Bahai Faith; Kings and rulers; Shoghi, Effendi, 1897-1957 -- Correspondence
The Revelation associated with the Faith of Jesus Christ focused attention
primarily on the redemption of the individual and the molding of his
conduct, and stressed, as its central theme, the necessity of inculcating
a high standard of morality and discipline into man, as the fundamental
unit in human society. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to
the unity of nations or the unification of mankind as a whole. When Jesus
spoke to those around Him, He addressed them primarily as individuals
rather than as component parts of one universal, indivisible entity. The
whole surface of the earth was as yet unexplored, and the organization of
all its peoples and nations as one unit could, consequently, not be
envisaged, how much less proclaimed or established. What other
interpretation can be given to these words, addressed specifically by
Bahá’u’lláh to the followers of the Gospel, in which the fundamental
distinction between the Mission of Jesus Christ, concerning primarily the
individual, and His own Message, directed more particularly to mankind as
a whole, has been definitely established: “Verily, He [Jesus] said: ‘Come
ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.’ In this day,
however, We say: ‘Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the
quickeners of mankind.’”
The Faith of Islám, the succeeding link in the chain of Divine Revelation,
introduced, as Bahá’u’lláh Himself testifies, the conception of the nation
as a unit and a vital stage in the organization of human society, and
embodied it in its teaching. This indeed is what is meant by this brief
yet highly significant and illuminating pronouncement of Bahá’u’lláh: “Of
old [Islamic Dispensation] it hath been revealed: ‘Love of one’s country
is an element of the Faith of God.’” This principle was established and
stressed by the Apostle of God, inasmuch as the evolution of human society
required it at that time. Nor could any stage above and beyond it have
been envisaged, as world conditions preliminary to the establishment of a
superior form of organization were as yet unobtainable. The conception of
nationality, the attainment to the state of nationhood, may, therefore, be
said to be the distinguishing characteristics of the Muḥammadan
Dispensation, in the course of which the nations and races of the world,
and particularly in Europe and America, were unified and achieved
political independence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account