A circlet of your hair: Abdu’l-Baha’s poem for Baha’u’llah

Below is my provisional translation of a poem written by Abdu’l-Baha Abbas and addressed to Baha’u’llah

A glowing review of Principles for Progress

Alireza Korangi’s review of Principles for Progress has been published in Persica. “..an absolute gem of a work … and a role model of great translation.”

Update: PDF from the Journal (this corrects some mistakes in the pre-publication text version below)

Click to access korangi-review-principles-for-progress-abdul-baha-mcglinn.pdf

Serving the cause of democracy and freedom?

Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People (manipulated image)

A quote attributed to Abdu’l-Baha has been circulating in poster format on Bahai social media lately. In recent years it has also been used often on blogs and micro-blogs. Perhaps it is popular today because the opening — “The darkness of this gloomy night shall pass away” — chimes with a need today. Consisting largely of bromides reminiscent of American self-help literature, the quote includes the words “Serve the cause of democracy and freedom.”