ions inasmuch as all the holy and
divine Manifestations, from the time of Abraham until the appearance of
the Seal of the Prophets (Muhammad), have lived in, or migrated to, or
traveled through, that country. Likewise, Mecca and Medina have achieved
illimitable glory, as the light of Prophethood shone forth therein. For
this reason Palestine and Hijaz have been distinguished from all other
countries.

3 Likewise, the continent of America is, in the eyes of the one true God,
the land wherein the splendors of His light shall be revealed, where the
mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled, where the righteous will abide
and the free assemble. Therefore, every section thereof is blessed: but
because these nine states have been favored in faith and assurance, hence
through this precedence they have obtained spiritual privilege. They must
realize the value of this bounty; because they have obtained such a favor
and in order to render thanksgiving for this most great bestowal, they
must arise in the diffusion of divine fragrances so that the blessed verse
of the Qur'an, "God is the light of heaven and earth: the similitude of
His light is a niche in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp
enclosed in a case of glass; the glass appears as if it were a shining
star. It is lighted with the oil of a Blessed Tree, an olive neither of
the East, nor of the West; it wanteth little but that the oil thereof
would give light, although no fire touched it. This is the light added
unto light. God will direct unto His light whom He pleaseth"(14)--may be
realized.

4 He says: The world of nature is the world of darkness, because it is the
origin of a thousand depravities; nay, rather, it is darkness upon
darkness. The illumination of the world of nature is dependent upon the
splendor of the Sun of Reality. The grace of guidance is like unto the
candle which is enkindled in the glass of knowledge and wisdom and that
glass of knowledge and wisdom is the mirror of the heart of humanity. The
oil of that luminous lamp is from the fruits of the Blessed Tree and that
oil is so refined that it will burn without light. When the intensity of
the light and the translucency of the glass and the purity of the mirror
are brought together, it will become light upon light.

5 In brief, in these nine blessed states 'Abdu'l-Baha journeyed and
traveled from place to place, explained the wisdom of the heavenly books
and diffused the fragrances. In most