Peace

Religion is, verily, the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world, and of tranquility amongst its peoples. The weakening of the pillars of religion hath strengthened the foolish, and emboldened them, and made them more arrogant.  Verily I say:  The greater the decline of religion, the more grievous the waywardness of the ungodly.  This cannot but lead in the end to chaos and confusion.  Hear Me, O men of insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with discernment!"          (Baha'u'llah:  Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Page: 28)

 
  My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquility of its peoples.  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.

     Through the power of the words He hath uttered the whole of the human race can be illumined with the light of unity, and the remembrance of His Name is able to set on fire the hearts of all men, and burn away the veils that intervene between them and His glory.  One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens.  It can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and vanished....

     Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be righteous, be righteous....  Say:  O people of God!  That which can ensure the victory of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on earth, have been set down in the sacred Books and Scriptures, and are as clear and manifest as the sun.  These hosts are such righteous deeds, such conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight.  Whoso ariseth, in this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence flowing from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout the whole world.          (Baha'u'llah:  Gleanings, Pages: 286-287)

 
   True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart of the world whenever a certain number of its distinguished and high-minded sovereigns - the shining exemplars of devotion and determination - shall, for the good and happiness of all mankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace.  They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world.  They must conclude a binding treaty and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable and definite.  They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the sanction of all the human race.  This supreme and noble undertaking - the real source of the peace and well-being of all the world - should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of governments towards one another definitely laid down, and all international agreements and obligations ascertained.  In like manner, the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure.         (`Abdu’l-Bahá:  Secret of Divine Civilization, Pages: 64-65)

 
 

This is a new cycle of human power.  All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise.  It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes.  You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity.

     The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.  War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.

     In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind.  Enmity is now the result of prejudice only.

     In the Hidden Words Baha'u'llah says, "Justice is to be loved above all."  Praise be to God, in this country the standard of justice has been raised; a great effort is being made to give all souls an equal and a true place.  This is the desire of all noble natures; this is today the teaching for the East and for the West; therefore the East and the West will understand each other and reverence each other, and embrace like long-parted lovers who have found each other.

     There is one God; mankind is one; the foundations of religion are one.  Let us worship Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets and Messengers who have manifested His brightness and glory.

     The blessing of the Eternal One be with you in all its richness, that each soul according to his measure may take freely of Him.  Amen.          (`Abdu’l-Bahá:  Abdu’l-Bahá in London*, Pages: 19-20)

 
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.  This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation.  Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure.  Our hope is that the world's religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes.  Let them, after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth....  It is incumbent upon them who are in authority to exercise moderation in all things.  Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence.  Consider for instance such things as liberty, civilization and the like.  However much men of understanding may favorably regard them, they will, if carried to excess, exercise a pernicious influence upon men....  Please God, the peoples of the world may be led, as the result of the high endeavors exerted by their rulers and the wise and learned amongst men, to recognize their best interests.  How long will humanity persist in its waywardness?  How long will injustice continue?  How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men?  How long will discord agitate the face of society?...  The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every direction, and the strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily increasing.  The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth, may grant that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them, and aid them to accomplish that which beseemeth their station.       (Baha'u'llah:  Gleanings, Pages: 215-217)



O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth!  Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you.  Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you.  Then will the effulgence of the world's great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne.  This wronged One hath, ever since the early days of His life, cherished none other desire but this, and will continue to entertain no wish except this wish.  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.  All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose.  Arise and, armed with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you.  Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.  This, verily, is the most exalted Word which the Mother Book hath sent down and revealed unto you.  To this beareth witness the Tongue of Grandeur from His habitation of glory.
         (Bahá’u’lláh:  Gleanings, Pages: 217-218)