Santiago, Chile
“They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can never be compared.”
-Bahá’u’lláh, The Most Holy Book
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Connecticut, USA
“Upon every…Bahá’í…rests the spiritual obligation…to rest content in the abiding knowledge that whatever be the immediate response to that Message, and however inadequate the vehicle that conveyed it, the power of its Author will, as He sees fit, enable those seeds to germinate, and in circumstances which no one can foresee enrich the harvest which the labor of His followers will gather.”
—Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice
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Perth, Australia
“A harsh word is like unto a sword, but gentle speech is like unto milk.”
-Baha’u’llah
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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
“O thou seeker of the kingdom of God! If thou wishest thy speech and utterance to take effect in the hardened hearts, be thou severed from all attachment to this world and turn unto the Kingdom of God. Enkindle the fire of the love of God in the heart with such intensity that thou mayest become a flame of fire and a luminous lamp of guidance. At that time thy speech will take effect within the hearts, through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.”
-‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
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Fargo, USA
“We return to the phenomenal characteristics of speech. Content, volume, style, tact, wisdom, timeliness are among the critical factors in determining the effects of speech for good or evil. Consequently, the friends need ever to be conscious of the significance of this activity which so distinguishes human beings from other forms of life, and they must exercise it judiciously. Their efforts at such discipline will give birth to an etiquette of expression worthy of the approaching maturity of the human race. Just as this discipline applies to the spoken word, it applies equally to the written word; and it profoundly affects the operation of the press.”
-From a message dated 29 December 1988 written by the Universal House of Justice to the Followers of Baha’u’llah in the United States of America
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Nuriootpa, Australia
I chose this image based on the following two quotes from the Kitáb-i-Íqán by Bahá’u’lláh, wherein he refers to the Manifestations of God.
“The beauty of their countenance is but a reflection of His image, and their revelation a sign of His deathless glory” and “…of all men, the most accomplished, the most distinguished and the most excellent are the Manifestations of the Sun of Truth. …all in their holy presence fade into utter nothingness, and are a thing forgotten. Human tongue can never befittingly sing their praise, and human speech can never unfold their mystery.”
— Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan
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Sedona, USA
“That seeker must at all times put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt himself above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vainglory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century.”
-Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan
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Santiago, Chile
“La esencia de todo lo que hemos revelado para ti, es la Justicia; representa para el hombre la liberación de la ociosa fantasía y la imitación, saber discernir con el ojo de la unidad su gloriosa obra, e investigar todas las cosas con ojo escrutador.”
-Baha’u’llah