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A BAH{ MAGAZINE. VOLUME 6 NIIMBER 1 . PUBLISHED QUARTERTY
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IN THIS ISSUE
FIRUZ KAZEMZADEH
BETTY FISHER
HOWARD GAREY
'Abdu'1-Bah6'Abb 6s ( 7844- 19 2l)
ROBERT HAYDEN Editoial
GLENFORD E. MITCHELL
GAYLE MORRISON
The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bah6
l:y Sbogbi Effend.i and, Lad.y Blomfiehl
Subscrlber Service:
MEG LUCKINAILL
19 'Abdu'l-Bah6: Through the lflar Years
by H. M. Balyuzi
\0ORLD ORDLR is published qudrterlv.
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INYNVfl NIIAIY IS
yqefJ'r,npqv,
Jo
sEurru4l
eqr
L9
6s \{ORLD ORDER: FALL 1911
Persian, as a paragon of distincrive style that can only be perceived in the lighr of
and eloquence. rr"dirions in rheir l.rngu.rg.s. B1 ignoring
It
is the intent of this article to touch che literary traditions, conceptual methods,
upon the charactcr oI that sryle and to cultural associarions in short by denying
prcsent an overvien' of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's tl.re life of the language-they reduce
\\ ririrrg. in ririoLr\ !( nrer and |. ateSorie.. rather than enhance comprehension and
Discussion of the language and style is rrue appreciation of holv scriptures.
inhercntly limited, as it must be attempted 'Abdril'Bahh's t*o primary languages
across t\\'in barriers of colture ancl tongue; h:rve vigorous and highly developed liter-
thc attempt at categorizlttion is necessarily ary traditions s,ith morc than a thousand
erbitrary and is mcant tct serve only as a years of life. Only thc briefest mention of
caraloguc. Obviously any numbcr o{ crite- facets of thesc tradirions that are Eiermane
ria, such as chronological, thcmirtic, and to the rJ7ritings of 'Abdu'1-Bahh is possible
linguistic, clrr provide dilferent sets of herc. Since most of 'Abdu'l Bahi's $irrit-
categories. Fr,rrthcttnore, some $orlis cited in-e;s are in Pcrsian, the main focus here is
a5 cxampies of certain categories could on Pcrsian literary traclirions. But so manv
easily be put undcr others. of these :rre shared q'ith Arabic indeed
'ABr)u'L-BAH,{ \'as, of cotlrse, not a
in manv cases thcy arc reflections of
Arabic norms in Persian that thc obser-
proplret uncl at no timc clairned to have
vetions uill generally bc true of the
receivccl clirect rcvel:rtion from God. BLrt
Arabic literary traditions as u ell.
as thc Centcr of thc Covenant of His
Flther and the appointed Interpretcr of lior nearly a thousand years sincc the
His Revelation. Bahi'is believc, 'Abdu'l- formulation encl the crystallization of cl:rs-
BahlL *'ls clivinell inspired tncl guidccl. sicrl critcria in Arabic and Persien litera-
I{is Writings, thcrefore, constitule fot the '..-r rrrrrr rr,r' cri.'..1 JI'r,o.c. l\rion
Bah/r'is at oncc x fart ancl:rn elaboration * ith and a prin.racy of form. Needless to
of their Scriprures. se!, tightllLmetered and fully-rh-vmed
Thc cluesrion of divincl,v inspired ltn- poetry) as the most formal of literar,v arts,
gurgc has traditionally posed a dilcl.rma h:rs bccn the nrlstcr art form for thc
and given risc to baselcss dogma in the Ar;rbs end rhc Pcrsians. Prose.rrirers from
religions of the past. In thejr litcral- their acsthctically inferiot position have
mindcd zeal to aver the authenticity of attempted to ennoblc their sork uith
thcir Ho11, \l,-rir, devotees o{ traditional qualities of poetrr', evolving a technicpe
religions hrve often insisted on the divioe knosn es iri. It introduccs the besic
authorship of the vcrl' lexicaL end svntlc- poetic ingrcclicuts of rhlrne ancl rirythrr-r
tic forn of that rW'rit. This vies not only in,.';'-o.c r' irrto.,r . . r'1. lly r-.rrr'l,,rrrt.': t
reduces God to the usc of perticular and into eclual-footccl lines. A symmctry of
diffcrcnt human tongues, but ic also at- cxpression is echievccl b-r' Lrsc of Icxical
temprs to isolate rcligior-rs sritings from dericcs sr,rcl-r is svlrofrlDrsi tntonYms, ancl
the boci,v of the langu:rge in ui.iich thel homonlnrs giving prosc an arctritccturll
\\cr \rir'\r. l, ,1r.rrc. dirin, ori:in plesticitl' .rncl rcnclcring it rnemoral>le.
rr llr rl'.o ..re lingui. i, .'rJ lircr.'ri ori1. 'fhis sq,lc of u ritiog in Pctsirn rcached its
in..l,rt. Tlror r.'ro..llrrlJ Lhi''irr .'rt airex dLrring rhc thirtecnth centurl' A.D.
resentful of any comparison and ptece- ancl clcclined ra;,icll1'thererftcr. Bl rhc end
dence. lWirh their pervertccl notion of of rhc cightcenth century it had reacl-tecl a
originalitl', the,v completely miss thc often nadir of ertillcial r'erbosiq' ancl lost its
striking litcrary originality ol holy books porver to comn-tunicate.
'.lournq'e,\ol'qtur.ru,n'-'{:r:urnur'sstLitJaJrp aruarpnt 1r,{o; r yo luoura'1rt aql elo^a
,{q pa1;rru aru llll arucF ,{rulotsrda llr :aqoJ pJlJ.!\alrq lusolurla.rrrll Jo 8ur
uctslad Jo sa:rld:ltsr:tu aJt sJallJJ s,rlJug -tutr8 pue ':o,t;1o dn: aqr;o Surr;r;1orcl
-l,nPqY, sPueq r,"rleg-uou ut sureula.r 'l:no) ot etuelrrxpu ;o saSron lernlpr:>
rroitJod e pur'rsoy llqe,rar:tallr uaaq srq pottlal Jo sarJas r Jo eprur sr qdr:8
,/,, d/'
e3r:lrraq snona:d srqr ;o uon:ocl e trqt 1:r;
',rld..q1 .. l. , , u t./'l
pJlqnopun aqr alclsap 'tuaurfls tsa.q:r:1 aql .stauttaljTa: lo aJtlpqr aqt u.u,,,tt 4t.ntp ol
.rr; .{q satnrrsuot (sltnpr^rpur or stJJq.I) au a,L/9 - ,, :uoDl]]rsr^ Jo talql,I u,\\o sti{
e:uepuocisa::or lruosrld q.lrq,s. 1o sdno:;- ul pJlo,\J ,{.ta3r:ut aql st aydurxa raqlo
J\lJ\rr orur pJpl \:p JQ -r' .dur.::.r
X\ eql isrpq 1o s8ur:aqte8 .rt,ro Suru,nrp ,(rr
s.€qeg-J,npqy, srs,{1r:ur 3o sasod:nd :og 1
-Jlr)U Jo unq eqt ot parrDler lqpg-l,npqv,
'rqlr€l J nPqv, Jo ]ualLr uel]o ,\\oH uns aqt Pto^r] ttqt sJJntEeJ)
-lrrsal PUr l|l( .rr1l jo slilqrl eql PUE JO Sn PTiJLLTEJ Upl OSJII lt tng ',a,rlszlrad
ueld aul^Io aqr Jo sralqrJ aqt slr s[l.Llrl1 pu r'3ur,u.,a-a;r 1'l LJapr^a-JIas Jf uo tc-aJeq
-fop IrtsaurppunJ qtns ot a:uapuodsarror ]llljlsqr Jqr Pur JrJJluQr aqr Jo uorl
p:uos:ad sr11 uro:; 3urqt,{:ara ot perlclcle -Eu[unllr ]rll]llul sr Jiaql qrlJ.n.eqlrg Jo
$ l q)ns sy sdno:3 :o s1r:npr,Lipur rqr:ecls uonDIa^JU aq::o1 1oqru.{s u pue .roqdetoru
or passErppe a:u ttqt sSuur;r1tr srH Jo lle e sP qtoq sSuDulN srH ur trPuanba:;
sareu8rsap lI slro4\ srH Jo ,{tr.rohru eqt slnrro r{rrq.!\ (qra11 lo uxg aq!. a*;r1<I
or parlclcir sr qrrq.r (?,r/1) trlgEt ,rujJl aqr sI ts.IIC rrltg-J.npqy, 1o sfurrrrlX
Ipuourpzlt sqt ,{Jurl) ot 1n;dy.rt1 Jq lqn-iur JLlr ur ruJ.uoJ l\ut ru-lo1 1o (uoLul q
I sbunuAr s,9qrgJ,npqv, 1o sauosetr:r slql etrlJtsrlllr ftu salclurexa JaiJq o,\\J
snorJr^ eqr jo uoI]11]uaJJlJrp aql ot n-urpiJ:) 'r\uJ\ Jyl-rr. {1rr.Lr r rulol
- 1,, rrr.r
-orcl a:o1ag uraqt ot atrr:clo:cldu afen8 -3arur :rurSro pur ,{trlrur:o1 alrJots uae.\\l
-ue1 ur passardxa a:e 'suraod JrnrlrpJul -aq eluejegrP ;qt sr sql uonllltur pur
or sasnDeJt 1r:rqdosolrqd uro:1 liur8r:r.r 'uonruSol 'uoucla:r:ad ;o saulld rua:agrp
'st)efqns sIH 3ui.{:r,run sr 'puos.racl puu q8norqr Il1r.r.r Jlurs aqt Io uoll:r:r;a: lq
elqezrufiorar selun Ilir tE q3noqtlr 'uqr:g purru s,raprrr aqt purclxe ol tnq 'tlllqns
-l,npqy, lo a1,ts aqr ruqr raJur or raprar Jql Punorr Ira.\ r.\\PJP ot JePlo ur lou
aqi PEJI tou Plnoqs 5Nro9:tuol sHI 'saluEuossrp puil isJluNUossil'suol]tJeltJ
-1r:'sar:ofal1r'sJoqtuls'saltruis's-ror{duaur
'pJrrputts enjl u sn tJaJ srq's:a,{u:d s,r-qrg sr LlJ1lS Selr^aP ,{:urIJ pur: lrttJotaql
-l,nPqY, lo euos Jo suor]rlsurJ] srq ur 1o .rfuer rsi:,r. r;o pur,{raflrur tltaod 1o
,{1:r:lnrrtrrd'rpuagg rqSoqg'tr1ar:unt:og asn sJltru aH ruJruol Jqt ol qteotddr ur
'spur:r1 atcnbapeur ur lsol eq url rl1nLlr sr rurol yrllrg-l,npqy, 1o sSurl:1X aqr u1
puu :Jolrlsurjt arlt uo uJpjnq snour.louJ 'af rlIlJr Pe^rJtuol
Parlsrurq serl
uE a)€Jd sanrTrnb Jurrs arlt lpql peululprl aH :lualuol PUlr urjoJ 8rtlzruotu:rq iq Irq
aq tsnlu rl Surur:aur srg ;o Suqrurts :ruroj rurlrrrrJ otur elrT ,\\JU pJqtErJq
Japuu s.ruo Jlurque ol sr siullr.rA srH "
sr:q yqrg'l.npqv, ,lLtt lo Surra.tog
yo sanqrnb rnaod aql rol uonerta.rdde uu r\as l.z sr tJ uonrptJt .{rrrall 1o pJour
atEllrinf oI .sSuurrul\ s.pqtg-l,npqv, Io rsarnd aqr ur sr lr re1 lrur8r:o a:o;a.raqt
{jpluJJrrl r sr asod:nd puc Suiuvoru 1o uors Puu'ltuosrad,ilqelrtsrruun'a^n)urlsrp
-sardxa aq: JoJ LuJoJ rnsnJl Jo asn srql sr 11 el,ts anbrun ? olur r surro; uos;ad
',ltrlrurnq pul apur,r:as srg ;o trrars.{ur eqJ s)usrlatJerpqf str
;o ltrlrqou
aqt pJurlrapun seq eqrgl.npqy, safuull qr,s. a8lnSur:1 utrsrJd arlt sI &lr aql qgll
JO uOISJJ\ur Jll rUfrP )rLlr ,lg F.trut,r -.n.rqPg Jo uoDrla^rll aqt sl snulluE aql
pu€ 'epud 'druod ;o uorse::o ue f11e 'uorssardxJ puu uone:rdsur srH ]o epour
-uonrPpl-lurl qfrq 1o yrllotseq aqr puz Prp,\\lno aqr $ gqvgl.npqv, lo ull.ls sHJ
Persian, as a paragon of distinctive style that can only bc perceived in the light of
and eloquence. rr-di'ion. in thcir l.,ngrrg.s. By ignorirg
It is the intent of this article to touch the literarl' traditions, conceptual methods,
upon thc character of that sryle and to cultural associations-in short by denying
presenr an overvierv of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's the life of the languagc-thel' reduce
Wriring. in r.rriou' gerrc: rnd (Jlegnrier' rather than enhance comprel-rension aod
l)iscussion of the language and style is true appreciation of holy scriptures.
inhcrently limitecl, as it must be attempted 'Abdu'l Bahl's trr o prim:rry languages
across twjn barriers of culture and tonguc; h;rve vigorous and highly developed liter-
the attempt lt categorization is necessarily ary raclitions uith morc than a thousaod
arbitrary and is t-t-leant to scrve only as a ycars of life. Only the briefest mention of
c:rtalogue. ObviorLsly any number of crite" facets of thesc traditions that are germane
ria, such as chronological, thematic, and to thc Writings of 'Abdu'lBahi is possible
ling;uistic. can provide differcnt sets of herc. Since mov of 'Abdu'l-Bahir's 'ii/rit-
catcgories. Furrhermore, some uorks cited inqs are in Persian, the n.tain focus here is
as examples of cert;rin categories could on Persian literary traditions. But so manv
easily be put under othcrs. of thcsc are shared u itir Arabic-indeed
'ABDU'L IIAHA \\'as, of course, not a
in n-ian1, cascs they arc rellections of
Arabic norms in Persian that the obser-
prophet and nt no time claintcd to heve \\'ill generally bc true of
vatioos the
received dircct revcl.ltion from Gocl. But
Arabic literary traditions as uell.
as the (lcnter of the Covena[t of His
Fathcr and thc appointcd Intcrpreter of for nearly a thousand ycars sincc tl-re
His Rcvclation, Rahr'r'is beli"r'e, 'Abdu'l- forniulation anci the crystrllization of clas-
Bahri qus divinely inspirecl end guidccl sical critcria in Arabic und Persian iitera-
His Writings, rhercfore, constitute for the r'tr( r'rC\ lr.'. , ri.,.r .r l'r('O((Lll'..'ion
Bah/.r'is at once lr ptrr ;rnd an eiaboration u ittr and a of form. Needicss to
prin-rrrc,v
of their Scripturcs. say, tightl,v n.retered ancl fullv-rhymed
Thc qocstion of divinel.v inspired lan- poetr'', as the most formal of litcrarl'lrts.
guage has traditionalll' posccl a dilemn.ta lils bccn the mrstcr art loru for thc
and givcn rise to baseless dogma in t}.re Alb, .'rd Lhe Ptr.i .' .. Prr* '.r "rr--. frn rr
rcligions of the past. In thcir literal- their acsthcticalll inferior position hevc
minded zcal ro avcr tl're authenticity of attcn-rpted to cnnoblc rhcir urtrk uith
tlreir Ho11' \\/rit, devotecs of traditional clualities of poetrl', evolling e tcchniciue
rcligions har,c ofren insisted on the clivine knosn es rrrj-. It inrroduccs the basic
authorship of dre verl' lexicaL ancl sl ntac- poctic ingredicnts of rhyme encl rh1'thn.r
tic forn.r of thirt Vrit. This vieu'not onli' ,rro I'ru\L \rirlto.tt .. r.r..l.r'rr.' ..forr' : i
redLrccs (lod to tbe use of pirrticular and into cclual footecl lines- A synn-ietr,v of
diflerent human tongues, but it also at- cxptession is echicvccl b-v rtsc of lcxicel
renlpts ro isolrtc leligittus urirings from cler iccs such is svnon\11)s, antonvn-rs, ancl
tbe bodv of the langurLge in thich thci' homontttts giving prosc an arctritectutal
\\ r r( \\ r r rr'r . I r' 1. .r I L- .lrr icc rr i- irr plesticitl' ancl renclcrin.q it nenorable.
rritr ,rb'olrrrL lin;..i' i,
.rrrd lircr.rrr orig- This srllc of uliting in Pctsian rcached irs
rrr..lirt. Th,^e rrlro ..ph,'lJ rlri' rier 'rr,. apcx during rhe tl-rirtecnth centurl' A.D
rcsentful of an1' comparison and prece- end dcclinecl rapidly thererftcr. By thc cnd
dcncc. Wir1.r their perverted notion of ol rhc cightccrrth centurf it had rcachecl a
origintrlitl', thcy con.rpletely miss the often nadir of altillcial verbosiry ancl lost its
striking Jirerary originalitv of hol1'books pon er to conn-iunicate.
'Jolunq'erol'rltrurp.{',{lrllrr}ur'sseutJJJlp a:uarpne yrtror e ;o ,{uoura_ra: aqt e)ole
,{q prryetr Jw traql arua8 trrelotsrda 11r laqo: p.tle.naleq IpruoluJral aqt Jo 3ur
urrslad ]o satlrd:llsrut JJlr s:altal s,rqlfl -turJf pur'.ro,ru;;o chu aqr 1o 8ur:a;1ord
-l,nPqY, sPupq r,erlpg-uou r1r sutputaJ 'tJ11ol ot c)urllruJpe yo sa8eurr 1un:1nt
uoqJocl l: PUc'lsoJ,ilqr^ar:telJr ueeq srq Parrlel JO SJIIJS u Jo apruur st qde:"Q
efuuaq slrone:d srqt 1o uoruod c lcqt tw1 -c;rd aqa .. a t aq:/oF a.lat rfi clltrt
pJlqnopull aql JtrdsEp 'tuaurS:s rs;r8rl1 erlt . !taturtalp!
to atloqt a./i u/otl ilu./tf .) j
ru; ,{q satll]I]suot (slrnpr^rpur o] sralclrJ) atu aat) :uoDrtrsr^ Jo tJJqD,L u,\lo srH
e:uepuodsa::or lruosrld qtrqs. yo sclno:S ur pa:lo^e,ira.Srul
" aqr sr alclucxa raqto
a^Je,\\t otul pJpr^rp rq uer sliuur.U( eql isrtq 1o s8uueqtr:S ra^o 8uru,$rp trlr
s.lrrpg-l,npqy, srs,{1rur: 1o sasocl:nd :o,1 1 lrau io unq eqt ot prrrr]ar yql]g-l,npqy,
'rqrg-l.nPqv, Jo lueul uerJo ,\\oH Uns rqt plo^r trql sJlnlxJjl
-lrrsal Plirr lJuN Jtll Jo slrJqrJ, JLlt Purl JO Sl1 PUraUaJ UrJ OSJII lr lng a,rtsu,r.lad
ueld )ur^r(I ar{r Jo sreiqrl Jqt sU sruaiun pul '3ul,r3-a7r1 'lurpt^J-JlJs eJuo te-rJJq
-f,op Irlueuepun1 qlns or JruJpuodsJrJo-) rrlrrsql] eLil Pup alJlluol arll Jo uorl
leuos:ad sr11 urorl 3un1t,{.ra,ra ot p.trlddr: -eurrunllr lrnlnLu sr aJJqI qull.n,pqtg Jo
$ l q)ns sy sclno;8:o slrnpr,r.rpur tqr:ads uontlJrraU aqr ro; loqurds r pur .loqcleteu
ot passerppr a:u ttqt sfuurl76 srH Jo lle E s? qtoq sfurrrrlX sr11 ur ,(ltuanbetl
sereufrsrp tI s:Iro6\ srg 1o ,{l:ohur aqt srnr:ro qrrq,\\ . (14ra21 lo utg aqt. aseryd
or parlddr: sr r{rrq.\\ (7,1/1) telqct 'turel rqt sr lsrrg 'fqpg i.npqy, 1o slrunr:r1,
JeuourpzJt eqt ,{Jrrrl) ot 1n;d1et1 aq tr13ru Jrlr Jr ruJ.u.) pur LLl,l Jo truouiri q
tI sbunult\ s,grpg-l,r1pqV, 1o sarrofalr: srrlt Jt"ltsnlJi ,(rru saldurlxa Jet:q o.\I
snorJr^ Jqt uonrltu;l-1.)Irp Jrp ot.*urpla: 'asuas r,\lttaJf lln:t r ui uuol
3o,{ltr
-o:ci a:olag 'o uaqt ot atr:r.tclorclcfu aSen8 -8atut trurS:o puc,{l1ru:o1 aluJts uJJ,\\l
-uz1 ur pessarcixa e:c 'suraod a^DutrpJuJ -Jq a)LreJaJrP erF sr srql uoDrntur puD
or sasirpaJr p:lqdosolrqd uo:1 3ul8ur-r 'uouuSol 'uoudJrJed p sauzlcl lua.ragrp
'sr:alqns sr11 '3ur,{re,run si 'l"uos:ad puo q3no:rf,{rr1ra: armrs erlt Jo uon:u1ar trq
alqrzrufora; seluu JIp tr q8noqtp 'r:qr:g puiru s,JepreJ erp puedxr ot tnq 'ttalqns
-l,npqy, Jo a1trrs aqr:uqt JaJUr ot laprar Jql PunoJN ira,\ r.\\rJP ol JePJo ur tou
Jrlt PEJI tou plnoqs sNroD:luoi sHJ 'salueuossrp pur's.lluruossr'suol]rl.ltlI
-1r'sar:o8a11r'sloqruis'sJltulrs's:oqdetaur
'pJrpurts JnJr u sn UeJ srq'sra,{r.td s,rqrg sr qrns sarr^ap I.tu:atrJ puc JrlrJotaql
1,nPqY, lo eulos Jo suol]ulsuur] sq ur 1o a8ue-r rsu,r r
1o puu J:a8uun :ltaocl ;o
,{1:r1n:n.rrcl'rpuagg rtlSoqg',{lattunt:o,l asn sJ>luur aH ruJlrol aqt ot r1:eo:dde ur
sputq atr:nbapr:ur ur tsol eq uc) qlnuJ sr ruro1 g!ir[1,npqy, 1o s3uur.r1tr aqr uy
Puc :rotulsueJr aqr uo u.lpjl1q snour]oui) 'afuDJt P.^rJluoJ PaqsruEq seq
uE a)uJd senrTpnb eurrs eqt lErlt palr{rrpe JH tueruoJ puD uuoJ 3ulzruoul:rq ,{q:nq
aq rsnur rJ Sulurau sr11 1o Surpuus :turoj JprJlrutj E otul aJrJ .\\eu paqieaJq
-Japun s.auo e)urqua ol sr s8unrr2tr sr11 sr?rl yqrg l,npqv, /zr ;o 8ur:a,rog
;o sanrlenb rltaod aqt JoJ uoqerJalddp uc ,lreu ? sr lI uorliprlJl ,{.re:al1 p plour
eru^Irlnr oI sfunrrlg s.9qug-J,npqv, lo rsa:nd aqr ui sr tr re;1 JyulSrro aro;eraqt
)iJlrLlIJJuq e st asod:nd pue Surura[u Jo uors puE'Jvuosjed tryqeryrs[uun'a^l]lunsrp
-sa-rdxa aql JoJ luJoJ fnsnJr Jo asn srql st :1 01,{rs anbrun r otur :r surro; uos.rad
'&lyrurnq pur apnl,r:as sr11 1o tr;ars,{ru aql slnsr:alJpJ€rll sl
1o ,{trlrqou
eql peulJrepun srrl sabDurr ql,n a8eniuel urrsJed Jql sr ,{u1: aq1 ql11
"qeg-l,npqv,
Jo uorsJr^ur )nf,uJe:p srqt ,(g ,(lur,r -.n,rqDg Jo uo[ela^a]I aqr $ snturuE aqJ
pue 'epud 'durod 1o uorser:o ur llyr 'uotssa;dxa pue uont.udsur srH
Jo apour
-uolllPurr-{url qfrq Jo le,uorsaq aqr puz PrE,\\tno eqt sr erl"gl.nPqv, Jo
g'r,{.l,s IIHI
forbearance, and a myriad other qualitics ment, l'ritten in thrce parts, that consti-
th:rt reveal the exemplary perfection of tutes an integral part of the charter of the
His pcrsonalitl'.'Abdu'l-Bahi addresses Bahf i Administrative Order. Alrhough un-
e\rcryone as an equal in the service of dated. it is clear from its contents that the
Bahri'u'llih. His letters often open with an 6rst part uas uritren in 1!06/7 during
invocation of the quaiity of faith of the rhe most perilous and yet most prolilic
recipient rathcr dran his name or identity period of His life.
such as ''O the Firn. O ne in the VL The nexr category is that of ptayers.
-cpithets
Cctteuant," 'O Loter ol the Ble:sed The Arabic and Persian languages distin-
Beatt1." (Lttct lhcn the Persians uere guish betu een uhat is translated io Eng
rcquired by lau to adopt family names, lislr as prayer (mtnrijtitl and obligatory
many Bahf is chose as surnamcs u orcls of prayer (sal'b). The prayers of 'Abdu'l-
adclrcss from thc Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 Bahi are ntrnijrit. Approximately one
to themselves or to their fathers.) In half of tl.rese arc in Persian and the other
subject matter 'Abdu'l-Rahi's Ietters range in Arabic, r'ith a very ferv in Turkish.
from responses to the personal and
epheneral requests of His correspondents The term ".r, t.t1tt hs r hi.rory in
Persian literature bcginning nith Kh*ijih
to profound elaborations, elucidations, and
'Abdu'liih-i-Aos;iri, a Sirfi mystic of thc
interprctations of the Bahi'i Rcvelation.
Bnt mostly thcy are concerned ,,', ith direc- clcventlr century A.D. The nzrnij'it of
A'.5. rr .rru highlr srl lizcd upi!rr.nrm.rric
tion ancl cxhortation of the friends to
sprcad the Teachings.
forms of communion ri ith God. From a
II. Tablets of spccific topical or then.ratic lircr-ry;oinr of rie'r rhe'e bricf ero.ative
signilicance adclressed to jodividuals are compositions bear only the slightest gcner-
jc rescnrblancc to thc n/lnlj;t of Bahi-
perhaps best.exemplihed by the Tablet to
'u'116h ancl 'Abdu'l-Bahi, r'hich, although
Professor Augustc Forel, u,hich is in fact a
philosophical treatise \\,rittcn bv 'Abdu'l- called by th€ sane name, are clearly a
Bahri in Septernber 1921 in ans\\,er to li , r.,n innorrtion "nd origin.rl creations
cluestions put to Him bl the noted S$'iss in the Persian and Arabic languages.
psychologist. Their chief distinguisl.ring qualitl' i5 thq
III. Tablcts adclrcsscd to Batri'i commu- sustained and expanding cxpression of
nities in various parts of the rlorld chron- man's experience of the Hol,v by means of
i. Ie 'AbJrr l-8..h: r lur ing ..t,J virorou. poetic language.
leadersi.rip of thc Causcof Bahri'u'11/rh and The prayers of 'Abdu'l-Balii, particular-
its propagation from a handfLrl of coun- ly, partake in the fuliest mcasure of poetic
tries in the Near and the Middlc East to qualitics. Some actually include fragments
.ome rlrirry-6ve (oLnlrje\ in evcrl tonti- or lines of metrical verse l,hich are indis-
nt nr on 'hc qlohe. I he mo'r inrlort.rnt in tingLrishable from the texturc of tl.re rl,hole
this group are uncloubtedly the scries of prayer. The purity end sanctjty of natural
rhe 'l -h cr. ot he Dir in, PlJr , \\ riren ,rl inagery rcvcal a state of cosmic harmonl'.
the close of the First World \Y/ar. The musicaliw of somc of them tran-
IV. Among the Tablets lritten to uorld scends limitations of lrnguage. Poetry is
Broul\5 or .L'ngre\\c(. rhc be.' Lnosn i. madc to sen'e rhe ulrimate goal of risin-q
the Tablc sent in l9l9 to thc Central above "the twnttr ol sllldhle: axd
Organization for a Durablc Peace at the sotndt." Thc cnotiooal intensity of some
Hague. of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's prayers, espccially those
V. The Tablets of the \flill and Testa- that recall thc suf{erings of and separa
ment of 'Abclu'l-Bah6 is a unique docu- tion from Bahir'u'llih, is unrivalcd.
vHvat-'I n(gv rq
HSI'I{)N'I NI CIIN9IS {gMl'Iag v ol rsrnvl v co 1_1Ir{Isl\,j:I
tt \{ORID ORDER: FAIL 1971
wirh their dying breath, ro expire happily In His usual self-efiacing way, 'Abdu'l-
after having seen the face of their Be- Bahi says almost nothing about Himself
loved; some die on the arduous path. in this book. But occasional events in the
Despite the peculiarities of time and lives of these companions are inten'oven
place, it should not take the reader long s'ith His own. In these passages u'e have
to recognize a gallcry of tinelcss and uni- some thrilling glimpscs of that essence of
versal human types in this book. humanity and humility that was 'Abdu'l-
The spoken language of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 is Bahi.
hgurative and almost indistinguishable XII. Next to His personal correspon-
dence, talks comprise the largest segment
from His u,ritten style. He makes use of a
rich fund of Iiterary devices-rhymed of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's recorded words. One
mry di.ringui'h berrreen rrlks giren to
prrrd\e.. .ymmerrir.tl form.. ellircrariont.
Bahf is and addresses to thc general pub-
assonances, metaphors, similes, and allu-
lic, :uch r: :oLierie.. group.. .tniversirics.
sions-that, far from sounding contrived and congregations. Generally they have
and artificial, are naturally matched to the
the sanre literary marks and rhetorical
subject matter: the essence of faithfulness. pafterns that are characteristic of 'Abdu'l-
Wirh ton. rere imrges He dcscribes spirit- Bai.rih's \(ritings.
urrl 'r.,re' and psy.lric le\el. of (onscioL. This vast body of \Writing, boundless in
ness, as if to assert the primacy and realily its wisdom, consummate in form, generous
of the rcalm of spirit. Should the reader and loving in spirit, and rich in signili-
experience difficulty with the style, let him cance, is 'Abdu'l-Bah6.'s literary legacy, a
savor it siowly, allowing the unfamiliar lega.y rh.rr. like His own prayer. rises
language to create its on'n spirit and 'ahoae words ancl letters" and transcends
brcathe life into its allusions. Let the "tbe utrtntr ol tllable: and sotwJs"
*'ords of 'Abdu'l-Bahi trace in his mind It is the realiry of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 so far as
the shape of thc valley of love and u'e the gratefr.rl reaclers are capable of
faithfulness. perceiving.