“O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom...”
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, (1909) · Read original
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When in Bahá'í history
O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom of God!
I supplicate God that thou mayest become like unto Peter, the “Rock”—unshaken, immovable and strong; be assisted by heavenly confirmation; be helped to the service of the Cause of God, opening thy tongue to teach the divine instructions, and living and walking according to the laws of the Book of Akdas157 .
Thou hast asked permission to come to our presence: These days are very difficult. God willing, it will be brought about in the future. I pray to God that thou mayest enter into such a state that presence and absence may become equal in thine understanding.
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?
- What in your own life does this story bring to mind?
- Where do service and patience 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 service?
Reflection
- If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?
- What single image from this story will stay with you?
- Where in your own life are you being asked to practice service?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "“O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom...”" 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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