# Poets, Guidance to

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Universal House of Justice, Poets, Guidance to, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Poets, Guidance to
> 
> Universal House of Justice
> 
> Universal House of Justice, Research Department
> 
> , compiler
> 
> 1988-03-13
> 
> M E M O R A N D U M
> 
> To: The Universal House of  Justice
> 
> Date: 13 March  1988
> 
> From: The Research Department
> 
> The questions concerning the guidance contained in the Bahá'í Writings
> about poets, raised in the letter of 19 January 1988 from Mr. ...  to the
> Hand of the Cause of God Ali Akbar Furutan, have been studied by
> the Research Department and we provide the following response.
> 
> 1. Guidance to Poets
> 
> As to whether Bahá'u'lláh outlined certain responsibilities, obligations,
> preference, and limits in relation to poets, Shoghi Effendi indicates that
> poets are "addressed separately" by Bahá'u'lláh. They, along with "the wise
> men of the world, á its men of letters, á its mystics and even á its
> tradesmen" are exhorted by Bahá'u'lláh "to be attentive to His voice, to
> recognize His Day, and to follow His bidding."
> 
> There are many passages in the Writings which testify to the high position
> Bahá'u'lláh gives to the practice of the arts. For example:
> 
> It hath been revealed and is now repeated that the true worth of artists
> and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of
> mankind. Just as the foundations of religion are made firm through the
> Law of God, the means of livelihood depend upon those who are engaged in
> arts and crafts. True learning is that which is conducive to the well-being
> of the world, not to pride and self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and
> pillage.
> 
> Many verses from Arabic and Persian poetry have been quoted in the
> Writings of the Central Figures of the Faith. For instance, throughout the
> work, "The Seven Valleys" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1978),
> Bahá'u'lláh makes reference to the two great poets of Shiraz, Hafiz, and
> Sa'di, and many others who were also known as Sufi mystics.
> 
> With regard to whether there are specific instructions in the Writings to
> guide the activity of poets, we enclose for Mr. Furutan a compilation entitled
> 
> "Extracts from the Bahá'í Writings on the Subject of Writers and Writing"
> ,
> from which a number of principles can be drawn. For example:
> 
> - the importance of not transgressing the "bounds of tact and
> wisdom"
> 
> - the power of "human utterance" and the need to temper it with
> "moderation" and "refinement"
> 
> - the use of eloquent language, etc.
> 
> Personal qualities of the poet are also important. In this regard,
> 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in describing the development of the Bahá'ís of Persia, in
> particular (but not exclusively) the women, indicated that:
> 
> They are imbued with all the virtues and excellences of humanity. They are
> eloquent; they are poets and scholars and embody the quintessence of
> humility.
> ("The Promulgation of Universal Peace:
> Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and
> Canada in 1912", 2nd ed. (Wilmette:  Bahá'í Publishing Trust, B.E. 1982), p.
> 
> 136
> .)
> 
> 2. Prayers and Tablets addressed to Poets
> 
> There are many Tablets addressed to poets by Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
> most of which have not as yet been translated into English. Many of these
> Tablets have been collected in a book compiled by Ni'matu'llah Bayda'i
> entitled "Tadhkiriy-i Shu'aray-i-Qarn-i Avval-i-Bahá'í", 4 volumes
> (Tihran:  Bahá'í Publishing Trust, B.E. 121, 123, 126, 129).
> 
> A sample of the material available in English translation includes:
> 
> - In "Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas" [rev. ed.],
> (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1982), Bahá'u'lláh addresses a Tablet to
> Maqsud in which He comments on Maqsud's poetry in these terms:
> 
> Every word of thy poetry is indeed like unto a mirror in which the
> evidences of the devotion and love thou cherishest for God and His chosen
> ones are reflected. Well is it with thee who hast quaffed the choice wine
> of utterance and partaken of the soft flowing stream of true knowledge.
> Happy is he who hath drunk his fill and attained unto Him and woe betide
> the heedless. Its perusal hath truly proved highly impressive, for it was
> indicative of both the light of reunion and the fire of separation.
> 
> (pp.
> 175
> -
> 76
> )
> 
> - In the "Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas", vols. 1-3 (Chicago: Bahá'í
> Publishing Society, 1930, 1940, 1930) on pages
> 223
> -
> 24
> ; p.
> 404
> ; and p.
> 
> 546
> , there are three Tablets of the Master to individuals who had
> submitted poems to Him:
> 
> O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of God! Thy letter was read
> with the utmost attention. The poetry was beautiful.
> 
> Praise be to God, thou art severed from all else save the Heavenly Father.
> Thou hast been of the earth -- thou art now of the Kingdom. Thou hast been
> of the world -- thou art now of the Realm of Might. Thou art spreading the
> divine Teachings. Thank thou God, thou art bearing trials in the path of the Kingdom and art enduring
> persecutions and sufferings. These afflictions are conducive to the
> spiritual development and the descent of the Holy Spirit.
> 
> O thou dear maid-servant of God! I supplicate God that He suffer thee to
> become a herald of the Kingdom in all those places, so that thou mayest
> proclaim the glad-tidings of the Lord of Hosts.
> 
> O thou who art sweet tongued! Thy poem is a wonder to the minds and intellects and thy composition an
> evidence of the gift of the great Lord. Therefore, thy wine is the pure
> wine, thy heart the recess of light and thy brow radiant with love.
> 
> If the people of the world were fair in judgment, the sweetness of thy
> poem should be a sufficient proof.
> 
> A young boy of the posterity of Israel whose pure mouth still emits the
> fragrance of milk, uttering such a marvelous anthem!
> 
> O thou maid-servant of God! Thy poetry was received. The context was elegant. The words were
> eloquent and the theme, the Manifest Light. Consequently, it was highly
> appreciated. Endeavor, so far as it is possible for thee, that day by day
> thou mayest string the pearls of poesy with sweeter rhythm and more
> eloquent contents, in order that it may become conducive to the perpetuity
> of thy name in the spiritual meetings. Upon thee be greeting and praise!
> 
> Also, in "Memorials of the Faithful" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust,
> 1971), 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes the life and service of a number of early
> believers whom He characterizes as poets. See pages
> 32
> -
> 38
> ; pp.
> 81
> -
> 82
> ; pp.
> 
> 102
> -
> 3
> ; and, pp.
> 145
> -
> 47
> .
> 
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> — *Poets, Guidance to (Used by permission of the curator)*