s worlds. He, verily, is
the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

(From a Tablet - translated from the Persian and Arabic) [95]

Extracts From the Writings and Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Baha:

96: The effulgence of the rays of the Sun of Truth is abundant and the
favours...

The effulgence of the rays of the Sun of Truth is abundant and the favours
of the Blessed Beauty surround the women believers and the handmaidens who
have attained unto certitude. At every moment a bounteous bestowal is
revealed. The handmaidens of the Merciful should seize the opportunities
afforded in these days. Each one should strive to draw nigh unto the
divine Threshold and seek bounties from the Source of existence. She
should attain such a state and be confirmed with such a power as to make,
with but the utterance of one word, a lowly person to be held in
reverence, initiate him who is deprived into the world of the spirit,
impart hope to the despondent, endow the portionless one with a share of
the great bestowal, and confer knowledge and insight upon the ignorant and
the blind, and alertness and vigilance on the indolent and heedless. This
is the attribute of the handmaidens of the Merciful. This is the
characteristic of the bondsmaids of God's Threshold.

O ye leaves who have attained certitude! In the countries of Europe and
America the maidservants of the Merciful have won the prize of excellence
and advancement from the arena of men, and in the fields of teaching and
spreading the divine fragrances they have shown a brilliant hand. Soon
they will soar like the birds of the Concourse on high in the far corners
of the world and will guide the people and reveal to them the divine
mysteries. Ye, who are the blessed leaves from the East, should burn more
brightly, and engage in spreading the sweet savours of the Lord and in
reciting the verses of God. Arise, therefore, and exert yourselves to
fulfil the exhortations and counsels of the Blessed Beauty, that all hopes
may be realized and that the plain of streams and orchards may become the
garden of oneness.

Upon ye, men and women, be the glory of glories.

(From a Tablet - translated from the Persian) [96]

97: In this great Cycle and wondrous Dispensation some women have been
raised...

In this great Cycle and wondrous Dispensation some women have been raised
up who were the emblems of unity and ensigns of oneness, for the
revelation of divine bestowals is received by