Tag: Drama

WORKING IN A SPIRIT OF SERVICE G2 L18

Post author By Carolyn
Post date October 18, 2022
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LESSON 18: WORKING IN A SPIRIT OF SERVICE

As we grow up, we each become engaged in different kinds of work and make an effort to learn the skills and abilities, knowledge, and qualities, we need to serve. Be it as a farmer, a doctor, a teacher, a scientist, a musician, or a factory worker. You too will need to think about how you will contribute to the welfare of society as you grow older.

With this introduction, the children then brainstormed some ideas of possible occupations and specifically, what professions they would like to carry out – we had it all, from zoo keeper to fashion designer, to ornithologist – there are so many options out there!

This is the last lesson to memorize the prayer below

O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness. Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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Use this link to download and print

The following ideas will assist you in presenting the quotation that the children are expected to memorize today:

With love and kindness, joy and eagerness, we work diligently throughout our lives, striving to contribute to the good of those around us. As we grow up, we each become engaged in different kinds of work and make effort to acquire the skills and abilities, knowledge and qualities, we need to serve. There are many things that must be done in this world, and each person must determine how best to apply the talents and capacities he or she has been given by God. Think of the farmer who works from early morning until evening to produce the food others need to survive; think of the factory worker who lends his or her skills to the manufacture of goods that will benefit many; the schoolteacher devotes his or her days to helping young students learn to read and write; the musician practices for hours upon hours in order to create music that will bring joy to the hearts of others; the scientist spends a lifetime observing the universe and looking for patterns in its workings, to make discoveries that will lead to new understanding and that will give rise to new technologies. The Baha’i Writings tell us that work done in the spirit of service is accepted by God as worship.

You, too, will need to think about how you will to contribute to the welfare of society as you grow older. There will be many ways that you can apply the talents and capacities God has given to you, and as you make effort and work diligently, Divine confirmations will reinforce you, and you will begin to see more and more possibilities to serve others. You will, of course, continue to study and learn and will strive to achieve excellence, whatever path you take in life. Even the Baha’is who followed Baha’u’llah into exile from His homeland and who had little means learned the art of making rush mats. It was ‘Abdu’l-Baha who found an instructor to teach them this skill, a skill which He Himself had earlier acquired. During His travels in the West, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explained to one of the friends: “. . . it is incumbent upon every soul to acquire a trade and an occupation. For example, l know how to weave or make a mat, and you know some other trade. This, in itself is an act of worship, provided that it is conducted on the basis of utmost honesty and faithfulness.” To remember the importance of engaging in some form of work, in a spirit of service to humanity, let us memorize the following words of Baha’u’llah:

It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation – such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God
Baha’u’llah

MEANING OF WORDS

incumbent

Every parent must be responsible for making sure that their children receive an education. It is incumbent upon parents to see to their children’s education.

It is incumbent upon every person to pray each day.

Engage

Jacob’s brothers all have different jobs. One is an electrician, one is a fisherman, one is a teacher, and one is a painter. Each of Jacob’s brothers is engaged in a different occupation.

Each day, Marwan goes to school, assists her brother with his studies, practices playing football, and helps with the household chores. Throughout the day, Marwan engages in many activities.

Occupation

Ariadne spends most of her time looking after her family-caring for their home, tending to their well-being, and making sure they have what they need. Ariadne’s main occupation is the care of her family.

Penelope is an architect. She spends her days designing apartment buildings in which families live. Penelope is an architect by occupation.

Rank

Firefighters must always follow the orders given to them by the head of the fire department. The head of the fire department holds the highest rank in the department.

After many years of wood-working, Alberto became very skilled in carpentry. He achieved the rank of Master Carpenter.

Worship

Once a week, Miguel’s parents invite their neighbors to their home to pray for the well being of their village and their families and to offer gratitude to God. They gather together to worship and praise God.

In every part of the world, one finds special places where people gather to give praise and thanks to God. People go to these places to worship God together.

MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

The story below, about a young man named Muhammad who grew up in ‘Akka in the time of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, will help the children to see the joy that working hard to achieve excellence brings.

In ‘Akka, ‘Abdu’l-Baha had organized a small school for the Baha’i children who lived in the Holy Land. There were very knowledgeable Baha’is in ‘Akka at the time, so the children had the opportunity to learn from a most wonderful group of teachers. Among the subjects taught at the school was calligraphy, which is an art highly esteemed by Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It is the art of writing profound and meaningful phrases, poems and tablets in a most beautiful way, almost as if they were paintings.

On Thursday afternoons the children of the Baha’i school had a special bounty. Each would take the best piece of calligraphy he or she had written during the week and show it to ‘Abdu’l-Baha who would inspect it, praising and encouraging the child as He saw fit. If the calligraphy piece was particularly well done, He would write a short sentence of praise at the bottom of the paper in His own handwriting. For the children, a sheet ennobled by ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s handwriting was a treasure they would cherish for the rest of their lives.

One year, there was a young boy of twelve or thirteen in the school who was intelligent, but eager to avoid unnecessary exertion. He loved to play and, as a result, did his homework hastily and poorly. Now this young boy, whose name was Muhammad, had an ardent desire to win the good pleasure of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. But when it was time to sit down and practice his calligraphy, he would get the urge to go out and play. Then one week Muhammad managed to show tremendous willpower. He worked hard, and when Thursday came, he presented to ‘Abdu’l-Baha a very nice piece of calligraphy. The Master was delighted and wrote at the bottom of the sheet words of commendation.

As you can imagine, Muhammad was beside himself with happiness. He looked at the handwriting of ‘Abdu’l-Baha under his calligraphy, convinced he was the most fortunate boy in the whole universe. “Why could I not do this every week,” he thought, “and receive this honor every Thursday?” So the next week he tried again, but unfortunately his willpower was not strong. He did not produce a single piece of calligraphy that could possibly win ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s approval a second time. Then Muhammad said to himself, “‘Abdu’l-Baha is so busy. He has so many things to do. He would never remember the calligraphy of a little boy.” So he took a fine pair of scissors and cut off the bottom of the sheet that he had presented the week before, removing ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha’s words of praise. You can see what Muhammad’s intention was. He was going to show the same piece of calligraphy to ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha again. This was a blameworthy act, although Muhammad had always been a truthful and trustworthy child. He tried to forget his plan, but could not. His mind had been poisoned by a dishonest thought, and he was not strong enough to overcome it.

On Thursday afternoon, Muhammad stood in line with the calligraphy piece from the previous week in his hand. He was already feeling the pangs of remorse. He was so ashamed of himself that he could hardly look at ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Then finally, his turn came. As always, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was loving and kind. But, of course, the moment He saw the calligraphy. He knew what had happened. How do you think the Master reacted? Did he announce Muhammad’s wrongdoing to his companions and shame him before the others? Not at all. With great love, but also with unmistakable firmness, He noted how closely the piece of calligraphy matched the one that Muhammad had presented the week before. He said no more, but patted the boy in such a way that made it perfectly clear to Muhammad that ‘Abdu ‘1-Bahti realized what he had done.

Download the story as a PDF here

Draw any part of the story

as a comic

How do you feel?

DRAMA / GAMES

As always, have the children stretch in their imaginary squares as warm-up and then carry out one or two other exercises from the previous lessons. Then explain to them that the next exercise will help them to think about how they can serve humanity as they grow up.

Ask the children to sit silently for a few moments and imagine what kind of work they might want to do in the future. Once each child has an idea in mind, call on them one by one to stand up and act out some of the tasks involved in the work they have chosen. For example, if one child hopes to be a doctor, he or she might pretend to examine a patient; another might think of being a teacher and pretend to give a lesson. After each child has finished his or her improvisation, the other students should guess what he or she was pretending to be and then discuss briefly how such an occupation can contribute to the betterment of the world. To begin the exercise, you might wish to choose a child with strong drama skills who can provide an example for the others to follow.

CONTENT COMING SOON

A Beautiful Piece Of Calligraphy

Our craft/art activity was inspired by today’s story on calligraphy. During the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the children in ‘Akka were taught to do calligraphy. One boy found it very hard to concentrate and patiently practice it, as he would rather go out and play. One day, he used all his willpower to persevere and produced a beautiful piece of calligraphy, so when it came around to show his work to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he received praise for it and was the happiest boy in the world. But the following week, he hadn’t produced any more work to present and thought if he would show the same piece again, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá surely wouldn’t remember… But of course He did and commented on the fact how closely this piece matched the one he showed last week…

We noticed that doing calligraphy takes a lot of patience, perseverance and care – and probably a lot of practice to become good at it. The perfect exercise in endurance and excellence

We used the FREE FONTS FROM THIS SITE to trace our names and practice a little calligraphy.

THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO PRACTICE CALLIGRAPHY

THERE ARE LOTS OF LOVELY IMAGES ON PINTEREST. HERE TO ARE SOME Baha’i CALLIGRAPHY

Notice how some calligraphy looks like shapes. We can take any shape and write in it for a similar look. Try using a free shape and write in it

After you have helped the children to review the quotation they memorized in this lesson, you can assist them in reciting the quotations below, which they learned in Grade 1, related to honesty and patience:

Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty
Baha’u’llah

He, verily, shall increase the reward of them that endure with patience
Baha’u’llah

BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

YOUR CAREER ADVENTURE

POWERPOINT LESSON

HERE

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MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD G3 L10

Post author By Carolyn
Post date October 1, 2022
No Comments on MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD G3 L10

GRADE 3 LESSON 10

MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD

The purpose of this lesson is to help us understand that all the Manifestations of God call upon humanity to live in a state of submission to His Will.

We will learn specifically about the life of Muhammad, Whose teachings spread among the Arab people, making them, as Abdu’l-Baha explains, “superior to the other nations of the earth in learning, in the arts, mathematics, civilization, government and other sciences.”

In this connection, we will gain a sense of the power of submission to the Will of God, one of Muhammad’s principle teachings, to unite people around a center and to promote order and prosperity.

We know that, because of our deep love for God’s beauty, we constantly strive to do all that He asks of us. The teachings that the Manifestations of God bring to humanity tell us what He wants us to do, and what we should not do. By allowing the teachings of God’s Manifestations to fill our hearts and minds, we begin to want only what He wants, to desire only what He desires, and to take pleasure in that which is pleasing to Him.

Order and harmony are brought about as more and more people live in a state of submission to God’s Will, all focused on His good pleasure. Think of the planets, all circling harmoniously, with the sun at their center. Through submission to the Will of God, humanity lives harmoniously and makes great progress- governments are just, communities are well organized, education flourishes, knowledge increases, and beauty is manifested in music and the arts.

Muhammad was a Manifestation sent by God some 1,400 years ago. He appeared among a people in a desert region at a time when their great capacity and rich potential were hidden behind selfish desires and ignorance. He taught them to put away such desires, to trust God, and to submit to His Will. He raised them out of the depths of cruelty and contention and showed them how to live in harmony according to Divine teachings, causing them to become examples of orderly and civilized life.

QUESTIONS

Whose good pleasure do we seek at all times?

Gods

How can we be sure that we are acting according to God’s good pleasure?

Order and harmony are brought about as more and more people live in a state of submission to God’s Will, all focused on His good pleasure

How are the planets that circle the sun orderly and harmonious? Do they ever fight with one another? Do the bigger planets ever want to control the smaller ones?

Obey the laws of physics and are in harmony with one another. Don’t fight or want control

When everyone is focused on God’s good pleasure and carrying out His commands, how does it change people? How does humanity progress?

humanity lives harmoniously and makes great progress- governments are just, communities are well organized, education flourishes, knowledge increases, and beauty is manifested in music and the arts

Who was Muhammad?

Messenger of God

What effect did the teachings of Muhammad have on the people of His time?

His teachings caused them to become examples of orderly and civilized life

REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO HELP MEMORIZE THE PRAYERS FROM LESSON 4 IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!

SET 1

Glory be to Thee, O my God! Make manifest the rivers of Thy sovereign might, that the waters of Thy Unity may flow through the inmost realities of all things, in such wise that the banner of Thine unfailing guidance may be raised aloft in the kingdom of thy command and the stars of Thy divine splendour may shine brightly in the heaven of thy majesty. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, verily, art the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

SET 2

I beseech Thee, O my God, by all the transcendent glory of Thy Name, to clothe Thy loved ones in the robe of justice and to illumine their beings with the light of trustworthiness. Thou art the One that hath power to do as He pleaseth and Who holdeth within His grasp the reins of all things, visible and invisible.

SET 3

I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defence. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendours of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favour.

SET 4

O my God, my Master, the Goal of my desire! This, Thy servant, seeketh to sleep in the shelter of Thy mercy, and to repose beneath the canopy of Thy grace, imploring Thy care and Thy protection. I beg of Thee, O my Lord, by Thine eye that sleepeth not, to guard mine eyes from beholding aught beside Thee. Strengthen, then, their vision that they may discern Thy signs, and behold the Horizon of Thy Revelation. Thou art He before the revelations of Whose omnipotence the quintessence of power hath trembled. No God is there but thee, the Almighty, the All-Subduing, The Unconditioned.

A RING UPON THE HAND

STRIVE THAT YOUR ACTIONS

ONE TREE

The source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure
Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh/Words of Wisdom

MEANING OF WORDS

Source– where something comes from

The source of the river was high in the mountain

Submission- accepting and yielding to a higher force or will

Written submission for children’s class teachers was sent out to our community

Contentment- a state of happiness and satisfaction

They finally found contentment in living a life of service

USE THE WORKSHEET

For any words, you are not sure of or record the ones above and save them in your notebook/lapbook Download here

SEND A POSTCARD WITH THE QUOTE TO A FRIEND PRINT OR EMAIL

The story has a historical component to give some background content. Also, there may be props for the story, videos, and other resources to use as you like

As the final lesson, we will learn about the life and Mission of Muḥammad, the last Manifestation Who appeared before the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.

Muḥammad was a Manifestation sent by God some 1400 years ago to the people who lived in the region we know as Arabia. You remember that one of the descendants of Abraham, Ishmael, was the father of the Arab people, and they had believed in the one true God and followed His teachings. But centuries had passed, and they had long turned away from Him and had forgotten how to live together peacefully. There were many warring tribes that worshipped idols and behaved in the most cruel and barbarous ways. The great capacity and rich potential of the Arab people were hidden behind veils of ignorance when Muḥammad appeared among them.

Muḥammad was born in the city of Mecca in the year 570 AD. As a young man, He became a merchant, and in His dealings with people He displayed such a sublime and noble character that He was known as “The Truthful” and “The Trustworthy”. At the age of forty, He became aware of His Divine Mission, while praying and meditating in the Cave of Hira. When Muḥammad began to share God’s Message, the people of Mecca rose up against Him, and for some twelve years, He and those who followed Him were the constant targets of the darts of hatred. At last, when Muḥammad’s very life was under threat, they migrated to the city of Medina. It was there that His Message spread rapidly, and many souls came to recognize His station as a Manifestation of God. He taught them that there is only one God to Whom we should turn in worship. It is God Whom we should trust, and by Whose Will we should all abide.

After several years in Medina, Muḥammad returned to His native city of Mecca, where the people also embraced His Cause. And through obedience to the laws and teachings that He revealed, the Arab people were eventually united and became renowned for their learning in the arts and sciences, reaching the greatest heights of civilization. The word “Islám” means “submission to God”, and the light of Islám, the religion founded by Muḥammad, shone across all of Arabia and beyond. His words were recorded in the Qu’rán, the Holy Book of His followers, and today all of humanity has access to His Divine Revelation.

There are 3 Stories in today’s lesson

story 1

Muḥammad’s father died before He was born, and His mother when He was only six. For most of His childhood and youth, He was raised by His uncle. There were no schools for formal education in Arabia at that time, and Muḥammad was not taught to read and write but learned the trade of His uncle, who was a merchant. Over time, as He helped His uncle with his business, Muḥammad gained a reputation for His integrity. He was called “The Truthful”, because He never told a lie, and “The Trustworthy”, because He never deceived anyone and always kept His word. His noble reputation eventually came to the attention of Khadija, a widow who was known for her purity. She came to admire Muḥammad’s honest and upright character. At the age of twenty-five, Muḥammad married Khadija, and they worked together as merchants.

Muḥammad was deeply disturbed by the way the people of Mecca lived. Thousands of years before, a sanctuary had been built in Mecca for the worship of one God as taught by Abraham. But this sacred place, known as the Ka’bah, had long been filled with idols, some say 360 of them, each with a different name and all worshipped by different tribes. These tribes were constantly at war, and when one tribe claimed victory over another, the women and children of the losing tribe were taken captive and suffered greatly as slaves to merciless masters. The region had sunk to the lowest depths of cruelty and despair. Muḥammad, unable to bear the godlessness and degradation of life in Mecca, would often retreat to the Cave of Hira, concealed in a mountain just outside the city, where He would pray and meditate. It was in this cave that Muḥammad, then forty years of age, became aware of His Divine Mission. All around Him He heard the voice of the Angel Gabriel, calling upon Him to speak out in the name of the Lord, God.

Muḥammad returned home and told Khadija what He had experienced. She became the first to recognize His station as a Manifestation and to accept His Message: that there is only one God, He Who had also spoken to the Manifestations of the past; that people should turn to God with humility, worship Him, trust in Him and be obedient to His Will; and that, in accordance with His Will, all people should be kind to one another, honest, and just. For some time, Muḥammad made His station known only to His close relatives and friends, some of whom chose to follow Him, including His cousin ‘Alí and His friend Abú-Bakr.

Story 2

Eventually, Muḥammad proclaimed God’s Message to the people of His tribe. Only a few, however, understood the importance of His words and began to follow His teachings. They became known as Muslims. The others did not want to give up their old ways and live according to the laws of God. The idea of change angered them. They behaved with the utmost cruelty towards Muḥammad and the small but growing band of His followers. When Muḥammad spoke of God’s Message, they laughed at Him and attacked Him with stones. For years Muḥammad and His followers endured violent persecution. Some of His companions were killed and their property confiscated. From time to time, members of His tribe would try to persuade Muḥammad to stop spreading His teachings, in return for wealth or power. He, of course, would refuse. His uncle and His wife were greatly respected in Mecca, and they were able to act as Muḥammad’s protectors for a time. But after their deaths, both in the same year, life for Muslims in the city of Mecca became even more difficult.

After many years of suffering, Muḥammad was visited by two leaders from other tribes. They had decided to embrace His teachings and offered, in the city of Medina, a safe place for the Muslims to live. Muḥammad instructed His followers to move to Medina, and they gradually left Mecca for that city. His enemies, however, were determined to put an end to His life while they had the chance. They devised a plot to kill Him, and one night they surrounded His house with the intention of carrying out their plan. They could easily see inside the house and would know whether He tried to leave. So Muḥammad turned to His faithful cousin ‘Alí. He asked him whether he would be willing to cover himself with a blanket and pretend to be sleeping in His bed. Without hesitation, despite the danger to his own life, ‘Alí gladly accepted. Such was his love for God’s Manifestation. And, while ‘Alí lay resting on the bed, Muḥammad was able to leave the house undetected and join His friend Abú-Bakr.

According to tradition, Muḥammad and Abú-Bakr then made their way out of the city in the dark of night, guided by the moon and stars, and took shelter in a cave in the mountainous desert. By morning it had been realized that Muḥammad was gone, and His enemies were in fast pursuit of Him. As the sun rose, the sound of galloping horses grew louder, and Abú-Bakr was filled with fear. How could he protect Muḥammad here in the desert, he wondered. Abú-Bakr held his breath and listened as the enemies drew closer and closer until there were footsteps just outside the cave. Abú-Bakr heard voices, but he could not make out the words. He was certain that they would be found. But Muḥammad reassured him, reminding him that God was with them. And, indeed, the search party soon left, without even looking inside the cave. You see, there was a spider at the opening of the cave, and right after Muḥammad had entered, it had spun a huge web, closing off the entrance. When the men searching for Muḥammad reached the cave, they assumed no one could be inside it because the web was perfect and unbroken. It must have been a very long time since anyone had entered that cave, they thought. So they continued looking elsewhere, but with no success. Tired, frustrated and confused, they finally returned to Mecca empty-handed. Muḥammad and Abú-Bakr remained in the cave for three days to make sure the enemies had gone and then left through another opening, preserving the web that had served as their protection. With camels brought by a trusted friend, they set out for Medina, traveling by night for several days, until they, at last, reached that city safely. Muḥammad’s move from Mecca to Medina is known as the Hijrah.

Story 3

From His new home of Medina, Muḥammad was able to teach God’s laws and commandments much more widely, and people from different tribes began to live together in harmony according to His teachings. Those who rejected them, however, were still determined to kill Muḥammad and His followers. The Muslims were steadfast in their faith and devoted to God and His laws. They did their utmost to avoid contention. But, they knew the cruelty of their enemies, and at times they were forced to take up arms to defend themselves and protect their children from enslavement. Over time, the sacrifices of the Muslims and their transformed way of life helped people to realize the truth of God’s Message.

There are many accounts that show the transformative effect of the spiritual powers that emanated from the Person of Muḥammad. In one such account, it is said that Muḥammad once awoke to find a soldier armed with a sword standing above Him, intending to take His life. The angry man asked, “Who is there now to save Thee?” Muḥammad replied that God would save Him. The soldier became afraid and dropped the sword, which Muḥammad picked up. He then asked the soldier who would save him. The man did not follow God’s teachings and realized that he was alone, with no one to come to his aid. Muḥammad did not harm the soldier but handed the sword back to him, telling him to learn to show forth mercy. The man was changed by this experience and devoted himself to Muḥammad and His teachings.

After several years the people of Mecca agreed to let the Muslims visit the holy sanctuary, the Ka’bah, where they could gather once a year to worship God. But soon the agreement collapsed, and the city was once again closed to the Muslims. The followers of Muḥammad now numbered in the thousands, and they went to Mecca en masse, ready to draw arms if necessary. But the people, seeing the waves of His followers approaching the city, surrendered without resistance. Muḥammad then made a pilgrimage, or hajj, to the Ka’bah, which He restored to a place of worship dedicated to the praise and glorification of the one true God.

Eventually, many of those who had at first rejected Muḥammad’s teachings came to believe in one God and changed their ways, striving to align their will with the Will of God. Through His words, which were recorded in a Holy Book called the Qu’rán, they learned to turn their hearts to God, especially through prayer and fasting, and to reflect those heavenly qualities that Muḥammad had manifested throughout His life. Under His influence, the people of the region rose from the sad condition in which He found them to the highest state of civilization. The warring tribes united and systems for organizing communities into well-ordered nations were established. Great universities were founded, knowledge of arts and sciences expanded, and new and beautiful forms of architecture emerged. At a time when other parts of the world were in decline, the Arab world flourished and the effects of Muḥammad’s teachings ushered in a whole new era of human civilization.

FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE STORY

FACTS:

Muḥammad was a Manifestation of God born in the city Mecca, in the Arabian region, in the year 570 AD.
While engaged as a merchant, Muḥammad was often referred to as “The Truthful” and “The Trustworthy”.
Muḥammad taught that there is one God, that people should turn to Him, worship Him, trust in Him, and be obedient to His Will.
Muḥammad and His followers were persecuted by the people of Mecca and went to Medina, where His Message reached many souls.
After several years in Medina, Muḥammad returned to Mecca and the people soon embraced His Cause.
The words of Muḥammad are recorded in a Holy Book called the Qu’rán.
Muḥammad’s Message united the Arabian tribes and raised their level of civilization.

Facts ABOUT MUHAMMAD

Grade_3_Lesson_10_fact_cards_about_Muhammad Download

ACTING

For this lesson, it is suggested that you ask the children to act out the story of the journey from Mecca to Medina, as told through the eyes of Muhammad’s companion Abu Bakr. One of the children may assume the role of Abu Bakr, another may pretend to be the spider, and a few others can portray the group from Mecca in search of Muhammad. You should go over the salient points of the story to help the children think about how they will enact the scene. Depending on the size of the class, you may find it useful to divide your students into groups of five or six for this portion of the lesson. As always, it is important to ensure that no one plays the role of the Manifestation of God.

Trust Walks

A Trust Walk activity is also known as a Blind Walk activity. Divide the class into two smaller groups. Make sure that both groups have the same number of players.

Blindfold one group and let one child from each group hold hands with each other to form a pair. Each pair should have one kid who has the blindfold and one who doesn’t. Depending on the level and intensity of the activity, you can let the path be regular or add obstacles. The kid who is not blindfolded has to guide his partner carefully through the path and reach a safe zone. Once all kids are in the safe zone, switch the blindfold and put it on the kids who did not wear it earlier. To make it more challenging, you can have some obstacles in the path. Be sure to emphasize how trustworthy the people who are leading the blind need to be, and how they need to be slow and gentle in the way they lead them.

Change Three Things

Explain that one volunteer will stand up in front of the group. They will slowly turn around once or twice, during which time the group should observe them carefully looking for obvious and seemingly insignificant details about the person’s appearance. After a couple of turns, the volunteer should leave the room and take about a minute to change three things about their appearance. Some suggestions include tucking or untucking a shirt, removing glasses or pieces of jewelry, untying a shoe, or anything else (within reason).

After they have changed three things, they return to the group. Tell the group that if they think they see something that has changed to raise their hands. Have the volunteer call on anyone with their hand up. After each change has been guessed – or after the volunteer has stumped the group – choose another volunteer (at the end of this game, you can ask them if they are still the same, even if outwardly some of the things about them have changed. Then you can talk with them about how the Messengers of God come with the same spirit, even though outwardly they look different and some of their laws and teachings have changed to fit that age.)

THE THEME OF THE LESSON IS SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD AND WITH THAT COMES ALIGNING OUR WILL WITH GOD.

MAKE A MAZE and NAVIGATE IT

When trying to find a way to align our will with God and live in submission to His Will, we don’t always travel a straight path and sometimes it may feel like we are going around in circles, or twisting and turning down roads that lead to a dead end. Life is like that! Keep Trying you will reach your goal:

Inspired by the theme of submission to the will of God, I made a maze. Then, I used a small magnet to drag the car along the road. To do this I attached a small magnet to a popsicle stick and one to the back of the little car (I had mine cut out) I then put the car on top of the maze and the stick under the paper and tried to get my car home.

Download my maze here, I used a small magnet to drag the car along the

Below is a curated PINTREST board with lots of aMAZEing cool ideas. Some are super easy and some give you ideas for a more difficult maze.

P interest Board

Want to generate your own maze? there are lots of online free maze generators, search Google. Here is one site to get you going:

Maze Generator

When I think of Alignment, magnets, and compass come to mind. Here are a few links to make easy homemade magnets for we should be like a magnet and always find out true North -GOD

There are many ways to make a homemade compass.

Below are links to a few resources some have videos and some don’t.

INSTRUCTABLES

MOMS TOWN BURLINGTON

ROOKIE PARENTING

From The Australian Peace Pack

FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

TWINKL

FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES ON THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

More free stuff

Ramadan activity sheet

Islam Word Mat

Spider Web Craft based on story 2

Mosques have lots of tile work called mosaics. Make your own picture

Exert every effort to acquire the various branches of knowledge and true understanding. Strain every nerve to achieve both
material and spiritual accomplishments
‘ A B D U ’ L – B A H Á, C I T E D I N B A H Á ’ Í E D U C A T I O N: A COMPI L A T I O N O F
E X T R A C T S F R OM T H E B A H Á ’ Í WR I T I N G S

dOWNLOAD THE REVIEW QUOTE MEMORY AID HERE

Resource

LESSON PLAN

ALTERNATIVE LESSON PLAN HERE

Tags Baha'i, Baha'i children class material, children class, crafts, Drama, GRADE 3, MAGNET, MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD, Prayers, quotes, review quotes, Ruhi bk 3 children's class, Ruhi book 3, RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 LESSON 10, Ruhi Children Class, SPIDER

Baha'i Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS ILLUMINE HUMAN HEARTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD G3 L2

Post author By Carolyn
Post date September 27, 2022
No Comments on GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS ILLUMINE HUMAN HEARTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD G3 L2

Grade 3 Lesson 2

The purpose of this lesson is to enhance our understanding that we know God through His Manifestations and that, by listening to and following their words, we do what is pleasing to God.

The Manifestations of God tell us about the Will of God and the purpose of our lives, that we were created to know God and to worship Him, and that we should learn to live according to His Will.

God knows what is best for us. He has created us and bestowed upon us great capacities that we must each develop. To do so, we must recognize the Manifestations of God and follow their teachings. For example, we all have the capacity to be generous to our friends, not wanting everything for ourselves. The Manifestations of God teach us how to be generous and when we follow this teaching, we are acting in a way that is pleasing to God. When we forgive others, as all the Manifestations have taught us to do, we know we are doing what God desires.

Similarly, we should love one another and be kind to each other, we should tell the truth and be sincere, and so on.

Knowledge brought to humanity by God’s Manifestations is not acquired through book learning or schooling.

The Manifestations of God know exactly what we need. They are all-knowing and all-wise, for their knowledge comes directly from God, Whose knowledge holds all things.

What does it mean that God’s knowledge holds all things?

Is there anything whatsoever that can escape God?

The Manifestations of God are the source of His knowledge on earth. What they say is true, and through their teachings, we are able to distinguish between right and wrong. They reflect the beauty of God, which we learn to love and cherish. The more we follow their teachings, the closer we get to God. And we help the world become more beautiful, as He created it to be.

O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose providence is my companion, Whose love is the cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace, Whose nearness is my desire, Whose presence is my dearest wish and highest aspiration, I entreat Thee not to withhold from me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants. Supply me, then, with the good of this world and of the next. Thou, truly, art the King of all men. There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
Bahá’u’lláh

Would anyone like to say a prayer?

Memorization Aid

Cut the prayer apart like a puzzle and put it back together

The purpose of these educators

The Purpose

Consort with the followers of all religions

Brilliant Star Magazine Music

Download Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: The Spirit is the same here

In the following passage, Bahá’u’lláh speaks of the duty of every human being to recognize God’s Manifestation on earth and to follow that which He ordains—this, out of our love for God. Are there any words or phrases you find difficult or unfamiliar?

Say: O ye lovers of the One true God! Strive, that ye may truly recognize and know Him, and observe befittingly His precepts.
Bahá’u’lláh

Memorization Aids

Quote to cut apart and put together

Use the Worksheet For Any Words You Do Not Know

Download Here

There are so many accounts in the history of the Faith that offer insight into the theme of this lesson, that God’s Manifestations shine forth the light of His knowledge, brightening the world of humanity and illuminating human hearts.

For this lesson, there are 4 stories that will enable you to understand what it means that the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh possessed innate knowledge. Read all or just one as time permits.

Download all 4 stories HERE

Resource

Use the generic storyboard to draw as the story is being read or use blank paper. There is also the comic strip, story report, and How Do you feel? that can be used during storytelling.

Access here

Vignette 1:

The father of the Báb passed away when He was a small child, and He was raised by His uncle, who placed Him in school around the age of five. The Báb, of course, was endowed by God with innate knowledge and did not need to be instructed by any man. But He obeyed His uncle’s wishes and attended school with the other boys. He was told by His uncle, who had already noticed His extraordinary qualities, that, while in class, He should follow the example set by His fellow students.

Now, the schoolmaster was a man of great learning, and he taught the boys how to read and recite verses from the Qur’án, the Holy Book of Islám. One day, he asked the Báb to recite the opening words of the Qur’án. The Báb hesitated. He then replied that, unless He was told what the words meant, He would not attempt to recite them aloud. The schoolmaster pretended not to know their meaning, and so the Báb asked for permission to explain them. He then spoke with such knowledge and clarity that the schoolmaster was struck with amazement. Never before had he heard or read such an eloquent explanation of these words, and he immediately recognized the great capacity of the Báb and realized there was nothing that he could teach Him. He decided to take the Báb back to His uncle and tell him that he was unworthy to instruct so remarkable a child. He found the uncle alone in his office and said: “I have brought Him back to you and commit Him to your vigilant protection. He is not to be treated as a mere child . . .” The uncle turned to the Báb and said: “Have You forgotten my instructions? Have I not already admonished You to follow the example of Your fellow-pupils, to observe silence, and to listen attentively to every word spoken by Your teacher?” Promising to follow His uncle’s wishes, the Báb returned to school. But do you think anything could stop the flow of His intuitive knowledge? Surely not, and day after day, His teacher was amazed by the signs of wisdom and greatness that were manifest in Him.

Vignette 2:

There are many stories from the time of Bahá’u’lláh that demonstrate how people were attracted to His knowledge and awed by it. One such story is about the visit Bahá’u’lláh made to Núr, the district of His birth in Mázindarán in Persia, soon after He accepted the truth of the Báb’s Revelation.

The enthusiasm with which the people of Mázindarán greeted Bahá’u’lláh was indeed extraordinary. They were spellbound by the eloquence of His speech. The arguments and proofs He set forth, as He announced the dawning of a new Day, convinced them of the greatness of the Cause of the Báb. They admired His enthusiasm and were deeply impressed by His detachment and self-effacement. No one dared oppose Him except His own uncle ‘Azíz, who became jealous of the love and respect Bahá’u’lláh was receiving from the people.

Alarmed by Bahá’u’lláh’s success, ‘Azíz decided to seek the assistance of a well-known clergyman in the region, presumably the possessor of great knowledge. “Behold what has befallen the Faith,” exclaimed ‘Azíz. “A youth, a layman, attired in the garb of nobility, has come to Núr, has invaded the strongholds of orthodoxy, and disrupted the holy Faith of Islám. Arise, and resist his onslaught.” The clergyman did not find in himself the strength to confront Bahá’u’lláh, so he did his best to quiet ‘Azíz, assured him that he would be protected, and dismissed him. But the Message Bahá’u’lláh had brought to the region was rapidly spreading, and the clergyman’s students kept pressuring him to visit Bahá’u’lláh in person and find out for himself the nature of this new Revelation. Finally, after much delay, he decided to send two of the most learned and trusted individuals in his company to visit Bahá’u’lláh and determine the true character of the Message He had brought. He promised to everyone that he would accept the judgment of these two trusted souls and would abide by their decision.

When these two emissaries reached the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, He was in a gathering, engaged in revealing a commentary on one of the chapters of the Qur’án. With great self- assurance, they entered the meeting and sat down, prepared to ask questions and examine the extent of Bahá’u’lláh’s knowledge. But as they listened to the voice of Bahá’u’lláh, they were enraptured by the eloquence of His speech and the profound meaning of His statements. Mullá ‘Abbás, one of these two emissaries, was entirely overwhelmed. He arose from his seat, walked back slowly and stood beside the door in an attitude of utter submissiveness. “You behold my condition,” he told his friend as he trembled with emotion and with eyes full of tears. “I am powerless to question Bahá’u’lláh. The questions I had planned to ask Him have vanished suddenly from my memory. You are free either to proceed with your inquiry or to return alone to our teacher and inform him of the state in which I find myself. Tell him from me that ‘Abbás can never again return to him. He can no longer forsake this threshold.” His companion found himself in a similar state. “I have ceased to recognize my teacher,” he replied.

“This very moment, I have vowed to God to dedicate the remaining days of my life to the service of Bahá’u’lláh, my true and only Master.”

So the two emissaries of the famous clergyman never went back to their teacher. The news of their conversion traveled fast. It awakened the people from their sleep. People of all walks of life journeyed to Núr in order to enter the presence of Bahá’u’lláh and partake of His Divine knowledge. A considerable number of them accepted the new Faith of God. But as you know, this and the many other early successes of the Cause aroused the envy of those who took advantage of the people’s ignorance in order to rule over them. Soon a tremendous wave of persecution arose throughout the entire country, bringing unimaginable sufferings to both the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.

Vignette 3:

Shaykh Ḥasan was a devoted follower of the Báb, who, for many years, lived in the city of Karbilá. The Báb had instructed Shaykh Ḥasan to go to Karbilá and remain in that city, for there he would see with his own eyes “the beauteous countenance of the promised Ḥusayn”. “Countenance” means “face”, and by “the promised Ḥusayn” the Báb meant Bahá’u’lláh. At that time Bahá’u’lláh had not yet declared that He was the Promised One of All Ages, so His station was not known to people. The Báb, Who Himself was a Manifestation of God, of course knew this hidden truth.

Thus Shaykh Ḥasan made his home in Karbilá. Days, weeks and months went by, and he did not meet the Promised One; yet, he did not lose heart. He was certain that the day would come when he would enter into His presence. Shaykh Ḥasan lived a simple life. He worked as a scribe, and although the pay was not good and he was not without hardship, he was content. He was careful not to talk too much about the Báb because there were many enemies of the Faith in Karbilá at that time who were ready to create trouble for the Bábís whenever they could. More important still, he spoke to no one about the Báb’s special promise to him.

Then the day arrived when the eyes of Shaykh Ḥasan fell upon the countenance of Bahá’u’lláh. It was the fall of 1851, and Bahá’u’lláh had traveled to Karbilá. Bahá’u’lláh’s majesty, His kindliness, the sweetness of His smile, all had a profound effect on Shaykh Ḥasan’s soul. He was an old man by then, bowed with age. Bahá’u’lláh lovingly took him by the hand and said in a humorous tone: “This very day I have purposed to make you known as a Bábí throughout Karbilá.” Still holding his hand in His, He continued to converse with him. He walked with him along the market-street and showered love and affection upon him. Shaykh Ḥasan was beside himself. His heart was full of joy but he did not understand why he felt such happiness. Then, in a voice that was at once powerful and loving, Bahá’u’lláh told him: “Praise be to God that you have remained in Karbilá, and have beheld with your own eyes the countenance of the promised Ḥusayn.”

Shaykh Ḥasan instantly knew that the Báb’s promise had been fulfilled. He was indeed gazing on the countenance of the promised Ḥusayn. His faithful years of patience had been rewarded with the greatest of gifts: to have recognized the Manifestation of God for today.

Vignette 4:

God watches over us, and we live under the protection of His Manifestation, Whose knowledge is bestowed on Him by God. There once was an Egyptian merchant by the name of ‘Abdu’l-Karím who was on fire with the love of God and had a burning desire to enter the presence of Bahá’u’lláh. So he wrote for permission to visit the Holy Land. Bahá’u’lláh answered that he could come on pilgrimage, but only after he had paid all his debts.

Now, ‘Abdu’l-Karím had a very large business and also many, many debts. When he received Bahá’u’lláh’s answer, he instantly obeyed and began to pay the money he owed to his creditors. But, to his surprise, this did not turn out to be so easy. He had to stop expanding his business. Each time he received some money, he paid a debt instead of buying new merchandise to sell. So business shrank and shrank until finally, after five years, when all his debts were paid, ‘Abdu’l-Karím was no longer a rich man. In fact he only had enough money to provide for his wife’s needs and buy a ticket on a boat to the Holy Land. And he did not travel in the comfort to which he had grown accustomed as a wealthy merchant; he remained on deck and could hardly keep himself warm from the chill of the wind.

The day ‘Abdu’l-Karím’s boat was to arrive in Haifa, Bahá’u’lláh told His family that He was expecting an honored guest. A carriage was sent to the port to pick up the respected merchant and drive him to ‘Akká. But the man who went looking for ‘Abdu’l-Karím was expecting a wealthy guest and did not recognize the poorly dressed man who came off the boat carrying only a few possessions. So he went back and reported that the guest had not arrived.

Try to imagine ‘Abdu’l-Karím’s disappointment when he saw that there was no one at the port to receive him. He had no addresses in Haifa and did not even have enough money to take a carriage to ‘Akká. He sat on a bench drowned in sorrow. Unwanted thoughts kept creeping into his head: Had Bahá’u’lláh actually forgotten him? Had he freed himself of every obligation so that he could enter the presence of his Lord only to find himself in a strange land with no one to turn to? Oh, how happy he had been while he was preparing himself for pilgrimage. Was this to be the end to all those years of preparation?

In spite of the report He had received, Bahá’u’lláh of course knew that His guest had arrived. So, this time He asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to go to Haifa and bring the respected merchant to His presence. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the port, He immediately recognized that the honored guest was none other than the lonely man sitting on the bench lost in sadness. He approached him, greeted him with love and affection, and explained to him what had happened. It was now late and night was falling. He asked ‘Abdu’l-Karím if he desired to go to ‘Akká that very night or wait until morning. With all the bitter thoughts that had passed through his mind, ‘Abdu’l-Karím no longer felt ready to enter the presence of Bahá’u’lláh. He wanted to spend the night in prayer and meditation to prepare himself for the great bounty that awaited him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, of course, understood this. He sat on the bench by ‘Abdu’l-Karím, opened the long cloak He was wearing and wrapped it around him so they would both have some protection from the cold. All throughout that night, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and ‘Abdu’l-Karím prayed and let their souls be filled with the joy of the Kingdom. Then in the morning ‘Abdu’l-Karím, freed and purified, appeared before Bahá’u’lláh and received a plentiful share of Divine love and bounty.

Extra stories from Brilliant Star Magazine

Seasons of spirit

Baha’u’llah Life Timeline

CHOOSE ONE OF THE STORIES AND ACT IT OUT.

REMEMBER THAT NO ONE PORTRAYS THE MESSENGER OF GOD.

Scene 1: The people of Mazindaran that are hearing the proofs Baha’u’llah is saying and are convinced of the greatness of the day of God being brought by the Bab.

The people are very enthusiastically welcoming Baha’u’llah (maybe hearing shouts of Welcome, Baha’u’llah! Welcome!)
People are spellbound by the eloquence of His speech (How are they behaving?)
They are convinced of the truth of the dawning of a new Day of God, and they believe in the greatness of the Bab. (What might they be saying?)
They admire Baha’u’llah for His detachment and self-effacement (What might they be saying?)

Scene 2: Aziz goes to the well-known Mulla that is a teacher and speaks to Him.

Aziz, Baha’u’llah’s uncle, is jealous of the love and respect Baha’u’llah is receiving from the people and is alarmed by Baha’u’llah’s success (Aziz- get in character!)
Aziz seeks the advice of a well-known Mulla of the region.

Aziz will need the following script as part of this scene:

Aziz: “O viceregent of the Prophet of God! Behold what has befallen the Faith of Islam! A youth, a layman, attired in the garb of nobility, has come to Nur, has invaded the strongholds of orthodoxy, and disrupted the holy Faith of Islam. Arise, and resist his onslaught.”

The Mulla does not find in himself the strength to confront Baha’u’llah,s o he does his best to quiet Aziz, assuring him that he will be protected and then dismisses him

Scene 3: The students of the Mulla asking him to visit Baha’u’llah in person and find out for himself the nature of this new Revelation sent by God.

The Mulla decides to send two of the most learned and trusted individuals in his company to visit Baha’u’llah and see if the Message is true, saying that He would abide by their decision.

The Message of Baha’u’llah keeps spreading rapidly and the Mulla’s students keep pressuring him to visit Baha’u’llah in person and find out for himself the nature of this new Revelation (can have someone come and ask the students have you heard about the Message Baha’u’llah is giving about the coming of a new Day of God? And then have the students pressure the Mulla to find out more about it).
Still the Mulla does not have the courage to do so, but FINALLY after much delay, he decides to send two of his most learned and trusted individuals in his company to visit Baha’u’llah and determine the true character of the Message He brought. (What might have the conversation sounded like?)
The Mulla promises everyone that he will accept the judgment of these two trusted souls and abide by their decisions.

Scene 4: The 2 trusted mullas set out and then arrive at a gathering where Baha’u’llah is sharing the meaning of a Holy Book. They listen to His great knowledge and are transformed.

The two mullas leave their teacher and set out to where Baha’u’llah is staying (what might have been their conversation in route?)
They reach the presence of Baha’u’llah and He is in a gathering, revealing the meaning of some of the passages of the holy book of Islam, the Quran
The two mullas enter the meeting with great self-assurance, and sit down close to the front, prepared to ask questions and examine the extent of Baha’u’llah’s knowledge (What is their attitude like? They think they know more than a Messenger of God and have come to test His knowledge- they are very arrogant)
They listen to the voice of Baha’u’llah and become enraptured by the eloquence of His speech and the profound meaning of His statements.
Mulla Abbas becomes entirely overwhelmed by the greatness of the knowledge of the Manifestation of God, stands up, walks back slowly and stands beside the door in an attitude of utter submissiveness. (He has become humbled by his interaction with the Manifestation of God.)

Mulla Abbas needs the following script as part of this scene:

Mulla Abbas: Arising from his seat, walking back slowly and standing near the door in an attitude of utter submissiveness, with a trembling voice and eyes full of joyful tears, say “You behold my condition. I am powerless to question Baha’u’llah. The questions I had planned to ask Him have vanished suddenly from my memory. You are free either to proceed with your inquiry or to return alone to our teacher and inform him of the state in which I find myself. Tell him that Abbas can never again return to him. He can no longer forsake this threshold.”

Mulla Abbas’ companion responds that he finds himself in a similar state! Mulla Abbas’ companion says the following…

Mulla Abbas’ companion needs the following script as part of this scene:

Mulla Abbas’ companion: “I have ceased to recognize my teacher. This very moment, I have vowed to God to dedicate the remaining days of my life to the service of Baha’u’llah, my true and only Master.”

The two emissaries never go back to their teacher. They decide to stay and follow Baha’u’llah, to serve and teach His Cause.

Scene 5: News of the conversion of the two Mullas spreads throughout the land and people of all walks of life journey to Nur to enter the presence of Baha’u’llah and partake of His divine knowledge.

News spreads fast about the conversion of these two mullas (What might the people have said to each other after this?)
People of all walks of life journey to Nur to be in the presence of Baha’u’llah and partake of His divine knowledge (What might they be saying? Why do they want to be near Baha’u’llah?)
A considerable number of them accept the new Faith of God (What might they say upon recognizing the truth that their hearts have yearned for?)

Download a printable version here

MAKE A SUN CATCHER AND ADD THE LABEL “GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS ILLUMINE HUMAN HEARTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD”

HERE is a template heart that you can use.

Stick washi tape or tissue paper on one heart and then glue the second heart on top the first.

MAKE A HEART LIGHT-UP CARD

This craft requires special materials that may not be available near your location.

Jar With Lights

Use a jar with an outline of a heart taped on it. The label “God’s manifestations illumine human hearts with the knowledge of God” can be used

View instructions HERE

A Simple Gluing Activity

Paste the quote onto a heart. Download here

Download “our purpose” glue activity HERE

From the Australian Peace Pack HERE

BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

BAHA LEADING UPWARDS

O Son of Man! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My beauty, and forget not My counsels if thou wouldst attain My good pleasure.

Memorization aid here

Tags Baha'i, Baha'i children class material, children class, crafts, Drama, GOD'S MANIFESTATIONS ILLUMINE HUMAN HEARTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, GRADE 3, lesson 2, memorization aid, Prayers, ruhi, Ruhi bk 3 children's class, Ruhi book 3, Ruhi Book 3 Grade 3, Ruhi Children Class, STORIES

Baha'i Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS ARE LIKE PERFECT MIRRORS REFLECTING GOD’S ATTRIBUTES G3 L1

Post author By Carolyn
Post date September 27, 2022
No Comments on GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS ARE LIKE PERFECT MIRRORS REFLECTING GOD’S ATTRIBUTES G3 L1

In this lesson, we will ask ourselves:

Who is a MANIFESTATION OF GOD?
What does it mean to be a Pure Mirror?
Why do we need MANIFESTATIONS? Why not just have God teach us?
What is the role of the MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD and Their promise of peace to the world?

First, the meaning of the words MANIFESTATION or to MANIFEST:

The word “manifest” means to reveal, to bring forth something that was not known before.

For Baha’i, the Manifestations of God are great teachers who come when we need them the most when humanity is at its lowest point. When a new Manifestation comes, new teachings about God, our spiritual life, our social lives, and many blessings are released into the world. Each Manifestation is like a teacher taking us from kindergarten, to grade one, and so on. We call this process a progressive revelation.

All the Manifestations of God have a special message for us and we will explore them in later lessons. (Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and The Bab and Bahaullah)

All the Manifestations of God have laws that stay and some that no longer apply so are not applicable to us anymore.

All the Manifestations of God tell us a little more about God, about how to be better humans and they move us close to world unity and peace.

All the Manifestations of God are pure mirrors reflecting the light of God.

What does being a PURE MIRROR mean?

We use the example of a mirror reflecting light as it helps us understand a little about God and how we are connected.

So here is the example, you may already know this:

God is like the sun, God’s light reaches us, even if we don’t believe it. God’s light and bounties are for everyone. We (our hearts or spirit) are like the mirror and we can reflect the sun. If we are not working on our spiritual qualities, we are like mirrors that have dust and grime on us and can’t reflect the light or the light is very dim.

We are all the same light:- part of God, reflecting God’s attributes like a mirror reflecting the sun.

Suppose we take a well-polished mirror and point it towards the sun. In it, we will see the image of the sun, and the more perfectly polished the mirror, the more perfect the image will be.

Manifestations are pure mirrors. They reflect 100% the light of God.

The Manifestations of God are special Beings Who reveal to humanity the Word and the Will of God. When we listen to Them, we are responding to the Call of God.

Why do we need MANIFESTATIONS? Why does DOES God not teach us directly?

In this world, the sun is the source of all warmth and light, without which life would not exist on the planet. Yet the sun itself does not descend to earth, and if we tried to approach it, we would be totally consumed. God sends His Manifestations like the sun sends rays of light to pure mirrors.

The Manifestations of God are like perfect Mirrors that reflect the Light of God in all its Splendor. And all these Mirrors reflect the same Light. We can learn about God from these pure mirrors, The Manifestations of God.

What is the role of the MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD and Their promise of the coming of peace to the world?

While God is beyond our reach, these perfect Beings come to us from time to time, live among us, give us guidance, and fill us with the energy we need to progress, materially, and spiritually.

We have many Manifestations in the past and will have in the future. God does not leave us without guidance

The way God’s love flows to us is through His Eternal Covenant. According to this Eternal Covenant, God never leaves us alone and without guidance. Whenever humanity moves away from Him and forgets His Teachings, a Manifestation of God appears and makes His Will and Purpose known to us.

Each Manifestation of God is moving us closer to Universal Peace.

The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation.
(The Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

To know God and to worship Him is the very purpose of our lives. The lessons in this grade seek to strengthen our understanding that God’s Manifestations are the source of all good and that by knowing them we are able to attain the knowledge of God and draw ever closer to our Creator. As you can see, each phrase of the prayer expresses in a most special way the yearning of the human soul to be close to God. During the several weeks, you will be going through this set, then, you should try to grasp the meaning of these expressions—His face as the object of our adoration, His beauty is our sanctuary, and so on.

WE WILL BE MEMORIZING THE PRAYER BELOW FOR THE NEXT 3 LESSONS

O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose providence is my companion, Whose love is the cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace, Whose nearness is my desire, Whose presence is my dearest wish and highest aspiration, I entreat Thee not to withhold from me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants. Supply me, then, with the good of this world and of the next.Thou, truly, art the King of all men. There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
Bahá’u’lláh

Would Anyone Like To Say A Prayer?

SEND A POSTCARD

You can send the postcard as an email attachment or send it to your local printing service.

The Most Exalted Station Sung By The Manifolds

Independent of all

These Prophets and chosen Ones of God are the recipients and revealers of all the unchangeable attributes and names of God. They are the mirrors that truly and faithfully reflect the light of God
Kitáb-i-Íqán by Bahá’u’lláh

Memorization aids to help learn the quote

Download the memorization aid from my Google drive here
Visit THIS website to practice memorizing the quote
Use the worksheet to record the meaning of words you are not sure of

THERE ARE 6 STORIES TO CHOOSE FROM AND A BONUS STORY FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE.

Some of the stories may have a video or resource to help understand the concepts.

There is always the Generic storyboard, story report and comic strip to draw as the story is being told that can be downloaded from the general resources here.

Download all 6 stories in word doc here

STORY ONE

You know that every Manifestation of God exhorts us to be truthful and honest. We are to be fair and just in all of our dealings with one another; the Manifestations of God themselves reflect these qualities to the utmost perfection in what they do and what they say. Even before He declared His Mission, the Báb had become widely known for His undeviating fairness. At the age of around fifteen, He had left His home in Shíráz and joined His uncle in business in Búshihr. His uncle was a merchant, and the Báb soon took over the complete management of the trading-house in Búshihr. Often those who were closely associated with Him in those days testified to the purity of His character, to the charm of His manners, and to His high integrity. A certain man once gave Him some goods to sell on his behalf. When the man received the funds for the goods, he was surprised to find that the sum was much greater than what he had expected. He immediately wrote to the Báb, requesting Him to explain the reason and offering to return some of the amount. But the Báb refused to accept it! “What I have sent you is entirely your due,” the Báb replied. You see, there had been a time when the price of the goods had been higher than what the Báb had finally sold them for. So, the Báb, setting the highest standard of honesty and justice, had added some of His own money and sent the man the amount he would have received if the goods had been sold at the peak price.

Although He always acted generously towards all those with whom He had dealings, the Báb refused to do something that would perpetuate dishonesty. Several years later, when He was in Chihríq, His followers bought some honey for Him, but He found the quality inferior and the price too high. He told them to return it, saying that they could surely purchase better quality honey at a lower price. “I who am your example have been a merchant by profession,” He said. “It behooves you in all your transactions to follow in My way. You must neither defraud your neighbor nor allow him to defraud you.”

STORY TWO

Forgiveness is an attribute of God, and just as God is patient and merciful with each one of us, we are to forgive one another and overlook the faults of others. In the lives of God’s Manifestations we see how they looked upon all with the eyes of forgiveness, even those who were cruel and unkind to them. Not long after the Báb declared His Mission, He set out for pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina with His companion Quddús. In another lesson, when we study the life of the Báb, we will learn about this pilgrimage. For now, you need to know that He and Quddús embarked on a vessel that took about two months to reach its destination. Also on board the vessel were two brothers from Shíráz. One of them was captivated by the charm and the sublime bearing of the Báb. The other brother, however, was extremely jealous of the Báb because He was treated with such respect by all those who met Him. Day by day this man became more arrogant and rude, not only towards the Báb but towards other passengers as well. At one point the captain of the vessel became so angry that he ordered the man to be seized and thrown into the sea. The Báb stepped forward and encouraged the captain to be patient. But the captain was beside himself and determined to get rid of the troublesome passenger. When the Báb noticed that the sailors were actually about to throw him overboard, He caught hold of him and earnestly requested the captain to pardon the wrongdoer. The captain was astonished. It was, after all, the Báb Who had suffered the most from the cruelty of this rude man. Yet The Báb explained that, since people who behaved in such a manner harmed only themselves, one should be tolerant and forgiving towards them.

Get the worksheet for story 2 here

STORY THREE

Bahá’u’lláh was the essence of kindness. In even the smallest of gestures, He reflected the infinite love that God has for every one of His creatures. Perhaps you know that, in the later years of Bahá’u’lláh’s life, His beloved Son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá rented the Mansion of Bahjí for His Father. Now, every Friday the believers would gather there to attain the presence of Bahá’u’lláh. They would stay all day, using the lower rooms of the house, while Bahá’u’lláh’s family occupied the upper floor. One of the believers, only a boy of four or five at the time, had a very special encounter there, indeed. At noon, when all the grown-ups were resting during the midday heat, he happened to wander off by himself, making his way to the upper floor of the Mansion, where he entered a large hall. Ambling about, he eventually came to a room in which food was stored. What do you think he saw there? A bag filled with sugar cubes. Without thinking, he took a few and put them in his mouth. Then he took some more and left the storeroom. Back in the hall, he suddenly froze in his tracks. There was Bahá’u’lláh pacing back and forth. He slowly approached the little boy and looked at his hands. And how do you think He treated this boy who had done something naughty? He led the boy towards a large table in the middle of the hall, picked up a plate of candies, and offered him one. “It seems you like sweets,” Bahá’u’lláh said. “Enjoy! Goodbye. And may God protect you.”

STORY FOUR

In this world where there is so much corruption and greed, where so many people want to take all for themselves, the Manifestations of God have come to establish justice. Justice is most pleasing in the sight of God, and His Manifestations tell us that we should not take what rightfully belongs to others. Even as a youth, Bahá’u’lláh displayed unmatched courage in standing up for what was right. At that time in Persia, taxes were not regulated by law according to each person’s earnings. Corrupt officials, princes and, sometimes, even the king took advantage of people and forced them to pay more than what was fair. Now, one such tax collector, who did not walk in the ways of honesty and justice, came to see Bahá’u’lláh’s father and demanded that he pay a certain amount. The first time this happened, His father paid the official without any protest. But then the tax collector came back a second time, asking for more money, and a third time, asking for still more.

Bahá’u’lláh carefully observed the situation and decided to do something about the unfair behavior of the tax collector. Although he was very young, He rode His horse for two days until He arrived at the capital city, Ṭihrán. There, he went to see the highest officials in the court and presented His father’s case. His presentation was so convincing, His words and arguments so eloquent, that an order was issued to dismiss the unjust tax collector. Everyone was astonished by the fact that, at such a tender age, Bahá’u’lláh was already so tireless a champion of justice.

STORY FIVE

All the believers who lived while Bahá’u’lláh walked on this earth yearned to meet Him. And there are so many accounts of those who were fortunate enough to enter His presence. One such person has related the following: “The very first time I was privileged to attain the presence of the Blessed Beauty, He was residing in ‘Akká. I was overcome by excitement and timidity when an attendant directed me to enter. At that moment I heard the voice of Bahá’u’lláh bidding me to come. With a profound sense of humility, I went into His presence; after expressing my utter servitude at His threshold, I seated myself. At His request, I was served tea. He then recited some of the sacred writings, after which He stated: ‘Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, that from your behavior and conduct they may be enabled to recognize the signs and commandments of God.’”

STORY SIX

God has given us the capacity to know Him, to love Him, and to carry out His commandments and He sends us His Manifestation to help us in our efforts to fulfill the purpose for which we were created. In the Beauty of the Manifestation of God, we are able to perceive the beauty of God. In His wisdom, we catch the glimpses of the inscrutable Wisdom of the Almighty. They are like a mirror that reflect to us the qualities and attributes of God.

I would like to share with you a story that will give us a glimpse of the great knowledge possessed by the Messengers of God, by sharing a story about Baha’u’llah, the most recent Messenger of God. There are similar stories about each of the Messengers of God, as they all have innate knowledge given to them by God! There are many stories from the time of Baha’u’llah that demonstrate how people were attracted to His knowledge and awed by it. I am going to share with you one such story- and you will need to pay very close attention to the details of the story- because we are going to ask you to act the story out later today. This story is about the visit Baha’u’llah made to Nur, the place He was born in Mazindaran in Persia, soon after He accepted the truth of the Bab’s Revelation.

The Bab was a Messenger of God that came right before Baha’u’llah. He prepared the way for Baha’u’llah’s coming. We will learn more about the lives of the Bab and Baha’u’llah later on this year, but for now, you should know that before Baha’u’llah told the people He was a Messenger of God, He first was a follower of the Bab. In this story, He was teaching the people about the Bab’s Message.

The enthusiasm with which the people of Mazindaran greeted Baha’u’llah was indeed extraordinary. They were spellbound by the eloquence of His speech. The arguments and proofs He set forth, as He announced the dawning of a new Day, convinced them of the greatness of the Cause of the Bab. They admired His enthusiasm and were deeply impressed by His detachment and self-effacement. No one dared oppose Him except His own uncle Aziz, who became jealous of the love and respect Baha’u’llah was receiving from the people.

Alarmed by Baha’u’llah’s success, Aziz decided to seek the assistance of a well-known Mulla of the region, presumably the possessor of great knowledge and defender of the truth of Islam. Mullas are the religious leaders of Islam- the clergy- kind of like ministers in the Christian church. “O viceregent of the Prophet of God!” exclaimed Aziz, talking to the Mulla, “Behold what has befallen the Faith of Islam! A youth, a layman, attired in the garb of nobility, has come to Nur, has invaded the strongholds of orthodoxy, and disrupted the holy Faith of Islam. Arise, and resist his onslaught.” The Mulla did not find in himself the strength to confront Baha’u’llah, so he did his best to quiet Aziz, assured him that he would be protected, and dismissed him. But the Message Baha’u’llah had brought to the region was rapidly spreading, and the Mulla’s students kept pressuring him to visit Baha’u’llah in person and find out for himself the nature of this new Revelation. Still the Mulla did not have the courage to do so. Finally, after much delay, he decided to send two of the most learned and trusted individuals in his company to visit Baha’u’llah and determine the true character of the Message He brought. He promised to everyone that he would accept the judgment of these two trusted souls and would abide by their decision.

When these two emissaries reached the presence of Baha’u’llah, He was in a gathering engaged in revealing a commentary on one of the chapters of the Quran. With great assurance, they entered the meeting and sat down prepared to ask questions and examine the extent of Baha’u’llah’s knowledge. But as they listened to the voice of Baha’u’llah, they were enraptured by the eloquence of His speech and the profound meaning of His statements. Mulla Abbas, one of these two emissaries, was entirely overwhelmed. He arose from his seat, walked back slowly and stood beside the door in an attitude of utter submissiveness. “You behold my condition.,” he told his friend as he trembled with emotion and with eyes full of joyful tears. “I am powerless to question Baha’u’llah. The questions I had planned to ask Him have vanished suddenly from my memory. You are free either to proceed with your inquiry or to return alone to our teacher and inform him of the state in which I find myself. Tell him that Abbas can never again return to him. He can no longer forsake this threshold.” His companion found himself in a similar state. “I have ceased to recognize my teacher,” he replied. “This very moment, I have vowed to God to dedicate the remaining days of my life to the service of Baha’u’llah, my true and only Master.”

So the two emissaries of the famous Mulla never went back to their teacher. The news of their conversion traveled fast. It awakened the people from their sleep. People of all walks of life journeyed to Nur in order to enter the presence of Baha’u’llah and partake of His Divine knowledge. A considerable number of them accepted the new Faith of God. But as you know, this and the many other early successes of the Cause aroused the envy of those who took advantage of the people’s ignorance in order to rule over them. Soon a tremendous wave of persecution arose throughout the entire country, bringing unimaginable sufferings to both the Bab and Baha’u’llah.

ADDITIONAL STORY FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE : HERE

Act out the quote from story five.

Some suggested pictures here

Any of the stories can be acted out. Remember we do not portray the Manifestation of God.

CUT APART CARDS

Cut the cards apart and mix them up. How fast you can pair up the correct ones?

Download from supporting the core activities here

BASED ON THE THEME OF SEARCH

Make an I SPY bottle.

Materials

bottle
filler like rice, sand, etc I use small styrofoam balls from the dollar store
funnel
items to symbolize search in some way. I got creative. here are some of mine:
1. heart – need a pure heart
2. googly eyes – as you have to look when you search
3. stone – leave no stone unturned
4. Paperclip – to hold all your notes together
5. Rubberband – need to be flexible in our outlook and keep an open mind
6. Penny – you will need funds as you travel far’
7. Screw – you may need to build things along the way
8. file- for the fingernails that may get broken
9. the word friend – for all the friends you will make along the way
10. gem – all the hidden gems in you and in others that will be found
11. bike – you will need transportation
12. magnet – to attract the hearts
13. Banner with Bahá’u’lláh’s name to raise up.

as you put each item in, say what it stands for. Close the lid and hot glue(if you think it may get opened and spill. Write a tag with all the items to be found.

BASED ON STORY TWO

If you remember, this story took place on a boat with a rude man. Build your own boat:

Visit my Pinterest board with lots of ideas for building boats

BASED ON STORY ONE

Truthfulness and Honesty. Make the card and send it to a friend. Or make this and include it in your notebook/ lap book.

Get Link Here

Match messengers to the symbols

This is an activity sheet

Cut and paste activity

Taken from Australian peace pack

FROM STORY 5

MAKE UP A BOARD GAME THAT HELPS OTHERS RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD BASED ON THE QUOTE FROM THE STORY

“Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, that from your behavior and conduct they may be enabled to recognize the signs and commandments of God.”

Download the template game here

Review

You should find some suitable time, perhaps at the end of every class period, to help the children review the passage that they are learning by heart in this lesson and one that they memorized in Grade 2:

“The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence.”

Get the memorization aid here

Tags Baha'i, Baha'i children class material, children class, crafts, Drama, GRADE 3, LESSON 1 GRADE 3, review quotes, ruhi, Ruhi bk 3 children's class, Ruhi book 3, Ruhi Children Class

Baha'i Children class Free Ridvan Ruhi Book 3

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM SOULS RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 4 LESSON 7 SET 2

Post author By Carolyn
Post date July 8, 2022
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Introducing The Principal Theme

Welcome to Lesson 7 Grade 4

In this class, we will begin to understand Baha’u’llah’s Station by looking at His power to transform souls.

We already know that the Manifestations of God manifest all of God’s names and attributes to humankind. One of the attributes is His infinite love for every human being. Baha’u’llah has told us that God created us out of His love for us. If we were to be deprived of God’s love, even for a moment, we would perish and be no more. God’s love permeates the entire creation. It is because of His all-embracing love that the sun shines, that the plants grow, that animals give birth to their offspring, and that human beings receive blessings with every breath of their lives. Our love for each other, the kindness we give and receive, the tenderness we feel in our heart for so many people, is all but a reflection of God’s love for His creatures. This love is manifested today by Baha’u’llah. And His love has the power to transform us.

The word “transform” means to change from one condition to another. For example, a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon and later emerges as a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly. After a period of drought, the rains come and transform the barren ground into lush meadows and prairies. Likewise, from Baha’u’llah shine the rays of the Divine love that bring life to the universe. His teachings have the power to transform our souls. Through prayer, the study of His Writings, and constant effort, we can fill our hearts with His love. His Words have the power to enlighten our minds and hearts and create in us the capacity to perform great deeds in service to humankind.

When you think of Baha’u’llah, then, remember always His immense love for you. Regard Him as a most loving Father, Whose teachings and counsels will guide you and make firm your steps. Become dependent on His love. Let His love give you courage so you will not be afraid of change. Let His Words change you and make you grow.

NOTE: In the craft/activity section are 2 video experiments. Watch the videos, or do the experiments here.

What do Manifestations of God manifest to humanity? (to manifest means to reveal what was not known before)
Why did God create us?
What are some of the signs of God’s love?
What would happen to us if God’s love did not reach us?
Where does our love for each other come from?
Who manifests God’s love for humanity today?
What does the word “transform” mean?
Can you give a few examples from the physical world of one thing transforming into something else?
What do Baha’u’llah’s teachings have the power to do?

Prayer 1

Prayer 2

Prayer 3

O God, my God! Aid Thou Thy trusted servants

In this lesson, you are going to memorize a quotation revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in which He confirms what a special time it is in the life of humanity when every eye can see the beauty of His Person and every ear can listen to His words when every heart can find its Beloved.

Let all eyes rejoice, and let every ear be gladdened, for now is the time to gaze on His beauty, now is the time to hearken unto His voice. Proclaim unto every longing lover: ‘Behold, your Well-Beloved hath come among men!’
Bahá’u’lláh

Meaning Of Words

Need to know the meaning of some of the words? Use the pdf to record the meanings.

SEND A POSTCARD

Send To A Friend Or Neighbour: Use Email, Snail Mail, Or Hand-Deliver It!

G4-L-7-QUOTE Download

Paradise – Music Inspired by the Heroes Teaching Conference

Turn Your Faces Sung By Goleta Burriston Master

I’ll Walk the Path

I Have Found Baha’u’llah

Source Of Courage

The Promise

We Are The People Of Baha

Historical Episodes

The period of Bahá’u’lláh’s ten-year stay in Baghdád culminated in the Declaration of His Mission in the Garden of Riḍván, which was followed by His departure for Constantinople. The historical episode in this lesson describes some of the circumstances surrounding that momentous Declaration.

You know that during His stay in Baghdád, Bahá’u’lláh revived the fortunes of the Bábí community through His love and wisdom and through the power of His words. The hearts of those near to Him were afire with the love of God, and His companions felt as if they had entered paradise. Though He had not yet made His station known, He revealed volumes and volumes of Divine verses during this period.

One of the volumes Bahá’u’lláh revealed while in Baghdád is called the Book of Certitude, or Kitáb-i-Íqán, in which He explains the nature of God’s Revelation. In that book, He establishes in clear terms the unity of the world’s great religions. The book was revealed in answer to some questions posed to Bahá’u’lláh by Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad, one of the Báb’s uncles.

When he attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdád in 1862, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad had not yet accepted the Báb as a Manifestation of God, as the Promised Qá’im for Whose advent the people of Persia had long-awaited. Bahá’u’lláh asked him to write down all the questions that perplexed him and which left him in doubt about the Báb’s station. This he promptly did, and in the span of two days and two nights Bahá’u’lláh revealed His lengthy reply. After reading the Book, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad recognized the Báb and became a firm and steadfast believer.

It was also during His stay in Baghdád, while wrapped in meditation, as He walked along the banks of the Tigris, a river which runs through the city, that Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Hidden Words, so cherished by Bahá’ís everywhere today as a guide for their spiritual growth. You already know by heart some of the gems of Divine wisdom contained in this small volume.

Here is the first passage:

“O Son of Spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.”

Can you imagine the joy that filled the hearts of the friends as they listened to these and other verses for the first time?

But the joy of those days was not to last. The enemies of the Cause did not give up their constant scheming. You should know that they had already gone so far as to hire an assassin to kill Bahá’u’lláh. His name was Ridá. Learning where Bahá’u’lláh was going one day, Ridá appeared with a pistol hidden under his cloak, ready to carry out his deadly task. To his surprise, he found that he lacked the courage to proceed when he saw Bahá’u’lláh. So he decided to wait for Him in the street and try once again. But, the minute his eyes fell upon Bahá’u’lláh, he was so overcome with fear that the pistol dropped from his hand. Bahá’u’lláh was with His brother Áqáy-i-Kalím at the time. “Return his gun to him, and show him the way to his home,” said Bahá’u’lláh to Áqáy-i-Kalím. “It seems that he has lost his way.”

Time and again the efforts of His enemies had been thus frustrated. But, some ten years after Bahá’u’lláh’s arrival in Baghdád, they succeeded in arranging another exile. Bahá’u’lláh, of course, knew all this and had already begun to speak of the tests and difficulties that lay ahead. A dream He once related to the friends caused them great distress.

“I saw,” He stated in a Tablet, “the Prophets and the Messengers gather and seat themselves around Me, moaning, weeping and loudly lamenting.”

When Bahá’u’lláh inquired from them as to the cause for such weeping, they responded that they were crying for Him. But, in the dream, the Concourse on high then addressed Bahá’u’lláh saying:

“Erelong shalt Thou behold with Thine own eyes what no Prophet hath beheld. Be patient, be patient.”

The spring of 1863 had just opened when, one day, a messenger brought a communication for Bahá’u’lláh. It was a request that an interview take place between Him and the governor of Baghdád. The governor was supposed to deliver a message from the Prime Minister of the Ottoman Empire to Bahá’u’lláh. But for three months he had, out of his profound respect for Him, put off doing so. The next day Bahá’u’lláh went to meet the governor near his home. Upon arriving at the meeting place, He was presented with a letter from the Prime Minister. It was worded in a courteous manner, inviting Him to travel to the Ottoman capital, Constantinople. You see, the Prime Minister had been convinced by Bahá’u’lláh’s enemies that, because of His growing popularity and influence, He should not remain in Baghdád. A mounted escort was ordered to accompany Him to Constantinople for His protection. Bahá’u’lláh agreed to the request at once but refused to accept the money that the government was offering for His travels. The governor’s representative insisted, saying that the authorities would be offended if He did not accept the money. So Bahá’u’lláh took the sum and immediately distributed it among the poor of the city.

News of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile from Baghdád shook the Bábí community. The friends were overwhelmed with sadness. Gradually, however, they were consoled by Bahá’u’lláh’s kind and comforting words. As a sign of His love, He wrote in His own handwriting a Tablet for each of the friends who lived in the city—every man, woman, and child. Nabíl, the great Bahá’í historian, tells us that in the immediate days before His departure, many of them would gather together in one room, lit only by candles, and would chant aloud the verses and Tablets newly revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. Pondering on His words, they would become completely forgetful of the world, not noticing how time had passed and that night had turned into day.

Close to Baghdád there was a beautiful garden known today as the Garden of Riḍván. At the time it was full of roses. The garden belonged to a prominent man who offered it to Bahá’u’lláh so that He could greet all those wishing to bid Him farewell. On the afternoon of 22 April 1863, Bahá’u’lláh left His house, where crowds had gathered to catch a final glimpse of One Whom they had grown to love and admire. There were people of all ages, from different backgrounds, some notables and officials, others poor and orphaned. All were heartbroken and tearful. Gradually He made His way to the river Tigris, where a boat was waiting to take Him to the other side. It was there that the Garden of Riḍván was located, and He entered the garden in the late afternoon. This was the first stage of the journey that would carry Him to Constantinople. The Bábí community was grief-stricken. What would be the future of this young religion now that Bahá’u’lláh was being exiled once again? The heartbroken Bábís who gathered to bid Bahá’u’lláh farewell did not know what happiness God actually had in store for them.

Bahá’u’lláh stayed in the garden for twelve days. His enemies had tried to strike a fatal blow at the Cause by separating Him from the majority of the believers. God, however, turned the farewell into an occasion of immense gladness. During those memorable days, Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed to the believers present that He was the One promised by the Báb, that He was the Promised of All Ages. The banner of the oneness of humankind was now being raised for everyone to see.

The Declaration of His Mission created new life in the souls of His companions. This was the Day of Days for which the Báb had prepared them. Bahá’u’lláh Himself has said that on that Day “all created things were immersed in the sea of purification”.

Unfortunately, there is little known of the details of the conversations Bahá’u’lláh held with the many visitors He received in the Garden of Riḍván. The historian Nabíl was present on that occasion, and through his brief account, we are able to get but a glimpse of the glory of those days. Nabíl tells us that, at the hour of dawn every day, the gardeners would pick fresh roses and pile them in the center of the floor of Bahá’u’lláh’s tent. The pile was always so high that, when His companions gathered in the tent to drink morning tea, they were unable to see each other across it. Bahá’u’lláh would then give the roses to those present and request that they be delivered, on His behalf, to His friends in the city. All day long, from morning to evening, He would meet with the stream of visitors who kept flowing in from Baghdád. In the evening, a few of the believers took turns watching over His blessed tent. Nabíl stood watch for three nights in a row. “Every time I passed by the couch whereon He lay,” Nabíl says, “I would find Him wakeful.”

On 3 May 1863 Bahá’u’lláh mounted His horse and set out for Constantinople. Today Bahá’ís around the world celebrate this twelve-day period as the Festival of Riḍván, the anniversary of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh of His world-embracing Mission. It is the holiest and most significant of all Bahá’í festivals.

So many spiritual insights can be gleaned from the above historical episode into the greatness of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and the significance of this Day. One, for example, is the interplay between crisis and victory in the Cause of God—that every crisis leads to an even greater victory.

What are some of the other insights offered by the episode? And what are some of the attributes of God manifested by Bahá’u’lláh that we glimpsed as we read the stories?

For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember.

Download from Teachers Pay Teachers here AND Download my story report HERE

Facts

Bahá’u’lláh was exiled to Constantinople, after staying in Baghdád for ten years.
The Book of Certitude, or Kitáb-i-Íqán, was revealed in Baghdád.
The Book of Certitude was revealed in 1862 in answer to some questions posed to Bahá’u’lláh by the Báb’s uncle.
The Book of Certitude was revealed in two days and two nights.
The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh were revealed in Baghdád.
Before departing for Constantinople, Bahá’u’lláh spent twelve days in the Garden of Riḍván.
The Garden of Riḍván was located outside the city of Baghdád.
In the Garden of Riḍván, Bahá’u’lláh declared His Mission.
The twelve-day period in April is celebrated by Bahá’ís every year as the Festival of Riḍván.
The Festival of Riḍván is the holiest and most significant Bahá’í festival.

G4-L7-FACTS-ABOUT-THE-BAHAULLAH-Download

Blind Drawing

Use your eloquence and your powers of listening and observation!

Blind Drawing is a team-building activity that can be done in pairs. All you need is pen, paper and something to press on such as a clipboard or book (or you can use a whiteboard marker, a mini whiteboard and an eraser).

The two participants sit back to back. Only one person should have the drawing materials. The other is handed a picture (or draws a picture themselves), and must make sure that the other cannot see it. They describe the picture as carefully as possible while the other person attempts to draw it from the description.

Then they swap roles. You can set a time limit (e.g. 3 – 5 minutes) for each turn to keep things moving and get all the pairs to finish at a similar time.

Everyone can be given a few minutes at the beginning of this activity to make their secret drawing to describe to their partner. These can then be folded in half until it is their turn to describe it.

It can be helpful for the teacher to have a picture prepared beforehand to first describe to the whole class. Each child can be given an A5 piece of paper to try to replicate the picture from the description. It pays for this picture to be relatively simple and somewhat quirky, e.g. an alien with three eyes. Alternatively, it could be an element/scene from the story.

THE RIDVAN GARDEN

You live in the times of Bahá’u’lláh and you heard Bahá’u’lláh is leaving. Your family and friends have gathered to talk about this in your home and then will go to visit Bahá’u’lláh in the Ridvan Garden.

Here are some ideas to discuss:

How did you hear about or meet Bahá’u’lláh?
Why is Bahá’u’lláh important to you?
What have you learned from Bahá’u’lláh?

MAKE A TENT CRAFT

TEMPLATE ON WEBSITE TO USE

COLOURING PAGES AND RIDVAN GARDEN CRAFT

WEBSITE HERE

TRANSFORMATION

Let us explore the science of Transformation!

Based on Transforming Souls

We see transformation every day…for example when we bake a cake. This is a chemical reaction where different substances are transformed into a new substance: flour, butter, eggs, etc to cake! We can use this simple science experiment to show the transformation of a substance. Unfortunately, it’s not a cake but very easy to do!

Transformation

Potential energy into movement: Burlington did this car using an empty wooden thread spool, a washer, rubberband and a chopstick.

Brilliant Star and Dayspring Magazine.

The downloadable PDF contain Stories and activities.

Dayspring Magazine: Issue #66 Ridvan

Brilliant Start Lesson 21

Other Websites

All done monkey

PLASP Child Care Services

Bahá’i Blog

Delighted Hearts Ridvan Garden Printable

Multicultural Kid Blogs

Youtube Tissue Flower

We summon you to God, We remind you of His Day, We announce unto you tidings of your reunion with Him, We draw you nigh unto His court, and send down upon you tokens of His wondrous wisdom . . .”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Download The Memorization Aid

POWERPOINT LESSON 7 HERE

Tags activities, Baha’i, BAHÁ'U'LLÁH HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM SOULS RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 4 LESSON 7 SET 2, Children’s Classes, crafts, Drama, Free, games, Grade 4, Lesson, Lesson 7, Music, Prayers, quotes, ruhi, Ruhi Bk 3, Ruhi book 3, Ruhi Children’s class, Songs

Baha'i Children class Free journal Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

WE MUST WORK TO SPREAD BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S TEACHINGS IN ORDER FOR JUSTICE TO BE ESTABLISHED ON EARTH RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 4 LESSON 6 SET 2

Introducing the principal theme

Welcome to Lesson 6 Grade 4

This lesson seeks to help the children understand that Bahá’u’lláh has come to educate souls and bring new life to humanity.

In the quotation you memorized in the last lesson,(Lesson 5. ) Bahá’u’lláh makes clear that as His hardships and tribulations grew, so did His love for God, and that nothing could stop Him from carrying out the Mission with which God had entrusted Him. He bore all the sufferings heaped upon Him with radiance and forbearance. For four months He was imprisoned in the most terrible conditions in the Síyáh-Chál.

Do you remember what happened to Bahá’u’lláh and His family after He was released from His imprisonment?
What did the government and religious leaders hope would happen by exiling Bahá’u’lláh from His native Persia?

We know they feared that, if He remained in Persia, the teachings of the Báb would continue to spread and they would lose their power and control over people. And so they forced Bahá’u’lláh to leave His homeland, thinking that His influence would fade away and His light would be extinguished. Of course, they could never succeed.

You remember that, when Bahá’u’lláh first arrived in Baghdád after He left Persia, He was so saddened by the disunity among the followers of the Báb that He went to the remote mountainous region near the town of Sulaymáníyyih. In this lesson you are going to learn what happened when Bahá’u’lláh finally returned to Baghdád. After two years, He found the Bábí community in a terrible state. But quickly everything changed as Bahá’u’lláh began to educate the believers. Soon the people of Baghdád found in their midst a community that was distinguished by the love of God and by its noble character.

The quotation you will start to memorize today speaks of the quickening power of Bahá’u’lláh’s words and the joy experienced by all those who had the bounty of attaining His presence and listening to His utterances.

Prayer 1 Set 2

Prayer 2 Set 2

Prayer 3 Set 2

All joy to such as have attained His presence, gazed upon His beauty, hearkened unto His melodies, and been quickened by the Word that hath been issued forth from His sacred and exalted, His glorious and resplendent lips!

Bahá’u’lláh

Meaning of Words

If there are any words you do not know or are unsure of, record them in this document!

Send A Postcard

Why not share the quote from today’s class as a postcard with a friend?

A Noble Way

GIVE ME THY GRACE

Ystävällinen Kieli

The purpose of God

CREATE

Historical Episodes

The episode in this lesson centers on Bahá’u’lláh’s stay in Baghdád following His return from Sulaymáníyyih. The story of His Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, just prior to His departure for Constantinople, will be reserved for the next lesson.

Story 1

During the two years of Bahá’u’lláh’s absence from Baghdád, the fortunes of the Bábís had gone from bad to worse. Mírzá Yaḥyá had shown his total incompetence and had done nothing to stop this rapid decline. Bahá’u’lláh set out to educate the Bábís and to renew in them the spirit of faith they had once possessed. Over the years, through His love and wisdom, and the power of His words, He changed the behavior of the followers of the Báb. Under His guidance, the Bábís became, once again, righteous people who were the well-wishers of humankind. They put aside conflict and became promoters of unity and peace. Many Bábís from different parts of Persia began to make the long journey to Baghdád so that they could enter His presence. One of these was the young man we know today as Nabíl, the great historian of the Bahá’í Faith, whose book “The Dawn-breakers” you will someday read yourselves. He has left for us an account of what it was like for the believers to be close to Bahá’u’lláh in those special days.

We know that the house in which Bahá’u’lláh lived with His family became a place of much activity, and people came to see Him there in great numbers. One room of the house was set aside for the reception of guests and visitors. It was a simple room with a low roof, but, Nabíl tells us, it seemed to “reach to the stars”, so uplifted were the hearts of those who attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh. For them, to be surrounded by His love and immersed in the sea of His words, was like being in paradise. All the Bábís took great care, Nabíl writes, to make sure that their conduct conformed to the high standard to which He was calling them. Each one entered into a pact with one of his fellow believers, so that, if necessary, they could remind one another of the lofty standard they had pledged to follow. Often they would gather late into the night, reciting prayers and poetry and singing songs in praise of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Many nights, ten or more of them would eat no more than a few dates. They all lived modestly but were content. “I, myself with two others,” Nabíl writes, “lived in a room which was devoid of furniture.” Yet they thought little of such things. No one knew to whom the shoes, the cloaks and the robes they wore belonged. Whoever went to the bazaar to buy a few things would put on what he found without noticing whether it was his own or not. So filled were their hearts with the love of God that they even forgot their own names. “O, for the joy of those days,” are Nabíl’s words, “and the gladness and wonder of those hours!”

Story 2

As the Bábí community was spiritually revived, love and admiration for Bahá’u’lláh also grew among the inhabitants of Baghdád, including some of its dignitaries and officials. Even the governor of Baghdád eventually came to visit Him as a sign of courtesy and respect. No one who entered His presence could fail to recognize His greatness and glory. Nabíl records a story of how one night about a hundred people surrounded Bahá’u’lláh’s house, at the instigation of His enemies, ready to stir up mischief. They had swords by their sides. But Bahá’u’lláh approached the situation with His usual calm and dignity. He invited them into the house and requested His attendants to open the door for them. “They are our guests”, He said. He had refreshments served to them and discussed with them profound spiritual matters. By the time they arose to leave, their hearts had been transformed by the majesty and the kindliness of Bahá’u’lláh.

How fortunate are human beings when they can immerse themselves in the ocean of God’s mercy and partake of the knowledge and wisdom of His Manifestation! Yet, although those close to Bahá’u’lláh enjoyed the bounties of His presence and the people of Baghdád were attracted to His nobility and wisdom, some of the leaders refused to acknowledge His greatness because of their own ambition and pride. They saw Bahá’u’lláh’s growing influence as a threat to their own power. And so it will not surprise you to learn that, during this time, opposition to the Cause also grew steadily.

In one instance, a group of religious leaders decided to send a learned man to Bahá’u’lláh and to submit to Him a number of questions in order to test Him. When Bahá’u’lláh replied to all the questions satisfactorily, the learned man accepted the vastness of His knowledge. Even so, he presented the group’s request that Bahá’u’lláh perform a miracle to convince them of His extraordinary powers.

“Although you have no right to ask this,” Bahá’u’lláh replied, “for God should test His creatures, and they should not test God, still I allow and accept this request.” He told the man that first the group should choose one miracle and in writing declare that, after it had been performed, they would no longer have any doubts about Him and would all recognize Him and accept the truth of the Cause. They should seal the document and bring it to Him. The man was profoundly struck by this clear and challenging reply. He instantly arose, kissed the knee of Bahá’u’lláh, and departed. He delivered Bahá’u’lláh’s message to the group. For a few days these power-hungry men discussed how they should respond, but they could not come to any decision. Finally they had no other choice but to drop the matter. So it was that, out of His infinite love for humanity, Bahá’u’lláh invited friend and foe alike to drink deep from the cup of His wisdom and guidance. Alas! Though in dire need of the truth, some refused to partake of the life-giving waters of His Message. Driven by ambition and fear, they turned away from the Source of all knowledge and lost their way. Yet, in the end, nothing they did could prevent a growing number of people from drawing close to Him and being revived by His teachings.

Reflect

Now that we have read these 2 accounts, do you recognize that God’s promise to Bahá’u’lláh in the Síyáh-Chál—that He would be made victorious by His Person and by His Pen—was being fulfilled? Though outwardly an exile, with no earthly power or riches, He conquered hearts and became loved and respected by people of all backgrounds. Such is the influence exerted on souls by God’s Manifestation. What other spiritual truths do you glean from the events narrated today?

For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember. OR Download my story report HERE

Facts

Bahá’u’lláh returned to Baghdád from the region of Kurdistán in April 1856.
During the two years of Bahá’u’lláh’s absence from Baghdád, the fortunes of the Bábís had gone from bad to worse.
During Bahá’u’lláh’s stay in Baghdád, the Bábí community was revived through His love and wisdom and the power of His words

Download The Fact Cards Here

GAMES

Act Out The following:

You are new pilgrims who have come to see Bahá’u’lláh and you are entering the room for guests. Remember we do not portray Bahá’u’lláh.

We know the following from Nabíl:

The room “reach to the stars”,
It was like being in paradise.
All the Bábís took great care, to make sure that their conduct conformed to the high standard to which He (Baha’u’llah was calling them).
Each one entered into a pact with one of his fellow believers, so that, if necessary, they could remind one another of the lofty standard they had pledged to follow.
Often they would gather late into the night, reciting prayers and poetry and singing songs in praise of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
Many nights, ten or more of them would eat no more than a few dates.
They all lived modestly but were content. sometimes in a room that was devoid of furniture.
No one knew to whom the shoes, the cloaks and the robes they wore belonged.
Whoever went to the bazaar to buy a few things would put on what he found without noticing whether it was his own or not.
So filled were their hearts with the love of God that they even forgot their own names.

Another Scene to act out.

Act out the Scene where the clergy and holy men of the city had to come up with a miracle for Bahá’u’lláh to perform.

Activity Blind drawing

The two participants sit back to back. Only one person should have the drawing materials. The other is handed a picture (or draws a picture themselves) and must make sure that the other cannot see it. They describe the picture as carefully as possible while the other person attempts to draw it from the description.

CRAFTS

Shaker card

Here is a blog post with ideas. Used the sentence “Bahá’u’lláh invited friend and foe alike to drink deep from the cup of His wisdom and guidance” on the finished product.

Here is my free with the quote template!

Journal the “history” in your community one day at a time

Based on story 2: Nabil was a great historian and wrote what he observed and what he considered important. Can you be a historian and capture the important Baha’i events in your community? It can be in any form you like, a piece of writing, a drawing, a poem, a comic strip, a new article, or a journal entry.

Journal to record events like Nabil to use if needed can be downloaded here.

Some other templates:

comic book template

drawing template

storyboard

Diorama

Based on Story 1, construct a diorama using a box (a shoebox works well). Construct the room the pilgrims stayed in as you imagine it to be. Below is a video of just stars to get your imagination going.

Craft based on “uplifted hearts“

Create a paper circuit to light up and “uplift” the heart

Audio/ video Recording the group discussing the following

How did you hear about or meet Bahá’u’lláh?

Why is Bahá’u’lláh important to you?

What have you learned from Bahá’u’lláh?

REVIEW QUOTE

G4-L6-Review-G2-quote-a good character is

RESOURCE: BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

LETTERS OF LIGHT

LETTERS TO WORLD LEADER

‘ABDU’L-BAHA’S GREAT VOYAGE

SHINING LAMP BADÍ

SHINING LAMP MARTHA ROOT

Tags activities, Baha’i, Children’s Classes, crafts, Drama, Free, games, Grade 4, Lesson, Lesson 6, Music, Prayers, quotes, ruhi, Ruhi Bk 3, Ruhi book 3, Ruhi Children’s class, SET 2, Songs

Baha'i Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH SUFFERED FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY G4 L5

Post author By Carolyn
Post date July 8, 2022
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Grade 4 Lesson 5 Ruhi Book 3

Introducing The Principal Theme

Welcome to Lesson 5 Grade 4.

The purpose of this lesson is to help us realize that Baha’u’llah suffered for us and to give us a glimpse of the ordeals and hardship that He endured for the sake of humanity.

All the Manifestations of God have suffered in the hands of leaders concerned only with their own wealth and power. These self-seeking leaders used their influence over the ignorant people who blindly followed them to convince them to arise against God’s Manifestations.

In the last class, we learned what happened after the pitiful attempt made by a small group of foolish Bábís on the life of the king. Even Bahá’u’lláh, Who was so loved and respected by everyone, did not escape the horrible persecution that followed. He was imprisoned in a dungeon called the Síyáh- Chál, and all His worldly possessions were taken away from Him and His family. But we also saw that in this terrible dark place, God chose to reveal to Bahá’u’lláh His Mission and that from the darkness of the Black Pit rose the Sun of Truth. You also memorized a quotation in which Bahá’u’lláh Himself tells us how He heard words all around Him assuring Him that He would be victorious.

Today we are going to learn about Bahá’u’lláh’s release from the Síyáh-Chál and what happened next. As you listen to the stories in this lesson, you should remember that Bahá’u’lláh had not yet openly declared His Mission, but the power of His Revelation was already being felt, and the government of Persia and the religious leaders had become fearful of Him. They decided to send Him into exile. They thought that they could silence Him in this way and keep others back from the radiance of His glory. So, Bahá’u’lláh and His family were forced to head for Baghdád in the middle of an, especially cold winter. Unfortunately, upon His arrival there, He found so much disunity among the followers of the Báb that soon He decided to leave Baghdád and withdraw to a remote region to commune with God.

You will see that, even in the remote mountainous region to which Bahá’u’lláh withdrew, the people came to recognize His greatness and majesty. Nothing could conceal the wisdom and power that emanated from Him. Today, you will begin to memorize a passage in which Bahá’u’lláh explains that as His hardships grew, and as more and more difficulties were heaped upon Him, His love for God increased. No earthly power could prevent Him from achieving His purpose.

Baha’u’llah lived a life of suffering and affliction. He was imprisoned and exiled. Lies were told about Him, His teachings ignored and rejected, and His loyal followers mercilessly persecuted. He accepted these afflictions because He was chosen by God and did only that which God commanded. He loved humanity and knew that the knowledge He brought from God would finally conquer ignorance. He showed loving-kindness to every human being, even to the worst of His enemies. He accepted His sufferings patiently. Not for an instant did He stop shedding God’s light upon the whole world. For forty years, under the most difficult conditions, He gave guidance to humanity.

Remembering the ordeals and hardships suffered by Baha’u’llah makes us firm in His love. Our hearts will not waver in moments of difficulty. We will learn to be as immovable as the mountain when ignorant people oppose the Faith. We have to act the same way during our own tests. Love is stronger than hate.

Who inflicts sufferings upon the Manifestations of God?
Why did Baha’u’llah patiently accept His sufferings?
For how long did Baha’u’llah give guidance to humanity and under what conditions?
What effect does remembering Baha’u’llah’s sufferings have on us?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THIS LESSON (for teachers to review)

Read this I N F O R M A T I O N here

Prayer 1

Prayer 2

Prayer 3

Download the memorization aid for all 3 prayers in set 2 from Here

As My tribulations multiplied, so did My love for God and for His Cause increase, in such wise that all that befell Me from the hosts of the wayward was powerless to deter Me from My purpose.
Bahá’u’lláh The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

Meaning Of Some Of The Words In The Quote

Download Pdf Here

Send A Post Card to a Friend

G4-L5-QUOTE Download

The prince of peace

O Baha’u’llah

I Have Found Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláh The Glory Of God

This is the first of four historical episodes (lessons 5 to 8) leading to Bahá’u’lláh’s final exile to the prison city of ‘Akká. As we read these accounts we must keep in mind that Bahá’u’lláh willingly endured great suffering out of His limitless love for humanity and that the Cause of God can not be stopped by anyone.

You remember from our last class that Bahá’u’lláh was imprisoned in the Síyáh-Chál for four months and that, in the icy cold depths of so horrible a place, as He lay chained to His companions, God made known to Him the greatness of His station. Yet Bahá’u’lláh told no one of what had occurred. He would wait until the exact moment appointed by God to proclaim His Mission.

During that period, the enemies of the Faith persecuted the Bábís mercilessly, committing acts of cruelty that are too horrible to describe. However, one story must be told, the story of the martyrdom of the valiant Ṭáhirih, the courageous champion of the equality of women and men. At the time she was being held captive in the home of a notable in Ṭihrán. One night, knowing that the order to end her life had been issued, she put on the most beautiful dress and anointed herself with perfume. She then sent for the wife of the notable and conveyed her last wishes to her. Afterward, she closed herself in her room and awaited, in prayer and meditation, the hour of her death.

Ṭáhirih was pacing the floor of her room, chanting words of both grief and triumph, when the guards arrived. They brought her to a garden that was outside the gates of the city. This was to be the site of her martyrdom. The headsmen were awaiting her, but when the time came for them to act, they wavered. They refused to end the life of one such as her. Instead, they managed to find a man so drunk that he did not know what he was doing. He was given a silk scarf that Ṭáhirih herself had brought, and with this scarf, he strangled that outstanding heroine of the Faith. Her lifeless body was then lowered into a well, which was filled with earth and stones, as she had desired.

Meanwhile, the enemies of the Faith were busy trying to obtain Bahá’u’lláh’s death sentence from the king, Náṣiri’d-Dín Shah. But it did not prove to be so easy for them to do so. Bahá’u’lláh came from a noble family and was loved by so many, high and low alike. Eventually, to achieve their purpose, they arranged for poison to be put into some of the food brought to Him. Of course, their plot failed. The poison was so strong that its effects were quickly noticed, and Bahá’u’lláh stopped eating the meal. In the end, the authorities had no other choice but to release Him from prison. The king, however, ordered that Bahá’u’lláh leave Persia and go into exile. He was given one month to depart.

Bahá’u’lláh was ill and exhausted from the terrible conditions of the Síyáh-Chál. The chain that had been placed around His neck during His imprisonment was so heavy that it had made deep wounds, and the poison had left Him in a weakened state. Still, in the middle of winter, on 12 January 1853, He and His family set out from their native land, never to return. You remember that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was about eight or nine, and His sister, Bahíyyih Khánum, was two years younger. They both gladly shared in their Father’s exile. Their youngest brother, however, was too small a child to undertake such a rigorous journey. He had to be left behind with some relatives until he was old enough to travel. Also with them on the journey was Áqáy-i-Kalím and another one of Bahá’u’lláh’s brothers. Together they headed for Baghdád, a city in the Ottoman Empire, escorted by two officials.

To reach the city, they had to cross the huge, snow-covered mountains that separated the Ottoman Empire from Persia. It was a perilous journey, and the supplies they had for the trip were far from adequate. You can imagine how cold it was for the small band of travelers, who did not have sufficient clothing to protect them from the snow. With the help of only some mules, they slowly made their way along the high peaks of the mountains. Often they had no option but to camp for the night in the total wilderness. But God protected them, and through His unfailing assistance, they arrived safely in Baghdád three months later.

What Bahá’u’lláh saw in Baghdád saddened His heart. After the Báb and so many of the Bábís were martyred, His remaining followers had become confused and lost. They did not know where to turn or which direction to take. And unfortunately, some of them began to forget the high standards to which the Báb had called them. They quarreled and became very disunited people. The greatest cause of the difficulty was Bahá’u’lláh’s own half-brother Mírzá Yaḥyá, an ambitious and cowardly man. He had followed Bahá’u’lláh to Baghdád and soon became jealous of the influence Bahá’u’lláh had on everyone who came into contact with Him. Working with a partner more shameless than himself, Mírzá Yaḥyá tried to turn the believers against Bahá’u’lláh. The situation grew worse daily.

A year after their arrival in Baghdád, Bahá’u’lláh’s family woke one morning to find that He was gone. He had left the city without telling anyone where He was going or why. Seeing that Mírzá Yaḥyá was creating so much disunity, Bahá’u’lláh had chosen to retire to a region of Kurdistán, some distance to the north of Baghdád. His purpose in doing so, He Himself would later state, was to avoid becoming “the subject of discord” among the Báb’s followers or “the cause of sorrow to any heart”.

In that mountainous region, not far from a town called Sulaymáníyyih, Bahá’u’lláh lived alone. He was content with little food. At times He received some milk from the shepherds in the surrounding area and, occasionally, visited the town to obtain the minimum necessities of life. The conditions were extremely harsh, but He was happy to be in communion with God.

As you can well imagine, Bahá’u’lláh’s greatness could not be kept hidden from people’s eyes for long. One day, for example, He saw a young student sitting by the road crying. He asked the reason for this sadness and was told that the other boys at the school had each received from the teacher a sample of penmanship to practice their handwriting but that he did not have a copy. Bahá’u’lláh offered with tenderness and kindness to write a sample for him. When the young boy showed the sample to his teacher at school, everyone was astonished at the beauty and excellence of Bahá’u’lláh’s penmanship. They realized that someone special now lived among them. And the news of this spread throughout Sulaymáníyyih.

Gradually, more and more of the inhabitants of Sulaymáníyyih came to know of Bahá’u’lláh and to respect Him. Some of the wise leaders of the town sought His presence and requested that He explain to them difficult spiritual matters. Bahá’u’lláh’s words had on these people their usual effect. Many a heart was transformed by His love and many a mind was illumined by His knowledge. His fame began to spread to the neighboring areas. News of a man of extraordinary wisdom and eloquence living in Kurdistán finally reached Baghdád.

So it was that one day ‘ Abdu’l-Bahá, now twelve years old, and His dear uncle, Áqáy-i- Kalím, overheard two people speaking of this most extraordinary Man. They described Him as “The Nameless One,” Who had magnetized the countryside with His love. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá and His uncle realized immediately that this Personage could be none other than Bahá’u’lláh. Without delay, they sent a trusted believer to beg Him to return, and Bahá’u’lláh accepted their request. Two years had passed since He had left Baghdád to commune with God. And, as we will see in the next class, just as He had galvanized the inhabitants of Sulaymáníyyih, He would transform and uplift the followers of the Báb in Baghdád and beyond through the power of His love and wisdom. His full glory would be made manifest, and all of the desperate attempts of His enemies to prevent the progress of the Cause of God would prove utterly futile.

For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember

For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember.

Download:

Teachers Pay Teachers Free Biography Page

DOWNLOAD MY STORY REPORT HERE

PowerPoint here

Facts

Bahá’u’lláh was imprisoned in the Síyáh-Chál for four months.
Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from Persia in 1853.
Bahá’u’lláh’s very difficult journey from Persia to Baghdád began on 12 January 1853 and took about three months.
Bahá’u’lláh left Baghdád for Kurdistán in April 1854.
Bahá’u’lláh spent a total of two years in Sulaymáníyyih.

Download here

Act Out The Following

A year after their arrival in Baghdád, Bahá’u’lláh’s family woke one morning to find that He was gone. He had left the city without telling anyone where He was going.

Act Out The Following

Remember that Manifestations of God are not portrayed

Stop Motion Animation

We finally got to do the stop-motion animation. We used paper to make the mountains. The App Stop motion Studio to take photos and a tripod holds the phone steadily with help from mums in the back. Horses were used to show the journey and no one in the Holy Family was depicted.

To make a stop-motion animation, as mentioned, using an app for that purpose really helps. It did not take more than 10 min planning, and 15 mins taking photos to get ours done. There are many resources to help you through the process and I will link the simplest video below.

The props can be made from any material including clay, paper, lego, etc.

Draw

Draw the family of Bahá’u’lláh traveling across the mountains in the winter on their way to Baghdád. Remember not to include any representation that could be mistaken for Bahá’u’lláh.

Calligraphy

Baha’ullah’s handwriting was beautiful! Many Persian calligraphy is done in the form of shapes. (G4L5 outline for calligraphy)

Choose a prayer or a quote to fill in one of the images of your choice, or choose an image to fill with writing/words.

CHAIN

Based on the paragraph above we are going to make a chain to symbolize Bahá’u’lláh love for us that he consented to be in chains. This is an easy craft. you will need strips of paper. Write inspiring quotes or just words like “love, service, prayer” etc. loop them together and hang in your room to remember that at all times and under all conditions, Bahá’u’lláh was victorious.

See an example of paper chains here

Footsteps

Make a rolling footstep craft.

Footstep to cut out
Straw
Q Tips
Strong Tape
empty tape roll
gule

Here is an easy image of a footprint to print and cut. You can use any that you find on places like Pixabay

The Holy Family

Download the activity to make the family tree for The Holy Family from delighted Hearts Here

“These Prophets and chosen Ones of God are the recipients and revealers of all the unchangeable attributes and names of God. They are the mirrors that truly and faithfully reflect the light of God.”
Bahá’u’lláh The Kitáb-i-Íqán