Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 49

O thou whose nostrils are perfumed with the Fragrances of G.o.d!

Verily, I read thy letter which contained graceful expressions and was of a well made foundation, and I inhaled the odor of the love of G.o.d from the garden of its meanings and witness the lights of sincerity in the Cause of G.o.d from the dawning-place of its mysteries.

Blessed art thou, O maid-servant of G.o.d, for thou art attracted to the Word of G.o.d, and thy heart is illuminated with the lights of the guidance of G.o.d, and thy soul is cheered by the gentle breeze blowing from the direction of the favor of G.o.d.

Verily thy Lord is gracious toward thee. Thank thou G.o.d for this great bounty and praise Him for He hath caused thee to enter His New Kingdom; and glorify Him for He hath chosen thee from among those men and women "who were called".

Preach the Kingdom of G.o.d to every man and maid-servant who is waiting the appearance of His Glorious Kingdom. The lights of guidance shall surely be spread, even as the morning light spreads over all the regions of the earth; all the regions of the earth shall be refreshed by the Word of G.o.d.

Deliver my longings and greetings to the consolation of thine eye(116), ......, and to thy younger son, ....... Verily I love them both even as a compa.s.sionate father loveth his dear children. As to thee, have for them an abundant love and exert thine utmost in training them, so that their being may grow through the milk of the love of G.o.d, forasmuch as it is the duty of parents to perfectly and thoroughly train their children.

There are also certain sacred duties on children toward parents, which duties are written in the Book of G.o.d, as belonging to G.o.d. The (children's) prosperity in this world and the Kingdom depends upon the good pleasure of parents, and without this they will be in manifest loss.

Send my greetings to ........(117), who is free in this world, but a slave of G.o.d in His Great Kingdom.

"O dear servant of G.o.d!..."

O dear servant of G.o.d!

The tests of G.o.d are surrounding you from all directions and many afflictions have occurred; but thanks be to G.o.d that you and your honorable husband are patient, thankful and constant.

The necessity and the particularity of the a.s.sured and believing ones is to be firm in the Cause of G.o.d and withstand the hidden and evident tests.

Thanks be to G.o.d that you are distinguished and made eminent by this blessing. Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of n.o.bility. Thanks be to G.o.d that that dear servant of G.o.d is extremely patient under the disastrous circ.u.mstances, and in the place of complaining gives thanks.

Verily I am pleased with both you and [your husband], and I ask G.o.d that you may find pleasure and ease in another world-for this earthly world is narrow, dark and frightful, rest cannot be imagined and happiness really is non-existent, everyone is captured in the net of sorrow, and is day and night enslaved by the chain of calamity; there is no one who is at all free or at rest from grief and affliction. Still, as the believers of G.o.d are turning to the limitless world, they do not become very depressed and sad by disastrous calamities-there is something to console them; but the others in no way have anything to comfort them at the time of calamity.

Whenever a calamity and a hardship occurs, they become sad and disappointed, and hopeless of the bounty and the mercy of the Glorious Lord.

Give especial greetings of Abha to all the friends of G.o.d and the divine servants, and give them deep love from Abdul-Baha.

O dear servant of G.o.d! Give my greeting and love to your boys. I ask G.o.d that each one of them become a shining lamp.

"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!

In reality thou art faithful and a.s.sured, thoughtful and mentioning the name of thy Lord. All the inhabitants of the Kingdom are satisfied with thy service, and the approximate angels are opening their tongues in thy praise. These angels are spiritual and merciful powers, and in one sense the angels are those sanctified souls who have disentangled themselves from the world of possession and are confirmed with the powers of the Kingdom. However, be thou not sad. Rejoice and delight in the divine glad-tidings!

I know that thou art in difficulty, but this difficulty is conducive to the everlasting felicity and this weakness is followed by the supreme strength. Consider thou how the faithful women in the time of Christ, and after the departure of His Highness, underwent hardships! What difficulties did they not bear; and what calamities did they not endure!

But that adversity and trial, misfortune and derision, became the cause of imperishable and deathless glory and rest.

Do ye not look upon the beginning of the affairs; attach your hearts to the ends and results. The present period is like unto the sowing time.

Undoubtedly it is impregnated with perils and difficulties, but in the future many a harvest shall be gathered and benefits and results will come apparent. When one considers the issue and the end, exhaustless joy and happiness will dawn.

Live thou as far as thou art able according to the divine commands and advices, because they are conducive to eternal life.

Caress and kiss on my behalf, with utmost love and yearning, thy two dear children. I supplicate G.o.d that they may come the servants of the Cause of G.o.d as their father and mother have, and be trained according to Bahai education, so that they may become two great signs of the love of G.o.d.

"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!

Verily, I read thy interesting letter, understood from it an excellent meaning and pray to G.o.d to augment thy love, knowledge, certainty and confidence.

O maid-servant of G.o.d! Everything of importance in this world demands the close attention of its seeker. The one in pursuit of anything must undergo difficulties and hardships until the object in view is attained and the great success is obtained. This is the case of things pertaining to the world. How much higher is that which concerns the Supreme Concourse! That Cause involves every favor, glory and eternal bliss in the world of G.o.d.

The seeker after the great guidance and eternal happiness necessarily will encounter difficulties. He must be patient under such circ.u.mstances. The chosen believers of the past quaffed the chalice of suffering and sank deep in the ocean of trials until they attained to that blessed station and sublime beat.i.tude.

Verily, I pray to G.o.d to aid thy children in the service of the Word of G.o.d, the furtherance of His Covenant and the spread of His fragrances, for this is the great happiness of this life and that to come.

I ask G.o.d to confirm the maid-servants of G.o.d, Mrs. ........ and Mrs.

........, in spirituality and to make them firm in turning unto the Center of Mercy and to make them sincere unto His glorious Face.

Convey my greetings to Madam ........ and say to her: "Be not sorrowful on account of separation; verily, thy Lord is of more good to thee than anything in the material world. He is the best companion and the best friend and will accompany three under all aspects."

Convey my regards to the maid-servant of G.o.d, ........, and say to her: "Be rejoiced, O maid-servant of G.o.d, through the fragrances which have perfumed the world. Seek an abundant share from this table which hath descended from heaven."

O maid-servant of G.o.d! It is necessary for every sould who believeth in her Lord to send Abdul-Baha a letter of acknowledgement in the Oneness of G.o.d.

"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!

Glad-tidings unto thee because of my address and answer to thee! G.o.d hath purified thee from iniquities when He hath drowned thee in the sea of His mercy and made thee drink the cup of faith and the pure wine of knowledge.

Well done! Well done! because thou hast desired the evanescence of thy will for the will of G.o.d, sought the augmentation of the love of G.o.d, the enlargement of the knowledge of G.o.d and straightforwardness in the path of G.o.d. I ask G.o.d to a.s.sist thee under all conditions and to enable thee to attain the utmost of hopes.

"O thou who art calling in the Name of G.o.d and heralding..."

O thou who art calling in the Name of G.o.d and heralding unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!