To the Star of the West

He Is God

O thou Star of the West!

Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Baha’is which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world- wide -- and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 17, January 19, 1911)

To his honor, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab

Upon him be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He Is God

O thou real beloved!

The letter which thou best written in regard to the happiness and joy, beatitude and rejoicing of the American believers concerning the trip of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the country of Joseph of Canaan, and likewise their expectation of my going to America was perused. However, the latter event is depended upon several conditions which are already explained in a former Tablet. The attractive power is necessary.

We must all with the utmost joy and cheerfulness sacrifice our lives for the Truth! Consider how I have left aside a thousand works and with the greatest attraction am writing to thee with my own hand; so that in every moment thou mayst raise a wave and in devotion in the Love of God and the spending of thy life in the Cause, thou mayst make every possible effort.

I have written a Tablet with my own hand for the Star of the West. Print it in its pages.

Upon thee be Baha!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 17, January 19, 1911)

To Dr. Fareed

Upon him be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He Is God

O thou servant of the Blessed Perfection!

Your epistle dated October 30th reached me at Ramleh….Regarding my coming to America and the assignment and preparation of homes or of places for me, I wrote a letter not long since through you to the maid-servant of God Lua (Getsinger) wherein I mentioned that abiding places in the hearts are needed; that is, the beloved in America must become united and assembled in love so that it may prove a magnet to attract Abdul-Baha. Thus will I journey to America with perfect love and zeal. When a fragrant breeze reaches my nostrils I will certainly come.

Convey my longing greetings to Mr. Kinney. Convey the utmost love to Mr. Lennon.

I am hopeful through the bounty of God that the assemblies which were visited by you in the company of Lua will flourish and grow in the spread of the glad-tidings.

Regarding the beloved and the maid-servants of the Merciful in New York, and their securing a home in My Name wherein they gather together -- in reality I am present among them in life and heart though absent in body.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 17, January 19, 1911)

"To the Friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in New York City"

Upon them be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He Is God

O ye real friends and beloved maid-servants of God!

Your letter, through the maid-servant of God, Dr. Clock, was received and perused. Its contents imparted the utmost joy and happiness, for it indicated your advancement to the Kingdom of God, attraction with the love of God and supplication and prayer in the Threshold of God.

The friends and maid-servants of the Merciful must render service to the oneness of the human world and show love and affinity to all the children of men. They must deal with the utmost devotion, good-will, love and kindness with all the communities, religions and sects. Their aim and their work must be that the tree of their existence produce good fruits -- and no fruit is greater than love and kindness toward all humanity.

His Highness Baha’u’llah addressing the world, says: "Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of One branch." Therefore, the law of relationship, brotherhood, kinship, fatherhood and motherhood is established and proven among all the families of the human race. Endeavor ye with all your hearts and souls so that ye may live and act in accord with these teachings of His Highness Baha’u’llah; to become an asylum to every oppressed one; to assist and uplift every vanquished one; to be a skilled physician to every sick one; to bestow a swift healing antidote to every wounded one; to inspire with confidence every fearful one; to grant tranquility and composure to every agitated one; to gladden the heart of every depressed one; to become a salubrious water to every thirsty one; heavenly food to every hungry one; to become the cause of glory to every fallen one and be charitable to all the poor ones.

"To the attracted maid-servant of God, Asiyih Khanum (Wellesca Pollock Allen)"

Upon her be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He Is God

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

I hope, through the Lord, that thy request and desire may be granted. Thou hast written of the joy and happiness of the beloved, together with a request for my presence in America.

‘Abdu’l-Baha is like the nightingale. The nightingale soars to the rose-garden. Should you desire my presence there, you must make America a rose-garden. That is to say, you must make that country well adorned with every rose of spiritual qualities and human attributes. Then certainly, God, the Generous, will reward you greatly, and, perchance, this Nightingale will then fly to that rose-garden.

"To the attracted maid-servant of God, Lua M. Getsinger"

 Upon her be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He Is God

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

Your epistle was received and the desire and request of the beloved ones and the maid-servants of the Merciful became known.

The conditions requisite for the coming of Abdul-Baha to those regions have just been written for the friends and the maid-servants of the Lord -- through you. I am hopeful that these conditions will be carried out, perchance at some time a trip to those regions may be taken; but if these conditions be not realized, this will hinder a trip to those parts.

Convey most reverend Abha greetings with the utmost longing to his honor, the dear friend, the Doctor (Getsinger).

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 16, December 31, 1910)

"To the beloved ones and the maid-servants of the Merciful!" [1]

He Is God!

O ye dear friends and maid-servants of God!

Your epistle was received [2]. You have expressed joy and happiness because of the trip of Abdu’l-Baha from the center of prison (Acca) to the land of the divine Joseph (Egypt). There are divine wisdoms in this journey! I am hopeful that it will be productive of results.

Now -- praise be to God -- some time is passed with the utmost of spirit and fragrance in this country, and we are occupied with the service of the Cause of God and servitude to the Holy Threshold.

When the service, which is our (present) purpose, is realized for the Kingdom of God, perhaps we shall journey to other parts.

If the beloved of God in all America strive for unity and harmony, attain perfect love and accord, and act according to the divine teachings and the precepts of the Blessed Perfection, this will prove a magnet attracting Abdu’l-Baha, so that, perchance, he may journey to America.

"To the Believers of God in Ghalé Darré, Persia"

upon them be the Glory of God the Most Glorious!

He Is God!

O ye servants of the Blessed Perfection!

In the Day of the Manifestation, you have caught the lights from the Manifestor on the Mount of Sinai and beheld the splendor of the Ray of Truth. Ye are the children of the Period of Baha’u’llah and have become the appearance of the Effulgence of Mercifulness in the Day wherein the rays of the Divine Sun radiate upon all things. Tear down the old garment and clad your sanctified temples with the new robe! Ye have passed from the salty water of ignorance and have drunk the salubrious salsabil of knowledge. Ye have closed your eyes to the wine of heedlessness and became intoxicated with the choice sealed wine of intelligence! Ye have taken the cup of prosperity from the cupbearer of the Covenant and with infinite rejoicing, happiness and beatitude celebrated the Feast of beholding the rays of the Orb of regions!

Now is the time that we may sacrifice for the sake of the love of that Beloved, our spirit, our soul, our heart our mind, our property, our life and our all; and to wish for nothing but His good-pleasure, search for nothing but His Path, and desire nothing but His Service!

Upon ye be Glory!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 15, December 12, 1910)

Concerning Mashriqu’l-Adhkar

When the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar was erected in Ishqabad, its influence was felt in all the Oriental countries. Whosoever heard of it, commenced an investigation of the Cause. Now, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of Ishqabad, like an evident banner, waves in the world. And if in Chicago the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is established, even as in Ishqabad, then you will see what the recognition of the Cause will do; particularly the arrangement of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is such that it will exert the greatest effect upon the civilized world, for it has many accessories. Among them are the following: A school for orphans; a college for higher scientific education (or higher knowledge); a hospital; a home for cripples; a hospice. When the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, with its accessories, be established in the world, aside from its religious or spiritual influence, it will have a tremendous effect upon civilization. Aside from the religionists who will feel its influence, materialists will not be exempt therefrom. Moreover, it contains Divine wisdoms, spiritual effects upon the intellects and thoughts. Subsequent to its erection these will become evident."

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 14, November 23, 1910)

"To the Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Isfahan, Persia"

Upon them be the Glory of God the Most Glorious! 

He Is God! 

O ye illumined Friends of ‘Abdu’l-Baha!

Praise be to God, that you have organized and established a new assembly in the land of Isfahan and with the utmost devotion its members are arising to serve the Blessed Perfection (Baha’u’llah). I was pleased to know, also, that you have organized a committee for correspondence with all parts of the world, and another committee to teach the Truth to the youths. Wonderful confirmation and complete assistance is destined for all the members of these various committees. This move is identical with blessing and this glorious intention is accepted in the Threshold of Oneness. It is my hope that you may perform these services in a befitting manner; that you may become the dawning-places of the Bounties of the Infinite; centers of merciful feelings and the manifestors of the rays of the Everlasting Glory.

I trust that you may make the land of Isfahan a salubrious fountain, so that the cool water of knowledge and the flowing river of assurance may make that region the envy of the green garden of Paradise. That city was illumined with the presence of His Highness, the Bab, after He left Shiraz; the Word of God was promulgated; many blessed souls became believers; a number of them hastened toward the arena of martyrdom; his highness, the leader of the righteous ones, the "King of the Martyrs," and the master of the friends, the "Beloved of Martyrs," gave up their lives at the altar of love. His Highness, Ashraf, and many other martyrs drank the cup of trials and sacrificed their lives with the utmost severance. Therefore, it is the hope of ‘Abdu’l-Baha that that region may become the Green Garden and that city the delectable Paradise. 

Upon ye be the Glory of God 

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West vol. 1, no. 14, November 23, 1910) 

"To the friends and maid-servants of God, Stuttgart, Germany"

Through Monsieur Dreyfus, to the friends and maid-servants of God, Stuttgart, Germany

Upon them be the glory of El-Abha!

He Is God!

O sons and daughters of the Kingdom!

Your letter which was written on the Day of Naw-Ruz in the assembly of the friends, has arrived. Its contents told of spiritual happenings and feelings of attraction. Its reading brought me the utmost happiness, for -- Praise be to God!--in Germany, the servants and the maid-servants of the Rahman have adorned a gathering of friendship and love in the Day of Naw-Ruz, have perfumed their nostrils with the vivifying breezes of the divine garden, and have been mentioning the King of the Kingdom and the Lord of Hosts.

Therefore, ‘Abdu’l-Baha has been praying and supplicating to the Word of God that these servants and maid-servants of the Rahman may day by day become more brilliant and make greater progress, penetrate the mysteries of the Kingdom, become the cause of the diffusing of the principles of human unity, call every one to the Shade of the Tent of harmony and instruction of mankind, become the cause of enlightenment of these regions, make the hearts filled with the love of the bountiful Beloved, and attract the people to the divine Kingdom, so that during the coming year they may make still greater progress.

The flowers which were inside of your letter were exceedingly sweet, delicate and perfumed; it told of the sweetness of your countenances and characters.

Upon you all be the glory of God.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 13, November 4, 1910)

"To the Believers in Sistan, Persia"

Upon them be the Glory of God the Most Glorious. 

He Is God

O ye believers of God and friends of ‘Abdu’l-Baha!

If ye knew how the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Baha is soaring at this moment at your mentioning and the spirit is rejoicing at your name, undoubtedly you would not contain yourselves in this physical temple, neither would you have heeded any persecution or suffering.

Today the world of existence is moved through the Call of the Covenant, and the disjoined members of this earth have found mutual communication. Consider ye that the confusion produced thereby cannot be cleared and the forces cannot be brought together save through the Power of the Testament, and the darkness of the East and the West can only be dispelled through the Sun of the Covenant. The Divine Covenant is like unto the spiritual Springtime, which encircles all creation.

Now the greatest test for a tree is to have the latent possibility of fruition, and with the appearance of the spring they put forth leaves, branches and blossoms, but if a tree is barren at this season it will remain deprived and fruitless. Likewise, those souls who have been firm in the Covenant of God, are detached from all else save God, and are attracted to the fragrances of God, their faces will shine like unto the luminous moon, with the Light of Assurance. But the jealous bats, the people of injustice and pride, flew away from the Light of the Covenant and shrank out of sight into the dark dungeon of hesitation and fear. They have left the lamp of the Testament and are running in the Sahara of discord and are seeking the gloom of worldliness. They turned away from the Pure Spring of Life and attached themselves to the stagnant pools of superstition. They left behind the Paradise of Abha and were contented with this nether world.