Baha’i Sabbath: Jalal’ 9, 177 B.E. (4/17/2020)

April 18th, 2020

The COVID-19 Lockdown: The Doors of Heaven are Open

“Heaven was opened and there were many doors.” (Quran – Surah Al-Naba’ 78:19)

Yusuf Muquit 23 March 2020

It must have come as sad news to many Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths in the UK that their places of worship were locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was announced by the Prime Minister earlier this evening as part of a national lockdown on the country’s population, their shops and social venues to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. As I have explained earlier in my other articles, the Qur’an has foretold this pandemic as the Fire of Hell which engulfs mankind due to its wrong ways.

The Qur’an speaks about the fire of Hell under various names among which the two I will be discussing are Saqar and Sa’eer. Saqar literally means the heat of fire or the sun. Sa’eer means a blazing fire, and its derivatives can mean extreme heat, insanity or severe hunger and thirst. Although both words are generally understood by Muslims to refer to the Fire of Hell in the afterlife, I believe that these words can also refer to other things which are relevant to the situation we are facing in the world today, as Hell manifests itself in many different forms both in this world and the next.

By looking at the Qur’anic verses related the Day of Judgement in light of the current coronavirus pandemic, I have become convinced that both Saqar and Sa’eer are prophecies for the coronavirus, COVID-19, which is ravaging mankind today. First of all, both words are related to extreme heat which is characteristic of the coronavirus disease which often causes very high temperatures. Secondly, the Qur’an gives certain other characteristics of this disease and pandemic which help us identify it.

Nay, they deny the Hour (the Day of Resurrection), and for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire (i.e. Hell) (Sa’eer). When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging (Taghayyuz) and its exhalation (Zafeer). And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together (Muqarraneen), they will exclaim therein for destruction. Exclaim not today for one destruction, but exclaim for many destructions.

In the passage above the Qur’an personifies the Fire of Hell as if it were a living entity that can see people from a faraway place. This is true of COVID-19, as the virus began in Wuhan, China, and has been spreading from there to other parts of the world. China was considered a far away place at the time the Qur’an was revealed which is shown by the famous prophetic tradition “Seek knowledge even in China”. Although this tradition is considered of poor reliability or completely unreliable by some scholars, it demonstrates the fact that China was considered a faraway place in the early days of Islam when this tradition was reported. The aim of the tradition was to encourage people to seek knowledge even if it meant travelling as far as China.

The word ‘raging’ in the above verses shows the rage of mankind due to this pandemic, as it is disrupting their lives causing a lot of upset and confusion. The original Arabic word Taghayyuz may also mean ‘exasperation’ and when this is combined with ‘exhalation’, it gives the sense of difficulty in breathing which results from COVID-19. COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection which may lead to pneumonia in which the air sacs of the lungs are filled with inflammatory fluid resulting in extreme difficulty in breathing.

The verse “And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together (Muqarraneen)” is a clear prophecy for the national lockdown and quarantine that the government has imposed on all British nationals from tonight, including their shops and places of worship. The word Muqarraneen with its root letters Q, R and N resembles the word quarantine. The verse also says that when people are bound up together, they will call for destruction but they will be told not to ask for “one destruction” but for “many destructions”. This is a prophecy for the many deaths that will result from this pandemic.

In another passage, the Qur’an shows the global impact of this virus. It says:

Him shall I fling unto the burning (SAQAR). Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! It leaveth naught; it spareth naught. It shrivelleth the man. Above it are nineteen.
(Surah Al-Muddathir 74:26-30 Marmaduke Pickthall Translation)

The above verses say that Saqar neither leaves nor spares anyone. In the same way, COVID-19 is not sparing any country, community or individual but is affecting them all. It is spreading around the world rapidly while the death toll is on the rise day by day. The verse translated above as “it shrivelleth the man” has another grammatically and linguistically accurate meaning which is “it is extremely glaring or vivid for mankind”. Another valid translation would be “it burns or changes mankind”. We can see how COVID-19 is affecting the whole world both economically and socially and soon it may also affect them politically. It is also clear for all of mankind to see through the news. The final verse gives the number 19 which identifies the disease very specifically so that mankind may remain in no doubt that this is the Hell that has been foretold in the Qur’an. As we know, the number 19 exists in COVID-19.

The Qur’an has clearly foretold the fate of the Muslims during the days of this Hell and punishment in the following verse:

“The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], “Taste the touch of Saqar. Indeed, all things We created with predestination. And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye. (Surah Al-Qamar 54:48-50 – Sahih International Translation)

The above verse says that certain people will be dragged on their faces into the fire of Hell. The phrase ‘On their faces’ is a prophecy for the Muslims who are the ones that prostrate on their faces during prayer. The reason they have been singled out from other communities is because they are the one who are the most hard-hit by this pandemic. The verse then says “taste the touch of Saqar” which shows that they will die of the touch of this disease which spreads through physical contact as they do not pay attention to the health and safety guidelines prescribed by the government.

The above verses also show the swiftness of the command of God which comes to pass like the twinkling of an eye. When the Prime Minister announced the closure of all mosques and worship places, it probably only took him a second. This was an unprecedented event in the UK and worldwide, in which places of worship have been closed until further notice. Even the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina where Muslims visit for their greater and lesser pilgrimages have been closed to foreign visitors. What is the wisdom in these things happening?

Although the various religions of the world have contributed greatly to society, now the time has come for them to unite. For a long time, the various religions of the world, especially the Muslims, have remained isolated in their own narrow places without freely interacting with each other. However, now the time has come for them to open their doors and unite in the spirit of true fellowship and brotherhood. I don’t mean giving up their unique identities or ways of worship but they must open their doors to one another in the spirit of true human fellowship.

Mankind is suffering today as the Kingdom of God has been established in the world and exists among mankind which they must recognise. Around 150 years ago, Baha’u’llah diagnosed the spiritual disease of mankind and prescribed its remedy which was for it to unite and put an end to war. Today, the government of Baha’u’llah, which is God’s spiritual government, exists in the world and a KING is seated on the THRONE of this UNIVERSAL kingdom. The future of mankind in the shade of God’s Universal kingdom is foretold in the following verse.

Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers, In a seat of honour near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.

(Surah Al-Qamar 54:54-55 – Sahih International Translation)

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Whatsoever Is Possible Of Accomplishment In Human Government Will Be Effected Through These Principles

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Baha’i Month: Jalal’/Glory 1, 177 B.E. (3/10/2020)

April 10th, 2020

The Coronavirus: A Manifestation of Hell In Light of Qur’anic Prophecy
18 March 2020

God tests His servants in many ways to purify them and elevate their status. By understanding the reality and inner significance of what is happening in the world today with the Coronavirus, our eyes can be opened to the reality of God so that we may be able to see the Glory of God in our midst. The signs of the Glory of God are all around us but we need to have a true desire and make a sincere effort to see it.

This article will provide a prophetic explanation of a small passage of the Qur’an consisting of six verses, revealing how God had foretold the coronavirus 1400 years ago. It will also demonstrate that today we are living in the Day of Judgement when the Qur’anic prophecies for the Manifestation of Heaven and Hell have been fulfilled. Most importantly, God, the Lord of the worlds, has appeared with His angels in his Manifest Glory.

Verses 11-16 Surah Al-Furqan

“Nay, they deny the Hour (the Day of Resurrection), and for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire (i.e. Hell). When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging (Taghayyuz) and its exhalation (Zafeer). And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together (Muqarraneen), they will exclaim therein for destruction. Exclaim not today for one destruction, but exclaim for many destructions. Say: (O Muhammad) “Is that (torment) better or the Paradise of Eternity promised to the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons)?” It will be theirs as a reward and as a final destination. For them there will be therein all that they desire, and they will abide (there forever). It is a promise binding upon your Lord that must be fulfilled.”

(The Noble Quran Translated by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al- Hilali, Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan – Bold Text Mine)

I believe that the above verses contain a prophecy linked to the Coronavirus. However, this is my own personal conclusion and not based on any classical commentaries of the Qur’an. Understanding it fully will require some knowledge of Arabic as it involves some discussion on the original words used in Arabic. However, those not familiar with Arabic will be able to get a basic idea. The verses address those who deny the Day of Judgement, warning them of the Fire of Hell, describing it as ‘a Blazing Fire’ (Sa’eer).

Hell is personified in these verses as if it were a living entity with eyes to see and a heavy breathing sound. In sum, the verse says that when Hell will see the disbelievers from far away, the disbelievers will be able to hear it raging and breathing in and out. It then says that these people will be cast into a narrow place in Hell where they will pray for destruction upon themselves. This shows the severity of Hell. They are told that they should not ask for one destruction but many destructions as this is what they deserved due to their evil actions.

Some may wonder how these verses can be related to the coronavirus while they are only related to Hell which happens in the afterlife. Muslims believe that people will enter either Heaven or Hell after the Day of Resurrection and this will happen after all of mankind have died. The answer is that Heaven and Hell and the Day of Judgement are spiritual realities which people can miss if they do not have proper spiritual understanding. However, they do have some physical and material dimensions too like the one I am about to explain here. This explanation will show that the verses are talking about the very situation we are suffering from today which is a manifestation of Hell in this very world.

The most essential word which reveals this verse to have a prophetic import is the word ‘Muqarraneen’, which has been translated above as ‘chained together’. It is the plural of Muqarran and when simply translated, it means ‘tied, bound or chained’. It is a subjective noun denoting a person on whom an action has been done or performed. The root letters of Muqarraneen are Q, R and N and they are phonetically equivalent to C, R and N which constitute the consonants in the word Corona in coronavirus. According to this prophetic explanation, Muqarraneen means ‘those who have been affected by corona’ i.e. the coronavirus.

The fact that the verse speaks about the narrow places into which the people are cast is further evidence that the verse is prophetic regarding the coronavirus. This is because the idea of narrow places is linked to quarantine which is a step taken to stop the spread of the coronavirus. As the Coronavirus is spreading further and further day by day, the lockdowns are increasing and mobility is being restricted and many people are self-isolating.

The literal meaning of the word ‘Muqarraneen’ which is ‘bound or tied’ also supports the prophetic meaning of Muqarraneen as ‘those affected with coronavirus’. This is because the idea of tying and binding conveys a sense of restriction which is true of quarantine. Quarantine also shares three phonetic consonants with the root of Muqarraneen. Muqarraneen can therefore also be prophetically translated as ‘quarantined’. The link between the two meanings, i.e., ‘affected by coronavirus’ and ‘quarantined’ is that the first (the coronavirus) is the cause while the other (quarantine) is the effect.

What further supports this conclusion is that the verses above also describe a symptom of the coronavirus, which is a respiratory tract infection that can lead to pneumonia, in which a person finds it difficult to breathe. The two words that describe this symptom are taghayyuz and zafeer. Taghayyuz classically means rage and extreme anger but in modern Arabic it means irritation and exasperation. Exasperation is the feeling of being annoyed, especially because you can do nothing to solve a problem. On the other hand, zafeer means exhalation, i.e., breathing out. It is the opposite of shaheeq which means inhaling i.e., breathing in. In another verse of the Qur’an, these two words have been used together to describe the condition of the people of Hell.

“Those that are wretched will be in Hell, inhaling and exhaling.” (Surah Hud – 106)

Combining exasperation with breathing links the above verses to the coronavirus as coronavirus victims suffer from breathing difficulties due to the respiratory tract infection and the pneumonia that results from it in which the air sacs of the lungs become filled with pus.

The Qur’an personifies Hell as making these sounds although as we have seen in the above verse it is the people of Hell who make those sounds. If you can imagine Hell as a place where people are bound up together sighing, groaning and breathing heavily while expressing their total exasperation, you can understand why the Qur’an describes and personifies Hell itself as doing these things. This is because the sounds in fact come from Hell making it seem like they are produced by Hell itself.

Some classical commentators of the Qur’an have linked exhaling and inhaling in the above verse to the throat and the chest respectively while others have described one of the sounds as high-pitched and the other as low-itched. This shows that they have considered these words as relating to breathing.

The explanation given here shows that the Hell foretold in the Qur’an is manifested in this very world today before our very eyes. The coronavirus is a manifestation of Hell. It is raging in people’s hearts and bodies and narrowing their spaces and livelihoods through the economic and social crisis. The verses conclude by giving human beings a choice of either staying in the hellish state and condition of being tied up in narrow spaces both physically and spiritually or the Heaven of Eternity that God has promised them if they are righteous, where they can live forever and get whatever they desire.

Although the coronavirus can be considered a miniscule sample of Hell in this world, it should be borne in mind that the Hell of the hereafter is much greater. Also, the heaven of the hereafter is much greater than the Heaven of this world. We should not however judge anybody based on their being affected by coronavirus. This is because what reallydetermines a person’s state of being either in Heaven or Hell is their inner state. The spirit is the most important aspect of the human being. When it is strong, no amount of pain or suffering can overcome its joy and happiness. In fact, the disease as well as the lockdowns and the economic and financial crisis that that accompany it can be a blessing for the believers if they trust in God. This is like the Fire into which Abraham was cast by Nimrod but which became cool and tranquil for him as stated in the Qur’an.

Human beings have a choice today of either using the current situation to reflect on reality and turn to God or remain in darkness combined by suffering in the social and economic crisis that is resulting from the coronavirus. They should trust in God, that he will eventually bring them out of this crisis. God has the power to do everything.

Settling down in the world of COVID-19

An explanation of the spiritual reason for this pandemic and its ultimate purpose

19 March 2020

“Your Lord has come with the angels rank on rank.” (Qur’an – Surah Al-Fajr – 80:42)

“Above it are nineteen.” (Qur’an – Surah Al-Muddathir – 74:30)

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I had just finished writing my last article about COVID-19 early yesterday morning, having stayed up all night to do it. Usually, when I receive some inspiration, I write it down straight away as it loses its vigour if left too long. I had just written about the specific passage in the Qur’an which describes Covid-19 and its features in graphical and dramatic detail, showing that what we are experiencing in the world today is in fact Hell in this world. After I had written the article, I was sitting on my bed reclining on a pillow when suddenly a very sharp, intense feeling of utmost pain overtook my whole being which only lasted for a fraction of a second. Accompanying it was a bright ball of reddish light which I saw straight above me. The feeling was Hellish, so intensely horrifying but of a different nature to any pain I had ever experienced before. It seemed to originate from outside of the world. I immediately realised it was COVID-19.

I believe this pandemic has appeared for an important purpose. It is to draw our attention to the fact that God has come today with a Divine Revelation. The greatest blessing promised by God in the Qur’an to happen on the Day of Judgement is the advent of God and a vision of His Glory. The Qur’an has promised that God would come with the angels on the Day of Judgement.

“And Thy Lord shall come with angels rank on rank.”

(Qur’an – Surah Al-Fajr 80:42 – Pickthall Translation)

God cannot be seen by human eyes as He is beyond all limitations. Therefore, what is meant by His coming is the coming of His Light and Glory. This is supported by the Qur’an:

“The Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord..”

(Surah Al-Zumar 39:69 Yusuf Ali Translation)

An example of this light and glory is the Radiant Fire Moses saw from the Burning Bush. From within the Fire, God spoke to him, saying:

“”Verily, I am God: There is no god but I!”

(Surah Taha 20:14 – Yusuf Ali Translation)

Today, the signs of such a revelation are all around us but the majority of mankind do not see it as they do not have spiritual eyes. So, they remain veiled from it as the Qur’an says:

“Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled.”

(Sura Al-Mutaffifeen 83:15 – Yusuf Ali Translation)

This is surely the Day of Judgement. According to the Qur’an, on the Day of Judgement both Heaven and Hell are brought forth. However, only those with pure vision can see them. What we are experiencing today with the coronavirus pandemic is Hell but we need to rise above it to enter Heaven where we can have a vision of our Lord. Indeed, our Lord has appeared with his angels, who are the righteous souls, obedient to him, who have been created through the light of His new revelation.

We have a choice either to stay in Hell or rise to Heaven. However, each and every one of us has to come face to face with Hell at some point as it has been promised in the Qur’an and this is what we are experiencing today.

“And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.”

(Surah Maryam 19:71 – Sahih International Translation)

If we wish to enter the Heaven above, we need to purify ourselves and make ourselves worthy by living a good life and being kind to God’s creation. We should also recognise the new revelation of God that has been brought by Baha’u’llah, who is the Light and Glory of God foretold in the Qur’an. The name Baha’u’llah literally means the Glory of God. Baha’u’llah revealed God to us and from Him and his words we can hear the voice of God that Moses heard from the Burning Bush. The essence of the teachings of Baha’u’llah is the oneness of humanity. His teachings can be summed up in the following twelve basic principles which have the potential to transform the world of humanity into an earthly Heaven:

Just as Hell has been manifested for mankind today, so has Heaven and it is the beautiful Revelation of Baha’u’llah. The Davidic King, who is the president of God’s Universal Government and Kingdom is alive in the world today and he is a sign of God for the world. The revelation of Baha’u’llah and His spiritual government can guide the world today to peace and unity and solve all its problems.

The Qur’an has prophesied COVID-19 very clearly so that mankind can have certainty that this day is the day of Judgement, which is the day when Heaven and Hell are manifested. I have demonstrated in my last article how the Qur’an describes this pandemic when it describes the people of Hell as being bound and confined to narrow spaces while they are wailing and praying for destruction upon themselves. This is amidst the sounds of inhaling and exhaling in total rage and exasperation. All of this is a perfect description of the coronavirus pandemic and the quarantine that is necessary to prevent its spread. The Qur’aninterestingly uses the word ‘muqarraneen’ meaning bound or chained in that particular verse, a word whose root letters Q, R and N resemble ‘corona’ and ‘quarantine’. This shows that this pandemic is indeed the Hell foretold in the Qur’an.

Elsewhere the Qur’an has foretold the pandemic by the actual word ‘corona’.

“We destroyed the generations [Quroona] before you when they did wrong; and their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with clear proofs (of His Sovereignty) but they would not believe. Thus do We reward the guilty folk.”

(Surah Yunus 10:13 Marmaduke Pickthall Translation-bold text in parenthesis mine)

The above verse speaks of the earlier generations that were destroyed by God and the reason for their destruction, i.e., that they did wrong and did not believe in their messengers. The word Quroona in the verse stands as a prophecy for the coronavirus that is destroying many people today and the verse shows that the reason for this destruction is the same as that for the earlier generations, which is doing wrong and denying the messengers. In the following verses, the Qur’an clearly gives us the number that will help us identify the pandemic.

As we know, there have been other coronaviruses before. The Qur’an points out that there is the number 19 on Hell, showing that it is a prophecy for the particular virus which began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is short for coronavirus disease 2019. The 19 stands for 2019 to mark the year when the disease began. This is foretold in the following verse:

“Him shall I fling unto the burning. Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! It leaveth naught; it spareth naught. It shrivelleth the man. Above it are nineteen.”

(Surah Al-Muddathir 74:26-30 Marmaduke Pickthall Translation)

The verse translated as “Above it are nineteen” can also be translated as ‘On it is nineteen’ and this is a grammatically faithful translation. It is generally understood that the ‘nineteen’ refers to the nineteen angels who are the guardians of Hell and this is supported by the context. This is reflected in the first translation. However, the verse does not qualify the number of nineteen by explaining what it refers to but leaves it vague. This shows that it can have more than one interpretation, including a deeper meaning. COVID-19 is the manifestation of Hell in this world. After having the extraordinary personal experience with the vision of COVID-19 yesterday, I have become more convinced of this. The verse ‘On it, is 19’ is an exact prophecy for COVID-19 as it has the mark of the number 19 on it.

This great prophecy will help us understand that this current pandemic was in the knowledge of God long before it happened and marks an important event in history which was designed to purify mankind so they may enter Heaven and have the vision of God. This understanding makes it easy for us to cope with COVID-19. It enables us to accept this reality and settle down in our daily lives while carrying out our duty to God and to man. We should trust in God and work to improve our world to make it a better place where mankind can live in peace, security and comfort without any fear of war or further pandemics. And God is the Helper and Protector of all.

Whatsoever Is Possible Of Accomplishment In Human Government Will Be Effected Through These Principles

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Baha’i Sabbath: Baha’ 14, 177 B.E. (4/3/2020)

April 3rd, 2020

COVID-19 – Prophecy Fulfilment

A series of articles By Yusuf Muquit

The Coronavirus – A Healing Remedy for mankind In the light of linguistics and prophecy
14 March 2020

In the name of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!

The coronavirus is here again – Covid-19! Many people are worried about it but even in this dark time of anxiety and uncertainty, God guides us through the light of his holy scripture and those who have been given insight into the prophecies contained in his holy books. In this article, I wish to present some insights I have had recently on the coronavirus, hoping that they may prove useful and interesting to some people.

I see the coronavirus as bearing many lessons for humanity and playing many roles at one and the same time. I see it as the result of human beings not looking after the world God has given us and the creatures God has created on earth. Man was given the intellect and chosen as God’s representative on earth to look after it and show compassion to God’s creation. Today, the coronavirus and climate change stand as the two most worrying issues in the world and both are definitely inter-linked.

Now, what are the lessons we can learn about the coronavirus from linguistics? I think the answers to everything related to the deep spiritual reasons for this disease as well as the spiritual solutions to it and the way we are to act in this situation can be found if we reflect on the very name of the virus which is called Coronavirus. Also, the derivatives of this word and words which are phonetically similar to it in various languages reveal many things about this virus. Here, I will elucidate a few and I am sure others may find more examples.

I believe that the most important need for mankind is to see reality, especially the deep spiritual reality, the signs of which are unfolding in the universe at this very moment. I believe it is a new Divine Revelation and a Spiritual Kingdom which seeks to bring unity, harmony and security to the human race. However, to see this great reality, mere physical sight and vision are not enough but one must develop deep spiritual vision and perception, as it is none other than the reality of God himself.

We are guided to this reality through a messenger at all times. This is God’s messenger who has appeared at different times under different names and titles but they were all one and the same reality. Mankind needs their guidance. The message of truth they bring is like the sun’s corona, i.e., plasma which extends millions of kilometres into space and it radiates from the Sun of truth itself which is the Messenger and Manifestation of the All-Merciful. To see this reality, one needs to have a clear cornea, which is the eye’s protective outer layer. However, due to the cornea of the spiritual eye being damaged in most people due to the scars of delusion, idle imagination and fantasy, they are unable to see this great reality that lies before them. If this message is understood properly, it can heal the human being so that he will have a clear vision of the corona of the sun of reality.

Next, we move to the most essential organ that alone can accept this great reality when mankind has seen it with its eyes and understood it with its intellect. This is the pure and healthy heart which is supplied by sufficient blood and oxygen. However, on a deeper spiritual level, the blood supply to the hearts of many people is narrowed or blocked, a type of spiritual Coronary heart disease. This may not always have obvious symptoms, like the coronavirus itself which may go undetected for a long time before showing any symptoms at all.

Just like its physical counterpart, the spiritual coronary heart disease is caused by an unhealthy diet, i.e., depressive feelings, thoughts and emotions combined with the lack of spirituality and divine spiritual guidance. By spiritual guidance, theology and dogmatic beliefs are not meant because they can be equally harmful as depressive thoughts and feelings. This realization will help people recover from their spiritual disease if they choose to turn to a healthy spiritual lifestyle.

This disease of Covid-19 brings with it the sad prospect of death for some and the death of beloved friends, family and relatives for others. It is like Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of the dead and also like the official who holds inquests into the causes of death known in Britain as the coroner. This official is also responsible for safeguarding the private property of the crown or monarch. Similarly, the Coronavirus has a deep connection to the Spiritual Kingdom of the Divine and in the end, it serves to protect those who are loyal to the Kingdom. The word corona, in fact, is a Latin word meaning crown and it comes from an ancient Greek word meaning garland or wreath. When understood properly, the Coronavirus will lead the world to a good understanding of God’s kingdom, which is nothing but a protector of human unity and brotherhood.

What can we practically do in this pandemic which is causing many to be sick and leading others to death? We should practice the Buddhist teaching of Karuna, meaning compassion. This does not only mean compassion to others but also compassion for one’s self. A person can be compassionate tothemselves by making good healthy choices of cleanliness and adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle that will boost their immune system. This will either prevent the disease or fight it off quickly if it is contracted. One scientifically proven method for boosting the immune system is through intermittent fasting, which often heals cancer cells in the body. Research has also shown that the reason why people lose appetite for eating while ill is because the body sometimes does not require food in that instance. However, this depends on the type of illness too. The idea is to listen to the body as it is a perfect guide.

To show compassion to others, one ought to protect them by adopting general measures of hygiene in public and around people and self-isolating if one is showing the symptoms of the disease. The examples of the great holy men who founded the major world religions as well as many saints and sages reveal to us the value of isolation and retreat for spiritual healing and wellbeing. It so happens that we are now in the Lent season which commemorates the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in the wilderness. He fasted for the entire period “until he was hungry” as the Bible says. I heard the first British person to suffer from Covid-19 saying that he had been in isolation for forty days. He explained how he had coped for this entire period, which offers valuable tips and ideas for others in a similar situation.

What about Hoy Scripture? What do they say about such matters? Here are some of my own personal insights from the world’s two most-read holy books. These are my own insights and I do not wish to impose them on anybody or offend either the Muslims or the Christians. I am sure many Muslims will disagree with this style of interpretation as it does not belong to the classical approach to interpreting the Qur’an. However, as these insights may prove useful for some and interesting for others, I will mention them. These thoughts stem from my deep conviction that God has embedded certain prophetic information in the words of his holy scripture which keep unfolding over time and provide mankind with much needed guidance.

In the Bible, Paul writes to the Christians living in the Greek city of Corinth, which many have called the Sinful City. 400 years before Paul, it was seen as a symbol of commercialised love, i.e. prostitution. From this name, the verb korinthiazesthai was formed which meant “to fornicate”. The Bible, in manyinstances uses the expressions of ‘adultery’ and ‘fornication’ to mean following false gods. The way this is relevant to the Coronavirus is that today many people live in an imagined city of ungodliness and sin, where they have turned away from God and a healthy spiritual life and instead adopted an immoral lifestyle of greed and self-centredness and sought satisfaction in material means.

At Paul’s time, one of the problems with the Christian congregation of Corinth was that its wealthy members refused to help and associate with its poorer members in the true spirit of Christian humility. Today, with this pandemic, all the rich nations of the world should look out for their poorer brethren and help them. This applies to both individuals and nations, regardless of the perceived barriers of race, colour or religion. We are all one family in humanity.

The Qur’an also warns mankind against arrogance and pride due to excessive wealth when it tells the story of Qarun whom some see as the same person as Korah mentioned in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible. Suffixed with the case vowel ‘a’, the word Qarun in the Qur’an reads ‘Qaruna’ which bears resemblance to Corona. The Qur’an says that Qarun was from the people of Moses but he rebelled against him. He was so rich that the keys to his treasury were carried by a band of strong men. God admonished him not to be arrogant, to consider his wealth as given to him by God, to be kind to others as God had been kind to him, and not to cause corruption on earth. However, he boasted that he had acquired all his wealth through his own knowledge. The Qur’an admonishes him as follows:

“Did he not know that God had destroyed before him of generations (Quroon) those who were greater than him in power and greater in the accumulation [of wealth]?…” (Al-Qasas 28:78)

When the word Quroon in the above verse is taken as prophecy for the Coronavirus, the verse reveals that God had destroyed many people from diseases such as the Coronavirus. It would then be a warning to any individual or nation that boasts power over others and causes corruption on earth that God would deal with them just as he dealt with Qarun. Regarding how Qarun met his end, the Qur’an states:

“And We caused the earth to swallow him up as well as his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than God, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.” (Al-Qasas 28:81)

This is just one example. If looked carefully and extensively, the Qur’an can be found speaking of the Coronavirus in many of its verses, including such details as its recurrence in history, people remaining in their homes due to it, its being the result of wrongdoing and denying God’s messengers, its cutting the lives of people short, the names of the three nations which have been affected by it the most (of course the Qur’an uses the names of three earlier nations), how life becomes depressing for it victims, being confined to a tight space and being restricted as if by chains, and how some people eventually die from it. This can all be seen in the Qur’an, which shows the great prophetic power andrelevance of the Qur’an for all ages.

In conclusion, the following verse of the Qur’an provides mankind with the ultimate solution to the Coronavirus as well as the other ills the world faces today:

“Why were there not, among the generations (Quroon) before you, persons possessed of a remnant of goodness, prohibiting (men) from mischief in the earth – except a few among them whom We saved? But the wrong-doers pursued the enjoyment of the good things of life which were given them, and persisted in sin.” (Hud 11:116)

In the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic, human beings should uphold justice and work for the betterment of the world if they are to be saved. We are to protect the earth and guard the interests of the whole of mankind and all the creatures living in our world in the best possible way.

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Baha’i Holy Day: Naw-Ruz, 177 B.E. (Sunset, March 19, 2020-Sunset, March 21, 2020)-Baha’i Month: Baha’/Splendor 1, 177 B.E. (3/21/2020)

March 21st, 2020

This sacred day, when the sun illumines equally the whole earth, is called the equinox, and the equinox is the symbol of the Manifestation of God. The Sun of Truth rises on the horizon of Divine Mercy and sends forth its rays. This day is consecrated to commemorate it. It is the beginning of Spring.

When the sun appears at the equinox, it causes a movement in all living things. The mineral world is set in motion, plants begin to shoot, the desert is changed into a prairie, trees bud and every living thing responds, including the bodies of animals and men.

The rising of the sun at the equinox is the symbol of life, and likewise it is the symbol of the Divine Manifestations of God, for the rising of the Sun of Truth in the Heaven of Divine Bounty established the signal of Life for the world. The human reality begins to live, our thoughts are transformed and our intelligence is quickened. The Sun of Truth bestows Eternal Life, just as the solar sun is the cause of terrestrial life.

Abdu’l-Baha’, Star of the West, Vol. 5, p. 4

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A prayer revealed by Abdu’l-Baha in memory of the Day of Naw-Ruz. Translated by Shoghi Effendi:

O Lord, my Lord!

This is the day which Thy Sacred Tongue and Thy Pen of Glory both have sanctified, and made it a day of heavenly blessings, of divine benediction and favour. Thou hast honoured it with Thy bestowals, endued it with Thy Grace, and invested it with Thy Glory, and caused it to be a day of joy and gladness unto them that have turned to the Light of Thy Divine Revelation; that the hearts may thereby be gladdened, that the radiance of happiness may illumine the lives of them that remember the manifestation of Thy Glory upon Thy Sacred Mount.

Hallow it, 0 Lord, with Thy grace, and make it a day of joy and blessedness for Thy loved ones that have stood fast and firm in Thy Covenant, Thy friends that have sung Thy praise, and especially for this servant of Thine that hath turned his face to Thy Holy Kingdom, supplicated the glory of Thy might and power, circled Thy throne of grandeur and fell prostrate at Thy threshold of Divine Mercy. Thou art the Gracious, the Bountiful, the All Merciful.

Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, Vol. 14, p. 82.

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Baha’i Holy Day: Naw-Ruz, 177 B.E. (Sunset, March 19, 2020-Sunset, March 21, 2020)

March 20th, 2020

Naw-Ruz

Naw-Rúz is the first day of the new year. It coincides with the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, which usually occurs on 21 March. Bahá’u’lláh explains: “The Festival of Naw-Rúz falleth on the day that the sun entereth the sign of Aries, [The vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere] even should this occur no more than one minute before sunset.” 

Baha’u’lah, Tablet of Questions and Answers, #35

Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.
Since Thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.
Thou art He through Whom the ensign “Praiseworthy art Thou in Thy works” hath been lifted up, and the standard “Obeyed art Thou in Thy behest” hath been unfurled. Make known this Thy station, O my God, unto Thy servants, that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent upon Thy bidding and Thy word, and the virtue of every act is conditioned by Thy leave and the good-pleasure of Thy will, and may recognize that the reins of men’s doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy commandment. Make this known unto them, that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: “All dominion is Thine, O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)”; and Thy Friend (Muḥammad) crieth out: “Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Best-Beloved, for that Thou hast uncovered Thy Beauty, and written down for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the revelation of Thy Most Great Name, through which all the peoples have lamented except such as have detached themselves from all else except Thee, and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Manifestation of Thine attributes.”
He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, O my Lord, have broken this day their fast, after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, and in their eagerness to please Thee. Do Thou ordain for him, and for them, and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the good Thou didst destine in Thy Book. Supply them, then, with that which will profit them, in both this life and in the life beyond.
Thou, in truth, art the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Baha’u’lah, Prayers and Meditations, #XLVI

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THESE are the days of Naw-Rúz. I am always thinking of those kind friends! I beg for each and all of you confirmations and assistance from the threshold of oneness, so that those gatherings may become ignited like unto candles, in the republics of America, enkindling the light of the love of God in the hearts; thus the rays of the heavenly teachings may begem and brighten the states of America like the infinitude of immensity with the stars of the Most Great Guidance.

Because the ground is rich, the rain of the divine outpouring is descending. Now you must become heavenly farmers and scatter pure seeds in the prepared soil. The harvest of every other seed is limited, but the bounty and the blessing of the seed of the divine teachings is unlimited. Throughout the coming centuries and cycles many harvests will be gathered. Consider the work of former generations. During the lifetime of Jesus Christ the believing, firm souls were few and numbered, but the heavenly blessings descended so plentifully that in a number of years countless souls entered beneath the shadow of the Gospel. God has said in the Qur’án: “One grain will bring forth seven sheaves, and every sheaf shall contain one hundred grains.” (Quran 2:261) In other words, one grain will become seven hundred; and if God so wills He will double these also. It has often happened that one blessed soul has become the cause of the guidance of a nation. Now we must not consider our ability and capacity, nay, rather, we must fix our gaze upon the favors and bounties of God, in these days, Who has made of the drop a sea, and of the atom a sun.

Upon you be greeting and praise!

Abdu’l-Baha’-Tablets Of The Divine Plan

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A FEW days ago an epistle was written to those divine believers, but because these days are the days of Naw-Rúz, you have come to my mind and I am sending you this greeting for this glorious feast. All the days are blessed, but this feast is the national fête of Persia. The Persians have been holding it for several thousand years past. In reality every day which man passes in the mention of God, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and calling the people to the Kingdom of God, that day is his feast. Praise be to God that you are occupied in the service of the Kingdom of God and are engaged in the promulgation of the religion of God by day and by night. Therefore all your days are feast days. There is no doubt that the assistance and the bestowal of God shall descend upon you.

One of the holy Manifestations, addressing a believing soul, has said that, if a person become the cause of the illumination of one soul, it is better than a boundless treasury. “O ‘Alí! If God guide, through thee, one soul, it is better for thee than all the riches!” Again He says, “Direct us to the straight path!” (Quran 1:6) that is, Show us the right road. It is also mentioned in the Gospel: Travel ye to all parts of the world and give ye the glad tidings of the appearance of the Kingdom of God. (Mark 16:15)

In brief, I hope you will display in this respect the greatest effort and magnanimity. It is assured that you will become assisted and confirmed. A person declaring the glad tidings of the appearance of the realities and significances of the Kingdom is like unto a farmer who scatters pure seeds in the rich soil. The spring cloud will pour upon them the rain of bounty, and unquestionably the station of the farmer will be raised in the estimation of the lord of the village, and many harvests will be gathered.

Therefore, ye friends of God! Appreciate ye the value of this time and be ye engaged in the sowing of the seeds, so that you may find the heavenly blessing and the lordly bestowal.

Upon you be Bahá’u’l-Abhá!

Abdu’l-Baha’-Tablets Of The Divine Plan

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Spiritual Springtime

Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist? This is the age of the Blessed Perfection and this is the time of the Greatest Name! This is the century of the Manifestation, the age of the Sun of the Horizons and the beautiful springtime of His Holiness the Eternal One!

The earth is in motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive; the favors consecutive; and the refreshing breeze is blowing, wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms. Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.

If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?

This is the time for growing; the season for joyous gathering! Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abhá; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy!

Soon shall ye see the friends attaining their longed-for destination and pitching their tents, while we are but in the first day of our journey.

Abdu’l-Baha’-Tablets Of Abdu’l-Baha’

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This period of time is the Promised Age, the assembling of the human race to the “Resurrection Day” and now is the great “Day of Judgment.” Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb. The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the winter time is over. The new year [Naw-Rúz] hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like the angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver.

Abdu’l-Baha’-Tablets Of Abdu’l-Baha’

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Baha’i Sabbath: Ala’ 12, 176 B.E. (3/13/2020)

March 14th, 2020

Happy is your condition for you have executed the divine command; and have arisen to fast in these blessed days. For this physical fasting is a symbol of the spiritual fasting, that is, abstaining from all carnal desires, becoming characterized with the attributes of the spiritual ones, attracted to the heavenly fragrances and enkindled with the fire of the love of God.

Abdu’l-Baha’-Tablets

Fortunate are ye to have obeyed the commandment of God, and kept this fast during the holy season. For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.

Abdu’l-Baha’-Selections #35

O Divine Providence! As I am abstaining from bodily desires and not occupied with eating and drinking, even so purify and sanctify my heart from the love of anyone save thyself, and shield and protect my soul from corrupt desires and satanic qualities, so that my spirit may commune with the breaths of holiness, and fast from the mention of all else besides Thee.

Abdu’l-Baha

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Baha’i Sabbath: Ala’ 5, 176 B.E. (3/6/2020)

March 6th, 2020

THESE are, O my God, the days whereon Thou didst enjoin Thy servants to observe the Fast. With it Thou didst adorn the preamble of the Book of Thy Laws revealed unto Thy creatures, and didst deck forth the Repositories of Thy commandments in the sight of all who are in Thy heaven and all who are on Thy earth. Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee, Whose knowledge embraceth all created things. Thou hast, also, assigned unto every soul a portion of this virtue in accordance with the Tablet of Thy decree and the Scriptures of Thine irrevocable judgment. Every leaf of these Books and Scriptures Thou hast, moreover, allotted to each one of the peoples and kindreds of the earth.

For Thine ardent lovers Thou hast, according to Thy decree, reserved, at each daybreak, the cup of Thy remembrance, O Thou Who art the Ruler of rulers! These are they who have been so inebriated with the wine of Thy manifold wisdom that they forsake their couches in their longing to celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy virtues, and flee from sleep in their eagerness to approach Thy presence and partake of Thy bounty. Their eyes have, at all times, been bent upon the Dayspring of Thy loving-kindness, and their faces set towards the Fountainhead of Thine inspiration. Rain down, then, upon us and upon them from the clouds of Thy mercy what beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounteousness and grace.

Lauded be Thy name, O my God! This is the hour when Thou hast unlocked the doors of Thy bounty before the faces of Thy creatures, and opened wide the portals of Thy tender mercy unto all the dwellers of Thine earth. I beseech Thee, by all them whose blood was shed in Thy path, who, in their yearning over Thee, rid themselves from all attachment to any of Thy creatures, and who were so carried away by the sweet savors of Thine inspiration that every single member of their bodies intoned Thy praise and vibrated to Thy remembrance, not to withhold from us the things Thou hast irrevocably ordained in this Revelation—a Revelation the potency of which hath caused every tree to cry out what the Burning Bush had aforetime proclaimed unto Moses, Who conversed with Thee, a Revelation that hath enabled every least pebble to resound again with Thy praise, as the stones glorified Thee in the days of Muḥammad, Thy Friend.

These are the ones, O my God, whom Thou hast graciously enabled to have fellowship with Thee and to commune with Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself. The winds of Thy will have scattered them abroad until Thou didst gather them together beneath Thy shadow, and didst cause them to enter into the precincts of Thy court. Now that Thou hast made them to abide under the shade of the canopy of Thy mercy, do Thou assist them to attain what must befit so august a station. Suffer them not, O my Lord, to be numbered with them who, though enjoying near access to Thee, have been kept back from recognizing Thy face, and who, though meeting with Thee, are deprived of Thy presence.

These are Thy servants, O my Lord, who have entered with Thee in this, the Most Great Prison, who have kept the Fast within its walls according to what Thou hadst commanded them in the Tablets of Thy decree and the Books of Thy behest. Send down, therefore, upon them what will thoroughly purge them of all that Thou abhorrest, that they may be wholly devoted to Thee, and may detach themselves entirely from all except Thyself.

Rain down, then, upon us, O my God, that which beseemeth Thy grace and befitteth Thy bounty. Enable us, then, O my God, to live in remembrance of Thee and to die in love of Thee, and supply us with the gift of Thy presence in Thy worlds hereafter—worlds which are inscrutable to all except Thee. Thou art our Lord and the Lord of all worlds, and the God of all that are in heaven and all that are on earth.

Thou beholdest, O my God, what hath befallen Thy dear ones in Thy days. Thy glory beareth me witness! The voice of the lamentation of Thy chosen ones hath been lifted up throughout Thy realm. Some were ensnared by the infidels in Thy land, and were hindered by them from having near access to Thee and from attaining the court of Thy glory. Others were able to approach Thee, but were kept back from beholding Thy face. Still others were permitted, in their eagerness to look upon Thee, to enter the precincts of Thy court, but they allowed the veils of the imaginations of Thy creatures and the wrongs inflicted by the oppressors among Thy people to come in between them and Thee.

This is the hour, O my Lord, which Thou hast caused to excel every other hour, and hast related to the choicest among Thy creatures. I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Self and by them, to ordain in the course of this year what shall exalt Thy loved ones. Do Thou, moreover, decree within this year what will enable the Daystar of Thy power to shine brightly above the horizon of Thy glory, and to illuminate, by Thy sovereign might, the whole world.

Render Thy Cause victorious, O my Lord, and abase Thou Thine enemies. Write down, then, for us the good of this life and of the life to come. Thou art the Truth, Who knoweth the secret things. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

Baha’u’llah-Prayers and Meditations LXXXV

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Baha’i Month: Ala’ 1, 176 B.E. (3/2/2020)-The Period Of The Fast: Sunset 2/29/2020-Sunset 3/19/2020

March 2nd, 2020

Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by this Revelation whereby darkness hath been turned into light, through which the Frequented Fane hath been built, and the Written Tablet revealed, and the Outspread Roll uncovered, to send down upon me and upon them who are in my company that which will enable us to soar into the heavens of Thy transcendent glory, and will wash us from the stain of such doubts as have hindered the suspicious from entering into the tabernacle of Thy unity.

I am the one, O my Lord, who hath held fast the cord of Thy loving-kindness, and clung to the hem of Thy mercy and favors. Do Thou ordain for me and for my loved ones the good of this world and of the world to come. Supply them, then, with the Hidden Gift Thou didst ordain for the choicest among Thy creatures.

These are, O my Lord, the days in which Thou hast bidden Thy servants to observe the fast. Blessed is he that observeth the fast wholly for Thy sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee. Assist me and assist them, O my Lord, to obey Thee and to keep Thy precepts. Thou, verily, hast power to do what Thou choosest.

There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

Baha’u’llah

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Bahá’u’lláh explains: “The Festival of Naw-Rúz falleth on the day that the sun entereth the sign of Aries, [The vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere] even should this occur no more than one minute before sunset.”

This year the sun enters the constellation of Aries at 11:50 pm Eastern Time (U.S.) on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

The Fast period begins at the begining of the Baha’i day at sunset, Saturday, February 29, 2020 and ends at the begining of the Baha’i day at sunset, Thursday, March 19, 2020.

The Baha’i Holy Day of Naw-Ruz, 177 B.E. will be celebrated from sunset on March 19, 2020 until sunset on Friday, March 20, 2020. The Baha’i Month of Baha’ begins at sunset, on Friday, March 20, 2020.

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Baha’i Sabbath: Ayyam-i-Ha 3, 176 B.E. (2/28/2020)-Black History Month 2020-Baha’i’s In Black History

February 28th, 2020

Black History Month

Pocahontas Pope

Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablet to Pocahontas Pope

Render thanks to the Lord that among that race thou art the first believer, that thou hast engaged in spreading sweet-scented breezes, and hast arisen to guide others. It is my hope that through the bounties and favours of the Abhá Beauty thy countenance may be illumined, thy disposition pleasing, and thy fragrance diffused, that thine eyes may be seeing, thine ears attentive, thy tongue eloquent, thy heart filled with supreme glad-tidings, and thy soul refreshed by divine fragrances, so that thou mayest arise among that race and occupy thyself with the edification of the people, and become filled with light. Although the pupil of the eye is black, it is the source of light. Thou shalt likewise be. The disposition should be bright, not the appearance. Therefore, with supreme confidence and certitude, say: “O God! Make me a radiant light, a shining lamp, and a brilliant star, so that I may illumine the hearts with an effulgent ray from Thy Kingdom of Abhá.”

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Ayyam-i-Ha 176 B.E.: Intercalary Days-Sunset 2/25/2020-Sunset 2/29/2020

February 26th, 2020

Whoso firmly believeth today in the rebirth of man and is fully conscious that God, the Most Exalted, wieldeth supreme ascendancy and absolute authority over this new creation, verily such a man is reckoned with them that are endued with insight in this most great Revelation. Unto this beareth witness every discerning believer.

Baha’u’llah

Lawh-i-Hikmat/Tablet-of-Wisdom

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O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Rúz as a feast. Thus hath the Day-Star of Utterance shone forth above the horizon of the Book as decreed by Him Who is the Lord of the beginning and the end. Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting. We have ordained that these, amid all nights and days, shall be the manifestations of the letter Há, and thus they have not been bounded by the limits of the year and its months. It behoveth the people of Bahá, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name; and when they end—these days of giving that precede the season of restraint—let them enter upon the Fast. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind. The traveller, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the Fast; they have been exempted by God as a token of His grace. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Generous.

Baha’u’llah, Kitab-I-Aqdas

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Known as the Ayyám-i-Há (the Days of Há), the Intercalary Days have the distinction of being associated with “the letter Há”. The abjad numerical value of this Arabic letter is five, which corresponds to the potential number of intercalary days.

The letter “Há” has been given several spiritual meanings in the Holy Writings, among which is as a symbol of the Essence of God.

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Say: Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment. Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world. It is a dispensation of Providence ordained by the Ordainer, the All-Wise. Were anyone to affirm that it is the Will of God as manifested in the world of being, no one should question this assertion. It is endowed with a power whose reality men of learning fail to grasp. Indeed a man of insight can perceive naught therein save the effulgent splendor of Our Name, the Creator. Say: This is an existence which knoweth no decay, and Nature itself is lost in bewilderment before its revelations, its compelling evidences and its effulgent glory which have encompassed the universe.

Baha’u’llah

Lawh-i-Hikmat/Tablet-of-Wisdom

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HA-An Expression Of God’s Will Within Nature

Scanning Electron Microscope Images of cross sections of the flagellum of Chlamydomonas. They show a 9-pointed star tipped on each point by the Persian letters He and Aleph combined making the letter “HA” of “Ayyam-i-HA”. The flagellum of Chlamydomonas serve purposes of mobility, sensation, communication, and sexual reproduction, the stimulus for which travel through these conduits which as shown, in cross section are formed in the shape of the Persian letters He and Aleph making the letter “HA” surrounding the 9-pointed star.

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MY God, my Fire and my Light! The days which Thou hast named the Ayyám-i-Há (the Days of Há, Intercalary Days) in Thy Book have begun, O Thou Who art the King of names, and the Fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe is approaching. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by these days and by all such as have during that period clung to the cord of Thy commandments, and laid hold on the handle of Thy precepts, to grant that unto every soul may be assigned a place within the precincts of Thy court, and a seat at the revelation of the splendors of the light of Thy countenance.

These, O my Lord, are Thy servants whom no corrupt inclination hath kept back from what Thou didst send down in Thy Book. They have bowed themselves before Thy Cause, and received Thy Book with such resolve as is born of Thee, and observed what Thou hadst prescribed unto them, and chosen to follow that which had been sent down by Thee.

Thou seest, O my Lord, how they have recognized and confessed whatsoever Thou hast revealed in Thy Scriptures. Give them to drink, O my Lord, from the hands of Thy graciousness the waters of Thine eternity. Write down, then, for them the recompense ordained for him that hath immersed himself in the ocean of Thy presence, and attained unto the choice wine of Thy meeting.

I implore Thee, O Thou the King of kings and the Pitier of the downtrodden, to ordain for them the good of this world and of the world to come. Write down for them, moreover, what none of Thy creatures hath discovered, and number them with those who have circled round Thee, and who move about Thy throne in every world of Thy worlds.

Thou, truly, art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Baha’u’llah, Prayers and Meditations XLV

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