“O thou dazzling gem by the light of the Love of God!...”
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, (1909) · Read original
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When in Bahá'í history
O thou dazzling gem by the light of the Love of God!
Verily I read thy beautiful, elegant and expressive letter which informed [me] of thine extreme love for God, which (love) impresseth the souls and dilateth the breasts and which causeth thy heart to become filled with the knowledge of God and overflow with the favor of God.
I ask God to make thee a sign of mercy and an exemplar of servitude to the Sublime Threshold.
Thank God for saving thee from baseness, trouble, selfishness and death, and [that He] took away the veil from before thine eyes, manifested unto thee the Beauty of El-ABHA, granted thee healing, planted in thy heart the seed of love and thereby chose thee from among the maid-servants. Therefore, endeavor so that thou dedicate (thyself) entirely to God; no thought or mention should remain in thee save the name of thy Supreme Lord. Endeavor so that those countries become illumined by the light of the gift of God.
Embrace the light of thine eyes (thy son) on my behalf in the Kingdom of God.
Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas (1909). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19312.
Discuss this story
For adults
- Where do you see love appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of tablets?
- Read the closing lines once more. What single phrase stays with you?
For teens
- Who is someone you know who lives out love the way this story describes?
- If you were going to tell a friend this story in two sentences, what would you say?
Reflection
- Where in your own life are you being asked to practice love?
- Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
- Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "“O thou dazzling gem by the light of the Love of God!...”" drawn from?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1909). *Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas*. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19312/pg19312-images.html
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