And from amongst all creatures He hath singled out man, to
grant him His most wondrous gift, and hath made him to attain the bounties of
the Company on High. That most precious of gifts is attainment unto His
unfailing guidance, that the inner reality of humankind should become as a
niche to hold this lamp; and when the scattering splendours of this light do
beat against the bright glass of the heart, the heart's purity maketh the beams
to blaze out even stronger than before, and to shine in glory on the minds and
souls of men.
The attainment of the most great guidance is dependent upon
knowledge and wisdom, and on being informed as to the mysteries of the Holy
Words. Wherefore must the loved ones of God, be they young or old, be they men
or women, each one according to his capabilities, strive to acquire the various
branches of knowledge, and to increase his understanding of the mysteries of
the Holy Books, and his skill in marshalling the divine proofs and evidences.
- ‘Abdu'l-Bahá (‘Compilation: Bahá'í Education’; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. I, The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and
Understanding of the Faith)
