Knowledge: The Feast of Ilm

Alláh-u-Abhá, friends, and welcome. ‘Izzat—or might—is a sacred word signifying grandeur, honor, esteem, and rareness; it is being great, powerful, and precious. When we hear the word might, our minds may jump to worldly power; physical control. But in the Bahá'í Writings, the true essence of might is spiritual power. It is the divine energy that enables us to turn godly perfections into transformative actions. As human beings, we are granted the ability to channel this divine Might within our own inner lives. We can use spiritual power to direct our free will, enlighten our thoughts, and reach the hearts and souls of others. Worldly power relies on force, and weakens with time. Spiritual power builds something enduring: integrity, justice, and lasting unity. As we pray today, let’s meditate on how we can draw upon God’s ultimate Might to conquer not lands, but the 'cities of the hearts,' elevating our daily actions to serve humanity. Today's prayers are: Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope!  Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire!  Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God!  Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquillity on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden! Bahá’u’lláh Lord!  Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean of Thy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory.  The fowls of the air and the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee and all beings partake of Thy care and loving kindness. Deprive not this feeble one of Thy wondrous grace and vouchsafe by Thy might unto this helpless soul Thy bounty. Give us our daily bread and grant Thine increase in the necessities of life, that we may be dependent on none other than Thee, may commune wholly with Thee, may walk in Thy ways and declare Thy mysteries.  Thou art the Almighty and the Loving and the Provider of all mankind. Bahá’u’lláh   The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be, closed in the face of men. No man's understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá   O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.  The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 13   Thou art He Who changeth through His bidding abasement into glory, and weakness into strength, and powerlessness into might, and fear into calm, and doubt into certainty.  No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Beneficent. Thou disappointest no one who hath sought Thee, nor dost Thou keep back from Thee anyone who hath desired Thee.  Ordain Thou for me what becometh the heaven of Thy generosity, and the ocean of Thy bounty.  Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. Bahá’u’lláh   Sanctified be the Lord of all mankind, at the mention of Whose name all the atoms of the earth have been made to vibrate, and the Tongue of Grandeur hath been moved to disclose that which had been wrapt in His knowledge and lay concealed within the treasury of His might. He, verily, through the potency of His name, the Mighty, the All-Powerful, the Most High, is the ruler of all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Bahá’u’lláh   Ultimately, the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. The Universal House of Justice   O Thou Who art the beloved of hearts and all that yearn after Thee, and the object of the adorations of such as have known Thee. Bahá’u’lláh            

In this episode, we share prayers and sacred writings centered on seeking true understanding, illuminating the mind, and aligning our knowledge with a spirit of love and service. Take a moment to connect with God, quiet your surroundings, and let these prayers inspire your mind and heart. The remembrance of God and His praise, and the glory of God and His splendor, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art His Beauty!  Baha'i Daily Reading for October 12 Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone.  Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that man's river flow into the mighty sea, and draw fron God's ancient source as his inspiration. Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it. The Persian Hidden Words, Number 11 Is it not astonishing that although man has been created for the knowledge and love of God, for the virtues of the human world, for spirituality, heavenly illumination and eternal life, nevertheless, he continues ignorant and negligent of all this? The beginning of all things is the knowledge of God.

Mashíyyat is the eleventh month of the Baha’i calendar, and is name translates to Will. Mashíyyat represents the omnipresent Will of God—the primal force through which all things are created out of nothingness. Spiritually, Mashíyyat is a time for quelling the insistent self, in order to align completely with God’s purpose and the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Today's prayers for the Feast of Mashiyyat: I bear witness that he who hath known Thee, hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence, hath attained unto the presence of God.  — From the Tablet of Visitation  It is my hope that the 19th day feast may become firmly established and organized, so that the holy realities, which are behind this meeting, may leave behind all prejudice and conflict. Praise be to God, the All-Possessing, the King of Incomparable Glory. A praise which is immeasurably above the understanding of all created things, and is exalted beyond the grasp of the minds of men. The enkindled souls being raised up … gain an ever more profound understanding of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings – “the sovereign remedy for every disease” – and to apply them to the needs of society. Beware! Walk not the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him, for such companionship turneth the radiance of the heart into eternal fire. O my Lord, my Beloved, my Desire! Befriend me in my loneliness and accompany me in my trials. Remove my sorrow. Cause me to be devoted to Thy beauty. Know for a certainty that the will of God is not limited by the standards pf people. I adjure Thee by Thy might, O my God, let no harm beset me in times of tests, and in moments of heedlessness, guide my steps aright. Dispel my grief, by Thy bounty and Thy generosity, O God my God, and banish my anguish through thy sovereignty and Thy might.  

Intro First and last paragraphs of the Tablet of Visitation I am, I am, Ia the Promised One All majesty and glory, O my God, and all dominion and light and grandeur and splendor be unto Thee. The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance. Its prolongation has not been, and is not loved, by God. No record is passed to posterity of that unique night, save the fragmentary but highly illuminating account that fell from the lips of Mulla Hussain. I adjure Thee by Thy might, O my God. Let no harm beset me in times of tests. The advent of the Bahai faith

This Tablet is read at the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh and The Báb. It is also frequently used in commemorating Their anniversaries. The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, and the glory which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, and the King of Eternity, and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth!  I testify that through Thee the sovereignty of God and His dominion, and the majesty of God and His grandeur, were revealed, and the Daystars of ancient splendor have shed their radiance in the heaven of Thine irrevocable decree, and the Beauty of the Unseen hath shone forth above the horizon of creation.  I testify, moreover, that with but a movement of Thy Pen Thine injuction “Be Thou” hath been enforced, and God's hidden Secret hath been divulged, and all created things have been called into being, and all the Revelations have been sent down. I bear witness, moreover, that through Thy beauty the beauty of the Adored One hath been unveiled, and through Thy face the face of the Desired One hath shone forth, and that through a word from Thee Thou hast decided between all created things, causing them who are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the summit of glory, and the infidels to fall into the lowest abyss. I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God.  Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, and in Thy signs, and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, and hath been honored with meeting Thee, and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy will, and circled around Thee, and stood before Thy throne.  Woe betide him that hath transgressed against Thee, and hath denied Thee, and repudiated Thy signs, and gainsaid Thy sovereignty, and risen up against Thee, and waxed proud before Thy face, and hath disputed Thy testimonies, and fled from Thy rule and Thy dominion, and been numbered with the infidels whose names have been inscribed by the fingers of Thy behest upon Thy holy Tablets. Waft, then, unto me, O my God and my Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favors, that they may draw me away from myself and from the world unto the courts of Thy nearness and Thy presence.  Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee.  Thou, truly, hast been supreme over all things. The remembrance of God and His praise, and the glory of God and His splendor, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art His Beauty!  I bear witness that the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee.  Thou wast immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations.  At one time Thou wast in chains and fetters; at another Thou wast threatened by the sword of Thine enemies.  Yet, despite all this, Thou didst enjoin upon all men to observe what had been prescribed unto Thee by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer, and my soul be a ransom for the adversities Thou didst sustain.  I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden, to remove the veils that have come in between Thee and Thy creatures, and to supply me with the good of this world and the world to come.  Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. Bless Thou, O Lord my God, the Divine Lote-Tree and its leaves, and its boughs, and its branches, and its stems, and its offshoots, as long as Thy most excellent titles will endure and Thy most august attributes will last.  Protect it, then, from the mischief of the aggressor and the hosts of tyranny.  Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Powerful.  Bless Thou, also, O Lord my God, Thy servants and Thy handmaidens who have attained unto Thee.  Thou, truly, art the All-Bountiful, Whose grace is infinite.  No God is there save Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous. Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláh taught that God’s greatness is beyond the limits of human understanding. No words or descriptions can fully capture divine majesty. Human beings come to know something of that greatness through the Manifestations of God, who reveal divine attributes in ways we can understand. The signs of God’s grandeur can also be seen throughout creation—in the beauty, order, power, and harmony of the world around us. The Writings encourage us to reflect on these signs, allowing our awareness of the Creator to deepen through thoughtful observation and contemplation. At the Feast of Grandeur, we can turn our hearts to the majesty of God, consider the role of the Manifestations as channels of divine revelation, and reflect on our own responsibility to bring spiritual teachings into action through our lives.

The Tablet of Visitation, paragraph 1 The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, and the glory which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, and the King of Eternity, and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth!    The Intention of the Revelation  The advent of the prophets and the revelation of the Holy Books is intended to create love between souls and friendship between the inhabitants of the earth. Real love is impossible unless one turn his face towards God and be attracted to His Beauty.   The Purpose of God Verily I say, the creation of God embraceth worlds besides this world, and creatures apart from these creatures. In each of these worlds He hath ordained things which none can search except Himself, the All-Searching, the All-Wise.   One single letter of Thy Book is the mother of all utterances My God, Thou Whom I adore and worship, Who art Most Powerful! I testify that no description by any created thing can ever reveal Thee, and no praise which any being is able to utter can express Thee. ​   Beautify thy tongues, O people, with trustworthiness, truthfulness, and adorn yourselves with the ornament of honesty…Be ye the trustees of God amongst His creatures and the emblems of his generosity amongst His people.   O  ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship among men.     Glory to thee O God.  Deny her not Thy bounty and Thy grace. Supply her, then, with that which excelleth all that can be found on earth.   All beings partake of Thy care and Thy lovingkindness.

In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectant and full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection.  Know verily that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose…mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. Behold what the spirit of devotion is able to achieve.  O seeker of truth! If thou desires that God may open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight saying, “O Lord, I have turned my face to Thy kingdom of oneness…" The composite beauty of humanity will be witnessed in their unity and blending. How glorious the spectacle of real unity among mankind! O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my actions, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succor, and Thy habitation my home. Thou art the Lord of loving kindness. We are sinners and have strayed far from home. Wherefore, O Cloud of Mercy, grant us some drops of rain. O Flowering Bed of Grace, send forth a fragrant breeze. O Sea of Bestowals, roll towards us a great wave. O Son of Bounty, send down a shaft of light. By Thy Beauty, we come with no provision but our sins.

O ye, the elected representatives of the people of every land, take ye counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind and bettereth the condition thereof. Know ye that trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen ones of God and His beloved. Illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the divine rays of Thy unity. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá says, “In this marvelous cycle, the earth will be transformed, and the world of humanity arrayed in tranquility and beauty..." “Only when the lamp of search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of passionate devotion, of fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled within the seeker’s heart, and the breeze of His loving-kindness is wafted upon his soul, will the darkness of error be dispelled, the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being. At that hour will the Mystic Herald, bearing the joyful tidings of the Spirit, shine forth from the City of God resplendent as the morn, and, through the trumpet-blast of knowledge, will awaken the heart, the soul, and the spirit from the slumber of heedlessness. Then will the manifold favors and outpouring grace of the holy and everlasting Spirit confer such new life upon the seeker that he will find himself endowed with a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind. He will contemplate the manifest signs of the universe, and will penetrate the hidden mysteries of the soul. Gazing with the eye of God, he will perceive within every atom a door that leadeth him to the stations of absolute certitude. He will discover in all things[…]” Be kind to all around and serve one another. Pray always and so live your life that sorrow cannot touch you.    Sorrow not if in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for Thee. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved.

The Baháʼí Feast of Loftiness refers to the 19-day fast (March 2–20) during the month of ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), representing a spiritual retreat to elevate the soul, detach from material desires, and rejuvenate spiritual forces. It is a period for meditation, prayer, and self-restraint before the new year (Naw-Rúz), focusing on humility and connecting with the divine.  Prayers: These are the days wherein Thou hast bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it, they may purify their souls and rid themselves of all attachment to anyone but Thee. All praise, O my God, be to Thee, who art the source of all glory and majesty, of greatness and honor, of sovereignty and dominion, of loftiness and grace, of awe and power. No deed have I done, O my God, to merit beholding Thy face. And I know of a certainty that were I to live as long as the world lasts, I would fail to accomplish any deed such as to deserve this favor. O Thou Who dealest equitably with all who are in heaven and on earth, and rulest over the kingdom of Thy creation and of Thy Revelation! I testify that every man of equity hath recognized his unfairness in the face of the revelation of the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy Justice, and the ablest of pens hath confessed its impotence before the movement of Thy most exalted Pen. The word of God which the Abhá Pen hath revealed and inscribed on the first leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Verily I say: The fear of God hath ever been a sure defense e and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. I beseech Thee, O my God… to graciously aid me to do what Thy will hath desired, and Thy purpose hath manifested. Send down upon me, and upon them who are in my company, that which will enable us to soar into the heavens of Thy transcendent glory. In regard to his affairs, let him repeat nineteen times: “Thou seeest me, O my God, detached from all save Thee and cleaving unto Thee. Guide me, then, in all mine affairs unto that which profiteth me for the glory of Thy Cause and the loftiness of the station of Thy loved ones.”