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WHAT IS A BAHA'I?
When asked on one occasion: "What is a Baha'f?" 'Abdu'l-Baha replied: "To be a Bah&a'f{f simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." "Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 71
O army of God!
Through the protection and help vouchsafed by the Blessed Beauty-- may my life be a sacrifice to His loved ones--ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out distinquished
and brilliant as the sun among other souls. Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a center of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the
world, so that the people of that city may cry out and say: "This man is unquestionably a Baha'f, for his manners, his behavior, his conduct, his morals, his nature and
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disposition reflect the attributes of the Baha'fs." Not until ye attain this station can ye be said to have been faith-
ful to the Covenant and Testament of God.
The most vital duty, in this day, is to purify your characters, to correct your manners, and improve your conduct. The beloved of the Merciful must show forth such character and conduct among His creatures, that the fragrance of their holiness may be shed upon the whole world, and may quicken the dead, inasmuch as the purpose of the Manifestation of God and the dawning of the limitless lights of the Invisible is to educate the souls of men, and refine the character of every living man. ...
"Abdu'1-Baha,
quoted in
The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 21-22
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O My beloved friends!
You are the bearers of the name of God in this Day. You have been chosen as the repositories of His mystery. It behoves each one of you to manifest the attributes of God, and to exemplify by your deeds and words the signs of His righteousness, His power and glory. The very members of your body must bear witness to the loftiness of your purpose, the integrity of your life, the reality of your faith, and the exalted character of your devotion.
"Ye are even as the fire which in the darkness of the night has been kindled upon the mountain-top. Let your light shine before the eyes of men. Such must be the purity of your character and the degree of your renunciation, that the people of the earth may through you recognise and be drawn closer to the heavenly Father who is the Source of purity and grace. «
Verily I say, immensely exalted is this Day above the days of the Apostles of old. Nay, immeasureable is the difference! You are the wit- nesses of the Dawn of the promised Day of God. You are the partakers of the mystic chalice of His Revelation. Gird up the loins of endeavour.
The days when idle worship was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most High and be acceptable unto Him. .
Heed not your weaknesses and frailty; fix your gaze upon the in- vincible power of the Lord, your God, the Almighty. . . . Arise in His name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory.
The Bab, quoted in The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 92-94
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I would only venture to state very briefly .. . the principle factors that must be taken into consideration before deciding whether a person may be regarded a true believer or not. Full recognition of the station of the Forerunner, the Author, and the True Exemplar
of the Baha'f Cause, as set forth in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament; un- reserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of our Beloved's sacred Will; and close association with the spirit
as well as the form of the present day Baha'f administration through-
out the world. ...
Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 90
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WHAT IS A BAHA'I?
What is a Baha'f?
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Is it possible for a Baha'f to live up to the standards set forth in this section? Do you know of anyone who has done it?
What did 'Abdu'l-Baha mean when He said that a Bah&a'f should be identifiable by his conduct as soon as he enters a city? Has this happened to you?
Does the message of the Bab still apply to us today?
Why all the emphasis on "Standards"? How are they relevant to teaching? How are they relevant to building a new World Order?
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