Abdu'l Baha in the UK, 1913 Baha in the UK, 1913   
The Diary of Abdu'l Baha's Translator



Beware of Offending Hearts; Help All as One Family
In a word: Beware lest ye offend any heart! Beware lest ye speak against any one in his
absence! Beware lest ye estrange yourselves from the servants of God! You must consider
all the servants of God as your own kith ?4
 and kin! Let your whole effort be directed
towards rejoicing every offended one, towards feeding every one who is hungry, clothing
every one who is without clothing, glorifying every one who is humbled. Be a helper to every
helpless one and be kind unto all. This is to gain the good will of God. This is that which is
conducive to eternal felicity for you. This is conducive to the illumination of the world of
humanity. As I seek from God eternal glory in your behalf, I therefore am giving you this
exhortation.
Peace Not War
You all see what is happening in the Balkans
 ?5
! How human blood is being shed! How little
children are torn into pieces! How men's properties are pillaged! How cities and towns are
sacked! It is a world enkindling fire that is astir in the Balkans! God has created them as
men to love one another; but they bleed each other! God has created them in order that
they may co operate with each other; but they pillage each other's property and shed each
other's blood. God has created them to be the cause of felicity and peace to one another;
but they are causing trials and hardships unto each other.
Lofty Efforts, Universal Peace and International Assistance
As to you: Your efforts must be made lofty. Exert yourselves with your heart and soul, so
that perchance through your efforts the Light of Universal Peace may shine, and this
darkness of estrangement and enmity may be dispelled from amongst men; so that all men
may become as one family and be kind unto one another; that the East may assist the
West; that the West may aid the East, for all are the denizens of the one planet, and all
are peoples of the one nativity, and all are the flocks of the one Shepherd.
Prophets and Sages
Consider how the Prophets who have been sent, and the great souls who have appeared
from amongst men, and the sages who have arisen in the world, have all given
exhortations unto men. They have all taught love and affection to humanity. They have all
guided human souls towards union and harmony. These great Prophets and saints and

seers and philosophers have all sacrificed their lives in order to establish these teachings
amongst men.
Prophets Unheeded; God Loves All
Consider how heedless the world is, for notwithstanding all the pains taken by these
Prophets of God in their time, the people are still fighting one another! Notwithstanding all
the Heavenly Commandments to love one another, they are shedding each other's blood!
How heedless are these people! How ignorant are these people! How in darkness are these
people! They have such a compassionate God who is so kind towards all men, and yet they
act against His good pleasure! And yet they live in opposition to His behests! God is kind
towards all men, and yet they show the utmost enmity each towards the other! God gives
life unto them all, yet they destroy each other's lives! God blesses and builds their houses;
they raze and sack each other's homes! Consider how heedless are such people! Consider
how ignorant are such people!
Baha'is are Aware and Have No Excuse Before God; Live Life of Light
As to you: Your duty is of another kind, for you are informed concerning the mysteries of
GOD. Your eyes are illumined! Your ears are made hearing! You must therefore look
towards each other, and then towards all mankind, with the utmost love and kindness; for
you have no excuse to bring before GOD if you do not live this way, for you are informed of
that which constitutes the good pleasure of God. You have heard His Commandments. You
have hearkened unto His Words of Advice. You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you
must even be kind to your enemies as your friends. You must even consider your evil
wishers as your well wishers. You must consider as agreeable, those who are not agreeable
towards you; so that, perchance, this darkness of conflict may disappear from amongst
men and the Light of the Divine may shine forth; so that the Orient may be illumined; that
the Occident may be filled with fragrance; nay, the East and the West may embrace each
other in love and deal with one another in the utmost affection! Earth into Paradise
Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find rest and the
eternal felicity shall not be attained by men! But if man lives up to these Divine
Commandments, this world of earth shall be transformed into the world of heaven, and this
material sphere shall be converted into a Paradise of Glory.
Success in High Calling
It is my hope that you shall be rendered successful therein, so that you may cast light upon
the world of humanity like unto lamps, and quicken and stir the body of existence like unto
a spirit. This is Eternal Glory! This is Everlasting Felicity! This is Immortal Life! This is


Heavenly Loftiness! This is being created in the image and likeness of GOD, and unto this I
call you, and I pray to God to strengthen and bless you!