All the Prophets have… summoned mankind to all good. They
have united people in the love of God, invited them to the religions of the
unity of mankind and exhorted them to amity and agreement. For example, we
mention Abraham and Moses. By this mention we do not mean the limitation
implied in the mere names but intend the virtues which these names embody. When
we say Abraham, we mean thereby a manifestation of divine guidance, a center of
human virtues, a source of heavenly bestowals to mankind, a dawning point of
divine inspiration and perfections. These perfections and graces are not
limited to names and boundaries. When we find these virtues, qualities and
attributes in any personality, we recognize the same reality shining from within
and bow in acknowledgment of the Abrahamic perfections. Similarly, we
acknowledge and adore the beauty of Moses.
Some souls were lovers of the name Abraham, loving the
lantern instead of the light, and when they saw this same light shining from
another lantern, they were so attached to the former lantern that they did not
recognize its later appearance and illumination. Therefore, those who were
attached and held tenaciously to the name Abraham were deprived when the
Abrahamic virtues reappeared in Moses. Similarly, the Jews were believers in
Moses, awaiting the coming of the Messiah. The virtues and perfections of Moses
became apparent in Jesus Christ most effulgently, but the Jews held to the name
Moses, not adoring the virtues and perfections manifest in Him. Had they been
adoring these virtues and seeking these perfections, they would assuredly have
believed in Jesus Christ when the same virtues and perfections shone in Him.
If we are lovers of the light, we adore it in whatever lamp
it may become manifest, but if we love the lamp itself and the light is
transferred to another lamp, we will neither accept nor sanction it. Therefore,
we must follow and adore the virtues revealed in the Messengers of God —
whether in Abraham, Moses, Jesus or other Prophets — but
we must not adhere to and adore the lamp. We must recognize the sun, no matter
from what dawning point it may shine forth, be it Mosaic, Abrahamic or any
personal point of orientation whatever, for we are lovers of sunlight and not
of orientation. We are lovers of illumination and not of lamps and candles. We
are seekers for water, no matter from what rock it may gush forth. We are in
need of fruit in whatsoever orchard it may be ripened. We long for rain; it
matters not which cloud pours it down. We must not be fettered. If we renounce
these fetters, we shall agree, for all are seekers of reality. The counterfeit
or imitation of true religion has adulterated human belief, and the foundations
have been lost sight of. The variance of these imitations has produced enmity
and strife, war and bloodshed. Now the glorious and brilliant twentieth century
has dawned, and the divine bounty is radiating universally. The Sun of Truth is
shining forth in intense enkindlement. This is, verily, the century when these
imitations must be forsaken, superstitions abandoned and God alone worshiped.
We must look at the reality of the Prophets and Their teachings in order that
we may agree. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk, 28 May 1912, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal
Peace’) (To read the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
