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Selections From the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
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Pages 97-99
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63: O ye blessed souls! The letter ye had written to ...
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O ye blessed souls!
[1]
The letter ye had written to
Rahmatu'lláh hath been perused. Many and various were
the joyful tidings it conveyed, namely, that through the
power of faith and constancy in the Covenant, numerous
gatherings have been convened, and the loved ones are
everywhere astir and active.
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`Abdu'l-Bahá's ardent desire hath ever been that the soil
of that hallowed spot, which in the earliest days of the
Cause hath been refreshed and made verdant with the spring
showers of grace, may so bloom and blossom as to fill every
heart with joy.
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Praised be the Lord, the Cause of God hath been proclaimed
and promoted throughout the East and the West in
such wise that no mind had ever conceived that the sweet
savours of the Lord would so rapidly perfume all regions.
This, verily, is only through the consummate bounties of
the ever-blessed Beauty, Whose grace and Whose triumphing
power are time and again abundantly received.
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One of the wondrous events that has of late come to
pass is this, that the edifice of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is
being raised in the very heart of the American continent,
and numerous souls from the surrounding regions are contributing
for the erection of this holy Temple. Among these
is a highly esteemed lady of the city of Manchester, who
hath been moved to offer her share.
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Having no portion of goods and earthly riches, she
sheared off with her own hands the fine, long and precious
tresses that adorned her head so gracefully, and offered them
for sale, that the price thereof might promote the cause of
the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.
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Consider ye, that though in the eyes of women nothing
is more precious than rich and flowing locks, yet notwithstanding
this, that highly-honoured lady hath evinced so
rare and beautiful a spirit of self-sacrifice.
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And though this was uncalled for, and `Abdu'l-Bahá
would not have consented to such a deed, yet as it doth
reveal so high and noble a spirit of devotion, He was deeply
touched thereby. Precious though the hair be in the sight of
western women, nay, more precious than life itself, yet she
offered it up as a sacrifice for the cause of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár!
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It is related that once in the days of the Apostle of God
[2]
He signified His desire that an army should advance in a
certain direction, and leave was granted unto the faithful to
raise contributions for the holy war. Among many was one
man who gave a thousand camels, each laden with corn,
another who gave half his substance, and still another who
offered all that he had. But a woman stricken in years,
whose sole possession was a handful of dates, came to the
Apostle and laid at His feet her humble contribution.
Thereupon the Prophet of God--may my life be offered up
as a sacrifice unto Him--bade that this handful of dates be
placed over and above all the contributions that had been
gathered, thus asserting the merit and superiority thereof
over all the rest. This was done because that elderly woman
had no other earthly possessions but these.
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And in like manner this esteemed lady had nothing else
to contribute but her precious locks, and these she gloriously
sacrificed in the cause of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.
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Ponder and reflect how mighty and potent hath the
Cause of God become! A woman of the west hath given
her hair for the glory of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.
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Nay, this is but a lesson unto them that perceive.
In conclusion I am greatly pleased with the loved ones in Najaf-Ábád for, from the very early dawn of the Cause
unto this day they have one and all under all conditions
evinced a great spirit of self-sacrifice.
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12 |
Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín hath throughout his lifetime prayed
with all the sincerity of his stainless soul on behalf of the
believers in Najaf-Ábád and implored for them the grace of
God and His divine confirmation.
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The Lord be praised that the prayers of this gracious soul
have been answered, for the effects thereof are everywhere
manifest.
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Notes
1. [The Bahá'ís of Najaf-Ábád]
2. [Muhammad]
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