| 1 |
Whoso wisheth to pray, let him wash his hands, and
while he washeth, let him say:
| |
| 2 |
Strengthen my hand, O my God, that it may
take hold of Thy Book with such steadfastness
that the hosts of the world shall have no
power over it. Guard it, then, from meddling
with whatsoever doth not belong unto it. Thou
art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful.
| |
| 3 |
And while washing his face, let him say:
| |
| 4 |
I have turned my face unto Thee, O my Lord!
Illumine it with the light of Thy countenance.
Protect it, then, from turning to anyone but Thee.
| |
| 5 |
Then let him stand up, and facing the Qiblih (Point of
Adoration, i.e. Bahjí, Akká), let him say:
| |
| 6 |
God testifieth that there is none other God but
Him. His are the kingdoms of Revelation and of
creation. He, in truth, hath manifested Him Who
is the Dayspring of Revelation, Who conversed
on Sinai, through Whom the Supreme Horizon
hath been made to shine, and the Lote-Tree beyond
which there is no passing hath spoken, and
through Whom the call hath been proclaimed
unto all who are in heaven and on earth: "Lo, the
All-Possessing is come. Earth and heaven, glory
and dominion are God's, the Lord of all men, and
the Possessor of the Throne on high and of earth
below!"
| |
| 7 |
Let him, then, bend down, with hands resting on the
knees, and say:
| |
| 8 |
Exalted art Thou above my praise and the praise
of anyone beside me, above my description and
the description of all who are in heaven and all
who are on earth!
| |
| 9 |
Then, standing with open hands, palms upward toward
the face, let him say:
| |
| 10 |
Disappoint not, O my God, him that hath,
with beseeching fingers, clung to the hem of Thy
mercy and Thy grace, O Thou Who of those who
show mercy art the Most Merciful!
| |
| 11 |
Let him, then, be seated and say:
| |
| 12 |
I bear witness to Thy unity and Thy oneness,
and that Thou art God, and that there is none
other God beside Thee. Thou hast, verily, revealed Thy Cause, fulfilled Thy Covenant, and
opened wide the door of Thy grace to all that
dwell in heaven and on earth. Blessing and peace,
salutation and glory, rest upon Thy loved ones,
whom the changes and changes of the world have
not deterred from turning unto Thee, and who
have given their all, in the hope of obtaining that
which is with Thee. Thou art, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving,
the All-Bountiful.
| |
| 13 |
(If anyone choose to recite instead of the long verse these
words: "God testifieth that there is none other God but
Him, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting," it would be
sufficient. And likewise, it would suffice were he, while
seated, to choose to recite these words: "I bear witness to
Thy unity and Thy oneness, and that Thou art God, and
that there is none other God beside Thee.")
- Bahá'u'lláh
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