From The Secret of Divine Civilization, by ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá

“Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for the ascent of his understanding. In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him. The light of knowledge is the bestower of life and the cause of the progress of mankind. Knowledge is the most precious of all possessions; a man without knowledge is like a bird without wings.”

Examples from Egypt 

- The Pyramids, Temples.....................Craftsmanship and applied sciences / engineering 

- The Library of Alexandria ..................Knowledge as "wings" expand human potential 

- Cairo Opera House...........................Hub for artistic education, arts that uplift society 

- The Grand Egyptian Museum...........Knowledge as a national treasure transform culture

     

     

 

Bahá’í perspective on politics

Bahá’ís do not seek political power. They will not accept political posts in their respective governments, whatever the particular system in place, though they will take up positions which they deem to be purely administrative in nature. They will not affiliate themselves with political parties, become entangled in partisan issues, or participate in programmes tied to the divisive agendas of any group or faction. At the same time, Bahá’ís respect those who, out of a sincere desire to serve their countries, choose to pursue political aspirations or to engage in political activity. The approach adopted by the Bahá’í community of non-involvement in such activity is not intended as a statement expressing some fundamental objection to politics in its true sense; indeed, humanity organizes itself through its political affairs. Bahá’ís vote in civil elections, as long as they do not have to identify themselves with any party in order to do so. In this connection, they view government as a system for maintaining the welfare and orderly progress of a society, and they undertake, one and all, to observe the laws of the land in which they reside, without allowing their inner religious beliefs to be violated. Bahá’ís will not be party to any instigation to overthrow a government. Nor will they interfere in political relations between the governments of different nations. This does not mean that they are naive about political processes in the world today and make no distinction between just and tyrannical rule. The rulers of the earth have sacred obligations to fulfil towards their people, who should be seen as the most precious treasure of any nation. Wherever they reside, Bahá’ís endeavour to uphold the standard of justice, addressing inequities directed towards themselves or towards others, but only through lawful means available to them, eschewing all forms of violent protest. Moreover, in no way does the love they hold in their hearts for humanity run counter to the sense of duty they feel to expend their energies in service to their respective countries.

The approach, or strategy if you will, with the simple set of parameters outlined in the foregoing paragraph enables the community, in a world where nations and tribes are pitted one against the other and people are divided and separated by social structures, to maintain its cohesion and integrity as a global entity and to ensure that the activities of the Bahá’ís in one country do not jeopardize the existence of those elsewhere. Guarded against competing interests of nations and political parties, the Bahá’í community is thus able to build its capacity to contribute to processes that promote peace and unity.   The Universal House of Justice

a new definition of a good citizen:

“The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems. The primary purpose of any government or society is the promotion of the welfare and the tranquillity of the people.” Baha'u'llah 

Aspects of Baha’i Marriage

A Baha’i marriage is different from many other religious marriages 

in a few very specific, meaningful ways. 

Baha’i marriage is the commitment of the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind and heart. Each must, however, exercise the utmost care to become thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other, that the binding covenant between them may be a tie that will endure forever. ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 

Consent of both and their parents are required

…marriage is dependent upon the consent of both parties. Desiring to establish love, unity and harmony amidst Our servants, We have conditioned it, once the couple’s wish is known, upon the permission of their parents, lest enmity and rancour should arise amongst them. Baha’u’llah,

The vow and Two witnesses

The couple themselves each saying, in the presence of at least two witnesses, the prescribed verse “We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God.” 

This ceremony is performed under the authority of a Spiritual Assembly which has the responsibility for ensuring that the various requirements of Baha’i law, such as obtaining the consent of the parents, are met, to whom the witnesses must be acceptable, and which issues the marriage certificate.

The Happiness of Mankind will be realized when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other. Abdu’l-Baha,

 

to our beloved mother who passed away recently...

A Bahá'í Prayer for One's Mother - YouTube

https://www.google.com/url?esrc=s&q=&rct=j&sa=U&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpIF_WP5R2E&ved=2ahUKEwio7oT6v7yUAxXUpCsGHeU_IekQtwJ6BAgLEAE&usg=AOvVaw2iWRMrzpU7GKqqEPKkaqDZ

O Thou forgiving God! Forgive the sins of my loving mother, pardon her shortcomings, cast upon her the glance of Thy gracious providence, and enable her to gain admittance into Thy Kingdom.

O God! From the earliest days of my life she educated and nurtured me, yet I did not recompense her for her toil and labours. Do Thou reward her by granting her eternal life and making her exalted in Thy Kingdom.

Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Bestower, and the Kind.

"The great importance attached to the mother's role derives from the fact that she is the first educator of the child. Her attitude, her prayers, even what she eats and her physical condition have a great influence on the child when it is still in womb. When the child is born, it is she who has been endowed by God with the milk which is the first food designed for it, and it is intended that, if possible, she should be with the baby to train and nurture it in its earliest days and months.                                                  - Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance.

Prayer for My Mother | A Prayer for Mom | 'Abdu'l-Bahá | Baháʼí Gospel - YouTubewww.youtube.com › shorts

 

“Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour”: New film looks at journey of global Bahá’í community

The film provides insight into a hundred years of endeavor and learning since the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, carried out by a burgeoning Bahá’í community, and outlines the journey that has led to the community’s current efforts to contribute to the emergence of a world organized around the principle of the oneness of humanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MsMfnkd6_I 

 "However difficult matters are at present, and

  however close to the limits of their endurance some sections of  societies are brought, humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence.  Universal House of Justice

Our Thoughts and Prayers with all people at War Zone...

Egypt: Short film on Bahá’í community highlights efforts for coexistence

 https://news.bahai.org/story/1604/

CAIRO — A short film titled “A Bahá’í in Egypt: A story of 3 generations” produced by Elsaha, an online news service based in Egypt, offers a perspective on the experience of the Bahá’í community of that country, from its beginnings in the nineteenth century through to the present-day, and its efforts to contribute to the progress of society.

https://news.bahai.org/story/1604/slideshow/2/

Forgiveness

 

The way people treat you has pretty much everything to do with them and not with you. Anais Nin said it best, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Abdul-Baha lived a perfect example of this truth. No matter how he was treated, by friend or foe, he always responded with love and compassion, as shown in this recounting from Baha’i author Earl Redman:

As for His enemies, Abdu’l-Baha never let them feel anything but love. In the early 1900s, a fanatical Protestant missionary from Scotland named Mrs. Ramsey was “consumed with the fire of religious prejudice and hatred ….” Since the Protestant Mission had a dispensary and rented an apartment in the building in which Abdu’l-Baha lived … she was forced to pass Him several times a day. Whenever she encountered Him, “she would writhe in agony, grimace and lower her head while quickening her pace to a run.” One day as she passed by, the Master called her over and asked, “Mrs. Ramsey, do you know how much I love you?”

“How much?” she asked suspiciously.

“Look in your heart and see how much you hate me. To that extent I love you,” He responded.

Abdu’l-Baha encouraged the Baha’is – in fact, he encouraged every human being – to adopt the same attitude and actions. In a talk he gave in the United States in 1912, he said: “Inasmuch as God is clement and loving to His children, lenient and merciful toward our shortcomings, why should we be unkind and unforgiving toward each other?” 

https://bahaiteachings.org/three-simple-steps-for-finding-forgiveness/?utm_source=BT+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8eb32b4df7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_NEW&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_22fe645b0d-8eb32b4df7-114045481&mc_cid=8eb32b4df7&mc_eid=a5e50159ab 

The Exemplar

 https://youtu.be/PRE8vDU_ufs 

Thoughts on our current World Civilization...

 

Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.

Bahá'u'lláh

What is the remedy for the world today? 

هل وحدنا كوفيد؟

 

لقد أزالت العلوم والتكنولوجيا الحواجز المادية ، والآن أثبت كوفيد أنه يمكن إزالة الحواجز الموجودة في قلوبنا وعقولنا لنكون قادرين على رؤية أنفسنا بعين الوحدة ؛ عرق واحد وشعب واحد..... 

 

 

Prayers for Children

O God, 

guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. 

Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful. — ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 

O God! 

Educate these children. 

These children are the plants of Thine orchard, 

the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. 

Let Thy rain fall upon them; 

let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. 

Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, 

and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. 

Thou art the Compassionate. —‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ

O my Lord! 

Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, 

and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, 

and remembrance of Thee my companion, 

and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, 

and Thy habitation my home, 

and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee. 

Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful. —BAHÁ’U’LLÁH