Mahmud: June 23 – Material and spiritual progress should go together

After returning from the market and completing His chores in the kitchen, He spoke of the development of Europe:

The material progress of Europe is approaching its zenith. Everything that reaches its zenith undoubtedly begins to decline. I hope that spiritual progress will be bestowed on them and that they will be protected.

It is obvious that whatever is growing, like a tree, is in the process of development. When we were going from Tihran to Baghdad, there was not a friend to be found on the way but as the tree of the Cause of God was in its infancy and growing, it was apparent that the divine Cause would surround the East and the West and the reign of Nasiri’d-Din Shah would come to naught. Observe what has become of his sovereignty and consider where we are.

In the afternoon the hall of the building was full of people. Many were standing in adjacent rooms to hear ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He began by saying:

It is not the place that should be looked at but the illumined faces and hearts of the friends. In Baghdad there was a small room, about one-third the size of this one, in which a number of the believers were living — but under the shade of the kindness of Bahá’u’lláh and they were very happy.