Previous Section | Contents | Next Section 
186
O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Three
consecutive letters have been received from thee. From
their contents it became known that in Cleveland the
hearts are afflicted by the murky breaths of the Covenant-breakers
and harmony hath decreased among the friends.
Gracious God! A hundred times it hath been foretold that
the violators are lying in ambush and by every means
desire to cause dissension among the friends so that this
dissension may end in violation of the Covenant. How is it
that, notwithstanding this warning, the friends have
neglected this explicit statement?
The point at issue is clear, direct and of utmost brevity.
Either Bahá'u'lláh was wise, omniscient and aware of
what would ensue, or was ignorant and in error. He
entered, by His supreme pen, into such a firm Covenant
and Testament with all the Bahá'ís, first with the Aghsán,
the Afnán and His kindred, and commanded them to obey
and turn toward Him. By His supreme pen He hath
explicitly declared that the object of the following verse of
the "Kitáb-i-Aqdas" is the Most Great Branch:
`When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the
Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward
Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from
this Ancient Root.' Its meaning briefly is this: that after
My ascension it is incumbent upon the Aghsán, the Afnán
and the kindred, and all the friends of God, to turn their
faces to Him Who hath branched from the Ancient Root.
He also plainly saith in the "Kitáb-i-Aqdas": `O ye people
of the world! When the Mystic Dove will have winged its
flight from its Sanctuary of Praise and sought its far-off
goal, its hidden habitation, refer ye whatsoever ye understand
not in the Book to Him Who hath branched from
this mighty Stock.' Addressing all the people of the world
He saith: When the Mystic Dove flieth away from the
orchard of praise to the Most Supreme and Invisible
Station--that is, when the Blessed Beauty turneth away
from the contingent world towards the invisible realm--
refer whatever ye do not understand in the Book to Him
Who hath branched from the Ancient Root. That is,
whatever He saith is the very truth.
And in the Book of the Covenant He explicitly saith
that the object of this verse `Who hath branched from this
Ancient Root' is the Most Mighty Branch. And He
commandeth all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the kindred and
the Bahá'ís to turn toward Him. Now, either one must say
that the Blessed Beauty hath made a mistake, or He must
be obeyed. `Abdu'l-Bahá hath no command for the people
to obey save the diffusion of the fragrances of God, the
exaltation of His Word, the promulgation of the oneness
of the world of humanity, the establishment of universal
peace, and other of the commands of God. These are divine
commands and have nothing to do with `Abdu'l-Bahá.
Whoever wisheth may accept them, and anyone who
rejecteth them may do as he pleaseth.
Now some of the mischief-makers, with many stratagems,
are seeking leadership, and in order to reach this
position they instill doubts among the friends that they may
cause differences, and that these differences may result in
their drawing a party to themselves. But the friends of God
must be awake and must know that the scattering of these
doubts hath as its motive personal desires and the achievement
of leadership.
Do not disrupt Bahá'í unity, and know that this unity
cannot be maintained save through faith in the Covenant
of God.
Thou hast the desire to travel that thou mayest spread the
fragrances of God. This is highly suitable. Assuredly divine
confirmations will assist thee and the power of the Covenant
and Testament will secure for thee triumph and
victory.
Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
pages 213-215
Previous Section | Contents | Next Section
