Riches earned by one’s own effort in trade, agriculture, or the arts, and rightly administered, deserve praise, Bahá’u’lláh writes, because in the hands of a discerning person they become a means of benefit to the whole state. That double condition, how wealth is gained and how it is used, governs everything the Writings say about commerce. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls a company a symbol of oneness, urges Iran to open its trade to East and West, develop its resources, and strengthen its constitution through industry, truthfulness, and justice, and even imagines an interdependence society binding Persia and America in commerce, industry, and education. Prosperity is never an end in itself; it is measured by comfort for all, the vanishing of oppression, and the welfare of other peoples. Adam Smith’s tracing of the shepherds, spinners, dyers, and sailors behind one woollen coat shows how deeply every livelihood depends on strangers [1]. From commerce the road runs naturally to agriculture, to the continual ascent of material civilization, and to what in Western achievement the Writings praise and what they question.
Riches earned by personal effort with divine assistance, in various trades, agriculture and the arts, and rightly administered, are justly deserving of praise, forasmuch as if a wise and discerning man acquires them, they become a ready means of benefit to the state.
O my spiritual friends! Among the greatest means of achieving modern advancements, the prosperity of nations, and the civilization of the peoples is the establishment of companies for commerce, industry, and other sources of wealth, inasmuch as a company is a symbol of oneness, unity, and harmony in the Cause of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904 ca., to Umid Company -- AB11381)
03
Would it seem shortsighted, improvident and unsound, would it constitute a deviation from what is right and proper, if we were to strengthen our relationships with neighboring countries, enter into binding treaties with the great powers, foster friendly connections with well-disposed governments, look to the expansion of trade with the nations of East and West, develop our natural resources and increase the wealth of our people?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Madaniyyih (The Secret of Divine Civilization), 1875, to The People of Iran -- AB00004)
04
All the inventions were perfected, new discoveries created, new fields of human activities, new undertakings gave deeper significance to the law of co-operation; new arts helped to make life more beautiful and new international laws are now in the process of formation to bind all nations of the earth together.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Feb. 1918 -- ABU0644)
05
If possible, change the name of this Society, to Persian-American Interdependence Society so that in the future it may include all points, such as commerce, industry and education so that spiritual and material results and benefits might be produced.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Apr-03, to Persian-American Educational Society -- AB01883)
06
Iran and America are very much in need of such an association, even for the material benefits of Iran and America, especially America, because this association will lead to the promotion of American goods in Iran. The great benefits that other nations derive through commerce and promotion of goods from Iran will all redound to America. Consider what universal benefits will result.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Apr-03, to Ahmad Sohrab -- AB00968)
07
It is my hope that means may be devised for Iran that would lead to universal comfort and assurance, that justice and equity may prevail, and that oppression and tyranny may vanish and be no more.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-May-25, to Ghulam Ali Davachi -- AB06630)
08
Therefore one must act to strengthen the constitution, and Iran's constitution is strengthened through promotion of commerce, increase of industry, expansion of agriculture, teaching of beneficial sciences, truthfulness and trustworthiness and justice in affairs.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Usku'i, Haydar Ali (Son of Karbala'i Hasan of Matanih) -- AB00808)
09
If the revered personage seeketh to assist the Iranian government to endure and prevail, and to aid its people to progress and prosper, he must, of a certainty, promote the establishment of a constitutional government.
O friends! Two Americans who own a newspaper in America are intending to travel to Iran solely to learn about conditions in Iran and to investigate the state of political parties, government, civilization, industry, commerce and agriculture, so that they may correspond with their newspaper from there and write about whatever they see and hear.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910 ca., to Baha'is of Tihran et al -- AB06412)
11
Day and night they must strive to create good fellowship, so as to remove discord among Iranians, and consider the expansion of commerce, industry and agriculture as the foundation of success.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Haji Mirza Muhammad Yazdi Alaqihband -- AB01920)
12
Another characteristic of progress consists in the earnest and sincere development of public education, in the teaching of all the useful sciences and in encouraging the people to adopt the modern inventions, in extending the spheres of arts and commerce, and endeavoring to induce them to adopt the methods by which the country may be enriched.
If there has been possible in the past the formation of a United States of America, the next natural step will be the constitution of a United States of Europe, each state autonomous within its boundary, interdependent and working for the common prosperity, general advancement, expansion of commerce, diffusion of learning, the welfare of the whole communit[y], the socialization of industries and the improvement of arts, inventions, crafts and sciences.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-May-21 -- ABU1386)