Serbian

DECA

O Bože, vodi me, zaštiti me, načini od mene blistavu svetiljku i sjajnu zvezdu. Ti si Silan i Moćan.

DECA

O Ti dobri Gospode! Sa horizonta nezavisnosti doneo si duše, koje poput sjajnog meseca obasjaše prostore srca i duše, i slobodne od atributa sveta postojanja pohitaše ka carstvu besmrtnosti. Kapima okeana Svoje ljubavi kvasio bi često vrtove njihovih srca sve dok ne bi zadobili neuporedivu svežinu i lepotu. Sveti dah Tvog božanskog jedinstva širio se nadaleko, sipajući svoju slast po celom svetu, opojnim mirisom ispunjavajući predele zemaljske.

Podigni onda, O duhu Čistote, duše koje će poput tih posvećenih bića postati slobodne i čiste, ukrasiti svet bivstvovanja odorom novom i čudesnim odelom, koje neće tražiti ništa osim Tebe, niti koračati stazom drugom osim one koja je po Tvojoj volji, niti zboriti išta osim tajanstava Tvoje Vere.

O Ti dobri Gospode! Učini da ovaj mladić stigne do onoga što je najviša aspiracija svetih duša. Obdari ga krilima Tvoje osnažujuće milosti - krilima nezavisnosti i božanske pomoći – da se njima vine u vazduh Tvoje nežne milosti, zadobije deo Tvojih nebeskih darova, postane znamenje božanskog vođstva i barjak svevišnjeg Skupa. Ti si Moćni, Silni, Onaj Koji vidi, Onaj Koji čuje.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

Stvori u meni čisto srce, O moj Bože, i obnovi mi mirnu savest, O moja Nado! Osnaži me svojim moćnim duhom da služim Tvom Cilju, O moj Najvoljeniji, i veličanstvenim svetlom mi razotkri Svoju stazu, O Ti za kojim čeznem! Nenadmašnom silom uzdigni me u nebesa gde vlada Tvoja svetost, O Izvorištu mog bića, i razgali me lahorom koji dopire iz Tvoje večnosti, O Ti Koji si moj Bog! Neka me Tvoje neprekidne melodije ispune spokojem, O moj Sadruže, i neka me raskošna lepota Tvog drevnog lika izbavi od svega i veže samo za Tebe, O moj Učitelju, i neka mi vest o otkrovenju Tvoje nepromenljive Suštine donese radost, O Ti Koji si najočevidniji i najskriveniji!

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O Bože! Osveži mi i razgali dušu. Očisti mi srce. Prosvetli me da spoznam svoje moći. Sve svoje poslove polažem u Tvoje ruke. Ti si mi Vodič i Utočište. Više neću biti nesrećan i pun jada; bivstvovaću u zadovoljstvu i sreći. O Bože! Više neću biti pun nemira, niti ću dopustiti da me muče brige. Neću biti zaokupljen neprijatnim stvarima u životu.

O Bože! Ti si mi veći prijatelj no što sam ja samome sebi. Posvećujem se Tebi, O Gospode.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O moj Gospode, Voljeni moj, moja Žudnjo! Budi mi prijatelj u samoći i sadrug u izgnanstvu. Ukloni moju tugu. Uputi me kako da se posvetim Tvojoj lepoti. Da se povučem od svega i okrenem samo Tebi. Primami me mirisima svetosti. Omogući mi da se u Tvom Carstvu povežem sa onima koji su se odrekli svega sem Tebe, koji čeznu da Ti služe na Tvom svetom pragu i koji rade na ostvarenju Tvog Cilja. Omogući mi da budem jedna od Tvojih sluškinja, koje su uspele da izvrše Tvoju volju.

Uistinu, Ti si Milosrdni, Velikodušni.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O Samilosni Bože! Hvala Ti što si me probudio i osvestio. Podario si mi oči koje vide i uši koje čuju; poveo si me do Svog Carstva i usmerio me ka Tvojoj Stazi. Pokazao si mi ispravan put i uveo me u Barku Izbavljenja. O Bože! Daj da budem postojan i čvrst u veri. Zaštiti me od nasilnih iskušenja, zakloni me i sačuvaj iza čvrstih bedema u tvrđavi Tvog Zaveta i Tvoje Oporuke. Ti si Silan. Ti sve vidiš. Ti sve čuješ.

O Ti Samilosni Bože! Podari mi srce u koje, kao kroz prozirno staklo, može da prodre svetlost Tvoje ljubavi, i pokloni mi misli koje ovaj svet mogu da preobrate u vrt ruža putem izliva nebeske milosti.

Ti si Saosećajni, Milosrdni. Ti si Veliki Blagorodni Bog.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O Bože! O Bože! Evo jedne ptice slomljenog krila čiji je let veoma spor – pomozi joj, da može da se vine ka vrhuncima blagostanja i spasenja, da na krilima stigne do nepomućene radosti i sreće, leteći kroz neograničen prostor. Neka se njen poj, posvećen Tvom Višnjem Imenu, zaori na sve strane, neka donese ushit svima koji čuju taj poziv, i neka zasijaju oči svima koji ugledaju putokaze!

O Gospode! Ja sam bez ikog, usamljen i bedan. Nema za mene druge potpore sem Tebe, nijednog pomoćnika osim Tebe, niti druge podrške osim Tvoje. Daj da Ti služim s čvrstom verom, da uspešno širim Tvoju reč i propovedam Tvoju mudrost među onima koje si stvorio. Uistinu, Ti si pomoć slabima i odbrana nejakima, i zaista si Silni, Moćni, Neograničeni!

ISCELJENJE

O Bože, moj Bože! Zaklinjem te, Okeanom Tvojih isceliteljskih moći, i sjajnom zvezdom Danicom Tvog milosrđa, i Tvojim Imenom kojem se pokoravaju Tvoje sluge, i sveprožimajućom snagom Tvoje najuzvišenije Reči, i silom Tvog najdivnijeg Pera, i Tvojom milošću, koja je prethodila stvaranju svega što obitava na nebu i na zemlji, pročisti me vodom svoje dobrote, speri sa mene svaku nesreću i bolest, svaku slabost i nemoć.

Ti vidiš, O moj Gospode, molioca koji čeka pred vratima Tvoje darežljivosti, onoga koji je svu svoju nadu položio u Tebe, držeći se za uže Tvoje plemenitosti. Preklinjem Te da mu ne uskratiš ono što traži od Okeana Tvoje milosti i od zvezde Danice Tvog saosećanja.

Ti imaš moć da činiš šta god poželiš. Nema drugog Boga osim Tebe, Koji Sve Praštaš, Najplemenitijeg.

ISCELJENJE

Tvoje me ime isceljuje, O moj Bože, i pomen na Tebe me leči. Tvoja blizina je meni uzdanje, i ljubav prema Tebi moj je sadrug. Milost koju mi ukazuješ je moje ozdravljenje i potpora u ovom i u narednom svetu. Ti si, uistinu, Najvelikodušniji, Sveznajući, Najmudriji.

JEDINSTVO

Neka Bog dâ da svetlost jedinstva obavije čitavu planetu, i da se pečat, “Ovo je Carstvo Božije”, utisne na čelo svih naroda.

JEDINSTVO

O Ti dobri Gospode! Ti si sazdao čitavo čovečanstvo od iste loze. Ti si naložio da svi treba da pripadaju jednoj porodici. U Tvom Svetom Prisustvu svi su Tvoje sluge, i čitav ljudski rod nalazi utočište u Tvom Svetilištu; svi su se okupili oko Tvoje Izdašne Trpeze; svi su obasjani svetlom Tvog Proviđenja.

O Bože! Ti si dobar prema svima, sve opskrbljuješ, svima pružaš sklonište, svima darivaš život. Ti si svakog ponaosob obdario talentima i sposobnostima, i svi su zagnjureni u Okean Tvoje Milosti.

O Ti dobri Gospode! Ujedini sve. Neka se religije usaglase i neka sve nacije postanu jedno, da mogu da sagledaju jedni druge kao jednu porodicu, i čitavu planetu kao jedan dom. Da svi žive zajedno u savršenom skladu.

O Bože! Podigni visoko zastavu jedinstva ljudskog roda.

O Bože! Ustanovi Sveopšti Mir.

Kao cement čvrsto, O Bože, poveži srca.

O Ti dobri Oče, Bože! Razgali nam srca miomirisom Svoje ljubavi. Ozari nam oči svetlom Svog Vođstva. Ushiti nam sluh muzikom Svoje Reči, i svima nam pruži zaklon u Tvrđavi Svog Proviđenja.

Ti si Silni i Moćni, Ti si Onaj Koji prašta i Onaj Koji prelazi preko mana čitavog čovečanstva.

TEŠKOĆE

Slavljen si Ti, O Gospode moj Bože! Svaki čovek koji je imao duhovni uvid priznaje Tvoju vrhovnu vlasti i Tvoje kraljevstvo, i svako pronicljivo oko opaža Tvoje veličanstvo i Tvoju neodoljivu silu. Vetrovi iskušenja ne mogu zadržati one koji uživaju u Tvojoj blizini, niti ih sprečiti da uprave lica ka horizontu Tvog sjaja. Bure koje ih stavljaju na probu neće uspeti da odvrate niti osujete one koji su potpuno posvećeni izvršenju Tvoje volje, i oni će stići do Tvog dvora.

Nazirem svetiljku Tvoje ljubavi u njihovim srcima, i luču Tvoje nežnosti koja im obasjava grudi. Nedaće ih neće outđiti od Tvog Cilja, niti će zbog preokreta sudbine odustati od težnje da Te zadovolje.

Preklinjem Te, O moj Bože, u njihovo ime i zarad uzdaha koji im se otima iz grudi kada su odvojeni od Tebe, da ih zaštitiš od podvala svojih neprijatelja, i da im okrepiš duše onim što si namenio svojim miljenicima. Njih neće skoliti strahovi, niti će ih snaći nesreća.

NOĆ

O moj Bože, moj Učitelju, Odredištu za kojim žudim! Ovaj Tvoj sluga čezne da zaspi u skloništu Tvoje milosti, i da otpočine ispod baldahina Tvoje božanske dobrote, preklinjući Te da se o njemu brineš i da ga zaštitiš.

Molim Te, O moj Gospode, tako Ti Tvog oka koje ne spava, da čuvaš moje oči, da ne bi gledale ni u šta osim u Tebe. Izoštri mi, dakle, vid, da bi oči mogle da razaznaju Tvoje znake, i ugledaju Horizont Tvog Otkrovenja. Ti si Onaj pred kojim je sama srž energije zadrhtala, u trenucima kada se otkrivala Njegova svemoć.

Nema drugog Boga osim Tebe, Svemogućeg, Koji sve pokoravaš, Bezuslovnog.

OPROŠTAJ

Ja sam onaj, O moj Gospode, koji je okrenuo lice ka Tebi, i utemeljio svoju nadu na Tvojoj čudesnoj milosti i otkrovenjima Tvoje dobrote. Molim Ti se da ne dozvoliš da odem razočaran sa praga Tvog milosrđa, i da me ne ostaviš na nemilost onima koje si Ti stvorio, a koji su odbacili Tvoj Cilj.

Ja sam, O moj Bože, Tvoj sluga i sin Tvoga sluge. Prihvatio sam Tvoju istinu u Tvojim danima, i usmerio korake ka obalama Tvoje jednosti, priznajući Tvoju jedinstvenost, obznanjujući Tvoje jedinstvo, i nadajući se Tvom oprostu i pomilovanju. Ti imaš moć da činiš šta Ti je volja: nema Boga osim Tebe, Veličanstvenog, Koji uvek prašta.

PODUČAVANJE

O Gospode! Osposobi sve narode na zemlji da zadobiju pristup Raju Tvoje Vere, tako da nijedno stvorenje ne ostane izvan granica Tvog odobrenja.

Od pamtiveka si Ti bio moćan da činiš kako Ti je drago i natpojavan iznad svega što poželiš.

POMOĆ

O moj Bože! Molim Te Tvojim najslavnijim imenom, da mi pomogneš u onim poduhvatima koji će omogućiti da Tvoje sluge budu uspešne, i da Tvoji gradovi cvetaju. Ti, uistinu, imaš moć nad svim stvarima!

POMOĆ

O Ti Čije je lice predmet mog obožavanja, Čija je lepota meni utočište, Čije je prebivalište moj cilj, Čijoj se pohvali nadam, Čije je proviđenje meni sadrug, Čija je ljubav uzrok mog postojanja, Čiji je pomen meni uteha, Čiju blizinu priželjkujem, Čije prisustvo je moja najdraža želja i najviše stremljenje, preklinjem Te da mi ne uskratiš ono što si odredio za izabranike među Svojim slugama. Opskrbi me, dakle, blagodetima ovog sveta i narednog.

Ti si, uistini, Kralj svim ljudima. Nema nijednog Boga sem Tebe, Svepraštajućeg, Najplemenitijeg.

POMOĆ

Gospode! Ništavni smo mi, podari nam naklonost Svoju; siroti smo, daruj nam deo Svog okeanskog bogatstva; nemamo šta nam treba, Ti nas zadovolji; uniženi smo, daj nam Svoju slavu. Ptice na nebu i zveri na polju svakoga dana primaju hranu od Tebe, i sva bića imaju udela u Tvojoj brizi i blagonaklonosti.

Ne lišavaj ovog nejakog stvora Svoje čudotvorne milosti i tako Ti sile Tvoje, udostoji ovu bespomoćnu dušu Svoje darežljivosti.

Nahrani nas hlebom danas, i u životnim potrepštinama daj nam više, da ne zavisimo ni od koga osim od Tebe, da se u potpunosti sjedinimo s Tobom, da možemo da stupamo Tvojim stazama i objavljujemo Tvoje tajne. Ti si Svemoćni koji voli i opskrbljuje čitavo čovečanstvo.

PUTOVANJE

O Bože, moj Bože! Krenuo sam od kuće, držeći se čvrsto za uže Tvoje ljubavi, i potpuno sam se prepustio Tvojoj brizi i zaštiti. Tako Ti Tvoje sile, kojom si štitio svoje miljenike od zabludelih i izopačenih, i od svakog svojevoljnog tiranina, i od svakog grešnog vinovnika koji je zalutao i odaljio se od Tebe, da me svojom dobrotom i svojom milošću čuvaš. Svojom silom i moćima omogući mi, dakle, da se vratim kući. Ti si, uistinu, Svemoćni, Pomoć u Opasnosti, Samosvojni.

RODITELJI

Ti vidiš, O Gospode, naše ruke uzdignute u molitvi ka nebu Tvoje blagonaklonost i darežljivost. Napuni bogatstvima Svoje izdašne dobrote i naklonosti. Oprosti nam, i oprosti našim očevima i majkama, i ispuni nam želje šta god da smo zatražili iz okeana Tvog milosrđa i Božanske velikodušnosti. Prihvati, O Voljeni, sva dela koja učinismo na Tvojoj stazi. Ti si, odista, Najsilniji, Najuzvišeniji, Neuporedivi, Jedinstveni, Onaj koji prašta, Milostivi.

SREDNJA OBAVEZNA MOLITVA

TREBA DA SE IZGOVARA SVAKOG DANA UJUTRO, U PODNE, I UVEČE

Neka onaj koji želi da se moli opere ruke, i dok ih pere neka izgovori:

Osnaži moju ruku, O Bože moj, da bi mogla da drži Tvoju Knjigu sa takvom postojanošću da ni sve vojske sveta nad njom nemaju moć. Čuvaj je od mešanja u ono što joj ne pripada. Ti si, uistinu, Svemogući, Najmoćniji.

I dok umiva lice neka kaže:

Okrenuh svoje lice ka Tebi,O moj Gospode! Obasjaj ga svetlošću Tvoga lika. Zaštiti ga, onda, da se ne okrene ikome osim Tebi.

Neka se onda stojeći okrene ka Kibli (mesto obožavanja, Bahdži u Aki) i neka kaže:

Bog svedoči da nema drugog Boga sem Njega. Njegova su Kraljevstva Otkrovenja i stvaranja. On je, zaista, objavio Njega Koji je Osvit Otkrovenja, Koji je zborio na Sinaju, kroz Koga je Najviše Obzorje zablistalo, a drvo Lot iza kojeg prolaza nema progovorilo, i kroz Koga je poziv upućen svima na nebu i na zemlji: ˝Gle, Sveposedujući je stigao. Zemlja i nebo, slava i vlast su Božiji, Gospoda svih ljudi, Vlasnika Trona u visinama i dole na zemlji˝!

Neka se onda sagne i sa rukama na kolenima kaže:

Izdignut si Ti iznad moje hvale i hvale bilo koga drugog, mog opisa i opisa svih koji su na nebu i svih koji su na zemlji!

Neka onda stojeći otvorenih ruku sa dlanovima okrenutim ka licu kaže:

Nemoj razočarati, O moj Bože, onoga koji se preklinućim prstima držao za rub Tvog milosrđa i Tvoje milosti, O Ti Koji si od onih koji milosrđe pokazuju Najmilosrdniji!

Neka potom sedne i kaže:

Svedočim o Tvom jedinstvu i Tvojoj jedinstvenosti, da si Ti Bog, i da nema Boga osim Tebe. Ti si, uistinu, otkrio Tvoj Put, ispunio Svoj Zavet, i širom otvorio vratnice Svoje milosti za sve koji borave na nebu i na zemlji. Blagoslov i mir, pozdrav i slava neka počivaju na Tvojim ljubljenima, koje promene i udesi ovoga sveta ne odvratiše od okretanja ka Tebi, i koji dadoše sve u nadi da će zadobiti ono što je uz Tebe.Ti si, uistinu, Onaj Koji večno prašta, Svedarežljivi.

TABLICA VATRE

U ime Boga, Najdrevnijega, Najvećega.

Doista srca iskrenih proždrta su vatrom razdvojenosti:

Gde je blistanje svetla Tvog Lika, O Voljeni svetova?

Oni Tebi bliski ostali su napušteni u tami očaja:

Gde je sjaj zore sjedinjenja s Tobom, O Čežnjo svetova?

Tela Tvojih izabranika leže drhtava na pesku dalekih obala:

Gde je Okean Tvoje prisutnosti, O Očaratelju svetova?

Ruke se u čežnji dižu ka nebu Tvoje milosti i velikodušja:

Gde su kiše Tvojih darova, O Uslišitelju svetova?

Nevernici se na sve strane digoše u nasilju:

Gde je neodoljiva moć Tvog zapovedničkog pera, O Osvajaču svetova?

Lavež pasa ori se svud:

Gde je lav iz šume Tvoje moći, O Ukoritelju svetova?

Čovečanstvo celo zahvatila je stud:

Gde je toplina Tvoje ljubavi, O Vatro svetova?

Nesreća je dostigla vrhunac:

Gde su znaci Tvoje podrške, O Spasu svetova?

Većinu naroda obavila je tama:

Gde je blistavost Tvoje divote, O Sjaju svetova?

U zlobi se istežu vratovi ljudi:

Gde su mačevi Tvoje osvete, O Uništitelju svetova?

Uniženje je doseglo najveće dubine:

Gde su znamenja Tvoje slave, O Slavo svetova?

Tuge su spopale Onoga koji obznanjuje Tvoje Ime, Svemilosrdnoga:

Gde je veselost Izvorišta Tvog Otkrovenja, O Radosti svetova?

Bol je snašao sve narode na zemlji:

Gde su znaci Tvog zadovoljstva, O Veselju svetova?

Ti vidiš da je Mesto Svanuća Tvojih znamenja skrito koprenom zlih jezika:

Gde su prsti Tvoje moći, O Silo svetova?

Ljuta žeđ mori sve ljude:

Gde je reka Tvoje darežljivosti, O Milosti svetova?

Pohlepa je porobila čovečanstvo:

Gde su otelovljenja nezavisnosti, O Gospodaru svetova?

Ti vidiš Ovoga o Koga se ogrešiše usamljenog u izgnanstvu:

Gde su nebeske vojske pod Tvojom zapovešću, O Vladaru svetova?

U tuđini sam napušten i sam:

Gde su oličenja Tvoje vernosti, O Uzdanju svetova?

Samrtna agonija zahvatila je sve ljude:

Gde je bujica Tvog Okeana večnog života, O Živote svetova?

Sotonin šapat dopro je do svakog stvorenja:

Gde je meteor Tvoje vatre, O Svetlosti svetova?

Opijenost strašću izopačila je većinu čovečanstva:

Gde su osviti čistote, O Žudnjo svetova?

Ti vidiš Ovoga o Koga se ogrešiše obavijenog tiranijom među Sirijcima:

Gde su zraci svitanja zore Tvoje svetlosti, O Svetlosti svetova?

Ti vidiš kako Mi ne dopuštaju da govorim:

Odakle će onda poteći Tvoja melodija, O Slavuju svetova?

Većina ljudi obuzeta je ispraznim umišljanjima:

Gde su tumači Tvoje izvesnosti, O Sigurnosti svetova?

Baha tone u moru patnji:

Gde je Barka Tvog izbavljenja, O Spasitelju svetova?

Ti vidiš Osvit Tvoje reči uronjenog u tamu stvorenog sveta?

Gde je sunce neba Tvoje milosti, O Darovaoče svetlosti svetova?

Ugasiše se svetiljke istine i čistote, odanosti i časti:

Gde su znaci Tvog osvetničkog gneva, O Pokretaču svetova?

Vidiš li ikoga ko se za Te zauzima ili razmišlja o onome što Njega snađe na putu Tvoje ljubavi?

Sada Moje pero zastaje, O Voljeni svetova.

Grane Božanskog drveta Lot leže slomljene naletima vihora sudbine:

Gde su barjaci Tvoje potpore, O Zatočniče svetova?

Ovo Lice skriva prašina klevete:

Gde su lahori Tvog saosećanja, O Milosti svetova?

Odoru posvećenosti ukaljaše obmanjivači:

Gde je ruho Tvoje svetosti, O Ukrasitelju svetova?

More milosti zastalo je zbog onoga što ljudske ruke počiniše:

Gde su valovi Tvog obilja, O Željo svetova?

Vrata koja vode ka Božanskoj Prisutnosti zaključana su tiranijom Tvojih neprijatelja.

Gde je ključ Tvog darivanja, O Otvoritelju svetova?

Lišće žuti od otrovnih vetrova pobune:

Gde je kiša iz oblaka Tvog obilja, O Davaoče svetova?

Svemir je pomračen prašinom greha:

Gde su lahori Tvog oproštaja, O Praštatelju svetova?

Ovaj Mladić je usamljen u pustoj zemlji:

Gde je kiša Tvoje nebeske milosti, O Darovaoče svetova?

O Vrhunsko Pero, čuli smo Tvoj najslađi zov u carstvu večnosti:

Slušaj šta Ti zbori Jezik Veličanstva, O Ti o Koga se ogrešiše!

Da nije studeni,

Kako bi vrelina Tvojih reči prevladala, O Tumaču svetova?

Da nije nesreće,

Kako bi zablistalo sunce Tvog trpljenja, O Svetlosti svetova?

Ne tuguj zbog zlobnika.

Stvoren si da podnosiš i izdržiš, O Strpljenju svetova.

Kako slatko bejaše Tvoje svitanje na obzorju Zaveta među podstrekačima pobune, i Tvoja žudnja za Bogom, O Ljubavi svetova.

Tobom je barjak nezavisnosti postavljen na najviše vrhove, a more obilja nabujalo, O Zanosu svetova.

Zbog Tvoje usamljenosti zasijalo je Sunce Jednosti, a Tvojim progonstvom ukrašena je zemlja Jedinstva. Budi strpljiv, O Ti Izgnaniče svetova.

Učinili smo poniženje odorom slave, a jad ukrasom Tvog hrama,

O Ponosu svetova.

Ti vidiš kako su srca mržnjom ispunjena, i na Tebi je da to previdiš,

O Ti Zatajitelju grehova sveta.

Kada mačevi bljesnu, hitaj napred!

Kada koplja polete, nastavi dalje! O Ti Žrtvo svetova.

Da li Ti da kukaš ili Ja da jadikujem? Pre ću Ja oplakivati nedostatak Tvojih pobornika, O Ti Koji si izazvao oplakivanje svetova.

Uistinu, Tvoj poziv Ja čuh, O Sveslavni, Ljubljeni; i sada lice Bahaa plamti žarom patnje i vatrom Tvoje blistave reči, i On ustade u vernosti na mestu žrtvovanja, pogleda uprtog ka Tvojoj volji, O Zapovedniče svetova.

O Ali-Akbar, zahvali Svom Gospodu za ovu Tablicu iz koje možeš da udahneš miris Moje krotkosti, i saznaš šta Nas je snašlo na putu Boga, Obožavanoga u svim svetovima.

Budu li sve sluge čitale i promišljale ovo, u njihovim venama zaiskriće se vatra koja će zapaliti svetove.

TEŠKOĆE

Bog je meni dovoljan. On uistinu svemu dostaje. U Njega neka se verni uzdaju.

TEŠKOĆE

Ima li ikog sem Boga ko može ukloniti nedaće? Recite: Hvala Bogu! On je Bog! Svi su Njegove sluge, i svi se pokoravaju Njegovoj zapovesti!

TEŠKOĆE

O Gospode, moj Bože i moje Utočište u nevolji! Moj Štitu i Zaklonu od jada! Ti si moje Pribežište i Sklonište kad nastupe neprilike i moj Sadrug u samoći! U patnji si mi Uteha, i u usamljenosti brižni Prijatelj! Ti uklanjaš žaoku tuge i praštaš mi grehe!

Okrećem Ti se celim bićem, moleći Te revnosno svim srcem, čitavim umom i moćima govora, da me zaštitiš od svega što je suprotno Tvojoj volji, u ovom ciklusu Tvog božanskog jedinstva, i da me pročistiš od svake nečistoće koja bi me mogla omesti da bez mrlje, neukaljan, stignem do hlada pod drvetom Tvoje milosti.

Smiluj se, O Bože, na nejake, zaceli bolesne, i utaži goruću žeđ.

Razgali grudi u kojima tinja vatra Tvoje ljubavi i obasjaj ih plamenom svoje nebeske blagosti i božanskog duha.

Zaodeni u sveto ruho hramove posvećene božanskom jedinstvu i na glavu mi stavi krunu svoje naklonosti.

Neka mi lice ozare zraci sunca Tvoje dobrote i milostivo mi pomozi da služim na Tvom svetom pragu.

Neka mi srce bude prepuno ljubavi za sva bića koja si Ti stvorio i neka postanem znamen Tvoje milosti, dokaz Tvoje božanske dobrote, zagovornik sloge među onima koje Ti voliš. Neka budem Tebi posvećen, govorim Tebi u slavu, zaboravljajući na sebe, ali uvek usredsređen na ono što je Tvoje.

O Bože, moj Bože! Ne uskrati mi nežne lahore koji nose Tvoj oprost i dobrotu, i ne lišavaj me vode sa izvora Tvoje pomoći i naklonosti.

Daj da svijem gnezdo u senci Tvojih zaštitničkih krila, i da se na mene spusti pogled Tvog oka koje sve čuva.

Odreši mi jezik, da mogu da Ti hvalim Ime među narodima, da mogu da dignem glas na velikim skupovima, i da mi sa usana poteče bujica reči Tebi u slavu.

Ti si, odista, Milostivi, Slavljeni, Silni, Svemoćni!

VOĐSTVO

Molimo se Bogu da milosrdno pomogne zabludelima da postanu pravični i nepristrasni, i da ih učini svesnima onoga na šta se nisu obazirali. On je, uistinu, Najdarežljiviji, Najvelikodušniji. Ne zaključavaj za svoje sluge, O Gospode, vrata svoje milosti, i ne teraj ih sa dvora gde Ti obitavaš. Pomozi im da rasteraju maglu dokonih uobraženja, da strgnu velove sujetnog umišljanja i očekivanja. Ti si, zaista, Sveobuhvatni, Najuzvišeniji. Nema Boga sem Tebe, Svemoćnog, Milostivog.

ZA PREMINULE

O moj Bože! O Ti, koji praštaš grehe! Darodavče! Ti Koji odagnavaš patnju!

Iskreno Ti se molim da oprostiš grehe onima koji su napustili svoje fizičko ruho i vinuli se u duhovni svet.

O moj Gospode! Očisti ih od prestupa, rasprši njihovu tugu, i njihovu tamu preobrati u svetlost. Uvedi ih u vrt sreće, operi ih najčistijom vodom, i daj im da ugledaju Tvoj sjaj na najvišoj gori.

ZAŠTITA

Hvaljeno bilo Tvoje ime, O Gospode, moj Bože! Preklinjem Te, tako Ti Tvog Imena sa kojim je kucnuo Čas, i dogodilo se Vaskrsnuće, i zadrhtali su od straha svi koji obitavaju na nebu i na zemlji, da nas orosiš kišom sa nebesa Tvoje milosti, iz oblaka Tvog nežnog saosećanja, kišom koja će razgaliti srca Tvojih slugu, koji su se okrenuli Tebi i pomažu da se ostvari Tvoj Cilj.

Zaštiti svoje sluge i sluškinje, O moj Gospode, od strela dokonih uobraženja i sujetnog umišljanja, i daj im da iz Tvoje milostive ruke ispiju gutljaj vode iz umilne reke Tvoje mudrosti.

Ti si, odista, Svemoćni, Najuzvišeniji, Onaj koji uvek prašta, Najvelikodušniji.

ZAŠTITA

(Originalnu molitvu je Bab ispisao sopstvenom rukom u obliku pentagrama)

U Ime Boga, Gospoda nadmoćne veličanstvenosti, Svepotčinjavajućeg.

Svećen neka je Gospod u čijoj ruci je izvor vlasti. On stvara šta Mu je volja Svojom Reči naređenja ˝Budi˝, i to biva. Njegova je oduvek bila moć da zapoveda, i Njegova će zauvek ostati. On čini pobedonosnim koga god poželi, snagom Svoje naredbe. On je zaista Silni, Svemogući. Njemu pripada sva slava i veličanstvo u kraljevstvima Otkrovenja i Stvaranja i svemu što se nalazi između njih. Uistinu, On je Moćni, Sveslavni. Od pamtiveka je bio Izvor nesavladive snage i ostaće to zauvek. On je zaista Gospodar sile i moći. Sva kraljevstva neba i zemlje i sve što se nalazi između pripadaju Bogu, i Njegova sila je moćnija od svega. Sva blaga neba i zemlje i svega što je između Njegova su, a Njegova zaštita obuhvata sve postojeće. On je Tvorac nebesa i zemlje i svega što je između njih, i On je uistinu svedok svega. On je Gospod Kome polažu račun svi koji obitavaju na nebesima i na zemlji i između njih, a Bog je uistinu hitar u Svom sudu. On određuje meru propisanu svima na nebu i na zemlji i između njih. Vaistinu, On je Vrhovni Zaštitnik. U Svojoj šaci On drži ključeve neba i zemlje i svega između. On deli darove po Sopstvenom nahođenju, snagom Svoje zapovesti. Njegova milost doista obuhvata sve, On je Sveznajući.

Reci: Bog je meni dovoljan; On je Taj Koji u Svojoj šaci drži kraljevstvo svega što postoji. Silom Njegovih nebeskih i zemaljskih vojski, i vojski svega između,On štiti kogagod od svojih slugu poželi da zaštiti. Bog, uistinu, motri nad svim.

Neizmerno uzvišen si Ti, O Gospode! Zaštiti nas od onoga što je ispred nas i iza nas, iznad naših glava, sa desne i leve strane, ispod naših stopala i sa ma koje druge strane sa koje smo izloženi. Vaistinu, Tvoja zaštita svega postojećeg je nepogrešiva.

ZAŠTITA

O moj Gospode! Ti znaš da su ljudi okruženi bolom i razaranjem, da su svuda oko njih nedaće i nevolje. Sva moguća iskušenja nasrću na čoveka i sve strahote navaljuju na njega, kao napadi zmije. Nema za njega skrovišta ni utočišta osim pod Tvojim krilom, da mu pruži zaštitu, da ga sačuva, odbrani i nadzire.

O, Ti Milosrdni! O moj Gospode! Neka Tvoja zaštita bude meni oklop, Tvoje staranje moj štit, skromnost pred vratima Tvog jedinstva neka bude moj stražar, a tvoj nadzor i odbrana moja utvrda i moje boravište. Sačuvaj me od nagoveštaja sebičnosti i požude, i odbrani me od svake bolesti, iskušenja, poteškoće i muke.

Uistinu, Ti si Zaštitnik, Čuvar, Onaj koji održava život, Koji zadovoljava, i zaista, ti si Najmilostiviji!

POMOĆ

Ne uklanjaj, O Gospode, prazničnu trpezu koja je razastrta u Tvoje Ime, i ne utrnjuj plamen koji je razgorela Tvoja neuništiva vatra. Ne zaustavljaj tok svoje žive vode, koja žubori pesmom Tvoje slave i Tvoga pomena, i ne lišavaj svoje sluge miomirisa Tvoje slatke hrane koja odiše dahom Tvoje ljubavi.

Gospode! Preobrazi bolne brige svojih posvećenika u olakšanje, njihove patnje u utehu, njihova poniženja u slavu, njihovu tugu u blaženu radost, O Ti koji svojom rukom upravljaš čitavim ljudskim rodom!

Ti si, uistinu, Jedan, Jedini, Moćni, Sveznajući, Najmudriji.

ZAŠTITA

O Ti božansko Proviđenje, mi smo bedni, priteci nam u pomoć; beskućnici smo i lutalice, Ti nam pruži sklonište; rasuti smo, ujedini nas; zalutali smo, okupi nas u svoju pastvu; lišeni smo svega, Ti nam udeli; žedni smo, povedi nas do izvora života; nejaki smo, osnaži nas da možemo da ustanemo i pomognemo ostvarenju Tvog Cilja, i ponudimo sebe kao živu žrtvu i putokaz na duhovnoj stazi.

DUHOVNA SKUPŠTINA

Kadagod uđete u salu za savetovanje, izgovorite ovu molitvu srcem koje bije ljubavlju prema Bogu i jezikom pročišćenim od svega osim Njegovog pomena, kako bi vam Svemoćni milostivo pomogao da ostvarite vrhunsku pobedu.

O, Ti, Gospode Kraljevstva! Dok su naša tela okupljena ovde, naša očarana srca, pak, uznesena su ljubavlju Tvojom, a mi smo nošeni zracima sjaja Tvoga blještavog lika. Iako smo slabi, iščekujemo otkrovenja Tvoje moći i snage. Iako smo siromašni , bez dobara i sredstava, ipak uzimamo blago iz riznice Tvoga Kraljevstva. Iako smo samo kapi, ipak crpemo iz dubina Tvoga Okeana. Iako smo samo čestice, ipak blistamo u slavi Tvoga divotnog Sunca.

O, Ti Opskrbitelju naš! Pošalji nam pomoć Svoju, da svako od nas ovde okupljenih postane upaljena sveća, svaki da bude centar privlačenja, svaki da je prizivatelj Tvojih nebeskih carstava, dok najzad ne učinimo od ovog nižeg sveta sliku koja je verni odraz Tvoga raja.

DUHOVNA SNAGA

Učvrsti nam korake, O Gospode, na Tvojoj stazi i osnaži nam srca u poslušnosti Tebi. Upravi nam lica ka Lepoti Tvoje jedinstvenosti i razgali nam grudi nagoveštajima Tvog Božanskog Zajedništva. Ukrasi nam tela ruhom svoje darežljivosti, ukloni s naših očiju koprenu greha i pruži nam pehar Svoje milosti; da suština svih bića može da Ti peva hvalospeve, zagledana u viziju Tvoje veličine. Ukaži se, dakle, O Gospode, milostivom porukom i tajanstvom Svog Božanskog Bića, da nam se duše ispune svetim ushitom molitve – molitve, koja će se uzdići iznad reči i slova i prevazići žamor slogova i glasova – tako da se sve stvari sliju u ništavilo pred otkrovenjem Tvog sjaja.

Gospode! Ovde su sluge koje su ostale čvrste i nepokolebljive u ispunjavanju Tvog Zaveta i Tvoje Volje, koje su se čvrsto držale za uže postojanosti težeći Tvome Cilju, i prionule uz skute Tvoje veličine. Pomozi im, O Gospode, milošću svojom, osnaži ih svojom silom i pripremi ih za napore u pokornoj službi Tebi.

Ti si Onaj Koji prašta, Milostivi.

JEDINSTVO

O Bože! Uistinu smo se okupili ovde gde se širi miris Tvoje ljubavi. Okrenuli smo se ka Tvom carstvu. Ne treba nam ništa osim Tebe i ne žudimo ni za čim drugim osim da udovoljimo Tvojoj dobroti. O Bože! Neka ova hrana bude Tvoja mana sa nebesa i neka ovo okupljanje bude zbor Tvojih vrhovnika. Neka oni prouzrokuju da oživi ljubav u svim ljudima i neka budu izvorište prosvetljenja za ljudsku rasu. Neka budu alatke Tvog vođstva na zemlji. Odista, Ti si Moćan, Ti si Darodavac, Ti si Onaj koji prašta, i Ti si Svemogući!

DECA

O dobri Gospode! Ova divna deca su rukotvorina koju su ispleli prsti Tvoje sile, i čudesni znaci Tvoje veličine. O Bože! Zaštiti ovu decu, milostivo pomozi da dobiju obrazovanje i osposobi ih da služe čovečanstvu. O Bože! Ova su deca biseri, neka budu odgajana u školjki Tvoje ljubavi i dobrote.

Ti si Darežljivi, Koji Sve Voliš.

BRAK

Mlada i mladoženja, svaki za sebe, izgovaraju sledeći stih kao bračnu zakletvu u prisustvu najmanje dva svedoka odobrenih od strane Duhovne skupštine, kao što je utvrđeno u Kitabi Akdasu (Najsvetijoj knjizi):

˝ Mi ćemo se, uistinu, svi pokoravati Volji Božijoj.˝

O moj Gospode, O moj Gospode! Ove dve blistave sfere venčane su u Tvojoj ljubavi, udružene u služenju Tvom Svetom Pragu, sjedinjene u pomaganju Tvojoj Veri. Učini da ovaj brak bude poput nanizanih svetala Tvoje preplavljujuće milosti, O moj Gospode Svemilosrdni, i sjajnih zraka Tvoje darežljivosti, O Ti Dobročinivi, Svedajući, da bi se ovo veliko stablo razgranalo izdancima zelenim i naprednim hranjeno darovima koji sipaju iz oblaka Tvoje milosti.

Uistinu, Ti si Velikodušni. Vaistinu, Ti si Svemogući. Doista, Ti si Saosećajni, Svemilosrdni.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O moj Gospode! Daj da se hranim Tvojom lepotom, i da se napojim Tvojim prisustvom, da se nadam da Ti udovoljim, da moja dela zavrede Tvoju hvalu, da mi pomen na Tebe bude sadrug, Tvoje silno carstvo pomoć, i Tvoj stan moje prebivalište, i da mi dom bude ono sedište koje si Ti uzvisio, nedosežno onima koji kao da su velom odeljeni od tebe.

Ti si, odista, Svemoćni, Najdivniji, Najmoćniji.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

O moj Bože, pomozi svom slugi da uzdigne Reč, i da odbaci svaku taštinu i laž, da ustanovi istinu, da širom sveta prenosi svete stihove, otkriva divote, i da podstakne buđenje jutarnje svetlosti u srcima pravednika.

Ti si, zaista, Velikodušni, Onaj Koji prašta.

OPROŠTAJ

O, Ti milostivi Gospode! Ti si utočište za sve svoje sluge. Znaš tajne i svestan si svih stvari. Mi smo svi nemoćni, a Ti si Silni, Svemoćni. Mi smo svi grešnici, a Ti si Onaj Koji prašta grehe, Milosrdni, Saosećajni. O Gospode! Ne obaziri se na naše mane. Odnosi se prema nama u skladu sa svojom milošću i dobrotom. Naše su mane brojne, ali okean Tvog praštanja je bezgraničan. Naši su nedostatci ozbiljni, ali jasno vidimo dokaze Tvoje pomoći i potpore. Učvrsti nas zato i ojačaj. Pomozi nam da činimo dela vredna Tvog svetog Praga. Obasjaj nam srca, podari nam pronicljiv vid i prijemčivo uho. Vaskrsni mrtve i zaceli bolesne. Sirotima daj blago, a zastrašenima mir i sigurnost. Primi nas u svoje carstvo i obasjaj nas lučom vodiljom. Ti si Silni i Svemoćni. Ti si Darežljivi. Ti si Milosrdni. Ti si Plemeniti.

TEŠKOĆE

Recite: Bog je dovoljan u svim stvarima i iznad svih stvari, i ništa na nebesima ili na zemlji ne može zadovoljiti, sem Boga. Odista, On je u samome sebi Znalac, Održitelj, Svemogući.

TEŠKOĆE

Zaklinjem Te Tvojom silom, O moj Bože! Neka mi ništa ne naudi u trenucima iskušenja, i kada sam nesmotren, nadahnućem Svojim vrati me na pravi put. Ti si Bog, imaš moć da činiš sve što poželiš. Niko se ne može odupreti Tvojoj Volji, niti osujetiti Tvoju Nameru.

SVETKOVINA DEVETNAEST DANA

Obaveza vam je da održavate Svetkovinu jednom u svakom mesecu, pa makar da samo voda bude poslužena, Bog je uistinu namerio da zajedno okupi ljudska srca, pa makar to zahtevalo sva sredstva koja postoje na zemlji i na nebu.

*(Kitabi Akdas)

….Pre nego što uđete na okupljanje zajednice oslobodite se svega što nosite na srcu, oslobodite misli i um od svega osim Boga, i obratite se svom srcu.Tako da svi mogu da učine da ovo bude skup ljubavi,da bude uzrok prosvetljenja, skup privlačnosti među srcima okružen Svetlostima Nebeskog Skupa,i da biste se okupili u najvećoj ljubavi..

Setite se ovih reči u svom srcu pre nego što uđete na Svetkovinu:

Svaki od vas treba da razmišlja o tome kako da učini srećnim i zadovoljnim ostale članove vaše Skupštine, i svaki od vas treba da smatra sve prisutne kao bolje i veće od sebe samog, a sebe za manjeg od ostalih. Smatraj njihov položaj visokim a svoj niskim. Ukoliko činite i živite u skladu sa ovim zahtevom, znajte sa sigurnošću da je Svetkovina Hrana nebeska, da je Večera ‘Večera Gospodnja’! Ja sam Sluga takvog skupa.

…Ako postoji makar i najmanji nedostatak ljubavi među nekim dušama, mora se učiniti da on nestane. Mora da postoji najveća prozirnost i čistota namere…

Što se tiče Svetkovine devetnaest dana, ona razgaljuje i um i srce. Ukoliko se ova Svetkovina održava na pravilan način, prijatelji će jednom u devetnaest dana osetiti da su duhovno oporavljeni, i da se u njih uliva sila koja nije od ovoga sveta.

Abdul-Baha

O Bože! Ukloni sve ono što je uzrok nesklada, i spremi za nas sve ono što je uzrok jedinstva i sklada! O Bože! Spusti na nas nebeski miomiris i preobrazi ovaj skup u nebeski skup! Dodeli nam svaku dobrobit i svaku hranu. Pripremi nas za Hranu Ljubavi! Daj nam Hranu Znanja! Obdari nas Hranom Nebeskog Prosvetljenja!

TEŠKOĆE

O Gospode! Ti uklanjaš svaku patnju i izbavljaš od svakog jada. Ti si Onaj Koji odagna svu tugu i oslobodi svakog roba, Iskupitelj svake duše. O Gospode! Izbavi nas milošću svojom; i ubroj me medju one Svoje sluge koje su zavredele spasenje.

DUGAČKA OBAVEZNA MOLITVA

DA SE DEKLAMUJE JEDNOM U DVADESET-ČETIRI SATA

Onaj koji želi da recituje ovu molitvu neka ustane i okrene se ka Bogu, i tako stojeći neka pogleda desno i levo, kao da iščekuje milost svog Gospoda, Najmilosrdnijeg, Saosećajnog. Neka onda kaže:

O Ti Koji si Gospod svih imena i Tvorac nebesa! Preklinjem Te onima Koji su Svitanja Tvog nevidljivog Suštastva, Najuzvišenijeg, Sveslavnog, da od moje molitve načiniš plamen koji će spržiti koprene koje me odvajaju od Tvoje lepote, i svetlost koja će mi biti vodilja do Okeana Tvog Prisustva.

Neka onda podigne ruke u molitvi Bogu – blagosloven i uzvišen bio On –i neka kaže:

O Ti Željo sveta i Ljubljeni svih naroda! Vidiš me kako se okrećem Tebi, oslobođen svake vezanosti za bilo koga osim Tebe, držeći se za Tvoje uže čije kretanje je uzburkalo sve stvoreno. Ja sam Tvoj sluga, O moj Gospode, i sin Tvoga sluge. Gledaj kako stojim spreman da izvršavam Tvoju volju i Tvoju želju, ne očekujući ništa osim Tvog zadovoljstva. Preklinjem Te Okeanom Tvog milosrđa i Suncem Tvoje milosti da činiš sa Svojim slugom šta Ti je volja i želja.Tako mi Tvoje sile koja je visoko iznad svakog pominjanja i hvale! Sve što si Ti objavio je žudnja moga srca i ljubav moje duše. O Bože, moj Bože! Ne obaziri se na moja nadanja i moja dela, već radije gledaj Svoju volju koja je obuhvatila nebesa i zemlju. Tako mi Tvog Najvećeg Imena, O Ti Gospode svih naroda! Želeo sam samo ono što Ti želiš i volim samo ono što Ti voliš.

Neka potom klekne i poklonivši se čelom do zemlje neka kaže:

Uzvišen si Ti iznad opisa bilo koga osim Tebe i razumevanja ikoga izuzev Tebe Samog.

Neka onda ustane i kaže:

Pretvori moju molitvu, O moj Gospode, u vrelo životvornih voda od kojih ću živeti dogod traje Tvoja vladavina, i pominjati Te u svakom od Tvojih svetova.

Neka ponovo podigne ruke u molitvi i kaže:

O Ti, zbog razdvojenosti od Kojega se srca i duše istopiše, i Čijom vatrom ljubavi je celi svet zapaljen! Preklinjem Te Imenom Tvojim kojim si potčinio sve stvoreno, ne uskrati mi ono što je sa Tobom, O Ti Koji gospodariš svim ljudima! Ti vidiš, O moj Gospode, ovog stranca kako hita svom najuzvišenijem domu pod svodom Tvog veličanstva i u okvirima Tvoje milosti; ovog prestupnika kako žudi za Okeanom Tvog oproštaja; ovog ništavnog kako traži dvor Tvoje slave; ovog sirotana u potrazi za osvitom Tvog bogatstva. Tvoja je vlast da narediš šta god hoćeš. Svedočim da Te treba hvaliti u delima Tvojim i pokoravati Ti se u zapovestima Tvojim, i da ostaješ nesputan u naredbi Svojoj.

Neka onda podigne ruke i tri puta ponovi Najveće Ime (Alah-u-Abha). Neka se zatim sagne i sa rukama na kolenima neka pred Bogom – blagosloven i uzvišen bio On- kaže:

Ti vidiš, O moj Bože, kako se moj duh uzburkao u mojim udovima, u svojoj čežnji da Te obožava, i žudnji da Te spominje i veliča; kako svedoči onome čemu je Jezik Tvoje Zapovesti svedočio u Kraljevstvu Tvog govora i na nebu Tvog znanja. Volim da Te u ovom položaju, O moj Gospode, molim za sve ono što je sa Tobom, da bih pokazao svoje siromaštvo i veličao Tvoje obilje i bogatstvo, i iskazao svoju nemoć i objavio Tvoju silu i moć.

Neka onda ustane, dva puta podigne ruke u molitvi i neka kaže:

Nema Boga sem Tebe, Svemogućeg, Svedarežljivog. Nema Boga sem Tebe, Zapovedajućeg, kako na početku tako i na kraju. O Bože, moj Bože! Tvoje praštanje me je ohrabrilo, a milost Tvoja osnažila, Tvoj zov me je razbudio, a Tvoja naklonost podigla i povela ka Tebi. Jer inače ko sam ja da bih se usudio da stanem na kapiju grada Tvoje blizine, ili okrenem lice ka svetlostima koje sijaju sa neba Tvoje volje? Ti vidiš, O moj Gospode, ovo jadno stvorenje kako kuca na vrata Tvoje milosti, i ovu prolaznu dušu kako traži reku večnog života iz ruku Tvoje darežljivosti. Zapovest je Tvoja u svim vremenima, O Ti Gospode svih imena; a za mene je pomirenost i dobrovoljna pokornost Tvojoj volji, O Stvoritelju nebesa!

Neka tri puta podigne ruke i kaže:

Veći je Bog od svakog velikog!

Neka onda klekne i poklonivši se čelom do zemlje neka kaže:

Prvisoko si Ti da bi se hvala onih Tebi bliskih uzdigla do neba Tvoje blizine, ili da bi ptice srdaca onih koji su Ti posvećeni dosegle do vrata Tvoje kapije. Svedočim da si posvećen iznad svih atributa i svet iznad svih imena. Nema Boga sem Tebe, Najuzvišenijeg, Sveslavnog.

Neka onda sedne i kaže:

Svedočim onome čemu su svedočila sva stvorenja i Višnji skup i stanovnici najvišeg Raja, i iznad njih sam Jezik Veličanstva sa sveslavnog Obzorja, da si Ti Bog, da nema Boga sem Tebe, i da je Onaj Koji je objavljen Skrivena Tajna, Dragoceni Simbol, kojim su slova B,U,D i I (Budi) spojena i zajedno satkana. Svedočim da je to Onaj čije je ime dole poslato Perom Najvišega, i Koji je pominjan u Knjigama Božijim, Gospoda Prestola na visini i dole na zemlji.

Neka onda ustane i kaže:

O Gospode celokupnog postojanja i Posedniče svega vidljivog i nevidljivog! Ti vidiš moje suze i čuješ moje uzdahe, moje jecaje i ječanje, i tugovanku moga srca. Tako mi sile Tvoje! Moji prestupi me sputavaju da dospem Tebi blizu, a moji gresi me drže daleko od dvora Tvoje svetosti. Tvoja me je ljubav, O moj Gospode, obogatila, odvojenost od Tebe uništila, a udaljenost od Tebe satrla. Preklinjem te stopama Tvojim u ovoj divljini, i rečima ˝Evo Me. Evo Me˝ koju Tvoji Izabranici izgovoriše u ovom beskraju, i dahom Tvog Otkrovenja, i povetarcima Zore Tvoje Objave, odredi da mogu da zurim u Tvoju lepotu i pridržavam se svega što je u Tvojoj Knjizi.

Neka onda tri puta ponovi Najveće Ime, sagne se, stavi ruke na kolena,i neka kaže:

Hvaljen da si, O moj Bože, što si mi pomogao da se setim Tebe i da hvalim Tebe, što si učinio da prepoznam Onoga Koji je Svitanje Tvojih znakova, i uzrokovao da se poklonim pred Tvojim Gospodstvom, i budem pokoran pred Tvojim Božanstvom, i potvrdim ono što je izrekao Jezik Tvoje Veličanstvenosti.

Neka se onda uspravi i kaže:

O Bože, moj Bože! Leđa mi se povijaju pod teretom mojih greha, a moj nehat me uništava. Kada razmišljam o svojim zlodelima i Tvojoj dobroti, srce u meni se rastapa, a krv mi ključa u venama. Tako mi Lepote Tvoje, O Ti Žudnjo sveta! Crvenim da podignem lice ka Tebi, a moje čežnjive ruke se stide da se ispruže ka nebu Tvoje Darežljivosti. Vidiš, O moj Bože, kako me moje suze sprečavaju da spominjem Tebe i veličam Tvoje vrline, O Ti Gospode Prestola u visini i dole na zemlji! Preklinjem Te znacima Tvog Kraljevstva i tajnama Tvoje Vladavine da činiš sa Tvojim voljenima onako kako dolikuje Tvojoj darežljivosti, O Gospode celokupnog postojanja, i dostojno je Tvoje milosti, O Kralju vidljivog i nevidljivog!

Neka onda tri puta ponovi Najveće ime, neka klekne i klanjajući se čelom do zemlje kaže:

Hvala neka je Tebi, O naš Bože, što si nam poslao dole ono što nas približava Tebi i snabdeva nas svakim dobrom poslatim u Tvojim Knjigama i Svetim Spisima. Zaštiti nas, molimo Te, O moj Gospode, od nasrtaja zabluda i ispraznih umišljanja. Ti si, uistinu, Silan, Sveznajući.

Neka onda podigne glavu i sedeći neka kaže:

Svedočim, O moj Bože, onome čemu su svedočili Tvoji Izabrani, i potvrđujem ono što su stanovnici najvišeg Raja i oni koji kruže oko Tvog moćnog Trona potvrdili. Kraljevstva i zemlje i neba su Tvoja, O Gospode svetova!

AHMEDOVA TABLICA

“Ovim svakodnevnim obaveznim molitvama, uz nekoliko drugih, posebnih, kao što su Molitva Isceljenja i Ahmedova Tablica, Bahá’u’lláh je pridao izuzetan značaj i dejstvo, i njih zato treba tako i prihvatiti. Vernici treba da ih deklamuju bez sumnje i sa ubeđenjem, da bi kroz njih doživeli mnogo prisniju vezu s Bogom, i poistovetili se u većoj meri s Njegovim zakonima i odredbama.”

Šogi Efendi

On je Kralj, Sveznajući, Mudri!

Gle, Rajski Slavuj na grani Drveta Večnosti peva svete i umilne pesme, objavljuje istinoljubivima radosnu vest da je Bog blizu,

poziva one koji veruju u Božansko Jedinstvo da uđu u dvor gde boravi Velikodušni,

prenosi otuđenima poruku koju je obznanio Bog, Kralj, Slavni, Nenadmašni,

vodi one koji Ga ljube ka svetom tronu i ka ovoj blistavoj Lepoti.

Ovo je uistinu ona Najveća Lepota, predskazana u Knjigama Glasnika, kroz Koju će se Istina razlučiti od zablude i proveriti mudrost svake zapovesti. On je uistinu Drvo Života na kome dozrevaju plodovi Boga, Uzvišenog, Moćnog, Velikog.

O Ahmede! Svedoči da je on odista Bog i da nema drugog Boga osim Njega, Kralja, Zaštitnika, Neuporedivog, Svemoćnog. Da je Onaj Kojeg je On poslao, po imenu “Ali” , bio istinski izaslanik Boga, čijim se zapovestima svi pokoravamo.

Reci: O ljudi, slušajte Božja naređenja, ona koja je u Bajanu naložio Slavni, Mudri. On je uistinu Kralj među Izaslanicima i Njegova Knjiga je Izvornik, kada biste to samo znali.

Tako Slavuj upućuje svoj zov tebi iz ove tamnice. On treba samo da prenese tu jasnu poruku. Ko god to želi, neka okrene leđa ovom savetu, a ko god želi neka izabere ovu stazu do svog Gospoda.

O ljudi, ako poričete ove stihove, kako ćete dokazati da ste verovali u Boga? Pruži dokaz, o dvolični zboru. Ne, tako mi Onoga u Čijim je rukama moja duša, oni to ne mogu, niti će ikada moći, čak i ako bi se svi u tome udružili.

O Ahmede! Ne zaboravi Moju darežljivost dok sam odsutan. Prisećaj se Mojih dana dok Tvoji dani traju, i Mojih patnji i izgnanstva u ovoj udaljenoj tamnici. I budi tako postojan u svojoj ljubavi za Mene da ti se srce ne pokoleba čak ni kada se mačevi neprijatelja obruše na tebe i kada ti se sva nebesa i zemlja suprotstave.

Budi vatra za Moje neprijatelje i reka večnog života za Moje voljene, i ne budi od onih koji sumnjaju.

I ako te snađe nesreća dok stupaš Mojom stazom, ili poniženje zato što Me slediš, nemoj se zbog toga brinuti.

Uzdaj se u Boga, svog Boga i Gospoda svojih otaca. Jer ljudi lutaju stazama samoobmane, nesposobni da razaznaju Boga sopstvenim očima ili da sopstvenim sluhom čuju Njegovu Pesmu. Takve ih zatekosmo, a o tome i ti svedočiš.

Njihova su praznoverja postala veo koji ih odvaja od sopstvenih srca i sprečava da se upute stazom Boga, Uzvišenog, Velikog.

Odista, budi siguran da je onaj koji okrene leđa ovoj Lepoti takođe okrenuo leđa Glasnicima iz prošlosti i ispoljio gordost prema Bogu od večnosti do večnosti.

Dobro izuči ovu tablicu, o Ahmede. Deklamuj je tokom čitavog života i ne odustaj. Jer, odista, za onoga ko je izgovara, Bog je odredio nagradu kao za stotinu mučenika i službu u oba sveta. Te znakove naklonosti Mi ti pružamo kao svoj dar i milost proizišlu iz Našeg prisustva, da bi bio jedan od zahvalnih.

Tako mi Boga! Ako neko koga snađe nevolja ili jad čita ovu Tablicu sa potpunom iskrenošću, Bog će odagnati njegovu tugu, osloboditi ga poteškoća i otkloniti patnju.

Odista, On je Milosrdni, Saosećajni. Slava Bogu, Gospodu svih svetova.

SLAVA BOGU

Sva slava, O moj Bože, pripada Tebi Koji si Izvor svega divnog i uzvišenog, veličine i časti, carstva i vladavine, dostojanstva i milosti, strahopoštovanja i moći. Koga god hoćeš, možeš privući u svoj Nepregledni Okean, i kome god želiš možeš dodeliti čast da prepozna Tvoje Najdrevnije Ime. Niko od onih koji obitavaju na nebesima i na zemlji, ne može se odupreti delovanju Tvoje vrhovne Volje. Od vajkada Ti vladaš svim stvorenim bićima, i nastavićeš zauvek da sprovodiš svoju vlast nad svime što postoji. Nema drugog Boga osim Tebe, Svemoćnog, Najuzvišenijeg, Najsilnijeg, Najmudrijeg.

Ozari svetlom, O Gospode, lica svojih slugu, da mogu da Te ugledaju; pročisti im srca, da bi se okrenuli ka dvoru Tvoje nebeske dobrote, i prepoznali Onoga Ko je Manifestacija Tvog Jastva i Svanuće Tvoje Suštine. Odista, ti si Gospodar svih svetova. Nema drugog Boga osim Tebe, Neograničenog, Kome se svi pokoravaju.

TEŠKOĆE

Slava Tebi, O moj Bože! Da nije patnji na putu Tvome kako bi oni koji Te istinski ljube bili prepoznati; i da nije iskušenja podnetih za ljubav Tvoju, kako bi uzvišenost onih koji za Tobom žude postala vidljiva? Tvoja moć mi je svedok! Družbenice svih koji Tebe vole su suze koje prolivaju, a utehe onih koji Te traže su jauci njihovi, dok je hrana onih koji ka Tebi hitaju od komada njihovih slomljenih srca.

Kako je slatka mome ukusu gorčina smrti podnete na Tvome putu, a dragocenost meni najveća izloženost kopljima Tvojih neprijatelja radi uzdizanja reči Tvoje! Daj da okusim u Veri Tvojoj, O moj Bože, štagod bila želja Tvoja, i pošalji na me u ljubavi Svojoj sve što si mi odredio. Slave mi Tvoje! Želim samo što Ti želiš i volim samo šta Ti voliš. U Tebe polažem, u trenutku svakom, svu moju veru i pouzdanje.

Preklinjem Te, O moj Bože, podigni kao pomagače ovom Otkrovenju one koji će biti dostojni Tvog imena i Tvoje vlasti, da bi me spominjali među Tvojim stvorenjima, i uzdigli barjake Tvoje pobede u zemlji Tvojoj.

Moćan si Ti da činiš kako Ti volja. Nema Boga osim Tebe, Pomagača u nevolji, Samodovoljnog.

KRATKA OBAVEZNA MOLITVA

Postoje tri dnevne obavezne molitve…Vernik je slobodan da odabere bilo koju od ove tri molitve, ali je u obavezi da deklamuje jednu od njih u skladu sa uputstvima datim uz nju.

KOJU TREBA IZGOVARATI JEDNOM U DVADESET I ČETIRI SATA, IZMEĐU PODNEVA I ZALASKA SUNCA

Svedočim, O Bože moj, da si me stvorio da bih Te spoznao i obožavao Te. Svedočim, u ovom času, da sam ja nemoćan a Ti moćan, da sam ja siromašan a Ti bogat.

Nema Boga osim Tebe, Pomagača u nevolji, Samodovoljnog.

JUTRO

Probudio sam se u Tvom utočištu, O moj Bože, a priliči onome koji za tim utočištem čezne, da boravi u Svetilištu Tvoje zaštite i u Tvrđavi Tvoje odbrane. Prosvetli moje unutrašnje biće, O moj Gospode, raskošnim sjajem Svanuća Tvog Otkrovenja, baš kao što si blagonaklono obasjao moje telo jutarnjom svetlošću.

VOĐSTVO

O Ti, pred Čijim je zastrašujućim veličanstvom sve drhtalo, u Čijim su rukama svi ljudski poslovi, ka Čijim se čarima i milosti upravljaju lica svih koje si stvorio! Zaklinjem Te, Tvojim Imenom za koje si odredio da bude duh svih imena koja postoje u Kraljevstvu imena, da nas zaštitiš od šapata onih koji su se odvratili od Tebe, i koji su odbacili istinu o Tvom najdivnijem i najuzvišenijem Biću, u ovom Otkrovenju od kojeg je Kraljevstvo Tvojih imena zadrhtalo.

Ja sam jedna od Tvojih sluškinja, O moj Gospode! Upravila sam lice ka svetilištu Tvoje milosrdne dobrote i ka divnoj kući molitve gde se Ti slaviš. Očisti me od svega što ne potiče od Tebe, i daj mi snage da Te volim i udovoljim Ti, da budem očarana premišljajući o Tvojoj lepoti, da više ne budem vezana ni za jedno od Tvojih stvorenja, i da mogu u svakom trenutku da objavim: “Veličajmo Boga, Gospodara svetova!”

Daj da se hranim, O Gospode, Tvojom lepotom, i da se napojim svetlošću Tvog prisustva, da se nadam da Ti udovoljim, da moj rad zavredi Tvoju hvalu, da mi pomen na Tebe bude sadrug, Tvoje carstvo pomoć, i Tvoj stan moje prebivalište, i da mi dom bude ono sedište koje si Ti uzvisio, nedosežno onima koji kao da su velom odeljeni od tebe.

Ti si, zaista, Bog moći, snage i slave.

TABLICA REZVANA (TABLICA RAJA)

(Odlomci)

Slavlje Rezvana (21. april – 2. maj) je komemoracija Objave Bahaulahove Misije Njegovim sledbenicima. Bahaulah ga je proglasio za ˝Kralja svih Slavlja˝ i opisao ga u Kitabi Akdasu kao Dan ˝kada su sve stvorene stvari bile uronjene u more pročišćenja˝.

Božansko Proleće je stiglo, O Najuzvišenije Pero, jer bliži se Slavlje Svemilosrdnoga. Trgni se, i pred celokupnom tvorevinom veličaj ime Boga, i hvalu Njemu slavi, tako da se sva stvorenja preporode i nova postanu. Govori i ne miruj. Danica blaženstva na horizontu Našega imena Blaženi sja, jer je Kraljevstvo imena Božijih ukrašeno nakitom imena Tvoga Gospoda, Stvoritelja nebesa. Ustani pred narodima sveta, i naoružaj se snagom ovog Najvećeg Imena, i ne budi od onih koji oklevaju…

Možeš li naći ikog osim Mene u ovome Danu, O Pero? Šta postade od tvorevine i pojava njenih? Šta od imena i carstva njihovog? Gde nestaše sve stvorene stvari, vidljive i nevidljive? Šta bi sa tajnama univerzuma i njihovim otkrovenjima? Gle, sveukupna tvorevina nestade! Ništa ne ostade sem Lika Mojega, Zauvek-Prisutnog, Blještavog, Sveslavnog.

Ovo je Dan u kom vidjeno ne može biti ništa osim divote Svetlosti što sija sa lica Tvog Gospoda, Milostivog, Najdarežljivijeg. Uistinu, učinismo da svaka duša izdahne Našom neodoljivom i svepokoravajućom vlašću. A onda dozvasmo u postojanje novu tvorevinu, kao znak Naše milosti prema ljudima. Ja sam, uistinu, Svedarežljivi, Drevni…

Ustani i objavi celokupnoj tvorevini vest da se On Koji je Svemilosrdni uputio ka Rezvanu i tamo ušao. Povedi, onda, ljude prema tom vrtu užitka koji Bog načini Prestolom Svog Raja. Odabrali smo te da budeš Naša najmoćnija Truba, čiji jek označava vaskrsnuće celokupnog čovečanstva.

Reci: Ovo je Raj na čijem lišću je vino besede utisnulo svedočanstvo: ˝Onaj koji beše skriven od očiju ljudi razotkrio se, opasan vlašću i snagom!˝ Ovo je Raj gde šuštanje lišća saopštava: ˝O vi što nebesa i zemlju nastanjujete! Pojavilo se ono što se nikada pre pojavilo nije. On Koji je Svoje Lice oduvek skrivao od pogleda stvorenja sada je stigao˝. Od šaputavog povetarca među granjem usklik stiže: ˝On Koji je vrhovni Gospod svega objavio se. Kraljevstvo je Božije˝, dok sa potoka žubor dopire: ˝Sve oči se raduju, jer On Koga niko ne vide, Čiju tajnu niko ne razotkri, podiže veo slave, i otkri lice Lepote˝.

U ovom Raju, sa visova njegovih najviših boravišta, Deve Nebeske uskliknuše i povikaše: ˝Radujte se,O vi stanovnici višnjih sfera, jer prsti Onoga Koji je Najdrevniji zvone, u ime Sveslavnoga, Najveće Zvono, u samom srcu nebesa. Ruke darežljivosti proneše pehar večnog života. Priđi, i iskapi svoju čašu. Pijte sa zdravim užitkom, O vi koji ste sama inkarnacija čežnje, vi koji ste utelovljenja vatrene žudnje!˝

Ovo je Dan u koji je On Koji je Objava imena Božijih iskoračio iz Zaklona slave, i objavio svima koji su na nebu i svima koji su na zemlji: ˝Ostavite pehare Raja i svu vodu životvornu u njima, jer gle, ljudi Slave (Baha) uđoše u blaženo stanište Božanske Prisutnosti, i ispiše vino sjedinjenja iz pehara lepote njihovog Gospoda, Sveposedujućeg, Najvišeg˝.

Najvoljeniji je stigao. U desnoj ruci mu je zapečaćeno Vino imena Njegovog. Srećan je onaj koji se Njemu okrene, i iskapi svoju čašu, i usklikne: ˝Slava Tebi O Objavitelju znakova Božijih.˝ Pravičnosti mi Svemogućega! Svaka skrivena stvar objavljena je kroz moć istine. Svi darovi Božiji poslati su kao znak milosti Njegove. Vode večnog života, u svoj punoći, ponuđene su ljudima. Baš svaku je čašu Ljubljeni Svojom rukom proneo. Priđi i ne oklevaj ni za časak…

Radujte se radošću velikom, O vi ljudi Slave (Baha), kada se spominjete Dana vrhunske sreće, Dana kada je Jezik Drevnoga probesedio, dok je napuštao svoj dom na putu ka Mestu sa kojega je na sve stvoreno prosuo divote Svog imena Svemilosrdni. Bog Nam je svedok. Kada bi smo razotkrili skrivene tajne toga Dana, svi stanovnici zemlje i neba bi se obesvestili i izdahnuli, osim onih koje bi sačuvao Bog, Svemogući, Sveznajući, Premudri.

Tako opojno deluju reči Božije na Onoga Koji Objavljuje Njegove nepobitne dokaze, da Njegovo Pero više ne može da se miče. Ovim rečima On zaključuje Svoju Tablicu: ˝Nema Boga osim Mene, Svevišnjega, Najmoćnijega, Najodličnijega, Sveznajućega.˝

DUHOVNA SNAGA

U mnogim se sleđenim srcima, O moj Bože, razbuktala vatra Tvoje Vere, i mnoge usnule probudi umilni zvuk Tvog glasa. Koliko li je neznanaca koji potražiše utočište u hladu drveta Tvog jedinstva, i kako su brojni žedni koji izgaraše za izvorištem Tvojih živih voda u danima Tvojim!

Blago onome ko se usmeri ka Tebi, i pohita da stigne do Svanuća svetlosti Tvoga lica.

Blago onome koji se svim srcem uputi ka Mestu Svanuća Tvog Otkrovenja i Izvorištu Tvog Nadahnuća.

Blago onome ko je, stupajući Tvojim putem, koristio ono čime si ga darežljivošću Svojom obdario.

Blago onome koji , bolno čeznući za Tobom, odbaci sve osim Tebe.

Blago onome ko dožive prisno opštenje s Tobom, i oslobodi se svake vezanosti osim vezanosti za Tebe.

Preklinjem Te, O moj Gospode, Onim Koji je Tvoje Ime, Koji se, silom Tvog carstva i moći, izdigao iznad horizonta svoje tamnice, da za svakoga odrediš sudbu dostojnu Tebe i vrednu Tvoje slave.

Tvoja je sila, uistinu, ravna svim stvarima.

PODUČAVANJE

O Gospode! Otvori vrata, daj sredstva, pripremi put, učini stazu bezbednom da budemo vođeni ka onim dušama čija su srca spremna za Tvoju Veru i da one budu vođene do nas. Uistinu, Ti si Milostivi, Najdarežljiviji, Svemoćni.

DUGAČKA MOLITVA ISCELJENJA

On je Iscelitelj, Udovoljitelj, Pomagač, Svepraštajući, Svemilosrdni.

Prizvam Tebe O Uzvišeni, O Verni, O Slavni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Suvereni, O Uzvisitelju, O Sudijo!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Neuporedivi, O Večni, O Jedinstveni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Najhvaljeniji, O Sveti, O Pomagaču!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Sveznatelju, O Premudri, O Najveći!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Blagi, O Veličanstveni, O Zapovedajući!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Ljubljeni, O Poštovani, O Zanosni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Najmoćniji, O Održitelju, O Silni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Vladajući, O Samoopstajući, O Sveznajući!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Duhu, O Svetlosti, O Najjasnija Objavo!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe Koga pohode svi, Tebe Koga znaju svi, Tebe Koji si Skriven od svih!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Skriveni, O Pobedniče, O Darodavče!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Svemogući, O Podržitelju, O Skrivatelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Uobličitelju, O Udovoljitelju, O Iskorenitelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Uzdižući, O Udružujući, O Uznoseći!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Usavršitelju, O Nesputani, O Darežljivi!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Dobročinitelju, O Uskratitelju, O Stvaratelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Svevišnji, O Lepoto, O Darežljivi!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Pravedni, O Milostivi, O Plemeniti!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Svepotčinjavajući, O Sveprisutni, O Sveznajući!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Divotni, O Pradavni, O Velikodušni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Dobro-Čuvani, O Gospode radosti, O Željeni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Dobri za sve, O Saosećajni za sve, O Najdobronamerniji!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Utočištu za sve, O Zaklonu za sve, O Čuvaru svih!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe Koji si Potpora za sve, Koga prizivaju svi, O Pospešitelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Ispravitelju, O Uništitelju, O Preblagi!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Ti Dušo moja, O Ti Voljeni moj, O Ti Vero moja!

Ti Koji si Udovoljtelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Utolitelju žeđi, O Natpojavni Gospode, O Najdragoceniji!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Najviša Uspomeno, O Najplemenitije Ime, O Najdrevnija Stazo!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Najhvaljeniji, O Najsvetiji, O Posvećeni!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Odrešitelju, O Savetniče, O Izbavitelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Prijatelju, O Vidaru, O Opčinitelju!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Slavo, O Lepoto, O Darežljivi!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Najpouzdaniji, O Najveća Ljubavi, O Gospode Svitanja!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Uspaljujući, O Rasvetljujući, O Ushićujući!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Gospode Obilja, O Najsaosećajniji, O Najmilosrdniji!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Nepromenljivi, O Životvorni, O Izvoru Postojanja!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Ti Koji proničeš u sve, O Svevideći Bože, O Gospode Govora!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Objavljeni a Skriveni, O Neviđeni a Znani! O Motritelju Koga ištu svi!

Ti Koji si Udovoljitelj, Ti Koji si Iscelitelj, Ti Koji si Postojan, O Ti Postojani!

Prizivam Tebe O Ti Koji ubijaš one koji Te ljube, O Bože Milosti za zlotvore!

O Udovoljitelju, prizivam Tebe, O Udovoljitelju!

O Iscelitelju, prizivam Tebe, O Iscelitelju!

O Postojani, prizivam Tebe, O Postojani! Ti Zauvek- Postojani, O Ti Postojani!

Posvećen si Ti, O Bože moj! Preklinjem Te velikodušjem Tvojim, koje širom otvori vratnice Tvog obilja i milosti, kojim je Hram Tvoje Svetosti postavljen na tron večnosti; i milosrđem Tvojim kojim si pozvao sva stvorenja za trpezu Tvog izobilja i darova Tvojih; i milošću Tvojom kojom si odgovorio, u Sebi Samom Svojom reči ˝Jeste!˝u ime svega na nebu i na zemlji, u času kada je Tvoja vlast i veličina bila otkrivena, u zoru kada je moć Tvoje vladavine bila objavljena. I opet Te preklinjem, ovim najlepšim imenima, ovim najplemenitijim i najuzvišenijim atributima, i Preuzvišenim Sećanjem Tvojim, i čistom i besprekornom Lepotom Tvojom, i Tvojom skrivenom Svetlošću u najskrovitijem boravištu, i Tvojim Imenom zaodevenim u odoru stradanja, svakog jutra i večeri da štitiš nosioca ove blagoslovene Tablice, i onoga koji je izgovara, i onoga koji na nju naiđe, i onoga koji prođe pored kuće u kojoj se ona nalazi. Izleči njome, onda, svakog paćenika, svakog obolelog i jadnog, od svake muke i boli, od svake mrske nevolje i tuge, i povedi njome svakoga ko poželi da stupi na staze Tvoga vođstva i puteve Tvog oprosta i milosti.

Vaistinu Ti si Moćni, Svedovoljni, Isceljujući, Zaštitnik, Darivajući, Saosećajni, Plemeniti, Svemilosrdni.

DUHOVNE OSOBINE

Daj da se napojim na miomirisnim potocima Tvoje večnosti , O moj Bože, i dopusti da kušam plodove sa drveta Tvog bivstvovanja, O moja Nado!

Sa kristalno čistih izvora Tvoje ljubavi dozvoli mi da ispijam, O Veličanstveni, i da boravim pod senkom Tvog večnog proviđenja, O moja Svetlosti!

Da lutam po livadama koje su Tebi blizu, u Tvom prisustvu, O moj Voljeni, i da sedim s desne strane Tvog milosrdnog trona, O moja Žudnjo! Neka mirisni lahori Tvoje radosti dopru i do mene, O moje Odredište, i dopusti da se vinem u raj koji je Tvoja stvarnost, O moj Obožavani!

Da čujem glas golubice koja peva o sjedinjenju s Tobom, O Blistavi, i da mi svojom duhovnom snagom i silom daš polet, O moj Hranitelju!

Daj mi postojanu veru u svoju ljubav, O moj Pomagaču, i neka mi stope sigurno gaze stazom koja je po Tvojoj volji, O moj Tvorče!

Daj da večno boravim u Tvojim besmrtnim vrtovima, zagledan u Tvoj lik, O Ti Koji si milostiv prema meni, i ustoliči me na sedištu Tvoje slave, O Ti Kome pripadam!

Uzvisi me do nebesa svoje blagonaklonosti, O moj Živote, i uputi me ka zvezdi Danici koja vodi do Tebe, O Ti ka kome težim!

Pozovi me da prisustvujem otkrovenjima Tvog nevidljivog duha, O Ti Koji si moje Izvorište i moja Najveća Želja, i omogući mi da se vratim u srce Tvoje mirisne lepote, koju ćeš mi prikazati, O Ti Koji si moj Bog!

Ti imaš Moć da činiš šta Ti se svidi. Ti si, odista, Najuzvišeniji, Najslavniji, Najveći.

POST

Određeno je da Post bude jedanput godišnje i to tokom poslednjeg meseca bahajske godine, meseca Ala´(Uzvišenosti),od 2. do 20. marta.Za vreme tih 19 dana ne treba da se uzima bilo kakva hrana ili piće od izlaska do zalaska sunca.To je vreme molitve i duhovne obnove.Obično se tokom Posta praktikuje molitva u zoru.Osobe mlađe od 15 i starije od 70 godina,slabi i bolesni,trudnice kao i putnici su oslobođeni obaveze da poste.

Hvala Tebi , O Gospode moj Bože! Preklinjem Te ovim Otkrovenjem kojim je tama preobražena u svetlost, kojim je izgrađen Posećeni Hram, a Pisana Tablica obznanjena, i Razmotani Svitak otkriven, da obaspeš mene i one pokraj mene onim što će nas osposobiti da se vinemo u nebesa Tvoje vanzemaljske slave, i sprati sa nas mrlje sumnji koje sprečiše nepoverljive da uđu u svetilište Tvog jedinstva.

Ja sam onaj, O moj Gospode, koji se držaše čvrsto za uzicu tvoje ljubavi i skute Tvoje milosti i dobrote. Dodeli meni i mojim voljenima dobro ovoga i dolazećeg sveta. Obskrbi ih, onda, Darom skrivenim koji Si odredio samo za odabrane među Tvojim stvorenjima.

Ovo su , O moj Gospode, dani u kojima si zapovedio Svojim slugama da se pridržavaju posta. Blagosloven je onaj koji posti samo Tebe radi, u potpunosti odvojen od svega osim Tebe. Pomozi mi i pomozi njima, O moj Gospode, da Ti se pokoravamo i da se držimo Tvojih zapovesti. Ti uistinu imaš moć da činiš šta hoćeš.

Nema Boga osim Tebe, Sveznajućeg, Svemudrog. Sva hvala neka je Bogu, Gospodu svih svetova.

Ovo je Abdul-Baha rekao o Postu:

˝ Post je simbol.Postiti znači uzdržavati se od strasti.Fizički post je simbol te abstinencije i podsetnik; to znači: kao što se osoba uzdržava od fizičkih apetita treba da se udržava i od sebičnih apetita i sebičnih želja. Ali samo uzdržavanje od hrane neće donetii bilo kakav uticaj na duh.To je samo simbol, podsetnik. Inače nema značaja.˝

ZA PREMINULE

Ovo je molitva za sve bahajce starije od petnaest godina.To je jedina obavezna molitva koja se izgovara u kongregaciji; govori je jedan vernik dok ostali stoje.Kod ove molitve nije potrebno okrenuti se prema Kibli.

O, Bože moj! Ovo je sluga Tvoj i sin Tvoga sluge koji je verovao u Tebe i znamenja Tvoja i upravio svoje lice ka Tebi, posve odvojen od svega osim Tebe. Ti si, vaistinu, od svih koji iskazuju milost najmilosrdniji.

Postupi s njim, O Ti Koji praštaš grehe ljudske i mane njihove skrivaš, onako kako to dolikuje nebu Tvoje dobrote i okeanu Tvoje milosti. Podari mu pristup u odaje Tvoje svevišnje milosti koja je prethodila nastanku zemlje i neba. Nema Boga osim Tebe,Uvek-Praštajućeg, Najdarežljivijeg.

Neka onaj koji izgovara molitvu devetnaest puta ponovi svaki od ovih stihova i posle svakog stiha neka izgovori Alah’u’Abha (ukupno šest puta):

Svi mi, uistinu, štujemo Boga.

Svi mi se, uistinu, klanjamo Bogu.

Svi smo mi, uistinu, posvećeni Bogu.

Svi mi, uistinu, veličamo Boga.

Svi mi se, uistinu, zahvaljujemo Bogu.

Svi smo mi, uistinu, strpljivi u Bogu.

( Ukoliko se radi o pokojnici neka kaže: Ovo je Tvoja sluškinja i kći Tvoje sluškinje, itd…)

Slava Tebi, O Gospode moj Bože! Ne unizi onoga kojeg si uzvisio silom Svoje beskonačne vladavine, i ne udaljuj od sebe onog kome si omogućio da kroči u svetilište Tvoje večnosti. Hoćeš li odbaciti, O moj Bože, onoga kojeg si natkrilio svojim Gospodstvom, i hoćeš li odagnati od sebe, O moja žudnjo, onog kome si bio utočište? Možeš li lišiti časti onoga koga si uzdigao, ili zaboraviti onoga kojem si omogućio da pamti Tebe?

Slavljen, silno slavljen si Ti! Ti si Onaj Koji je od vajkada bio Kralj svega što postoji i Prvi Pokretač, i za svagda ćeš ostati Gospodar svih stvorenih bića i određivati njihovu sudbinu. Slavljen si Ti, O moj Bože! Ako Ti više ne budeš milostiv prema svojim slugama, ko će im onda ukazati milost; i ako Ti uskratiš podršku svojim voljenima, ko im onda može pomoći?

Slavljen, neizmerno slavljen si Ti! Obožavamo Te u Tvojoj istini i Tebi se svi, odista, klanjamo; i Ti se prikazuješ kroz svoju pravdu, i svi mi Ti, uistinu, svedočimo. Istinski si voljen u Svojoj milosti. Nema Boga osim Tebe, koji si Pomoć u Opasnosti, Samosvojni.

JEDINSTVO

O moj Bože! O moj Bože! Sjedini srca Svojih slugu, i otkri im Svoju veliku nameru. Neka slede Tvoje zapovesti i drže se Tvog zakona. Pomozi im, o Bože, u njihovom pregalaštvu, i daj im snage da Te služe. O Bože! Ne prepuštaj ih samima sebi. Neka im svetlost Tvog znanja vodi korake, obraduj im srca Svojom ljubavlju. Uistinu , Ti si im Pomagalac i Gospod.

MOLITVA ZA BALKAN

O Ti Plemeniti, Svemogući , pred tronom milosrđa preklinjemo Te za milost za naše grehe; milost za veliko uništenje života, za krv prolivenu na Balkanu, decu pretvorenu u siročad, majke koje izgubiše sinove, sinove koji ostaše bez očeva, gradove koji su uništeni, srca preplavljena krvlju, mnoge prolivene suze i mnoge uznemirene duhove! O Gospode budi milosti, ugasi taj duh rata, tu proždiruću vatru, taj užas, ukloni tu sumornu tminu sa lica zemlje. Poveži ova srca u zajedništvo. Neka sunce istine

osvane za sve. O Gospode! Ovaj svet je mračan, vodi nas ka blistavoj svetlosti; vidik je zatamnjen oblacima rata, raznesi te neprozirne oblake. Podari nam svetost i smirenje; otkloni ove svađe; obasjaj horizont života tako da zraci sunca istinske odanosti mogu da zablistaju. Neka ova mračna srca budu prosvetljena, neka slepe oči progledaju, neka gluve uši budu obdarene sluhom. O Gospode, učini da se Tvoja božanska pravda pojavi na ovom svetu. Okupi ove ljude na gozbi međunarodnog mira, tako da mogu da žive zajedno u najvećoj ljubavi. Neka se sve religije i narodi zagrle u duhu sveopšte dobrote, i neka mržnja bude zaboravljena. O Gospode! Podrži pravednu vladu u uspostavljanju mira, tako da može visoko da podigne barjak pomirenja na Balkanu. Neka svetlo ljubavi sija i plamsa neukaljano.

O Gospode, Ti si Svemoguć, Ti si Milostiv, Ti si Blag, Ti si Dobar!

Steadfastness

O Lord my God! Assist Thy loved ones to be firm in Thy Faith, to walk in Thy ways, to be steadfast in Thy Cause. Give them Thy grace to withstand the onslaught of self and passion, to follow the light of divine guidance. Thou art the Powerful, the Gracious, the Self-Subsisting, the Bestower, the Compassionate, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.

Protection

O God, my God! Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils of self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving-kindness from all rancor, hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable stronghold of Thy care and, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, make them the manifestations of Thy glorious signs, illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring of Thy divine unity, gladden their hearts with the verses revealed from Thy holy kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thine all-swaying power that cometh from Thy realm of glory. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord so rich in bounty, so replete with grace,

Whose knowledge doth mine inmost heart and soul embrace!

At morn, the solace of my soul is none but Thee;

The knower of my loss and woe is none but Thee.

The heart that for a moment hath Thy mention known

Will seek no friend save longing pain for Thee alone.

Withered be the heart that sigheth not for Thee,

And better blind the eye that crieth not for Thee!

In all mine hours of deepest gloom, O Lord of might,

My heart hath Thy remembrance for a shining light.

Do, through Thy favour, breathe Thy spirit into me,

That what hath never been may thus forever be.

Consider not our merit and our worth,

O Lord of bounty, but the grace Thou pourest forth.

Upon these broken-winged birds whose flight is slow

Out of Thy tender mercy newfound wings bestow.

Evening

O my Lord! I have drawn nigh unto Thee, in the depths of this darksome night, confiding in Thee with the tongue of my heart, trembling with joy at the sweet scents that blow from Thy realm, the All-Glorious, calling unto Thee, saying:

O my Lord, no words do I find to glorify Thee; no way do I see for the bird of my mind to soar upward to Thy Kingdom of Holiness; for Thou, in Thy very essence, art sanctified above those tributes, and in Thy very being art beyond the reach of those praises which are offered Thee by the people that Thou hast created. In the sanctity of Thine own being hast Thou ever been exalted above the understanding of the learned among the Company on high, and forever wilt Thou remain enwrapped within the holiness of Thine own reality, unreached by the knowledge of those dwellers in Thine exalted Kingdom who glorify Thy Name.

O God, my God! How can I glorify or describe Thee inaccessible as Thou art; immeasurably high and sanctified art Thou above every description and praise.

O God, my God! Have mercy then upon my helpless state, my poverty, my misery, my abasement! Give me to drink from the generous cup of Thy grace and forgiveness, stir me with the sweet scents of Thy love, gladden my bosom with the light of Thy knowledge, purify my soul with the mysteries of Thy oneness, raise me to life with the gentle breeze that cometh from the gardens of Thy mercy—till I sever myself from all else but Thee, and lay hold of the hem of Thy garment of grandeur, and consign to oblivion all that is not Thee, and be companioned by the sweet breathings that waft during these Thy days, and attain unto faithfulness at Thy Threshold of Holiness, and arise to serve Thy Cause, and to be humble before Thy loved ones, and, in the presence of Thy favoured ones, to be nothingness itself.

Verily art Thou the Helper, the Sustainer, the Exalted, the Most Generous.

O God, my God! I beg of Thee by the dawning of the light of Thy Beauty that hath illumined all the earth, and by the glance of Thy divine compassion’s eye that considereth all things, and by the surging sea of Thy bestowals in which all things are immersed, and by Thy streaming clouds of bounty raining down gifts upon the essences of all created things, and by the splendours of Thy mercy that existed before ever the world was—to help Thy chosen ones to be faithful, and assist Thy loved ones to serve at Thine exalted Threshold, and cause them to gain the victory through the battalions of Thy might that overpowereth all things, and reinforce them with a great fighting host from out of the Concourse on high.

O my Lord! They are weak souls standing at Thy door; they are paupers in Thy courtyard, desperate for Thy grace, in dire need of Thy succour, turning their faces toward the kingdom of Thy oneness, yearning for the bounties of Thy bestowals. O my Lord! Flood Thou their minds with Thy holy light; cleanse Thou their hearts with the grace of Thine assistance; gladden their bosoms with the fragrance of the joys that waft from Thy Company above; make bright their eyes by beholding the signs and tokens of Thy might; cause them to be the ensigns of purity, the banners of sanctity waving high above all creatures on the summits of the earth; make Thou their words to move hearts which are even as solid rock. May they arise to serve Thee and dedicate themselves to the Kingdom of Thy divinity, and set their faces toward the realm of Thy Self-Subsistence, and spread far and wide Thy signs, and be illumined by Thy streaming lights, and unfold Thy hidden mysteries. May they guide Thy servants unto gentle waters and to the fountain of Thy mercy that welleth and leapeth in the midmost heart of the Heaven of Thy oneness. May they hoist the sail of detachment upon the Ark of Salvation, and move over the seas of Thy knowledge; may they spread wide the pinions of unity and by their aid soar upward to the Kingdom of Thy singleness to become servants whom the Supreme Concourse will applaud, whose praises the dwellers in Thine all-glorious realm will utter; may they hear the heralds of the invisible world as they raise their cry of the Most Great Glad-Tidings; may they, in their longing to meet Thee, invoke and pray unto Thee, intoning wondrous orisons at the dawn of light—O my Lord Who disposest all things—shedding their tears at morningtide and even, yearning to pass into the shadow of Thy mercy that endeth never.

Help them, O my Lord, under all conditions, support them at all times with Thine angels of holiness, they who are Thine invisible hosts, Thy heavenly battalions who bring down to defeat the massed armies of this nether world.

Verily art Thou the Mighty, the Powerful, the Strong, the All-Encompassing, the One Who hath dominion over all that is.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 2.1–2.9

Spiritual Growth

O Thou Provider! Thou hast breathed over the friends in the West the sweet fragrance of the Holy Spirit, and with the light of divine guidance Thou hast lit up the western sky. Thou hast made those who were once remote to draw near unto Thyself; Thou hast turned strangers into loving friends; Thou hast awakened those who slept; Thou hast made the heedless mindful.

O Thou Provider! Assist Thou these noble friends to win Thy good pleasure, and make them well wishers of stranger and friend alike. Bring them into the world that abideth forever; grant them a portion of heavenly grace; cause them to be true Bahá’ís, sincerely of God; save them from outward semblances, and establish them firmly in the truth. Make them signs and tokens of the Kingdom, luminous stars above the horizons of this nether life. Make them to be a comfort and a solace to humankind and servants to the peace of the world. Exhilarate them with the wine of Thy counsel, and grant that all of them may tread the path of Thy commandments.

O Thou Provider! The dearest wish of this servant of Thy Threshold is to behold the friends of East and West in close embrace; to see all the members of human society gathered with love in a single great assemblage, even as individual drops of water collected in one mighty sea; to behold them all as birds in one garden of roses, as pearls of one ocean, as leaves of one tree, as rays of one sun.

Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, and Thou art the God of strength, the Omnipotent, the All-Seeing.

Triumph of the Cause

O God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for kindling the fire of divine love in the Holy Tree on the summit of the loftiest mount: that Tree which is “neither of the East nor of the West,” that fire which blazed out till the flame of it soared upward to the Concourse on high, and from it those realities caught the light of guidance, and cried out: “Verily have we perceived a fire on the slope of Mount Sinai.”

O God, my God! Increase Thou this fire, as day followeth day, till the blast of it setteth in motion all the earth. O Thou, my Lord! Kindle the light of Thy love in every heart, breathe into men’s souls the spirit of Thy knowledge, gladden their breasts with the verses of Thy oneness. Call Thou to life those who dwell in their tombs, warn Thou the prideful, make happiness worldwide, send down Thy crystal waters, and in the assemblage of manifest splendors, pass round that cup which is “tempered at the camphor fountain.”

Verily, art Thou the Giving, the Forgiving, the Ever-Bestowing. Verily, art Thou the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Firmness in the Covenant

O my Lord and my Hope! Help Thou Thy loved ones to be steadfast in Thy mighty Covenant, to remain faithful to Thy manifest Cause, and to carry out the commandments Thou didst set down for them in Thy Book of Splendors; that they may become banners of guidance and lamps of the Company above, wellsprings of Thine infinite wisdom, and stars that lead aright, as they shine down from the supernal sky.

Verily, art Thou the Invincible, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

Aid and Assistance

O Thou kind Lord! We are servants of Thy Threshold, taking shelter at Thy holy Door. We seek no refuge save only this strong pillar, turn nowhere for a haven but unto Thy safekeeping. Protect us, bless us, support us, make us such that we shall love but Thy good pleasure, utter only Thy praise, follow only the pathway of truth, that we may become rich enough to dispense with all save Thee, and receive our gifts from the sea of Thy beneficence, that we may ever strive to exalt Thy Cause and to spread Thy sweet savors far and wide, that we may become oblivious of self and occupied only with Thee, and disown all else and be caught up in Thee.

O Thou Provider, O Thou Forgiver! Grant us Thy grace and loving-kindness, Thy gifts and Thy bestowals, and sustain us, that we may attain our goal. Thou art the Powerful, the Able, the Knower, the Seer; and, verily, Thou art the Generous, and, verily, Thou art the All-Merciful, and, verily, Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, He to Whom repentance is due, He Who forgiveth even the most grievous of sins.

Spiritual Growth

O God, my God! This is Thy radiant servant, Thy spiritual thrall, who hath drawn nigh unto Thee and approached Thy presence. He hath turned his face unto Thine, acknowledging Thy oneness, confessing Thy singleness, and he hath called out in Thy name among the nations, and led the people to the streaming waters of Thy mercy, O Thou Most generous Lord! To those who asked he hath given to drink from the cup of guidance that brimmeth over with the wine of Thy measureless grace.

O Lord, assist him under all conditions, cause him to learn Thy well-guarded mysteries, and shower down upon him Thy hidden pearls. Make of him a banner rippling from castle summits in the winds of Thy heavenly aid, make of him a wellspring of crystal waters.

O my forgiving Lord! Light up the hearts with the rays of a lamp that sheddeth abroad its beams, disclosing to those among Thy people whom Thou hast bounteously favored, the realities of all things.

Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the Protector, the Strong, the Beneficent! Verily, Thou art the Lord of all mercies!

Additional Prayers by Baha’u’llah

In the name of God, the Forgiver!

Although this wretched state in which I am, O my God, maketh me deserving of Thy wrath and punishment, yet it beseemeth Thy good-pleasure and Thy bounties to confer Thy forgiveness on Thy servants and to bestow Thy good favour upon them. I ask Thee by Thy Name, which Thou hast made the King of all names, to protect me by Thy power and Thine omnipotence from all calamity and all that is repugnant to Thee, and from all that is contrary to Thy will. Thou art supreme over all things.

Spiritual Growth

O God, my God! These are Thy feeble servants; they are Thy loyal bondsmen and Thy handmaidens, who have bowed themselves down before Thine exalted Utterance and humbled themselves at Thy Threshold of light, and borne witness to Thy oneness through which the Sun hath been made to shine in midday splendor. They have listened to the summons Thou didst raise from out Thy hidden Realm, and with hearts quivering with love and rapture, they have responded to Thy call.

O Lord, shower upon them all the outpourings of Thy mercy, rain down upon them all the waters of Thy grace. Make them to grow as beauteous plants in the garden of heaven, and from the full and brimming clouds of Thy bestowals and out of the deep pools of Thine abounding grace make Thou this garden to flower, and keep it ever green and lustrous, ever fresh and shimmering and fair.

Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Exalted, the Powerful, He Who alone, in the heavens and on the earth, abideth unchanged. There is none other God save Thee, the Lord of manifest tokens and signs.

Teaching

Thou seest me, O my God, bowed down in lowliness, humbling myself before Thy commandments, submitting to Thy sovereignty, trembling at the might of Thy dominion, fleeing from Thy wrath, entreating Thy grace, relying upon Thy forgiveness, shaking with awe at Thy fury. I implore Thee with a throbbing heart, with streaming tears and a yearning soul, and in complete detachment from all things, to make Thy lovers as rays of light across Thy realms, and to aid Thy chosen servants to exalt Thy Word, that their faces may turn beauteous and bright with splendor, that their hearts may be filled with mysteries, and that every soul may lay down its burden of sin. Guard them then from the aggressor, from him who hath become a shameless and blasphemous doer of wrong.

Verily, Thy lovers thirst, O my Lord; lead them to the wellspring of bounty and grace. Verily, they hunger; send down unto them Thy heavenly table. Verily, they are naked; robe them in the garments of learning and knowledge.

Heroes are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. Guides are they, make them to speak out with arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are they, cause them to pass round the cup that brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, make them to be songsters that carol in fair gardens, make them lions that couch in the thickets, whales that plunge in the vasty deep.

Verily, Thou art He of abounding grace. There is none other God save Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Ever-Bestowing.

Revealed to the Bahá’ís of Canada and Greenland

The spreaders of the fragrances of God should recite this prayer every morning:

O God, my God! Thou beholdest this weak one begging for celestial strength, this poor one craving Thy heavenly treasures, this thirsty one longing for the fountain of eternal life, this afflicted one yearning for Thy promised healing through Thy boundless mercy which Thou hast destined for Thy chosen servants in Thy kingdom on high.

O Lord! I have no helper save Thee, no shelter besides Thee, and no sustainer except Thee. Assist me with Thine angels to diffuse Thy holy fragrances and to spread abroad Thy teachings amongst the choicest of Thy people.

O my Lord! Suffer me to be detached from aught else save Thee, to hold fast to the hem of Thy bounty, to be wholly devoted to Thy Faith, to remain fast and firm in Thy love and to observe what Thou hast prescribed in Thy Book.

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent.

Revealed to the Bahá’ís of Canada and Greenland

Praise be to Thee, O my God! These are Thy servants who are attracted by the fragrances of Thy mercifulness, are enkindled by the fire burning in the tree of Thy singleness, and whose eyes are brightened by beholding the splendors of the light shining in the Sinai of Thy oneness.

O Lord! Loose their tongues to make mention of Thee amongst Thy people, suffer them to speak forth Thy praise through Thy grace and loving-kindness, assist them with the cohorts of Thine angels, strengthen their loins in Thy service, and make them the signs of Thy guidance amongst Thy creatures.

Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Aid and Assistance

O thou who art turning thy face towards God! Close thine eyes to all things else, and open them to the realm of the All-Glorious. Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; seek whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound, with a glimpse He freeth the hearts from the shackles of grief. He doeth as He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head in submission, and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 22

Teaching

O God, my God! Aid Thou Thy trusted servants to have loving and tender hearts. Help them to spread, amongst all the nations of the earth, the light of guidance that cometh from the Company on high. Verily, Thou art the Strong, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Ever-Giving. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Gentle, the Tender, the Most Bountiful.

Aid and Assistance

O Thou divine Providence, pitiful are we, grant us Thy succour; homeless wanderers, give us Thy shelter; scattered, do Thou unite us; astray, gather us to Thy fold; bereft, do Thou bestow upon us a share and portion; athirst, lead us to the well-spring of Life; frail, strengthen us that we may arise to help Thy Cause and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in the pathway of guidance.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 233.17

Revealed to the Bahá’ís of the Western States

The following commune is to be read … every day:

O God! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow—assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs of guidance.

O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thy angels, make me victorious in the promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the helper of the weak and the defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained.

Revealed to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada

O Thou incomparable God! O Thou Lord of the Kingdom! These souls are Thy heavenly army. Assist them and, with the cohorts of the Supreme Concourse, make them victorious, so that each one of them may become like unto a regiment and conquer these countries through the love of God and the illumination of divine teachings.

O God! Be Thou their supporter and their helper, and in the wilderness, the mountain, the valley, the forests, the prairies and the seas, be Thou their confidant—so that they may cry out through the power of the Kingdom and the breath of the Holy Spirit.

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Omnipotent, and Thou art the Wise, the Hearing and the Seeing.

Gatherings

O Divine Providence! This assemblage is composed of Thy friends who are attracted to Thy beauty and are set ablaze by the fire of Thy love. Turn these souls into heavenly angels, resuscitate them through the breath of Thy Holy Spirit, grant them eloquent tongues and resolute hearts, bestow upon them heavenly power and merciful susceptibilities, cause them to become the promulgators of the oneness of mankind and the cause of love and concord in the world of humanity, so that the perilous darkness of ignorant prejudice may vanish through the light of the Sun of Truth, this dreary world may become illumined, this material realm may absorb the rays of the world of spirit, these different colors may merge into one color and the melody of praise may rise to the kingdom of Thy sanctity.

Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent, and the Almighty!

Gatherings

O Thou loving Provider! These souls have hearkened to the summons of the Kingdom, and have gazed upon the glory of the Sun of Truth. They have risen upward to the refreshing skies of love; they are enamoured of Thy nature, and they worship Thy beauty. Unto Thee have they turned themselves, speaking together of Thee, seeking out Thy dwelling, and thirsting for the waterbrooks of Thy heavenly realm.

Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Ever-Loving.

Aid and Assistance

Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean of Thy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory. The fowls of the air and the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee, and all beings partake of Thy care and loving-kindness.

Deprive not this feeble one of Thy wondrous grace and vouchsafe by Thy might unto this helpless soul Thy bounty.

Give us our daily bread, and grant Thine increase in the necessities of life, that we may be dependent on none other but Thee, may commune wholly with Thee, may walk in Thy ways and declare Thy mysteries. Thou art the Almighty and the Loving and the Provider of all mankind.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God!

O peerless Lord! Praised be Thou for having kindled that light in the glass of the Concourse on high, for having guided that bird of faithfulness to the nest of the Abhá Kingdom. Thou hast joined that precious river to the mighty sea, Thou hast returned that spreading ray of light to the Sun of Truth. Thou hast welcomed that captive of remoteness into the garden of reunion, and led him who longed to look upon Thee to Thy presence in Thy bright place of lights.

Thou art the Lord of tender love, Thou art the last goal of the yearning heart, Thou art the dearest wish of the martyr’s soul.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Divine Providence, Thou art the Ever-Forgiving! O Thou Almighty God, Thou art the Gracious! Let this dearly loved servant of Thine abide beneath the shadow of Thy glory, and grant that this hapless and lowly one may prosper and flourish within the precincts of Thy mercy. Give him to drink from the chalice of Thy nearness, and let him abide under the shade of the Blessed Tree. Confer upon him the honour of attaining Thy presence, and bestow upon him everlasting bliss. Graciously assist the surviving kindred of this noble soul to follow in the footsteps of their dear father, to show forth his character and conduct amongst all people, to follow Thy path, seek Thy good-pleasure, and utter Thy praise. Thou art the Ever-Loving God, the Lord of bounty.

Detachment

O God, my God! Fill up for me the cup of detachment from all things, and in the assembly of Thy splendors and bestowals, rejoice me with the wine of loving Thee. Free me from the assaults of passion and desire, break off from me the shackles of this nether world, draw me with rapture unto Thy supernal realm, and refresh me amongst the handmaids with the breathings of Thy holiness.

O Lord, brighten Thou my face with the lights of Thy bestowals, light Thou mine eyes with beholding the signs of Thine all-subduing might; delight my heart with the glory of Thy knowledge that encompasseth all things, gladden Thou my soul with Thy soul-reviving tidings of great joy, O Thou King of this world and the Kingdom above, O Thou Lord of dominion and might, that I may spread abroad Thy signs and tokens, and proclaim Thy Cause, and promote Thy Teachings, and serve Thy Law and exalt Thy Word.

Thou art, verily, the Powerful, the Ever-Giving, the Able, the Omnipotent.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is the All-Glorious.

Praise be unto Thee, O my Lord, O my Lord! I cry unto Thee from within the depths of my heart, within mine inmost being, the reality of mine essence, the very core of my life. I call Thee to mind from mine outward and mine inward self, from out my very bones and flesh and blood, from my soul and heart and tongue and pen—aflame with the fire of my love for Thy chosen ones, frenzied with yearning over Thy greatly favoured ones, those who have cast away their lives upon Thy pathway and given up their own selves for love of Thee, and their own blood for desire of Thee. They are the ones who have made themselves the arrow’s target, who have found sweet the lance-head’s biting steel, who craved that, for the upraising of Thy Word, their heads be raised upon the spear-point, and that their hearts be torn apart—out of adoration for Thy beauty, and yearning for Thy presence, and longing for Thy love, and in ardently seeking to extol Thy glory, to be drawn unto Thy heaven, and to be drowned in the sea of devotion unto Thee.

Among these was this youth, comely and sweet, he whom Thou didst call ‘Alí the Less in the kingdom of names, he whom Thou hast made, in the kingdom of attributes, to be ‘Alí the Great. For he, O my Lord, when he did drink from the cup of bestowals at the hands of the cupbearer of Thy grace, became drunken with the red wine of love for Thee, and there rose, over the horizon of his heart, the bright rays of knowing Thee. Then was he enraptured with the wine of desire for Thee, and out of longing for Thee he sped to the martyr’s field, and following Thy path, he quit the bridal chamber on his wedding night, he left his cushioned ease and joy for a place of affliction and pain, and from his rank of honour and esteem was cast down to the depths of humiliation and abasement.

And then, at the decree of the worst among Thy creatures, did he redden his smooth and delicate cheek with the blush of his spilled-out blood, and with his life-blood dyed his clustered locks. Then did he exchange the fine embroidered garment, put on for his wedding night, for clothing dark with gouts of blood, and laid himself down in the bed of the scorned and despised, down in the dust of misery and loss, in exchange for his safe couch of bliss. This he did in his yearning for Thy realm, the all-glorious, and Thine Abhá Company. Then they rent his breast that had rejoiced in the tokens of Thy love, and they ripped at his heart, flaming with desire for Thee; and on Thy path, they shot their arrows of hate at his fair, open bosom and, because of his love for Thee, with their cruel blade struck off the noble head.

Then they set his head on the point of their tyrant’s lance, and they carried it to his tender-hearted and grievously wronged mother and to his honourable, his sorrowing bride. And to terrify their hearts and threaten them with more—so as to make them waver in their faith and cause their feet to stumble on Thy highway of truth, Thy path that runneth straight—they flung it into the courtyard of their spacious home.

Praise be unto Thee, O my Lord, that Thou didst keep their hearts firmly grounded in Thy love. They took that noble head and set it down outside the house, returning that precious substance to the merciless among Thy creatures, and told them: “God forbid! The head that we have offered up on the path of God, we will not take back. We will not ask for it again, the hidden gem, the treasured and well-guarded pearl that we have given up in love for God. O, may this comely head but vanish under the galloping horses’ hooves! May the steeds of the obdurate trample it to dust!”

O my Lord! Make Thou this martyr a hero of Thy Kingdom, make him a mighty pillar in Thy supernal realms, a blazing star in Thy resplendent heaven.

The Departed

O Thou Kind Lord! This dearly cherished maidservant was attracted to Thee, and through reflection and discernment longed to attain Thy presence and enter Thy realms. With tearful eyes she fixed her gaze on the Kingdom of Mysteries. Many a night she spent in deep communion with Thee, and many a day she lived in intimate remembrance of Thee. At every morn she was mindful of Thee, and at every eve she centered her thoughts upon Thee. Like unto a singing nightingale she chanted Thy sacred verses, and like unto a mirror she sought to reflect Thy light.

O Thou Forgiver of sins! Open Thou the way for this awakened soul to enter Thy Kingdom, and enable this bird, trained by Thy hand, to soar in the eternal rose garden. She is afire with longing to draw nigh unto Thee; enable her to attain Thy presence. She is distraught and distressed in separation from Thee; cause her to be admitted into Thy Heavenly Mansion.

O Lord! We are sinners, but Thou art the Forgiver. We are submerged in the ocean of shortcomings, but Thou art the Pardoner, the Kind. Forgive our sins and bless us with Thine abundant grace. Grant us the privilege of beholding Thy Countenance, and give us the chalice of joy and bliss. We are captives of our own transgressions, and Thou art the King of bountiful favors. We are drowned in a sea of iniquities, and Thou art the Lord of infinite mercy. Thou art the Giver, the Glorious, the Eternal, the Bounteous; and Thou art the All-Gracious, the All-Merciful, the Omnipotent, He Who is the Bestower of gifts and the Forgiver of sins. Verily, Thou art He to Whom we turn for the remission of our failings, He Who is the Lord of lords.

Spiritual Assembly

Come ye together in gladness unalloyed, and at the beginning of the meeting, recite ye this prayer:

O Thou Lord of the Kingdom! Though our bodies be gathered here together, yet our spellbound hearts are carried away by Thy love, and yet are we transported by the rays of Thy resplendent face. Weak though we be, we await the revelations of Thy might and power. Poor though we be, with neither goods nor means, still take we riches from the treasures of Thy Kingdom. Drops though we be, still do we draw from out Thy ocean deeps. Motes though we be, still do we gleam in the glory of Thy splendid Sun.

O Thou our Provider! Send down Thine aid, that each one gathered here may become a lighted candle, each one a center of attraction, each one a summoner to Thy heavenly realms, till at last we make this nether world the mirror image of Thy Paradise.

Humanity

O God, O Thou Who hast cast Thy splendor over the luminous realities of men, shedding upon them the resplendent lights of knowledge and guidance, and hast chosen them out of all created things for this supernal grace, and hast caused them to encompass all things, to understand their inmost essence, and to disclose their mysteries, bringing them forth out of darkness into the visible world! “He verily showeth His special mercy to whomsoever He will.”

O Lord, help Thou Thy loved ones to acquire knowledge and the sciences and arts, and to unravel the secrets that are treasured up in the inmost reality of all created beings. Make them to hear the hidden truths that are written and embedded in the heart of all that is. Make them to be ensigns of guidance amongst all creatures, and piercing rays of the mind shedding forth their light in this, the “first life.” Make them to be leaders unto Thee, guides unto Thy path, runners urging men on to Thy Kingdom.

Thou verily art the Powerful, the Protector, the Potent, the Defender, the Mighty, the Most Generous.

Youth

O Thou kind Lord! Graciously bestow a pair of heavenly wings unto each of these fledglings, and give them spiritual power that they may wing their flight through this limitless space and may soar to the heights of the Abhá Kingdom.

O Lord! Strengthen these fragile seedlings that each one may become a fruitful tree, verdant and flourishing. Render these souls victorious through the potency of Thy celestial hosts, that they may be able to crush the forces of error and ignorance and to unfurl the standard of fellowship and guidance amidst the people; that they may, even as the reviving breaths of the spring, refresh and quicken the trees of human souls and like unto vernal showers make the meads of that region green and fertile.

Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful; Thou art the Bestower and the All-Loving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou kind Lord!

Grant that these trees may become the adornment of the Abhá Paradise. Cause them to grow through Thy celestial bounty. Make them fresh and verdant and besprinkle them with heavenly dewdrops. Attire them with robes of radiant beauty and crown their heads with gorgeous blossoms. Adorn them with goodly fruit and waft over them Thy sweet savours.

Thou art the Bestower, the All-Loving, the Most Radiant, the Most Resplendent.

Mother Temple of the West

O God, my God! I implore Thee with a throbbing heart and streaming tears to aid whosoever expendeth his energy for the erection of this House, and the construction of this Building wherein Thy name is mentioned every morn and every eve.

O God! Send down Thy divine increase on whosoever endeavoreth to serve this edifice and exerteth himself to raise it amongst the kindreds and religions of the world. Confirm him in every good deed in promoting the welfare of mankind. Open Thou the doors of wealth and abundance unto him and make him an heir to the treasures of the Kingdom, which perish not. Make him a sign of Thy bestowals among the peoples and reinforce him by the sea of Thy generosity and bounty, surging with waves of Thy grace and favor. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Merciful and the Bountiful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord! Guard Thou the children that are born in Thy day, are nurtured at the breast of Thy love, and fostered in the bosom of Thy grace.

O Lord, they are verily young branches growing in the gardens of Thy knowledge, they are boughs budding in Thy groves of grace. Grant them a share of Thy generous gifts, make them to thrive and flourish in the rain that raineth from the clouds of Thy bestowal.

Thou art verily the Generous, the Clement, the Compassionate!

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Divine Providence! Awaken me and make me conscious. Cause me to be detached from all else save Thee, and captivate me by the love of Thy beauty. Waft upon me the breath of the Holy Spirit, and suffer me to hearken to the call of the Abhá Kingdom. Bestow upon me heavenly power, and kindle the lamp of the spirit within the innermost chamber of my heart. Release me from every bond, and deliver me from every attachment, that I may cherish no desire except Thy good-pleasure, seek naught besides Thy Countenance, and tread no path other than Thy path. Grant that I may enable the heedless to become mindful and the slumberers to awaken, that I may proffer the water of life to those who are sore athirst and bring divine healing to those who are sick and ailing.

Though I am lowly, abased, and poor, yet Thou art my haven and my refuge, my supporter and my helper. Send down Thine aid in such wise that all may be astounded. O God! Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Giver, the Bestower, and the All-Seeing.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord! Grant me a measure of Thy grace and loving-kindness, Thy care and protection, Thy shelter and bounty, that the end of my days may be distinguished above their beginning, and the close of my life may open the portals to Thy manifold blessings. May Thy loving-kindness and bounty descend upon me at every moment, and Thy forgiveness and mercy be vouchsafed with every breath, until, beneath the sheltering shadow of Thine upraised Standard, I may at last repair to the Kingdom of the All-Praised. Thou art the Bestower and the Ever-Loving, and Thou art, verily, the Lord of grace and bounty.

Families

O Lord! In this Most Great Dispensation Thou dost accept the intercession of children in behalf of their parents. This is one of the special infinite bestowals of this Dispensation. Therefore, O Thou kind Lord, accept the request of this Thy servant at the threshold of Thy singleness and submerge his father in the ocean of Thy grace, because this son hath arisen to render Thee service and is exerting effort at all times in the pathway of Thy love. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Forgiver and the Kind!

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O Thou kind and beloved Lord! These friends are exhilarated with the wine of the Covenant and are wanderers in the wilderness of Thy love. Their hearts are consumed by the flames of remoteness from Thee, and they yearn eagerly for the revelation of Thy splendours. From Thine invisible Kingdom, the Realm of the unseen, reveal unto them the effulgent glory of Thy grace, and shed upon them the radiance of Thy bounty. At every moment, send forth a new blessing and reveal a fresh favour.

O Divine Providence! We are weak and Thou art the Most Powerful. We are as tiny ants and Thou art the King of the Realm of Glory. Bestow Thy grace and confer Thy bounty upon us, that we may kindle a flame and shed its splendour abroad, that we may show forth strength and render some service. Grant that we may bring illumination to this darksome earth and spirituality to this fleeting world of dust. Suffer us not to rest for a moment, nor to defile ourselves with the transitory things of this life. Enable us to prepare a banquet of guidance, inscribe with our life-blood the verses of love, leave fear and peril behind, become even as fruitful trees, and cause human perfections to appear in this ephemeral world. Thou, in truth, art the All-Bountiful, the Most Compassionate, the Ever-Forgiving, the Pardoner.

Forgiveness

O God my God! Thou seest me standing before the door of Thy forgiveness and benevolence, turning my gaze toward the horizon of Thy bountiful favours and manifold blessings. I beg of Thee by Thy sweet accents and by the shrill voice of Thy Pen, O Lord of all mankind, to graciously aid Thy servants as it befitteth Thy days and beseemeth the glory of Thy manifestation and Thy majesty. Verily potent art Thou to do whatsoever Thou willest. All they that dwell in the heavens and on the earth bear witness to Thy power and Thy might, to Thy glory and Thy bounteousness. Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the worlds and the Well-Beloved of the heart of every man of understanding!

Thou beholdest, O my God, the essence of poverty seeking the ocean of Thy wealth and the substance of iniquity yearning for the waters of Thy forgiveness and Thy tender mercy. Grant Thou, O my God, that which beseemeth Thy great glory and befitteth the loftiness of Thy boundless grace. Thou art in truth the All-Bountiful, the Lord of grace abounding, the Ordainer, the All-Wise. No God is there but Thee, the Most Powerful, the All-Compelling, the Omnipotent.

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 95-96

Firmness in the Covenant

O compassionate God! Thanks be to Thee for Thou hast awakened and made me conscious. Thou hast given me a seeing eye and favored me with a hearing ear, hast led me to Thy kingdom and guided me to Thy path. Thou hast shown me the right way and caused me to enter the ark of deliverance. O God! Keep me steadfast and make me firm and staunch. Protect me from violent tests, and preserve and shelter me in the strongly fortified fortress of Thy Covenant and Testament. Thou art the Powerful. Thou art the Seeing. Thou art the Hearing.

O Thou the Compassionate God. Bestow upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be illumined with the light of Thy love, and confer upon me thoughts which may change this world into a rose garden through the outpourings of heavenly grace.

Thou art the Compassionate, the Merciful. Thou art the Great Beneficent God.

Marriage

O my Lord, O my Lord! These two bright orbs are wedded in Thy love, conjoined in servitude to Thy Holy Threshold, united in ministering to Thy Cause. Make Thou this marriage to be as threading lights of Thine abounding grace, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, and luminous rays of Thy bestowals, O Thou the Beneficent, the Ever-Giving, that there may branch out from this great tree boughs that will grow green and flourishing through the gifts that rain down from Thy clouds of grace.

Verily, Thou art the Generous. Verily, Thou art the Almighty. Verily, Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O Thou kind Lord! Illumine the hearts with the light of Thy most great guidance. Revive the souls through Thy most joyful glad-tidings. Illumine the eyes by granting them to behold Thy lights. Make the ears attentive by causing them to hear Thy call. Enable us to enter the Kingdom of Thy holiness and quicken us with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Give us everlasting life and grant us heavenly perfections. O Lord! Make our lives to be a ransom for Thy sake and bestow upon us a new spirit. Confer upon us heavenly power and bestow upon us everlasting joy. Confirm us in service to the world of humanity. Make us instruments of concord, binding together the hearts. O Lord! Awaken us from our slumber and grant us wisdom and understanding, that we may unravel the secrets of Thy Book and discover the mysteries that lie hid in Thy Words. Thou art the Almighty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the Ever-Loving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou Omnipotent Lord! We are all held within the mighty grasp of Thy power. Thou art our Supporter and our Helper. Grant us Thy tender mercy, bestow upon us Thy bounty, open the portals of grace, and cast upon us the glance of Thy favours. Let a vivifying breeze waft over us, and quicken Thou our yearning hearts. Illumine our eyes and make the sanctuary of our hearts the envy of every blossoming bower. Rejoice every soul and gladden every spirit. Reveal Thine ancient power and make manifest Thy great might. Cause the birds of human souls to soar to new heights, and let Thy confidants in this nether world fathom the mysteries of Thy Kingdom. Set firm our steps and bestow upon us unwavering hearts. We are sinners, and Thou art the Ever-Forgiving. We are Thy servants, and Thou art the Sovereign Lord. We are homeless wanderers, and Thou art our haven and refuge. Graciously aid and assist us to diffuse Thy sweet savours and to exalt Thy Word. Elevate the station of the dispossessed, and bestow Thine inexhaustible treasure upon the destitute. Vouchsafe Thy strength unto the weak, and confer heavenly power upon the feeble. Thou art the Provider, Thou art the Gracious, Thou art the Lord Who ruleth over all things.

Families

O God, my God! This Thy handmaid is calling upon Thee, trusting in Thee, turning her face unto Thee, imploring Thee to shed Thy heavenly bounties upon her, and to disclose unto her Thy spiritual mysteries, and to cast upon her the lights of Thy Godhead.

O my Lord! Make the eyes of my husband to see. Rejoice Thou his heart with the light of the knowledge of Thee, draw Thou his mind unto Thy luminous beauty, cheer Thou his spirit by revealing unto him Thy manifest splendors.

O my Lord! Lift Thou the veil from before his sight. Rain down Thy plenteous bounties upon him, intoxicate him with the wine of love for Thee, make him one of Thy angels whose feet walk upon this earth even as their souls are soaring through the high heavens. Cause him to become a brilliant lamp, shining out with the light of Thy wisdom in the midst of Thy people.

Verily, Thou art the Precious, the Ever-Bestowing, the Open of Hand.

Additional Prayers by Baha’u’llah

O God, my God! Glory be to Thee for having guided me unto the horizon of Thy Revelation, illumined me with the splendours of the light of Thy grace and mercy, caused me to speak forth Thy praise, and given me to behold that which hath been revealed by Thy Pen.

I beseech Thee, O Thou the Lord of the kingdom of names and Fashioner of earth and heaven, by the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree and by Thy most sweet utterance which hath enraptured the realities of all created things, to raise me up in Thy Name amidst Thy servants. I am he who hath sought in the daytime and in the night season to stand before the door of Thy bounty and to present himself before the throne of Thy justice. O Lord! Cast not away him who hath clung to the cord of Thy nearness, and deprive not him who hath directed his steps towards Thy most sublime station, the summit of glory, and the supreme objective—that station wherein every atom crieth out in the most eloquent tongue, saying: “Earth and heaven, glory and dominion are God’s, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful!”

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O God, my God! With utter lowliness and fervour, humility and devotion, I implore Thee with my tongue and my heart, with my spirit and my soul, and with my mind and my conscience, to grant the most cherished of all desires, destine the most meritorious of all deeds, and ordain all honour and perfection, favour and beauty, prosperity and salvation for this family that hath hastened to Thy sheltering shadow at the break of Thy resplendent morn and sought refuge within Thy safe haven and Thy mighty stronghold. Verily, these souls heeded Thy call, drew nigh unto Thy Threshold, were set aflame with the fire of Thy love, and were carried away by the breaths of Thy holiness. They were constant in the service of Thy Cause, humble before Thy Countenance, and noble beneath Thy sheltering shadow. They are renowned as the bearers of Thy name amongst Thy people and make mention of Thee amidst Thy servants.

O God, my God! Exalt them by Thine ancient glory, honour them in Thy Kingdom of grandeur, and assist them with the hosts of Thy favours in this great Day. O Lord, my God! Raise aloft their banner, grant them an ampler share of Thy protection, spread abroad their signs, and increase their radiance, that they may become a glass for the lamp of Thy manifold favours and spreaders of Thy loving-kindness and bounties.

O Lord, my God! Be Thou their companion in their loneliness, and in their moments of anguish surround them with Thine aid. Bequeath unto them Thy Book and vouchsafe unto them the full measure of Thy gifts and bestowals. Thou art in truth the Mighty, the Powerful, the Gracious, the Bountiful, and verily, Thou art the Merciful, the Compassionate.

The Departed

O my God! O my God! Verily, Thy servant, humble before the majesty of Thy divine supremacy, lowly at the door of Thy oneness, hath believed in Thee and in Thy verses, hath testified to Thy word, hath been enkindled with the fire of Thy love, hath been immersed in the depths of the ocean of Thy knowledge, hath been attracted by Thy breezes, hath relied upon Thee, hath turned his face unto Thee, hath offered his supplications to Thee, and hath been assured of Thy pardon and forgiveness. He hath abandoned this mortal life and hath flown to the kingdom of immortality, yearning for the favor of meeting Thee.

O Lord, glorify his station, shelter him under the pavilion of Thy supreme mercy, cause him to enter Thy glorious paradise, and perpetuate his existence in Thine exalted rose garden, that he may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries.

Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Powerful, the Forgiver and the Bestower.

Children

O God! Rear this little babe in the bosom of Thy love, and give it milk from the breast of Thy Providence. Cultivate this fresh plant in the rose garden of Thy love and aid it to grow through the showers of Thy bounty. Make it a child of the kingdom, and lead it to Thy heavenly realm. Thou art powerful and kind, and Thou art the Bestower, the Generous, the Lord of surpassing bounty.

Humanity

O my Lord, my Defender, my Help in peril! Lowly do I entreat Thee, ailing do I come unto Thee to be healed, humbly do I cry out to Thee with my tongue, my soul, my spirit:

O God, my God! The gloom of night hath shrouded every region, and all the earth is shut away behind thick clouds. The peoples of the world are sunk in the black depths of vain illusions, while their tyrants wallow in cruelty and hate. I see nothing but the glare of searing fires that blaze upward from the nethermost abyss, I hear nothing save the thunderous roar that belloweth out from thousands upon thousands of fiery weapons of assault, while every land is crying aloud in its secret tongue: ‘My riches avail me nothing, and my sovereignty hath perished!’

O my Lord, the lamps of guidance have gone out. The flames of passion are mounting high, and malevolence is ever gaining on the world. Malice and hate have overspread the face of the whole earth, and I find no souls except Thine own oppressed small band who are raising up this cry:

Make haste to love! Make haste to trust! Make haste to give! To guidance come!

Come ye for harmony! To behold the Star of Day! Come here for kindliness, for ease! Come here for amity and peace!

Come and cast down your weapons of wrath, till unity is won! Come and in the Lord’s true path each one help each one.

Verily with exceeding joy, with heart and soul, do these oppressed of Thine offer themselves up for all mankind in every land. Thou seest them, O my Lord, weeping over the tears Thy people shed, mourning the grief of Thy children, condoling with humankind, suffering because of the calamities that beset all the denizens of the earth.

O my Lord, wing them with victory that they may soar upward to salvation, strengthen their loins in service to Thy people, and their backs in servitude to Thy Threshold of Holiness.

Verily Thou art the Generous, verily Thou art the Merciful! There is none other God save Thee, the Clement, the Pitiful, the Ancient of Days!

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 218.10–218.18

Children

O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord!

Plant this tender seedling in the garden of Thy manifold bounties, water it from the fountains of Thy loving-kindness and grant that it may grow into a goodly plant through the outpourings of Thy favour and grace.

Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

Spiritual Assembly

Prayer to be said at the close of the meeting of the Spiritual Assembly.

O God! O God! From the unseen kingdom of Thy oneness behold us assembled in this spiritual meeting, believing in Thee, confident in Thy signs, firm in Thy Covenant and Testament, attracted to Thee, set aglow with the fire of Thy love and sincere in Thy Cause. We are servants in Thy vineyard, spreaders of Thy religion, devoted worshipers of Thy countenance, humble towards Thy loved ones, submissive before Thy door, and imploring Thee to confirm us in serving Thy chosen ones, to support us with Thine unseen hosts, to strengthen our loins in Thy servitude and to make us submissive and adoring subjects communing with Thee.

O our Lord! We are weak, and Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful. We are lifeless, and Thou art the great life-giving Spirit. We are needy, and Thou art the Sustainer, the Powerful.

O our Lord! Turn our faces unto Thy merciful countenance, feed us from Thy heavenly table with Thine abundant grace, assist us with the hosts of Thy supreme angels and confirm us through the holy ones of the Kingdom of Abhá.

Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Merciful. Thou art the Possessor of great bounty, and, verily, Thou art the Clement and the Gracious.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou unseen Friend! O Desire of all in this world and the world to come! O Thou compassionate Beloved! These helpless souls are captivated by Thy love, and these feeble ones seek shelter at Thy Threshold. Every night they sigh and moan in their remoteness from Thee, and every morn they lament and weep by reason of the onslaught of the people of malice. They are afflicted at every moment with a fresh anguish, and are sore tried at each breath by the tyranny of every wicked oppressor. Praise be to Thee that, notwithstanding this, they are ablaze as a temple of fire and shine resplendent as the sun and the moon. They stand tall, like upraised banners, in the Cause of God, and hasten, like valiant horsemen, into the arena. They have bloomed like sweet blossoms and are filled with joy like the laughing rose. Wherefore, O Thou loving Provider, graciously assist these holy souls by Thy heavenly grace which is vouchsafed from Thy Kingdom, and grant that these sanctified beings may manifest the signs of the Most High. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Pitiful, the All-Merciful, the Compassionate.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou kind God!

From America, that distant country, we hastened to the Holy Land and directed our steps toward this blessed Spot. We attained unto the two blessed and sacred Thresholds and obtained boundless grace therefrom. We have now come to Mount Carmel, which is Thy sacred garden. Most of the Prophets turned to Thee in prayer upon this holy mountain, communing with Thee in the utmost humility at the midnight hour.

O Lord! We are now in this blessed place. We beseech Thine infinite bounties and long for a joyous and tranquil conscience. We desire firmness in the Covenant and seek Thy good-pleasure to our last breath.

O Lord! Forgive our sins and bestow upon us Thy manifold favours. Shield us within the shelter of Thy protection. Guard and preserve these two little children and nurture them in the embrace of Thy Love.

Thou art the Forgiver, the Resplendent, the Ever-Loving.

Detachment

O God, my God! Thou art my Hope and my Beloved, my highest Aim and Desire! With great humbleness and entire devotion I pray to Thee to make me a minaret of Thy love in Thy land, a lamp of Thy knowledge among Thy creatures, and a banner of divine bounty in Thy dominion.

Number me with such of Thy servants as have detached themselves from everything but Thee, have sanctified themselves from the transitory things of this world, and have freed themselves from the promptings of the voicers of idle fancies.

Let my heart be dilated with joy through the spirit of confirmation from Thy kingdom, and brighten my eyes by beholding the hosts of divine assistance descending successively upon me from the kingdom of Thine omnipotent glory.

Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Powerful.

Teaching

Thou knowest, O God, and art my witness that I have no desire in my heart save to attain Thy good pleasure, to be confirmed in servitude unto Thee, to consecrate myself in Thy service, to labor in Thy great vineyard and to sacrifice all in Thy path. Thou art the All-Knowing and the All-Seeing. I have no wish save to turn my steps, in my love for Thee, towards the mountains and the deserts to loudly proclaim the advent of Thy Kingdom, and to raise Thy call amidst all men. O God! Open Thou the way for this helpless one, grant Thou the remedy to this ailing one and bestow Thy healing upon this afflicted one. With burning heart and tearful eyes I supplicate Thee at Thy Threshold.

O God! I am prepared to endure any ordeal in Thy path and desire with all my heart and soul to meet any hardship.

O God! Protect me from tests. Thou knowest full well that I have turned away from all things and freed myself of all thoughts. I have no occupation save mention of Thee and no aspiration save serving Thee.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou incomparable God! We are Thy humble servants, and Thou art the All-Glorious. We are sinners, and Thou art the Ever-Forgiving. We are captives, poor and lowly, and Thou art our shelter and our aid. We are as tiny ants, and Thou art the Lord of majesty, enthroned in the highest heaven. Protect us, as a token of Thy grace, and withhold not from us Thy care and assistance. O Lord! Thy tests are indeed severe, and Thy trials can lay in ruin foundations wrought of steel. Preserve and strengthen us; cheer and gladden our hearts. Graciously assist us to serve, even as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Thy sacred Threshold.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O God! Grant Thy favour, and bestow Thy blessing. Vouchsafe Thy grace, and give a portion of Thy bounty. Enable these men to witness during this year the fulfilment of their hopes. Send down Thy heavenly rain, and provide Thy plenteousness and abundance. Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty.

Marriage

He is God!

O peerless Lord! In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage upon the peoples, that the generations of men may succeed one another in this contingent world, and that ever, so long as the world shall last, they may busy themselves at the Threshold of Thy oneness with servitude and worship, with salutation, adoration and praise. “I have not created spirits and men, but that they should worship me.” Wherefore, wed Thou in the heaven of Thy mercy these two birds of the nest of Thy love, and make them the means of attracting perpetual grace; that from the union of these two seas of love a wave of tenderness may surge and cast the pearls of pure and goodly issue on the shore of life. “He hath let loose the two seas, that they meet each other: Between them is a barrier which they overpass not. Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye deny? From each He bringeth up greater and lesser pearls.”

O Thou kind Lord! Make Thou this marriage to bring forth coral and pearls. Thou art verily the All-Powerful, the Most Great, the Ever-Forgiving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou peerless and loving Lord! Though capacity and worthiness are lacking, and it is infinitely hard to withstand tribulations, yet worthiness and capacity are gifts vouchsafed by Thee. O Lord! Give us capacity and make us worthy, that we may evince the most great steadfastness, renounce this world and all its people, kindle the fire of Thy love, and even as candles, burn bright with a consuming flame and shed abroad our radiance.

O Lord of the Kingdom! Deliver us from this world of vain illusions, and lead us unto the realm of the infinite. Suffer us to be wholly freed from this nether life, and cause us to be blessed with the bountiful gifts of the Kingdom. Release us from this world of nothingness that beareth the semblance of reality, and confer upon us life everlasting. Bestow on us joy and delight, and favour us with gladness and contentment. Comfort our hearts, and grant peace and tranquillity to our souls, so that upon ascending unto Thy Kingdom we may attain Thy presence and may rejoice in the realms above. Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Almighty!

Teaching

O my God, aid Thou Thy servant to raise up the Word, and to refute what is vain and false, to establish the truth, to spread the sacred verses abroad, reveal the splendors, and make the morning’s light to dawn in the hearts of the righteous.

Thou art, verily, the Generous, the Forgiving.

The Departed

O Lord, O Thou Whose mercy hath encompassed all, Whose forgiveness is transcendent, Whose bounty is sublime, Whose pardon and generosity are all-embracing, and the lights of Whose forgiveness are diffused throughout the world! O Lord of Glory! I entreat Thee, fervently and tearfully, to cast upon Thy handmaiden who hath ascended unto Thee the glances of the eye of Thy mercy. Robe her in the mantle of Thy grace, bright with the ornaments of the celestial Paradise, and, sheltering her beneath the tree of Thy oneness, illumine her face with the lights of Thy mercy and compassion.

Bestow upon Thy heavenly handmaiden, O God, the holy fragrances born of the spirit of Thy forgiveness. Cause her to dwell in a blissful abode, heal her griefs with the balm of Thy reunion, and, in accordance with Thy will, grant her admission to Thy holy Paradise. Let the angels of Thy loving-kindness descend successively upon her, and shelter her beneath Thy blessed Tree. Thou art, verily, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous, the All-Bountiful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O my God! O Thou Who endowest every just power and equitable dominion with abiding glory and everlasting might, with permanence and stability, with constancy and honour! Aid Thou by Thy heavenly grace every government that acteth justly towards its subjects and every sovereign authority, derived from Thee, that shieldeth the poor and the weak under the banner of its protection.

I beseech Thee, by Thy divine grace and surpassing bounty, to aid this just government, the canopy of whose authority is spread over vast and mighty lands and the evidences of whose justice are apparent in its prosperous and flourishing regions. Assist, O my God, its hosts, raise aloft its ensigns, bestow influence upon its word and its utterance, protect its lands, increase its honour, spread its fame, reveal its signs, and unfurl its banner through Thine all-subduing power and Thy resplendent might in the kingdom of creation.

Thou, verily, aidest whomsoever Thou willest, and Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the Most Powerful.

Nearness to God

He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful! O God, my God! Thou seest me, Thou knowest me; Thou art my Haven and my Refuge. None have I sought nor any will I seek save Thee; no path have I trodden nor any will I tread but the path of Thy love. In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectant and full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection. He whom the grace of Thy mercy aideth, though he be but a drop, shall become the boundless ocean, and the merest atom which the outpouring of Thy loving-kindness assisteth, shall shine even as the radiant star.

Shelter under Thy protection, O Thou Spirit of purity, Thou Who art the All-Bountiful Provider, this enthralled, enkindled servant of Thine. Aid him in this world of being to remain steadfast and firm in Thy love and grant that this broken-winged bird attain a refuge and shelter in Thy divine nest that abideth upon the celestial tree.

Firmness in the Covenant

Make firm our steps, O Lord, in Thy path and strengthen Thou our hearts in Thine obedience. Turn our faces toward the beauty of Thy oneness, and gladden our bosoms with the signs of Thy divine unity. Adorn our bodies with the robe of Thy bounty, and remove from our eyes the veil of sinfulness, and give us the chalice of Thy grace; that the essence of all beings may sing Thy praise before the vision of Thy grandeur. Reveal then Thyself, O Lord, by Thy merciful utterance and the mystery of Thy divine being, that the holy ecstasy of prayer may fill our souls—a prayer that shall rise above words and letters and transcend the murmur of syllables and sounds—that all things may be merged into nothingness before the revelation of Thy splendor.

Lord! These are servants that have remained fast and firm in Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, that have held fast unto the cord of constancy in Thy Cause and clung unto the hem of the robe of Thy grandeur. Assist them, O Lord, with Thy grace, confirm them with Thy power and strengthen their loins in obedience to Thee.

Thou art the Pardoner, the Gracious.

Midnight Prayer

O seeker of Truth! If thou desirest that God may open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight, saying:

O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty.

Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou forgiving God! Forgive the sins of my loving mother, pardon her shortcomings, cast upon her the glance of Thy gracious providence, and enable her to gain admittance into Thy Kingdom.

O God! From the earliest days of my life she educated and nurtured me, yet I did not recompense her for her toil and labours. Do Thou reward her by granting her eternal life and making her exalted in Thy Kingdom.

Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Bestower, and the Kind.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord, our God! We are helpless; Thou art the Lord of strength and power. We are wretched; Thou art the Almighty, the All-Glorious. We are poor; Thou art the All-Possessing, the Most Generous. Graciously assist us in our servitude to Thy sacred Threshold, and aid us, through Thy strengthening grace, to worship Thee at the dawning-places of Thy praise. Enable us to diffuse Thy holy fragrances amongst Thy creatures, and strengthen our loins to serve Thee amidst Thy servants, so that we may guide all nations to Thy Most Great Name and lead all peoples to the shores of the glorious ocean of Thy oneness.

O Lord! Deliver us from the attachments of the world and its peoples, from the transgressions of the past, and from the afflictions yet to come, that we may arise to exalt Thy Word with the utmost joy and radiance and celebrate Thy praise in the daytime and in the night season, that we may summon all people to the way of guidance and enjoin them to observe righteousness, and that we may chant the verses of Thy unity amidst all Thy creation. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful.

Humanity

O Thou kind Lord! O Thou Who art generous and merciful! We are servants of Thy threshold and are gathered beneath the sheltering shadow of Thy divine unity. The sun of Thy mercy is shining upon all, and the clouds of Thy bounty shower upon all. Thy gifts encompass all, Thy loving providence sustains all, Thy protection overshadows all, and the glances of Thy favor are cast upon all. O Lord! Grant Thine infinite bestowals, and let the light of Thy guidance shine. Illumine the eyes, gladden the hearts with abiding joy. Confer a new spirit upon all people and bestow upon them eternal life. Unlock the gates of true understanding and let the light of faith shine resplendent. Gather all people beneath the shadow of Thy bounty and cause them to unite in harmony, so that they may become as the rays of one sun, as the waves of one ocean, and as the fruit of one tree. May they drink from the same fountain. May they be refreshed by the same breeze. May they receive illumination from the same source of light. Thou art the Giver, the Merciful, the Omnipotent.

Women

O Lord, my Lord! I praise Thee and thank Thee for the favour Thou hast bestowed upon this feeble handmaiden of Thine, Thy maidservant who is supplicating and praying fervently to Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast guided her unto Thy Straight Path, led her to Thy luminous Kingdom, inclined her ears to Thy most sublime Call in the midmost heart of the world, and unveiled to her eyes Thy signs which testify to the revelation of Thy supreme dominion over all things.

O my Lord! I dedicate that which is in my womb to Thee. Grant that this child may be praised in Thy Kingdom, may be blessed by Thy grace and bounty, and may grow and develop within the stronghold of Thine education. Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Lord of grace abounding.

Marriage

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Verily, this Thy servant and this Thy maidservant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity. O Lord! Assist them in this Thy world and Thy kingdom and destine for them every good through Thy bounty and grace. O Lord! Confirm them in Thy servitude and assist them in Thy service. Suffer them to become the signs of Thy Name in Thy world and protect them through Thy bestowals which are inexhaustible in this world and the world to come. O Lord! They are supplicating the kingdom of Thy mercifulness and invoking the realm of Thy singleness. Verily, they are married in obedience to Thy command. Cause them to become the signs of harmony and unity until the end of time. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent, the Omnipresent and the Almighty!

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O my kind Lord, O Thou the desire of my heart and soul! Bestow upon Thy friends Thy loving-kindness, and grant them Thine unfailing mercy. Be Thou a solace to Thine ardent lovers, and a friend, a comforter, and a loving companion to them who yearn for Thee. Their hearts are ablaze with the fire of Thy love, and their souls are consumed with the flame of devotion to Thee. They long, one and all, to hasten unto the altar of love, that they may willingly lay down their lives.

O Divine Providence! Grant them Thy favour, guide them aright, graciously aid them to achieve spiritual victory, and confer upon them heavenly bestowals. O Lord, assist them by Thy munificence and grace, and make their radiant faces lamps of guidance in assemblies devoted to the knowledge of Thee, and signs of heavenly bounty in gatherings where Thy verses are expounded. Thou art, verily, the Merciful, the All-Bountiful, the One Whose help is implored by all men.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God!

O Thou pure God! Let these saplings which have sprouted by the stream of Thy guidance become fresh and verdant through the outpourings of the clouds of Thy tender mercy; cause them to be stirred by the gentle winds wafting from the meads of Thy oneness and suffer them to be revived through the rays of the Sun of Reality, that they may continually grow and flourish, and burst into blossoms and fruit.

O Lord God! Bestow upon each one understanding; give them power and strength and cause them to mirror forth Thy divine aid and confirmation, so that they may become highly distinguished among the people.

Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

The Departed

O Thou forgiving Lord!

Although some souls have spent the days of their lives in ignorance, and became estranged and contumacious, yet, with one wave from the ocean of Thy forgiveness, all those encompassed by sin will be set free. Whomsoever Thou willest Thou makest a confidant, and whosoever is not the object of Thy choice is accounted a transgressor. Shouldst Thou deal with us with Thy justice, we are all naught but sinners and deserving to be shut out from Thee, but shouldst Thou uphold mercy, every sinner would be made pure and every stranger a friend. Bestow, then, Thy forgiveness and pardon, and grant Thy mercy unto all.

Thou art the Forgiver, the Lightgiver and the Omnipotent.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God!

O Thou kind Lord! We are poor children, needy and insignificant, yet we are plants which have sprouted by Thy heavenly stream and saplings bursting into bloom in Thy divine springtime. Make us fresh and verdant by the outpourings of the clouds of Thy mercy; help us to grow and develop through the rays of the sun of Thy goodly gifts and cause us to be refreshed by the quickening breeze wafting from the meadows of Truth. Grant that we may become flourishing trees laden with fruit in the orchard of knowledge, brilliant stars shining above the horizon of eternal happiness and radiant lamps shedding light upon the assemblage of mankind.

O Lord! Should Thy tender care be vouchsafed unto us, each one of us would, even as an eagle, soar to the pinnacle of knowledge, but were we left to ourselves we would be consumed away and would fall into loss and frustration. Whatever we are, from Thee do we proceed and before Thy threshold do we seek refuge.

Thou art the Bestower, the Bountiful, the All-Loving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O thou who circlest in adoration about the Spot round which circle the Concourse on high! Raise thou thy hands in gratitude at the Threshold of the one true God, and say: O Thou the highest aspiration of every ardent lover! O Thou the Guide of every wandering soul! Thou hast favoured this feeble servant with Thine infinite blessings, and led this hapless and lowly one unto the Threshold of Thy oneness. Thou hast lifted to these parched lips the living waters of Thy loving-kindness and revived this weary and withered soul with the breezes of divine mercy. I yield Thee thanks for having bestowed upon me a full portion from Thy most gracious favour and invested me with the honour of attaining unto Thy sacred Threshold. I beseech an infinite share from the bounties of Thy Kingdom on high. Grant Thine assistance. Confer Thy gracious favour.

Spiritual Growth

O my God! O my God! Glory be unto Thee for that Thou hast confirmed me to the confession of Thy oneness, attracted me unto the word of Thy singleness, enkindled me by the fire of Thy love, and occupied me with Thy mention and the service of Thy friends and maidservants.

O Lord, help me to be meek and lowly, and strengthen me in severing myself from all things and in holding to the hem of the garment of Thy glory, so that my heart may be filled with Thy love and leave no space for love of the world and attachment to its qualities.

O God! Sanctify me from all else save Thee, purge me from the dross of sins and transgressions, and cause me to possess a spiritual heart and conscience.

Verily, Thou art merciful and, verily, Thou art the Most Generous, Whose help is sought by all men.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O Thou forgiving Lord! These servants were noble souls, and these radiant hearts were made illumined and resplendent through the light of Thy guidance. They drank a brimming cup of the wine of Thy love, and gave ear to eternal mysteries imparted by the melodies of Thy knowledge. They bound their hearts to Thee, broke free from the snare of estrangement, and laid hold of Thy unity. Make these precious souls companions of the inmates of Heaven, and admit them into the circle of Thy chosen ones. Make them intimates of Thy mysteries in the retreats of the realm above, and immerse them in the sea of lights. Thou art the Bestower, the Luminous, and the Kind.

The Departed

O my God, O Forgiver of sins and Dispeller of afflictions! O Thou Who art the Pardoner, the Merciful! I raise my suppliant hands to Thee, tearfully beseeching the court of Thy divine Essence to forgive, through Thy grace and clemency, Thy handmaiden who hath ascended unto the seat of truth. Cause her, O Lord, to be overshadowed by the clouds of Thy bounty and favor, immerse her in the ocean of Thy forgiveness and pardon, and enable her to enter that sanctified abode, Thy heavenly Paradise.

Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Compassionate, the Generous, the Merciful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Divine Providence! Immerse the father and mother of this servant of Thy Threshold in the ocean of Thy forgiveness, and purge and sanctify them from every sin and transgression. Grant them Thy forgiveness and mercy, and bestow upon them Thy gracious pardon. Thou, verily, art the Pardoner, the Ever-Forgiving, the Bestower of abundant grace. O Thou forgiving Lord! Though we are sinners, yet our hopes are fixed upon Thy promise and assurance. Though we are enveloped by the darkness of error, yet we have at all times turned our faces to the morn of Thy bountiful favours. Deal with us as beseemeth Thy Threshold, and confer upon us that which is worthy of Thy Court. Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the Pardoner, He Who overlooketh every shortcoming.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord! What an outpouring of bounty Thou hast vouchsafed, and what a flood of abounding grace Thou hast granted! Thou didst make all the hearts to become even as a single heart, and all the souls to be bound together as one soul. Thou didst endow inert bodies with life and feeling, and didst bestow upon lifeless frames the consciousness of the spirit. Through the effulgent rays shed from the Day-Star of the All-Merciful, Thou didst invest these atoms of dust with visible existence, and through the billows of the ocean of oneness, Thou didst enable these evanescent drops to surge and roar.

O Almighty One Who endowest a blade of straw with the might of a mountain and enablest a speck of dust to mirror forth the glory of the resplendent sun! Grant us Thy tender grace and favour, so that we may arise to serve Thy Cause and not be shamefaced before the peoples of the earth.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O God, my God! Give me to drink from the cup of Thy bestowal and illumine my face with the light of guidance. Make me firm in the path of faithfulness, assist me to be steadfast in Thy mighty Covenant, and suffer me to be numbered with Thy chosen servants. Unlock before my face the doors of abundance, grant me deliverance, and sustain me, through means I cannot reckon, from the treasuries of heaven. Suffer me to turn my face toward the countenance of Thy generosity and to be entirely devoted to Thee, O Thou Who art merciful and compassionate! To those that stand fast and firm in Thy Covenant Thou, verily, art gracious and generous. All praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!

Children

O Peerless Lord! Be Thou a shelter for this poor child and a kind and forgiving Master unto this erring and unhappy soul. O Lord! Though we are but worthless plants, yet we belong to Thy garden of roses. Though saplings without leaves and blossoms, yet we are a part of Thine orchard. Nurture this plant then through the outpourings of the clouds of Thy tender mercy and quicken and refresh this sapling through the reviving breath of Thy spiritual springtime. Suffer him to become heedful, discerning and noble, and grant that he may attain eternal life and abide in Thy Kingdom for evermore.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou kind Lord! Sanctify my heart from all attachment, and gladden my soul with tidings of joy. Free me from attachment to friend and stranger alike, and captivate me with Thy love, that I may become wholly devoted to Thee and be filled with fervid rapture; that I may desire naught but Thee, seek no one except Thyself, tread no other path besides Thine, and commune only with Thee; that I may, even as a nightingale, be spellbound by Thy love and, by day and night, sigh and wail and weep and cry out, “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!”

Children

O my Lord! O my Lord!

I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy, train me in the bosom of Thy love, educate me in the school of Thy guidance and develop me under the shadow of Thy bounty. Deliver me from darkness, make me a brilliant light; free me from unhappiness, make me a flower of the rose garden; suffer me to become a servant of Thy threshold and confer upon me the disposition and nature of the righteous; make me a cause of bounty to the human world, and crown my head with the diadem of eternal life.

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Seer, the Hearer.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God!

O God, my God! We are children who have sucked the milk of divine knowledge from the breast of Thy love and have been admitted into Thy Kingdom while of tender age. We implore Thee in the daytime and in the night season saying: O Lord! Make firm our steps in Thy Faith, guard us within the stronghold of Thy protection, nourish us from Thy heavenly table, enable us to become signs of divine guidance and lamps aglow with upright conduct and aid us through the potency of the angels of Thy kingdom, O Thou Who art the Lord of glory and majesty!

Verily Thou art the Bestower, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Spiritual Growth

O my God! O my God! This, Thy servant, hath advanced towards Thee, is passionately wandering in the desert of Thy love, walking in the path of Thy service, anticipating Thy favors, hoping for Thy bounty, relying upon Thy kingdom, and intoxicated by the wine of Thy gift. O my God! Increase the fervor of his affection for Thee, the constancy of his praise of Thee, and the ardor of his love for Thee.

Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Lord of grace abounding. There is no other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Divine Providence! Perplexing difficulties have arisen and formidable obstacles have appeared. O Lord! Remove these difficulties and show forth the evidences of Thy might and power. Ease these hardships and smooth our way along this arduous path. O Divine Providence! The obstacles are unyielding, and our toil and hardship are conjoined with a myriad adversities. There is no helper save Thee, and no succourer except Thyself. We set all our hopes on Thee, and commit all our affairs unto Thy care. Thou art the Guide and the Remover of every difficulty, and Thou art the Wise, the Seeing, and the Hearing.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O my God, O my God! Verily this plant hath yielded its fruit and standeth upright upon its stalk. Verily it hath astounded the farmers and perturbed the envious. O God, water it with showers from the cloud of Thy favours and cause it to yield great harvests heaped up like unto mighty hills in Thy land. Enlighten the hearts with a ray shining forth from Thy Kingdom of Oneness, illumine the eyes by beholding the signs of Thy grace, and gratify the ears by hearing the melodies of the birds of Thy confirmations singing in Thy heavenly gardens, so that these souls may become like thirsty fish swimming in the pools of Thy guidance and like tawny lions roaming in the forests of Thy bounty. Verily Thou art the Generous, the Merciful, the Glorious and the Bestower.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O my God! Verily, the tabernacle of justice hath been pitched in the east and the west of this Holy Land. We yield Thee praise and thanksgiving for the arrival of this just authority and triumphant government, which exerciseth its power for the comfort of its subjects and the well-being of all people. O God! Assist Thou the great emperor George V, the King of England, through Thine eternal grace and Thy divine confirmations. Maintain then its sheltering shade over this venerable land through Thine aid, protection, and preservation. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful.

Children

O Lord! I am a child; enable me to grow beneath the shadow of Thy loving-kindness. I am a tender plant; cause me to be nurtured through the outpourings of the clouds of Thy bounty. I am a sapling of the garden of love; make me into a fruitful tree.

Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful, and Thou art the All-Loving, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Aid and Assistance

Remove not, O Lord, the festal board that hath been spread in Thy Name, and extinguish not the burning flame that hath been kindled by Thine unquenchable fire. Withhold not from flowing that living water of Thine that murmureth with the melody of Thy glory and Thy remembrance, and deprive not Thy servants from the fragrance of Thy sweet savors breathing forth the perfume of Thy love.

Lord! Turn the distressing cares of Thy holy ones into ease, their hardship into comfort, their abasement into glory, their sorrow into blissful joy, O Thou that holdest in Thy grasp the reins of all mankind!

Thou art, verily, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Children

O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children who are the twigs of the tree of life, the birds of the meads of salvation, the pearls of the ocean of Thy grace, the roses of the garden of Thy guidance.

O God, our Lord! We sing Thy praise, bear witness to Thy sanctity and implore fervently the heaven of Thy mercy to make us lights of guidance, stars shining above the horizons of eternal glory amongst mankind, and to teach us a knowledge which proceedeth from Thee. Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is God.

O ye children of the Kingdom! Give thanks unto God that, at this tender age, ye have entered into the Divine Kingdom. The bounty and bestowal of God have surrounded you. While ye were yet children, He chose you and elected you. Ye became the intimates of His mysteries, whilst those of riper age remained deprived. This is naught but a divine bestowal. Therefore give ye thanks unto God, saying:

O Compassionate God! O Lord of Hosts! Praise be unto Thee that Thou hast preferred these little children over the full-grown and mature, and bestowed upon them Thy special favours. Thou hast guided them. Thou hast been kind to them. Thou hast conferred upon them illumination and spirituality. Grant us Thy confirmation so that, when we grow up, we may engage in service to Thy Kingdom, become the cause of educating others, burn like radiant candles and shine like brilliant stars. Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Compassionate.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Thou Provider, O Thou Forgiver! A noble soul hath ascended unto the Kingdom of reality, and hastened from the mortal world of dust to the realm of everlasting glory. Exalt the station of this recently arrived guest, and attire this long-standing servant with a new and wondrous robe.

O Thou Peerless Lord! Grant Thy forgiveness and tender care so that this soul may be admitted into the retreats of Thy mysteries and may become an intimate companion in the assemblage of splendours. Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Ever-Loving. Thou art the Pardoner, the Tender, the Most Powerful.

Youth

O Thou kind Lord! Bestow heavenly confirmation upon this daughter of the kingdom, and graciously aid her that she may remain firm and steadfast in Thy Cause and that she may, even as a nightingale of the rose garden of mysteries, warble melodies in the Abhá Kingdom in the most wondrous tones, thereby bringing happiness to everyone. Make her exalted among the daughters of the kingdom and enable her to attain life eternal.

Thou art the Bestower, the All-Loving.

Children

O Thou most glorious Lord! Make this little maidservant of Thine blessed and happy; cause her to be cherished at the threshold of Thy oneness, and let her drink deep from the cup of Thy love so that she may be filled with rapture and ecstasy and diffuse sweet-scented fragrance. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful, and Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Children

O Lord! Make these children excellent plants. Let them grow and develop in the Garden of Thy Covenant, and bestow freshness and beauty through the outpourings of the clouds of the Abhá Kingdom.

O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.

Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.

Youth

O Lord! Make this youth radiant, and confer Thy bounty upon this poor creature. Bestow upon him knowledge, grant him added strength at the break of every morn and guard him within the shelter of Thy protection so that he may be freed from error, may devote himself to the service of Thy Cause, may guide the wayward, lead the hapless, free the captives and awaken the heedless, that all may be blessed with Thy remembrance and praise. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

Children

O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness.

Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord! Bless this family and grant it happiness in both this world and the world to come. Confirm this distinguished person in the greatest service to the human world, which is the unity of all mankind, that he may attain to Thy good-pleasure in this world and obtain a bounteous portion from the surging ocean of divine outpourings in this luminous age.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is the Most Glorious!

O my merciful Lord! This is a hyacinth which hath grown in the garden of Thy good pleasure and a twig which hath appeared in the orchard of true knowledge. Cause it, O Lord of bounty, to be refreshed continually and at all times through Thy vitalizing breezes, and make it verdant, fresh and flourishing through the outpourings of the clouds of Thy favours, O Thou kind Lord!

Verily Thou art the All-Glorious.

The Departed

O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions!

Verily, I beseech Thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.

O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendors on the loftiest mount.

Women

O Lord!

Help this daughter of the Kingdom to be exalted in both worlds; cause her to turn away from this mortal world of dust and from those who have set their hearts thereon and enable her to have communion and close association with the world of immortality. Give her heavenly power and strengthen her through the breaths of the Holy Spirit that she may arise to serve Thee.

Thou art the Mighty One.

Spiritual Growth

O my Lord! O my Lord! This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving.

Children

O Thou peerless Lord! Let this suckling babe be nursed from the breast of Thy loving-kindness, guard it within the cradle of Thy safety and protection and grant that it be reared in the arms of Thy tender affection.

Children

He is God! O God my God! Bestow upon me a pure heart, like unto a pearl.

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O my eternal Beloved and my adored Friend! How long shall I remain bereft of Thy presence and sorely afflicted by remoteness from Thee? To the retreats of Thy heavenly Kingdom lead me, and at the scene of the appearance of Thy supernal Realm cast upon me the glance of Thy loving-kindness.

O Thou Omnipotent Lord! Number me among the denizens of the Kingdom. This mortal world is my abode; grant me a habitation in the realms of the Placeless. To this earthly plane I pertain; shed upon me the effulgence of Thy glorious light. In this world of dust I dwell; make me an inmate of Thy heavenly realm, so that I may lay down my life in Thy path and attain to my heart’s desire, may crown my head with the diadem of divine favour and raise the triumphal cry of “O Glory of God, the Most Glorious!”

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

O Lord! Thou didst bestow and Thou didst summon back unto Thyself. Everything Thou dost purpose is to be obeyed, and all that Thou ordainest is the very essence of wisdom. I am content with Thy decree, yearning for Thy trials, and assured of Thy trust.

O God, my God! Cheer my heart through seemly patience and endurance under every grievous affliction. Bestow upon me fortitude, O Lord, and grant that I may be reckoned among Thy servants who have surrendered their will to Thy decree, who endure patiently every trial sent by Thee, who tread no path but that of resignation, and whom no grief, however great, can ever sadden. Thou art, in truth, the All-Bountiful, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.

The Nineteen Day Feast

O God! Dispel all those elements which are the cause of discord, and prepare for us all those things which are the cause of unity and accord! O God! Descend upon us Heavenly Fragrance and change this gathering into a gathering of Heaven! Grant to us every benefit and every food. Prepare for us the Food of Love! Give us the Food of Knowledge! Bestow on us the Food of Heavenly Illumination!

Humanity

O Thou compassionate Lord, Thou Who art generous and able! We are servants of Thine sheltered beneath Thy providence. Cast Thy glance of favor upon us. Give light to our eyes, hearing to our ears, and understanding and love to our hearts. Render our souls joyous and happy through Thy glad tidings. O Lord! Point out to us the pathway of Thy kingdom and resuscitate all of us through the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Bestow upon us life everlasting and confer upon us never-ending honor. Unify mankind and illumine the world of humanity. May we all follow Thy pathway, long for Thy good pleasure and seek the mysteries of Thy kingdom. O God! Unite us and connect our hearts with Thy indissoluble bond. Verily, Thou art the Giver, Thou art the Kind One and Thou art the Almighty.

Unity

O my God! O my God! Verily, I invoke Thee and supplicate before Thy threshold, asking Thee that all Thy mercies may descend upon these souls. Specialize them for Thy favor and Thy truth.

O Lord! Unite and bind together the hearts, join in accord all the souls, and exhilarate the spirits through the signs of Thy sanctity and oneness. O Lord! Make these faces radiant through the light of Thy oneness. Strengthen the loins of Thy servants in the service of Thy kingdom.

O Lord, Thou possessor of infinite mercy! O Lord of forgiveness and pardon! Forgive our sins, pardon our shortcomings, and cause us to turn to the kingdom of Thy clemency, invoking the kingdom of might and power, humble at Thy shrine and submissive before the glory of Thine evidences.

O Lord God! Make us as waves of the sea, as flowers of the garden, united, agreed through the bounties of Thy love. O Lord! Dilate the breasts through the signs of Thy oneness, and make all mankind as stars shining from the same height of glory, as perfect fruits growing upon Thy tree of life.

Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Self-Subsistent, the Giver, the Forgiving, the Pardoner, the Omniscient, the One Creator.

Forgiveness

O Thou forgiving Lord! Thou art the shelter of all these Thy servants. Thou knowest the secrets and art aware of all things. We are all helpless, and Thou art the Mighty, the Omnipotent. We are all sinners, and Thou art the Forgiver of sins, the Merciful, the Compassionate. O Lord! Look not at our shortcomings. Deal with us according to Thy grace and bounty. Our shortcomings are many, but the ocean of Thy forgiveness is boundless. Our weakness is grievous, but the evidences of Thine aid and assistance are clear. Therefore, confirm and strengthen us. Enable us to do that which is worthy of Thy holy Threshold. Illumine our hearts, grant us discerning eyes and attentive ears. Resuscitate the dead and heal the sick. Bestow wealth upon the poor and give peace and security to the fearful. Accept us in Thy kingdom and illumine us with the light of guidance. Thou art the Powerful and the Omnipotent. Thou art the Generous. Thou art the Clement. Thou art the Kind.

Gatherings

O Thou kind Lord! These are Thy servants who have gathered in this meeting, have turned unto Thy kingdom and are in need of Thy bestowal and blessing. O Thou God! Manifest and make evident the signs of Thy oneness which have been deposited in all the realities of life. Reveal and unfold the virtues which Thou hast made latent and concealed in these human realities.

O God! We are as plants, and Thy bounty is as the rain; refresh and cause these plants to grow through Thy bestowal. We are Thy servants; free us from the fetters of material existence. We are ignorant; make us wise. We are dead; make us alive. We are material; endow us with spirit. We are deprived; make us the intimates of Thy mysteries. We are needy; enrich and bless us from Thy boundless treasury. O God! Resuscitate us; give us sight; give us hearing; familiarize us with the mysteries of life, so that the secrets of Thy kingdom may become revealed to us in this world of existence and we may confess Thy oneness. Every bestowal emanates from Thee; every benediction is Thine.

Thou art mighty. Thou art powerful. Thou art the Giver, and Thou art the Ever-Bounteous.

Paradise

Faded now is all that erstwhile flourished in the Paradise of Thy transcendent oneness, O my God! Where are the rain-giving clouds of Thy mercy? Shorn are the branches of the Tree of Thy unity of the vesture of Thy majesty and wisdom; where is the spring-time of Thy gifts and bounties? Motionless lies the Ark of Thy Cause on the sea of Thy creation; where are the winds of Thy grace and favors? Encompassed on every side is Thy Lamp by the tempests of discord blowing from every land; where is the globe of Thy graciousness and protection?

Thou seest, O my God, how the eyes of these poor creatures are bent upon the horizon of Thy riches, how the hearts of these helpless ones are set in the direction of Thy might. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the sole Desire of them that have recognized Thee, and the Object of the adoration of the entire creation, not to suffer them, now that Thou hast attracted them by Thy most exalted Word, to be far removed from the Tabernacle which Thou hast reared up by Thy name, the All-Glorious.

They are sore pressed with cares, O my Lord, and are encompassed about by the wicked. Send down, therefore, from the heaven of Thy behest Thine invisible hosts, that, holding aloft the ensigns of Thy victory, they may help them in Thy land, and may shield them against Thine adversaries.

I entreat Thee, O my God, by Thy name through which the clouds have rained down their rain, and the streams have flowed, and the fire of Thy love hath been kindled throughout Thy dominion, to assist Thy servant who hath turned towards Thee, and hath spoken forth Thy praise, and determined to help Thee. Fortify, then, his heart, O my God, in Thy love and in Thy Faith. Better is this for him than all that hath been created on Thine earth, for the world and whatsoever is therein must perish, and what pertaineth unto Thee must endure as long as Thy most excellent names endure. By Thy Glory! Were the world to last as long as Thine own kingdom will last, to set their affections upon it would still be unseemly for such as have quaffed, from the hands of Thy mercy, the wine of Thy presence; how much more when they recognize its fleetingness and are persuaded of its transience. The chances that overtake it, and the changes to which all things pertaining unto it are continually subjected, attest its impermanence.

Whosoever hath recognized Thee will turn to none save Thee, and will seek from Thee naught else except Thyself. Thou art the sole Desire of the heart of him whose thoughts are fixed on Thee, and the highest Aspiration of whosoever is wholly devoted unto Thee.

No God is there beside Thee, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful.

Prayers and Meditations, LXX

Gatherings

O Thou forgiving God! These servants are turning to Thy kingdom and seeking Thy grace and bounty. O God! Make their hearts good and pure in order that they may become worthy of Thy love. Purify and sanctify the spirits that the light of the Sun of Reality may shine upon them. Purify and sanctify the eyes that they may perceive Thy light. Purify and sanctify the ears in order that they may hear the call of Thy kingdom.

O Lord! Verily, we are weak, but Thou art mighty. Verily, we are poor, but Thou art rich. We are the seekers, and Thou art the One sought. O Lord! Have compassion upon us and forgive us; bestow upon us such capacity and receptiveness that we may be worthy of Thy favors and become attracted to Thy kingdom, that we may drink deep of the water of life, may be enkindled by the fire of Thy love, and be resuscitated through the breaths of the Holy Spirit in this radiant century.

O God, my God! Cast upon this gathering the glances of Thy loving-kindness. Keep safe each and all in Thy custody and under Thy protection. Send down upon these souls Thy heavenly blessings. Immerse them in the ocean of Thy mercy, and quicken them through the breaths of the Holy Spirit.

O Lord! Bestow Thy gracious aid and confirmation upon this just government. This country lieth beneath the sheltering shadow of Thy protection, and this people is in Thy service. O Lord! Confer upon them Thy heavenly bounty and render the outpourings of Thy grace and favor copious and abundant. Suffer this esteemed nation to be held in honor, and enable it to be admitted into Thy kingdom.

Thou art the Powerful, the Omnipotent, the Merciful, and Thou art the Generous, the Beneficent, the Lord of grace abounding.

Children

O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the Compassionate.

Humanity

O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.

O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.

O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.

O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.

Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.

O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.

Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.

Gatherings

O my God! O my God! Verily, these servants are turning to Thee, supplicating Thy kingdom of mercy. Verily, they are attracted by Thy holiness and set aglow with the fire of Thy love, seeking confirmation from Thy wondrous kingdom, and hoping for attainment in Thy heavenly realm. Verily, they long for the descent of Thy bestowal, desiring illumination from the Sun of Reality. O Lord! Make them radiant lamps, merciful signs, fruitful trees and shining stars. May they come forth in Thy service and be connected with Thee by the bonds and ties of Thy love, longing for the lights of Thy favor. O Lord! Make them signs of guidance, standards of Thine immortal kingdom, waves of the sea of Thy mercy, mirrors of the light of Thy majesty.

Verily, Thou art the Generous. Verily, Thou art the Merciful. Verily, Thou art the Precious, the Beloved.

America

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.

Aid and Assistance

O Lord! We are weak; strengthen us. O God! We are ignorant; make us knowing. O Lord! We are poor; make us wealthy. O God! We are dead; quicken us. O Lord! We are humiliation itself; glorify us in Thy Kingdom. If Thou dost assist us, O Lord, we shall become as scintillating stars. If Thou dost not assist us, we shall become lower than the earth. O Lord! Strengthen us. O God! Confer victory upon us. O God! Enable us to conquer self and overcome desire. O Lord! Deliver us from the bondage of the material world. O Lord! Quicken us through the breath of the Holy Spirit in order that we may arise to serve Thee, engage in worshiping Thee and exert ourselves in Thy Kingdom with the utmost sincerity. O Lord, Thou art powerful. O God, Thou art forgiving. O Lord, Thou art compassionate.

The Fund

All the friends of God … should contribute to the extent possible, however modest their offering may be. God doth not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Such contributions must come from all centers and all believers. … O Friends of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a tenfold reward. There is no doubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm those who expend their wealth in His path.

O God, my God! Illumine the brows of Thy true lovers, and support them with angelic hosts of certain triumph. Set firm their feet on Thy straight path, and out of Thine ancient bounty open before them the portals of Thy blessings; for they are expending on Thy pathway what Thou hast bestowed upon them, safeguarding Thy Faith, putting their trust in their remembrance of Thee, offering up their hearts for love of Thee, and withholding not what they possess in adoration for Thy Beauty and in their search for ways to please Thee.

O my Lord! Ordain for them a plenteous share, a destined recompense and sure reward.

Verily, Thou art the Sustainer, the Helper, the Generous, the Bountiful, the Ever-Bestowing.

Tests and Difficulties

Thou knowest full well, O my God, that tribulations have showered upon me from all directions and that no one can dispel or transmute them except Thee. I know of a certainty, by virtue of my love for Thee, that Thou wilt never cause tribulations to befall any soul unless Thou desirest to exalt his station in Thy celestial Paradise and to buttress his heart in this earthly life with the bulwark of Thine all-compelling power, that it may not become inclined toward the vanities of this world. Indeed Thou art well aware that under all conditions I would cherish the remembrance of Thee far more than the ownership of all that is in the heavens and on the earth.

Strengthen my heart, O my God, in Thine obedience and in Thy love, and grant that I may be clear of the entire company of Thine adversaries. Verily, I swear by Thy glory that I yearn for naught besides Thyself, nor do I desire anything except Thy mercy, nor am I apprehensive of aught save Thy justice. I beg Thee to forgive me as well as those whom Thou lovest, howsoever Thou pleasest. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Bountiful.

Immensely exalted art Thou, O Lord of the heavens and earth, above the praise of all men, and may peace be upon Thy faithful servants and glory be unto God, the Lord of all the worlds.

Triumph of the Cause

O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith, so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good-pleasure.

From time immemorial Thou hast been potent to do what pleaseth Thee and transcendent above whatsoever Thou desirest.

Forgiveness

Glory be unto Thee, O God. How can I make mention of Thee while Thou art sanctified from the praise of all mankind. Magnified be Thy Name, O God, Thou art the King, the Eternal Truth; Thou knowest what is in the heavens and on the earth, and unto Thee must all return. Thou hast sent down Thy divinely ordained Revelation according to a clear measure. Praised art Thou, O Lord! At Thy behest Thou dost render victorious whomsoever Thou willest, through the hosts of heaven and earth and whatsoever existeth between them. Thou art the Sovereign, the Eternal Truth, the Lord of invincible might.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord, Thou forgivest at all times the sins of such among Thy servants as implore Thy pardon. Wash away my sins and the sins of those who seek Thy forgiveness at dawn, who pray to Thee in the daytime and in the night season, who yearn after naught save God, who offer up whatsoever God hath graciously bestowed upon them, who celebrate Thy praise at morn and eventide, and who are not remiss in their duties.

Triumph of the Cause

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord, Thou Who hast brought into being all created things, through the power of Thy behest.

O Lord! Assist those who have renounced all else but Thee, and grant them a mighty victory. Send down upon them, O Lord, the concourse of the angels in heaven and earth and all that is between, to aid Thy servants, to succor and strengthen them, to enable them to achieve success, to sustain them, to invest them with glory, to confer upon them honor and exaltation, to enrich them and to make them triumphant with a wondrous triumph.

Thou art their Lord, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of all the worlds. Strengthen this Faith, O Lord, through the power of these servants, and cause them to prevail over all the peoples of the world; for they, of a truth, are Thy servants who have detached themselves from aught else but Thee, and Thou, verily, art the protector of true believers.

Grant Thou, O Lord, that their hearts may, through allegiance to this, Thine inviolable Faith, grow stronger than anything else in the heavens and on earth and in whatsoever is between them; and strengthen, O Lord, their hands with the tokens of Thy wondrous power that they may manifest Thy power before the gaze of all mankind.

Aid and Assistance

O my God, my Lord and my Master! I have detached myself from my kindred and have sought through Thee to become independent of all that dwell on earth and ever ready to receive that which is praiseworthy in Thy sight. Bestow on me such good as will make me independent of aught else but Thee, and grant me an ampler share of Thy boundless favors. Verily, Thou art the Lord of grace abounding.

Families

I beg Thy forgiveness, O my God, and implore pardon after the manner Thou wishest Thy servants to direct themselves to Thee. I beg of Thee to wash away our sins as befitteth Thy Lordship, and to forgive me, my parents, and those who in Thy estimation have entered the abode of Thy love in a manner which is worthy of Thy transcendent sovereignty and well beseemeth the glory of Thy celestial power.

O my God! Thou hast inspired my soul to offer its supplication to Thee, and but for Thee, I would not call upon Thee. Lauded and glorified art Thou; I yield Thee praise inasmuch as Thou didst reveal Thyself unto me, and I beg Thee to forgive me, since I have fallen short in my duty to know Thee and have failed to walk in the path of Thy love.

Nearness to God

O my God, O my Lord, O my Master! I beg Thee to forgive me for seeking any pleasure save Thy love, or any comfort except Thy nearness, or any delight besides Thy good-pleasure, or any existence other than communion with Thee.

Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 216

Additional Prayers by Baha’u’llah

He is the Ever-Abiding, the Almighty, the Most High.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! I implore Thee by this Name that hath been hemmed in by tribulations on every side and assailed by afflictions from every direction, in such wise that He findeth none to help Him on Thine earth or to succour Him in Thy dominion, to ease the pangs of labour for this handmaiden and guard her therefrom, and to free her from this pain and change it into comfort and relief. Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and able to ordain what Thou pleasest. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Incomparable, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.

Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great.

This is the month wherein was born He Who beareth the Most Great Name, Whose appearance hath caused the limbs of humankind to quake and the dust of Whose footsteps the Concourse on high and the dwellers of the cities of names have sought for a blessing. Whereupon they rendered praise unto God and cried out in joy and exultation. By God! This is the month through which all other months have been illumined, the month wherein He Who is the hidden Secret and the well-guarded Treasure hath been made manifest and hath called aloud amidst all humankind. All dominion belongeth to this newborn Child through Whom the face of creation hath been wreathed in smiles, and the trees have swayed, and the oceans have surged, and the mountains have taken flight, and Paradise hath lifted its voice, and the Rock hath cried out, and all things have exclaimed, “O concourse of creation! Hasten ye towards the dawning-place of the countenance of your Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate!”

This is the month wherein Paradise itself was decked forth with the splendours of the countenance of its Lord, the All-Merciful, and the heavenly Nightingale warbled its melody upon the Divine Lote-Tree, and the hearts of the favoured ones were filled with rapture. But alas the people, for the most part, are heedless. Blessed be the one who hath recognized Him and apprehended that which was promised in the Books of God, the Almighty, the All-Praised; and woe betide him that hath turned aside from the One upon Whom the Concourse on high have fixed their gaze, Him who hath confounded every wayward misbeliever.

When once thou hast received this Tablet, intone it in the sweetest of melodies and say: Praise be to Thee, O my most merciful Lord, for remembering me in this Tablet whereby the fragrance of the garment of Thy knowledge was diffused and the oceans of Thy grace were made to surge. I bear witness that Thou art potent to do as Thou pleasest. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Má’idiy-i-Ásmání, vol. 4, p. 342

Protection

Glory be to Thee, O God! Thou art the God Who hath existed before all things, Who will exist after all things and will last beyond all things. Thou art the God Who knoweth all things, and is supreme over all things. Thou art the God Who dealeth mercifully with all things, Who judgeth between all things and Whose vision embraceth all things. Thou art God my Lord, Thou art aware of my position, Thou dost witness my inner and outer being.

Grant Thy forgiveness unto me and unto the believers who responded to Thy Call. Be Thou my sufficing helper against the mischief of whosoever may desire to inflict sorrow upon me or wish me ill. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all created things. Thou dost suffice everyone, while no one can be self-sufficient without Thee.

Triumph of the Cause

O Lord! Provide for the speedy growth of the Tree of Thy divine Unity; water it then, O Lord, with the flowing waters of Thy good-pleasure, and cause it, before the revelations of Thy divine assurance, to yield such fruits as Thou desirest for Thy glorification and exaltation, Thy praise and thanksgiving, and to magnify Thy Name, to laud the oneness of Thine Essence and to offer adoration unto Thee, inasmuch as all this lieth within Thy grasp and in that of none other.

Great is the blessedness of those whose blood Thou hast chosen wherewith to water the Tree of Thine affirmation, and thus to exalt Thy holy and immutable Word.

Protection

Ordain for me, O my Lord, and for those who believe in Thee that which is deemed best for us in Thine estimation, as set forth in the Mother Book, for within the grasp of Thy hand Thou holdest the determined measures of all things.

Thy goodly gifts are unceasingly showered upon such as cherish Thy love, and the wondrous tokens of Thy heavenly bounties are amply bestowed on those who recognize Thy divine Unity. We commit unto Thy care whatsoever Thou hast destined for us, and implore Thee to grant us all the good that Thy knowledge embraceth.

Protect me, O my Lord, from every evil that Thine omniscience perceiveth, inasmuch as there is no power nor strength but in Thee, no triumph is forthcoming save from Thy presence, and it is Thine alone to command. Whatever God hath willed hath been, and that which He hath not willed shall not be.

There is no power nor strength except in God, the Most Exalted, the Most Mighty.

Sacrifice

How numerous the souls raised to life who were exposed to dire humiliation in Thy Path for exalting Thy Word and for glorifying Thy divine Unity! How profuse the blood that hath been shed for the sake of Thy Faith to vindicate the authenticity of Thy divine Mission and to celebrate Thy praise! How vast the possessions that were wrongfully seized in the Path of Thy love in order to affirm the loftiness of Thy sanctity and to extol Thy glorious Name! How many the feet that have trodden upon the dust in order to magnify Thy holy Word and to extol Thy glory! How innumerable the voices that were raised in lamentation, the hearts that were struck with terror, the grievous woes that none other than Thee can reckon, and the adversities and afflictions that remain inscrutable to anyone except Thyself; all this to establish, O my God, the loftiness of Thy sanctity and to demonstrate the transcendent character of Thy glory.

These decrees were ordained by Thee so that all created things might bear witness that they have been brought into being for the sake of naught else but Thee. Thou hast withheld from them the things that bring tranquillity to their hearts, that they might know of a certainty that whatever is associated with Thy holy Being is far superior to and exalted above aught else that would satisfy them; inasmuch as Thine indomitable power pervadeth all things, and nothing can ever frustrate it.

Indeed Thou hast caused these momentous happenings to come to pass that those who are endued with perception may readily recognize that they were ordained by Thee to demonstrate the loftiness of Thy divine Unity and to affirm the exaltation of Thy sanctity.

Selections from the Writings of the Báb, pp. 188-189

Additional Prayers by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

He is the All-Glorious.

O my Lord, my King, my Ruler, and my Sovereign! I call upon Thee with my tongue, my heart, and my soul, saying: Clothe this servant of Thine with the robe of Thy care, the raiment of Thine unfailing help, and the armour of Thy protection. Assist him to make mention of Thee and to extol Thy virtues amidst Thy people, and unloose his tongue to utter Thy glorification and praise in every assemblage held to celebrate Thy unity and sanctity. Thou art, in truth, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Glorious, the Self-Subsisting.

Spiritual Growth

Vouchsafe unto me, O my God, the full measure of Thy love and Thy good-pleasure, and through the attractions of Thy resplendent light enrapture our hearts, O Thou Who art the Supreme Evidence and the All-Glorified. Send down upon me, as a token of Thy grace, Thy vitalizing breezes, throughout the daytime and in the night season, O Lord of bounty.

No deed have I done, O my God, to merit beholding Thy face, and I know of a certainty that were I to live as long as the world lasts I would fail to accomplish any deed such as to deserve this favor, inasmuch as the station of a servant shall ever fall short of access to Thy holy precincts, unless Thy bounty should reach me and Thy tender mercy pervade me and Thy loving-kindness encompass me.

All praise be unto Thee, O Thou besides Whom there is none other God. Graciously enable me to ascend unto Thee, to be granted the honor of dwelling in Thy nearness and to have communion with Thee alone. No God is there but Thee.

Indeed shouldst Thou desire to confer blessing upon a servant Thou wouldst blot out from the realm of his heart every mention or disposition except Thine Own mention; and shouldst Thou ordain evil for a servant by reason of that which his hands have unjustly wrought before Thy face, Thou wouldst test him with the benefits of this world and of the next that he might become preoccupied therewith and forget Thy remembrance.

Forgiveness

I am aware, O Lord, that my trespasses have covered my face with shame in Thy presence, and have burdened my back before Thee, have intervened between me and Thy beauteous countenance, have compassed me from every direction and have hindered me on all sides from gaining access unto the revelations of Thy celestial power.

O Lord! If Thou forgivest me not, who is there then to grant pardon, and if Thou hast no mercy upon me who is capable of showing compassion? Glory be unto Thee, Thou didst create me when I was non-existent and Thou didst nourish me while I was devoid of any understanding. Praise be unto Thee, every evidence of bounty proceedeth from Thee and every token of grace emanateth from the treasuries of Thy decree.

Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 182

Protection

In the Name of God, the Lord of overpowering majesty, the All-Compelling.

Hallowed be the Lord in Whose hand is the source of dominion. He createth whatsoever He willeth by His Word of command “Be,” and it is. His hath been the power of authority heretofore, and it shall remain His hereafter. He maketh victorious whomsoever He pleaseth, through the potency of His behest. He is in truth the Powerful, the Almighty. Unto Him pertaineth all glory and majesty in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and whatever lieth between them. Verily, He is the Potent, the All-Glorious. From everlasting He hath been the Source of indomitable strength and shall remain so unto everlasting. He is indeed the Lord of might and power. All the kingdoms of heaven and earth and whatever is between them are God’s, and His power is supreme over all things. All the treasures of earth and heaven and everything between them are His, and His protection extendeth over all things. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and whatever lieth between them, and He truly is a witness over all things. He is the Lord of Reckoning for all that dwell in the heavens and on earth and whatever lieth between them, and truly God is swift to reckon. He setteth the measure assigned to all who are in the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. Verily, He is the Supreme Protector. He holdeth in His grasp the keys of heaven and earth and of everything between them. At His Own pleasure doth He bestow gifts, through the power of His command. Indeed His grace encompasseth all, and He is the All-Knowing.

Say: God sufficeth unto me; He is the One Who holdeth in His grasp the kingdom of all things. Through the power of His hosts of heaven and earth and whatever lieth between them, He protecteth whomsoever among His servants He willeth. God, in truth, keepeth watch over all things.

Immeasurably exalted art Thou, O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind us, above our heads, on our right, on our left, below our feet and every other side to which we are exposed. Verily, Thy protection over all things is unfailing.

Detachment

O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge, and toward all Thy signs I set my heart.

O Lord! Whether traveling or at home, and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in Thee.

Grant me then Thy sufficing help so as to make me independent of all things, O Thou Who art unsurpassed in Thy mercy!

Bestow upon me my portion, O Lord, as Thou pleasest, and cause me to be satisfied with whatsoever Thou hast ordained for me.

Thine is the absolute authority to command.

Paradise

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! Nothing whatsoever escapeth Thy knowledge, nor is there anything that could slip from Thy grasp, or anything that could thwart Thy Purpose, whether in the heavens or on the earth, of the past or of the future.

Thou seest Paradise and the inmates thereof; Thou beholdest the realm below and the dwellers thereof. All are but Thy servants and are held within Thy grasp.

O Lord! Render victorious Thy forbearing servants in Thy days by granting them a befitting victory, inasmuch as they have sought martyrdom in Thy path. Send down upon them that which will bring comfort to their minds, will rejoice their inner beings, will impart assurance to their hearts and tranquillity to their bodies and will enable their souls to ascend to the presence of God, the Most Exalted, and to attain the supreme Paradise and such retreats of glory as Thou hast destined for men of true knowledge and virtue. Verily Thou knowest all things, while we are but Thy servants, Thy thralls, Thy bondsmen and Thy poor ones. No Lord but Thee do we invoke, O God our Lord, nor do we implore blessings or grace from anyone but Thee, O Thou Who art the God of mercy unto this world and the next. We are but the embodiments of poverty, of nothingness, of helplessness and of perdition, while Thy whole Being betokeneth wealth, independence, glory, majesty and boundless grace.

Turn our recompense, O Lord, into that which well beseemeth Thee of the good of this world and of the next, and of the manifold bounties which extend from on high down to the earth below.

Verily Thou art our Lord and the Lord of all things. Into Thy hands do we surrender ourselves, yearning for the things that pertain unto Thee.

Selections from the Writings of the Báb, pp. 178-179

Triumph of the Cause

O Lord! Render victorious Thy forbearing servants in Thy days by granting them a befitting victory, inasmuch as they have sought martyrdom in Thy path. Send down upon them that which will bring comfort to their minds, will rejoice their inner beings, will impart assurance to their hearts and tranquillity to their bodies and will enable their souls to ascend to the presence of God, the Most Exalted, and to attain the supreme Paradise and such retreats of glory as Thou hast destined for men of true knowledge and virtue. Verily, Thou knowest all things, while we are but Thy servants, Thy thralls, Thy bondsmen and Thy poor ones. No Lord but Thee do we invoke, O God our Lord, nor do we implore blessings or grace from anyone but Thee, O Thou Who art the God of mercy unto this world and the next. We are but the embodiments of poverty, of nothingness, of helplessness and of perdition, while Thy whole Being betokeneth wealth, independence, glory, majesty and boundless grace.

Turn our recompense, O Lord, into that which well beseemeth Thee of the good of this world and of the next, and of the manifold bounties which extend from on high down to the earth below.

Verily, Thou art our Lord and the Lord of all things. Into Thy hands do we surrender ourselves, yearning for the things that pertain unto Thee.

Firmness in the Covenant

Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! I implore Thee by Thy Name that hath caused to surge within every drop the oceans of Thy loving-kindness and mercy, and to shine within every atom the luminaries of Thy bountiful blessings and favors,—I implore Thee to adorn every soul with the ornament of Thy love, that none may remain on Thine earth who hath not turned towards Thee, or hath failed to detach himself from all except Thy Self.

Thou hast, verily, O my God, suffered Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine own Self to be afflicted with all manner of adversity in order that Thy servants may ascend unto the pinnacle of Thy gracious favor, and attain unto that which Thou hast, through Thy providence and tender mercies, ordained for them in the Tablets of Thine irrevocable decree. The glory of Thy might beareth me witness! Were they, every moment of their lives, to offer up themselves as a sacrifice in Thy path, they would still have done but little in comparison with the manifold bestowals vouchsafed unto them by Thee.

Grant, therefore, I beseech Thee, that their hearts may be inclined towards Thee, and that their faces may be turned in the direction of Thy good-pleasure. Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest. No God is there but Thee, the Inaccessible, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving.

Deign, then, to accept, O my God, from Thy servant the things which he hath shown forth in his love for Thee. Fortify him, then, that he may cling to Thy most exalted Word, and to unloose his tongue to celebrate Thy praise, and cause him to be gathered unto such of Thy people as are nigh unto Thee. Thou art He within Whose grasp is the empire of all things. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the All-Glorious, the Unconstrained.

Prayers and Meditations, XCVII

Additional Prayers by Baha’u’llah

He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of wisdom and utterance.

Say: I yield Thee thanks, O my God, and my Master, and my Mainstay, for having aided me to recognize the Dawning-Place of Thy signs, the Dayspring of Thy testimonies, and the Fountainhead of Thy laws and commandments, Him unto Whom Thou didst reveal the Qur’án, and through Whom Thou didst distinguish truth from falsehood and light from darkness. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of all created things and the Educator of all beings, by the billows of the Ocean of Thy favour and the effulgent splendours of the Day-Star of Thy bounty that have been shed upon Thy people, to ordain for this servant of Thine that which will exalt him by Thy name amidst Thy creatures. Write down, then, for me what Thou hast written down for Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in heaven and on earth.

I praise Thee and thank Thee, moreover, for the blessing Thou hast sent down from the heaven of Thy will and the firmament of Thy purpose. I beseech Thee, by Thy most mighty signs and by Thy most great, most holy, and most exalted Cause, to bless his arrival unto us. Do Thou ordain for him what will cause every heart to be gladdened and every eye to be solaced. Verily Thou art God. There is none other God but Thee, the omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

Forgiveness

When the sinner findeth himself wholly detached and freed from all save God, he should beg forgiveness and pardon from Him. Confession of sins and transgressions before human beings is not permissible, as it hath never been nor will ever be conducive to divine forgiveness. Moreover such confession before people results in one’s humiliation and abasement, and God—exalted be His glory—wisheth not the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. The sinner should, between himself and God, implore mercy from the Ocean of mercy, beg forgiveness from the Heaven of generosity and say:

O God, my God! I implore Thee by the blood of Thy true lovers who were so enraptured by Thy sweet utterance that they hastened unto the Pinnacle of Glory, the site of the most glorious martyrdom, and I beseech Thee by the mysteries which lie enshrined in Thy knowledge and by the pearls that are treasured in the ocean of Thy bounty to grant forgiveness unto me and unto my father and my mother. Of those who show forth mercy, Thou art in truth the Most Merciful. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

O Lord! Thou seest this essence of sinfulness turning unto the ocean of Thy favour and this feeble one seeking the kingdom of Thy divine power and this poor creature inclining himself towards the day-star of Thy wealth. By Thy mercy and Thy grace, disappoint him not, O Lord, nor debar him from the revelations of Thy bounty in Thy days, nor cast him away from Thy door which Thou hast opened wide to all that dwell in Thy heaven and on Thine earth.

Alas! Alas! My sins have prevented me from approaching the Court of Thy holiness and my trespasses have caused me to stray far from the Tabernacle of Thy majesty. I have committed that which Thou didst forbid me to do and have put away what Thou didst order me to observe.

I pray Thee by Him Who is the sovereign Lord of Names to write down for me with the Pen of Thy bounty that which will enable me to draw nigh unto Thee and will purge me from my trespasses which have intervened between me and Thy forgiveness and Thy pardon.

Verily, Thou art the Potent, the Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Gracious.

Steadfastness

Praised and glorified art Thou, O God! Grant that the day of attaining Thy holy presence may be fast approaching. Cheer our hearts through the potency of Thy love and good-pleasure, and bestow upon us steadfastness that we may willingly submit to Thy Will and Thy Decree. Verily, Thy knowledge embraceth all the things Thou hast created or wilt create, and Thy celestial might transcendeth whatsoever Thou hast called or wilt call into being. There is none to be worshiped but Thee, there is none to be desired except Thee, there is none to be adored besides Thee and there is naught to be loved save Thy good-pleasure.

Verily, Thou art the supreme Ruler, the Sovereign Truth, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.