It6t 1'IVJ

I0
 A BAH{ MAGAZINE. VOLUME 6 NIIMBER 1 . PUBLISHED QUARTERTY

Eclitorial Board:
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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Subscriber aod business correspondence 29 'Abdu'l-Bah6; Portrayals from East and \fest
should be to rhis addte\s. Manuscripts
,.d orher 'enr
edjtorral cocrespondence should by Marzieh Gail
be addressed to 2011 Yale Station, Nev
Haveo, Connecticut 06120.

The views exprested herein are those oI the

47 A Glimpse of rhe Master
:,,rhor and do oor necessrrilv reflect the from the diary of /uliet Thom|son
o.i.ions oI lhe oub'isher, rhe National Spir-
;,i,"r a*emblv 6t the Bahi is or the United
States. or of the tdiroriaL Board Manuscript'
it'ouii Ue tvp.*'irt.n and double spaced 67 The Nfrirjngs of 'Abdu'l-Bahi
it'i""oho"t. " rh the foolnores ar rhe end by Arnin Ban,ini
The ciontributor should keep a rarbon topv'
Return postage should be included.

subscriDdon: Reaular mail USA. S4 10: 76 Five Books About 'Abdu'l-Bah6

Dome'iic .tudeni rdre, sJ.50i Foreigo
$!.00. Sinsle copy, $1.25. a review by Kazem Kazernzatleb
ald Fbaz Kazemzadeb
CoovriahrO l9-i, Nrtiondl spiritual As-
s.ribtriof rte Bahi is ot rhe Unired
States.
\Uorld Righrs Reserved. Printed in tlre
I].S.4. Inside Back Cover: Authors and Artists in This Issue
 pup q€rv 'ao; pu€ puer{ dq paauSo>.r
yr{eg-J.npqy, f,rJotaril uo urnrrua;d
sEra.
qSrq u pareld ttqr ernllnJ e u1 sSur
{IU( srH uo;1 ayqeqsn8ur:srpur uauo alz
saq>ads snoauu.roduarxe slg 1o suolrdr::
-sue.r1 sa8en8uel ealql asaqt ql ruenboTa
PUP ruenu qtoq sE,r\ yqEgl.npqv, Jrq€rv
ur aJ"-qsr>lJnJ ur sJeltal pue sre,(e.rd;o
laqlunu IIEurs .,fue,,r r: ;o uonda:xa aqr qrrn
aql :u€rsJed ur a.le sSur:1.12tr s.gqlg
-tseJ
1.npqv, ]o sqqg-rnoJ llareurrxo:ddy
'suoneslaluol papJoJal pup 's>11er trlqnd
'suraod 's.ralB;d 's1ooq 'satuer{t Jgrlads
uo stalqet 'srayqer 1v.reua3 'atruepuodsal
-ror leuos.rad Jo tsrsuotr s8unu2q stg
'lx3a1
,{;y;arq sr11 3unr11o: pue 'Surzdleuu '3ur
-;aqry3 ul auop aq ol sumulal rpntu puE
:uidou>Jun lad su sr aurnlo,r IJnJ Jraql aJrJ
srg ;o rr:a,{ leug pue qrq8ra-druales eqt ol
sat1ua,rl f1.rea srH uroJJ :oql1 :grto.rd;o
,{rnrue: r JIEr-l ucrlr JJoru Jo }rnJJ Jql
Jrp pqpgJ.npqv..to sDNL-rdlfr I H!_L/ T

INYNVfl NIIAIY IS

yqefJ'r,npqv,
Jo
sEurru4l
eqr

L9
6s \{ORLD ORDER: FALL 1911
Persian, as a paragon of distincrive style
and eloquence.
It
is the intent of this article to touch
upon the charactcr oI that sryle and to
prcsent an overvien' of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's
\\ ririrrg. in ririoLr\ !( nrer and |. ateSorie..
Discussion of the language and style is
inhercntly limited, as it must be attempted
across t\\'in barriers of colture ancl tongue;
thc attempt at categorizlttion is necessarily
erbitrary and is mcant tct serve only as a
caraloguc. Obviously any numbcr o{ crite-
ria, such as chronological, thcmirtic, and
linguistic, clrr provide dilferent sets of
categories. Fr,rrthcttnore, some $orlis cited
a5 cxampies of certain categories could
easily be put undcr others.
'ABr)u'L-BAH,{ \'as, of cotlrse, not a
proplret uncl at no timc clairned to have
receivccl clirect rcvel:rtion from God. BLrt
as thc Centcr of thc Covenant of His
Flther and the appointed Interpretcr of
His Revelation. Bahi'is believc, 'Abdu'l-
BahlL *'ls clivinell inspired tncl guidccl.
I{is Writings, thcrefore, constitule fot the
Bah/r'is at oncc x fart ancl:rn elaboration
of their Scriprures.
Thc cluesrion of divincl,v inspired ltn-
gurgc has traditionally posed a dilcl.rma
and given risc to baselcss dogma in the
religions of the past. In thejr litcral-
mindcd zeal to aver the authenticity of
thcir Ho11, \l,-rir, devotees o{ traditional
religions hrve often insisted on the divioe
authorship of the vcrl' lexicaL end svntlc-
tic forn of that rW'rit. This vies not only
reduces God to the usc of perticular and
diffcrcnt human tongues, but ic also at-
temprs to isolate rcligior-rs sritings from
the boci,v of the langu:rge in ui.iich thel
\\cr \rir'\r. l, ,1r.rrc. dirin, ori:in
rr llr rl'.o ..re lingui. i, .'rJ lircr.'ri ori1.
in..l,rt. Tlror r.'ro..llrrlJ Lhi''irr .'rt
resentful of any comparison and ptece-
dence. lWirh their pervertccl notion of
originalitl', the,v completely miss thc often
striking litcrary originality ol holy books
that can only be perceived in the lighr of
rr"dirions in rheir l.rngu.rg.s. B1 ignoring
che literary traditions, conceptual methods,
cultural associarions in short by denying
tl.re life of the language-they reduce
rather than enhance comprehension and
rrue appreciation of holv scriptures.
'Abdril'Bahh's t*o primary languages
h:rve vigorous and highly developed liter-
ary traditions s,ith morc than a thousand
years of life. Only thc briefest mention of
facets of thesc tradirions that are Eiermane
to the rJ7ritings of 'Abdu'1-Bahh is possible
herc. Since most of 'Abdu'l Bahi's $irrit-
in-e;s are in Pcrsian, the main focus here is
on Pcrsian literary traclirions. But so manv
of these :rre shared q'ith Arabic indeed
in manv cases thcy arc reflections of
Arabic norms in Persian that thc obser-
vetions uill generally bc true of the
Arabic literary traditions as u ell.
lior nearly a thousand years sincc the
formulation encl the crystallization of cl:rs-
sicrl critcria in Arabic and Persien litera-
'..-r rrrrrr rr,r' cri.'..1 JI'r,o.c. l\rion
* ith and a prin.racy of form. Needless to
se!, tightllLmetered and fully-rh-vmed
poetry) as the most formal of literar,v arts,
h:rs bccn the nrlstcr art form for thc
Ar;rbs end rhc Pcrsians. Prose.rrirers from
their acsthctically inferiot position have
attempted to ennoblc their sork uith
qualities of poetrr', evolving a technicpe
knosn es iri. It introduccs the besic
poetic ingrcclicuts of rhlrne ancl rirythrr-r
in,.';'-o.c r' irrto.,r . . r'1. lly r-.rrr'l,,rrrt.': t
into eclual-footccl lines. A symmctry of
cxpression is echievccl b-r' Lrsc of Icxical
dericcs sr,rcl-r is svlrofrlDrsi tntonYms, ancl
homonlnrs giving prosc an arctritccturll
plesticitl' .rncl rcnclcring it rnemoral>le.
'fhis sq,lc of u ritiog in Pctsirn rcached its
airex dLrring rhc thirtecnth centurl' A.D.
ancl clcclined ra;,icll1'thererftcr. Bl rhc end
of rhc cightcenth century it had reacl-tecl a
nadir of ertillcial r'erbosiq' ancl lost its
porver to comn-tunicate.
 '.lournq'e,\ol'qtur.ru,n'-'{:r:urnur'sstLitJaJrp
,{q pa1;rru aru llll arucF ,{rulotsrda
uctslad Jo sa:rld:ltsr:tu aJt sJallJJ s,rlJug
-l,nPqY, sPueq r,"rleg-uou ut sureula.r
rroitJod e pur'rsoy llqe,rar:tallr uaaq srq
e3r:lrraq snona:d srqr ;o uon:ocl e trqt 1:r;
pJlqnopun aqr alclsap 'tuaurfls tsa.q:r:1 aql
.rr; .{q satnrrsuot (sltnpr^rpur or stJJq.I)
e:uepuocisa::or lruosrld q.lrq,s. 1o sdno:;-
J\lJ\rr orur pJpl \:p JQ -r' .dur.::.r
X\
s.€qeg-J,npqy, srs,{1r:ur 3o sasod:nd :og
'rqlr€l J nPqv, Jo ]ualLr
-lrrsal PUr l|l( .rr1l jo slilqrl eql PUE
ueld aul^Io aqr Jo sralqrJ aqt slr s[l.Llrl1
-fop IrtsaurppunJ qtns ot a:uapuodsarror
p:uos:ad sr11 uro:; 3urqt,{:ara ot perlclcle
$ l q)ns sy sdno:3 :o s1r:npr,Lipur rqr:ecls
or passErppe a:u ttqt sSuur;r1tr srH Jo lle
sareu8rsap lI slro4\ srH Jo ,{tr.rohru eqt
or parlclcir sr qrrq.r (?,r/1) trlgEt ,rujJl
Ipuourpzlt sqt ,{Jurl) ot 1n;dy.rt1 Jq lqn-iur
I sbunuAr s,9qrgJ,npqv, 1o sauosetr:r
snorJr^ eqr jo uoI]11]uaJJlJrp aql ot n-urpiJ:)
-orcl a:o1ag uraqt ot atrr:clo:cldu afen8
-ue1 ur passardxa a:e 'suraod JrnrlrpJul
or sasnDeJt 1r:rqdosolrqd uro:1 liur8r:r.r
'st)efqns sIH 3ui.{:r,run sr 'puos.racl puu
elqezrufiorar selun Ilir tE q3noqtlr 'uqr:g
-l,npqy, lo a1,ts aqr ruqr raJur or raprar
aqi PEJI tou Plnoqs 5Nro9:tuol sHI
'pJrrputts enjl u sn tJaJ srq's:a,{u:d s,r-qrg
-l,nPqY, lo euos Jo suor]rlsurJ] srq ur
,{1:r:lnrrtrrd'rpuagg rqSoqg'tr1ar:unt:og
'spur:r1 atcnbapeur ur lsol eq url rl1nLlr
puu :Jolrlsurjt arlt uo uJpjnq snour.louJ
uE a)€Jd sanrTrnb Jurrs arlt lpql peululprl
aq tsnlu rl Surur:aur srg ;o Suqrurts
Japuu s.ruo Jlurque ol sr siullr.rA srH
yo sanqrnb rnaod aql rol uonerta.rdde uu
atEllrinf oI .sSuurrul\ s.pqtg-l,npqv, Io
{jpluJJrrl r sr asod:nd puc Suiuvoru 1o uors
-sardxa aq: JoJ LuJoJ rnsnJl Jo asn srql
',ltrlrurnq pul apur,r:as
;o ltrlrqou
aqt pJurlrapun seq eqrgl.npqy, safuull
JO uOISJJ\ur Jll rUfrP )rLlr ,lg F.trut,r
pu€ 'epud 'druod ;o uorse::o ue f11e
-uonrPpl-lurl qfrq 1o yrllotseq aqr puz
69 VHYB I.NCSV, :IO SSNIIIXA. AHJ,
aruarpnt 1r,{o; r yo luoura'1rt aql elo^a
llr :aqoJ pJlJ.!\alrq lusolurla.rrrll Jo 8ur
-tutr8 pue ':o,t;1o dn: aqr;o Surr;r;1orcl
'l:no) ot etuelrrxpu ;o saSron lernlpr:>
pottlal Jo sarJas r Jo eprur sr qdr:8
,/,, d/'
',rld..q1 .. l. , , u t./'l
.stauttaljTa: lo aJtlpqr aqt u.u,,,tt 4t.ntp ol
au a,L/9 - ,, :uoDl]]rsr^ Jo talql,I u,\\o sti{
ul pJlo,\J ,{.ta3r:ut aql st aydurxa raqlo
eql isrpq 1o s8ur:aqte8 .rt,ro Suru,nrp ,(rr
1
-Jlr)U Jo unq eqt ot parrDler lqpg-l,npqv,
uel]o ,\\oH uns aqt Pto^r] ttqt sJJntEeJ)
JO Sn PTiJLLTEJ Upl OSJII lt tng ',a,rlszlrad
pu r'3ur,u.,a-a;r 1'l LJapr^a-JIas Jf uo tc-aJeq
]llljlsqr Jqr Pur JrJJluQr aqr Jo uorl
-Eu[unllr ]rll]llul sr Jiaql qrlJ.n.eqlrg Jo
uonDIa^JU aq::o1 1oqru.{s u pue .roqdetoru
e sP qtoq sSuDulN srH ur trPuanba:;
slnrro r{rrq.!\ (qra11 lo uxg aq!. a*;r1<I
aqr sI ts.IIC rrltg-J.npqy, 1o sfurrrrlX
JLlr ur ruJ.uoJ l\ut ru-lo1 1o (uoLul q
slql etrlJtsrlllr ftu salclurexa JaiJq o,\\J
'r\uJ\ Jyl-rr. {1rr.Lr r rulol
- 1,, rrr.r
-3arur :rurSro pur ,{trlrur:o1 alrJots uae.\\l
-aq eluejegrP ;qt sr sql uonllltur pur
'uonruSol 'uoucla:r:ad ;o saulld rua:agrp
q8norqr Il1r.r.r Jlurs aqt Io uoll:r:r;a: lq
purru s,raprrr aqt purclxe ol tnq 'tlllqns
Jql Punorr Ira.\ r.\\PJP ot JePlo ur lou
'saluEuossrp puil isJluNUossil'suol]tJeltJ
-1r:'sar:ofal1r'sJoqtuls'saltruis's-ror{duaur
sr LlJ1lS Selr^aP ,{:urIJ pur: lrttJotaql
1o .rfuer rsi:,r. r;o pur,{raflrur tltaod 1o
asn sJltru aH ruJruol Jqt ol qteotddr ur
sr rurol yrllrg-l,npqy, 1o sSurl:1X aqr u1
'af rlIlJr Pe^rJtuol
Parlsrurq serl
aH :lualuol PUlr urjoJ 8rtlzruotu:rq iq Irq
:ruroj rurlrrrrJ otur elrT ,\\JU pJqtErJq
"
sr:q yqrg'l.npqv, ,lLtt lo Surra.tog
r\as l.z sr tJ uonrptJt .{rrrall 1o pJour
rsarnd aqr ur sr lr re1 lrur8r:o a:o;a.raqt
Puu'ltuosrad,ilqelrtsrruun'a^n)urlsrp
sr 11 el,ts anbrun ? olur r surro; uos;ad
srg ;o trrars.{ur eqJ s)usrlatJerpqf str
qr,s. a8lnSur:1 utrsrJd arlt sI &lr aql qgll
-.n.rqPg Jo uoDrla^rll aqt sl snulluE aql
'uorssardxJ puu uone:rdsur srH ]o epour
Prp,\\lno aqr $ gqvgl.npqv, lo ull.ls sHJ
05 S'ORID ORDIR FALL ]q-1
Persian, as a paragon of distinctive style
and eloquence.
It is the intent of this article to touch
upon thc character of that sryle and to
presenr an overvierv of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's
Wriring. in r.rriou' gerrc: rnd (Jlegnrier'
l)iscussion of the language and style is
inhcrently limitecl, as it must be attempted
across twjn barriers of culture and tonguc;
the attempt lt categorization is necessarily
arbitrary and is t-t-leant to scrve only as a
c:rtalogue. ObviorLsly any number of crite"
ria, such as chronological, thematic, and
ling;uistic. can provide differcnt sets of
catcgories. Furrhermore, some uorks cited
as examples of cert;rin categories could
easily be put under othcrs.
'ABDU'L IIAHA \\'as, of course, not a
prophet and nt no time claintcd to heve
received dircct revcl.ltion from Gocl. But
as the (lcnter of the Covena[t of His
Fathcr and thc appointcd Intcrpreter of
His Rcvclation, Rahr'r'is beli"r'e, 'Abdu'l-
Bahri qus divinely inspirecl end guidccl
His Writings, rhercfore, constitute for the
Bah/.r'is at once lr ptrr ;rnd an eiaboration
of their Scripturcs.
Thc qocstion of divinel.v inspired lan-
guage has traditionalll' posccl a dilemn.ta
and givcn rise to baseless dogma in t}.re
rcligions of the past. In thcir literal-
minded zcal ro avcr tl're authenticity of
tlreir Ho11' \\/rit, devotecs of traditional
rcligions har,c ofren insisted on the clivine
authorship of dre verl' lexicaL ancl sl ntac-
tic forn.r of thirt Vrit. This vieu'not onli'
redLrccs (lod to tbe use of pirrticular and
diflerent human tongues, but it also at-
renlpts ro isolrtc leligittus urirings from
tbe bodv of the langurLge in thich thci'
\\ r r( \\ r r rr'r . I r' 1. .r I L- .lrr icc rr i- irr
rritr ,rb'olrrrL lin;..i' i,
.rrrd lircr.rrr orig-
rrr..lirt. Th,^e rrlro ..ph,'lJ rlri' rier 'rr,.
rcsentful of an1' comparison and prece-
dcncc. Wir1.r their perverted notion of
origintrlitl', thcy con.rpletely miss the often
striking Jirerary originalitv of hol1'books
that can only bc perceived in the light of
rr-di'ion. in thcir l.,ngrrg.s. By ignorirg
the literarl' traditions, conceptual methods,
cultural associations-in short by denying
the life of the languagc-thel' reduce
rather than enhance comprel-rension aod
true appreciation of holy scriptures.
'Abdu'l Bahl's trr o prim:rry languages
h;rve vigorous and highly developed liter-
ary raclitions uith morc than a thousaod
ycars of life. Only the briefest mention of
facets of thesc traditions that are germane
to thc Writings of 'Abdu'lBahi is possible
herc. Since mov of 'Abdu'l-Bahir's 'ii/rit-
inqs are in Persian, the n.tain focus here is
on Persian literary traditions. But so manv
of thcsc are shared u itir Arabic-indeed
in n-ian1, cascs they arc rellections of
Arabic norms in Persian that the obser-
\\'ill generally bc true of
vatioos the
Arabic literary traditions as uell.
for nearly a thousand ycars sincc tl-re
forniulation anci the crystrllization of clas-
sical critcria in Arabic und Persian iitera-
r'tr( r'rC\ lr.'. , ri.,.r .r l'r('O((Lll'..'ion
u ittr and a of form. Needicss to
prin-rrrc,v
say, tightl,v n.retered ancl fullv-rhymed
poetr'', as the most formal of litcrarl'lrts.
lils bccn the mrstcr art loru for thc
Alb, .'rd Lhe Ptr.i .' .. Prr* '.r "rr--. frn rr
their acsthcticalll inferior position hevc
attcn-rpted to cnnoblc rhcir urtrk uith
clualities of poetrl', evolling e tcchniciue
knosn es rrrj-. It inrroduccs the basic
poctic ingredicnts of rhyme encl rh1'thn.r
,rro I'ru\L \rirlto.tt .. r.r..l.r'rr.' ..forr' : i
into cclual footecl lines- A synn-ietr,v of
cxptession is echicvccl b-v rtsc of lcxicel
cler iccs such is svnon\11)s, antonvn-rs, ancl
homontttts giving prosc an arctritectutal
plesticitl' ancl renclcrin.q it nenorable.
This srllc of uliting in Pctsian rcached irs
apcx during rhe tl-rirtecnth centurl' A.D
end dcclinecl rapidly thererftcr. By thc cnd
ol rhc cightccrrth centurf it had rcachecl a
nadir of altillcial verbosiry ancl lost its
pon er to conn-iunicate.
'Jolunq'erol'rltrurp.{',{lrllrr}ur'sseutJJJlp
,{q prryetr Jw traql arua8 trrelotsrda
urrslad ]o satlrd:llsrut JJlr s:altal s,rqlfl
-l,nPqY, sPupq r,erlpg-uou r1r sutputaJ
uoqJocl l: PUc'lsoJ,ilqr^ar:telJr ueeq srq
efuuaq slrone:d srqt 1o uoruod c lcqt tw1
pJlqnopull aql JtrdsEp 'tuaurS:s rs;r8rl1 erlt
ru; ,{q satll]I]suot (slrnpr^rpur o] sralclrJ)
e:uepuodsa::or lruosrld qtrqs. yo sclno:S
a^Je,\\t otul pJpr^rp rq uer sliuur.U(
s.lrrpg-l,npqy, srs,{1rur: 1o sasocl:nd :o,1 1
'rqrg-l.nPqv, Jo lueul
-lrrsal Plirr lJuN Jtll Jo slrJqrJ, JLlt Purl
ueld )ur^r(I ar{r Jo sreiqrl Jqt sU sruaiun
-f,op Irlueuepun1 qlns or JruJpuodsJrJo-)
leuos:ad sr11 urorl 3un1t,{.ra,ra ot p.trlddr:
$ l q)ns sy sclno;8:o slrnpr,r.rpur tqr:ads
ot passerppr a:u ttqt sfuurl76 srH Jo lle
sereufrsrp tI s:Iro6\ srg 1o ,{l:ohur aqt
or parlddr: sr r{rrq.\\ (7,1/1) telqct 'turel
JeuourpzJt eqt ,{Jrrrl) ot 1n;d1et1 aq tr13ru
tI sbunult\ s,grpg-l,r1pqV, 1o sarrofalr:
snorJr^ Jqt uonrltu;l-1.)Irp Jrp ot.*urpla:
-o:ci a:olag 'o uaqt ot atr:r.tclorclcfu aSen8
-uz1 ur pessarcixa e:c 'suraod a^DutrpJuJ
or sasirpaJr p:lqdosolrqd uo:1 3ul8ur-r
'sr:alqns sr11 '3ur,{re,run si 'l"uos:ad puo
alqrzrufora; seluu JIp tr q8noqtp 'r:qr:g
-l,npqy, Jo a1trrs aqr:uqt JaJUr ot laprar
Jrlt PEJI tou plnoqs sNroD:luoi sHJ
'pJrpurts JnJr u sn UeJ srq'sra,{r.td s,rqrg
1,nPqY, lo eulos Jo suol]ulsuur] sq ur
,{1:r1n:n.rrcl'rpuagg rtlSoqg',{lattunt:o,l
sputq atr:nbapr:ur ur tsol eq uc) qlnuJ
Puc :rotulsueJr aqr uo u.lpjl1q snour]oui)
uE a)uJd senrTpnb eurrs eqt lErlt palr{rrpe
aq rsnur rJ Sulurau sr11 1o Surpuus
-Japun s.auo e)urqua ol sr s8unrr2tr sr11
;o sanrlenb rltaod aqt JoJ uoqerJalddp uc
eru^Irlnr oI sfunrrlg s.9qug-J,npqv, lo
)iJlrLlIJJuq e st asod:nd pue Surura[u Jo uors
-sa-rdxa aql JoJ luJoJ fnsnJr Jo asn srql
'&lyrurnq pur apnl,r:as
1o ,{trlrqou
eql peulJrepun srrl sabDurr
"qeg-l,npqv,
Jo uorsJr^ur )nf,uJe:p srqt ,(g ,(lur,r
pue 'epud 'durod 1o uorser:o ur llyr
-uolllPurr-{url qfrq Jo le,uorsaq aqr puz
VHVS -I.NOSY, :IO SSNIIIYA EHl.
a:uarpne yrtror e ;o ,{uoura_ra: aqt e)ole
11r laqo: p.tle.naleq IpruoluJral aqt Jo 3ur
-turJf pur'.ro,ru;;o chu aqr 1o 8ur:a;1ord
'tJ11ol ot c)urllruJpe yo sa8eurr 1un:1nt
Parrlel JO SJIIJS u Jo apruur st qde:"Q
-c;rd aqa .. a t aq:/oF a.lat rfi clltrt
. !taturtalp!
to atloqt a./i u/otl ilu./tf .) j
atu aat) :uoDrtrsr^ Jo tJJqD,L u,\lo srH
ur pa:lo^e,ira.Srul
" aqr sr alclucxa raqto
eql isrtq 1o s8uueqtr:S ra^o 8uru,$rp trlr
lrau io unq eqt ot prrrr]ar yql]g-l,npqy,
uerJo ,\\oH Uns rqt plo^r trql sJlnlxJjl
JO Sl1 PUraUaJ UrJ OSJII lr lng a,rtsu,r.lad
pul '3ul,r3-a7r1 'lurpt^J-JlJs eJuo te-rJJq
rrlrrsql] eLil Pup alJlluol arll Jo uorl
-eurrunllr lrnlnLu sr aJJqI qull.n,pqtg Jo
uontlJrraU aqr ro; loqurds r pur .loqcleteu
E s? qtoq sfurrrrlX sr11 ur ,(ltuanbetl
srnr:ro qrrq,\\ . (14ra21 lo utg aqt. aseryd
rqt sr lsrrg 'fqpg i.npqy, 1o slrunr:r1,
Jrlr Jr ruJ.u.) pur LLl,l Jo truouiri q
srrlt Jt"ltsnlJi ,(rru saldurlxa Jet:q o.\I
'asuas r,\lttaJf lln:t r ui uuol
3o,{ltr
-8atut trurS:o puc,{l1ru:o1 aluJts uJJ,\\l
-Jq a)LreJaJrP erF sr srql uoDrntur puD
'uouuSol 'uoudJrJed p sauzlcl lua.ragrp
q3no:rf,{rr1ra: armrs erlt Jo uon:u1ar trq
puiru s,JepreJ erp puedxr ot tnq 'ttalqns
Jql PunoJN ira,\ r.\\rJP ol JePJo ur tou
'salueuossrp pur's.lluruossr'suol]rl.ltlI
-1r'sar:o8a11r'sloqruis'sJltulrs's:oqdetaur
sr qrns sarr^ap I.tu:atrJ puc JrlrJotaql
1o a8ue-r rsu,r r
1o puu J:a8uun :ltaocl ;o
asn sJ>luur aH ruJlrol aqt ot r1:eo:dde ur
sr ruro1 g!ir[1,npqy, 1o s3uur.r1tr aqr uy
'afuDJt P.^rJluoJ PaqsruEq seq
JH tueruoJ puD uuoJ 3ulzruoul:rq ,{q:nq
:turoj JprJlrutj E otul aJrJ .\\eu paqieaJq
sr?rl yqrg l,npqv, /zr ;o 8ur:a,rog
,lreu ? sr lI uorliprlJl ,{.re:al1 p plour
rsa:nd aqr ui sr tr re;1 JyulSrro aro;eraqt
puE'Jvuosjed tryqeryrs[uun'a^l]lunsrp
st :1 01,{rs anbrun r otur :r surro; uos.rad
sr11 1o tr;ars,{ru aql slnsr:alJpJ€rll sl
ql,n a8eniuel urrsJed Jql sr ,{u1: aq1 ql11
-.n,rqDg Jo uo[ela^a]I aqr $ snturuE aqJ
'uotssa;dxa pue uont.udsur srH
Jo apour
PrE,\\tno eqt sr erl"gl.nPqv, Jo
g'r,{.l,s IIHI
r0 $a/ORLD ORDER: FALL 1971
forbearance, and a myriad other qualitics
th:rt reveal the exemplary perfection of
His pcrsonalitl'.'Abdu'l-Bahi addresses
e\rcryone as an equal in the service of
Bahri'u'llih. His letters often open with an
invocation of the quaiity of faith of the
recipient rathcr dran his name or identity
such as ''O the Firn. O ne in the
-cpithets
Cctteuant," 'O Loter ol the Ble:sed
Beatt1." (Lttct lhcn the Persians uere
rcquired by lau to adopt family names,
many Bahf is chose as surnamcs u orcls of
adclrcss from thc Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bah6
to themselves or to their fathers.) In
subject matter 'Abdu'l-Rahi's Ietters range
from responses to the personal and
epheneral requests of His correspondents
to profound elaborations, elucidations, and
interprctations of the Bahi'i Rcvelation.
Bnt mostly thcy are concerned ,,', ith direc-
tion ancl cxhortation of the friends to
sprcad the Teachings.
II. Tablets of spccific topical or then.ratic
signilicance adclressed to jodividuals are
perhaps best.exemplihed by the Tablet to
Professor Augustc Forel, u,hich is in fact a
philosophical treatise \\,rittcn bv 'Abdu'l-
Bahri in Septernber 1921 in ans\\,er to
cluestions put to Him bl the noted S$'iss
psychologist.
III. Tablcts adclrcsscd to Batri'i commu-
nities in various parts of the rlorld chron-
i. Ie 'AbJrr l-8..h: r lur ing ..t,J virorou.
leadersi.rip of thc Causcof Bahri'u'11/rh and
its propagation from a handfLrl of coun-
tries in the Near and the Middlc East to
.ome rlrirry-6ve (oLnlrje\ in evcrl tonti-
nt nr on 'hc qlohe. I he mo'r inrlort.rnt in
this group are uncloubtedly the scries of
rhe 'l -h cr. ot he Dir in, PlJr , \\ riren ,rl
the close of the First World \Y/ar.
IV. Among the Tablets lritten to uorld
Broul\5 or .L'ngre\\c(. rhc be.' Lnosn i.
the Tablc sent in l9l9 to thc Central
Organization for a Durablc Peace at the
Hague.
V. The Tablets of the \flill and Testa-
ment of 'Abclu'l-Bah6 is a unique docu-
ment, l'ritten in thrce parts, that consti-
tutes an integral part of the charter of the
Bahf i Administrative Order. Alrhough un-
dated. it is clear from its contents that the
6rst part uas uritren in 1!06/7 during
rhe most perilous and yet most prolilic
period of His life.
VL The nexr category is that of ptayers.
The Arabic and Persian languages distin-
guish betu een uhat is translated io Eng
lislr as prayer (mtnrijtitl and obligatory
prayer (sal'b). The prayers of 'Abdu'l-
Bahi are ntrnijrit. Approximately one
half of tl.rese arc in Persian and the other
in Arabic, r'ith a very ferv in Turkish.
The term ".r, t.t1tt hs r hi.rory in
Persian literature bcginning nith Kh*ijih
'Abdu'liih-i-Aos;iri, a Sirfi mystic of thc
clcventlr century A.D. The nzrnij'it of
A'.5. rr .rru highlr srl lizcd upi!rr.nrm.rric
forms of communion ri ith God. From a
lircr-ry;oinr of rie'r rhe'e bricf ero.ative
compositions bear only the slightest gcner-
jc rescnrblancc to thc n/lnlj;t of Bahi-
'u'116h ancl 'Abdu'l-Bahi, r'hich, although
called by th€ sane name, are clearly a
li , r.,n innorrtion "nd origin.rl creations
in the Persian and Arabic languages.
Their chief distinguisl.ring qualitl' i5 thq
sustained and expanding cxpression of
man's experience of the Hol,v by means of
poetic language.
The prayers of 'Abdu'l-Balii, particular-
ly, partake in the fuliest mcasure of poetic
qualitics. Some actually include fragments
or lines of metrical verse l,hich are indis-
tingLrishable from the texturc of tl.re rl,hole
prayer. The purity end sanctjty of natural
inagery rcvcal a state of cosmic harmonl'.
The musicaliw of somc of them tran-
scends limitations of lrnguage. Poetry is
madc to sen'e rhe ulrimate goal of risin-q
above "the twnttr ol sllldhle: axd
sotndt." Thc cnotiooal intensity of some
of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's prayers, espccially those
that recall thc suf{erings of and separa
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
VIL Prayers q'ritteo for spccial
occlisrons
such as meetings of Spiritual Assemblies, or
embarking on terching trips, focr.rs upon
overcoming of self and reliance upon
coniirmarions frorr-i God.
VIII. Tablets of Visitation, virtuallv all
l rirten in Arebic, are primarily for com-
memoration of individual heroes and mar-
tyrs of tlre Faith, ancl are to be chantecl
rrrcn ri,irir': rhcir pr.tre". Th. In.rj,'riry
uere sritrcn in tlre linal verrs of 'Abdri'l-
Bahh's lifc and:rre another testimony of
His abiding lovc end faithfulness to the
memorl' of those r'ho sacrillccd them-
sclves for the Cause of Gocl.
IX. 'Abdu'l-Bahi's poems are ferr' in
number, and mostly in nzathnaul (.rb1'ned
cor4rler ) form. His lovc for this form
nnir.r'.r.1) . .oci..r. I rl'e;r,,'r .pir-
"irl,
itual masterplece of the ts'elfih ccnrury
poet Ritmi and His love for Rirmi's
poctry are furthcr evinced by frequent
(lLlotarions of lines from thc latter's q'orks
in His Writings.
X. Books and trcatises. of nhich 'Abdu'l-
Bahi lcft three, ere 'l he.\ecret ttl Diuine
Ciyjliz:ttiott, *'rittcn in 181) (and tlso
knonn as A Treatite on Cit'ilizdtir'n), A
'fut,eller's Natttttite, sritten about 1886;
.,nd.r .horr rolr.rrte erri lcJ A ft,.tti . t.
Politicr. .*'ritten in 1891. The hrst trvo
have been translated into English. The
latter, available oniy in Pcrsian, rnal be
coosidered a sequel in subiect and prirpose,
o T Le Sectet of Dit ine Cit ilization. T\e
fundamcntel thenre is thc gcnerative force
of rcligioo ancl the degenerative role of
priestly poser in human affairs. Thc lirst
Looli is .'JJr.' ed to th, P.r.irr n rri,'n .r.
a uhole: the scconci is directed to the
Rah/r'i comrnunity in drat land. Their
inport obviously tt,rnscends the historical
aims and the immediatc occasion of their
l riting, but thel' also constitutc signilrcant
ckrcurnents * irhin that context.
1. ',, ',r Ilti.i,. r itilr.,.i t. 1,r
ticr.rlarly, occupics a preemincnt historical
position among the litcrrture of moclcrni'
zation in in the light of an
Persia. Seen
unfolding Bahh'i Rcvclarion, it is, of
course. 'Abdu'lBah;i's elaboration of the
principlcs enunciated by Bahd'u'll'ih in
His Tablets to the ruicrs of the earth. But
read in the light of moclern analytical
lirerature on the naturc ancl problcms of
modcrnizarion, it is a uniclue documelt of
erlually profound impiicarions. In it
'Abdu'l-Bahi prcscnts l coherent program
I,,r rllq Ic en(r. tio' or P, r.i.tn " .jt r'..
The program is pr-eclicrted on universrtl
cducation and eradication of ignorance
and fanaticisn. It calls for rcsponsibility
ancl prrticipation of the pcoplc in govcrn-
menr through a representative assembl-v. It
seeks to safeguard thcir rights and liberties
rlrrnr g\ ,odiri..rrion ol 1..tr. ,rn'l in.ritu-
tionalizrLtion of justice. It argues for the
humane benelits of moclern scicncc and
technology. It conclemns militarisn.i and
underscorcs rhc immor:rlitv of heavy ex-
penditures for arriamcnts. It promuJgates
a more equitable sharing of the *'ealth of
the nation.
Of the long list of indictments that
could be brought against thc one huodred
rnd tlcnry-five years of Qljir misrule of
Pcrsil, ferv corLlcl bc as drmaging as thcir
neglect of this blueprint in 181). Not
rrntil ncrLrly r\\entv ye',1rs larer clo some of
these idees appcer piecemeal tnd rLrire-
lated in the uritings of other so-celled
refonners and moclernists in Persia. But
rhc signi6crrncc o['ll:e Settet r,f Diri'te
r 'tili ...i r r\ n, r m, r( lr in lr..t jr rel r'
senrs rhe earliest ancl the onlv cohcrcnt
scheme for thc modernization of Persia.
\Vc heve come to rccollnize as the frtal
11au of ncarl,v all reforuist icleas and
nodcrnizing .-lJorrs ol rhc llst hunclrcd
jq t. r b lr in rn.rrr
. (.,rr nJ ,,nlI
, P,
parts of the s,orld), ;r naivc imitation of
effccts s'ithout grlsping thc causes snper-
licial borron ing of forms unrcl'rlecl to
thcirunclerlying values. Everything in
'Abdu'l-Ilahis proposals is 1irml1 besed
upon rhe validitl, encl potency of divinc
 llJznt;r,l a,u.rw urarlt Jo euros .urH rllr,rr
eq ol JerJJeq lta,La auro:la,lo pur? saJuirl
-srp tst^ Ia^r:l d11ual1 ,{aqr tuqt se^rl
laql ur aJlo1 lneu8"ui srqt sr trelS oS
'qgll.n.gqlg roJ a^ol rrarp,(q pallado-rcl a;e
daql uouruo: ur Surqt auo at?qs JIe alarl
par:rdep e:e,,se^rJ,, rsoq,\ eldoad aq1
'sr^rl
esoqr Ilu Jo a:roy Sunrurue rrlt sE,!\ qrrll,\\
trl1enb 1:nuassa tpqt jo a)urJqLulua.t
tnq 'se^lJ lenpr^tpur Jo sJrJoureru tsnl tou
-sseulnJqrEJ-z/z/r. lo JfuuJquarual e
sI )ooq srp,{11erarr1 aln} ,(lJr:nb trqt taq
'ujaLuar oq,\\ 11r uo tq8rl sprqs puz Jetsnl
IUrJorualuulr pruJpe srrq qliq.\ eJrl lprll
jo itllpnb aqtlcqlrJ lnq'a;rl uNunq E sJZr
-lrrJoruaul oq\\ lapral aq: :ou raqdr:8olq
aqt tou sr lr tzql sarldrur lJ rfue:qurJ[u
JJ tue]a^JJ-uonuau: 1n;ta,(t:d sur:aur
JllD Jqt ur tvtcry p pto,tt toor JqI
'JJeLl
snfo] arll sr Ilqt upul ut eur^rp Jrlt Jo uoll
-JaHa.I eql PUt',{tIuEtUnq lenurssaturnb aqt
':r.rds;o sarnqulte aqt'Jnos Jo.{:llenb aqr
sI rJ.;JrJ upurnq;o st:adsl 1u:auraqda rqt
puE 'lEuosJad aql'.ttJnfltJEd Jrll qL\\ op ol
JJrrrT e^Eq q!47W" j lo urro; ,{lr:a1l rrlt ol
asll uJ^rH a^Erl trqt saslndur 1e:ntp: pur:
yunl:rds aql lgijy, raod tus,tru lJntlral
r{rJlar\r aqr Jo (sturps }o eluErqueur
-JX) //tlfn7 l,a/u,it|qpa1 arp pufis: ot
s.3urrq ry p1o saunturl JUru auJos uoltrppJl
,{:e:atq uersra4 ? ur.u sa)rld ,l/11A l,xtp,tlV
-c1pt1'purSrn aql ur eJtn stJ .seqJtlris JeJ
-rqdr:8orq Jarrq Io uonrello) e t ytfqttog
aqt to rrJ.,)tuall Jo urro1 ple,$rno arlJ
rpuagE rq8oqg .{q pazrroqtne
urE8e s!,\\ tr uaq,\\ ,tZ6i lrrun paqsrlqnd
rou se^\ >Jooq eqt JIUDJE,1\ JO SaJnlJtJlS
aql ol anP rnq '! l6 t ur patu1rJ8 se.\\ uonef
-rTqnd Jreqr .ro1 uorssru:ad s,gqrgl,npqv,
pue 'palrdruot ara,\ aserll J r€l( pJrol(
Jo slEJl dJJEa orlt Suunp xJIltH ur sr,uqEg
;o sSur:aqre8 ot ualods 'src,r.ar1aq d1.rza
llua,Las ecros Jo sarur?Jqua.ua.r s,Er{"g
-J,npqV, Jo runrpuadruot ? sr ,rlsrTSug
olw PerelsuEJl ueaq (It6I) ,nou lluo
sPq r{trrq,!\ 'l/4qiul ..:li to t1mtozua1y
VHYS"I,NOAY, rIO S'NI],IU,IN ]HJ
'106I ur porlsrJqnd ls:g se,u uonelrdruo:r
aql 806j ur ulopaar] e^DpJrJ sleqeg
J,npqy, ?urperJrd,{1a:erpaurur s:ratr
]lnlglrP ;rP ur pJJjnlto uonptDUeqtne
pue '8unrpi) 'Surplolal JrJrlt ,suoDeslJ,!
-uor aqI s;arlrq urnsiJrl3 euros Jo 8ur
-PU€tsraPun r,tqpg Jrlt uo puPqlru{ r,g.Pg
aqr lo slaual Irrurrrds uo laur€g pJoJiJJ
e:nu1 trq ulg ot tnd suorrsanb ot esuodseJ
ur 9qEg-l,nPqv, Jo s>Jlu] elqEr aqr Jo uorl
-elrdurot e sr sttcttltattfi pata,Dsu.V aruos
'uor:r:r1qnd roy pa,ro.iclde pur gqeg-J.n
-pqy, ,{q pauruexJ arr,\\ rltoq Jo suorsre,{
uJlriJ,\ lPug aqJ 'tuarallrp ,{1apr,n arr
,{aqtralrur tlelqns ur :o; lJeru:o1 .{1tr:ts
'Je^e^\orl'sr slJo,r o,!\t aseqr 3o {Iur;;e:r
-.reuallaql lnlcltug aqt to rf:,rntuary pue
ruo4tauQ fa.ta,nJ&V autas JJe a:ua8 cql
yo saldrur:xa :olrru o,lu eq1 .strdot snorre,r
uo salueJJlln sr11 ;o suonclr;:suzlr e,us
-uJrxa aJe srsrnofsrp s,rqeg-T,npqy, IX
'st:oge srH uro.rl ure8 yruos:ed
aulale /o prres a.1J ur tno slurod ag
se 'azlszqc[ua o] parlsr,r osle JH Jaql"C
srH Jo elunJJrJ aqr 8ur:np llunururo:
r.erleg eqt puotraq rrlqnd er{l JoJ aloJ^\
eH slooq o,\\l eql uo erueu srg a:u1d
tou prp aH reqt rpll,n,rqeg rro;aq hrpui
-nrl s,rqeg-J.npqy, Jo uonptrpur rarFou!
aq lzur t1 ilsnour,(uouz paqslqnd se,r
Iooq crqr 'uout,:11/t/) a,rttg lo uttaS
oqJ a>.l'I a1,ts a,rnel;eu Sur,roru pue
alduns e ur uorlrsuadsrp snotuet;od llql
1o
tunoJ)e etruorssrdsrp puu +euq ? sluasaJd
tJ snorjnr rqr puE laleJs aql JQJ uc]]lJ,\\
s?,r 'q€g aqt Jo aposrde aqt 1o ,{:o:s[l
r? sI qlrq.\\ 'aotp.t,t N !,hlPlpJJ v
or1
-€zr1r^rt aut^rp lln:t r:;o uoutpuno1 erll
le1 or-sutro; 1e:nr1od elqrr,r put suorl
-rrtnsur ateaJl ot slaas gqptr_J,npqv,
uew to ^\3u
saurJunua:od p:our pue lenrrlcls
er{l Jo uoneJgr^t^ar e q8no:g; rrs:a4
jo sldoad aqt ol sr, tselx\ It Jo saDa
-r:os paqsrra,rodrur dlllnll:rds aqr ot &s
or qtrnul se srq 3H salulo^pp eH terlt tspa
eql Jo uonpzruJrtsat tou sr r1 'a:ueprnS
,14 \a.ORLD ORDER: FALL 1971
wirh their dying breath, ro expire happily
after having seen the face of their Be-
loved; some die on the arduous path.
Despite the peculiarities of time and
place, it should not take the reader long
to recognize a gallcry of tinelcss and uni-
versal human types in this book.
The spoken language of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 is
hgurative and almost indistinguishable
from His u,ritten style. He makes use of a
rich fund of Iiterary devices-rhymed
prrrd\e.. .ymmerrir.tl form.. ellircrariont.
assonances, metaphors, similes, and allu-
sions-that, far from sounding contrived
and artificial, are naturally matched to the
subject matter: the essence of faithfulness.
Wirh ton. rere imrges He dcscribes spirit-
urrl 'r.,re' and psy.lric le\el. of (onscioL.
ness, as if to assert the primacy and realily
of the rcalm of spirit. Should the reader
experience difficulty with the style, let him
savor it siowly, allowing the unfamiliar
language to create its on'n spirit and
brcathe life into its allusions. Let the
*'ords of 'Abdu'l-Bahi trace in his mind
the shape of thc valley of love and
faithfulness.
In His usual self-efiacing way, 'Abdu'l-
Bahi says almost nothing about Himself
in this book. But occasional events in the
lives of these companions are inten'oven
s'ith His own. In these passages u'e have
some thrilling glimpscs of that essence of
humanity and humility that was 'Abdu'l-
Bahi.
XII. Next to His personal correspon-
dence, talks comprise the largest segment
of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's recorded words. One
mry di.ringui'h berrreen rrlks giren to
Bahf is and addresses to thc general pub-
lic, :uch r: :oLierie.. group.. .tniversirics.
and congregations. Generally they have
the sanre literary marks and rhetorical
pafterns that are characteristic of 'Abdu'l-
Bai.rih's \(ritings.
This vast body of \Writing, boundless in
its wisdom, consummate in form, generous
and loving in spirit, and rich in signili-
cance, is 'Abdu'l-Bah6.'s literary legacy, a
lega.y rh.rr. like His own prayer. rises
'ahoae words ancl letters" and transcends
"tbe utrtntr ol tllable: and sotwJs"
It is the realiry of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 so far as
u'e the gratefr.rl reaclers are capable of
perceiving.