... Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will exert all your effort
to deepen your knowledge of the literature of the movement, until you become
fully acquainted with its spirit and tenets. Unless you do obtain such a firm
hold you will never be able to teach others and render real service to the
promulgation of the Faith. Of special importance is the Book of the Íqán which
explains the attitude of the Cause towards the prophets of God and their
mission in the history of society. Besides this there is Some Answered
Questions of the Master and the 'Dawn-Breakers' of Nabil. Every Bahá'í should
master these books and be able to explain their contents to others. Besides
their importance, they are interesting and most absorbing.
- Shoghi Effendi
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer, February 9, 1932; compilations: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
“Books such as the ‘Íqán’, ‘Some Answered Questions’ and
‘The Dawn-Breakers’ should be mastered by every Bahá'í.”
He fully approves the idea of holding study classes, for the
deeper the friends go in their understanding of their teachings the more firm
and steadfast they will become and the more unwavering in their support of the
institutions of the Faith. Books such as the "Íqán", "Some
Answered Questions" and "The Dawn-Breakers" should be mastered
by every Bahá'í. They should read these books over and over again. The first
two books will reveal to them the significance of this divine revelation as
well as the unity of all the Prophets of old. The last book will show you how
the Faith was ushered into the world and how its early adherents heroically
faced martyrdom and suffering in their desire to establish the Cause throughout
the world. Knowing the life of those heroes will create in us the urge to
follow their footsteps and achieve the same.
- Shoghi Effendi
(From a letter dated 9 June 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi;
The Compilation of Compilations vol. I)
The spiritual benefits of reading the Dawn-Breakers
The reading of the Dawn-Breakers is sure to arouse the
friends to renewed zeal and added perseverance in spreading the Cause of
Bahá'u'lláh. Consider to what extent the Báb and those early leaders of the
Faith suffered. It was not through a blind religious zeal but because they
desired to bring about for the future generations that promised era that the
Faith of the Báb promised to start -- an era of peace, good-will and full
realization of the spiritual significance of the life of man upon the earth.
They suffered that we may be happy. They died that we may live in perfect
bliss. What a sacred debt, therefore, we owe to them! How much we ought to
labour to repay them for their sacrifices, and how willing and earnest we
should be in consecrating our life in the path they trod!
- Shoghi Effendi
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer, January 27, 1933; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
Creating stories for children from the Dawn-Breakers
With "The Dawn-Breakers" in your possession you
could also arrange interesting stories about the early days of the Movement
which the children would like to hear. There are also stories about the life of
Christ, Muhammad and the other prophets which if told to the children will
break down any religious prejudice they may have learned from older people of
little understanding.
Such stories regarding the life of different prophets
together with their sayings will also be useful to better understand the
literature of the Cause for there is constant reference to them. It is however
the work of experienced people to bring together such materials and make of
them interesting text books for the children.
- Shoghi Effendi
(From a letter dated 19 October 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to a Local Spiritual Assembly and a State Teaching Committee; The Compilation
of Compilations vol. I)
