In the Day of the manifestation of that Incomparable Branch

One of the great events which is to occur in the Day of the manifestation of that Incomparable Branch (Bahá’u’lláh) is the hoisting of the Standard of God among all nations. By this is meant that all nations and kindreds will be gathered together under the shadow of this Divine Banner, which is no other than the Lordly Branch itself, and will become a single nation. Religious and sectarian antagonism, the hostility of races and peoples, and differences among nations, will be eliminated. All men will adhere to one religion, will have one common faith, will be blended into one race, and become a single people.
All will dwell in one common fatherland, which is the planet itself. Universal peace and concord will be realized between all the nations, and that Incomparable Branch will gather together all Israel, signifying that in this cycle Israel will be gathered in the Holy Land, and that the Jewish people who are scattered to the East and West, South and North, will be assembled together.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions

...the religion of God is the promoter of truth, the founder of science and knowledge, it is full of goodwill for learned men; it is the civilizer of mankind, the discoverer of the secrets of nature, and the enlightener of the horizons of the world. Consequently, how can it be said to oppose knowledge? God forbid! Nay, for God, knowledge is the most glorious gift of man and the most noble of human perfections. To oppose knowledge is ignorant, and he who detests knowledge and science is not a man, but rather an animal without intelligence. For knowledge is light, life, felicity, perfection, beauty and the means of approaching the Threshold of Unity. It is the honour and glory of the world of humanity, and the greatest bounty of God. Knowledge is identical with guidance, and ignorance is real error. 

 ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’

... to polish the mirrors of hearts ...

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. One heart may possess the capacity of the polished mirror; another be covered and obscured by the dust and dross of this world. Although the same Sun is shining upon both, in the mirror which is polished, pure and sanctified you may behold the Sun in all its fullness, glory and power revealing its majesty and effulgence, but in the mirror which is rusted and obscured there is no capacity for reflection although so far as the Sun itself is concerned it is shining thereon and is neither lessened nor deprived. Therefore our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them.

'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith,

Trustworthy

If a man were to perform every good work, yet fail in the least scruple to be entirely trustworthy and honest, his good works would become as dry tinder and his failure as a soul-consuming fire. If, on the other hand, he should fall short in all his affairs, yet act with trustworthiness and honesty, all his defects would ultimately be righted, all injuries remedied, and all infirmities healed. Our meaning is that, in the sight of God, trustworthiness is the bedrock of His Faith and the foundation of all virtues and perfections. A man deprived of this quality is destitute of everything. What shall faith and piety avail if trustworthiness be lacking? Of what consequence can they be? What benefit or advantage can they confer? Wherefore 'Abdu'l-Bahá counselleth the friends -- nay, rather, fervently imploreth them -- so vigilantly to guard the sanctity of the Cause of God and preserve their own dignity as individuals that all nations shall come to know and honour them for their trustworthiness and integrity. 

‘Abdu’l-Baha,

Madison Baha'i woman testifies at International Tribunal for Iran at The Hague

One thing that can be said for Iranian courts in the early 1980s: They were efficient.
That was part of the message that Ruhi Jahanpour, a Montessori teacher who lives in Madison, took to the International Tribunal for Iran.
The tribunal convened an international people’s court held in The Hague in the Netherlands October 25 through 27, 2012.
Jahanpour was one of 17 witnesses, and the only Baha’i, invited to testify before the tribunal at The Hague. The court had also heard testimony in June in London from 70 people. The court was organized by families of the victims and a panel of renowned jurists and human rights lawyers from several countries to document the human rights abuses of the revolutionary Islamist government of Iran in the decade after the 1979 revolution.
 An Iranian man now living in Europe who had traveled to witness the hearings stopped Jahanpour in the hallway of the courtroom after her testimony. He took her hand and, with tears in his eyes, begged her forgiveness.
 “They lied to us about Baha’is,” the man said, adding that he had been a member of the Hojjatiyeh, an Islamist religious group that is the most visible enemy of Baha’is in Iran. “For four years, I did everything I could to destroy your community. Please forgive me. I was wrong.” “That truly touched my heart,” Jahanpour said. “These people know they had been deceived all these years.”

Ruhi Jahanpour of Madison, Ala., stands with Payam Akhavan, professor of international law at McGill University, co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, and chief prosecutor for the International Tribunal for Iran, outside the court complex used by the tribunal during its recent hearings held in The Hague in the Netherlands. (Courtesy of Ruhi Jahanpour)

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2012/10/tribunal_for_iran_testimony.html

I desire distinction for you. The Bahá’ís must be distinguished from others of humanity. But this distinction must not depend upon wealth—that they should become more affluent than other people. I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. For you I desire spiritual distinction—that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord, for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world—for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and for acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction for you. This must be the point of distinction among you.


`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

cycle of human power

This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity.

Abdu'l-Baha in London, Pages: 19-20

What Is A Bahá’í House Of Worship?

Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá walked under the large tent where three hundred people sat on chairs in concentric circles, between nine equally spaced aisles. He strode to the center and began to talk about this unique house of worship.
 “Thousands,” he said, “will be built in the East and in the West.” But they were more than just places to pray. They would become the central edifices in a complex of institutions devoted to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits. Together, they would offer a new model of faith dedicated to the service of humankind.
They would become “one of the most vital institutions in the world.”... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá swung the axe high, then brought it down with purpose, piercing the earth with a thud... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reached down, scooped up handfuls of earth, and presented them to members of the crowd. Then he pushed the limestone block into the waiting hole, packed soil around it, and pounded the dirt down hard.
 “The temple is already built,” he said.

http://239days.com/2012/05/01/dont-call-it-a-church/

O Son of Man!

O Son of Man! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy freedom from it. Thou thinkest thyself rich in its possession, and I recognize thy wealth in thy sanctity therefrom. By My life! This is My knowledge, and that is thy fancy; how can My way accord with thine?



The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

"Not for a moment are ye alone. Not for a second are ye left to yourselves...The Glorious God is with you." #Bahai Abdu'l-Baha http://twitter.com/Bahai_Quote/status/263480743966150656

O ye beloved of the Lord! In this sacred Dispensation conflict and contention are in no wise permitted. Every aggressor deprives himself of God’s grace. It is incumbent upon every one to show the utmost love, righteousness, straightforwardness and heartfelt kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds of the world, be they friends or strangers. Nay, the spirit of affection and loving kindness must so prevail that the stranger may find himself a friend, the enemy a true companion, and every least trace of difference he removed. For universality is of God and all limitations earthly. Hence man must strive to show forth such virtues and perfections as may illumine all mankind. The light of the sun shineth upon all the world and the merciful showers of Providence fall upon all peoples. The life-giving breeze reviveth every soul and all living creatures obtain their share and portion at His heavenly board. In like manner the affections and loving kindness of the servants of the One True God must be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind. Regarding this, restrictions and limitations are in no wise permitted. 

 ’Abdu’l-Baha