Baha'u'llah Sought Justice as a Child

From: Baha’i Stories

While still a child, the Blessed Beauty (Baha'u'llah) watched as a government tax-collector, on three separate occasions, accosted His father and demanded, in cruel and unjust manner, the payment of taxes. Unable to bear the injustice of it all, He, though in early childhood, mounted His horse and rode fpr two days until He arrived in Tihran (the capital of Persia). There He sought the dismissal of this unjust and tyrannical tax-collectot. He succeeded in obtaining the necessary papers ordering the dismissal, and returned to His parents. 

(Mr. Furutan, ‘Story of Baha'u'llah’)

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga with his family

From: We are Baha’is

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga (second from left) with members of his family; to his left, his daughter, Florence, to his right, his wife, Elizabeth, and extreme right, his son, George. (Baha'i News July 1972)

Each believer should “pattern his life according to the Teachings” – no “set of rigid regulations”

From: Daily Spiritual Food for Thought

It is neither possible nor desirable for the Universal House of Justice to set forth a set of rules covering every situation. Rather is it the task of the individual believer to determine, according to his own prayerful understanding of the Writings, precisely what his course of conduct should be in relation to situations which he encounters in his daily life. If he is to fulfil his true mission in life as a follower of the Blessed Perfection, he will pattern his life according to the Teachings. The believer cannot attain this objective merely by living according to a set of rigid regulations. When his life is oriented toward service to Bahá'u'lláh, and when every conscious act is performed within this frame of reference, he will not fail to achieve the true purpose of his life.

Therefore, every believer must continually study the sacred Writings and the instructions of the beloved Guardian, striving always to attain a new and better understanding of their import to him and to his society. He should pray fervently for Divine Guidance, wisdom and strength to do what is pleasing to God, and to serve Him at all times and to the best of his ability. 

(From a letter dated 17 October 1968 written by the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, a Chase and Holy Life)

Going to Mashriqu'l-Adhkár at dawn

From: Daily Verses of God

Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centering his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance, and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár and, entering therein, seateth himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is each and every building which hath been erected in cities and villages for the celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it hath been designated before the throne of glory, were ye of those who understand. 

(Baha’u’llah, the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

1913: Baha’i students at Beirut School

From: Worldwide Community of Baha’u’llah

1913 - Some Baha’i students with their teachers at Beirut School. Shoghi Effendi is indicated by an “x”.