In the Bahá'í Writings, you’ll find a great variety of imagery. In a prayer by Bahá'u'lláh (a title meaning “Glory of God”) He refers to Himself as a nightingale. Nightingales appear quite ordinary, yet sing over 200 different beautiful melodies. They can be difficult to spot among foliage. They often sing at night, before the world is awake. Bahá'u'lláh shared His divine melodies of praise of God and loving guidance to humanity to a world at first unaware that God had spoken again through a Divine Teacher, a Manifestation of God. Bahá'u'lláh spoke words which were directly from God, and revealed the spiritual message we need for this era. He wrote:
He is the King, the All-Knowing, the Wise! Lo, the Nightingale of Paradise singeth upon the twigs of the Tree of Eternity, with holy and sweet melodies, proclaiming to the sincere ones the glad tidings of the nearness of God, calling the believers in the Divine Unity to the court of the Presence of the Generous One, informing the severed ones of the message which hath been revealed by God, the King, the Glorious, the Peerless, guiding the lovers to the seat of sanctity and to this resplendent Beauty.
Verily this is that Most Great Beauty, foretold in the Books of the Messengers, through Whom truth shall be distinguished from error and the wisdom of every command shall be tested. Verily He is the Tree of Life that bringeth forth the fruits of God, the Exalted, the Powerful, the Great.
Later in the same prayer, He refers to His persecution by imprisonment in the Crusader fortress of Akka, instigated by clergy who didn’t understand and felt threatened by the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Holy Books such as the Bible and Quran.
Thus doth the Nightingale utter His call unto you from this prison. He hath but to deliver this clear message. Whosoever desireth, let him turn aside from this counsel and whosoever desireth let him choose the path to his Lord.
For 40 years Bahá'u'lláh suffered torture, persecution, exile, and imprisonment, in order to deliver the Message from God which He was given.
We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem Us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened…. these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.... Yet do We see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.... These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind....
(Bahá'u'lláh, The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh, p. viii)
Nightingale photo from Britannica.
Below is another of the many soul-uplifting Bahá'í prayers.
From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity give me to drink, O my God, and of the fruits of the tree of Thy being enable me to taste, O my Hope! From the crystal springs of Thy love suffer me to quaff, O my Glory, and beneath the shadow of Thine everlasting providence let me abide, O my Light! Within the meadows of Thy nearness, before Thy presence, make me able to roam, O my Beloved, and at the right hand of the throne of Thy mercy, seat me, O my Desire! From the fragrant breezes of Thy joy let a breath pass over me, O my Goal, and into the heights of the paradise of Thy reality let me gain admission, O my Adored One! To the melodies of the dove of Thy oneness suffer me to hearken, O Resplendent One, and through the spirit of Thy power and Thy might quicken me, O my Provider! In the spirit of Thy love keep me steadfast, O my Succorer, and in the path of Thy good pleasure set firm my steps, O my Maker! Within the garden of Thine immortality, before Thy countenance, let me abide for ever, O Thou Who art merciful unto me, and upon the seat of Thy glory stablish me, O Thou Who art my Possessor! To the heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me up, O my Quickener, and unto the Daystar of Thy guidance lead me, O Thou my Attractor! Before the revelations of Thine invisible spirit summon me to be present, O Thou Who art my Origin and my Highest Wish, and unto the essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty, which Thou wilt manifest, cause me to return, O Thou Who art my God!
Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Highest.
(Bahá'u'lláh, Baha'i Prayers, p. 140)
Related in-depth post about Bahá'u'lláh.
You are invited to read the dramatic story of the origins of the Faith in The Story of Bahá'u'lláh by Druzelle Cederquist. This book includes the story of the Báb, a title meaning “the Gate,” Who was a Divine Messenger and the One Who prepared people for the coming of Bahá'u'lláh. The Bahá'í Faith is unique among world religions in having two Divine Educators, each revealing the Holy Word of God.
Related music:
The Heavenly Nightingale, by local musical artist and physician Ramine Yazhari.
Nightingale, by local musical artist Robert Bassett.
Have You Seen the Nightingale by Grant Hindin Miller.
Nightingale of Paradise, by Baha’i Victory Chorus in the 1960s.
Please check the Activities calendar for details on these:
The Birth of the Báb will be celebrated starting at sunset November 9, 2026.
Birth of the Bab, by Jack Lenz Music.
The Birth of Bahá'u'lláh will be celebrated starting at sunset November 10, 2026.
Birth of Baha'u'llah, by Jack Lenz Music.