'I Know Not How to Sing Thy Praise' : Reflections on a Prayer of Bahá'u'lláh

This prayer of Bahá’u’lláh (PM 122) addresses the basic question of theology about “God” for this age in which practical and theoretical atheism and irreligion have captured much of humanity. It presents an answer to the question how to believe in God today and how to understand words like the following from another prayer of Bahá'u'lláh: “O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!” (PM 248) The four modes of Revelation described by the Báb are used to understand the theological locus of the many prayers revealed by the Bahá'í Manifestations for private prayer. It appears to be the first time in the history of religion that the prayers of the Manifestation are used by the faithful in this personal way. According to the Báb, prayer is the second mode of revelation. Here the language of revelation is uttered in the voice of the Manifestation, speaking in the station of the creation, addressing the Creator with an attitude of servitude and effacement (an affirmation of ‘Thou art God’). The prayers of Bahá'u'lláh are a valid source of theological information. The commentary on this prayer of Bahá'u'lláh highlights a number of important theological questions. What is the difference between not knowing how to praise and describe God in the Bahá'í Faith, and the denial of the existence of God in atheism? What is the relation of the Manifestation with God? What is the theological position of the praying person and what is prayer and what is it not? What should we pray for and what is the effect of prayer? The prayer is divided into four paragraphs. The first describes the inability of human beings to sing God’s praise, describe God’s glory, or call God’s name. This paragraph emphasizes that no created being can do this. Even praising God’s essential oneness is included in this declaration of impotence. In the second paragraph the impossibility of knowing God is contrasted with God's mercy, which allows the servant to praise God. This praise will result in the believer attaining what God has destined for him through God’s will and purpose. In the third paragraph, the total impotence of the creature to praise God is again declared. Following this, it is explained that it is God, the All-Powerful Who draws the believer towards Him. In the last paragraph this relationship between God and human beings is reiterated with a statement of the characteristics of required for the human being to appeal to God’s mercy and grace. God is the cause of the prayer, which allows the servant to reach the heights to which he aspires. The closing of the prayer again lauds God’s forgiving mercy and bountiful gifts.