A Pilgrim's Note of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Words:
"Love, love, love. Love attracts the hearts, love captivates the souls…"

by Muhammad-'Ali Faydi

What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a pilgrim’s notes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words in Persian, recorded in Muḥammad-‘Alí Fayḍí, Khuláṣi’í az Kháṭirát-i-Jináb-i-‘Abdu’l-Mítháq Mítháqíyyih, pp. 72–73. According to that source, these words were spoken in February 1920. [h15 Translation:

One of the pilgrims arose, raised up his hands, and said, “Oh ‘Abdu’l-Bahá! I am illiterate; I lack knowledge and am unfamiliar with proofs and evidences. How can I teach the Cause?”

With the utmost grandeur and majesty, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to him:

Love, love, love. Love attracts the hearts, love captivates the souls. Even these massive globes revolve through the power of gravity, which is to say the force of love. Love infuses dead bodies with new and wondrous life. Love must be shown so that others might become friends and their feelings of estrangement may disappear. You must love them so they shall love you in return. When they have come to love you, they will listen to what you have to say. The foundation of the Cause of God and the objective of religion itself is love. The reason underlying the creation of all beings has always been love: “I was a hidden treasure; I loved to be known, wherefore I brought creation into being so that I might be known.”^[1] In bygone ages and past centuries, teaching was done with words, while in this era it is now done with deeds. It is incumbent on the loved ones of God to teach His Cause through good deeds, pleasing conduct, and praiseworthy qualities.

The Blessed Beauty, exalted is He, has said in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “Assist ye the Lord of all creation with works of righteousness, and also through wisdom and utterance.”^[2] First through deeds, and then with wisdom and utterance, must the Cause be taught and heartfelt kindness be shown to all groups and peoples, for it has been said that “deeds exert greater influence than words.”^[3] People are weary of words; they focus on deeds. When they see that a person has virtuous qualities and a spiritual character—that his intention is to show love and kindness to the members of humanity—they will certainly accept him, and this same love and kindness will result in their awakening and heedfulness.

What is it the believers want? If they desire this world, they must teach the Cause. If their gaze is fixed on the world to come, they must teach the Cause. If they wish for tranquility and comfort, they must teach the Cause. If they seek the good-pleasure of God, they must teach the Cause. For with very few in their ranks, they will never achieve a victorious conquest. All the bestowals of earth and heaven lie in the sphere of teaching the Cause. If they desire glory and felicity in both realms, they must rise up to teach the Cause; otherwise, they will grow despondent, distressed, and regretful. “We have but to deliver this clear message. Whosoever desireth, let him reject it; and whosoever desireth, let him choose the path to his Lord.”^[4]

Notes:

[1] A well-known hadith.

[2] Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶ 73.

[3] An excerpt from this paragraph of the Kalimát-i-Firdawsíyyih (Words of Paradise) of Bahá’u’lláh.

[4] A paraphrase of this passage from Bahá’u’lláh’s Arabic Tablet of Aḥmad: “He hath but to deliver this clear message. Whosoever desireth, let him turn aside from this counsel and whosoever desireth let him choose the path to his Lord.” The first sentence of this passage echoes Qur’án 36:17, while the second is similar to Qur’án 76:29.