Purge your hearts from love of the world, and your tongues
from calumny, and your limbs from whatsoever may withhold you from drawing nigh
unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: By the world is meant that which
turneth you aside from Him Who is the Dawning-Place of Revelation, and
inclineth you unto that which is unprofitable unto you. Verily, the thing that
deterreth you, in this day, from God is worldliness in its essence. Eschew it,
and approach the Most Sublime Vision, this shining and resplendent Seat.
Blessed is he who alloweth nothing whatsoever to intervene between him and his
Lord. No harm, assuredly, can befall him if he partaketh with justice of the
benefits of this world, inasmuch as We have created all things for such of Our
servants as truly believe in God
(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
