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STAR OF THE WEST
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened, that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes; these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. VIII Sharaf 1, 73 (December 31, 1917) No. 16
"If the world should combine to overthrow the Covenant, it could not succeed"
FOR years God has been preparing you for this day, in order that you may be illumined like a candle for the dark night, that you may direct the people and establish them in the divine Covenant and Testament. And if, like pure gold, you should be melted in the fire of calamity, you will be purged by that fire of calamity but you will be content.
The time was fully ripe for your coming and for the testing of man, because the great basis of the divine Cause is firmly fixed upon the pillar of the Covenant and Testament and the skies of the divine religions are brilliant and illumined by the stars of the Covenant. God be my refuge! If this pillar is to be opposed by a low fellow (Anoud) there will remain no supports for the divine and for the lesser tents, and there will be no candle lighted for the divine Assembly. The well-built house will be razed to the foundation, it will become like a useless tomb, the commands will be delayed and the waves of the sea of favor will be retarded. The sea of assurance will be cut off, the Breath of Life will cease to blow, the sails of the life-boat will be destroyed, the bright dawn will become dark evening, the dawning-point of desire will be covered under the clouds of regrets; all these troubles will become useless and all these sheddings of blood will be fruitless; the pure blood of the martyrs will become defiled and the remembrance of the blessed Báb [the Forerunner], whose breast became the target for a hundred thousand arrows, will disappear from among men, and his influence will become non-existent. The whole fifty years of the troubles of the Blessed Perfection (Baha'o'llah), the looting and plundering, the imprisoning and beating; the false accusing and injuring; the wandering and homelessness; the threatening by dagger and sword; the shackles and chains will become forgotten and without result. It will become the source of joking and quarrelling among the enemies, the source of their gaiety and rejoicing.
Then, whatever mountain or plain you traverse, cry aloud: This cycle is the Cycle of Alast! And this Covenant is the Ancient Covenant, the Illuminator of the horizons. The armies of the Kingdom are the protectors of this foundation. The sun of righteousness is radiant stability and this becomes the shining lamp of the assembly of unity. It is the Strong Rope and the illumination of the Giver of Light. It is Arva (untranslatable) and the fruit of the Toobah tree is in the concealed tablet and is recorded in the Book and the decreed Leaf. It is the Testament and the
* Alast was used to signify the night that the Koran was revealed to Mohammed and he received the message: "Am I not thy God?" to which he replied affirmatively.—Translator.
Covenant and it is mentioned in all the tablets and in all the early Books and in the later tablets. It is the governor of the era of Shadad and the balance of the day of reckoning. It is the life-boat and the refuge of the future. It is the holy fragrance of His Holiness, the Creator, and the Breaths of Life of the garden of the Creator. It is the strong fortress; therefore it is a sure shelter for all created beings, and in brief, it is the sum of all the sacred writings, ancient and modern.
How happy is the man who lays hold upon God; trusts in him, remains firm and inwardly becomes confirmed in the love of God and takes refuge under his banner!
(Words of Abdul-Baha: A tablet revealed for a believer in Teheran, sent to America by Dr. Moody.)
The radiance of servitude shining from the Candle of the Testament has illumined all horizons in spite of the people of discord, and the renown of the grandeur of the Blessed Perfection hath caused such an outcry throughout the world that it hath made the limbs of all nations quiver.
All the religions of the world have the loud cry of "Woe unto us!" on their lips, and the cry of "Woe to our Faith!" which is raised by the ignorant, is heard in the east and west. The power of the blessed Cause has such effulgence that it has become apparent to all peoples; and all the nations and creeds have acknowledged and confessed the greatness of the Cause of God. Had it not been for the injuries inflicted by the party of conceit (the nakazeen), the world of existence would have been in this day an exalted garden. But the people of conceit, being heedless of this cup mixed with kafur (a fountain intended to be drunk by the true and firm believers), have imagined that they can upset the standard of the Testament, and that they can disappoint the delivered nations. They have poured forth seditious rumors on the lips and tongues of all people, and they have made calumnating statements, hoping by this means to mingle the contents of the pre-existent cup of the Testament with the bitterness of violation. Far, far be it from them to do this!
Jesus Christ—May my soul be a sacrifice to him—had only a few followers in the time of his departure. Then after his departure all the kings of the world, philosophers of all nations, learned men of all races, and wise men of all creeds, arose to suppress and degrade his cause; but finally, all the standards hoisted by those numerous nations were upset, and the banner of Jesus Christ was fluttering on the loftiest mountain.
Now, praise be unto God, that hundreds of thousands of souls have assembled under the standard of the Covenant through the assistance of the Blessed Perfection. I declare by the Educator of the visible and invisible, it will evidently be witnessed that the descendants of the violators will think their descent as a disgrace and will disown their fathers and forefathers, just as Akrama, the son of Abudjahl,* kept clear of his father, and Kaled, the son of Valid, left his father. As these darkened people (nakazeen) have imagined that the power of the divine Testament is but a power of man, and that the edifice of the Covenant is as one of the baseless foundations of the material world, they are plotting to destroy this divine edifice with all intrigues and machinations.
Praise be to God, that the power of Nero, the great Roman emperor, proved impotent to withstand the cause of Christ—while these weak souls are plotting
* Abudjahl was the uncle of Mohammed and his greatest enemy. His name was Abul-Hakam (the father of wisdom); but for his envy and opposition, the prophet named him, Abudjahl (the father of ignorance.) —Dr. Bagdadi.
to resist the power of the Covenant of God! "Wherefore, take example from them, O ye who have eyes!"
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Portion of Tablet revealed for one of the Persian believers. Translated about 1903.)
The confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha shall descend uninterruptedly upon those souls who are firm in the Covenant. Thou hast well observed that every firm one is assisted and aided and every violator is degraded and humiliated and lost. It is very astonishing that people are not admonished. They have observed how Mohammed-Ali, on account of the violation of the Covenant, descended to the lowest degree of humiliation and yet they do not become mindful. They have seen how others through disobedience to the Testament have fallen into a well of degradation, and yet they are not awakened.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Star of the West, Vol. 4, No. 14, p. 240.)
Abdul-Baha said that he had seen the faces of the American believers and he was very glad—for their faces were radiant with the light of the Covenant of God, for the faces of those who violated the Covenant of God would appear veiled in darkness.
The Covenant of God is like the sun—the brilliance and light of the Covenant radiates and shines forth from the faces of those who are firm in it. He said: "I pray to the Blessed Perfection that he will so turn their faces to the Covenant, that all America may be enlightened by the brightness of their light." . . . . The radiance of this Sun (the Covenant) has been felt from here to America, and notwithstanding all this, the violators desire to quench the light of the Covenant of God. They wish to extinguish this light, but they do not know that the light of God's Covenant is kindled and comes from the presence of God, and though it were surrounded by all the winds of the earth, they could not prevail to blow it out.
The existent contingent world was shaken by the Covenant of God, and yet they wish to remove it by their most weak power. It is as if a handful of earth should endeavor to stop the waves of the ocean. It is like a mote trying to stop the rays of the sun from reaching the earth.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Prayers, Tablets, Instructions and Miscellany, gathered by some American visitors to Abdul-Baha in 1900.)
From the graces of His Holiness Baha'o'llah I beg for you firmness and steadfastness. Today whosoever is a herald of the Covenant is confirmed and assisted. In these days a number of souls, whose deeds are known in America as clear as the sun, have arisen in enmity against the Center of the Covenant. Theirs is the vain imagination that they can extinguish the light of the Candle of the Covenant. Vain indeed is their thought. The Candle of the Covenant is like unto the Morning Star which never sets.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, October 19, 1914.)
Thy letter was received. It was an indication that (thou art) firm and steadfast in the Covenant and Testament, and art holding fast to the "Strong Rope." Today firmness in the Covenant is the means of the promotion of the Word of God and conducive to the effect of the word of man. Any explanation which does not accord with the Covenant will have no effect whatever. Therefore, whosoever heralds the Covenant of God, unquestionably he is confirmed. This has been tried a thousand times. Any soul
(Continued on page 216)
STAR OF THE WEST
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member: MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
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Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
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TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
HE IS GOD!
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. VIII
No. 16
"This is what we inform ye in the days of tests"
Through his honor, Dr. Bagdadi, to the friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful, Muskegon, Michigan.—Upon ye be Baha'o'llah-El-Abha!
HE IS GOD!
O ye who are attracted to the Kingdom of Abha!
Verily, I have read your letter, which indicates illumined consciences and hearts filled with the love of God. Blessed are ye, for ye have attained to a Bounty which was the desire of the greatest holy men in past centuries and which is befitting for those who are like unto ye.
Verily, I ask God to make ye the signs of guidance among mankind and to bestow upon ye stability and uprightness.
Perhaps papers of doubts will come to ye from souls who have emerged from the Kingdom of God. Care ye not therein. Arise with a firm foot in the Covenant, in order that the people of hypocracy becomes hopeless, even if they should come with the greatest intrigues, evil suggestions and discords.
This is what we inform ye in the days of tests. . . . . .
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Chicago, November 19, 1914.)
"If the world should combine to overthrow the Covenant, it could not succeed"
(Continued from page 215)
who violates the Covenant and Testament in the least degree, immediately he is cut off; even in this material world he will become afflicted with remorse and regret. Consequently, as much as you are able, call the people to the Covenant and make the souls firm and steadfast.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Tablet translated March 29, 1913.)
If the world should combine to overthrow the Covenant, it could not succeed.
Abdul-Baha loves all no matter how they turn away from him. Whether they love or hate him, go or come, he never changes in his love for them. The Blessed Perfection has left nothing undone. What he ordained can never be set aside.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Ten Days in the Light of Acca, p. 8.)
O my Lord! O my Lord! Intoxicate them with the wine of knowledge; sweeten their tastes with the delicacies of prayer in the early mom and eve; gather them together in one congregation; confer upon them a shelter; protect them in the cave of thy Covenant and thy Testament; shield them from the doubts of the violators and the evil suggestions of the waverers; make them mines of knowledge, wisdom and assurance; cause their feet to be firm and steadfast in the straight pathway and grant unto them prosperity in whatever country they call the people to thy Name! Verily, thou art the Lord of the Cause, and thou are powerful to do whatsoever thou desirest!
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, July 18, 1913.)
Give my salutations and praise to that assembly who are firm in the Covenant of God, and say:
O ye whom God hath chosen from among those who are called (know ye that many are called but few chosen); upon whom he caused the evident light to descend; whom he guided into the right path and to whom he gave the glad tidings of the great success—ye must be sincere and faithful, ye must follow the ordinances which refer to the Covenant of God, which is the solid edifice.
O ye beloved of God, know that steadfastness and firmness in this new and wonderful Covenant is indeed the spirit that quickens the hearts which are overflowing with the love of the glorious Lord. Verily, it is the power which penetrates into the hearts of the people of the world! Your Lord has assuredly promised His servants who are firm and steadfast, to render them victorious at all times, to exalt their word, propagate their power, diffuse their light, strengthen their hearts, elevate their banners, assist their hosts, brighten their stars, increase the abundance of the showers of mercy upon them, and enable the brave lions (teachers) to conquer.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Tablet revealed for an American Bahai, July, 1900.)
There are many heralds in this world. Here is a herald who summons the people to the love and defense of his country, calling out at the top of his voice: "O my country, O my beloved country!" There is a herald who blows the bugle of new nationalism. Here is another herald who calls the people to politics, in order that he may wield great powers of state. There is another person who is a herald of literature and science. Here you find a soul who is the herald of the commercial interests and its expansion. And there is still another herald who sounds the trumpet of war and militarism. But praise be to God, that you are the heralds of the Kingdom of God. All these contending voices which are raised in the world today will ere long be silenced and hushed, but the call of the Kingdom of God will gain volume and impetus day by day. The popularity of these worldly heralds may last for a year or two, but the fame of the souls who are the heralds of the Kingdom, is eternal for they are sounding the trumpet of celestial, universal peace. Their voices will ring throughout the future centuries and will be immortal and age-abiding. Thank ye God, that ye are the heralds of the Kingdom of Abha, the heralds of the Covenant of the Almighty.
All other voices will be repressed, but this harmonic song of the Kingdom of Peace and Truth is eternal and everlasting.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Star of the West, Vol. 5, No. 14, p. 216.)
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, the Covenant of God and His Testament is the lamp with world-illuminating rays, and from the Supreme Concourse it enlightens the horizons of the earth and heaven. Whoever stations himself in front of this divine Light, his face will become illumined with the Manifest Glory, his speech will become effective in the hearts and spirits and God shall reinforce him with power which permeates through the realities of things.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, July 18, 1913.)
The Covenant has such a sway that it astonishes the minds. In every region the sign of the power of the Covenant is apparent and manifest. For instance, in Persia the fire of revolution blazed in such wise that all communities, government and nation became afflicted with the most severe trials; but the power of the Covenant protected the Bahai friends to such a degree that in this turbulent storm no dust fell upon them, except in one locality, which became the cause of the spreading of the religion of God and the diffusion of the Word of God. Now all the parties in Persia are wondering how the people of Baha' were guarded and protected.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Star of the West, Vol. 6., No. 14, p. 108.)
The Covenant is an Orb which shines and gleams forth unto the universe. Verily, its lights will dispel darkness, its sea will cast out the froth of suspicion upon the shores of perdition. Verily, naught in the world can resist the power of the Kingdom. Should all mankind assemble, could they prevent the sun from giving its light, the winds from their blowing, the clouds from their showers, the mountains from their firmness or the stars from their beaming? No! by the Lord, the Clement. Everything (in the world) is subject to corruption, but the Covenant of thy Lord shall continue to pervade all regions.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Star of the West, Vol. 6, No. 14:, p. 107.)
Know thou this of a certainty that today the title of the most great bestowal is firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant of the Almighty, but the magnet for the attraction of the graces of His Highness the Merciful is to teach and guide mankind.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, October 12, 1913.)
If you could realize what an effect your letter produced, undoubtedly you would feel assured that the heart of Abdul-Baha has the utmost attachment to you, and day and night he is supplicating toward the Kingdom of Abha and begs for you confirmation, for you are firm in the Covenant and are the heralds of the Testament.
Today the greatest of all affairs is firmness in the Covenant. This Covenant is the Covenant of God, and this Testament is the Testament of the Lord of Hosts. If you consider that any soul shows the slightest weakness in the Covenant, undoubtedly counsel him and guide him so that he may become firm.
Today no soul has any station or enjoys any title except the soul who is firm in the Covenant and steadfast in the Testament, who entirely forgets himself and is released from the world.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Portion of a Tablet revealed by him in response to a letter asking him to visit the Northwest. It was signed by about ninety Bahais of Spokane, Seattle and Portland.)
This (Covenant) is the Ark of Noah, its moving power is the fire of the love of God and its captain is Baha'o'llah.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, December 6, 1912.)
Thy detailed letter . . . . was duly received. Its contents produced joy and happiness, for it indicated the manifestation of the power of the Cause of God in that country, and the worthy services rendered by the firm ones in the Covenant and Testament.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Tablet, translated March 5, 1914.)
Firmness in the Covenant contains an odor like unto the fragrance of the musk which perfumes the nostrils, while violation of the Covenant has a stench which nauseates the nostrils. Therefore, when one inhales with a spiritual power unquestionably he will distinguish between the two smells.
The world of violation is like unto a rootless tree, ere long it will entirely die. The world of the Covenant is like unto the Blessed Tree which is growing beside the river of the Water of Life in the utmost delicacy and beauty, and day by day it is developing and adding to its verdancy. Ere long no trace will be left of the world of violation. No one will ever abandon His Holiness Baha'o'llah and his incontrovertible texts and no one will ever follow the superstitions of the nakazeen [the violators]. For in his irrefutable utterances and blessed writing he has most emphatically commanded all the nakazeen to obey (the Center of the Covenant). All the nakazeen whom you observe know this fact but self-interest having crept in they are following violation. . . . This century will pass and in the next century there will remain not one nakezeen.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Portion of Tablet, translated September 30, 1913.)
Thy letter was received and its contents imparted the utmost of happiness because it was an indication of thy firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant. Today whoever is firm in the Covenant shall become ignited like unto a candle in the assemblage of the world and the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha shall encircle him from all directions. Thank thou God that both thyself and thy revered husband are confirmed in the firmness of the Testament and from every standpoint thou art serving the Kingdom of God.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Portion of Tablet revealed for a Los Angeles believer, translated July 16, 1913.)
Today the highest of all the degrees are the degrees of firmness and steadfastness in faith and certainty. This firmness and steadfastness will be conducive to the descent of divine assistance and confirmation.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Diary of Mirza Sohrab, July 24, 1914.)
Thy letter was received. Its perusal indicated thy faith and firmness in the Covenant and Testament. . . . . Therefore, exercise the utmost love and kindness toward each other to the utmost degree, and love each other heartily and strive in the assistance of each other and take a firm hold on the divine Testament and the Covenant. Because the spirit of this age is the Covenant and the Testament of God. It is like the pulsating artery in the body of the world. Speak in your meetings and assemblages about the Testament and the Covenant, and invite every one to firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant. Know ye this: that if any person is the least doubtful about the Covenant, he is immediately cut off—although he may be the greatest among men. The harmful results of such an event will appear
in the future; therefore, give your utmost attention to this question. Consider that the words of Mirza Ali Akbar [a Bahai teacher] were so effective because he is firm in the Covenant.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Tablet translated July 4, 1913.)
You have written that "We all pray that we and all the friends everywhere be favored with the Will of the Center of the Covenant, which is by itself, the good of the whole world, the eternal glory and life (for humanity)." This statement plainly shows that, thank God, you are firm in the Covenant. Today whosoever is firm in the Covenant is helped by the hosts of angels, and favored with the Spirit of God. Wherever he may be, he will shine forth like unto a bright star. This has been experienced by some. But, if he hesitates, although he may make great noises, yet he is in evident loss in the end.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Extract from Tablet, received September 7, 1914, by a London Bahai.)
As to thee, O thou who art confessing the oneness of God! arise with all thy power to keep firm in the Testament of God, and firmly believe that, verily, all troops are defeated save those of the Testament and all banners are reversed, save those of the Covenant of God, which will wave over all horizons and will overshadow the hosts of spirit, love and peace, while agitated by the breeze of the favor of God. Be thou of this great host and among the vanguard of this great and powerful army. (P. 108.)
"Leave them to amuse themselves with their own vain discourses," and turn thou to the light of the Testament, and rejoice at the bounty of the effulgence, and seek shelter under the shadow of the standard of the Covenant. Thou wilt soon find it fluttering on the highest summits of glory, surrounded by the valiant hosts of the angels of heaven and assisted by spiritual armies of great number that proceed from the Supreme Concourse. (P. 72.)
Be ye assured with the greatest assurance that, verily, God will help those who are firm in His Covenant in every matter, through His confirmation and favor, the lights of which will shine forth unto the east of the earth, as well as the west thereof. He will make them the signs of guidance among the creation and as shining and glittering stars from all horizons. (P. 83.)
Soon the lights will glisten and the Sun of Truth will shine with a burning ray in that country. At that time the maid-servants who are firm and constant will rejoice; while every doubtful soul who wavers will regret. Woe unto him! woe unto him! in that day wherein the beloved will attain joy by the surrounding Kingdom of thy Lord, the Precious, the Beneficent. Verily, the end is for them who are ushered into the tent of the Covenant of thy merciful Lord. (P. 96.)
Be well watered with the abundant rain falling from the clouds of the Testament of God. (P. 131.)
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha: Pages indicated, Volume 1.)
Therefore, roll up thy sleeves to serve the Covenant, make the hearts firm in the Covenant of the beloved Lord, create harmony and agreement among the believers. . . . . Verily, I send thee good news of the confirmation which thou shalt receive . . . . if thou wilt arise with all thy power to assist the Testament of God and to serve the Covenant of God.
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha: Vol. 1, p.161.)
