August 7

First Century of Bahá’í era drawing to a close. Humanity entering outer fringes most perilous stage its existence. Opportunities of present hour unimaginably precious. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (Cablegram dated May 1, 1936; ‘Messages to America’)

August 6

I wish to be known, to realize myself however far I may proceed in future, as one and only one of the many workers in His Vineyards...whatever may betide I trust in His ['Abdu'l-Bahá's] wondrous love for me. May I in no wise by my deeds, thoughts or words, impede the stream of His sustaining Spirit which I sorely need in facing the responsibilities He has placed on my youthful shoulders...  

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 6 February 1922 to a Persian believer, quoted by Ruhiyyih Khanum in ‘The Priceless Pearl)

August 5

From Níyávarán He [Baha’u’llah] was conducted “on foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet,” exposed to the fierce rays of the midsummer sun, to the Síyáh-Chál of Ṭihrán. On the way He several times was stripped of His outer garments, was overwhelmed with ridicule, and pelted with stones. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘God Passes By’)

August 4

Shoghi Effendi was delighted to hear of your conversation with Sir .... How much he hopes to have such scholars obtain a true understanding of the spirit and teaching of the Cause and arise to dissipate that veil of misconceptions that is prejudicing the mind of the scholars in the western world. The Cause is in great need for such competent and spiritually minded men who after a thorough study of the Movement would share with the world the fruit of their labours. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 11 March 1929 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Scholarship)

August 3

For it must be clearly understood, nor can it be sufficiently emphasized, that the conjunction of the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf with those of her brother and mother incalculably reinforces the spiritual potencies of that consecrated Spot which, under the wings of the Báb’s overshadowing Sepulchre, and in the vicinity of the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkár which will be reared on its flank, is destined to evolve into the focal centre of those world-shaking, world-embracing, world-directing administrative institutions, ordained by Bahá’u’lláh and anticipated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and which are to function in consonance with the principles that govern the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Then, and then only, will this momentous prophecy which illuminates the concluding passages of the Tablet of Carmel be fulfilled: “Ere long will God sail His Ark upon thee (Carmel), and will manifest the people of Bahá who have been mentioned in the Book of Names.” 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘Messages to America: Selected Letters and Cablegrams Addressed to the Bahá’ís of North America, 1932–1946’; compilation:  The People of Bahá Mentioned in the Book of Names - Selected Extracts”, prepared by the Research department of the Universal House of Justice)

August 2

…the valiant Táhirih… A scion of the highly reputed family… whose members occupied an enviable position in the Persian ecclesiastical hierarchy; the namesake of the illustrious Fátimih; designated as Zarrín-Táj (Crown of Gold) and Zakíyyih (Virtuous) by her family and kindred; born in the same year as Bahá’u’lláh; regarded from childhood, by her fellow-townsmen, as a prodigy, alike in her intelligence and beauty; highly esteemed even by some of the most haughty and learned ‘ulamás of her country, prior to her conversion, for the brilliancy and novelty of the views she propounded; acclaimed as Qurrat-i-‘Ayní (solace of my eyes) by her admiring teacher, Siyyid Kázim; entitled Táhirih (the Pure One) by the “Tongue of Power and Glory;” and the only woman enrolled by the Báb as one of the Letters of the Living; she had, through a dream… established her first contact with a Faith which she continued to propagate to her last breath, and in its hour of greatest peril, with all the ardor of her unsubduable spirit. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘God Passes By’)

August 1

Equally important as a factor in the evolution of the Administrative Order has been the remarkable progress achieved, particularly in the United States of America, by the institution of the summer schools designed to foster the spirit of fellowship in a distinctly Bahá'í atmosphere, to afford the necessary training for Bahá'í teachers, and to provide facilities for the study of the history and teachings of the Faith, and for a better understanding of its relation to other religions and to human society in general. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘God Passes By’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Centers of Baha’i Learning)

July 31

He is always very glad to hear of the good news of the progress of the Cause, especially in Vienna. That is a very important centre from which the Cause could spread to Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Those regions, being occupied by people of diverse nationality and religious belief, are always a hotbed of dissension and strife. They need the teachings of the Cause to pacify them and create among them the spirit of love and comradeship. . . 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 12 October 1928 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; compilation: ‘Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union’ compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

July 30

The term Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is used in the Writings to describe various things, such as the gathering of the friends for dawn prayers; a building where this activity takes place; the complete institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar with its dependencies; the central edifice of that institution, often described as a "Temple". These variants in use and meaning "can all be seen as denoting stages or aspects of the gradual introduction of Bahá'u'lláh's concept as promulgated in the Kitab-i-Aqdas." 

(The Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, Memorandum on ‘Functions and Importance of the Haziratu'l-Quds’)

July 29

We Bahá'ís are one the world over; we are seeking to build up a new world order, divine in origin. How can we do this if every Bahá'í is a member of a different political party--some of them diametrically opposite to each other? Where is our unity then? We would be divided because of politics, against ourselves and this is the opposite of our purpose. Obviously if one Bahá'í in Austria is given freedom to choose a political party and join it, however good its aims may be, another Bahá'í in Japan or America, or India, has the right to do the same thing and he might belong to a party the very opposite in principle to that which the Austrian Bahá'í belongs to. Where would be the unity of the Faith then? These two spiritual brothers would be working against each other because of their political affiliations (as the Christians of Europe have been doing in so many fratricidal wars). The best way for a Bahá'í to serve his country and the world is to work for the establishment of Bahá`u'lláh's World Order, which will gradually unite all men and do away with divisive political systems and religious creeds … 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; U.S. Bahá'í News, April 1949; ‘The Non-Political Character of the Bahá'í Faith: Excerpts from the Writings of Shoghi Effendi’ published in Bahá'í World, Vol. 18, 1979-1983)

July 28

…it is evident that movement is essential to all existence. All material things progress to a certain point, then begin to decline. This is the law which governs the whole physical creation. Now let us consider the soul. We have seen that movement is essential to existence; nothing that has life is without motion. All creation, whether of the mineral, vegetable or animal kingdom, is compelled to obey the law of motion; it must either ascend or descend. But with the human soul, there is no decline. Its only movement is towards perfection; growth and progress alone constitute the motion of the soul.

Divine perfection is infinite, therefore the progress of the soul is also infinite. From the very birth of a human being the soul progresses, the intellect grows and knowledge increases. When the body dies the soul lives on. All the differing degrees of created physical beings are limited, but the soul is limitless! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, November 10^th, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)

July 27

Your concern about the overemphasis upon the self and ego echoes a central theme of the Manifestation Himself, and it is the subject of many allusions in His Writings wherein, for example, He speaks of "the evil of egotism" and of those who are "captives of egotism." The Master refers to "the rust of egotism" and tells of ". . . the subtlety of the ego of man. It is the Tempter (the subtle serpent of the mind) and the poor soul not entirely emancipated from its suggestions is deceived until entirely severed from all save God." In another passage He says: "As long as the ego is subjected to carnal desires, sin and error continue." And He promised that with assiduous effort "Man will become free from egotism; he will be released from the material world . . . ". 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 8 January 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; Compilation: ‘Psychology and Knowledge of Self’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

July 26

Then will the Throne of Bahá’u’lláh’s sovereignty be founded in the promised land and the scales of justice be raised on high. Then will the banner of the independence of the Faith be unfurled, and His Most Great Law be unveiled and rivers of laws and ordinances stream forth from this snow-white spot with all-conquering power and awe-inspiring majesty, the like of which past ages have never seen. Then will appear the truth of what was revealed by the Tongue of Grandeur: “Call out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompassing splendour is revealed.” “...O Carmel... Well is it with him that circleth around thee, that proclaimeth the revelation of thy glory, and recounteth that which the bounty of the Lord, thy God, hath showered upon thee.… Ere long will God sail His Ark upon thee, and will manifest thepeople of Bahá who have been mentioned in the Book of Names.”... Through it the pillars of the Faith on this earth will be firmly established and its hidden powers be revealed, its signs shine forth, its banners be unfurled and its light be shed upon all peoples. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 27 November 1929, translated from the Persian; compilation:  The People of Bahá Mentioned in the Book of Names - Selected Extracts”, prepared by the Research department of the Universal House of Justice)

July 25

O Thou my beloved daughter!

Thine eloquent and fluent letter was perused in a garden, under the cool shade of a tree, while the gentle breeze was wafting. The means of physical enjoyment was spread before the eyes and thy letter became the cause of spiritual enjoyment. Truly, I say, it was not a letter but a rose-garden adorned with hyacinths and flowers.

It contained the sweet fragrance of paradise and the zephyr of Divine Love blew from its roseate words.

As I have not ample time at my disposal, I will give herein a brief, conclusive and comprehensive answer. It is as follows… 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet to an individual believer, published in ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’)

July 24

As regards the constitution of the House of Justice, Bahá'u'lláh addresses the men. He says: "O ye men of the House of Justice!" But when its members are to be elected, the right which belongs to women, so far as their voting and their voice is concerned, is indisputable. When the women attain to the ultimate degree of progress, then, according to the exigency of the time and place and their great capacity, they shall obtain extraordinary privileges. Be ye confident on these accounts. His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh has greatly strengthened the cause of women, and the rights and privileges of women is one of the greatest principles of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Rest ye assured! Ere long the days shall come when the men addressing the women, shall say: 'Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye! Verily ye are worthy of every gift. Verily ye deserve to adorn your heads with the crown of everlasting glory, because in sciences and arts, in virtues and perfections ye shall become equal to man, and as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior' 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet to an individual believer, published in ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)

July 23

Just as the Bayán had been revealed by the Báb at about the mid-point of His Ministry, Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Aqdas around 1873, some twenty years after He had received, in the Síyáh-Chál of Tihrán, the intimation of His Revelation. In one of His Tablets He indicates that even after its revelation the Aqdas was withheld by Him for some time before it was sent to the friends in Iran. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From Introduction to The Kitab-i-Aqdas)

July 22

...by upholding Bahá'í law in the face of all difficulties we not only strengthen our own characters but influence those around us. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 6 February 1973 written by the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, published in ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1968-1973’)

July 21

The Bahá'í standard is very high, more particularly when compared with the thoroughly rotten morals of the present world. But this standard of ours will produce healthier, happier, nobler people, and induce stabler marriages....
- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 19 October 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, A Chase and Holy Life)

July 20

He is indeed immeasurably delighted to know that thanks to your earnest and wise efforts, and to the loving assistance and co-operation of the friends, Louhelen Ranch is steadily progressing and is increasingly fulfilling those ideal conditions which it should be the aim of every Bahá'í summer school to create, maintain and enforce, namely: close association and fellowship, both social and spiritual, among the attendants, intellectual training in the history, principles and teachings of the Cause, and the application to one's life of the principles of moral conduct as explained and clarified by the Guardian himself in his "Advent of Divine Justice". 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 24 August 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Centers of Baha’i Learning)