As to thy question concerning the 54th chapter of Isaiah: This
chapter refers to the Exalted Leaf, the mother of ‘Abdul-Baha. As a proof to
this it is said: “For more are the children of the desolate, than the children
of the married wife.” Reflect upon this statement and then upon the following:
“And thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be
inhabited.” And truly the humiliation and reproach which she suffered in the
path of God is a fact which no one can refute. For the calamities and
afflictions mentioned in the whole chapter are such afflictions which she
suffered in the path of God, all of which she endured with patience and thanked
God therefor and praised Him, because He had enabled her to endure afflictions
for the sake of Baha’. During all this time, the men and women [violators of
the Covenant] persecuted her in an incomparable manner, while she was patient,
God-fearing, calm, humble and contented through the favor of her Lord and by
the bounty of her Creator.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
