Economic Justice by 'Abdu'l-Baha (1908 AD)

The principal cause of these difficulties lies in the laws of the present civilization; for they lead to a small number of individuals accumulating incomparable fortunes, beyond their needs, whilst the greater number remains destitute, stripped and in the greatest misery. This is contrary to justice, to humanity, to equity; it is the height of iniquity, the opposite to what causes divine satisfaction. 

This contrast is peculiar to the world of man: with other creatures, that is to say with nearly all animals, there is a kind of justice and equality. Thus in a shepherd's flock of sheep, in a troop of deer in the country, among the birds of the prairie, of the plain, of the hill or of the orchard, almost every animal receives a just share based on equality. With them such a difference in the means of existence is not to be found: so they live in the most complete peace and joy. 

      

It is quite otherwise with the human species, which persists in the greatest error, and in absolute iniquity. Consider an individual who has amassed treasures by colonizing a country for his profit: he has obtained an incomparable fortune, and has secured profits and incomes which flow like a river, whilst a hundred thousand unfortunate people, weak and powerless, are in need of a mouthful of bread. There is neither equality nor brotherhood. So you see that general peace and joy are destroyed, the welfare of humanity is partially annihilated, and that collective life is fruitless. Indeed, fortune, honors, commerce, industry are in the hands of some industrials, whilst other people are submitted to quite a series of difficulties and to limitless troubles: they have neither advantages nor profits, nor comforts, nor peace.

Then rules and laws should be established to regulate the excessive fortunes of certain private individuals, and limit the misery of millions of the poor masses; thus a certain moderation would be obtained. However, absolute equality is just as impossible, for absolute equality in fortunes, honors, commerce, agriculture, industry, would end in a want of comfort, in discouragement, in disorganization of the means of existence, and in universal disappointment: the order of the community would be quite destroyed. Thus, there is a great wisdom in the fact that equality is not imposed by law: it is, therefore, preferable for moderation to do its work. The main point is, by means of laws and regulations to hinder the constitution of the excessive fortunes of certain individuals, and to protect the essential needs of the masses. 

Holy Day: The Martyrdom Of The Bab: Rahmat 16, 173 B.E. (7/9/2016)

Reflect, O Shaykh, upon the Shí’ih sect. How many the edifices which they reared with the hands of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and how numerous the cities which they built! At length those vain imaginings were converted into bullets and aimed at Him Who is the Prince of the world. Not one single soul among the leaders of that sect acknowledged Him in the Day of His Revelation! Whenever His blessed name was mentioned, all would say: “May God hasten the joy His coming will bring!” On the day of the Revelation of that Sun of Truth, however, all, as hath been observed, have exclaimed, saying: “May God hasten His chastisement!” He Who was the Essence of being and Lord of the seen and unseen they suspended, and committed what made the Tablet to weep, and the Pen to groan, and the cries of the sincere to break forth, and the tears of the favored ones to flow.

Baha’u’llah, Epistle To The Son Of The Wolf

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book) the following hath been revealed: “Say: O leaders of religion! Weigh not the Book of God with such standards and sciences as are current amongst you, for the Book itself is the unerring Balance established amongst men. In this most perfect Balance whatsoever the peoples and kindreds possess must be weighed, while the measure of its weight should be tested according to its own standard, did ye but know it. The eye of My loving-kindness weepeth sore over you, inasmuch as ye have failed to recognize the One upon Whom ye have been calling in the daytime and in the night season, at even and at morn.

Baha’u’llah, Epstle To The Son Of The Wolf

It hath been said: “To seek evidence, when the Proof hath been established is but an unseemly act, and to be busied with the pursuit of knowledge when the Object of all learning hath been attained is truly blameworthy.”

Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Iqan, para 155

No man can ever claim to have comprehended the nature of the hidden and manifold grace of God; none can fathom His all-embracing mercy. Such hath been the perversity of men and their transgressions, so grievous have been the trials that have afflicted the Prophets of God and their chosen ones, that all mankind deserveth to be tormented and to perish. God’s hidden and most loving providence, however, hath, through both visible and invisible agencies, protected and will continue to protect it from the penalty of its wickedness. Ponder this in thine heart, that the truth may be revealed unto thee, and be thou steadfast in His path.

Baha’u’llah, Gleanings #XXXII

RIDHVAN MESSAGE 2016

RIDHVAN MESSAGE 
2016

This last Baha'i year has seen many great advancements in the Cause--even as the inner reality of the soul outwardly supports the physical body (and upon the souls departure the body separates back into parts)--all the outward progress and developments in our spiritual community are due to the power of the Covenant now alive in the hearts, minds and souls of the faithful! 

This year has seen the great opening of our Persian language Baha'i Center under the provisions of the Covenant; the blossoming of the European and African branches of our school, and those teachers and guides who have been deepening their Roots in those lands in order to secure integration within the greater communities of those nations through humanitarian employment and occupations. Due to the firmness of the Covenant in the Americas and India--these two sister communities have been able to evolve in tandem--shifting the activity of the people upon the maturing foundation of democratic and spiritual elections. This is the most important and most significant development in the Baha'i Faith since the days of the Great Dividing in 1960! 

For example--if it be thought about with deep insight--it is clearly seen that the throne-line of King David has been well established and under the protection of God from the time of David and Solomon up through the days of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha down to the present time. For almost 3000 years God has protected and established this throne-line and family lineage within the world! But it will also be seen that the world has been troubled all throughout this same time period. That wars have ensued. That poverty, disease, racism, and ignorance and other unnatural divisions have prevailed. That religious fanaticism and scientistic atheism have both served to obscure clear proofs and real faith--and the peoples personal experience with God had been cut off like dark clouds that fill the sky cutting those huddled upon God's great green earth off from the clear light of the Resplendant Shining Sun from on high. Now all this has changed! It is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Kitab-i-Aqdas: "the Mystery of the Reversal of the sign of the Sovereign!" The flag of the Covenant-breakers has been pulled down in all lands and climes; and the world-wide banner and standard of the Covenant has been valiantly hoisted and upraised all throughout the world! 

"He is God! O thou who art attracted by the rays of the light emanating from the dawning place of mysteries! Hasten to attain true salvation; hasten towards the shining light; hasten towards eternal joy; hasten towards the wondrous grace; hasten towards the mighty Covenant. Verily the hearts of the heedless have been shaken by the convulsions of frequent calamities, by great tests and difficulties, and the horizons of their lives have been darkened by thick clouds of wickedness and rebellion. Thus the water of certitude dried up and in its place the boding waters of idle fancies and vain imaginings welled forth. Doubts and illusions spread, as they abandoned the authorized Centre of the Covenant [every single provision of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha] and the solid edifice of the Faith of God, and followed instead every rash and heedless one, the speakers who hear not, and the guides who see not. 

"Do they think that they shall be left alone to their own devices? Nay! When the nightingale sings in the eternal paradise, and the dove of holiness warbles its melody in the groves of the realm of grandeur, and the rays of confirmation beam forth from the midmost heart of heaven, and the lamps of oneness shine brightly within the hearts of His chosen ones, and the way is prepared, and the path made straight, and the trumpet of ecstasy is sounded, and the bugle of eternal life is blown, and the hosts of the Abha Kingdom rush forth, and the angels of the Supreme Concourse spur on their chargers, and the standards of the Covenant are hoisted, and the sails of fidelity and harmony are unfurled-on that Day shalt thou see the steadfast ones abiding in the highest heaven, dwelling beneath His all-embracing shadow, occupying a glorious station, and partaking of His conspicuous favors, while the heedless shall be seen enshrouded in a black smoke, reduced to the seat of abasement, and fallen prey to distress, loss and sorrow, until the Day whereon they shall be raised again to life." ('Abdu'l-Baha) 

And what is this reversal? It is the coming forth of the rod of iron, the spiritual heirs of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah to receive their inheritance of His Kingdom! They are those that the Master--'Abdu'l-Baha--calls The Learned! Those that Baha'u'llah Himself has designated The Learned in the Book of the Covenant, the Kitab-i-'Ahd. 

"The state is, moreover, based upon two potent forces, the legislative and the executive. The focal center of the executive power is the government, while that of the legislative isthe learned—and if this latter great support and pillar should prove defective, how is it conceivable that the state should stand?"('Abdu'l-Baha, Secret of Divine Civilization) 

"It is incumbent upon everyone to aid those daysprings of authority and sources of command who are adorned with the raiment of equity and justice. Blessed are the rulers and learned in el-Baha! They verily are My trustees amongst My servants and the manifestations of My commandments amidst My people. Upon them rest My glory, My blessings and My grace which have pervaded the world of being. In this connection the utterances revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Book) are such that from the horizon of their words the light of divine grace shineth luminous and resplendant." (Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-'Ahd)