Because I live in this house, must I treat the man next door as a stranger? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s question exposes the oddity of lines drawn across a single continent, and Bahá’u’lláh goes further: glory belongs not to the one who loves his country but to the one who loves the world. Love of country is not condemned; Shoghi Effendi says a citizen serves his nation best by working, as a citizen of the world, for the federal principle among nations, and every country’s frontiers and independence deserve impartial protection. What is condemned is the point at which attachment turns into an owl’s devotion to a ruined wall, a gilded cage decorated by its own prisoners, or dogs howling over their corner of a public square, while the dust that is fought over is finally the dust of the grave. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá counts the cost in captive women, orphaned children and whole peoples displaced, and asks what consolation a bereaved child can find in a flag. Epictetus, reasoning from kinship with the divine to citizenship of the world, offers a different ground for the same enlargement of belonging [1]. The way forward passes through prejudice in all its forms, racial and class divisions among them, and through a candid look at the culture that calls such narrowness patriotism.
As for the matter of homeland - that this one is European, that one American, another African - they have even drawn imaginary lines dividing a single continent, though all earth is one land. Can one say that because I dwell in this house I must consider my neighbor a stranger? Because this is my house, therefore you are a foreigner and your house is not my homeland? Should one kill the neighbor and destroy his house? Thus patriotic prejudice is also fantasy and the basis of strife and conflict.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Minneapolis synagogue in Minneapolis, 1912-Sep-18 -- ABU0032)
02
You can best serve your country if you strive, in your capacity as a citizen of the world, to assist in the eventual application of the principle of federalism, underlying the government of your own country, to the relationships now existing between the peoples and nations of the world.
"O Ali-Akbar! The Speaker of Sinai in this Dispensation hath spoken thus: "Glory is not his who loveth his country, but glory is his who loveth the world." This utterance hath, ere this, shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of God's holy Tablet. Well is it with them that comprehend!
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298-04-03 [1881-Mar-5], to Baha'is of Mosul et al -- BH00128)
04
On the other hand, every country must be properly delimited, its exact frontiers marked, its national integrity secured, its permanent independence protected, and its vital interests honoured by the family of nations. These services ought to be rendered by and impartial, international Commission.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to an army commander, spoken on 1914-May-11 -- ABU0776)
05
This is clear, that each nation now wishes complete self-determination and freedom of action.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to True, Esslemont, spoken on 1919-Nov-20 -- ABU1145)
06
Another unifying force is patriotism. This too prevents unity and agreement between nations and parties, since the people of each country put their own homeland first. The French say all countries should be under our homeland. Similarly, out of love for homeland, each establishes privileges for their own country and wants others to be conquered and subjugated.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-Apr-12 in Budapest to members of the Turanian Society -- ABU1248)
07
Although this aspiration and thought is beneficial for themselves, their family, and indeed all their fellow citizens and countrymen, it is detrimental to other nations. For they strive with all their might to direct all the benefits of humanity toward their own nation, all the bounties of the earth to their own family, and all the happiness of the human world to themselves. They consider that the decline of other nations and neighboring powers leads to the advancement of their own nation and country, so that through this means they might achieve supremacy and dominance over others in power, wealth and authority.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lawh-i-Tanazu'-i Baqa, 1912 or <, to Dyserinck, A J Mrs et al -- AB00158)
08
The 'country' to which most every Westerner ascribes his allegiance is no other than a 'cage', wherein the souls are imprisoned. Instead of giving perfect freedom to the birds of their minds and hearts to soar in the infinite space of 'world patriotism', they are strengthening and decorating the bar[s] of their 'gilded cage'. Is this not short-sightedness! Is this not a foolish dream out of which they will be awakened one day! This 'cage' is not a delectable paradise to require so much care and attention. It is a dark and gloomy abode, airless and rayless. Why are they sacrificing their lives for this nothingness?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-Feb-05 -- ABU0812)
09
On his return the Master found several people waiting for him. From one he asked from what country he comes? He answered with fervor and too much vehemence: "I am from---'' In order to gently rebuke him and show him this false emotion of patriotism he said the following story:-
"Once upon a time the King of a certain country got hold of an owl and put it in a large golden cage and hanging it in his royal Park which was a mass of luxuriant flowers and tall trees. The King observed that the owl was not happy in this wonderful Park and always laments 'Oh! My country! O my country!' Finally he ordered to let the owl fly out of the cage and he with a number of his retinue, followed the course of the owl's flight. After many hours the owl alighted on the dilapidated wall of a ruined and deserted castle (it is proverbial in the Orient that the owl loves always the destroyed buildings) and screechingly cried out 'Oh how happy am I! At last I reached my beloved country! My abode of rest! My paradise of delight! My heavenly hope is now fulfilled!'"
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a patriotic youth, spoken at Rue Lauriston 97 on 1913-Mar-23 -- ABU2487)
10
Presently, different groups of people in the world have made claims to various portions of the earth and have drawn lines around it, considering it to be solely theirs. They say, "This is my nation and that is yours!" On this side of one line is a friend, on the other they see an enemy. We behave like dogs, considering a corner of a street to be ours, and, as soon as another dog approaches our territory, we attack. The only earth that belongs to man is the one that will ultimately be poured over him. Is it not a waste for so much bloodshed for this unworthy soil?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Conversation with Dr Finkelstein, Abu Sinan, 1915-Mar-01 -- ABU0994)
11
The human world, which is the dawning-place of the All-Merciful, has become an arena of warfare and bloodshed. One makes religion the cause of demolishing every firm foundation, another makes faith and belief an excuse for savagery in the human world, another imagines an illusory homeland and rises up in dishonesty in the name of patriotism, another claims valor and courage and stains his hand with human blood and begins oppression and torment against his fellow man.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1905 ca., to Malmiri, Muhammad Tahir et al -- AB00406)
12
Consider how unwise and short-sighted are the leaders, the politicians and the philosophers of the present age! The American continent and Europe, that is, Germany and France, are a small portion of the terrestrial globe. What is the importance of this globe?-for it commands no importance when compared to these infinite bodies that abound in the limitless space; it is like unto an insignificant spot on the surface of the wide ocean. No importance should be attached to the terrestrial globe, how much less to one of the countries of the globe.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Oct-11, to Charles Mason Remey -- AB01150)
13
When I was in Europe, every nation was crying "Fatherland! Fatherland! Fatherland!" I would say: My dear ones, what is this all about? Where does all this clamor come from? This homeland you are shouting about is the surface of the earth - it is humanity's homeland. Wherever anyone dwells becomes their homeland. God has not divided this earth - it is all one sphere. These boundaries you have established are imaginary boundaries with no reality.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Talk on the world war, given around Sept. 1914 -- ABU0135)
14
These countries over which you are so vociferous and at every moment show the signs of obstreperousness, are One Country, the home of humanity. Wherever man chooses to live, there is his home and his country. God has not divided this earth. It is one globe, one sphere. These boundaries that you have defined are the greatest illusions that man could ever conceive in his mind. They have no reality. It is similar to the division of one room into different sections, with so many hypothetical lines, calling this corner Germany, that corner France and another corner England.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Aug-06 -- ABU0099)
15
God is the Creator of all the creatures. He made men to dwell in His land and He made them rulers of whatsoever exists of animals, vegetables, minerals, water and air. He did not make any distinction one from another.
Then the people divided this land into sections and named one "England," another "France," "Germany," " America," etc., and they began to fight and make battle. He created man gentle, peaceful and social, without sharp claws and long canine teeth. Then man invented the sword and death-dealing instruments.
Therefore, universal peace must be established, religions must be unified and equality must be accomplished.
I tell you what is required for conveying the message: Close your eyes to regional imaginings and worship of borders and territory and open them to the divine Kingdom. The homeland of humanity is pure hearts, not water and soil.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1890-Aug-04, to Edward Granville Browne -- AB00571)
17
All these trials and tribulations occur for the sake of dust which they call homeland, while this dust is but a temporary foothold and ultimately man's eternal grave. What sacrifices they make for a graveyard! How much loss and harm they endure! Yet they remain joyful and glad, crying out "The homeland! The homeland!"
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul ca., to Baha'is of Qazvin et al -- AB00983)
18
Using patriotism as a pretext, such hatred and enmity has appeared in hearts that each nation has sharpened its claws and teeth against other nations, and like bloodthirsty wolves they attack one another, calling this love of country and nationalism.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Mirza Abbas Shushtari -- AB00607)
19
O respected person! Your letter was received. Praise be to God, it indicated that a luminous gathering has been established in Budapest, and blessed souls have attended and discussions that yield eternal results have taken place. It is certain that this assembly will receive the rays of the Sun of Truth and will be confirmed by heavenly power, and universal benefits will result from it, for the foundation of this assembly is the oneness of the world of humanity, and its system is love between all people, and its principles are the abandonment of racial, religious, denominational, national and political prejudices, for all these prejudices are delusions.
These prejudices are bloodthirsty and destroy the edifice of humanity, and are the cause of hatred and animosity and the spilling of men's blood and the captivity of women and the orphaning of children and the destruction of countries and the displacement of great multitudes, as occurred in the Balkans. Consider that surely one million souls became scattered, homeless and wandering, and their dear youth rolled in blood, and their women and children perished. How many prosperous cities were buried and how many villages were completely destroyed.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Nov-13, to Mr. Stark -- AB00737)
20
How difficult indeed is for those souls who are left behind to comfort themselves. Are the Kings and the emperors their comforters? Can they console themselves because they have shed their blood for their taskmasters, or for a piece of earth they have been led to believe as their 'country', the defence of which is 'patriotic'? Those who are left behind are sadly disillusioned but there will be neither hope nor courage to go on with their work while they are surrounded with so much misery. If they had shed their blood for a 'very great Cause', it would at least console their remnants; but now it is all for greed, selfishness, national pride, commercial motives etc.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Ahmad Sohrab, spoken on 1914-Dec-11 -- ABU1099)
21
This morning looking down from the window I saw a regiment of soldiers are passing by in fine shape. They were ready to fight for the fatherland. How barbarous and foolish it is to send men who know not each other at all to the battlefield and order them to shoot down each other and cut each other's throats.
But let us talk about our own war. Our Grand Army consists of the invisible angels of the Supreme Concourse; our swords are the swords of light; our armaments are the invincible armaments of heaven.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a group of friends, spoken at Hotel Marquardt on 1913-Apr-26 -- ABU1388)
22
In the East, mention of homeland has never caused excitement and unity among Easterners, nor has it been a source of great results.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-May-03 at Baltimore Hotel in Paris -- ABU3138)
23
When I was present at an important gathering in Alexandria, a certain patriot arose to voice his praise and support for his country. He recited a poem and then, with the utmost pride, he repeatedly made the following remark, which stirred those in attendance to more excitement than any of the other addresses had: 'We belong to the people who built the pyramids.'
I said to the pasha sitting near me, 'How strange! The Muslims of Egypt are not the Copts, that they should pride themselves in this way on having built the pyramids (the tomb of Pharaoh). And they wish to promote love for their country with this pride? If this act of building is a source of pride, then it is the people of Pharaoh who should boast, not the people of Islam, for it was Pharaoh who built the pyramids - and what is more, those buildings were constructed through oppression. For fifteen years, Pharaoh made sixteen thousand of his hapless subjects to work every day. With excruciating toil and hardship, they built the pyramids so that Pharaoh might conceal his own corpse there. Here is the pivot around which the pride of this people revolves! Observe what things men vaunt themselves over!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in 1913 in Ramleh -- ABU3686)
24
One of the "Collective Centers" has been and is yet considered the "spirit of nationalism."
… Another "Collective Center" is "patriotism" the watchword and the battle-cry of the present nations. A third "Collective Center" is politics.
It is evident that the interest of one nation is the loss to another and we can see that as long as these three "Collective Centers" are dominant in the affairs of the world Universal Peace will not be realized. These "nations" look upon each other with the eyes of difference, they try to improve the conditions of their native countries at the expense of others and their interests clash and come within the range of conflict. Therefore all these "Collective Centers" instead of helping the cause of international Peace prevent its realization.
Consequently in this illumined century, the intellectual evolution of humanity has advanced far enough as to create a "Universal Collective Center" around which all the nations may revolve, thus sacrificing their petty interests for the progress of the whole.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to President of the Turanian Society, spoken at Ritz Hotel in Budapest, 1913-Apr-12 -- ABU1222)
25
The doors of Colleges and Universities must be wide open to the adherents of all religions and the members of all nationalities - so that these different people from widely-scattered countries may meet and associate with each other in those educational institutions, learn each others' customs and habits, interchange their ideas and discard their purposeless prejudices. In this way these young men and women will grow up with the ideas of World patriotism.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Interview with five American teachers, Haifa, 1914-Jul-21 -- ABU1512)
26
Dr. Allen asked: "How will the unity of mankind be established?"
Abdul Baha's answer was: When you remove the causes thereof. These causes are racial, patriotic and religious bias or prejudice. This bias will be removed and when it is removed, people will live in friendliness, kindness and love which will bring forth unity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Rev. Allen, spoken around 1909-Apr-12 -- ABU3401)
27
One should not pride oneself on loving one's country, but rather should pride oneself on loving humankind.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1307-08 [1890-Apr], to Edward Granville Browne -- BHU0015)
28
Among other things He states: "Glory is not for one who loves his homeland, but for one who loves the world."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Mar-11, to Ahmad Baqiruf -- AB01180)
29
His Holiness Baha'u'llah says: "It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Mr St-John -- AB01815)
30
God has created the world as one - the boundaries are marked out by man. God has not divided the lands, but each man has his house and meadow; horses and dogs do not divide the fields into parts. That is why Baha'u'llah says: "Let not a man glory in that he loves his country, but that he loves his kind."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Sep. 1911 in London -- ABU1891)
31
This is why in most Tablets this firm decree hath been sent down from the heaven of Will: "Glory is not for him who loveth his country, but for him who loveth the world."
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297-11-12 [1880-Oct-16], to Baha'is of Nayriz -- BH00709)
32
This earth is one sphere. These geographical boundaries are made by man, calling one piece of land Austria, another Germany, a third French, a Fourth English and so forth. The dogs in Oriental cities instinctively divide the various quarters amongst themselves and if by chance one of the dogs crosses the boundary of another he will be attacked. But these boundary lines are all imaginary. They have no real existence."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Baroness Bertha Von Suttner, spoken at Grand Hotel on 1913-Apr-23 -- ABU1066)
33
Abdul-Baha said: "There is no difference between Paris and London. All these limitations, all these divisions into various nationalities are due to the weakness of man. If man's mind were broad enough," he said, tapping his brow, "if it were strong enough, these divisions would vanish. The earth is God's earth and all the peoples of the world are under His grace and favour."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at home of Lady Blomfield, 1911-Sep-08 -- ABU1068)
34
Each man has his house and meadow; horses and dogs do not divide the fields into shares. That is why Baha'u'llah says: "Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country, let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind."
Now, at times this unifying force is patriotism. Being fellow citizens is indeed a unifying force. However, this applies only to general benefits and harms and the attraction of common good; it has no authority in specific matters and no power over individuals.
… Among all these, what truly serves as the unifying force of human society is religion. It unites different religions, unifies different nations, brings together different races, unites different languages, and unifies different homelands.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at German hostel in Tiberias, 1916-Sep-23 -- ABU0987)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
36
How pathetic indeed are the efforts of those leaders of human institutions who, in utter disregard of the spirit of the age, are striving to adjust national processes, suited to the ancient days of self-contained nations, to an age which must either achieve the unity of the world, as adumbrated by Baha'u'llah, or perish.
WOB.036
Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified
37
Unification of the whole of mankind is the hall-mark of the stage which human society is now approaching. Unity of family, of tribe, of city-state, and nation have been successively attempted and fully established. World unity is the goal towards which a harassed humanity is striving. Nation-building has come to an end. The anarchy inherent in state sovereignty is moving towards a climax. A world, growing to maturity, must abandon this fetish, recognize the oneness and wholeness of human relationships, and establish once for all the machinery that can best incarnate this fundamental principle of its life.
WOB.202
Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified