Infant mortality
Interpretation of dream by 'Abdu'l-Baha of woman whose baby died young[edit]
- Star of the West, vol. 9, issue 9, p. 102 - Describes next world.
Youth or children who died young[edit]
- Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, sec. 169, 171
- Star of the West, vol. 11, issue 15, p. 260
Suffering of babes and infants contains great wisdom; these souls have a merciful recompense in the next world[edit]
"As to the subject of babes and infants and weak ones who are afflicted by the hands of oppressors: This contains great wisdom and this subject is of paramount importance. In brief, for those souls there is a recompense in another world and many details are connected with this matter. For those souls that suffering is the greatest mercy of God. Verily that mercy of the Lord is far better and preferable to all the comfort of this world and the growth and development of this place of mortality. If it be the will of God, when thou shalt be present this will be explained in detail by word of mouth.
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 337-338)
Children who die before maturity are favoured by God and God's compassion will be turned upon them[edit]
"Question.–What is the condition of children who die before attaining the age of discretion, or before the appointed time of birth?
Answer.–These infants are under the shadow of the favour of God; and as they have not committed any sin, and are not soiiled with the purities of the world of nature, they are the centres of the manifestation of bounty, and the Eye of Compassion will be turned upon them."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, Chapter 66)
Infant child is placed in trust[edit]
"Be not grieved at the death of that infant child, for it is placed in trust for thee before thy Lord in His great Kingdom."
"Verily God will bestow upon thee that whereby thy heart shall be rejoiced and thy breast shall be dilated. Verily thy Lord is compassionate and merciful!"
God favored baby with gifts; to be patient in bearing the calamity[edit]
"O thou who art afflicted by a visitation by which thine eyes are overflowing with tears!
"Be not grieved and afflicted for this calamity which hath befallen thee; nay, rather, rejoice that God hath favored (thy babe) with His heavenly gifts. Truly, I say unto thee, wert thou informed of that felicity which thy babe hath attained in the worlds of God, thy breast would be dilated and thy soul would be purified. Truly, I say unto thee, thy child will be fostered from the breast of the gift of God in the Exalted Kingdom and will be nursed in the bosom of mercy in the Supreme World of God. Therefore, be filled with delight, for the favor of thy Lord is very great!
"I beg of God to pour on thee becoming patience, so that thy heart may be consoled with the fragrance of His mercy and that thy breast may be dilated with His favors, that thou mayest attain to the spiritual states which are lasting forever and ever.
"Thou oughtest to bear it with becoming patience. Again, thou oughtest to patiently bear this calamity which hath flowed thine eyes with tears and hath greatly afflicted thee."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 139-140)
