Sacrifice

This page lists all references to Sacrifice in the writings of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith. From the compilation of this page we find that sacrifice is most commonly used in the following ways. First, as an acknowledgment or tribute, as in may my spirit be a sacrifice for Thy forbearance. Second, as part of establishing a truth, or as part of an argument or a proof, as in By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. And lastly, as guidance or a demonstration for the conduct of the believers, as in Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. Note that the content on this page is subject to certain limitations.

Definition

noun

1.

The act or process of making an offering to a deity or spiritual being of animal or vegetable life, or of food, drink, incense, or the like. Typically sacrifice is made at or on an altar before an image or symbol of the deity, or, in case of offerings to the dead, at the grave.

2.

Something offered in sacrifice (sense 1); anything consecrated and offered to God or to a divinity; an immolated victim or an offering of any kind laid on an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious thanksgiving, atonement, conciliation, or the like.

3.

a Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; giving up of some desirable thing in behalf of a higher object, or devotion of it to a claim deemed more pressing; as, the sacrifice of principle to expediency.

b The loss or disadvantage consequent upon such an action.

c The thing so devoted or given up.

4.

A victim devoted to some purpose or abandoned to some thing hostile.

5.

A great lessening of the amount of, or a complete loss of, profit; also, an article sold under such conditions.

verb

1.

To offer as a sacrifice, esp. as a sacrificial victim; to make a sacrifice, or religious oblation, of; to immolate; as, Abraham, about to sacrifice Isaac.

2.

To suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy, for an end (specified or implied) regarded as superior; as, to sacrifice an inheritance for a principle, one's life in the cause of freedom.

3.

To sell at a sacrifice.

Source: Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, second edition, unabridged, 1934

Sacrifice on behalf of...[edit]

and may my spirit be a sacrifice for Thy forbearance DR

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer DR

May my entire being be offered up as a sacrifice for Thy patience DR

He sacrificed Himself in My path even as I sacrificed Myself in His path DR

this servant, who hath sacrificed his all for Thee DR

may all else but Him be His sacrifice ESW

I love not My being save that I may sacrifice it in Thy path ESW

may the souls of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake ESW

My soul and My body as a sacrifice for God GWB

May my soul be a sacrifice to the trespasses of them GWB

may all men be a sacrifice unto Him GWB

may the souls of all that dwell within the mystic Tabernacle be a sacrifice unto Him GWB

may the life of all else be a sacrifice unto Him. GWB

have laid down their lives and sacrificed their all for thy sake! GWB

‘Do thou sacrifice the thing which Thou lovest most in the path of God KI

My resignation, and self-sacrifice in the path of God. KI

credit an apostle until he present us a sacrifice which fire KI

that is, offer a sacrifice, and the fire from heaven consume it KI

“May my life be a sacrifice unto thee! KI

may lay down His life as a sacrifice in the path of the Primal Point KI

within the kingdom of divine Revelations be a sacrifice unto Him KI

may the life of all be a sacrifice unto Him KI

may the life of all else but Him be His sacrifice KI

we may sacrifice our drooping souls in the path of the New Beloved KI

hath drunk from the chalice of sacrifice, and winged His flight KI

within the mystic Tabernacle be a sacrifice unto Him KI

I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee KI

have sacrificed their life, their substance, their wives KI

they sacrificed their lives in the path of the All-Glorious KI

and sacrificed freely and joyously their lives at the feet KI

hast offered me up as a sacrifice in Thy path PM

offered him up, O my God, as a sacrifice in Thy path PM

offer up themselves as a sacrifice in Thy path PM

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer PM

my true wish is to sacrifice myself in Thy path PM

To have sacrificed my life for the Manifestations of Thy Self PM

is to have sacrificed my spirit for Thy Spirit PM

laid down their lives and sacrificed their souls in Thy path PM

be sacrificed for the adversities Thou didst suffer PM

and this is my spirit which I have sacrificed for Thy spirit PM

this servant, who hath sacrificed his all for Thee PM

may the life of all else be a sacrifice unto him SLH

My soul and My body as a sacrifice for God SLH

and have sacrificed Myself in His path SLH

she thus exclaimed: “May my life be a sacrifice to Thee TB

may all creation be a sacrifice unto Him TB

offered up as a sacrifice for the dust ennobled by SWB

I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee SWB

may my life be a sacrifice unto Him LW

may my soul be a sacrifice to Him LW

may my life be a sacrifice for His loved ones LW

may my life be a sacrifice unto Him LW

may my life be a sacrifice for Him LW

may my life be sacrificed for His dust LW

may the soul of all existence be sacrificed for Him LW

desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice PT

may my life be a sacrifice to Him PUP

may my spirit be a sacrifice unto Him PUP

O Remnant of God! I am wholly sacrificed to Thee PUP

may the life of the world be a sacrifice unto Him SWAB

offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in the pathway of guidance SWAB

may my life be offered up as a sacrifice for His loved ones SWAB

may my life be a sacrifice for His loved ones SWAB

may my life, my soul, my spirit be offered up as a sacrifice unto His lowly servants SWAB

may my life be offered up as a sacrifice unto Him SWAB

may my life be a sacrifice to His loved ones SWAB

may my life be a sacrifice for His loved ones SWAB

may my life be a sacrifice for Them both SWAB

may my soul be a sacrifice for His sake SAQ

may my soul be His sacrifice SAQ

May my life be sacrificed for you TDP

may the life of all beside Him be His sacrifice TN

and craved the sacrifice of life in the way of His love TN

the soul of all beside him be his sacrifice TN

may the life of all being be a sacrifice for him TN

the soul of the worlds be His sacrifice TN

our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rest, we offer them all as a sacrifice for WT

their precious lives they offered in sacrifice unto Him WT

may my life be a sacrifice unto Him WT

may my life be a sacrifice for His steadfast friends WT

may my soul be a sacrifice for Their lowly servants WT

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer BPB

to labor in Thy great vineyard and to sacrifice all in Thy path BPA

Other words used in this context: ransom

Used to demonstrate a truth[edit]

never would...laid down His life as a sacrifice. DR

Would that my life could be sacrificed for thee DR

Thereupon wouldst thou...lay down thy life...and sacrifice thy soul in the wilderness of His love. CDB

Who have sacrificed Their souls and all that They possessed in His straight Path ESW

God commanded Him to offer up Ishmael as a sacrifice GWB

The purpose of God, moreover, was to sacrifice him as a ransom for the sins GWB

For the same reason was Ḥusayn offered up as a sacrifice by Muḥammad GWB

the whole world marveled at the manner of their sacrifice GWB

By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. GWB

have sacrificed their life, their substance, their wives, their children GWB

they sacrificed their lives in the path of the All-Glorious GWB

These Essences of being are the shining Exemplars of sacrifice. KI

all beings would renounce their lives and sacrifice their souls KI

the whole world marveled at the manner of their sacrifice KI

with absolute detachment, will sacrifice their lives in His path KI

that we may sacrifice our substance for His sake KI

freely and joyously, offer up ten thousand lives as a sacrifice for his Beloved KI

they find naught but the call to self-sacrifice. KI

they hastened to the field of sacrifice with Thy praise on their lips PM

Whom Thou hast sacrificed that all the dwellers of Thine PM

that a man of sound judgement should sacrifice his life SLH

hastened with heart and soul to the field of sacrifice SLH

rather will they sacrifice their all in their eagerness to behold the face SLH

We were of a truth created for sacrifice, and in this do we SLH

moved by the sacrifice of its early martyrs TU

thou wouldst sacrifice thy body, thy soul, thine entire being TB

the One Who hath sacrificed His life that ye may TB

Who have sacrificed Their souls and all that They TB

hath directed his steps towards the place of sacrifice, and returned not TB

was a sacrifice unto God ATB

no such sacrifice took place, and all agree that an animal was sacrificed ATB

hath gone to the altar of sacrifice for the Beloved ATB

the robe of divine sacrifice and was invested ATB

Thus the former layeth down his life as a sacrifice SWB

that in the depths of sacrifice, His loved ones stand firm LW

hastened to the field of sacrifice and flung away their lives and hearts LW

Now is the time for sacrifice; here waft the breaths of Paradise LW

They sacrificed themselves, one and all, and shone brightly LW

his faith, his certitude and self-sacrifice increased MF

that rare and precious man, that star-sacrifice among the lovers of God MF

Why did the Báb make the supreme sacrifice and why did PT

and brought Him to His supreme sacrifice PT

and He at length gave His life in sacrifice for humanity PT

When the heart of man is aglow with the flame of love, he is ready to sacrifice all PT

with His inspiring example of a perfect life of self-sacrifice and devotion PT

have not influenced men so greatly that they have been anxious to sacrifice their lives PT

those who proclaim their longing to make great sacrifices can only prove their truth PT

significance of sacrifice: It is the principle that a reality sacrifices its own PUP

to understand the reality of sacrifice let us consider...It is true that He sacrificed Himself PUP

offered His life as a sacrifice in order to illumine humanity PUP

were He without wish to offer Himself in sacrifice, He would not have been PUP

This is one of the meanings of sacrifice. PUP

manifested great courage and self-sacrifice in behalf of the black race PUP

enduring severe hardships, sacrificing life, family, treasure PUP

If the blacks of the United States forget this sacrifice, zeal and manhood PUP

white man’s effort and sacrifice. Had this sacrifice not been made PUP

concerning the mystery of sacrifice. There are two kinds of sacrifice PUP

If they had been told simply that sacrifice in the path of God was good PUP

and they went forth in ecstasy to sacrifice themselves PUP

and that God sent forth His Son as a sacrifice in order that man might PUP

Observe how rarely human souls sacrifice their pleasure or comfort for others PUP

Yet all the divine Manifestations...sacrificed Their existence PUP

where they were willing to sacrifice their lives for each other PUP

They sacrifice life for each other PUP

Fourth, through philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice PUP

enkindled with the fire of the love of God, sacrifices the imperfections of nature for PUP

how agonizing then to sacrifice him upon the battlefield PUP

it cannot be established by patriotic devotion and sacrifice; for nations differ widely PUP

it sacrifices its attribute of solidity for...It sacrifices its attribute of darkness for...It sacrifices PUP

It becomes illumined and transformed, having sacrificed its qualities to the PUP

They gave their lives for this station, sacrificed honor, comfort and possessions PUP

Through such sacrifice nearness to God is made possible PUP

This is also one of the mysteries of sacrifice. PUP

and with desire to sacrifice myself in the pathway of God PUP

He has sacrificed his portion and birthright of divine spirituality PUP

It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the other PUP

She will refuse to give her sons for sacrifice upon the field of battle PUP

Shall he sacrifice these ideal virtues and destroy PUP

What sacrifice could be greater? PUP

living in agreement and accord, willing to sacrifice life for each other PUP

sacrificed their own pleasure...sacrificed their own lives...sacrificed their own wealth PUP

I have sacrificed My life...sacrificed My blood...sacrificed My possessions...sacrificed all and for PUP

In reality, Abraham sacrificed Himself, for He brought heavenly teachings PUP

severed from the attributes of the world of nature, sacrifices the qualities and exigencies PUP

twenty thousand devoted ones sacrificed themselves for the Cause of God PUP

such injustice prevails that even he himself is sacrificed PUP

a divine station which is not to be sacrificed by the mere accident of color PUP

All of them have sacrificed life, endured ordeals and tribulations in order PUP

The explanation is made that when Christ came and sacrificed Himself PUP

Mothers will not give their sons as sacrifices upon the battlefield after PUP

How they fought and sacrificed until they freed the blacks PUP

toward all mankind, to be self-sacrificing and obedient, to become quickened PUP

They sacrificed their lives most willingly and remained unshaken PUP

The Prophets, saints, seers and philosophers have sacrificed their lives in order to PUP

over twenty thousand men and women sacrificed their lives for their faith PUP

the friends and followers were self-sacrificing to the utmost PUP

Those who believed in Him likewise sacrificed life, honor, possessions, family PUP

ten or twenty thousand would be sacrificed, but in this century PUP

Bahá’u’lláh endured all the hardships, ordeals and vicissitudes of life, sacrificing His very being PUP

should be offered up as a sacrifice to such nominal and temporary uses SDC

who are a living sacrifice to the state and the people and brave death SDC

impossible for a human being...sacrifice his own good...except through true religious faith SDC

How many were the individuals who sacrificed their own personal advantages SDC

They sacrificed their lives for the welfare of the people SDC

we have closed our eyes to every righteous act and have sacrificed the abiding happiness of SDC

they have one and all under all conditions evinced a great spirit of self-sacrifice SWAB

through the martyrdom of Christ that the sacrifice is ended and the altar destroyed SAQ

meaning of sacrifice is this: Christ was like a seed, and this seed sacrificed its form SAQ

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away SAQ

the seed was sacrificed for the tree, but its perfections were revealed...of this sacrifice SAQ

but when the form of the seed was sacrificed, its perfections were fully SAQ

ascension of Christ, when sacrifice and oblation were ended through His martyrdom SAQ

until the day of Christ’s sacrifice. This would be far from the justice of God SAQ

should come and by His sacrifice rescue them from the nethermost fire SAQ

So it is that the martyrs hasten to the field of sacrifice with the utmost joy and elation SAQ

concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation SAQ

But Christ, Who was the Word of God, sacrificed Himself. This has two meanings SAQ

That is, He sacrificed Himself that He might bestow the spirit of life SAQ

Christ sacrificed Himself so that mankind might be freed from the imperfections SAQ

renounced all earthly comfort and happiness, sacrificed body and soul to their Beloved SAQ

of questions of faith and assurance; the sacrifice of life in the way of the Beloved TN

ready for self-sacrifice and is wholly resigned and submitted to His Will WT

Single me out for every woe and make me a sacrifice for all Thy loved ones WT

even to their last hour proved self-sacrificing in the pathway of that Beloved One WT

was meant attainment to the station of sacrifice, not butchery ATET

This is the mystery of sacrifice, and inexhaustible are its meanings ATET

The seed doth truly sacrifice itself for the tree ATET

another meaning of sacrifice is for the Point of Truth ATET

This mystery of sacrifice is clearly evident in the essence ATET

All have sacrificed Themselves, all have laid down Their lives ATET

For this reason, Isaac and Ishmael are both sacrifices, as are indeed all the true servants ATET

He hath risen up in faithfulness at the place of sacrifice, looking toward BPB

Examples for or requirements on the believer[edit]

Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. CDB

except those whose lives have been sacrificed in His Path SWB

thy spirit of endeavour, service, and sacrifice, and thy constancy and LW

Can we hasten to any field but the arena of sacrifice, or desire any LW

join ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in self-sacrifice and in service LW

This is the way to make a sacrifice. This is what it means to be faithful. MF

realizing its power and beauty, to sacrifice all your thoughts, words and actions PT

Each and all are wholehearted and selfless, willing to sacrifice all personal ambition PT

There are heavenly men and earthly men; self-sacrificing servants of humanity PT

Man must strip himself of all these imperfections, must sacrifice these tendencies PUP

manifesting the utmost humility and self-sacrifice PUP

be willing to sacrifice yourself...be ready to sacrifice everything for each other PUP

nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self, severance and the giving up PUP

every illumined, heavenly individual stands in the station of sacrifice PUP

man must sacrifice the qualities and attributes of the world of nature for PUP

peacemakers ready to sacrifice their lives and expend their possessions for it PUP

As to the third meaning of sacrifice, it is this PUP

The seed sacrifices itself to the tree...but the same seed which is sacrificed will be PUP

If the identity of that seed had not been sacrificed to the tree PUP

Christian community which Christ founded through sacrificing Himself PUP

consequently, the seed has sacrificed itself to the tree. Had it not done so PUP

Christ, like unto the seed, sacrificed Himself for the tree of Christianity PUP

for the coming of which He sacrificed Himself PUP

If it is possible now after fifty years of sacrifice and teaching, what shall we PUP

It is contingent upon self-sacrifice and to be found only through forfeiting PUP

may you seek to sacrifice yourselves in the pathway of devotion to mankind PUP

likewise, offer yourselves in the threshold of sacrifice for the betterment of the world PUP

You must be ready to sacrifice your possessions in another’s behalf PUP

agreed and united to the extent and limit of sacrificing life PUP

forget yourselves entirely and with heart and soul offer yourselves as sacrifices for the PUP

Therefore, you must assist the poor as much as possible, even by sacrifice of yourself PUP

we also must strive in this pathway of love and service, sacrificing life and possessions PUP

be kind and loving to each other, sacrificing all our possessions, our honor, yea, even PUP

We must follow His heavenly example; we must be self-sacrificing and aglow with the fire PUP

be self-sacrificing, loving the servants of God PUP

to such a degree that they sacrificed themselves for each other PUP

should not prefer himself to others, but rather should sacrifice his life and property for others SWAB

hath evinced so rare and beautiful a spirit of self-sacrifice SWAB

Until a being setteth his foot in the plane of sacrifice, he is bereft of every favor SWAB

and this plane of sacrifice is the realm of dying to the self, that the radiance SWAB

Urge on the steed of high endeavor over the field of sacrifice SWAB

follow the yearnings of his higher self, and immerse himself in the sea of sacrifice SWAB

and die on the field of sacrifice, delighting in that wine which is SWAB

intent is that he should rise up and sacrifice himself in the true sense, that is SWAB

for His sake, on the field of sacrifice, fling down our lives SWAB

ponder on all those well-beloved ones who hastened to the holy field of sacrifice, those SWAB

This is the true sacrifice: the offering of oneself, even as did Christ SWAB

connection between religions and the practice of the ideal of self-sacrifice SWAB

to all must they wish well. They must sacrifice themselves for their friends SWAB

we should be self-sacrificing and should serve the human race SWAB

Be self-sacrificing in the path of God, and wing thy flight unto the heavens of the love SWAB

had pledged themselves to make sacrifices in the pathway of the love of God SWAB

goodwill to all peoples and nations, to sacrifice themselves for the common good SAQ

We must sacrifice everything to His Highness, the Possessor of existence, so that TDP

arise in service with the utmost firmness, steadfastness and self-sacrifice TDP

and ever be ready and willing to sacrifice their own lives for each other TDP

Through whichever state or country they pass they display self-sacrifice and sow divine seeds TDP

the believers of God must become self-sacrificing and like unto the candles of guidance TDP

but rather should sacrifice his life and property for others TTH

man should voluntarily and of his own choice sacrifice his property and life for others TTH

they sacrifice their existence and raise no complaint or cry TN

When the shafts fly, press onward! O Thou Sacrifice of the worlds BPB

Merits of sacrifice[edit]

as well as other martyrs, attained the station of supreme sacrifice LW

urgeth the steed of high endeavour into the field of sacrifice, these heavenly LW

He who has reached the state of self-sacrifice has true joy. PT

This captivity is freedom; this sacrifice is glorification; this labor is reward PUP

to make a sacrifice is to receive a gift SWAB

Entrance into the Kingdom is...through self-sacrifice SAQ

Non meritorious examples of[edit]

they have sacrificed, and are still sacrificing, countless lives GWB

that have been, and are still being, sacrificed in a world deluded GWB

to pay for this their wretched people must sacrifice most of whatever they are able to earn SDC

and they sacrificed greatness in both worlds to the demands of the insistent self SWAB

As part of a story[edit]

The waters of sacrifice closed over him MF

he wanted to sacrifice his life and fall at the feet of his Lord MF

to promote the Word of God, and to sacrifice ourselves in His path MF

and made sacrifices above and beyond their power MF

and he sacrificed himself to see to their affairs as they passed through MF

surrendered his soul into the hands of his Beloved and sacrificed himself LW

with self-sacrifice and wisdom was the experiment begun PT

All the self-sacrifice of the king was in vain PT

No man ever made such a sacrifice to ensure equality among his fellowmen PUP

To perform worthy deeds in the Kingdom we must be further self-sacrificing PUP

We have a ewe. Sacrifice it. And I have saved a little SDC

she offered it up as a sacrifice for the cause of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár SWAB

shears of detachment from this world and of self-sacrifice in the path SWAB

evinced so great a spirit of self-sacrifice as to offer up so precious a part SWAB

thy noble spirit of self-sacrifice. Thou hast, verily, sacrificed thy life and SWAB

thine hair that thou hast sacrificed, yet thou shalt be filled with the Spirit SWAB

and these she gloriously sacrificed in the cause of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár SWAB

Christ-like, beneath the horizon of the supreme sacrifice and ascended to the realm of Heaven SAQ

of sacrifices made to idols...Later, Paul permitted the eating...of those sacrificed to idols SAQ

Thousands of souls have given their lives in the arena of sacrifice and have fallen as victims under TTH

dedicated to God, and prepared for martyr-sacrifice, must, with perfect resignation TN

and freely sacrificed her life in the way of the Báb TN

The name of an individual[edit]

Ḥájí Muḥammad Ismá‘íl-i-Káshání, entitled Dhabíḥ (Sacrifice) SLH

The tale of the Sacrifice hath been retold TB

Related words[edit]

Renounce, immolation

External links[edit]