He feels confident that the believers, led by their National Spiritual Assembly, and aided and inspired by their Local Spiritual Assemblies, will arise to new heights of service, and distinguish themselves in the eyes of the Baha'i world. His constant prayers will be offered on their behalf, and he will remember them in the Shrines with love and yearning for their success.
[From the Guardian:]
I wish to add a few words in person and appeal to you, and through you to the dear friends in Burma and India, not to allow, despite the increasing gravity of the international situation and the dangers that threaten the East, the work, which has been so enthusiastically initiated, to suffer through any relaxation of effort, or any deflection of purpose, on the part of any individual or Assembly. These perils, sufferings and commotions are blessings in disguise, which pave the way and prepare the hearts of those who face and sustain them for a deeper realization and an earlier and fuller acceptance of the Divine Message of Baha'u'llah. The opportunities are manifold and priceless. Every effort should be exerted, every sacrifice should be made, every obstacle should be surmounted.
December 16, 1941
It rejoices his heart to see that the Indian believers are now rising to such noble heights of self-sacrifice and utter devotion to the Faith of God, and that they are, despite the great difficulty of these war times we are living through, determined to fulfil their Six-Year Plan of teaching the Baha'i Cause in India and Burma and complete the spread of its divine and healing message to her peoples before the end of the first Baha'i century.
Persecution of Baha'is of Kadwai
He was very sad to hear of the persecution of the Baha'is of Kadwai by the fanatical Muslim population. Please convey to the friends there the assurance of his most loving prayers for their protection, and tell them that, though they are suffering for their Faith, this very persecution is a blessing to the believers of India, as we know that wherever the Cause has suffered it has always grown stronger and attracted more attention and more adherents.
He was also very pleased to hear of the success of the Summer School this year. The Indian Baha'is have every reason to feel encouraged by the marked progress of their activities in all fields.
Use of A'rabs (Vowel Points)
Regarding your question as to the use of A'rabs on the Arabic texts of the Tablets: The Guardian feels that this is a matter which concerns the entire Baha'i world, and requires to be worked out by a highly specialized group of qualified people at some future date. He, therefore wishes you not to print the A'rabs on the Holy Tablets except on rare occasions where it is absolutely necessary in order to distinguish the word from some other word just like it.
Two Davids
Abdu'l-Baha is the one who has interpreted the reference of the Bab concerning David, by saying that there were two Davids, one of them was the author of the Psalms. The Tablet in which the Master states this is absolutely authentic, but at the moment the original is not available.
He Whom God Will Make Manifest
The Bab said that whenever "He whom God will make manifest" appears, accept Him. He never said don't accept Him until after the lapse of 1000 years. Also Baha'u'llah says that in the year 9 of the Babi Dispensation the time was ripe for the Revelation of "He whom God will make manifest".
As the Bab was not only a Manifestation but a Herald of this Baha'i Faith, the interval between His Revelation and that of Baha'u'llah was of shorter duration. His Dispensation in a sense will last as long as Baha'u'llah's lasts.
The Holy Book-The Aqdas
There are no doubtful verses in the Holy Book, the Aqdas. The reason it is not circulated amongst all the Baha'is is, first, because the Cause is not yet ready or sufficiently matured to put all the provisions of the Aqdas into effect and, second, because it is a book which requires to be supplemented by detailed explanations and to be translated into other languages by a competent body of experts. The provisions of the Aqdas are gradually, according to the progress of the Cause, being put into effect already, both in the East and the West.
Use of A'rabs (Vowel Points)
No vowel points, as A'rabs, should be published with any part of the text of the Aqdas. Certain of the Tablets may be translated in Urdu, but not the Aqdas itself, for the reasons mentioned above.
Writings of the Bab
The books of the Bab have not as yet been printed in the original. Except for the Bayan, the Seven Proofs and Commentary on the Surih of Joseph, we cannot be sure of the authenticity of most of His other works as the text has been corrupted by the unfaithful.
The Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is elected by the members of the National Houses of Justice. At this time when the National Assemblies in the Cause are not yet functioning sufficiently or fully representative of all the various important elements within it, and when some of the Baha'is are not even free to practise their faith, despite their numbers, it is quite impracticable to seek to establish the Universal House of Justice.
Whenever conditions permit, it will be established.
Surmount Every Obstacle
The Guardian wishes the members of your Assembly to persevere, in spite of the dangers of the war now raging near to India, in the all-important task of fulfilling the Six-Year Plan.
He is confident that the friends of India and Burma like their Baha'i brothers and sisters of other lands, will surmount every obstacle, overcome every difficulty, and emerge victorious at the end of the first Baha'i Century.
[From the Guardian:]
The news conveyed by your latest communication has rejoiced my heart. The manner in which the friends have arisen to promote the teaching work throughout their country merits the highest praise. By their enthusiasm, their self-abnegation, the determination and vigour they display, they have lent a fresh impetus to the onward march of the Faith and the expansion of its institutions and the multiplication of its administrative centres. The perils of the present hour, the repercussions of this tremendous world ordeal on their native land, must, in no wise, alarm or discourage them. Their purpose must never be deflected, their enthusiasm never dimmed, their vision never obscured, their exertions never discontinued. Adversity prepares the hearts of men, and paves the way for a wholehearted and general acceptance of the tenets and claims of our beloved Faith. Challenged by the obstacles in their path, encouraged by work already initiated, assured of the Divine Promise of Baha'u'llah, let them forge ahead until their goal is attained. My prayers will ever surround them.
December 27, 1941
Remarkable Evidence of Activity