What is Sacrifice?
O maid-servant of God! The mystery of sacrifice is that man should sacrifice all his conditions for the divine station of God. The station of God is mercy, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, favor, grace and giving life to the spirits and lighting the fire of His love in the hearts and arteries. I asked God to make thee a sign of mercy, the banner of kindness among His maid-servants.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The Martyrs Song
This song by Greg Parker, sung by the choir he directed, expresses the spirit of those whose great love for God and humanity was so strong that they would not barter it, even when offered a few more earthly years.
- © Malini Parker. Music and lyrics by the late Greg Parker are included with permission:
Background to The Martyrs Song:
- The Drama of the Kingdom is the outline of a play, written in 1912 by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá while He was in London. It may be found in Hasan Balyuzi’s ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Centre of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, Appendix 1.
- The Martyr’s Song is from the musical The Face of Glory: A Musical Rendezvous with the Soul by Greg Parker (copyright Malini Parker). Greg explained as follows:
“The lyrics attempt to accurately portray the scenes and characters described by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. The prologue for each act, titled ‘The Martyr’s Song’ is adapted from the poem, the Tarikh-i-Jadid, describing the martyrdom of Salayman Khan and can be found in The Dawn-Breakers.”
- The New Era Bahá’í Choir was established in 1988 by Musical Director, Greg Parker (1955-2014). His intention was to bring together a group of ordinary people from very diverse backgrounds, united by their common interest in using music and song to uplift the hearts and promote the ideal of the oneness of humanity. The choir’s album “Release” includes several songs from The Face of Glory and may be obtained via this link: https://newerachoir.com/store/
To become wholly weary of self
Until a being setteth his foot in the plane of sacrifice, he is bereft of every favor and grace; and this plane of sacrifice is the realm of dying to the self, that the radiance of the living God may then shine forth. The martyr’s field is the place of detachment from self, that the anthems of eternity may be upraised. Do all ye can to become wholly weary of self, and bind yourselves to that Countenance of Splendors; and once ye have reached such heights of servitude, ye will find, gathered within your shadow, all created things. This is boundless grace; this is the highest sovereignty; this is the life that dieth not. All else save this is at the last but manifest perdition and great loss.
Praise be to God, the gate of boundless grace is opened wide, the heavenly table is set, the servants of the Merciful and His handmaids are present at the feast. Strive ye to receive your share of this eternal food, so that ye shall be loved and cherished in this world and the next.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Seven Martyrs of Tihran
Grant Hindin Miller has made his music available here https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC77WjnHQxc2jcdh_1maXd0Q. The song Seven Martyrs of Tihran is very moving. The stories of “the seven martyrs” may be found at https://bahaichronicles.org/tag/seven-martyrs/.
Forgetful of self
With reference to what is meant by an individual becoming entirely forgetful of self: the intent is that he should rise up and sacrifice himself in the true sense, that is, he should obliterate the promptings of the human condition, and rid himself of such characteristics as are worthy of blame and constitute the gloomy darkness of this life on earth — not that he should allow his physical health to deteriorate and his body to become infirm.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Whither can a lover go, but to the land of his Beloved?
Whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart’s desire? To the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved.
Bahá’u’lláh The Hidden Words . And put to music by Grant Hindin Miller: Whither can a lover go.
This is the arena of insight and detachment, of vision and upliftment
This is not a Cause which may be made a plaything for your idle fancies, nor is it a field for the foolish and faint of heart. By God, this is the arena of insight and detachment, of vision and upliftment, where none may spur on their chargers save the valiant horsemen of the Merciful, who have severed all attachment to the world of being. These, truly, are they that render God victorious on earth, and are the dawning-places of His sovereign might amidst mankind.
Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
