Posted to the Tarjuman Listserve
by Khazeh
Fananapazir in early December, 2001;
Web edition prepared by Mehdi Wolf,
December 2001 and
December, 2002
by permission of the translator.
Dar Ma’níy-i-‘Ubudiyyat
(“On Servitude”)
A Provisional Translation
Selections from the Writings of ’Abdu’l-Bahá’,
Vol. 2, Section 267
Trans. Khazeh Fananapazir
O thou that dost serve at the divine Threshold![1] This service of
thine is higher than the sovereignty of the world. This servitude thou
dost offer is better than if thou didst rule over all. For earthly
power is as vapour in deserted wildernesses, nay worse: it is as deadly
venom. But the service thou dost render gives thee lasting sway; it
is the rule of high heaven. Well hath it been said:
These are slaves but kings shall be their thralls,
And the universe would fain become their servant.[2]
Know thou, that this garment of servitude is a robe of everlasting glory on thy shoulders and this dust is a diadem worthy of princes in the Realm of eternity.
It is for this same reason that the treasured crown of this lowly
one is to be a servant at the threshold of the Abhá Beauty and my
greatest glory is to attain this station of thraldom. O my God! Strengthen me in this purpose and enable me to realise this hope. Thou art verily the Confirmer, the All-Powerful.
Notes
[1] The recipient of this Persian Tablet was Janáb-i-Mírzá ‘Alí, Khádem-i-Haram.
The Tablet is in several other collections of ’Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets (KF’s note, slightly modified by MW).
[2] The Master quotes these two Arabic lines, but their source is unknown. They seem to be epigrams or axioms. (KF’s note, modified by MW).