Thoughts on Love for America

What did Abdu'l-Baha love about America and Americans? Did he love captialism, with its focus on a drive for profits? No he loved the potential that he saw in each American citizen. Here is what he inspired his grandson to write in The Advent of Divine Justice.

"The glowing tributes, so repeatedly and deservedly paid to the capacity, the spirit, the conduct, and the high rank, of the American believers, both individually and as an organic community, must, under no circumstances, be confounded with the characteristics and nature of the people from which God has raised them up. A sharp distinction between that community and that people must be made, and resolutely and fearlessly upheld, if we wish to give due recognition to the transmuting power of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, in its impact on the lives and standards of those who have chosen to enlist under His banner. Otherwise, the supreme and distinguishing function of His Revelation, which is none other than the calling into being of a new race of men, will remain wholly unrecognized and completely obscured. " The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 16

Thoughts on Prayer

I am listening to CNN, and I am hearing a number of comments about the statements made by President Obama at the annual Prayer Breakfast. In light of the questions presented about that statement, I would like to post the Prayer for America that was written by Abdu'l-Baha:

"O thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to thee. These hearts are radiant with thy love. These minds and hearts are exhilirated by the message of thy glad tidings.O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it hasaspired to materialdegrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of thy favors and is deserving of thy mercy. Make it precious and near to thee through thy bounty and bestowal.
Abdu'l-Baha

Encouraging to Imagine Abdu'l-Baha's Thoughts

I am very busy, because I am moving. I only have time to post this link: www.bahai.us>, Read this news and then try to imagine what thoughts Abdu'l-Baha might have had on hearing such good news.

Thoughts on a Gadget

Three years before Abdu'l-Baha came to the United States, General Electric Edison introduced one of the country's first gadgets--the light bulb. It called that light bulb the "Mazda bulb." That name must have amused Abdu'l-Baha when he was traveling in the U.S. The name "Mazda" is close to "Hoda," the Persian word for "God."

It would be interesting to learn about anytime when Abdu'l-Baha had to deal with changing a light bulb.

Thoughts on a Treaty

Today I learned about another important event that took place in 1912, the year that Abdu'l-Baha was in the United States. That event focused on Spitsbergen, an island in the Arctic Ocean. During the year of 1912 representatives from a number of different countries signed a treaty. They agreed to give sovereignty over Spitsbergen to no one nation. The treaty they signed made the resources of that isand open to all nations.

I find it interesting that this treaty was signed while Abdu'l-Baha was traveling across the United States, and advocating for world unity.

Thoughts of Pilgrims

At one in the morning on November 28, 1921, Abdu'l-Baha passed into the next world. He was at his home in Palestine. A number of pilgrims were closeby, because they had come to visit the Baha'i shrines. Here are a few passages from a letter written by one such pilgrim:


"Abdu’l Baha, after having gone to bed, again slept apparently until nearly eleven o’clock. Then he roused and his daughter Rouha Khanum came to his bed. She saw that Abdu’l Baha had perspired much. She poured some water for him which he drank. She then went to his dresser to obtain a fresh night garment for him. But, alas, she found none! Her father, as usual, had given everything away.

At the time this was related to me I thought of a beautiful cotton night shirt that my husband and myself had brought along with us from a believer in Germany who sent it by us to Abdu’l Baha as a present. It was a fine gentleman’s garment, all handmade by the sender, of the best pre-war cotton goods and embroidered with Abdu’l Baha's monogram. It seemed superfluous to ask what had become of it – no doubt it had gone by the way all such things would go when given to Abdu’l Baha, “the father of the poor.”

Rouha Khanum then ran over to her own house and returned to her father’s bedside with the needed garment secured from her husband’s drawer. Afterward she gave Abdu’l Baha some water to drink and presently he fell asleep again."


I have chosen not to post the passages about the moment that Abdu'l-Baha departed from this world. I feel extremely thoughtful after reading the above passage. It underlines the generous spirit of Abdu'l-Baha.

Thoughts Directed at Children

On Sunday, Nov. 24, 1912, a group of children came to visit Abdu'l-Baha. They had seen him several days earlier, while on their way to school. Abdu'l-Baha received them graciously, and gave them some candies and flowers. He also gave those children a bit of advice. Here is what he said:

"I hope you will be educated as you ought to be and that each of you will become the pride of your family. May God assist you to acquire divine knowledge in the school of the world of humanity...you must obey your parents so that they may be pleased with you, and so that God will be pleased with you, and that you may become the children of the Kingdom and mirror forth words of Christ."

The above statement can be found in Manmud's Diary, a book written by Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani, and translated by Mohi Sobhani.