For larger cities, naturally, there will be a system on a larger scale.
Were I to go into that solution the details thereof would be very lengthy.
The result of this (system) will be that each individual member of the
body politic will live most comfortably and happily under obligation to no
one. Nevertheless, there will be preservation of degree because in the
world of humanity there must needs be degrees. The body politic may well
be likened to an army. In this army there must be a general, there must be
a sergeant, there must be a marshal, there must be the infantry; but all
must enjoy the greatest comfort and welfare.
God is not partial and is no respecter of persons. He has made provision
for all. The harvest comes forth for everyone. The rain showers upon
everybody and the heat of the sun is destined to warm everyone. The
verdure of the earth is for everyone. Therefore there should be for all
humanity the utmost happiness, the utmost comfort, the utmost well-being.
But if conditions are such that some are happy and comfortable and some in
misery; some are accumulating exorbitant wealth and others are in dire
want—under such a system it is impossible for man to be happy and
impossible for him to win the good pleasure of God. God is kind to all.
The good pleasure of God consists in the welfare of all the individual
members of mankind.
A Persian king was one night in his palace, living in the greatest luxury
and comfort. Through excessive joy and gladness he addressed a certain
man, saying: “Of all my life this is the happiest moment. Praise be to
God, from every point prosperity appears and fortune smiles! My treasury
is full and the army is well taken care of. My palaces are many; my land
unlimited; my family is well off; my honor and sovereignty are great. What
more could I want!”
The poor man at the gate of his palace spoke out, saying: “O kind king!
Assuming that you are from every point of view so happy, free from every
worry and sadness—do you not worry for us? You say that on your own
account you have no worries—but do you never worry about the poor in your
land? Is it becoming or meet that you should be so well off and we in such
dire want and need? In view of our needs and troubles how can you rest in
your palace, how can you even say that you are free from worries and
sorrows? As a ruler you must not be so egoistic as to think of yourself
alone but you must think of those who are your subjects. When we are
comfortable then you will be comfortable; when we are in misery how can
you, as a king, be in happiness?”
The purport is this that we are all inhabiting one globe of earth. In
reality we are one family and each one of us is a member of this family.
We must all be in the greatest happiness and comfort, under a just rule
and regulation which is according to the good pleasure of God, thus
causing us to be happy, for this life is fleeting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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