'Abdu'l-Bahá's Naw-Rúz Talk in Alexandria

*From **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** (J. E. Esslemont), chapter on the Bahá'í feasts.*

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In March 1912, shortly before He sailed for America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in Egypt, and at Alexandria He gave a talk on the Feast of Naw-Rúz, the Bahá’í New Year. J. E. Esslemont quotes part of it in *Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era*, in his chapter on the Bahá’í feasts.

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

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> In the sacred laws of God, in every cycle and dispensation there are > blessed feasts, holidays and workless days. On such days all kinds of > occupations, commerce, industry, agriculture, etc., should be > suspended. All should rejoice together, hold general meetings, become > as one assembly, so that the national oneness, unity and harmony may > be demonstrated in the eyes of all.

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He went on:

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> As it is a blessed day it should not be neglected, nor deprived of > results by making it a day devoted to the pursuit of mere pleasure. > During such days institutions should be founded that may be of > permanent benefit and value to the people.... Today there is no > result or fruit greater than guiding the people.

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Undoubtedly the > friends of God, upon such a day, must leave tangible philanthropic > or ideal traces that should reach all mankind and not pertain only > to the Bahá’ís. In this wonderful dispensation, philanthropic affairs > are for all humanity without exception, because it is the > manifestation of the mercifulness of God. Therefore, my hope is that > the friends of God, every one of them, may become as the mercy of > God to all mankind.

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Esslemont adds that in Persia Naw-Rúz and the other great feasts were celebrated with picnics or festal gatherings, at which those present contributed music, the chanting of verses and Tablets, and short addresses. The intercalary days just before the month of fasting were given to hospitality to friends, the giving of presents, and ministering to the poor and the sick.

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*A retelling based on **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** (J. E. Esslemont), which quotes a Naw-Rúz talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Alexandria, 1912. For the fuller account, see the original.*

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