“***O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances 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 who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
Know thou that the heart of Abdul-Baha is overflowing with great love for thee, and verily he is night and day invoking and beseeching the Kingdom of God that He may make thee a sign of His mercy among His creatures, a cause of love and harmony and a means of hinging [or a pivot for] every good among the people of all regions, and to make thee announce to the people the opening of the door of the Kingdom. “Verily God will appropriate His mercy unto whom He pleaseth.”
O thou servant of God! Turn thy face thoroughly unto God, so that He may make thee to show forth the Greatest Gift and make thee to be a source of those signs which may prove thy proper relationship unto God and the joy of thy heart, through the fragrances of the Holy Spirit, in every moment and instant.
Be thou sure that, verily, thy deceased child is now one of those babes who are suckled in the Kingdom of Life, under the charge of the Beauty of El-ABHA. “Verily, God confirmeth whom He wisheth!”
Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas (1909). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19312.
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of tablets?
- Where do joy and love meet in this story?
For teens
- If you were in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about joy?
Reflection
- Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
- Take one line from this story and let it stay with you today.
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "“***O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances 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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