The Bahá'í Faith from A to Z
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UNITY
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“He is a true believer in Divine unity who, far from confusing duality with oneness, refuseth to allow any notion of multiplicity to becloud his conception of the singleness of God, who will regard the Divine Being as One Who, by His very nature, transcendeth the limitations of numbers.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 166-167)
“…Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets of God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute.…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 78)
“O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you…There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 217)
“…The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 218)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity.”
(The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 24)
VIRTUES
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“The virtues and attributes pertaining unto God are all evident and manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books. Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while communing with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath decreed, contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience, nay, thankfulness in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in all circumstances, upon Him. These rank, according to the estimate of God, among the highest and most laudable of all acts. All other acts are, and will ever remain, secondary and subordinate unto them…"
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 290)
“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 215)
“…Cling ye to the hem of virtue, and hold fast to the cord of trustworthiness and piety. Concern yourselves with the things that benefit mankind, and not with your corrupt and selfish desires…”
(Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 29)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“The All-loving God created man to radiate the Divine light and to illumine the world by his words, action and life. If he is without virtue he becomes no better than a mere animal, and an animal devoid of intelligence is a vile thing.”
(Paris Talks, p. 113)
“ ‘What is the purpose of our lives?’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá.—‘To acquire virtues…’ ”
(Paris Talks, p. 177)
WORLD
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“…Ye were created to show love one to another and not perversity and rancour. Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind…”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 138)
“…Of old it hath been revealed: “Love of one’s country is an element of the Faith of God.” The Tongue of Grandeur hath, however, in the day of His manifestation proclaimed: “It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 95)
“…That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 250)
“…Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 334)
“…The most glorious fruit of the tree of knowledge is this exalted word: Of one tree are ye all the fruit, and of one bough the leaves. Let not man glory in this that he loveth his country, let him rather glory in this that he loveth his kind…”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 127-128)
“O ye men of wisdom among nations! Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the wellbeing and tranquillity of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation.”
(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 67)
THE UNKNOWN
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“…The nature of the soul after death can never be described, nor is it meet and permissible to reveal its whole character to the eyes of men. The Prophets and Messengers of God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying their revelation hath been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend, in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the throne of the Most High…The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother…”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 156-157)
“As to those that have tasted of the fruit of man’s earthly existence, which is the recognition of the one true God, exalted be His glory, their life hereafter is such as We are unable to describe. The knowledge thereof is with God, alone, the Lord of all worlds.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 345-346)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained:
“For just as the effects and the fruitage of the uterine life are not to be found in that dark and narrow place, and only when the child is transferred to this wide earth do the benefits and uses of growth and development in that previous world become revealed—so likewise reward and punishment, heaven and hell, requital and retribution for actions done in this present life, will stand revealed in that other world beyond. And just as, if human life in the womb were limited to that uterine world, existence there would be nonsensical, irrelevant—so too if the life of this world, the deeds here done and their fruitage, did not come forth in the world beyond, the whole process would be irrational and foolish.”
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 185)
“Consider how a being, in the world of the womb, was deaf of ear and blind of eye, and mute of tongue; how he was bereft of any perceptions at all. But once, out of that world of darkness, he passed into this world of light, then his eye saw, his ear heard, his tongue spoke. In the same way, once he hath hastened away from this mortal place into the Kingdom of God, then he will be born in the spirit; then the eye of his perception will open, the ear of his soul will hearken, and all the truths of which he was ignorant before will be made plain and clear.”
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 177)