This wonderful age has rent asunder the veils of
superstition and has condemned the prejudice of the people of the East.
Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony
was not approved of, but the Manifested Light, Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious
period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual
food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts
that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of
sad and desponding hearts.
Therefore ... set to music the verses and the divine words
so that they may be sung with soul-stirring melody in the Assemblies and
gatherings, and that the hearts of the listeners may become tumultuous and rise
towards the Kingdom of Abha in supplication and prayer.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Bahá'í
World Faith: Selected Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá';
The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Music)
