Reality, Soul and the Worlds of God
IV.   The Workshop of Interacting Souls
[Compiler: “The Workshop of Interacting Souls” is a continuation of the “Life Path of the Soul” in Section III. E., but emphasizing the macrocosmic repercussions and macrocosmic environment of souls’ lives interacting with each other.]
E.   God’s Purpose for Man in Fulfillment
2.   The Soul Responding through Prayer
c.   The Unique Authority and Power of “Revealed Prayers”
[from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh:]
1415.The traditions established the fact that in all Dispensations the law of prayer hath constituted a fundamental element of the Revelation of all the Prophets of God—a law the form and the manner of which hath been adapted to the varying requirements of every age. Inasmuch as every subsequent Revelation hath abolished the manners, habits, and teachings that have been clearly, specifically, and firmly established by the former Dispensation, these have accordingly been symbolically expressed in terms of “sun” and “moon”.
(Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraph 39, pp. 36-37)
1416.We have caused the rivers of Divine utterance to proceed out of Our throne, that the tender herbs of wisdom and understanding may spring forth from the soil of your hearts. Will ye not be thankful? They who disdain to worship their Lord shall be of those who are cast off.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XVIII, p. 43)
1417.The spirit that animateth the human heart is the knowledge of God, and its truest adorning is the recognition of the truth that “He doeth whatsoever He willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth.”
(Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection CXXXIV, p. 291)
1418.Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection CXXXVI, p. 295)
1419.Your behavior towards your neighbor should be such as to manifest clearly the signs of the one true God, for ye are the first among men to be re-created by His Spirit, the first to adore and bow the knee before Him, the first to circle round His throne of glory. I swear by Him Who hath caused Me to reveal whatever hath pleased Him! Ye are better known to the inmates of the Kingdom on high than ye are known to your own selves.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection CXLVII, pp. 316-317)
1420.In the Prayer of Fasting We have revealed: “Should Thy Will decree that out of Thy mouth these words proceed and be addressed unto them, ‘Observe, for My Beauty’s sake, the fast, O people, and set no limit to its duration,’ I swear by the majesty of Thy glory, that every one of them will faithfully observe it, will abstain from whatsoever will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so until they yield up their souls unto Thee.” In this consisteth the complete surrender of one’s will to the Will of God.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection CLX, pp. 337-338)
1421.I render Thee thanks, O Thou Who hast lighted Thy fire within my soul, and cast the beams of Thy light into my heart, that Thou hast taught Thy servants how to make mention of Thee, and revealed unto them the ways whereby they can supplicate Thee, through Thy most holy and exalted tongue, and Thy most august and precious speech. But for Thy leave, who is there that could venture to express Thy might and Thy grandeur; and were it not for Thine instruction, who is the man that could discover the ways of Thy pleasure in the kingdom of Thy creation?
(Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations, Selection CLXXVI, p. 283)
1422.I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Beauty that shineth forth above the horizon of eternity, a Beauty before which as soon as it revealeth itself the kingdom of beauty boweth down in worship, magnifying it in ringing tones, to grant that I may die to all that I possess and live to whatsoever belongeth unto Thee.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations, Selection CLXXVII, p. 290)
1423.Whatsoever is revealed by Thee is the desire of my heart and the beloved of my soul.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations, Selection CLXXXIII, “Long Obligatory Prayer”, p. 318)
1424.Praise be unto Thee, O our God, that Thou hast sent down unto us that which draweth us nigh unto Thee, and supplieth us with every good thing sent down by Thee in Thy Books and Thy Scriptures. Protect us, we beseech Thee, O my Lord, from the hosts of idle fancies and vain imaginations. Thou, in truth, art the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
(Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations, Selection CLXXXIII, “Long Obligatory Prayer”, p. 323)
1425.....every man may testify, in himself, by himself, in the station of the Manifestation of his Lord, that verily there is no God save Him, and that every man may thereby win his way to the summit of realities, until none shall contemplate anything whatsoever but that he shall see God therein.
(Bahá’u’lláh: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, pp. 1-2)
[from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (no authority):]
1426.Some other commandments have been also revealed in the style of prayer. Blessed are those who attain! Blessed are those who practice!
(Bahá’u’lláh in the compilation Bahá’í World Faith, p. 203)
[from the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (no authority):]
1427.This is the glorious time of which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke when He told us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”. I hope that this is also your expectation and great desire.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, “Discourse at ‘L’Alliance Spiritualiste’, Salle de l'Athenee, St. Germain, Paris, November 9th”, p. 88)
[from the Writings or talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (no authority):]
1428.....set to music the verses and the divine words so that they may be sung with soul-stirring melody, in the Assemblies and gatherings, and that the hearts of the listeners may become tumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abhá in supplication and prayer.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the compilation Bahá’í World Faith, p. 378)
[Writings of Shoghi Effendi:]
1429.“Finally, He1 said: ‘Bid them recite: “Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!” Tell them to repeat it five hundred times, nay, a thousand times, by day and by night, sleeping and waking, that haply the Countenance of Glory may be unveiled to their eyes, and tiers of light descend upon them.’ He Himself...recited this same verse....”
(Shoghi Effendi quoting Mírzá Aqá Ján quoting Bahá’u’lláh citing “The Remover of Difficulties” prayer revealed by the Báb: God Passes By, Chapter 7: “Bahá’u’lláh’s Banishment to ‘Iráq”, p. 119)
1 (Bahá’u’lláh)