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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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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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THE BÁB AS THE HERALD OF A NEW ERA G3 L14

Post author By Carolyn
Post date October 3, 2022
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GRADE 3 LESSON 14

THE BÁB AS THE HERALD OF A NEW ERA

The purpose of this lesson is to recognize that the Báb was the Herald of a New Era. To help us reflect on this theme, lets us review what we have learned so far:

In the past few lessons, we have seen that the appearance of the Báb created hope among the people of Persia.

Many recognized that a new period in human history had opened.

For hundreds of thousands of years, humanity has grown in number, in experience and in knowledge.

How did humanity live at the beginning of its history?

There was a long period when human beings lived in caves and roamed the earth in small bands. But did humanity stay in small bands?

What came next?

Can one family achieve as much as several families united in a clan or tribe?

As humanity advanced, people joined together in clans and tribes and were able to accomplish many new things; some soon began to build villages and, later on, towns. Gradually great cities came into being. Over the past few hundred years, people have gone even further and created nations.

What do you think these nations need to learn to do?

Will humanity achieve more if all the nations remain separate or if they are united and cooperate and support one another?

We see that, during its long history, humanity has accomplished extraordinary things; yet its life has not always been a happy one.

Often humanity’s life has been full of fear and grief,

Only for a few brief periods has justice ruled here and there. Terrible acts of cruelty have been committed. Wars have continually brought pain and suffering to the world. But, as long as humanity has existed, the hope has been that someday a new world would be built and a glorious era would begin in the life of humanity.

We know that this new Day has now dawned,

We know that Bahá’u’lláh has come to lead humanity into an era of great peace and prosperity. This new Day began in 1844 when the Báb declared His Mission. Do you know what the word ‘herald’ means? A herald is one who makes an announcement. The Báb came to announce the beginning of a new life for humanity. The Báb is the Herald of a new Era.

1. Is there any remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!

2. Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.

3. O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. Thou art He who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul. O Lord! Grant deliverance through Thy mercy, and reckon me among such servants of Thine as have gained salvation.

Get Memorization Aid here

A RING UPON THE HAND NASIM MANNI

TEACH US THY ONENESS ANNA MCDONALD

A GNAT INTO AN EAGLE HLOOVER JOKULSSON

MUSIC FROM BRILLIANT STAR

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These are the appointed days which ye have been yearningly awaiting in the past— the days of the advent of divine justice. Render ye thanks unto God, O ye concourse of believers.
Baha’u’llah

Use the worksheet

FOR ANY WORDS YOU ARE NOT SURE OF Download here

SEND THE QUOTE AS A POSTCARD

Send to a friend or neighbor

Historical Episodes

We have two stories for this lesson, which, together, make up the historical episode. The first is the story of Ṭáhirih, the great poetess and champion of the cause of the equality of men and women. Some of you may remember the story of Ṭáhirih told to them in second grade. Does anyone remember some of the points?

The story in this lesson focuses on the Conference of Badasht. The second story describes the valiant efforts exerted by the village maiden, Zaynab, in the Zanján upheaval.

STORY 1

One of the eighteen Letters of the Living was a remarkable woman who will always be remembered as the most courageous champion of the cause of the equality of men and women. Her name was Ṭáhirih. She was born to a distinguished family of the Muslim clergy, and she herself was extremely knowledgeable and highly accomplished. She wrote the most beautiful poetry; when someday you read or hear her poetry, you will think of her soul as a great ocean, deep and full of the most precious pearls. Of the eighteen Letters of the Living, only Ṭáhirih accepted the Báb without having met Him. She knew in her heart that the Promised Qá’im had appeared, and she had already seen Him in a dream.

Whenever a Manifestation of God appears on earth, the unjust and the ungodly rise against Him and inflict great suffering on Him and those who believe in Him. This is what happened to the Báb and His followers as His fame spread throughout the country. You already know that the Báb Himself was exiled to the far-away mountains in the northwest corner of the country. The authorities had thought that, by sending Him to such a remote place, they would succeed in putting out the light of His Faith. But, of course, no one can put out the light that has been lit by the Hand of God, and the Message of the Báb continued to spread. The number of Bábís grew rapidly, but so did the fierce opposition of power-hungry leaders and their ignorant followers.

It was during this period that some of those who had recognized the Báb gathered together for an historic conference known as the Conference of Badasht. Bahá’u’lláh was one of the believers present at this conference, as were Quddús and Ṭáhirih. When you are older, you will study the account of Badasht yourselves and become informed of its details, but for now it suffices to say that on that occasion the followers of the Báb boldly announced their independence from Islám, the official religion of the country. Guided by Bahá’u’lláh, Who was not yet known as the Manifestation of God for today, they came to realize that indeed a new Day had dawned, that they had to put the past behind them and enter a new Era.

In the electrifying atmosphere of the Conference of Badasht, Ṭáhirih made a most breathtaking announcement about breaking with the past. As you know, throughout all of history women have been treated as inferior to men; they have not received the same education as men, and their voices have not been properly heard. In certain places, they have not even been allowed to show their faces to any man outside of their immediate families. In the presence of other men, they have been required to wear a veil. This custom still exists in some parts of the world today, and in the days of the Báb it was firmly established in Persia. In fact, it was more than a mere custom; it was considered a religious law not to be broken. So imagine how the men gathered at the Conference of Badasht felt when one day Ṭáhirih appeared without a veil covering her face.

There was a great commotion. A few of the followers of the Báb were so shocked that they ran away. Others stood dumbfounded. Even Quddús showed signs of anger. But Ṭáhirih seated herself next to Quddús with dignity and confidence. Her face was radiant. She arose and spoke. Her words were so powerful that they penetrated the hearts of everyone present. She called on the believers to break from the past and hold firmly to the laws revealed by the Báb. She made certain remarks about the greatness of Bahá’u’lláh which at the time few could comprehend. She finished her speech by saying that she was the Word which the Promised Qá’im was to utter. And who could deny that she had acted as a mighty Word uttered by the Báb heralding the beginning of a new Era in human existence? Who could deny that she had sounded the trumpet call announcing the equality of men and women?

Download the story the trumpet blast from Brilliant Star Magazine here

STORY 2

Gradually, all around the world this call was heard as the spiritual forces released by the appearance of God’s new Manifestation on earth began to open the way for people to see new possibilities. Even in those early days in Persia, where the life of a woman was so restricted, there were women rising to take their place alongside men. One such woman was a maiden called Zaynab from a village near the town of Zanján.

Not long after the Conference in Badasht, Muḥammad Sháh, the king of Persia, passed away and his incompetent Prime Minister fell into disgrace. The king’s young son, Náṣiri’d-Dín Mírzá, came to the throne, and he appointed a new Prime Minister, who decided that vigorous steps needed to be taken to stop the spread of the Message of the Báb. The ensuing years would witness outbreaks of intense persecution across the country directed against His followers. Many would be subjected to acts of the most savage brutality and would give up their lives for the new-born Faith.

In the next lesson, we will learn about the valor and heroism that Mullá Ḥusayn and Quddús displayed in the months immediately after the Conference of Badasht. For now, let us jump ahead about two years to Zanján, which was the scene of one of the fiercest attacks.

The governor of Zanján was not a strong man, and he allowed himself to be manipulated by the clergy. At their bidding, he sent a crier through the streets to warn the people of what was to come. Whoever wanted his protection was advised to move to one side of the town, away from the Bábís, who were all left on the other side. Now the town was divided into two camps, and the governor brought in troops from the neighboring villages to mount an assault. While the enemy camp was busy with preparations, the innocent Bábís took refuge in a nearby fort. There were some three thousand men, women and children who wanted nothing more than to live peaceful lives and follow the teachings brought by God’s new Manifestation. But it was not to be so. They were soon attacked, and then again and again. Each time a few from the fort would rush out and scatter the enemy forces. And each time, Ḥujjat, a most devoted follower of the Báb, about whom you will learn more when you are older, would urge his companions to refrain from aggression and acts of violence. Their sole purpose, he reminded them, was to defend themselves and to protect the women and children, who, they knew, would be treated savagely if they failed.

Now, among those in the fort was the young maiden Zaynab. At seeing the trials and hardships that the men had to endure, she yearned to assist them. But, as a woman, she was not expected to have courage and bravery. Finally, however, she could sit still no longer. One day she cut off her hair, put on the clothes of a man, and introduced herself to those defending the fort, taking her place alongside them. And, as soon as the enemy charged, she drew a sword and flung herself upon the forces that surrounded her. All those who saw her that day, friend and foe, marveled at her courage and resourcefulness. Overwhelmed with fear, the enemy troops fled from her in disgrace.

Ḥujjat, who was watching the scene from a distance, realized that this brave soul was none other than young Zaynab. “No man,” he was heard to say, “has shown himself capable of such vitality and courage.” Once she had returned, Ḥujjat asked her why she had disguised herself as a man. At this she burst into tears.

“My heart ached with pity and sorrow,” she said, “when I beheld the toil and sufferings of my fellow-disciples.”

She explained how much she longed to help the men defending the fort, but she was afraid that she would be denied the opportunity because she was a woman. She begged him to allow her to continue to assist thus disguised.

Ḥujjat was profoundly impressed by her words. He calmed her and assured her of his prayers on her behalf.

“Not by their outward appearance, but by the character of their beliefs and the manner of their lives, does God judge His creatures, be they men or women,” he told her. “Though a maiden of tender age and immature experience, you have displayed such vitality and resource as few men could hope to surpass.”

And so he granted her request. He warned her, however, as he did her male companions, not to exceed the bounds their Faith had imposed upon them. “We are called upon to defend our lives against a treacherous assailant,” he advised. Bloodshed was to be avoided as much as possible.
For the next five months, Zaynab continued to defend the fort with a heroism that few could match. She slept little and ate little. Her sword was always by her side, so that she would be ready to rush to the rescue of whoever needed her assistance. During the brief moments that she found time to sleep, she could be seen with her head resting upon her sword and her shield serving as a cover for her body. Eventually, of course, the enemy discovered her secret and knew that she was a woman. Yet their fear of her capacity and courage never diminished. Still they trembled at her approach.

Then one day, seeing that a group of her companions were suddenly surrounded by enemy troops, Zaynab ran to Ḥujjat and begged him, with tearful eyes, to allow her to go to their aid. She feared not, she declared, for her life. Ḥujjat was deeply touched by her request, and before he could reply, she leapt out of the gate and flung herself upon the enemy. A number of her fellow defenders of the fort had already been slain. She ran to the barricades that the enemy had erected, and the fearful guards at the first line of defense abandoned their post and scattered in fear. She then ran to the second line of defense, and then to the third, and the guards also fled. She was making her way to the fourth when the bullets of the enemy found her and she dropped dead upon the ground.

For a period of five months Zaynab had demonstrated a courage in the face of danger that no one thought possible of a woman at the time. So inspired by her devotion and fearlessness were some twenty women who knew her that they, too, embraced the Cause of the Báb. Alas, four months after her passing, following a massive assault, Ḥujjat and his companions could hold the enemy back no longer and the troops stormed the gates of the fort. A hundred women and children were captured that day, while all the others sought shelter in some nearby houses. Not long after, the wife and baby of Ḥujjat would be killed by cannon fire, and Ḥujjat would then die from his wounds. What happened to those who remained is too terrible to describe. In all, some one thousand and eight hundred souls lost their lives during that nine-month siege, and by its treachery and cruelty the enemy had shown how corrupt was the old Order that the Báb, the Herald of a new Era, had come to sweep away.

In the above episode, Ḥujjat shares with Zaynab a most profound and important spiritual truth—namely, that the human soul has no gender and that all are equal in the sight of God.

Download the story Zaynab blast from Brilliant Star Magazine here

USE THE RESOURCES BELOW AS NEEDED

FACTS ABOUT THE BÁB

The Declaration of the Báb in 1844 marked the opening of a new Era in human history.
Ṭáhirih was the seventeenth Letter of the Living
The independence of the Faith of the Báb from Islám was declared at the Conference of Badasht.
The Conference of Badasht took place in the summer of 1848.
Bahá’u’lláh, Quddús and Ṭáhirih were present at the Conference of Badasht.
Ṭáhirih removed the veil from her face at the Conference of Badasht and publicly announced the equality of men and women.
The Zanján upheaval began in the spring of 1850 lasted for some nine months.
Ḥujjat was one of the most able and formidable champions of the Faith.
Led by Ḥujjat, some three thousand followers of the Báb, including women and children, were forced to take shelter in a fort in Zanján and to defend themselves against armed troops.
Some one thousand and eight hundred souls gave up their lives in the Zanján upheaval, including Ḥujjat and Zaynab.

Download the memorization aid cards FACTS ABOUT THE BAB HERE

BASED ON THE 2 STORIES TODAY

Come up with some situations where you had to show bravery and courage

Some examples below:

Trying a food that you’ve never tried before.
Engaging in a new experience.
Doing something for the first time, like riding a bike.
Standing up for a person who is being picked on.
Helping out a person or animal in need, even if it might put you in a little bit of danger.
Standing up for yourself.
Doing something by yourself for the first time.
Making a public presentation about something you believe in.
Standing up against racism or prejudice.

BASED ON TÁHIRIH

Ṭáhirih was a renowned poet. To read some of Táhirih poems, visit Nine star solutions site

Can you write some poetry? Here are some categories to get you started

Equality
Beauty
Seeking out truth
Justice
Service
Purify your mind

Find tips on how to start writing here

Type of poems

Not sure what type of poems you would like to try? Visit this site to learn more

Here is another great site for poems

Use this simple acrostic template as a starting point

BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

word puzzle

O Son of Being! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish

Bahá’u’lláh – The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

G3L14-Review-G2-quote-Download

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MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD G3 L10

Post author By Carolyn
Post date October 1, 2022
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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 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