fruit of
scientific and technological advancements, have become the means and tools of
mass extermination and destruction and are in the hands of the ungodly. Even
music, art, and literature, which are to represent and inspire the noblest sentiments
and highest aspirations and should be a source of comfort and tranquillity for
troubled souls, have strayed from the straight path and are now the mirrors of
the soiled hearts of this confused, unprincipled, and disordered age.
Perversions such as these shall result in the ordeals which have been
prophesied by the Blessed Beauty in the following words: "... the earth
will be tormented by a fresh calamity every day and unprecedented commotions
will break out." "The day is approaching when its [civilization's]
flame will devour the cities." (Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in
‘The Promised Day Is Come’)
In such an afflicted time, when mankind is bewildered and
the wisest of men are perplexed as to the remedy, the people of Baha, who have
confidence in His unfailing grace and divine guidance, are assured that each of
these tormenting trials has a cause, a purpose, and a definite result, and all
are essential instruments for the establishment of the immutable Will of God on
earth. In other words, on the one hand humanity is struck by the scourge of His
chastisement which will inevitably bring together the scattered and vanquished
tribes of the earth; and on the other, the weak few whom He has nurtured under
the protection of His loving guidance are, in this Formative Age and period of
transition, continuing to build amidst these tumultuous waves an impregnable
stronghold which will be the sole remaining refuge for those lost multitudes.
Therefore, the dear friends of God who have such a broad and clear vision
before them are not perturbed by such events, nor are they panic-stricken by
such thundering sounds, nor will they face such convulsions with fear and
trepidation, nor will they be deterred, even for a moment, from fulfilling
their sacred responsibilities.
One of their sacred responsibilities is to exemplify in
their lives those attributes which are acceptable at His Sacred Threshold.
Others must inhale from them the holy fragrances of the homeland of
Bahá'u'lláh, the land which is the birthplace of self-sacrificing martyrs and
devoted lovers of the Omnipotent Lord. They must not forget that Bahá'ís
throughout the world expect much from the Iranian believers. They should
hearken to the life-giving clarion call which their Peerless Beloved has given
to the friends in Iran:
“The wish of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, that which attracts His good
pleasure, and, indeed, His binding command, is that Bahá'ís, in all matters,
even in small daily transactions and dealings with others, should act in
accordance with the divine Teachings. He has commanded us not to be content
with lowliness, humility and meekness, but rather to become manifestations of
selflessness and utter nothingness. Of old, all have been exhorted to loyalty
and fidelity, compassion and love; in this supreme Dispensation, the people of
Baha are called upon to sacrifice their very lives. Notice the extent to which
the friends have been required in the Sacred Epistles and Tablets, as well as
in our Beloved's Testament, to be righteous, well-wishing, forbearing,
sanctified, pure, detached from all else save God, severed from the trappings
of this world and adorned with the mantle of a goodly character and godly
attributes.”
“First and foremost, one should use every possible means to
purge one's heart and motives, otherwise, engaging in any form of enterprise
would be futile. It is also essential to abstain from hypocrisy and blind
imitation, inasmuch as their foul odour is soon detected by every man of
understanding and wisdom. Moreover, the friends must observe the specific times
for the remembrance of God, meditation, devotion and prayer, as it is highly
unlikely, nay impossible, for any enterprise to prosper and develop when
deprived of divine bestowals and confirmation. One can hardly imagine what a
great influence genuine love, truthfulness and purity of motives exert on the
souls of men. But these traits cannot be acquired by any believer unless he
makes a daily effort to gain them. Let not the stranger, the envious and the
enemy have cause to attribute the sublimity of the Faith in the past and in its
early days to the appearance of outstanding and sanctified souls and the
perseverance of martyrs whose absence today implies the necessary decline,
weakening, scattering and annihilation of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.”[ Shoghi
Effendi, letter dated 19 December 1923 to the Bahá'ís of the East; The portion
up to “daily effort to gain them.” was published in ‘The Compilation of
Compilations’, vol. 2]
We beseech God to aid and assist them daily to centre their
attentions on these divine admonitions and to tread the path of faithfulness so
as to secure abiding happiness.
Another of the sacred responsibilities of the believers is
their spiritual commitment to serve God's Sacred Threshold at all times and
under all conditions so that they may dedicate the few, fleeting days of their
lives -- particularly in this age of transition -- to the Cause of God,
unmindful of the vicissitudes of fortune, trusting in Providence, and relieved
of worries and anxieties. Witness what joyful tidings the Pen of the Most High
has given to such blessed souls:
“Whatsoever occurreth in the world of being is light for His
loved ones and fire for the people of sedition and strife. Even if all the
losses of the world were to be sustained by one of the friends of God, he would
still profit thereby, whereas true loss would be borne by such as are wayward,
ignorant and contemptuous. Although the author of the following saying had
intended it otherwise, yet We find it pertinent to the operation of God's
immutable Will: "Even or odd, thou shalt win the wager." The friends
of God shall win and profit under all conditions, and shall attain true wealth.
In fire they remain cold, and from water they emerge dry. Their affairs are at
variance with the affairs of men. Gain is their lot, whatever the deal. To this
testifieth every wise one with a discerning eye, and every fair-minded one with
a hearing ear.
Yet another sacred duty is that of clinging to the cord of
moderation in all things, lest they who are to be the essence of detachment and
moderation be deluded by the trappings of this nether world or set their hearts
on its adornments and waste their lives. If they are wealthy, they should make
these bestowals a means of drawing nigh unto God's Threshold, rather than being
so attached to them that they forget the admonitions of the Pen of the Most
High. The Voice of Truth has said, "Having attained the stage of
fulfilment and reached his maturity, man standeth in need of wealth, and such
wealth as he acquireth through crafts or professions is commendable and
praiseworthy in the estimation of men of wisdom." If wealth and prosperity
become the means of service at God's Threshold, it is highly meritorious;
otherwise it would be better to avoid them. Turn to the Book of the Covenant,
the Hidden Words, and other Tablets, lest the cord of your salvation become a
rope of woe which will lead to your own destruction. How numerous are those
negligent souls, particularly from among your own compatriots, who have been
deprived of the blessings of faith and true understanding. Witness how, no
sooner had they attained their newly amassed wealth and status, than they became
so bewitched by them as to forget the virtues and true perfections of man's
station. They clung to their empty and fruitless lifestyle. They had naught
else but their homes, their commercial success, and their ornamental trappings
of which to be proud. Behold their ultimate fate. Many a triumphal arch was
reduced to a ruin, many an imperial palace was converted into a barn. Many a
day of deceit turned into a night of despair. Vast treasures changed hands and,
at the end of their lives, they were left only with tears of loss and regret.
"... all that perisheth and changeth is not, and hath never been, worthy
of attention, except to a recognized measure." Therefore the people of
Baha must not fall prey to the corruption of the ruthless, but rather cling to contentment
and moderation. They must make their homes havens for the believers, folds for
their gatherings and centres for the promulgation of His Cause and the
diffusion of His love, so that people of all strata, whether high or low, may
feel at home and be able to consort in an atmosphere of love and fellowship.
Another sacred responsibility of those dear Iranian friends
now living abroad is to consult with the Assemblies and Bahá'í Institutions so
that their settlement in needy areas may help the establishment and
consolidation of the Faith. They must serve on the pioneer front wherever they
reside. They must not allow themselves to be drawn to and congregate in areas
where their relatives or friends reside, unaware of the pioneering needs of the
Faith. Praised be God that, through the blessings of the Greatest Name, the
believers have been imbued with a love and unity which transcends the ties of
kinship and friendship and overcomes the barriers of language and culture.
Therefore there is no need for the Iranian friends to congregate in one place.
Often such a congregation creates problems. For example, should the number of
Iranians exceed the number of native believers in a community, they would
inadvertently bring about such difficulties as might hamper the progress of the
Cause of God, and the world-conquering religion of the Abha Beauty might appear
to others as a religion which is limited and peculiar to Iranians. This could
but lead to a waste of time and the disenchantment of both Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís.
Under such circumstances the dear Iranian friends would neither enjoy their
stay in that place nor would they be able to serve the Faith in a befitting
manner. It is our ardent hope that, wherever possible, the Iranian friends may
settle in those towns or villages which are pioneering goals, so that through
their stay the foundation of the Cause may be strengthened. They must encourage
each other to pioneer and disperse in accordance with the teaching plans
wherever they reside, and sacrifice the happiness and joy which they may
otherwise obtain from companionship with each other for the sake of the vital
interests of the Cause.
Another of the sacred duties incumbent upon the believers is
that of avoiding participation in political discussions and intrigues which
have become popular nowadays. What have the people of Baha to do with political
contention and controversy? With absolute certainty they must prove to the
world that Bahá'ís by virtue of their beliefs, are loyal citizens of whatever
country they reside in and are far removed from the machinations of
conspirators and the perpetrators of destruction and chaos. Their ideal is the
happiness of all the peoples of the world and sincere and wholehearted service
to them. In administrative positions they are obedient to their governments and
carry out their duties with the utmost honesty and trustworthiness. They regard
no faction as superior to another and prefer no individual above another. They
oppose no one, for the Divine Pen has prohibited sedition and corruption and
enjoined peace and harmony upon us. For more than a century Bahá'ís have proven
by their deeds that they regard servitude and service to their fellowman as
being more worthy than the privileges of power which can be gained from politics.
In administering their own affairs, they rely on God rather than on the
influence of those in power and authority. Particularly in these days when the
enemies of the Faith have afflicted the Cause in the sacred land of Iran with
the darts of calumny and slander on every side, the clear Iranian friends
should be vigilant, both in their contact with other Iranians abroad and with
people in general, and behave in such a way as to leave no doubt as to the
independence and non-alignment of the Bahá'ís and their good will to all
people, whether in Iran or elsewhere. They must not give a new excuse to cause
trouble to those mischief-makers who have always sought to further their own
unworthy ends by making the Bahá'í community a target for their malicious accusations.
O beloved of God, and compatriots of the Abha Beauty! Your
relationship to the Blessed Perfection merits befitting gratitude. Having
appreciated the true value of so inestimable a bounty, your forefathers
regarded the offering of their lives in the path of their kind Beloved as easy
to make. They were put in chains, became captives of the sword, lost their
homes and belongings, yet no sound was heard from their lacerated throats but
the cry of "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha" and "Ya 'Aliyyu'l-A'la." [2]
The vibration of the sound of that same soul-burning cry gradually noised
abroad the call of this world-illuminating Great Announcement and the ringing
notes of that call resounded in all regions of the world, and, now too, the
beloved friends in Iran, who are the devoted dwellers in the courtyard of the
Beloved, stand firm in the same Covenant and Testament. Behold the courage,
firmness, detachment, unity, co-operation, zeal and enthusiasm with which these
loyal lovers of the Beloved daily face their tests and prove and demonstrate to
the world, with radiant and shining faces, their purity, their heritage, their
quality, and their virtue. With the utmost meekness, truthfulness, wisdom, and
courage they meet the challenges presented to them, the challenge of defying
the enemies, dispelling misunderstandings which are a result of the
proliferation of calumnies and false accusations. They have met their fate with
acquiescence, have bowed their heads in the valley of submission and
resignation, and have borne every tribulation with radiance, for they know with
absolute certainty that the fulfilment of divine prophecies will coincide with
dire events and the bearing of innumerable afflictions. The beloved Guardian
says: "If in the days to come, adversities of various kinds should
encircle that land and national upheavals should further aggravate the present
calamities, and intensify the repeated afflictions," the dear friends in
that country should not feel "sorrowful and grieved" and must not be
deflected "from their straight path and chosen highway." He then
continues to address the dear friends in these words:
“The liberation of this meek and innocent band of His
followers from the fetters of its bondage and the talons of the people of
tyranny and enmity must needs be preceded by the clamour and agitation of the
masses. The realization of glory, of tranquillity, and of true security for the
people of Baha will necessitate opposition, aggression and commotion on the
part of the people of malevolence and iniquity. Therefore, should the buffeting
waves of the sea of tribulation intensify and the storms of trials and
tribulations assail that meek congregation from all six sides, know of a
certainty and without a moment's hesitation that the time for their deliverance
has drawn nigh, that the age-old promise of their assured glory will soon be
fulfilled, and that at long last the means are provided for the persecuted
people of Baha in that land to attain salvation and supreme triumph. A firm
step and an unshakeable resolve are essential so that the remaining stages may
come to pass and the cherished ideals of the people of Baha may be realized on
the loftiest Summits, and be made manifest in astounding brilliance. ‘Such is
God's method, and no change shalt thou find in His method.’”
That is why those royal falcons who soar in the firmament of
God's love have arisen with such joy, tranquillity, and dignity that their
serenity has become a magnet for the attraction of the confirmations of the
Concourse on High and has brought such a resounding success to them as has
astonished and startled the people of Baha throughout the world. Others have
been inspired by the example of those treasured brethren to renew their pledge
to their All-Glorious Beloved and to serve His Sacred Threshold with high
endeavour. Thus they endeavour, as far as possible, to make good the temporary
disability of the believers in Iran. Inspired by the courage, constancy,
sincerity, and devotion of those enamoured friends in the path of their
Beloved, they are increasing their services and renewing and strengthening
their resolve so that they may arise in the arena of the love of God as it
beseems true lovers. That is why in these days the followers of the Greatest
Name in different parts of the world have undertaken to win new victories in
remembrance and on behalf of their dear friends in Iran. They have made new
plans and their efforts have been confirmed with resounding success, which they
attribute to the influences of the high endeavours and the constancy of the
friends in the Cradle of the Faith. What then will you do, dear friends who
come from that sacred land of Iran? You are the birds of that rose garden. You
should sing such a song that the hearts of others will rejoice with gladness.
You are the candles of that Divine Sanctuary. You should shed such a light that
it will illumine the eyes of the intimates of God's mysteries. Our eager hearts
in these days are expectant to see the rays of loyalty and integrity from
amidst these dark and threatening clouds, so that your blessed names, like
those of your self-sacrificing compatriots, may be recorded in gold upon the
Tablet of Honour. This is dependent upon your own high endeavour.
The Universal House of Justice
[1] This is an English translation, prepared by the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom, of a letter originally
written in Persian. In a letter dated 29 July 1980 in which it forwarded the
English translation to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House
of Justice wrote: "The message includes several quotations from the
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi hitherto untranslated
into English. The English texts of these passages, as they appear in the
attached translated message, have been checked and approved at the World
Centre, and may be regarded by the friends as authorized texts."
[2] Ya Baha'u'l-Abha (O Thou the Glory of the Most
Glorious!) is a form of the Greatest Name and is used as an invocation to
Bahá'u'lláh; Ya 'Aliyyu'l-A'la (O Thou the Exalted of the Most Exalted!) is an
invocation addressed to the Báb.
(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963 to
1986’)
