“My name is ‘Abdul-Bahá,
my identity is ‘Abdul-Bahá,
my qualification is‘Abdul-Bahá,
my reality is‘Abdul-Bahá,
my praise is ‘Abdul-Bahá.
Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection
is my glorious and refulgent diadem;
and servitude to all the human race
is my perpetual religion.”
Riaz and his best friend Hiroto were doing their homework in the tatami room. Hiroto saw a photo on the bookcase, and just stared at it for a few moments.
“Who is that old man?” He asked.
Riaz looked up and said, “Oh, that’s ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!” Hiroto nodded and then they both went back to studying.
Mona was just passing the room at that time and heard the comments. “Hiroto, do you know who ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is?” she asked.
“Yeah, He is the one who writes all the prayers!” Hiroto answered.
Mona was so surprised to hear this. “How do you know about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayers?” she asked.
“Mona!” Riaz answered. “He has spent the night with us before and joined us for morning prayers! Remember?”
By then Asma and Shahla had joined them in the room, sitting around the table on the tatami.
“Wow! You remembered that just by reading a prayer a time or two! Sugoi!” said Shahla.
Mother and Anisa came in just then with some muffins for a treat for the children, and
Mother asked all of them, “But who can tell Hiroto who ‘Abdu’l-Bahá really was?”
“Well, it’s right there in His name!” Said Riaz. “‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ means ‘Servant of Bahá’, or ‘Servant of G
od’!”
Asma added “I remember! He said, ‘My Name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my identity is ‘Abdu’l- Bahá, my…. (something, something…is ‘Abdu’l- Bahá) my Praise is ‘Abdu’l- Bahá, (…something, something) and servitude to the whole human race my perpetual religion!’ That means He chose to be a servant to God and a servant to all mankind!”
“Good job, boys! Nice try on the quotation, Asma!” praised Mother.
Shahla looked thoughtfully and then asked, “If He chose that name, then what was the name He was born with?”
Mother looked around the room, and asked “Who knows the answer to that question?”
Everyone shook their head.
“Well, don’t feel bad,” said Mother. “I had to think pretty hard until I remembered, too. We never use the name He was born with because He asked us to call Him ‘Abdu’l- Bahá. But if I remember correctly…He was given the name ‘Abbás and was called ‘Abbás Effendi by the people in His town.
Effendi means Mr. or it’s like ‘san’ here in Japan.”
Then she continued, “Actually, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was His station, meaning His position. For example, people have stations in life: Chief, or Mayor, or Mother, or Father, or Uncle, son, or daughter. Those aren’t our names; they are our stations. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wanted to be known as the Servant! But He had other stations, too. Do you guys remember any of those other stations?” asked Mother.
“Bahá’u’lláh, His father, called Him ‘The Master’,” said Mona. “I guess because He was going to take over after Bahá’u’lláh?”
“But Mom, how can He be the Servant and the Master at the same time?” asked Shahla.
“Good question, Shahla!” said Mother. “’Abdu’l-Bahá explained that the higher a person’s position, the lower and more humble they should be. That’s what really makes someone noble!”
“WHAT? Mom that doesn’t make sense!” shouted Riaz.
“The rain that falls on the mountain doesn’t stay on the top of the mountain but flows down to the sea.
The lower the place, the more water gathers there.
So, the noble king should be a humble servant to his people, forgetting his self, and being constantly concerned with the wellbeing of his subjects. And aren’t mothers and fathers servants to their children? They work and cook and clean to feed and take care of their children. Policemen protect and guard everyone. Teachers work really hard to educate all of you.” Mother smiled and said, “All of us are servants of you children!”
“OK, servant! More treats now for us kids!” said Riaz, pointing to Mother, and everyone laughed.
Mother smiled and said, “Riaz, part of our service to you is to teach you how to be healthy, respectful, kind, humble and noble people. So, sorry but, no more treats until after dinner… IF, you have finished your homework!” And all the children laughed again, even Riaz.
“So, what are some of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s other stations?” asked Mother.
“I remember” said Shahla, “the Examplar! That means He is the example that we are supposed to follow! Right Mom?”
“Yeah!” said little Anisa, and she started singing, “Look at Me, Follow Me, be as I am, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” and everyone laughed.
“We follow Him, so we know how to treat people, right Mommy! Because ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the kindest, bestest person!” she added.
“That’s right. Good job!” praised Mother.
“I know another one!” said Asma. “Center of the Covenant! I read that ’Abdu’l-Bahá is the center around which the unity of all mankind depends!”
“What exactly does that mean?” asked Mona.
Asma looked at Mother for the answer to that question.
“Well,” she said, “I don’t understand it fully either, but ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, ‘…that the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant.’ And the covenant is God’s promise to bring the Kingdom of God on Earth—peace on earth—if we follow God’s teachings. 
These teachings were brought by Bahá’u’lláh, the newest voice of God foretold by Christ, Buddha, Muhammad and all the previous Manifestations of God. And, Bahá’u’lláh said to follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Master, because He was the Center of this Covenant, and obeying Him was like obeying God. If we all follow these teachings, we will have peace on earth and happiness for everyone!”
“Really? Wow!” said the children.
Hiroto looked around the room at everyone. “Wow!” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá must be a very special person, that He can be the Servant, the Master, the Center of the Covenant… all those things at once!”
“Yeah, it’s a mystery!” said Riaz shaking his head.
“The Mystery of God! That is another of His stations!” said Mona smiling and clapping her hands.
“Yes,” explained Mother. “There has never been another like Him. He is not a Manifestation of God, like Bahá’u’lláh, the Buddha, or Christ, and He is not just an ordinary human either. He is the Perfect Man and the Perfect Example of what we humans could be! We haven’t had anyone like that ever before!”
“So, maybe in the way distant future when people follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá good enough, everyone will be like Him!” suggested Riaz.
“Everyone being kind, loving, generous…that would make a wonderful world wouldn’t it!” agreed Asma, and everyone nodded.
“’Abdu’l-Bahá’s love was like pure, lovely water that flowed over and surrounded everyone he met and made them clean and pure and happy,” commented Mother.
“Rather than water… I feel more like a rock coming in contact with another rock, when I meet people: hardly any connection at all,” said Mona sadly.“I wish I could at least be something soft… like dough or cotton…that could kind of surround a person I met.”
“I know exactly how you feel, Mona, I feel the same way,” said Mother. “Let’s work on following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in showing love and compassion to everyone we meet…. ‘Little by little, day by day… that’s how we grow’, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said.”
Anisa went over to Mona and gave her a big hug with her arms and legs.
“I am wrapping you up with my love Mona!” Mona hugged her back as everyone laughed.
Then Mother said, “OK guys, I am going to go get dinner ready! You all need to finish your homework…. Maybe you can all search for your favorite quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that shows how we should be treating people. Then tonight you can each share the quote that you found and explain to Dad all that you have learned about the Stations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!”
“I help you Mommy! I am good at cooking dinner!” said little Anisa, and everyone laughed as they
went back to their homework.
Here are some of the quotations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words that the children shared at dinner.
“You live to do good and bring happiness to others.” (the quote Anisa chose)
“Pray to God that He may strengthen you in divine virtue, so that you may be as angels in the world….” (Mona’s choice)
“If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it, if thirsty, let them quench its thirst, if weary, let them see that it rests.” (Asma’s choice)
“Let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.” (Riaz’s choice)
“Be kind to all peoples; care for every person; …strive ye to gladden every soul.” (Shahla’s choice)
Father listened to all their quotes, and their explanation of the Station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and he was so surprised. “Wow, my children have all become teachers of mankind, and servants to the Covenant! I am so proud of all you! I know that each of you will render great services to the betterment of mankind as you grow up!”
That of course made everyone smile and feel very happy!
Then little Anisa started singing again: “Look at me; follow me; be as I am; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” Everyone laughed and joined her in singing.
Look at me; follow me, song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2bzk5LNy1E
A song about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAIMNRhM5Sw
For more stories of Abdu’l-Bahá see: http://hirunohoshien.weebly.com/ #265
Quiz
- What were Riaz and Hiroto doing when Mona saw them?
__________________________________________________________________________ - What did Hiroto ask about?
___________________________________________________________________________ - What did Mona ask Hiroto? What did Hiroto answer?
___________________________________________________________________________ - What does the name “‘Abdu’l-Bahá” mean?
___________________________________________________________________________ - Was that the name He was born with?
___________________________________________________________________________ - What did Asma say was another station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
___________________________________________________________________________ - How can someone be a Master and a Servant at the same time?
____________________________________________________________________________ - What are some of the other stations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
_______________________________________________________________________ - How is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the Mystery of God?
___________________________________________________________________________ - Can you memorize one new quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
____________________________________________________________________________
How did you do?
Answers are on the Parents’ Page!
Coloring Page
“Pray to God that He may strengthen you in divine virtue, so that you may be as angels in the world…”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Be as Angels in the world
Parents’ Page
As to the Station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith writes: “He is, and should for all time be regarded, first and foremost, as the Center and Pivot of Bahá’u’lláh’s peerless and all-enfolding Covenant, His most exalted handiwork, the stainless Mirror of His light, the perfect Exemplar of His teachings, the unerring Interpreter of His Word, the embodiment of every Bahá’í ideal, the incarnation of every Bahá’í virtue, the Most Mighty Branch sprung from the Ancient Root, the Limb of the Law of God, the Being “round Whom all names revolve,” the Mainspring of the Oneness of Humanity, the Ensign of the Most Great Peace, the Moon of the Central Orb of this most holy Dispensation—styles and titles that are implicit and find their truest, their highest and fairest expression in the magic name ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He is, above and beyond these appellations, the “Mystery of God”—an expression by which Bahá’u’lláh Himself has chosen to designate Him, and which, while it does not by any means justify us to assign to Him the station of Prophethood, indicates how in the person of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the incompatible characteristics of a human nature and superhuman knowledge and perfection have been blended and are completely harmonized.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said; “You have written that there is a difference among the believers concerning the ‘Second Coming of Christ.’ Gracious God! Time and again this question hath arisen, and its answer hath emanated in a clear and irrefutable statement from the pen of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, that what is meant in the prophecies by the ‘Lord of Hosts’ and the ‘Promised Christ’ is the Blessed Perfection (Bahá’u’lláh) and His Holiness the Exalted One (the Báb). My name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My reality is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion… No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.”
Quiz Answers; 1) Homework 2) Who was in the photo? 3) “Do you know who ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is?” Hiroto answered, “He is the one who wrote the prayers.” 4) “Servant of Bahá” or “Servant of God”. 5) No. 6) The Master. 7) The higher you go, the more humble you should be…the more people you have to serve. 8) Exemplar, Center of the Covenant, Mystery of God. 9) There has never been One like Him…not a Manifestation of God, but more than a normal human.
First time to read this on my phone. Wonderful to receive and access.
First time to read this on my phone. Wonderful to receive and access.