Guest Author - Sandy Mullins

The 14th month of the Baha段 Calendar called Qawl (Speech) starts November 22nd at sundown. The Baha段 (Badi) Calendar months are named after attributes or qualities of God. Though out all the writings of the Manifestations of God (prophets) these qualities and/or terms are used throughout

Our speech tells more about us than we know, the connotation and tone can lead to misunderstandings. Most every Manifestation of God tells us to think before we speak. Let us take a look at how the previous Manifestations of God have used the word Speech:

From Buddha, we have these words:
"Now, right speech, let me tell you, is of two kinds: 1. Abstaining from lying, from tale-bearing, from harsh language, and from vain talk; this is called the "Mundane Right Speech, which yields worldly fruits and brings good results."
The Eightfold Path, Buddha, the Word

"Freed by full realisation and at peace, the mind of such a man is at peace, and his speech and action peaceful."
Buddhist, Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 1

"It is not just by fine speech or by flower-like beauty that one is admirable, if one is envious, mean and deceitful, but when that sort of behaviour has been eliminated, rooted out and destroyed, that faultless sage is said to be admirable."
Buddhist, Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 1

From the Hebrew Writings, we have these words:
"Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?"
Kesuvim (Writings), Iyov (Job) 6,26

"With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield, with the blandishment of her lips she enticeth him away."
Kesuvim (Writings), Mishlei (Proverbs)7,21

"Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince."
Kesuvim (Writings), Mishlei (Proverbs) 17,7

"Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He."
Torah (Law), Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32,1-4

From The New Testament we hear:
"Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge."
King James Bible, 19:1

"In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
King James Bible, Titus 2:7-8

Then, with Muhammed in the Qu池an:
"Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by annoyance, and God is rich and clement."
The Qur'an, Sura 2 - The Heifer

"Let not their speech grieve thee; verily, power is wholly God's!"
The Qur'an, Sura 10 - Jonah, Peace be on Him

"And if thou art public in thy speech-yet, verily, he knows the secret, and more hidden still."
The Qur'an, Sura 20 - Ta Ha

Baha置値lah, the latest manifestation of God tells us:
"He it is Who hath revealed His Cause for the guidance of His creatures, and sent down His verses to demonstrate His Proof and His Testimony, and embellished the preface of the Book of Man with the ornament of utterance through His saying: "The God of Mercy hath taught the Qur'疣, hath created man, and taught him articulate speech."
Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 1

"For the tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century."
Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 265

Abdu値-Baha the son of Baha置値lah we hear:
"One cannot judge of the generality by the speech or action of individuals, for diversity of states is one of the peculiarities and concomitants of the human race."
Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 85

"The man who has accomplished a small good and magnifies it in his speech is worth very little."
Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 16

"Love ye all religions and all races with a love that is true and sincere and show that love through deeds and not through the tongue; for the latter hath no importance, as the majority of men are, in speech, well-wishers, while action is the best."
Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 69

Finally from Baha置値lah:
"Thou knowest, O my Lord, that I am but one of Thy servants. I have tasted of the sweetness of Thy speech, and acknowledged Thy unity and Thy singleness, and set my face towards the Source of Thy most excellent names and the Day-Spring of Thy transcendent attributes, and wished to be enabled by Thee to immerse myself beneath the ocean of Thy oneness and to be submerged by the mighty waters of Thy unity."
Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 114

For more information on the Baha段 Faith:Baha'i Links