Footnotes

[1.]

Regarding this passage, an extract from a letter dated 5 January 1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer states: “Unfortunately it would seem that the knowledge ‘which could largely eliminate fear’ has not been disclosed or identified by Bahá’u’lláh; so we do not know what it is”. This extract is also published in Bahá’í News 210 (August 1948), p. 3.

Qur’án 3:67.

Cf Gen. 56:62.

Cf Gen. 1:26.

Qur’án 17:22.

Bahá’u’lláh

Cf. Genesis. 9:25.

i.e. therefore people cannot be blamed for their character.

The Zaqqúm, Qur’án 37:60, 44:43.

Cf. “Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” [rev. ed.] (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), Sec. 97, p. 126.

Qur’án 25:55, 35:13, 55:19–25. See also Marriage Prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá beginning “He is God! O Peerless Lord! In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage...”

See “Some Answered Questions, pp. 328–29 for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s comments on the arc of descent and ascent.

Qur’án 24:35.

Qur’án 39:12.

Cf. “Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” [rev. ed.] (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), Sec. 114, p. 139.

“Consolation of thine eye”—idiomatic Persian expression meaning “child”

In Questions and Answers, an appendix to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh lays upon children the obligation of serving their parents and categorically states that after the recognition of the oneness of God, the most important of all duties for children is to have due regard for the rights of their parents.

One of the distinguished believers of Qazvín

Cf. “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh: Selected Letters” [rev. ed.] (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 126–27.

“Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, rev. ed. (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), p. 128.