The Bahá'í Faith from A to Z
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ASSOCIATION
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 215)
“The purpose of religion as revealed from the heaven of God’s holy Will is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife…”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 129)
“…The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 286)
“It is permitted that the peoples and kindreds of the world associate with one another with joy and radiance. O people! Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship…”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 22)
“In former religions such ordinances as…the ban on association and companionship with other peoples…had been laid down and affirmed according to the exigencies of the time; however, in this mighty Revelation…His infallible decree hath prescribed that which We have set forth above.”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 28)
BEAUTY
'Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“There are four kinds of love. The first is the love that flows from God to man…The second is the love that flows from man to God…The third is the love of God towards the Self or Identity of God. This is the transfiguration of His Beauty, the reflection of Himself in the mirror of His Creation. This is the reality of love, the Ancient Love, the Eternal Love. Through one ray of this Love, all other love exists.
The fourth is the love of man for man…This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love reflected in the heart. Each sees in the other the Beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in love…”
(Paris Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 180)
“It is incumbent upon thee to acquire the various branches of knowledge, and to turn thy face toward the beauty of the Manifest Beauty, that thou mayest be a sign of saving guidance amongst the peoples of the world…”
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 110)
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“From the exalted source, and out of the essence of His favor and bounty He hath entrusted every created thing with a sign of His knowledge, so that none of His creatures may be deprived of its share in expressing, each according to its capacity and rank, this knowledge. This sign is a mirror of His beauty in the world of creation…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 262)
CONSULTATION
“Bahá’u’lláh has established consultation as one of the fundamental principles of His Faith and has exhorted the believers to ‘take counsel together in all matters’. He describes consultation as ‘the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way’ and as ‘the bestower of understanding’. Shoghi Effendi states that the ‘principle of consultation… constitutes one of the basic laws’ of the Bahá’í Administrative Order.”
(The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, note 52, p. 190)
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding.”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 168)
“Consultation bestoweth greater awareness and transmuteth conjecture into certitude. It is a shining light which, in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth. For everything there is and will continue to be a station of perfection and maturity. The maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest through consultation.”
(Consultation: A Compilation, p. 3)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“The question of consultation is of the utmost importance, and is one of the most potent instruments conducive to the tranquility and felicity of the people. For example, when a believer is uncertain about his affairs, or when he seeketh to pursue a project or trade, the friends should gather together and devise a solution for him. He, in his turn, should act accordingly. Likewise in larger issues, when a problem ariseth, or a difficulty occurreth, the wise should gather, consult, and devise a solution. They should then rely upon the One true God, and surrender to His Providence, in whatever way it may be revealed, for divine confirmations will undoubtedly assist. Consultation, therefore, is one of the explicit ordinances of the Lord of mankind.”
(Consultation: A Compilation, p. 7)
“The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should anyone oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be revealed. The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions. If after discussion, a decision be carried unanimously well and good; but if, the Lord forbid, differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must prevail.”
(Quoted in Bahá’í Administration, p. 21)
DIVERSITY
‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote:
“...The garden which is pleasing to the eye and which makes the heart glad, is the garden in which are growing side by side flowers of every hue, form, and perfume, and the joyous contrast of colour is what makes for charm and beauty. So is it with trees. An orchard full of fruit trees is a delight; so is a plantation planted with many species of shrubs. It is just the diversity and variety that constitutes its charm; each flower, each tree, each fruit, beside being beautiful in itself, brings out by contrast the qualities of the others, and shows to advantage the special loveliness of each and all.
Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness. Think of them as different coloured roses growing in the beautiful garden of humanity, and rejoice to be among them.”
(Paris Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 52-53)
“Consider the flowers of a garden: though differing in kind, colour, form, and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their charm, and addeth unto their beauty. Thus when that unifying force, the penetrating influence of the Word of God, taketh effect, the difference of customs, manners, habits, ideas, opinions, and dispositions embellisheth the world of humanity. This diversity, this difference is like the naturally created dissimilarity and variety of the limbs and organs of the human body, for each one contributeth to the beauty, efficiency and perfection of the whole…
How unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers and plants, the leaves and blossoms, the fruits, the branches, and the trees of that garden were all of the same shape and colour! Diversity of hues, form, and shape, enricheth and adorneth the garden, and heighteneth the effect thereof. In like manner, when divers shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas, and convictions of the children of men…”
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 291-292)