Thoughts on Persecution

Two days ago, the U.S. State Deparment issued an announcement regarding the holding of Baha'i prisoners by the Iranian government. You can read that announcement by going to this web address: www.state.gov.pa/prs/ps/2009/02/117332htm.

Abdu'l-Baha has written a prayer for persecuted Baha'is. Here is that prayer:

"He is the All-Glorious!O God, my God! Verily, Thou seest Thy servants acting with sinceritytoward the whole of mankind, even the ill-disposed enemy. They areserving the entire human race with pure hearts and sanctified breasts andare exposed to grave danger. Darts are aimed at them, arrows directedtowards them. Spears are pointed at them, swords drawn against them.O Lord! They are victims of tyranny, at the mercy of the enemy.They are prisoners in the hands of blood-thirsty wolves and ravenous dogsfrom amongst the wicked. They have no refuge, no haven save thestronghold of Thine all-encompassing protection. Shelter them, O my Lord,with the eye of Thy loving-kindness neath the shadow of Thy shield andprotection and guard them in the shelter of Thy care from the wickeddoersamong Thy people. O Lord! They have no helper except Thee, noprotector besides Thee.Ordain, O my Lord, all manner of affliction for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Makeme a target for the darts of men and protect Thy faithful servants from thewickedness of the ignoble. Grant that I may offer up my life for the wholebody of Thy lovers so that my heart may find rest, my soul may be quieted,and my eyes may be solaced in the arena of supreme martyrdom. Verily,Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Most Exalted.O ye beloved of the Lord! Be calm and composed."– ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ (October 1921)* Note: the above is a provisional translation. The original of this prayer may be found in the compilation,Majmú‘ih-yi Munáját-i 6a7rat-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ (Mu’assisih-yi Ma%bú‘át-i Millí-yi Írán), pp. 385-6,