By Hilda Murad
June 1st, 2009 is the birthday centennial of Dr. Dahesh and Daheshists throughout the world will celebrate on this occasion. Although our Beloved and Guiding Prophet had passed away on April 9, 1984, he is alive in our hearts and we believe that he is watching us and looking after us from his Lofty World. His soul, as with all other souls, will never seize to exist. He is in a Celestial World, where I am sure other Prophets, angels, and elevated souls are also celebrating on this occasion.
His departure from us was a big loss to Daheshists and to humanity. I am consoled by the vivid memories of the years I spent with him. The beginning of June is a lovely time of the year when most flowers have bloomed and the fruits are ripe or about to become so. I remember well the delicious fruits of Lebanon at this time of the year—especially the figs, berries, huge strawberries, apricots, grapes, watermelons, and many other types. Daheshists used to celebrate the birthday of our Beloved and Guiding Prophet in a huge hall at the Mission’s mansion, where poets, writers, doctors, lawyers and working people gather. The poets would recite their poetry in praise of our Beloved and/or of Daheshism. Then the orators would deliver their essays about the Miracle Man and/or to explain his teachings to the new comers.
Nowadays it is not only a day of celebration, but also a day of reflection. On this day we remember Dr. Dahesh, the compassionate man who possessed a good sense of humor, high charisma, strong personality, and a golden heart. We remember his smiling face and his busy schedule meeting with people, writing, and reading books, magazines, and newspapers. We are so fortunate that we had the opportunity to be with him while he was in our midst. We are also very grateful to God who sent us a Prophet and Guide to help us through life and lead us to righteousness. He would explain to us Spiritual matters that we did not comprehend on our own. We are so fortunate to delve into some of life’s mysteries and secrets and to learn about the existence of life on other planets. We learned through his Spiritual teachings that leading a life of righteousness will undoubtedly cause us to reincarnate in a better place and avoid the blazing fires of hell.
Just as people at the time of Jesus Christ did not appreciate having a Prophet of God in their midst, so it was with our Beloved and Guiding Prophet. Many were the people that he met with, yet only a few people cared to truly learn about his true identity and to follow his teachings. They would meet with him, witness countless miracles, and then continue to blindly follow their religion and traditions. Many were afraid of what other people might say or think of them if they accept Daheshism. Some only cared for wealth, fame, or status and in attaining such goals, they were willing to leave their faith, virtue, conscience, and hearts behind—despite their knowledge of the Day of Judgment. On such a day, each one of us has to be accountable for what he/she did in this life and be rewarded for it by reincarnating in a Spiritually loftier place or be punished by reincarnating in a degraded world full of suffering, sickness, poverty, torture of the soul and mind, and where lamenting themselves and asking for forgiveness will not help them until they finish their prescribed time.
We raise our thanks to God for his mercy and providence and we also thank our Beloved and Guiding Prophet for the new life and faith that he had given us, thereby enlightening our obscure minds and hearts. My family and I will always remember your teachings and pass them on to others without religious bias or being judgmental. We miss you dearly and hope for an opportunity in the future to be with you again. Please accept my sincerest wishes and appreciation on your first birthday centennial.