House of Worship importance
Urgency and Importance of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
"Build ye houses of worship throughout the lands in the name of Him Who is the Lord of all religions...Then, with radiance and joy, celebrate therein the praise of your Lord, the Most Compassionate. Verily, by His remembrance the eye is cheered and the heart is filled with light."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 31)
"The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is one of the most vital institutions in the world"
"Be engaged in the furtherance of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár and prepare the means for the diffusion of the divine fragrances. Be not engaged in anything but this, for otherwise thou shalt dissipate thine attention and the work will not advance."
"The Mashrak-el-Azcar is the most important matter and the greatest divine institute. Consider how the first institute of His Holiness Moses, after His exodus from Egypt, was the "Tent of Martyrdom" which He raised and which was the traveling Temple. It was a tent which they pitched in the desert, wherever they abode, and worshipped in it. Likewise, after His Holiness Christ - may the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him! - the first institute by the disciples was a Temple. They planned a church in every country. Consider the Gospel (read it) and the importance of the Mashrak-el-Azcar will become evident."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, pp. 633-634)
"In respect to the Mashrak-el-Azcar: Brevity must now be observed; that is, as much as possible endeavor should be made so that by the assistance of all the friends and the sincerity of your intentions it may become instituted and built in Chicago even though it be not possible to build a most solid, lofty and great (edifice). Whatever is now possible should be erected."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, p. 418)
"Let the friends recall and ever bear in mind the repeated exhortations and glowing promises of our beloved Master with reference to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, the crowning institution in every Baha'i community."
