Feast of the Nineteenth Day of the month of Sharaf (31/12)

On December 31, according to the Gregorian calendar, the month of Sharaf begins, which translated from Arabic means «Honor». On this day —, the first day of the month of Sharaf according to the nineteen-month Bahá'í calendar — marks the important holiday — the holiday of the Nineteenth day of the month of Sharaf.

All major religions educate only good things in people. If negative manifestations arise, it is, as a rule, due to fanaticism and misunderstanding of the essence of the teaching. Bahá'u'lláh —, the founding prophet of the Bahá'í Faith, even argues that if religion becomes a source of discord and hatred, then it is better to do without it altogether. Religion must be a source of friendship and love.

«The intention, which is the basis for the revelation of every Heavenly Book, every divinely inspired word, — to grant all people righteousness and understanding so that peace and tranquility can be established between them. Everything that gives confidence to the hearts of men, everything that elevates their position or contributes to their contentment, pleases God.

How majestic will a person’s position be if only he decides to fulfill his high destiny! And into what abyss of humiliation he can fall — abyss, into which the smallest of creatures did not descend! Take advantage, O friends, of the opportunity which this Day reveals to you, and do not deprive yourself of the generous outpouring of His grace. I pray to God that on this blessed Day He will graciously honor all of you to adorn yourself with a pattern of the purest and most righteous deeds. Verily, He does what pleases Him».

Selected from the Scriptures of Bahá'u'lláh. — St. Petersburg: Unity, Trans. from English — 2001. — 202 p.

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