DOCSLIB.ORG

The Maid of Heaven

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Maid of Heaven The Maid of Heaven A personal compilation (2020) Contents From the Writings of Shoghi Effendi ...................................................................................... 2 From the Universal House of Justice ..................................................................................... 2 From the Writings of the Báb ................................................................................................. 3 Qayyumu'l-Asmá' ................................................................................................................ 3 From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh ............................................................................................ 4 Rashh-i-'Amá (The Clouds of the Realms Above) ............................................................. 4 Qaṣídiy-i-Izz-iVarqá’íyyih (Ode of the Dove) ..................................................................... 5 Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (The Hidden Words) .......................................................................... 6 Lawh-i-Ghulámu’l-Khuld (Tablet of the Immortal Youth) ................................................... 7 Ḥúr-i-‘Ujáb (Tablet of the Wondrous Maiden) .................................................................. 11 Lawh-i-Malláhu'l-Quds (Tablet of the Holy Mariner) ........................................................ 13 Súriy-i-Qalam (Súrih of the Pen) ..................................................................................... 17 Súriy-i-Bayán (Tablet of Utterance) ................................................................................. 20 Lawḥi-Ru’yá (Tablet of the Vision) ................................................................................... 22 Súriy-i-Haykal (Súriy of the Temple) ................................................................................ 23 Further reading ..................................................................................................................... 24 Note: ‘RB’ in the introductory notes above most of the following texts refer to Adib Taherzadeh’s ‘The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh’ (4 volumes). 1 of 24 From the Writings of Shoghi Effendi … the “Most Great Spirit,” as designated by Himself, and symbolized in the Zoroastrian, the Mosaic, the Christian, and Muḥammadan Dispensations by the Sacred Fire, the Burning Bush, the Dove and the Angel Gabriel respectively, descended upon, and revealed itself, personated by a “Maiden,” to the agonized soul of Bahá’u’lláh. — God Passes By, p. 100 [Bahá’u’lláh] sang the praises of that Maiden that personified the Spirit of God within Him… — God Passes By, p. 121 From the Universal House of Justice In the past, as you are well aware, it has not been uncommon to use human love, passion and longing as an allegory of the divine love between God and His creatures. One has only to think of the Song of Songs in the Old Testament, the writings of some of the Christian saints and much of Persian mystical poetry. The tradition represented by such literature was used by Bahá’u’lláh in aspects of His Revelation. — Letter dated 27 August 1998 2 of 24 From the Writings of the Báb Qayyumu'l-Asmá' 1844 Extracts [Characterized by Bahá’u’lláh as “the first, the greatest, and mightiest of all books” in the Bábí Dispensation — paraphrased from: Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 23] … Let the Maid of Heaven, the inmate of the Exalted Paradise, drape Herself in a coarse vesture and put on a veil of the most beautiful silk. Then let her step out of Her mansion, appearing by Herself, upon the earth, in the beauty of the black-eyed damsel. Let Her listen to the sweet praise out of Thy holy breaths upon the Seat of the Throne and in the celestial spheres, that haply those intoxicated and bewildered amongst the dwellers on earth may be awakened by Thy Cause, to an ... extent less than a single hair from the back of Her head, as ordained by God. God ... verily knoweth all things.... "O people of the earth! By the righteousness of the One true God, I am the Maid of Heaven begotten by the Spirit of Bahá, abiding within the Mansion hewn out of a mass of ruby, tender and vibrant; and in this mighty Paradise naught have I ever witnessed save that which proclaimeth the Remembrance of God by extolling the virtues of this Arabian Youth. Verily there is none other God but your Lord, the All-Merciful. Magnify ye, then, His station, for behold, He is poised in the midmost heart of the All-Highest Paradise as the embodiment of the [glorification] of God in the Tabernacle wherein [exaltation of His unity] is intoned...." … Permit Her to divest Herself of Her coarse robe, put on the garment She donneth in Her reserved Chamber. For verily the dwellers of heaven have wailed out of their yearning for Her hair, arrayed beneath Her veil. God is verily merciful unto His believing servants. Return, O Thou Immortal Maid of Heaven, unto the holy Sanctuary within Thy Mansion. Thou wouldst receive Thy reward solely from Me, written down, verily, by Mine own hand in this Book through a single letter of My Command that hath been inscribed around the Fire. — Provisional translation by Nader Saiedi, in Gate of the Heart, pp. 153-4. 3 of 24 From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh Tihrán, Persia Rashh-i-'Amá (The Clouds of the Realms Above) 1852 [Bahá'u'lláh's first Tablet was a poem in Persian, Rashh-i-'Amá, revealed in the Síyáh- Chál of Tihrán soon after the descent of the Most Great Spirit upon His radiant soul. It is a song of victory and joy. Although its language is allusive, His divine experience is clearly proclaimed… Although consisting of only nineteen lines, this poem in itself constitutes a mighty book. Within it are contained the potentialities, the character, the power and the glory of forty years of Divine Revelation to come. It announces the glad-tidings of the release of spiritual energies which are described by Bahá'u'lláh in such terms as the wafting of the divine musk-laden Breeze, the appearance of the Ocean of the Cause of God, the sounding of the Trumpet Blast, the flow of the Living Waters, the warbling of the Nightingale of Paradise and the appearance of the Maid of Heaven … — RB1:45-46] 1. ’Tis from Our rapture that the clouds of realms above are raining down; ’Tis from Our anthem that the mysteries of faith are raining down. 2. Upon the Eastern wind Cathay’s entrancing musk doth waft; This sweetly scented breeze from Our curling locks is raining down. 3. The day-star of adornment hath dawned forth above the face of God; Behold that mystic truth which from His Countenance is raining down. 4. The sea of purity hath from the wave of true reunion surged; This precious, rare bestowal from Our rapture is raining down. 5. The treasuries of love lay hid within the very heart of Fárs; From out this treasure trove the pearls of faithfulness are raining down. 6. The splendour of the rose doth bring the ecstasy of choicest wine; This subtle music from the ringing tones of Lordship is raining down. 7. The trumpet-blast of Judgement Day, the joyful bliss of heaven’s call— Both at a single breath are from the firmament now raining down. 8. The Day of “I am He” is made to shine resplendent from Our face; The Age of “He is He” from out Our flowing cup is raining down. 9. From out the fountain of Our heart hath God’s celestial river flowed; This cup of honeyed nectar from Our ruby lips is raining down. 10. The Day of God hath been fulfilled, for lo, the Lord hath been unveiled; This wondrous message from the melody of Ṭá’ is raining down. 4 of 24 11. Behold Bahá’s outpouring grace, the bounty of the clouds above, Which, merged into a single song, in God’s own voice is raining down. 12. Behold the Lord’s leviathan, behold His sacred countenance; Behold the blessings of the heart that from His throne are raining down. 13. Behold the Palm of Paradise, behold the warbling of the Dove; Behold the glorious hymns that in the purest light are raining down. 14. Behold the soul-entrancing song, behold the beating of the drum, Behold the sacred rhythms that from Our hand are raining down. 15. Behold the Countenance Divine! Behold the Maid of Paradise! Behold the grace upon the world from Our own presence raining down. 16. Behold the everlasting Face! Behold the chalice-bearer’s charm! Behold the crystal draught that from Our brimming cup is raining down. 17. Behold the fire of Moses, see His hand that shineth white; Behold the heart of Sinai—from Our hand all raining down. 18. Hear ye the sotted lovers’ sighs, behold the garden blooming fair; Behold the bliss that from His presence in your midst is raining down. 19. Behold the radiant face of Há’, behold the beauteous robe of Bá’; Behold the Lordly grace that from Our Pen is raining down. 20. The vessel of the Advent this, the clouds of limpid waters these; The trill of songbirds this, from Our fleeting Wellspring raining down. Sulaymaniyyih period (1854-1856) Qaṣídiy-i-Izz-iVarqá’íyyih (Ode of the Dove) [The theme of the Qasídiy-i-Varqá'íyyih is the praise and glorification of the Most Great Spirit which had descended upon Him in the symbolic form of the 'Maid of Heaven'. There is a dialogue between Himself as the Bearer of God's Message and the Holy Spirit personified as the Maid of Heaven, whose attributes and splendours He glorifies. For His own part, He dwells on His past sufferings, recounts the cruel fashion in which His enemies had imprisoned Him with chains and fetters, speaks of His grief and loneliness and resolutely affirms His determination to arise and face, with steadfastness and joy, any calamity which might in the future descend upon Him in the path of God. — RB1:63] Provisional translation at: https://bahaistudies.ca/uploads/2019/11/29.3-OdeoftheDove.pdf 5 of 24 Baghdad period (1856-1863) Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (The Hidden Words) 1858 ['Sadratu'l-Muntahá' in this passage literally means the tree beyond which there is no passing. The Arabs used to plant trees along certain roads and the last tree indicating the end of the road was known as 'Sadratu'l-Muntahá'. This term which has been used by Bahá'u'lláh in many of His Writings is, in one sense, the symbol of the station of the Manifestation of God, a station which is beyond the reach and understanding of men.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Bicentenary of the Birth of The
    Bahá’í Canada W INTER 2020 | D OMINION 176 B . E . VOL . 33 N O. 1 The bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb From the Writings before your eyes, as indeed inscribed in the presence of This is a letter from God, the Help in Peril, the Self- God in the Mother Book. God hath indeed made Me Subsisting, unto God, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved, blessed, wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon to affirm that the Bayán and such as bear allegiance to Me to observe prayer and fortitude so long as I shall live it are but a present from me unto Thee and to express on earth amongst you. my undoubting faith that there is no God but Thee, that – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 47. the kingdoms of Creation and Revelation are Thine, that no one can attain anything save by Thy power and that He Whom Thou hast raised up is but Thy servant In this mountain [Máku] I have remained alone, and and Thy Testimony. I, indeed, beg to address Him have come to such a pass that none of those gone before Me Whom God shall make manifest, by Thy leave in these have suffered what I have suffered, nor any transgressor words: “Shouldst Thou dismiss the entire company endured what I have endured! I render praise unto God of the followers of the Bayán in the Day of the Latter and yet again praise Him. I find Myself free from sorrow, Resurrection by a mere sign of Thy finger even while still inasmuch as I abide within the good-pleasure of My Lord a suckling babe, Thou wouldst indeed be praised in Thy and Master.
    [Show full text]
  • The Languages of the Bahai Writings
    The Languages of Revelation of the Bahá’í Writings TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW OF LANGUAGES OF REVELATION 2 THE LINGUISTIC MAKEUP OF THE BAHÁ’Í WRITINGS 3 THE WRITINGS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH 4 THE WRITINGS OF THE BÁB 6 THE WRITINGS OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 7 Overview of Languages of Revelation "Over 90% of the works of the Báb, well over half of the works of Bahá’u’lláh, and one third of the works of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are in Arabic; the remainder are in Persian or a mixture of the two." Steven Phelps, “A Partial Inventory of the Works of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith” (Version 2.02, 3 November 2020), p. 2; PDF accessible online at: http://blog.loomofreality.org/ Bahá'u'lláh's Writings The Báb's Writings Persian 10% Arabic Persian 50% 50% Arabic 90% Abdu'l-Bahá's Writings Arabic 33% Persian/ Mixed 67% 2 The Linguistic Makeup of the Bahá’í Writings The mixture of Arabic and Persian in the Bahá’í Writings is a truly novel and wonderful thing. It is not at all unusual for a text to begin in one language, switch to the other midway, and then switch back to the first language further on. This is most commonly seen with Bahá’í prayers, which were typically not born in a vacuum, but are in fact passages from longer Tablets. Oftentimes, a Tablet will begin in Persian, then shift to a prayer in Arabic, and then resume in Persian. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets of the Divine Plan abound with examples of this phenomenon.
    [Show full text]
  • Program and Abstracts
    ‘Irfán Colloquium One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Session Bicentennial Celebration of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh Program and Abstracts Centre for Bahá’í Studies Acuto, Italy 5-8 July 2017 Vision and Aims of `Irfan Colloquium The ‘Irfán Colloquium aims at promoting and supporting systematic studies of fundamental principles of the Bahá’í beliefs, the Writings of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith, the interface of the Bahá’í Faith with intellectual schools of thought and religious traditions, and looking at current challenges in human society from the Bahá’í perspective. `Irfán is a Persian word referring to mystical, theological and spiritual knowledge. Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund was established by Houshang Arjmand (1930-2015) in 1992 to honor his grand- father, Haj Mehdi Arjmand and is dedicated to promoting the scholarly study of the Bahá’í Faith. Haj Mehdi Arjmand (1861- 1941) was a Persian scholar and teacher of the Bahá’í Faith who became well known in Iran for his profound knowledge of the Bible, Qur’an, and Bahá’í scriptures. The primary activity of the Fund is sponsoring annual sessions of `Irfán Colloquium and `Irfán publications. In 2012, benefiting from the guidance received from the Universal House of Justice, a management board was appointed for this fund by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to function as a Bahá’í agency. This Fund, together with Nadia Saadat Memorial Scholarship Fund, sponsor ‘Irfán Colloquia, presently held in North America and Western Europe in English, Persian and German languages. Papers in English presented or received at the `Irfán Colloquia are annually published in a series of volumes of the Lights of `Irfán.
    [Show full text]
  • Bahá'u'lláh's Symbolic Use of the Veiled Ḥúríyyih
    9 Résumé Bahá’u’lláh’s « Ḥúríyyih », terme tirant son origine du Coran (44-54, 52:20, 56-22 et 55:72), fait Symbolic Use référence aux fi gures féminines angéliques of the Veiled qui résident au paradis et accompagnent les croyants. Dans les Écrits bahá’ís, ce Ḥúríyyih mot a souvent été traduit par « la céleste Houri », une personnifi cation symbolique de la réalité divine de Bahá’u’lláh. Dans JOHN S. HATCHER, cet article, les auteurs explorent com- AMROLLAH HEMMAT, ment Bahá’u’lláh utilise ce procédé méta- EHSANOLLAH HEMMAT phorique pour illustrer les forces à l’œuvre dans le contexte de son apparition comme Manifestation de Dieu. En particulier, ils Abstract examinent le rôle symbolique crucial que “Ḥúríyyih,” a term whose roots can be le dévoilement de la céleste Houri joue par found in the Qur’án (44–54, 52:20, 56–22, rapport au dévoilement progressif de la and 55:72), refers to angelic female fi gures mission de Bahá’u’lláh. Alors que certains that reside in paradise and accompany the lecteurs pourraient croire que cette fi gure believers. In the Bahá’í Writings, the word est une représentation littérale de l’Esprit has often been translated as “the Maid of Saint apparaissant à Bahá’u’lláh, les au- Heaven,” a symbolic personifi cation of the teurs espèrent démontrer que Bahá’u’lláh divine reality of Bahá’u’lláh. In this arti- a plutôt créé une représentation fi gurative cle we explore how Bahá’u’lláh employs ou symbolique de la façon dont Il révèle this fi gurative device to portray the forces progressivement ses instructions pour cette at work in the context of His appearance époque tant attendue de l’histoire humaine, as a Manifestation of God.
    [Show full text]
  • FOOTPRINTS in the SANDS of TIME Memoire of a Maidservant
    FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME Memoire of a Maidservant Shahla Behroozi Gillbanks © Shahla Behroozi Gillbanks 2019 All Rights Reserved Published online by The Afnan Library Trust Sandy, Bedfordshire, 2019 1 FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” ~~ Mary Stevenson, 1936 2 INTRODUCTION: "FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME" is my memoir as a Bahá’í in Iran, pioneering in different countries around the world, and a historical account of service in the United States, New Zealand, and Czechoslovakia. Part, I, MY FAMILY HISTORY starts with the 1880’s historical perspective of Persian history when my grandfather left Ishghabad for the ancient city of Hamadan. Then his family life in Tehran and his involvement in the Persian Constitutional Revolution.
    [Show full text]
  • Demystifying the Tablet of the Holy Mariner Part III Presents Additio
    PART III – ANALYSIS (optional! – not for group study!) Demystifying the Tablet of the Holy Mariner Part III presents additional background on the Tablet of the Holy Mariner, with Bau’s extended analyses and individual interpretations. Those who are studying the Tablet at this level should also read the Tablet of the Holy Mariner commentaries from the other authors (Taherzadeh, Sours, Samandari, etc.) to get a more well-rounded view of the Tablet. Some readers will find this material tedious, while others will be fascinated… to each their own and proceed (or not) as appropriate! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Optional - Audio. If you enjoyed the audio backgrounds, you may want to select appropriate background music for your individual study of Part III. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ========================================================================= 8) THEMES AND SYMBOLS FROM SCRIPTURES ========================================================================= The Arabic Tablet of the Holy Mariner was revealed in a marvelous symbolic language; those who are not familiar with the meanings of the symbols will not perceive the underlying messages. “Bahá’u’lláh’s writings are full of symbolism, mostly in the form of metaphors and similes based on well-known religious themes, places, and personages. This is especially so with the Tablet of the Holy Mariner… Without knowledge of the various ancient scriptural stories to which Bahá'u'lláh is alluding, the Tablet would appear far more cryptic than it is. Bahá'u'lláh said that sacred writings often have many meanings, but there is no reason to confuse this with the idea that they can have arbitrary meaning… “The Tablet of the Holy Mariner contains numerous symbols… [which] fall within basic groups with known scriptural antecedents…Hebrew scriptures…folklore… Christian and Islamic sources…the writings of the Báb…the poetry of the mystics [and Bahá’u’lláh’s other writings].
    [Show full text]
  • Teaching Children's Classes Grade 1
    Teaching Children’s Classes Grade 1 Ruhi Institute Book 3 Teaching Children’s Classes Grade 1 Ruhi Institute Books in the Series: Below are the current titles in the series designed by the Ruhi Institute. The books are intended to be used as the main sequence of courses in a systematic effort to enhance the capacity of youth and adults to serve their communities. The Ruhi Institute is also developing a set of courses that branch out from the third book in the series for training teachers of Bahá’í children’s classes, as well as another set from Book 5 for raising up animators of junior youth groups. These, too, are indicated in the list below. It should be noted that the list may undergo change as experience in the field advances, and additional titles will be added as a number of curricular elements under development reach the stage where they can be made widely available. Book 1 Reflections on the Life of the Spirit Book 2 Arising to Serve Book 3 Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 1 Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 2 (branch course) Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 3 (branch course) Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 4 (branch course) Book 4 The Twin Manifestations Book 5 Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth Initial Impulse: The first branch course of Book 5 Widening Circle: The second branch course of Book 5 Book 6 Teaching the Cause Book 7 Walking Together on a Path of Service Book 8 The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh Book 9 Gaining an Historical Perspective Book 10 Building Vibrant Communities Book 11 Material Means Book 12 Family and the Community Book 13 Engaging in Social Action Book 14 Participating in Public Discourse Copyright © 1987, 1995, 2021 by the Ruhi Foundation, Colombia All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]