To walk where there is no path,
To breathe where there is no air,
To see where there is no light-
This is Faith.
To cry out in the silence,
The silence of the night,
And hearing no echo believe
And believe again and again
This is Faith.
To hold pebbles and see jewels
To raise sticks and see forests
To smile with weeping eyes
This is Faith.
To Say: 'God, I believe' when others deny,
'I hear' when there is no answer,
'I see' though naught is seen-
This is Faith.
And the fierce love in the heart,
The savage love that cries Hidden
Thou art yet there!
Veil thy face and mute thy tongue
Yet I see and hear Thee, Love,
Beat me down to the bare earth,
Yet I rise and love Thee, Love!
This is Faith.
- Ruhiyyih Khanum, written on April 4th, 1954 (‘A Tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum’, by Violette Nakhjavani)