Persecution

Concerning the trials and hardships, ordeals and oppressions which befell the beloved of God in Persia, ‘Abdu’l-Baha said:

"In America the people shall also thus serve you a little; they shall not permit you to escape and you cannot get rid of them." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Haifa, May 10, 1910. American believers Charles Mason Remey and Howard C. Struven, along with some Persian pilgrims were in attendance. The notes were taken by Mirza Moneer Zain in Persian and subsequently translated to English; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)

“Healing comes from God”

Healing comes from God. If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being healed, then only can we be truly healed. All depends upon God. Medicine is merely an outward form or means by which we obtain heavenly healing; without the Heavenly Benediction it is worth nothing. If man looks at the nature of the world around him, he will see that all created beings are dependent upon something, i.e., man is dependent for his life upon the air which he breathes, likewise the animals which are upon the earth, and each created being is dependent for its life upon some material circumstances. Man, therefore, and all creatures are prisoners of nature. The sun must follow his law, the earth must follow his law of motion, the sea also hers. But, by the spiritual power of God, which, through His Bounty, He has bestowed upon men alone, man is enabled to defy the laws of nature in many and wonderful ways, i. e., it is the law of nature that man should walk upon the earth, but he defies this law, for he sojourns upon the water and also flies, like the bird, through the air.

Through the wonderful spiritual power which God gives to man, man is enabled to reach the Kingdom of Heaven; but behold! man is not grateful and is careless of the great mercy which God has shown him. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 19, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, 31 December 1911)

Next world and condition of those who didn’t embrace the Cause of Baha’u’llah

Question: If one refuses the Cause of Baha’u’llah during his lifetime, may he hear of it after death?

Answer: Yes, he will hear of it in his next life, but through the mercy of God alone, not through his own ability.

Question: Are we not able, through love and faith, to make those on the other side hear of the Cause who had not heard of it while on earth?

Answer: Yes, surely sincere prayer always has its effect, and it has a great influence in the other world. We are never cut off from those who are there. The real and genuine influence is not in this World but in that other. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 18, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, 31 December 1911)

The Relation between Thought and Action

You must not only think thoughts, but do actions. The reality of men is their thoughts and their spirits, not their material bodies. Man and animal with regard to matter are partners. The difference is that man has the power of thought.

Thoughts may be divided into two classes: 1. The world of thought alone. 2. The world of thought which expresses itself in action. For instance, philosophers belong to the first class, for they only think heavenly thoughts and do not do heavenly deeds. Whereas spiritual teachers belong to the second class, for they express their high and noble thoughts in actions as soon as they think them. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 18, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, 31 December 1911)

“Everyone should be kind. Everyone should strive for unity and endeavor to serve mankind.”

Praise be to God, that I have seen the luminous faces and the heavenly hearts of the friends in London. People are turning their faces toward God. They are seeking the Divine Bounty. Therefore they will receive a heavenly blessing which I pray may be bestowed upon all. May you love all and serve all, because serving mankind is serving God. Everyone should be kind. Everyone should strive for unity and endeavor to serve mankind. All nations should become as one nation and each should serve all.

Do not make personal distinctions. All are God's servants. All are under His protection. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha at Lady Blomfield's drawing room, September 8, 1911; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 12, 16 October, 1911)

“You must look on no one as a stranger. You should try to show the greatest love to all men and to every creature.”

ou are all one family; you have grown out of one root. Each of you is like a branch, a flower, a fruit. You must look on no one as a stranger. You should try to show the greatest love to all men and to every creature. I have come to you as to my own people—brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. My bond is with all mankind; so should yours be. Try to follow the teachings of Baha’u’llah then each one will shine like a star. Since the time of Adam there has been no other teaching; until the end of time there will be no other. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha at Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper’s residence, 1911; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 12, 16 October, 1911)

Death of King Edward of England

Concerning the death of King Edward of England, ‘Abdu’l-Baha said:

"The English king, with his pomp and grandeur, used to address the sun and say: 'Thou dost never disappear from my lands'…; but now he is buried under the earth. Some time ago the flags at the top of the masts proclaimed the day of his ascension to the throne; but today the flags are at half-mast, for he is dead. The flags and banners of the Beloved are ever waving at the top of the masts; they are never inverted; nay, rather, they go on higher day by day; in fact, theirs is the sovereignty. Without fighting forces they conquer the cities; and without taking any tribute they bestow and give freely. The kings gain their victory through bloodshed and the taking of life; whereas the Beloved of God confer life and are victorious. The sovereignty of the friends is an eternal one." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Haifa, May 10, 1910. American believers Charles Mason Remey and Howard C. Struven, along with some Persian pilgrims were in attendance. The notes were taken by Mirza Moneer Zain in Persian and subsequently translated to English; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)