Books published by George Ronald Publisher

Women of the Middle East in the 19th century are generally absent from the pages of history. Even their names are not recorded. They have no voice. They are invisible.The women closest to the twin Manifestations, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, are especially enigmatic.What were they like as children? What was it like to live in the family of the Manifestation of God? What did they think about the new Revelations from God? How did they respond to the suffering and persecution that came upon them? So little is known.Baharieh Ma'ani decided to rectify this. Her task was formidable. There is little published about these women and documents are rare.Over two and half decades she worked to gather all the known information about the women whose lives were intertwined with those of the Manifestations of God for this age ¿ mothers, wives, sisters, daughters. Looking beyond published sources, she was given permission by the Universal House of Justice to consult original documents in the Bahá'í International Archives and to make provisional translations of more than 50 Tablets, letters, memoirs and papers not previously published in English, many never before published in any language.The result is an engaging and readable book that provides a unique and intriguing insight into the lives and circumstances of the women who played such important yet unseen roles in shaping the early history of the Bábí and Bahá'í religions. Mrs Ma'ani has made the invisible visible.

'. . . the whole Bahá'í world may now know what we who have worked with you have long known - all the strength and knowledge, the devotion, the undeviating justice, the broad vision and the gentle, personal understanding. Everyone whose life touches yours will retain some of these qualities which you mirror forth so constantly in your service.' Dr. Mildred Nichols, letter to Leroy Ioas, 1951.Few twentieth-century lives have been so closely associated with the major events of the formative age of the Bahá'í Faith as the life of Leroy Ioas. From meeting 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the age of sixteen - the seminal spiritual experience of his life - through the entire ministry of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, to the establishment of the Universal House of Justice, Leroy Ioas dedicated his talent and energy, his drive and pioneering spirit, to the needs of the Faith. He became one of the spiritually eminent American Bahá'ís, a brilliant administrator and gifted teacher. Appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951, he served the Guardian in Haifa until 1957 as Secretary-General of the International Bahá'í Council, and afterwards as one of the Custodians of the Bahá'í Faith.This book is more than a biography. It illuminates Bahá'í history in the first fifty years of the formative age, when Bahá'í institutions were painstakingly built up, Bahá'í laws and principles given application and the great teaching missions begun. Anita Ioas Chapman's inspiring account will be of value to the many Bahá'ís who did not personally experience those times and who wish to enhance their understanding.

All was quiet along the army lines as the sleepy soldiers settled in for a cold, dark winter's night. Not so with the oppressed band of defenders behind the walls they had built; all were alert and ready for action, their eyes fixed upon the man in their midst who was the most valiant warrior among them. He was more awake than he had ever been in his life - every nerve of his body surging with energy, he was ready for action . . .Here are the men and women who took up the Cause of the Báb, whose revelation in 1844 was to shake the very foundations of the land of its birth and reach every corner of the globe, initiating a new era in human civilization. It called forth a band of souls of matchless spiritual strength - the Heroes of the New Age. The stories of Mullá Husayn, Quddús, Táhirih, Vahíd, Hujjat, the maid Zaynab, the youth Anís, the seven Heroes of God at Tehran and the many other heroes of Tabarsí, Nayríz and Zanján are vibrantly retold here by Edward Diliberto.Includes questions for discussion on each chapter.

Read all about it! Apostle of Peace comes to town!When 'Abdu'l-Bahá set sail from the Middle East in 1911 and again in 1912 to bring to the West the message of peace found in the teachings of His father, Bahá'u'lláh, His arrival was headline news in towns and cities across Europe and North America.

Only societies that can enlist the energies of men as partners in the long parenting process can flourish for any length of time. Jonathan Sacks It is in recognition of the importance of fathers to their families, to society and to the world community that this little book of verses from the holy scriptures, poets and thinkers is offered.

'The great importance', the Universal House of Justice wrote in 1984, 'attached to the mother's role derives from the fact that she is the first educator of the child.' "Her attitude, her prayers, even what she eats and her physical condition have a great influence on the child when it is still in the womb. When the child is born, it is she who has been endowed by God with the milk which is the first food designed for it, and it is intended that, if possible, she should be with the baby to train and nurture it in its earliest days and months. This does not mean that the father does not also love, pray for, and care for his baby, but as he has the primary responsibility of providing for the family, his time to be with his child is usually limited, while the mother is usually closely associated with the baby during this intensely formative time when it is growing and developing faster than it ever will again during the whole of its life. As the child grows older and more independent, the relative nature of its relationship with its mother and father modifies and the father can play a greater role."However:"Reverence for, and protection of, motherhood have often been used as justification for keeping women socially and economically disadvantaged. It is this discriminatory and injurious result that must change. Great honour and nobility are rightly conferred on the station of motherhood and the importance of training children . . . The great challenge facing society is to make social and economic provisions for the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life while simultaneously reinforcing the critical functions of motherhood." It is in the spirit of both revering motherhood and valuing the contribution women can make to the wider community that this little book of verses from the holy scriptures, poets and thinkers is offered.

Each one was blessed by being chosen by God for a holy purpose: Sarah as the devoted wife of Abraham; Asíyih as the adoptive mother of Moses; Mary as the mother of Jesus; Fátimih as the favoured daughter of Muhammad; Táhirih as an outstanding believer in the time of the Báb; and Bahíyyih Khánum as the beloved daughter of Bahá'u'lláh. They shine down through the centuries and are an inspiration to millions of people. Whether we are boys or girls, young or old, we will feel inspired and thrilled as we step into their lives of adventure, service, miracles and love.

'In the first days of mourning for the beloved Master's passing' she listened to the Greatest Holy Leaf telling the story of her childhood and youth during the terrible imprisonment and exiles of Bahá'u'lláh, and began what she describes in her immortal book as 'an attempt to indicate some phases of a great historic moment in the life of Spiritual Civilization, which have not been elsewhere recorded'.No reader of The Chosen Highway or of the description of its author in the Preface by H. M. Balyuzi can fail to appreciate the qualities of warmth, spirit and faith that enabled her first to elicit and then to faithfully chronicle the stories told to her by Bahíyyih Khánum and by 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wife and daughters. No professional historian would have been taken into their confidence in the same way. 'Her presence gives us much joy,' wrote the wife of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. 'We look upon her, not only as a friend, but as one of our own dear family.' These accounts, together with Lady Blomfield's own description of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to London when she welcomed him as a guest in her home, have ensured the lasting interest of The Chosen Highway since its first publication in 1940.

The short prayer revealed by the Báb known as 'The Remover of Difficulties' is among those best known and most frequently recited by Bahá'ís all over the world. It is one of the first prayers learnt by Bahá'í children and young people. Translated into every language imaginable and short enough to be easily learnt by heart, it nevertheless holds within its few words eternal and fundamental truths that express the greatness and omnipotence of the Creator. Difficulties and problems are the lot of every human being; they are among the necessary conditions of human development. Yet difficulties are hard to bear. These reflections on the Báb's prayer touch on the deepest questions of life - self-knowledge, the purpose of tests and difficulties and how to overcome them, faith and confidence, obedience and submission to the Will of God, and last but not least, meeting the challenges of life with a sense of humour.

We live in an 'age of anxiety'. The loss of serious interest in religion has deprived people of the help of ministers, priests and rabbis. But to the Bahá'í, all true healing comes from God.This collection of quotations from the Bahá'í Sacred Writings offers vital help for emotional and spiritual healing. Grouped in three main sections, 'Coping with Stress', 'Orientation to the Divine' and 'Developing Helpful Attitudes', these 'pearls of wisdom' from the extensive literature of the Bahá'í Faith concentrate on common problems and their solution, and will be of comfort and value to many.

A series of fascinating essays looking at the importance of agriculture from a Bahá'í perspective.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Agriculture and Religion: A Necessary Unity Paul HanleyAgriculture in the World's Religions: An Overview P.J. StewartThis Vital and Important Matter: A Survey of the Bahá'í Writings on Agriculture Paul HanleyThe Involvement of the Central Figures of the Bahá'í Faith in Agriculture Iraj PoostchiA Perspective on Food in the Bahá'í Faith Paul FieldhouseRethinking the Management of Small Rural Businesses Michel P. ZahraiReinventing the Village Gary ReuscheThe Genetic Modification of Crops: A Bahá'í's Perspective Paul OlsonIgi Oko: The Tree Farms at Sapoba, Nigeria circa 1927 Richard St Barbe BakerStrengthening Local Economies and Community Identity: FUNDAEC's Experience Pascal MolineauxBalancing Science with Inspiration: A Bahá'í Scientist's Struggle to Discover the Hidden Secrets of Restoring Corals and Fish to Degraded Coral Reefs Austin Bowden-KerbyGardens for Mongolia: Growing the Capacity of Mongolia's Families The Mongolian Development CentreFive Project Summaries An Investment for Well-being: Restoring the Agricultural Environment on Bolivia's Altiplano A Tanzanian School Promotes Self-reliance Rural Education in Northern Honduras Ineke Gijsbers Felin Gelli Rural Training Farm Ineke GijsbersEcoAg Service: Farm Apprenticeships For Youth Nancy E. McIntyreThe Garden Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb An Interview with the Architect, Fariborz Sahba

A comprehensive guide to the constitution of the supreme administrative body of the Bahá'í Faith.Bahá'u'lláh established the Universal House of Justice in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas as the supreme administrative body of the Bahá'í Faith. Its Constitution was hailed by Shoghi Effendi as the 'Most Great Law of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh'.Guy Sinclair's Study Guide to the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice provides* insights into how this remarkable document was developed* annotations giving the source of each line of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws* a short compilation on the station of the Universal House of Justice* questions and exercises about the Constitutionas well as* the full texts of the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice, the By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly and the Model Declaration of Trust and By-Laws for a National Spiritual Assembly.

Reflections on applying natural healing arts to the Bahá'í FastHow to purify and energize soul, mind and body during the Fast and live a healthy lifestyle all year round.The practice of fasting has been used for both spiritual development and physical healing for many centuries. In the Bahá'í Faith, as in many religions, a period of fasting once a year is seen as a symbol of purification and a means of moving closer towards our Creator, putting us in touch with our duty and destiny here on Earth. Deborah Walters is a Doctor of Naturopathy and runs a private practice specializing in spiritual, mental and physical healing and welcoming clients from all over the world. She is also much in demand for seminars and public speaking in the United States. In this profound yet highly practical book she draws on both the Bahá'í teachings and her professional experience to examine the human condition of soul, mind and body, how they are interrelated, and how they can be integrated, transformed and energized through the spiritual discipline of the Bahá'í Fast.

Growing up can be a painful process. Life seems full of unanswered questions and unexplained mysteries: What is love? What is it like to be married? What happens when we die? Is there really a God? There are physical changes and new feelings to cope with. Is there anyone who really understands what a thirteen-year-old is going through?This is the story of Hasan, who comes to live in the Holy Land in 1914 as the orphaned son of martyred Bahá'ís. He is embittered, lonely and angry. He understands neither the changes taking place in his life and in his body nor the reason for his parents' murder. Everything is bottled up inside him.Slowly, cautiously, Hasan begins to trust his new-found friends. Questions he hardly dared to ask are taken seriously and carefully answered. Gradually, through conversations with the Bahá'ís he has come to live among, Hasan grows to understand both himself and the Bahá'í Faith, and he discovers the warmth, love and friendship that life has to offer.

Attainment of the mission of Baha'u'llah for this age - the coming together of all races, tribes, nations, classes and religions in one world culture and civilization - requires that the world-redeeming principles of the Baha'i Faith be made known to vast numbers of the inhabitants of this planet. Its precepts have the power to spark collective transformation in the character of the human race, tantamount to a spiritual renaissance. Such magnitude in societal change is the precondition for the establishment of a vital and sustainable global civilization. It is for this reason that the advancement of the Baha'i community is fundamental to the actualization of the vision of Bahá'u'lláh for humanity.Growth is a dynamic process; unforeseen and unanticipated factors can suddenly propel a significant acceleration. This work explores principles and insights using a number of scientific theories from the author's fields of study and interest, such as the generation of the laser beam, or the science of chaos and its butterfly effect. The approach offered here can bring into synergy perspectives in affirmation of a fundamental assertion of the Baha'i Faith: the principle of harmony between science and religion.The flow of the course of history, its direction, progression and culmination in a unified history of humankind, holds rich insights on those essential factors which are bound to influence the advancement of the Baha'i Faith. The stages entailed in the progressive advancement of scientific truth have fascinating counterparts in the stages entailed in the Baha'i premise of the oneness of religion and 'progressive revelation'.Although there is a rich repository of authoritative writings on this subject, the application of scientific principles to the advancement of the Baha'i Faith is a novel approach meriting attention and reflection.

Here is a clear, straightforward and easily readable account of the life of the Báb. A companion to Day of Glory, about the life of Bahá'u'lláh, and Servant of the Glory, about the life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. It begins with the story of the Báb's childhood in Shíráz, His youth and marriage, and His Declaration on that fateful night to Mullá Husayn, the first to believe in Him. 'This night,' said the Báb, 'this very hour will, in the days to come, be celebrated as one of the greatest and most significant of all festivals.' Once the Báb's disciples set out to spread the news, many people in high places in Persia, and particularly the mullás, arose in opposition to Him. The Báb was banished from Shíráz. The Grand Vizier, jealous of the Báb's spiritual powers, imprisoned Him in a castle to the far north. But he was unable to stop the people flocking to Him. Here are the stories of the Letters of the Living; the Conference of Badasht; the siege of Shaykh Tabarsí, Nayríz and Zanján; the trial of the Báb; and finally that day in Tabríz when the sun was blotted out by the dust as 750 rifles fired their volleys. This book is an excellent preparation for reading the Báb's own Writings, The Dawn-Breakers and the works of Shoghi Effendi on the subject. It also describes the geographical and historical setting of the 'Episode of the Báb'.

The Horse of the Moonlight takes Tim to a stable where he meets three old horses who each tell him their tales: the Red Roan who carried Bahá'u'lláh from Baghdad to the shores of the Black Sea, the Wild Stallion ridden by the Báb and the steed of Mulla Husayn.Good to read aloud to children aged six upwards and for older children to read themselves.

4 What's Fair . . .; 5 When Nothing Goes Right; 6 When I PrayThe second set in our popular series of books for very young children in one book. Designed to help parents teach their children some of the abstract ideas enshrined in the Bahá'í teachings, each booklet provides the basic vocabulary and concepts needed. Each page is illustrated with a simple line drawing suitable for the child to colour. Guidelines on how to use the booklets are included at the back.

1 God is . . .2 Why in the World . . .3 GrowingThe first set in our popular series of books for very young children in one book. Designed to help parents teach their children some of the abstract ideas enshrined in the Bahá'í teachings, each booklet provides the basic vocabulary and concepts needed.Each page is illustrated with a simple line drawing suitable for the child to colour. Guidelines on how to use the booklets are included at the back.

A deft blending of fact and fiction, A Sudden Music tells the story of Althea Edison Benedict, a young American student in the Paris of 1910, who awakens to the first stirrings of Divine and of human love.This novella, a poetic recreation of the first Bahá'í centre in Europe, unfolds against the background of the visit to Paris in 1909 of May Ellis Maxwell, the heart and inspirer of the community she founded there in 1901, depicts the activities of some of the outstanding Bahá'ís who served there, describes the visit in 1911 of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and evokes the atmosphere of spiritual receptivity - then obtaining and since unequalled - that must foreshadow the eventual capitulation of Europe, wrapped in the darkness of materialism, to the brightening rays of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh.

Here is a book which young people will find a valuable addition to their Bahá'í libraries. From Mountain to Mountain: Stories about Bahá'u'lláh relates the history of the Bahá'í Faith from the childhood of the Báb to the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh.Written in a simple style and suitable for use in children's classes, the book covers all the significant events in the life of Bahá'u'lláh. Each of the forty-one chapters recalls one episode in the evolution of the Bahá'í Faith, and well-known figures such as Mullá Husayn, Vahíd and Badí' are introduced.The book brings together those strands from Bahá'í history which reveal how Bahá'u'lláh's exile from Persia to the Holy Land was part of the Plan of God, foretold by the Prophet Micah: 'in that day, in which they shall come to you . . . from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.'