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1614. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"… The herald who proclaimed the written names is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Who announceth the names of those who deserve salvation and are firm in the Covenant of God.…"
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 681)
1615. All Thy Doings Recorded
"… Thou shalt, after thy departure, discover what We have revealed unto thee, and shalt find all thy doings recorded in the Book wherein the works of all them that dwell on earth, be they greater or less than the weight of an atom, are noted down.…"
- (Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 226)
1616. Chief Objectives of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Ministry
"As to the three aims which Shoghi Effendi has stated in his 'America and the Most Great Peace' to have been the chief objectives of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's ministry, it should be pointed out that the first was the establishment of the Cause in America. The erection of the Bahá’í Temple in 'Ishqábád' and the building on Mt. Carmel of a mausoleum marking the resting-place of the Báb were the two remaining ones."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, December 14, 1933: Bahá’í News, No. 51, February 1934, p. 5)
1617. Experiences with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"It is very important that the Bahá’ís should accurately record their experiences with the Master and events in the Cause's progress for these things form data for future histories of the Cause. They have not, however, the authority of the revealed Word of the Tablets,…"
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 23, 1949: Bahá’í News, No. 228, February 1950, p. 4)
1618. Stories About ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"He would also urge you to attach no importance to the stories told about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or to those attributed to Him by the friends. These should be regarded in the same light as the notes and impressions of visiting pilgrims. They need not be suppressed, but they also should not be given prominence or official recognition."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, October 2, 1935)
1619. Day of the Covenant, Day of the Ascension
"The Day of the Covenant Nov. 26th, and the Day of the Ascension, Nov. 28th, anniversaries of the birth and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, must be observed by the friends coming together, but work is not prohibited. In other words the friends must regard observance of these two anniversaries as obligatory—but suspension of work is not to be regarded as obligatory."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, January 21, 1951: Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand, p. 89)
1620. When the Interpreter of the Writings Says Nothing on a Subject then the Individual is Free to Accept or Refute
"As regards what Mírzá Abu'l Fazl has said concerning the Seven Religions of the past, Shoghi Effendi wishes to emphasize that what is truly authoritative are the words of the Master. In all such cases we should try and find out what He has said and abide by His words, even though they seem in conflict with the findings of modern scholars. If He does not say anything on the subject, then the individual is free to accept, or refute what scholars, such as Abu'l Fazl, say. Through the discussion of these(statements by scholars), the truth will ultimately be found, but at no time should their decision be considered as final."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, February 23, 1933: On Hinduism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism and Related Subjects, a compilation from the Universal House of Justice, p. 1)
1621. Praying to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"…he wishes me to explain that although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's station is not that of a Manifestation of God, nevertheless supplications may be addressed to Him. It is essential, however, that every believer should realize that while doing so he is directing his thoughts towards the Master as an intermediary between him and the Manifestation, and not as the Source of Divine Revelation and spiritual guidance. Provided this distinction is clearly established there can be no harm or objection in addressing prayers to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, December 1, 1934: Bahá’í News, No. 89, February 1935, p. 4)
1622. Through Him One Can Address Bahá’u’lláh
"If you find you need to visualize someone when you pray, think of the Master. Through Him you can address Bahá’u’lláh. Gradually try to think of the qualities of the Manifestation, and in that way a mental form will fade out, for after all the body is not the thing. His Spirit is there and is the essential, everlasting element."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, January 31, 1949: Bahá’í News, No. 222, August 1949, p. 2)
1623. Photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"In connection with the selection of particular photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for circulation among the friends, the Guardian strongly feels that no definite ruling should be laid down establishing the superiority or distinction of any particular photograph. The friends should be left quite free to use their individual independent judgement in this matter."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, May 15, 1940: Bahá’í News, No. 138, September 1940, p. 1)
1624. Photograph placed in a Dignified Position
"It is quite important that the Greatest Name or a picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá be placed in a dignified position. They should not be placed on the floor nor, on the other hand, should they be held above the heads of the people in the photograph. It would seem that the proper position would be for them to be held about chest height."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States: Bahá’í News, No. 265, March 1953, p. 4)
1625. Preservation of Relics
"Regarding the preservation of relics associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the general principle should be that any object used by Him in person should be preserved for posterity, whether in the Local or the National archives. It is the duty and responsibility of the Bahá’í Assemblies to ascertain carefully whether such objects are genuine or not, and to exercise the utmost care and caution in the matter."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, July 28, 1936: Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 34)
1626. Ages of the Faith and Epochs of the Ages
"The Guardian wishes me to explain that there is no relationship between the epochs of the Divine Plan, and the epochs of the Ages of the Faith.
"The Faith is divided into three Ages: the Heroic, the Formative, the Golden Age, as has been outlined in his writings. The Heroic Age closed with the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Formative Age is divided into epochs. The first epoch lasted 25 years. We are now actually in the second epoch of the Formative Age. How long the Formative Age will last is not known—and there will probably be a number of epochs in it."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 18, 1953)
1627. The Divine Plan
"The Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is divided into epochs. The first Seven Year Plan constituted the first stage of the first epoch; the second Seven Year Plan constitutes the second stage:—while the 10 year Crusade will constitute the third stage of the first epoch of the Divine Plan. The first epoch of the Divine Plan will conclude with the conclusion of the 10 year Crusade."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 18, 1953)
1628. The Tablets of the Divine Plan Are the Charter for Teaching
"As you are no doubt aware, the Tablets of the Divine Plan, which were revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during the First World War, are the Charter for the teaching of the Faith. All the teaching plans launched by the beloved Guardian, as well as those subsequently directed by the Universal House of Justice, are stages in the implementation of this master plan conceived by the Centre of the Covenant for the diffusion of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, September 29, 1977)
1629. Apostolic and Heroic Age of the Faith
"…the Apostolic and Heroic Age of our Faith fell into three distinct epochs, of nine, of thirty-nine and of twenty-nine years duration, associated respectively with the Babi Dispensation and the ministries of Bahá’u’lláh and of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This Primitive Age of the Bahá’í Era, unapproached in spiritual fecundity by any period associated with the mission of the Founder of any previous Dispensation, was impregnated, from its inception to its termination, with the creative energies generated through the advent of two independent Manifestations and the establishment of a Covenant unique in the spiritual annals of mankind."
- (From a letter of Shoghi Effendi to the American Bahá’ís, June 5, 1947)
1630. The Application of the Term "Iron Age"
"The term 'Iron Age' suggests the age of labour, of construction; a relatively primitive epoch as opposed to a 'Golden Age', an age of fulfilment, fruition, attainment."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 19, 1947)
