To a young man entering an agricultural school ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote that his nights and days of study would be acts of worship, accepted at the threshold of the Almighty; to a painter who asked whether art was a worthy vocation He answered simply that art is worship. The claim runs deep in Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching: one of God’s names is the Fashioner, and whoever shows forth that name in skilled work is beloved of Him; knowledge is wings to a life and a ladder for ascent; the learned and the wise are the two eyes of mankind; and the sovereignty of science outlasts the sovereignty of kings. The gift carries conditions. Learning should profit the peoples of the earth rather than begin and end in words, it must be taught to girls as well as boys, and it is judged in the end by character, since arrogance can ride on achievement while love and pure intention give it another direction. Bezalel, filled with wisdom for the furnishings of the sanctuary, offers an older picture of divine gift joined to material craft and shared labour [1]. From here the way leads toward creativity in art, the mind’s power of discovery, the summons to acquire knowledge, and the high station of learning itself.
Strive as much as possible to become proficient in the science of agriculture, for in accordance with the divine teachings the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts are considered acts of worship. If a man engageth with all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he hath been worshipping God in churches and temples. Thus as thou enterest a school of agriculture and strivest in the acquisition of that science thou art day and night engaged in acts of worshipâ€"acts that are accepted at the threshold of the Almighty. What bounty greater than this that science should be considered as an act of worship and art as service to the Kingdom of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Jul-20, to Rachael Small -- AB05132)
02
A painter asked: "Is art a worthy vocation?" Abdu'l-Baha turning to her impressively, said: "Art is worship."
An actor mentioned the drama, and its influence. "The drama is of the utmost importance." said Abdu'l-Baha. "It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again." He described how as a young boy he witnessed the Mystery Play of Ali's Betrayal and Passion, and how it affected him so deeply that he wept and could not sleep for many nights.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Sep. 1911 in London -- ABU3551)
03
One of the names of God is the Fashioner, and He has always loved and continues to love craftsmanship. Therefore, whoever among His servants manifests this name is beloved in the presence of the Wronged One. Craftsmanship is a volume from the volumes of divine knowledge and a treasure from the treasuries of divine wisdom. This is a science with meaning, for some sciences are limited to mere words, beginning and ending with words.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297 ? [1879-1880], to Mirza Husayn Najjar -- BH02575)
04
In the third Tajalli (effulgence) of the Book of Tajalliyat (Book of Effulgences) We have mentioned: "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 his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi'b (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf), 1308 ? [1891], to Muhammad Taqi Isfahani (son of the Wolf) -- BH00005)
05
The Great Being saith: The man of consummate learning and the sage endowed with penetrating wisdom are the two eyes to the body of mankind. God willing, the earth shall never be deprived of these two greatest gifts.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Maqsud, 1299-02-29 [1882-Jan-20], to Mirza Maqsud -- BH00140)
06
Knowledge is the light of the world. Blessed is he who is not deprived of its radiance and splendor. Knowledge is the life of the world and the adornment of nations. Knowledge is the treasure of existence and the gift of God, the Mighty, the Loving.
(Bahá’u’lláh, to Aqa Mirza Shuaullah son of Ghusn-i-Akbar -- BH10084)
07
It is clear and evident, therefore, that the first bestowal of God is the Word, and its discoverer and recipient is the power of understanding.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Manikchi Sahib, 1296-08 [1879-Jul], to Manikchi-Sahib -- BH00698)
08
First and foremost among these favors, which the Almighty hath conferred upon man, is the gift of understanding. His purpose in conferring such a gift is none other except to enable His creature to know and recognize the one true God—exalted be His glory. This gift giveth man the power to discern the truth in all things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover the secrets of creation.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299 ? [1881-1882], to Nimatullah -- BH03960)
09
All the sciences, branches of learning, arts, inventions, institutions, undertakings and discoveries have resulted from the comprehension of the rational soul. These were once impenetrable secrets, hidden mysteries and unknown realities, and the rational soul gradually discovered them and brought them out of the invisible plane into the realm of the visible. This is the greatest power of comprehension in the world of nature, and the uttermost limit of its flight is to comprehend the realities, signs and properties of contingent things.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Chapter 58, The Extent and Limitation of Human Perception, 1904 ca. -- AB00747)
10
The highest praise is due to men who devote their energies to science, and the noblest center is a center wherein the sciences and arts are taught and studied. Science ever tends to the illumination of the world of humanity. It is the cause of eternal honor to man, and its sovereignty is far greater than the sovereignty of kings. The dominion of kings has an ending; the king himself may be dethroned; but the sovereignty of science is everlasting and without end.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address at Stanford University on 1912-Oct-08 -- ABU0008)
11
This scientific power investigates and apprehends created objects and the laws surrounding them. It is the discoverer of the hidden and mysterious secrets of the material universe and is peculiar to man alone. The most noble and praiseworthy accomplishment of man, therefore, is scientific knowledge and attainment.
… God has conferred upon and added to man a distinctive power -- the faculty of intellectual investigation into the secrets of creation, the acquisition of higher knowledge -- the greatest virtue of which is scientific enlightenment.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Columbia University on 1912-Apr-19 -- ABU0145)
12
The virtues of humanity are many, but science is the most noble of them all.
… All blessings are divine in origin, but none can be compared with this power of intellectual investigation and research, which is an eternal gift producing fruits of unending delight. … A scientific man is a true index and representative of humanity, for through processes of inductive reasoning and research he is informed of all that appertains to humanity, its status, conditions and happenings. … In fact, science may be likened to a mirror wherein the infinite forms and images of existing things are revealed and reflected.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Bethel Literary Society on 1912-Apr-23 -- ABU0157)
13
For in the human world there is no greater gift than reason. Reason discovers the realities of things. Reason is the standard of understanding. Therefore, weigh every question on the scale of reason. If it accords with reason, then this is what is sought; if it conflicts with reason, there is no doubt that it is mere fancy.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Minneapolis synagogue in Minneapolis, 1912-Sep-18 -- ABU0032)
14
When religion is upheld by science and reason we can believe with assurance and act with conviction, for this rational faculty is the greatest power in the world. … Why treat with indifference such a divine spark? Why ignore a faculty so beneficial, a sun so powerful?
The greatest of human virtues is knowledge. Knowledge is the cause of divine bounty's manifestation.
… From what has humanity obtained this excellence? It has been obtained from knowledge. Thus it is clear that knowledge is the greatest of human virtues. Breaking habits and violating nature's laws is specific to knowledge.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Oct-26 in Paris -- ABU0439)
16
The station of man is great, very great. God has created man after His own image and likeness. He has endowed him with a mighty power which is capable of discovering the mysteries of phenomena.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given on 1912-Aug-17 -- ABU0572)
17
The power of the intellect is one of God's greatest gifts to men, it is the power that makes him a higher creature than the animal.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-06 in Paris -- ABU0555)
18
It is the light of the intellect which gives us knowledge and understanding, and without this light the physical eyes would be useless.
This light of the intellect is the highest light that exists, for it is born of the Light Divine.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-05 in Paris -- ABU0755)
19
The greatest gifts of man are reason and eloquence of expression.
Man in this age has learned the weight of the sun, the path of a star, the movement of an eclipse - the advance step now is to learn the expansion of the inflexible law of matter into the subtler kingdom of spirit, which contains a finer gravitation which holds the balance of power from age to age unbroken.
Again, there are those famed and accomplished men of learning, possessed of praiseworthy qualities and vast erudition, who lay hold on the strong handle of the fear of God and keep to the ways of salvation. In the mirror of their minds the forms of transcendent realities are reflected, and the lamp of their inner vision derives its light from the sun of universal knowledge. They are busy by night and by day with meticulous research into such sciences as are profitable to mankind, and they devote themselves to the training of students of capacity. It is certain that to their discerning taste, the proffered treasures of kings would not compare with a single drop of the waters of knowledge, and mountains of gold and silver could not outweigh the successful solution of a difficult problem.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Madaniyyih (The Secret of Divine Civilization), 1875, to The People of Iran -- AB00004)
22
We regard knowledge and wisdom as the foundation of the progress of mankind, and extol philosophers who are endowed with broad vision.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lawh-i-Dr Forel (Tablet to Dr Forel), 1921-Sep-21, to Auguste Forel -- AB00020)
23
For knowledge is light, life, felicity, perfection and beauty, and causes the soul to draw nigh to the divine threshold. It is the honour and glory of the human realm and the greatest of God's bounties. Knowledge is identical to guidance and ignorance is the essence of error.
Happy are those who spend their days in the pursuit of knowledge, in the discovery of the secrets of the universe, and in the meticulous investigation of truth! And woe to those who content themselves with ignorance, who delight in thoughtless imitation, who have fallen into the abyss of ignorance and unawareness, and who have thus wasted their lives!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Chapter 34, Peter and the Papacy, 1905-Jan -- AB00256)
24
Knowledge is the cause of success and prosperity and is a magnet of grace and achievement.
Therefore in this wondrous Dispensation learning and knowledge are among the greatest virtues of the human world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun ca., to Aflatun Hakim -- AB08508)
25
Scientific matters should be confined to what benefits people, not matters that are mere words leading only to dispute - specifically theology, mathematics, natural philosophy and material arts, so that people may benefit from them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Farajullah Zaki Al-Kurdi -- AB01995)
26
By these sciences and arts are meant those which are useful and are studied in Europe and America, such as geometry, chemistry, geography, all mathematics and other useful sciences.
O ye recipients of the favors of God! In this new and wondrous Age, the unshakable foundation is the teaching of sciences and arts. According to explicit Holy Texts, every child must be taught crafts and arts, to the degree that is needful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Feb-26, to Baha'is of Hamadan -- AB03755)
28
This is the day in which the diffusion of sciences, the training in arts, and the instruction of children - both boys and girls - are amongst the greatest and most fundamental principles of this radiant century and this glorious age. … No greater service than this doth exist, inasmuch as the world is resplendent and illuminated by the light of the sciences and arts. Science is the light of the world; it is conducive to the joy and fervor of the people of splendor, it is life eternal, and it is everlasting glory.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Feb-19, to Ayadi Zadih, Munirih et al -- AB02747)
29
It is my hope that thou wilt become a child of the Kingdom, wilt study arts, sciences and divine knowledge, mayest turn into a fruitful and flourishing tree in the Vineyard of God and that, through the sprinkling of the clouds of His loving providence, thou mayest appear in the utmost freshness and tender beauty.
'Abdu'l-Baha is expecting to hear good news from that school; i.e. that the young fruits of the divine garden are being developed and educated in the college of realities and significances and are graduated in physical and spiritual sciences, that they are opening the eloquent tongues and are discoursing intelligently in every branch of learning so that in oratory they may become ideal magicians.
And may all the friends strive that day by day it may attain greater organization and that sciences and arts may spread more abundantly.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Feb-20, to Ibn-i-Abhar -- AB11746)
32
There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakeable supports of the Faith of God. The mightiest of these is learning and the use of the mind, the expansion of consciousness, and insight into the realities of the universe and the hidden mysteries of Almighty God.
To promote knowledge is thus an inescapable duty imposed on every one of the friends of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Sep-26+, to Spiritual Assembly of Ishqabad -- AB01616)
33
Now as to what thou askest concerning giving up the scientific attainment in Paris for the sake of confining thy days to the delivery of this Truth, it is indeed acceptable and beloved, but if thou acquire both it would be better and more perfect, because in this new century the attainment of science, arts and belles lettres, whether divine or worldly, material or spiritual, is a matter which is acceptable before God and a duty which is incumbent upon us to accomplish.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 ca., to Charles Mason Remey -- AB03020)
34
I beseech God that ye may be so highly distinguished in sciences that your fame will be noised throughout all regions and your fair name be on the lips of all enlightened people; that ye may become the means of the exaltation of the Cause of God and the exponents of the manifold blessings of the Abha Beauty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Kashipaz, Aqa Muhammad Hasan et al -- AB09999)
35
His Holiness Baha'u'llah has commanded the study of arts and crafts; that when we undertake the study of any branch of arts we must perfect ourselves in it and strive to master its technicalities and expressions but the study of art must not hinder the unfoldment of the sweet flowers of our spiritual life. One must become a complement to the other.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a young girl from Scotland studying painting, spoken at Baltimore Hotel on 1913-May-07 -- ABU1223)
36
That which you sent was presented before the Throne and was honored with acceptance. God, exalted be His glory, has loved to witness pleasing crafts from His loved ones. Blessed art thou for what thou hast crafted has been presented before the face of thy Lord, the Wronged One, the Stranger.
God willing, may each of the loved ones be enabled to manifest a craft from among the crafts and be assisted in that which they have been commanded in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Wise.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296-08 [1879-Jul], to Haji Mirza Muhammad Yazdi Alaqihband -- BH05807)
37
All true art is a gift of the Holy Spirit."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. Nov. 1911 in Paris -- ABU3085)
38
Baha'u'llah had also in His writings given a most important place to Art, and the practice of skilled trades. He had stated that the practice of an Art or Trade in the true spirit of service was identical with the worship of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Sep. 1911 in London -- ABU2205)
39
Man must work and in that work show the qualities of GOD and thus do good. His work, both material and spiritual, must show what he is. By his arts, sciences, inventions and all of his work he must show his best ability.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Breakwell, Hopper, Brittingham, spoken around 1901-Sep-04 -- ABU1794)
40
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the fifth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Above all else, the greatest gift and the most wondrous blessing hath ever been and will continue to be Wisdom. It is man's unfailing Protector. It aideth him and strengtheneth him. Wisdom is God's Emissary and the Revealer of His Name the Omniscient. Through it the loftiness of man's station is made manifest and evident.
… In the estimation of the people of Baha man's glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Kalimat-i-Firdawsiyyih (Words of Paradise), 1306-11-26 [1889-Jul-24], to Haji Mirza Haydar Ali Isfahani -- BH00111)
41
O people of God! Righteous men of learning who dedicate themselves to the guidance of others and are freed and well guarded from the promptings of a base and covetous nature are, in the sight of Him Who is the Desire of the world, stars of the heaven of true knowledge. It is essential to treat them with deference.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Dunya (Tablet of the World), 1308 ? [1890-1891], to Mirza Siyyid Muhammad Afnan (known as Aqa Mirza Aqa Nurud-Din) -- BH00238)
42
Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that manis river flow into the mighty sea, and draw from Godis ancient source His inspiration. When this cometh to pass, then every teacher is as a shoreless ocean, every pupil a prodigal fountain of knowledge. If, then, the pursuit of knowledge lead to the beauty of Him Who is the Object of all Knowledge, how excellent that goal; but if not, a mere drop will perhaps shut a man off from flooding grace, for with learning cometh arrogance and pride, and it bringeth on error and indifference to God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Dec-14, to Abdu'l-Hamid Khan -- AB03423)
43
And every branch of learning, conjoined with the love of God, is approved and worthy of praise; but bereft of His love, learning is barren -- indeed, it bringeth on madness. Every kind of knowledge, every science, is as a tree: if the fruit of it be the love of God, then is it a blessed tree, but if not, that tree is but dried-up wood, and shall only feed the fire.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-May-14, to Edwin Fisher -- AB03123)
44
What a heavenly potentiality God has deposited within us! What a power God has given our spirits! He has endowed us with a power to penetrate the realities of things; but we must be self-abnegating, we must have pure spirits, pure intentions, and strive with heart and soul while in the human world to attain everlasting glory.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at 309 W 78th St on 1912-Jun-11 -- ABU0749)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
45
The divine whose conduct is upright, and the sage who is just, are as the spirit unto the body of the world. Well is it with that divine whose head is attired with the crown of justice, and whose temple is adorned with the ornament of equity.
Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble. In this way the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort, which is indeed quite different from the religiosity of someone more naive. (Albert Einstein)
Source reference not supplied
Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified