The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting Selection of Extracts and Prayers from the Bahá'í Writings Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice, in reviewing the further applicability of the laws of Bahá'u'lláh in the course of the past four years, determined that it is imperative for all Baha'is "to deepen their awareness of the blessings conferred by the laws which directly foster the devotional life of the individual and, thus, of the community." Among these laws are obligatory prayer and fasting which have been characterized by the Blessed Beauty as "two wings to man's life." This present selection of newly authorized translations has been drawn from the vast ocean of the original Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. It is intended to further enhance the believers' insight into the far-reaching significance of these two great laws. May 2000 ============================== The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH We, verily, have set forth all things in Our Book, as a token of grace unto those who have believed in God, the Almighty, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. And We have ordained obligatory prayer and fasting so that all may by these means draw nigh unto God, the Most Powerful, the Well-Beloved. We have written down these two laws and expounded every irrevocable decree. We have forbidden mankind from following whatsoever might cause them to stray from the Truth, and have commanded them to observe that which will draw them nearer unto Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Loving. Say: Observe ye the commandments of God for the sake of His beauty, and be not of those who follow in the ways of the abject and the foolish. All praise be unto God, Who hath revealed the law of obligatory prayer as a reminder to His servants, and enjoined on them the Fast that those possessed of means may become apprised of the woes and sufferings of the destitute. One who performs neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto a tree without fruit and an action without an effect. Whosoever attaineth to the joy of worship will refuse to barter away a single righteous act or one word of God's remembrance in exchange for the possession of all created things. Fasting and obligatory prayer are the two wings that sustain the life of man. Blessed is he who soareth with their aid in the heaven of the love of God, the Lord of all worlds. In truth I say that obligatory prayer and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight of God. It is, however, in a state of well-being that their virtue can be realized. In a state of sickness it is not permissible to observe these obligations; such hath ever been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be His glory. Blessed be such men and women as heed and observe His precepts. All praise be to God, the Revealer of verses and the Expounder of undoubted proofs! Cling firmly to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who transgress His commands. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, to graciously enable all men to observe that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book. Know thou that religion is as heaven; and fasting and obligatory prayer are its sun and its moon. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, to graciously aid all men to act according to His will and good-pleasure. Be not neglectful of obligatory prayer and fasting. He who observeth them not hath never been nor will ever be acceptable in the sight of God. Follow ye wisdom under all conditions. He, verily, hath bidden all to observe that which hath been and will be of profit to them. He, in truth, is the All-Sufficing, the Most High. As for obligatory prayer, this commandment hath been sent down by the Pen of the Most High in such wise that it sets ablaze the hearts and captivates the souls and minds of men. Concerning obligatory prayer, this great law hath been revealed in such wise that whosoever reciteth it, even one time, with a detached heart, will find himself wholly severed from the world. O My brother! How great, how very great, is the law of obligatory prayer. Please God, through His mercy and loving kindness, we shall be enabled to observe it. When a man commenceth the recitation of the Obligatory Prayer, he should be severed from all created things and regard himself as utter nothingness before the will and purpose of God, in such wise that he seeth naught but Him in the world of being. This is the station of God's well-favored ones and those who are wholly devoted to Him. Should one perform the Obligatory Prayer in this manner, he will be accounted by God and the Concourse on high among the people of prayer. One of the laws is obligatory prayer. He Who is the Bearer of the divine mysteries hath called it the ladder of ascent. He saith: "Obligatory prayer is the means for the heavenly ascent of the believer." Within it are hidden and concealed a myriad pearls and gems. Indeed, they are beyond computation. How great would be a man's indolence and his injustice to himself if he were to abandon this ladder of ascent and attach himself to earthly treasures. It is our hope that we may be assisted to perform pure and worthy deeds. We beseech God, exalted and glorified be He, to confirm us in that which He desireth and pleaseth and in that which will draw us nigh unto Him. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful, Who is wont to answer the prayers of all men. Of the new obligatory prayers that were later revealed, the long Obligatory Prayer should be said only at those times when one feeleth properly inclined. In truth, it hath been revealed in such wise that if it be recited to a rock, that rock would stir and speak forth; and if it be recited to a mountain, that mountain would move and flow. Well is it with the one who reciteth it and fulfilleth God's precepts. Whichever prayer is read will suffice. We beseech God to assist His people that they may observe the most great and potent Fast, which is to protect one's eye from beholding that which is forbidden and to withhold one's self from food, drink and whatever is ungodly. We pray God to confirm holy souls that they may succeed in accomplishing that which they have been commanded in this Day. Praise be unto Him Who hath revealed laws in accordance with His good-pleasure. Verily, He is sovereign over whatsoever He wishes. O My friends! Act ye in accordance with what ye have been commanded in the Book. Fasting hath been decreed for you in the month of 'Ala. Fast ye for the sake of your Lord, the Mighty, the Most High. Restrain yourselves from sunrise to sunset. Thus doth the Beloved of mankind instruct you on behalf of God, the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained. It is not for anyone to exceed the limits laid down by God and His law, nor should anyone follow his own idle imaginings. Well is it with the one who fulfilleth My decrees for the love of My Beauty, and woe to the one who neglecteth the Dayspring of Command in the days of his Lord, the Almighty, the Omnipotent. There is no God beside Me, the Omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We, verily, have commanded all to observe the Fast in these days as a bounty on Our part, but the people remain unaware, except for those who have attained unto the purpose of God as revealed in His laws and have comprehended His wisdom that pervadeth all things visible and invisible. Say: By God! His law is a fortress unto you, could ye but understand. Verily, He hath no purpose therein save to benefit the souls of His servants, but, alas, the generality of mankind remain heedless thereof. Cling ye to the cord of God's laws, and follow not those who have turned away from the Book, for verily they have opposed God, the Mighty, the Beloved. These are the days of the Fast. Blessed is the one who through the heat generated by the Fast increaseth his love, and who, with joy and radiance, ariseth to perform worthy deeds. Verily, He guideth whomsoever He willeth to the straight path. Even though to outward seeming the Fast be difficult and troublesome, yet inwardly it is a bounty and the cause of well-being. Purification and training are conditioned and dependent upon spiritual exercises. Only those disciplines, however, which are in accord with the Book of God and sanctioned by Divine law are acceptable, not those which the deluded have inflicted upon the people. Whatsoever God hath revealed is beloved of the soul. We beseech Him that He may graciously assist us to do that which is pleasing and acceptable unto Him. Verily, I say, fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion. All praise be to the one true God Who hath assisted His loved ones to observe the Fast and hath aided them to fulfill that which hath been decreed in the Book. In truth, ceaseless praise and gratitude are due unto Him for having graciously confirmed His loved ones to perform that which is the cause of the exaltation of His Word. If a man possessed ten thousand lives and offered them all to establish the truth of God's laws and commandments, he would still find himself beholden unto Him, since whatever proceedeth from His inscrutable decree doth but benefit His friends and loved ones. There are various stages and stations for the Fast and innumerable effects and benefits within it. Well is it with those who have attained unto them. In clear cases of weakness, illness, or injury the law of the Fast is not binding. This injunction is in conformity with the precepts of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Well is it with them who act accordingly. The law of the Fast is ordained for those who are sound and healthy; as to those who are ill or debilitated, this law hath never been nor is now applicable. EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA Obligatory prayer and fasting are the most great ordinances of this holy Dispensation. In the realm of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two mightiest pillars of God's Holy Law. Neglecting them is in no wise permitted, and falling short in their performance is not acceptable. In the Tablet of Visitation He saith: "I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden." He declareth that observance of the commands of God derives from love for the beauty of the Best-Beloved. The seeker, when immersed in the ocean of the love of God, and moved by intense longing, will arise to carry out the laws of God. Thus, it is impossible that a heart which containeth the fragrance of God's love should yet fail to worship Him, except under conditions when such an action would agitate the enemies and stir up great incitement. Otherwise, a lover of the Abha Beauty will assuredly and continually demonstrate perseverance in the worship of the Lord. The laws of God regarding fasting and obligatory prayer are absolutely incumbent upon the believers. Therefore, they must turn their faces to the Point of Adoration of the celestial Concourse, hold fast to the most sublime Station, and pray and supplicate that they may be freed from the doubts of allegorical interpretation. This is the way of 'Abdu'l-Baha. This is the religion of 'Abdu'l-Baha. This is the path of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Whoever cherisheth the love of Baha, let him choose this straight path. Whoever abandons this path, verily, he is of them who are shut out as by a veil from Him. Shouldst thou observe any soul who is in doubt about this commandment or who misinterpreteth it, but hath no secret motive or defiance in what he doeth, be friendly towards him, and with the utmost cordiality and through kind speech, endeavor to turn him from the path of such interpretation towards the plain meaning of the Verses of God. The laws of God, such as fasting, obligatory prayer and the like, as well as His counsels regarding virtues, good deeds and proper conduct must be carried out everywhere to the extent possible unless some insurmountable obstacle or some great danger presents itself and wisdom dictates otherwise. If, however, indolence and laxity prevail, such will hinder the outpourings of love from the clouds of divine mercy, and people will thus remain deprived. O ye loved ones of God! Out of thankfulness for firmness in the Covenant arise to serve the threshold of the omnipotent Lord. Occupy yourselves with obligatory prayer and fasting, and spend your time in diffusing the sweet savors of God and in spreading the Divine verses. Tear asunder the veils, proffer the life-giving waters, and point out the path of salvation. This is what Abdu'l-Baha admonishes you every morn and eve. O thou daughter of the Kingdom! The obligatory prayers are binding inasmuch as they are conducive to humility and submissiveness, to setting one's face towards God and expressing devotion to Him. Through such prayer man holdeth communion with God, seeketh to draw near unto Him, converseth with the true Beloved of his heart, and attaineth spiritual stations. O thou spiritual friend! Thou hast asked about the wisdom of obligatory prayer. Know thou that such prayer is mandatory and essential. Man under no pretext whatsoever is excused from observing the prayer unless he is incapable of performing it or some great obstacle intervenes. The wisdom of obligatory prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One, because at that time man with all his heart and soul turneth his face towards the Almighty, seeking His association and desiring His love and compassion. For a lover, there is no greater pleasure than to converse with his beloved, and for a seeker, there is no greater bounty than companionship with the object of his longing. Hence the greatest desire of every soul who is attracted to the Kingdom of God is to find a time to entreat and supplicate his Beloved, seeking His bounty and mercy, and to be immersed in the ocean of communion, entreaty, and supplication. Beside all this, obligatory prayer and fasting produceth awareness and awakening in man, and are conducive to his protection and preservation from tests. Strengthen thou the foundation of the Faith of God, and worship the Almighty. Be constant in offering obligatory prayer, and pay the greatest heed to fasting. Day and night commit thyself to prayer, supplication, and entreaty, especially at the prescribed times. The obligatory prayers have been set down by the Pen of the Most High and have been mentioned in the Persian Questions and Answers, which supplementeth the Kitab-i-Aqdas. They are clearly binding, and without a doubt everyone must perform one of these three prayers… Through worship man becometh spiritual, his heart is attracted, and his soul and inner being attain such tenderness and exhilaration that the Obligatory Prayer causeth new life in him. This is why in the Tablet of Visitation it hath been revealed: "I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden." It is clear then that love of the beauty of the All-Merciful impeleth one to the worship of almighty God. O thou servant of God! Each morn God's infinite grace beareth witness to the fervent and tearful invocations of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Hence, let every understanding soul, to the extent possible, obtain a portion of such bounty. This can be achieved by offering prayers and supplications at each morn, being fervent before God, and observing the law of obligatory prayer, till the nostrils take delight in the sweet savors wafting from the paradise of the grace of God, and the soul attaineth new life; thus, the reality of man becometh a mirror for the effulgences of the All-Merciful. Obligatory prayer causeth the heart to become attentive to the Kingdom of God. One is alone with God, converseth with Him, and acquireth bounties. If one performeth the Obligatory Prayer with his heart in a state of utmost purity, he will obtain the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, and self-love will be obliterated and disappear. I hope that thou wilt persevere in the recitation of the Obligatory Prayer, and thus will come to understand the power of prayer and supplication. Thou hast written concerning the Obligatory Prayer. Such prayer is mandatory and necessary for everyone. No doubt thou wilt guide all to its observance, because it is the cause of ascent for the souls. It is a lamp unto the hearts of the righteous and living waters from the gardens of paradise. It is a clear duty prescribed by the All-Merciful. In no wise is it permissible to postpone or neglect it. Obligatory prayer and supplication cause man to reach the kingdom of mystery, and to attain the worship of the Supreme One. They bestow nearness unto His threshold. There is a pleasure in offering prayers that transcendeth all other pleasures, and there is a sweetness in chanting and singing the verses of God which is the greatest desire of all the believers, men and women alike. While reciting the Obligatory Prayer, one converseth intimately and shareth secrets with the true Beloved. No pleasure is greater than this, if one proceedeth with a soul detached, with tears overflowing, a trusting heart, and an eager spirit. Every joy is earthly save this one, the sweetness of which is divine. Obligatory prayer is the very foundation of the Cause of God. Through it joy and gladness infuse the heart. Even if every grief should surround me, as soon as I engage in conversing with God in obligatory prayer, all of my sorrows disappear and I achieve joy and gladness. A condition descendeth upon me which I am unable to describe or express. Whenever, with full concentration and humility, we undertake the obligatory prayer before God, and we recite it with complete purity, we shall taste such sweetness as to endow all existence with eternal life. Take the greatest care with the Obligatory Prayer so that the gate of bounty may be opened to thee and the most great spirituality attained, that thou mayest witness the greatest signs and realize the spiritual ascent. Persevere in the use of the Obligatory Prayer and early morning supplications, so that day by day thine awareness may increase, and through the power of the knowledge of God, thou mayest rend asunder the veil of error of the people of doubt and lead them to the most great guidance. In every assembly, like unto a candle, thou shouldst give forth the light of divine knowledge. Recite the Obligatory Prayer and supplications as much as thou art able, so that day by day thou mayest attain to increased firmness and steadfastness, find greater joy and gladness, and discover that the circle of divine knowledge is ever wider and the fire of the love of God burns ever brighter within thee . Obligatory prayers and supplications are the very water of life. They are the cause of existence, of the refinement of souls and of their attainment to the glad-tidings. Take great care with this, and call on others to recite the obligatory prayers and supplications. O thou servant of the True Lord! Obligatory prayer and other supplications are essential to servitude unto Him Who is the All-Sufficing....Since obligatory prayers and other prayers have been joined and knit together for the perfection of worship, therefore it can be seen that these two are the companions of each other and are like one soul in two bodies. May God assist you all to thrive in love and fellowship. When saying the Obligatory Prayer, one's attention should be directed towards the Holy Reality of Baha'u'llah, that Reality which encompasseth all things. As to the Obligatory Prayer, it hath a Qiblih that is fixed, holy, and blessed. I ask God that He may open the gate of the knowledge of this station to your heart so that you may apprehend whatever is necessary and proper, garner spiritual bounties from the heaven of the All-Merciful, obtain the effulgences of knowledge from the Sun of Reality, and become a manifestation of inspiration from the Unseen and a source of glad-tidings from the All-Merciful. With regard to the Obligatory Prayer, this should be said individually, but it is not dependent on a private spot. O servant of the holy threshold! Thou hast asked about those prayers that are beyond what is prescribed, those that are recommended, invocations, and private devotions. In this Dispensation that which hath been expressly stated as obligatory is such. But individual worship, invocations, supererogatory prayers, and specially recommended prayers are not binding. Nonetheless, the saying of any prayers individually in addition to the obligatory prayers is well-pleasing and acceptable, but no particular ones have been singled out. …those decrees which are obligatory and those matters that are necessary are the ones that have issued forth from the Supreme Pen or those that obtain through a ruling of the Universal House of Justice . For we are the commanded, not the commander. We are the ones upon whom duties are imposed, not the ones who impose duties. This is the reality of the Law of God and the foundation of the religion of God . As for devotions and invocations, after completing the required recitation of the Obligatory Prayer, let whoever wisheth recite other prayers of the Blessed Perfection. Thou hast written about the Fast. This is a most weighty matter and thou shouldst exert thine utmost in its observance. It is the very foundation of the divine law, and one of the pillars of the religion of God. Well is it with thee that hast followed the Law of God and hast arisen to observe the Fast during these blessed days, for this physical fast is a symbol of the spiritual fast. It cleanseth the soul from all selfish desires, develops its spiritual attributes, attracts it to the breezes of the All-Merciful, and enkindles it with the fire of divine love. Fasting is the cause of the elevation of one's spiritual station. The duration of fasting is from sunrise to sunset; more than this is not permissible, as it leadeth to weakness and debility. Newly-Translated Prayers for the Fast REVEALED BY BAHA'U'LLAH I This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure, and not out of his own desire or disdain for His Lord, and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught else except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness. Illumine their hearts, O my God, with the light of Thy knowledge and brighten their faces with the rays of the Sun that shineth from the horizon of Thy Will. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. No God is there but Thee, the All-Glorious, Whose help is implored by all men. Assist them, O my God, to render Thee victorious and to exalt Thy Word. Suffer them, then, to become as hands of Thy Cause amongst Thy servants, and make them revealers of Thy religion and Thy signs amongst mankind, in such wise that the whole world may be filled with Thy remembrance and praise and with Thy proofs and evidences. Thou, verily, art the Bounteous, the Exalted, the Powerful, the Mighty, and the Merciful. II Praise be unto Thee, O Lord my God! We have observed the Fast in conformity with Thy bidding and break it now through Thy love and Thy good-pleasure. Deign to accept, O my God, the deeds that we have performed in Thy path wholly for the sake of Thy beauty, with our faces set towards Thy Cause, free from aught else but Thee. Bestow, then, Thy forgiveness upon us, upon our forefathers, and upon all such as have believed in Thee and in Thy mighty signs in this most great, this most glorious Revelation. Potent art Thou to do what Thou choosest. Thou, verily, art the Most Exalted, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. III In the Name of Him Who hath been promised in the Books of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed! The days of fasting have arrived wherein those servants who circle round Thy throne and have attained Thy presence have fasted. Say: O God of names and creator of heaven and earth! I beg of Thee by Thy Name, the All-Glorious, to accept the fast of those who have fasted for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy good-pleasure and have carried out what Thou hast bidden them in Thy Books and Tablets. I beseech Thee by them to assist me in the promotion of Thy Cause and to make me steadfast in Thy love, that my feet may not slip on account of the tumult provoked by Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. No God is there but Thee, the Quickener, the All-Powerful, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. IV Praise be to Thee O God, my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast enjoined Thy sincere friends and Thy loved ones to observe the Fast, which Thou hast made a light unto the people of Thy kingdom, even as Thou didst make obligatory prayer a ladder of ascent unto those who acknowledge Thy unity. I beg of Thee, O my God, by these two mighty pillars, which Thou hast ordained as a glory and honor for all mankind, to keep Thy religion safe from the mischief of the ungodly and the cunning of every wicker doer. O Lord, conceal not the light which Thou hast revealed through Thy strength and Thine omnipotence. Assist, then, those who truly believe in Thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen by Thy command and Thy sovereignty. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. V In His name, the All-Glorious, the Loving! O my God and my Master! Thou seest me among Thy creatures who have rebelled and transgressed against Thee. Every time I invite them unto the ocean of Thy knowledge, their repudiation of Thy Cause increaseth and their rejection of the Dawning-Place of Thy Will waxeth greater. I beg of Thee, O my God, by those who have fasted for love of Thee and have quaffed the living waters of submission from the hands of Thy bounty, to decree for Thy loved ones, who under the blaze of the orb of Thy trials have clung to the cord of patience, all the good Thou hast reckoned in Thy Books and Thy Tablets. Write down, then, for those who have been afflicted with adversities for Thy sake the reward of those who have suffered martyrdom in the path of Thy good-pleasure. Send down, then, upon them, O Lord, what will rejoice their hearts, solace their eyes, and exhilarate their souls. Thou, verily, art the Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Help in Peril, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. VI Exalted art Thou, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by those whom Thou hast bidden to observe the fast for the sake of Thy love and good-pleasure, who have proclaimed Thy Cause and followed Thy verses and precepts, and who have broken their fast in Thy presence. I swear by Thy glory! All of them are fasting during their days and turning towards the court of Thy good-pleasure. Should Thy will decree that out of Thy mouth these words proceed and be addressed to them: "Observe, for My beauty's sake, the fast, O people, and set no limit to its duration," I swear by the majesty of Thy glory, that every one of them will faithfully observe it, will abstain from whatsoever will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so until they yield up their souls unto Thee, for they have tasted the sweetness of calling upon Thee and remembering Thy name, and become inebriated with Thy praise and the words proceeding from the mouth of Thy will. I beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thyself, the Exalted, the Most High, and by Thy Latter Manifestation through Whom the kingdom of names and the dominion of attributes were turned upside down, and the inhabitants of earth and heaven became intoxicated, and all who dwell in the worlds of command and creation trembled except such as have fasted from all that is repugnant to Thy good-pleasure and restrained themselves from turning toward aught besides Thee, to include us among these fruitful ones and to write down our names on the Tablet whereon Thou hast inscribed their names. O God, through the wonders of Thy might and the tokens of Thy sovereignty and grandeur, Thou didst send forth their names from out of the sea of Thy names, and didst create their essences out of the substance of Thy love, and their inmost beings from the clay of Thy command. Theirs is a reunion not succeeded by the decree of separation or parting; a nearness that knoweth no remoteness, and a perpetuity that ceaseth not. Verily, these are servants who ever recount Thy mystery, who eternally circle round Thee, and who circumambulate the sanctuary of Thy presence and the ka'ba of reunion with Thee. Thou hast ordained, O my God, no distinction between them and Thee, except that they have beheld the lights of Thy countenance, set their faces towards Thee, and prostrated themselves before Thy beauty, submissive to Thy grandeur and severed from all things besides Thee. O Lord, we have fasted this day by Thy command and Thy will in accordance with what Thou hast revealed in Thine incorruptible Book. We have restrained our souls from passion and from whatsoever Thou abhorest until the day drew to an end and the time arrived to break the fast. Wherefore, I implore Thee, O Desire of the hearts of ardent lovers and Beloved of the souls of mystic knowers, O Rapture of the breasts of them that yearn after Thee and Object of the aim of them that cherish Thee, to cause us to soar in the atmosphere of Thy nearness and the heaven of Thy presence, and to accept from us what we have performed in the pathway of Thy love and good-pleasure. Write down our names, then, among those who acknowledge Thy oneness and confess to Thy singleness, who are humble before the evidences of Thy majesty and the tokens of Thy grandeur, who take refuge in Thy nearness and seek shelter at Thy side, who expend their lives in their eagerness to meet Thee and attain the court of Thy presence, and who cast the world behind their backs for love of Thee and severed every tie in their eagerness to draw nigh unto Thee. These are servants whose hearts melt in ardent desire for Thy beauty at the mention of Thy name, and whose eyes overflow with tears in their longing to find Thee and enter the precincts of Thy court. O Lord, my tongue testifieth to Thy unity and peerlessness, mine eye beholdeth the seat of Thy generosity and manifold bounties, and mine ear is ready to hearken unto Thy summons and Thine utterance, for I am assured, O my God, that the words proceeding out of the mouth of Thy will are inexhaustible and the ears which Thou hast sanctified to hear Thy words and verses are hearkening to them at all times. My hand is uplifted toward the heaven of Thy favor and tender mercy, O Lord. Wilt Thou turn away this poor one who hath taken to himself no beloved except Thee, no bestower besides Thee, no king other than Thee, no shelter except under the shadow of Thy mercy, and no refuge save before Thy gate, which Thou hast opened unto all who dwell in Thy heaven and on Thine earth? Nay, by Thy glory! Even though Thou wert to afflict me with torments for the duration of Thy dominion, my confidence in Thy loving-kindness would be undaunted. Should anyone ask me about Thee, every limb of my body would proclaim: "He is beloved in His acts and irresistible in His decree, and He is merciful in His nature and compassionate to His creatures!" Thy might beareth me witness, O Delight of the hearts of them that yearn after Thee, wert Thou to turn me away from Thy door and abandon me to the swords of the tyrants amongst Thy servants and to the rods of the ungodly amongst Thy creatures, and someone should ask me about Thee, every hair on my body would still declare: "He, in truth, is the Best Beloved of the worlds, the Most Bountiful, the Ever-Abiding! He draweth me nigh while remaining distant; He granteth me His sanctuary while barring me from His presence. None found I more merciful than He, by Whom I became enriched from all else but Him and was lifted up above the entire creation." Well is it with him, O my God, who is able, through Thee, to dispense with the dominion of the kingdoms of earth and heaven. Rich is he who hath held fast to the cord of Thy wealth, is submissive before Thy face, and for whom Thou art sufficient above all things. Poor is he who hath dispensed with Thee, waxed proud before Thee, turned away from Thy presence, and disbelieved in Thy signs. Suffer me, then, O my God and my Best Beloved, to be numbered with those whom the winds of Thy will move as they list, not with those who are stirred by the winds of self and passion and follow them as they please. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the Exalted, the Most Bountiful. All glory be to Thee, O my God, for Thou hast graciously enabled me to fast during this month which Thou hast related to Thy name, the Most Exalted, and called 'Ala (Loftiness). Thou hast commanded that Thy servants should fast therein and seek thereby to draw nearer unto Thee. The days and months of the year have culminated with the Fast, even as the first month began with Thy name, Baha, that all might testify that Thou art the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and be well-assured that the honor of Thy names is not realizable save through the glory of Thy Cause [?] and the word expounded by Thy will and revealed through Thy purpose. Thou hast ordained that this month be a remembrance and honor from Thee, and a sign of Thy presence amongst them, that they may not forget Thy grandeur and Thy majesty, Thy sovereignty and Thy glory, and may be well-assured that Thou hast ever been and wilt ever be Ruler over the entire creation. Nothing created in the heavens or on the earth can hinder Thee in Thy governance, nor can anyone in the worlds of command and creation frustrate Thee from fulfilling Thy purpose. I implore Thee, O my God, by Thy name whereby all the kindreds of the earth have wailed, except such as Thou hast safeguarded with Thine inviolable protection and sheltered under the shadow of Thy transcendent mercy, to make us steadfast in Thy Cause and to confirm us with Thy love in such wise that were Thy creatures to rise up against Thee and oppose Thee, so that no others remained on earth to adore Thy name or set their faces toward the sanctuary of Thine intimacy and the ka'ba of Thy holiness, I would arise singly and alone to render Thy Cause victorious, to exalt Thy word, to proclaim Thy sovereignty, and to celebrate the praise of Thine august Self, even though, O Lord, each time I venture to extol Thee by any name, I am filled with perplexity, for I am fully aware that all of Thine exalted attributes and all of Thy most excellent names, which I associate with Thee and by which I pray in Thy holy presence, reflect naught but the degree of my knowledge. Inasmuch as I have conceived them to be lauded, I have associated them with Thee, but Thy true state is immeasurably exalted and sanctified above being described or known by anyone besides Thee, and the ascriptions of Thy creatures and the praise of Thy servants fall short in their attempts to ascend unto Thee. Whatever appeareth from Thy servants is limited by the limitations of themselves and is created by their own conceptions and imaginations. Alas, alas, O my Beloved, for mine inability to befittingly praise Thee and for my shortcomings during Thy days. If I acclaim Thee, O my God, as Him Who knoweth all things, I am compelled to admit that shouldst Thou desire it, Thou couldst enable a deaf rock to unfold the knowledge of all past and future ages; and if I extol Thee as the All-Powerful, I am forced to acknowledge that a single word issuing from the mouth of Thy will is sufficient to reverse the heavens and the earth. Thy glory beareth me witness, O Beloved of all that recognize Thee, should any learned one fail to confess his ignorance before the revelations of Thy knowledge, he would be accounted the most shallow of Thy people; and should any mighty one refuse to admit his weakness before the evidences of Thy power, he would be considered the most abject and heedless of Thy creatures. Given my knowledge and certainty that this is so, how can I extol Thee or describe Thee with a praise that befitteth Thy nature. Wherefore, knowing my weakness, I have hastened toward the shelter of Thy strength; and knowing my poverty, I have sought refuge under the shadow of Thy wealth; and knowing my feebleness, I have stood before the tabernacle of Thy power and might. Wilt thou cast away this poor one after he hath taken Thee as the Wellspring of his life, or turn away this stranger after he hath discovered in Thee his true beloved? O Lord, Thou knowest all that is in me, but I know not what is in Thee. Have mercy then upon me through Thy loving providence and inspire me with that which shall give peace to my heart during Thy days and invigorate my soul through the revelations of Thy sacred presence. O Lord, all created things have been illumined with the splendors of the lights of Thy countenance, and the dwellers of earth and heaven are shining resplendently on account of the manifestations of Thine incomparable majesty, in such wise that I behold nothing without first beholding within it the revelation of Thyself, a revelation which is hidden from the sight of those who are fast asleep. Deprive me not, O my Lord, of Thy grace which hath encompassed all the realms of existence, whether visible or invisible. Wilt Thou stay far removed, O my God, after Thou hast invited all mankind to return and draw nigh unto Thee, and urged them to hold fast to Thy cord? Wilt Thou disappoint me, O my Beloved, after Thou hast promised in Thine incorruptible Book and in Thy wondrous verses to gather all those who yearn after Thee within the pavilion of Thy gracious providence, and those who desire Thee under the shadow of Thy bountiful favor, and those who search for Thee under the canopy of Thy mercy and loving-kindness? I swear by Thy might, O my God, that my lamentations have halted my heart within me, and its groans have seized the reins from my hands! At whatever time I reassure myself and gladden my soul with the wonders of Thy mercy, the tokens of Thy gracious providence, and the evidences of Thy generosity, I tremble before the manifestations of Thy justice and the signs of Thy wrath. I recognize that Thou art called upon by these two names and described by these two attributes, but Thou carest not whether Thou art invoked by Thy name, the Wrathful, or Thy name, the Ever-Forgiving . By Thy glory, were it not for my knowledge that Thy mercy embraceth all things, the limbs of my body would have ceased to exist, and my very being would have faded away into utter nothingness. But when I behold Thy grace sustaining all things and Thy mercy pervading the entire creation, my soul and inmost being become tranquil. Alas, alas, O my God, for the things that have escaped me during Thy days, and again alas, alas, O Desire of my heart, for what I have allowed to slip through my fingers in the service of Thy Cause during these days, the likes of which the eyes of Thy chosen ones and trusted ones have never witnessed. O Lord, I entreat Thee by Thyself and by the Manifestation of Thy Cause, Who is seated upon the throne of Thy mercy, to confirm me in Thy service and good-pleasure. Guard me, then, from those who have turned away from Thee, disbelieved in Thy verses, denied Thy truth, resisted Thine evidences, and violated Thy covenant and testament. O Lord my God, all praise be unto Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine essence, the Dayspring of Thy unity, the Mine of Thy knowledge, the Source of Thy revelation, the Repository of Thine inspiration, the Seat of Thy sovereignty, and the Dawning-Place of Thy divinity-He Who is the Primal Point, the Most Exalted Countenance, the Ancient Root, and the Quickener of nations; and glory be upon him (Mulla ?usayn) who was the first to believe in Him and in His verses, whom Thou didst make a throne for the establishment of Thy transcendent Word, a locus for the manifestation of Thy most excellent names, a dayspring of the radiance of the suns of Thy providence, a dawning-place for the appearance of Thy names and attributes, and a treasury of the pearls of Thy wisdom and Thy commandments. And all honor be upon him (Quddus) who was the last to come unto Him, whose attainment unto Him was like attainment unto Thee, and Thy manifestation in him like Thy manifestation in the Primal Point, except that he was illuminated with the lights of His face and prostrated himself before Him and testified to his servitude unto Him; and glory be upon those who were martyred in His path and who offered up their lives for the sake of His beauty. We testify, O my God, that these are servants who have believed in Thee and in Thy signs, who have sought the sanctuary of Thy presence, who have turned toward Thy countenance, set their faces toward the court of Thy nearness, set out upon the pathways of Thy pleasure, worshipped Thee according to Thy desire, and detached themselves from all besides Thee. O Lord, confer upon their spirits and their bodies at all times a share of the wonders of Thy most great mercy. Thou, verily, art powerful to do as Thou pleaseth. No God is there save Thee, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, Whose help is implored by all men. O Lord, I beseech Thee, by Him (the Bab) and by them, and by Him Whom Thou hast raised up at Thy behest (Baha'u'llah) and caused to overshadow all the dwellers of earth and heaven, to purify us from our transgressions, to ordain for us a seat of truth in Thy presence, and to reckon us among those whom the adversities of the world and its misfortunes have not hindered from turning toward Thee. Thou, verily, art the Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Protector, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.