Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/Memorial Service
| Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908 Memorial Service |
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MEMORIAL SERVICE
[edit]One of the visiting ladies from ‘Ishqábád seemed very sad, and as a sad Bahá’í face is a rarity, we asked about her. It seemed she had lately lost both her daughters within a month’s time and was inconsolable.
When she first came, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spent much time comforting her. He told her she must take the believers for her children, and during the days in His Presence, she began to learn real content with God’s Will, which is better than resignation. Finally, He revealed some beautiful Tablets for the departed daughters and held a memorial service at which these were read. This was a service of joy and not of sorrow or regret. Only men believers took part in it, but she was able to hear it, although she was not seen. The spiritual effect this blessing had upon her was wonderful to see, and before we left, the empty place in her heart had been filled with His Love, and her face became illumined and beautiful like those of her Persian brothers and sisters.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá brought us flowers or oranges or grapefruit from the wonderful Riḍván nearly every day and also gave us delicious grapes from a vine that was planted by His own hand. (This vine yields seven crops of grapes every year, and these particular grapes were the seventh yield.)
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His constant shower of material and spiritual favors caused us to exclaim that we did not deserve so many blessings, and while we received and received everything from Him, we were unable to give Him anything in return.
He replied, simply, “That is what I am here for—to give, and not to receive.”
When we deprecated the trouble it must be to answer so many questions and to give us so much time, He replied, “Whatever is done in love is never any trouble, and—there is always time.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá entertained the Turkish officials and nonbelievers who came to call nearly every evening. When asked if this was not a great tax on His time and strength, He replied, “Bahá’u’lláh commanded us to show courtesy, kindness, and hospitality to all who come to us—whether they are believers or not.” This command ‘Abdu’l-Bahá obeyed most conscientiously. Besides showering upon them material favors, He also engaged a man to come and chant the Qur’án, which greatly pleased His Muḥammadan guests.
During the troublous time of 1905 in ‘Akká, a Syrian officer in the Turkish army who had always been friendly with the Holy Family, suddenly turned against them. He discovered a book written in English which was detrimental to this Cause. Thinking to ingratiate himself with the powers at Constantinople, he determined to send it there, first having it translated at Beirut. Of course it fell into the hands of the authorities there, who immediately concluded that, since he had the book in his possession, he must
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himself be a Bahá’í. So they promptly arrested him and sent him to Damascus. Thus he fell into his own trap. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had no word of censure for this false friend. On the contrary, He, with the Greatest Holy Leaf, went at once to call upon the sorrowful wife, offering her money and every assistance. Here was one of our daily lessons in the practical application of these Great Teachings.
In the Words of Paradise page 54, these words appear: “A strange and wonderful instrument exists in the earth, but it is concealed from minds and souls. It is an instrument which has the power to change the atmosphere of the whole earth, and its infection causes destruction.”7
Question: Does this refer to an evil power such as psychic control? Is there some other power in the world beside God?
Answer: This is a deep and lengthy subject, but, briefly, there is, as we know, a power that composes and a power that decomposes.
The world of existence is constantly revolving through the changes of building up and tearing down.
When elements are attracted, something is composed, and when these same elements are repelled, that form is decomposed.
As by the will of God the power of composition exists, so, also by will of God the power of decomposition exists.
These two are expressed in scripture by ‘Isráfíl’ the
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angel who gives life to men, and the Angel of Death who takes it away.8 The first is the power of composition or attraction, the other the power of decomposition. They are not angels.
There is no power exercised over the people by those evil souls that have passed away. Good is stronger than evil, and even when alive they had very little power. How much less have they after they are dead, and besides they are nowhere near this planet.