“Thou art like unto the Pupil of the Eye”

IN THE BAHA’I FAITH, THE BLACK DESCENDANTS OF AFRICA AND THOSE NAMELESS, TRACELESS, IMPOTENT AND POOR SOULS WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND SCATTERED AROUND THE GLOBE, NOW HAVE A UNIQUE STATION AND ARE SHOWN A REDEMPTIVE FAVOR:

“In short, O ye believers of God! Exalt your effort and magnify your aims. His Holiness Christ says: Blessed are the poor, for theirs shall be the Kingdom of Heaven.[1] In other words: Blessed are the nameless and traceless poor, for they are the leaders of mankind. Likewise it is said in the Qur’án: “And We desire to show favor to those who were brought low in the land, and to make them spiritual leaders among men, and to make of them Our heirs.“[2] Or, we wish to grant a favor to the impotent souls and suffer them to become the inheritors of the Messengers and Prophets. (Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 34) [1 Cf. Matthew 5:3.] [2 Qur’án 28:5.]

“Bahá’u’lláh once compared the coloured people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the Spirit shines forth. In the sight of God colour makes no difference at all, He looks at the hearts of men. That which God desires from men is the heart. A black man with a good character is far superior to a white man with a character that is less good.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 68)

“But it is known that the pupil of the eye is black so as to attract the rays of the sun, for if it were another color — that is, uniformly white — it would not attract the rays of the sun.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 192)

“The colour of the pupils of the eye is black, yet they are the fountains of light.
Although the white colour is apparent, yet in it is hidden and concealed seven colours. Therefore whiteness and blackness have no importance; nay, rather the circle of distinction is based upon soul and heart.” (SOW-Star of the West, Star of the West-7)

“Verily the faces of these are as the pupil of the eye; although the pupil is created black, yet is it the source of light. I hope God will make these black ones the glory of the white ones and as the depositing of the lights of love of God. And I ask God to assist them in all circumstances, that they may be encompassed with the favors of their Loving Lord throughout centuries and ages.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v2, p. 292)

O thou who hast an illumined heart! Thou art even as the pupil of the eye, the very wellspring of the light, for God’s love hath cast its rays upon thine inmost being and thou hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom of thy Lord. Intense is the hatred, in America, between black and white, but my hope is that the power of the Kingdom will bind these two in friendship, and serve them as a healing balm. Let them look not upon a man’s colour but upon his heart. If the heart be filled with light, that man is nigh unto the threshold of his Lord; but if not, that man is careless of his Lord, be he white or be he black.” Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 113)

“I liken you to the pupil of the eye. You are black and it is black, yet it becomes the focus of light.” (Dated Collection, 1911, Louis Gregory Notes)

Jesus said, “Love your brother like your soul, guard him
like the pupil of your eye.” (Other Apocrypha, The Gospel of Thomas)

Now is the time for you to divest yourselves of the garment of attachment to this world that perisheth, to be wholly severed from the physical world, become heavenly angels, and travel to these countries. I swear by Him, besides Whom there is none other God, that each one of you will become an Israfil of Life, and will blow the Breath of Life into the souls of others. (Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 34)