Unity and the oneness of humanity

Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.

All the saplings of the world have appeared from one Tree, and all the drops from one Ocean, and all beings owe their existence to one Being.

The first utterance of Him Who is the All-Wise is this: O children of dust! Turn your faces from the darkness of estrangement to the effulgent light of the daystar of unity. This is that which above all else will benefit the peoples of the earth.

… Say: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Verily I say, whatsoever leadeth to the decline of ignorance and the increase of knowledge hath been, and will ever remain, approved in the sight of the Lord of creation.

As to his question concerning unity, unity in its primary degree is unity in religion. This unity has ever been the cause of the triumph of the Cause of God throughout ages and centuries. Unity is the divine spiritual sword.

The world of existence is like the human form - all its members and parts, even to the finest and most delicate veins and nerves, must assist one another so that the collective body may attain health, well-being, comfort and life.

In most of the Tablets We have commanded all the friends to unity and harmony, for from a collective body another effect becomes manifest and a special influence becomes evident. Observe the letters: individually these servants comprehend nothing from them and find no definite meaning therein, but after their combination and the appearance of words their meaning becomes clear and manifest,

and the influence and effect that appears after their combination was concealed before. Therefore must the loved ones of God gather at the wellspring of divine love, and that collective body will have a perfect effect in the world.

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Human brotherhood is, likewise, as clear and evident as the sun, for all are servants of one God, belong to one humankind, inhabit the same globe, are sheltered beneath the overshadowing dome of heaven and submerged in the sea of divine mercy.

There is perfect brotherhood underlying humanity, for all are servants of one God and belong to one family under the protection of divine providence. The bond of fraternity exists in humanity because all are intelligent beings created in the realm of evolutionary growth. There is brotherhood potential in humanity because all inhabit this earthly globe under the one canopy of heaven. There is brotherhood natal in mankind because all are elements of one human society subject to the necessity of agreement and cooperation. There is brotherhood intended in humanity because all are waves of one sea, leaves and fruit of one tree.

Among the beasts of prey each kind liveth apart from other species of its genus, observing complete antagonism and hostility; and whenever they meet they immediately fight and draw blood, gnashing their teeth and baring their claws. This is the way in which ferocious beasts and bloodthirsty wolves behave, carnivorous animals that live by themselves and fight for their lives. But the docile, good-natured and gentle animals, whether they belong to the flying or grazing species, associate with one another in complete affinity, united in their flocks, and living their lives with enjoyment, happiness and contentment.

God, the Almighty, has created all mankind from the dust of earth. He has fashioned them all from the same elements; they are descended from the same race and live upon the same globe. He has created them to dwell beneath the one heaven. As members of the human family and His children He has endowed them with equal susceptibilities. He maintains, protects and is kind to all. He has made no distinction in mercies and graces among His children.

The social body of humanity is inherently dependent upon relationships and necessary bonds, for without these relationships there can be no preservation and well-being, no security and happiness. The sacred dignity of man will not be revealed, and the beloved goal will not unveil its countenance. The country and region will not prosper, and cities and villages will not be arranged and adorned. The world will not be ordered, and humanity will not grow and develop.

The teachings specialized in Baha'u'llah are addressed to humanity. He says, "Ye are all the leaves of one tree." He does not say, "Ye are the leaves of two trees: one divine, the other satanic." He has declared that each individual member of the human family is a leaf or branch upon the Adamic tree; that all are sheltered beneath the protecting mercy and providence of God; that all are the children of God, fruit upon the one tree of His love. God is equally compassionate and kind to all the leaves, branches and fruit of this tree. … Therefore, we must love mankind as His creatures, realizing that all are growing upon the tree of His mercy, servants of His omnipotent will and manifestations of His good pleasure.

O thou spiritual Amin!

In all the world of creation all the existent beings are in the utmost connection. Through this connection, mutual helpfulness and co-operation is realized. This mutual helpfulness and co-operation is the origin of the conservation of the forces of life. If for one instant this mutual helpfulness and co-operation were cut off from the sources and realities of things, all the existent beings and things would be thrown into confusion and chaos and be reduced to nothingness and annihilation.

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It seems as though all creatures can exist singly and alone.

… God has not created any difference. He has created all as one that thus this family might live in perfect happiness and well-being.

A fundamental teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing mankind, He says, “Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch.” By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches of that tree, and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and blossoms thereof.

And now let us consider the various peoples of the world. All the nations -- American, British, French, German, Turkish, Persian, Arab -- are children of the same Adam, members of the same human household. Why should dissension exist among them? The surface of the earth is one native land, and that native land was provided for all. God has not set these boundaries and race limitations. Why should imaginary barriers which God has not originally destined be made a cause of contention? God has created and provided for all.

The bond of union is evidenced in this assembly today, where the power of God has brought together in faith, agreement and concord those who are engaged in furthering the development of the human world. It is my hope that all mankind may become similarly united in the bond and agreement of love.

… The more love is expressed among mankind and the stronger the power of unity, the greater will be this reflection and revelation, for the greatest bestowal of God is love.

He creates and provides for all, and all are under His care and protection. The Sun of Truth, the Word of God, shines upon all mankind; the divine cloud pours down its precious rain; the gentle zephyrs of His mercy blow, and all humanity is submerged in the ocean of His eternal justice and loving-kindness. God has created mankind from the same progeny in order that they may associate in good fellowship, exercise love toward each other and live together in unity and brotherhood.

Our gathering tonight around such a table is one of the evidences of the human unity. Generally speaking, such a gathering would have been impossible, that is, that Persian and Americans should sit around the same table. Praise be to God, such things have taken place through the power of the Word of God.

A second characteristic principle of the teachings of Baha'u'llah is that which commands recognition of the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing all mankind, He says, "Ye are all the leaves of one tree." There are no differences or distinctions of race among you in the sight of God.

The purpose of the creation of man is the attainment of the supreme virtues of humanity through descent of the heavenly bestowals. The purpose of man's creation is, therefore, unity and harmony, not discord and separateness.

Ye are all the waves of one sea, the rays of one sun, the flowers of one garden, the lions of one thicket, the birds of one meadow, and the fragrant blossoms of one rose garden: wherefore ye are even as a single soul, and this letter is in reality written to each one of you.

Praise be unto God Who hath adorned the human reality with manifest signs of divine love, and hath illumined all existent beings with the light of attraction, in such wise that they have become harmonized, interconnected, and mutually attracted through the power of heaven. Verily, union, assemblage, marriage, intermingling, association, and integration are the cause of life for all beings, whereas dissolution, separation, dissociation, divorce, and division lead to the death and destruction of created things.

If the oneness of the human world were established, all the differences which separate mankind would be eradicated. Strife and warfare would cease, and the world of humanity would find repose. Universal peace would be promoted, and the East and West would be conjoined in a strong bond. All men would be sheltered beneath one tabernacle. Native lands would become one; races and religions would be unified. The people of the world would live together in harmony, and their well-being would be assured.

In reality, there is no East and West - all points on the earth have the same status, and each point is west in relation to one point and east in relation to another point. Therefore these are relative and conventional matters. All points are one sphere and one homeland, and humanity is one race and one family.

...In the estimation of God all men are equal. There is no distinction or preference for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity

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All the children of men are in need of cooperation and reciprocity. Without the observance of this principle, man cannot live. The animal can live, solitary and alone, but man cannot, because it is impossible for man to live a solitary life with his social instinct and economic conscience. He must prepare all the means of his livelihood from various sources and different channels. Therefore, cooperation and reciprocity are considered as the essential bonds.

When asked how this new civilization was to be brought about, Abdul Baha said:

"Through solidarity. In some animals mutual co-operation is frequently seen; when in time of danger, each will try to surpass the others in help.

… Consider how much solidarity makes for life as compared to the fighting for self interest which destroys it."

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The unity and harmony of the beloved of GOD constitute the most important affair. Unity and Harmony represent the magnet which will attract the confirmations of GOD. Consider! Has anyone singly and alone accomplished without the aid of his contemporaries any great thing in life? United members of an organism or assembly will be in power and able to accomplish great deeds. Human beings, singly and alone, cannot fully achieve a great good thing; in fact man cannot live solitary.

Therefore, life must be lived in unison, in society; and when socially united, fully united, they can do everything.

When one family is well united, great results are obtained. If this circle of unity be widened so as to include and control the interests of an entire village to the extent that all the members of its population are fully united and in perfect accord, the results will be proportionately greater; the fruits thereof will be accordingly.

Now widen the circle again! Let a City be united and the results will be still greater. Widen the circle yet more and have the people of a country united; then, indeed, important results shall be forthcoming. And if a Continent is fully united and will unite all the other continents, then is the time when the greatest result shall obtain.

What has already been said to you, illustrates the subject on the material basis.

Now consider if Spiritual Unity be accomplished, what results will be forthcoming! If souls who are sons of the Kingdom be united, great shall be the results. Then the Divine Confirmations will become fully established, and their hearts and spirits will attain a remarkable illumination.

Consider what effect UNITY has upon a community! Persia has been greatly disturbed of late, and yet owing to the great harmony which exists among the Bahai friends, there is absolutely no disturbance among them. The only community which has been at perfect peace and rest during all this turmoil, has been this community. Why is this so? Because they love everybody and they love one another and are united among themselves, for in spirit they are united with all the world. Their mission is to establish UNITY among the human race.

Know, O loved ones of God, then hearken unto what the Speaker of Sinai uttereth: Know ye, then be assured that weakness appeareth from discord and strength emergeth from unity. There is no human excellence save through fairness, and no power except through unity. God willing, be ye as lamps lit from a single flame--though the forms and vessels may differ, they are united in the diffusion of light.

The purpose of this bounty hath been the appearance of mercy, and from mercy the gathering of the community, and from gathering and assembly the unity of hearts and oneness of souls, and from this unity and oneness mutual assistance, that all servants might become as one soul and all lands as one region.

That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. This can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled, an all-powerful and inspired Physician.

The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.

O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world’s great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne.

… Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.

The source of perfect unity and love in the world of existence is the bond and oneness of reality. When the divine and fundamental reality enters human hearts and lives, it conserves and protects all states and conditions of mankind, establishing that intrinsic oneness of the world of humanity which can only come into being through the efficacy of the Holy Spirit.

This has been the case also with the religious teachings so long set forth in the temples and churches, because they were not based upon the fundamental principles of the religions of God. In other words, the foundation of the divine religions had become obscured and nonessentials of form and ceremony were adhered to -- that is, the kernel of religion had apparently disappeared, and only the shell remained. Consequently, it was necessary that the fundamental basis of all religious teaching should be restored, that the Sun of Reality which had set should rise again, that the springtime which had refreshed the arena of life in ages gone by should appear anew, that the rain which had ceased should descend, that the breezes which had become stilled should blow once more.

Therefore, Baha'u'llah appeared from the horizon of the Orient and reestablished the essential foundation of the religious teachings of the world. The worn-out traditional beliefs current among men were removed. He caused fellowship and agreement to exist between the representatives of varying denominations so that love became manifest among the contending religions. He created a condition of harmony among hostile sects and upheld the banner of the oneness of the world of humanity. He established the foundation for international peace, caused the hearts of nations to be cemented together and conferred new life upon the various peoples of the East. Among those who have followed the teachings of Baha'u'llah no one says, "I am a Persian," "I am a Turk," "I am a Frenchman," or "I am an Englishman." No one says, "I am a Muslim, upholding the only true religion," "I am a Christian, loyal to my traditional and inherited beliefs," "I am a Jew, following talmudic interpretations," or "I am a Zoroastrian and opposed to all other religions." On the contrary, all have been rescued from religious, racial, political and patriotic prejudices and are now associating in fellowship and love to the extent that if you should attend one of their meetings you would be unable to observe any distinction between Christian and Muslim, Jew and Zoroastrian, Persian and Turk, Arab and European; for their meetings are based upon the essential foundations of religion, and real unity has been established among them. Former antagonisms have passed away; the centuries of sectarian hatred are ended; the period of aversion has gone by; the medieval conditions of ignorance have ceased to exist.

Verily, the century of radiance has dawned, minds are advancing, perceptions are broadening, realizations of human possibilities are becoming universal, susceptibilities are developing, the discovery of realities is progressing. Therefore, it is necessary that we should cast aside all the prejudices of ignorance, discard superannuated beliefs in traditions of past ages and raise aloft the banner of international agreement. Let us cooperate in love and through spiritual reciprocity enjoy eternal happiness and peace.

God has desired for mankind the effulgence of love, but through blindness and misapprehension man has enveloped himself in veils of discord, strife and hatred. The supreme need of humanity is cooperation and reciprocity. The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarity amongst men, the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity.

In the utmost unity and harmony, they must worship God, in the worshiping places of one another and they must abandon these false fanaticisms.

In connection with the above remarks he wrote the following with his own blessed hand to one of our Western teachers:- "Through whichever country thou goest, speak thou with moderation. Call the people to the Oneness of the world of humanity, the dawn of the Sun of Reality from the horizon of Persia and the Servitude of 'Abdu'l-Baha and then explain the central-ship of the Covenant and no more."

The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.

He Who is your Lord, the All-Merciful, cherisheth in His heart the desire of beholding the entire human race as one soul and one body.

Consider how nothing but a spiritual power can bring about this unification, for material conditions and mental aspects are so widely different that agreement and unity are not possible through outer means. It is possible, however, for all to become unified through one spirit, just as all may receive light from one sun.

Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed.

God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal “the Kingdom is God’s” may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.

Religion must cause fellowship and love among humanity, bringing hearts and spirits together in harmony. If religion causes enmity, its absence is preferable to its existence. Moreover, religion must be the cause of the unity of the human world, not the cause of discord. Any religion that is true must inevitably unite different peoples.

As for the heavenly Jerusalem that hath come to rest on the summits of the world, and God's Holy of Holies, Whose banner is now lifted high, this comprehendeth within itself all the perfections, all the knowledge of the dispensations gone before. Beyond this, it heraldeth the oneness of the children of men. It is the flag of universal peace, the spirit of eternal life; it is the glory of the perfections of God, the circumambient grace of all existence, the ornament bedecking all created things, the source of inner quietude for all humankind.

All are the servants of God and members of one human family. God has created all, and all are His children. He rears, nourishes, provides for and is kind to all. Why should we be unjust and unkind? … Briefly, the old conditions of animosity, bigotry and hatred between the religious systems must be dispelled and the new conditions of love, agreement and spiritual brotherhood be established among them.

As for thy mention of the opinion expressed to thee by a certain individual that, in so far as concerneth the Spirit, there existeth no difference between us, his assertion is correct, for the Spirit is too exalted either to admit of differences or to be comprehended by allusions. … It hath not changed from age to age, and such as it hath been it shall remain. Such differences as may be witnessed in the effulgence of its light are to be attributed to the mirrors that receive it, and to the disparity, in form and colour, of the images they reflect.

If only the whole world would acknowledge the greatness of Muhammad and all the Heaven-sent Teachers, strife and discord would soon vanish from the face of the earth, and God's Kingdom would come among men.

… If men could only learn the lesson of mutual tolerance, understanding, and brotherly love, the unity of the world would soon be an established fact.

By this means the nations and peoples now divergent in religion will be brought into unity, imitations will be forsaken, and a universal brotherhood in reality itself will be established. Warfare and strife will cease among mankind; all will be reconciled as servants of God.

Note thou: could these fevers in the world of the mind, these fires of war and hate, of resentment and malice among the nations, this aggression of peoples against peoples, which have destroyed the tranquillity of the whole world ever be made to abate, except through the living waters of the teachings of God? No, never!

Enmity will be transmuted into love; the root causes of contention and strife will be eliminated; mankind will attain true felicity; this world will mirror forth the heavenly Kingdom; and the earth below will become the throne of the realm above. All nations will become one nation; all religions will become one religion; all mankind will become one family and one kindred; all the regions of the earth will become as one; racial, national, personal, linguistic, and political prejudices will be effaced and extinguished; and all will attain everlasting life under the shadow of the Lord of Hosts.

The second principle or teaching of Baha'u'llah is the proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity -- that all are servants of God and belong to one family; that God has created all and, therefore, His bestowals are universal; and that His providence, training, sustenance and loving-kindness surround all mankind.

It is a self-evident truth that all humanity is the creation of God. All are His servants and under His protection. All are recipients of His bestowals. God is kind to all His servants.

All the holy ones of God have tried with heart and soul to spread the light of love and unity throughout the world, so that the darkness of materiality might disappear and the light of spirituality might shine forth among the children of men. Then would hate, slander and murder disappear, and in their stead love, unity and peace would reign.

After the Most High Pen [Qalam-i A'la=the Bab], We abrogated all that which was the cause of hardship and discomfort and strife by Our decisive decree, and We revealed and implemented all that which was a source of concord and unity.

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. God has given us reason that we might fathom realities.

Baha'u'llah has addressed the world of humanity, saying, "Verily, ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." This signifies that the entire world of humanity is one tree. The various nations and peoples are the branches of that tree. Individual members of mankind are represented by the twigs and blossoms. Why should these parts of the same tree manifest strife and discord toward each other?

Just as Baha'u'llah addressing the world of humanity saith: 'O people! Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.'

As regardeth the association which hath been formed in Shanghai, China, with the aim of promoting harmony and reconciliation amongst the religions, do thou send to that English lady literature about the Cause and material from the press, and advise her by all means to go to that association and speak about this blessed Cause---a universal religion which bringeth all faiths and creeds together beneath the effulgence of the Sun of Truth, entirely reconciling them and welding them into a single people. This is an important matter to which thou shouldst attend most heedfully.

The purport is this: that Baha'u'llah in prison was able to proclaim and establish the foundations of peace although two despotic kings were His enemies and oppressors. The King of Persia, Nasiri'd-Din Shah, had killed twenty thousand Baha'is, martyrs who in absolute severance and complete willingness offered their lives joyfully for their faith. These two powerful and tyrannical kings could not withstand a prisoner; this Prisoner upheld the standard of humanity and brought the people of the Orient into agreement and unity.

Among them today you will find no religious, political or patriotic prejudice; they are friendly, loving and associate in the greatest happiness. They have no part in the war and strife which take place in the East; their attitude toward all men is that of goodwill and loving-kindness. A standard of universal peace has been unfurled among them.

When man acquires these virtues, the oneness of the world of humanity will be revealed, the banner of international peace will be upraised, equality between all mankind will be realized, and the Orient and Occident will become one. Then will the justice of God become manifest, all humanity will appear as the members of one family, and every member of that family will be consecrated to cooperation and mutual assistance.

Therefore, it is evident that the Prophets of God have come to unite the children of men and not to disperse them, to establish the law of love and not enmity. Consequently, we must lay aside all prejudice -- whether it be religious, racial, political or patriotic; we must become the cause of the unification of the human race.

The world is full of ideas but they are either fleeting or profitless or impractical or limited in their influence or confined within a narrow scope. The beaming shafts of the light of cosmic ideals must pierce through the hearts of men and the power of the Holy Spirit is necessary to carry into execution these noble thoughts of the age. Human power is limited in its influence. It can unite two persons, or two tribes, or two communities, or at the utmost two nations. At the same time it confesses that this unity is temporal and may be abrogated by the whim of either of the high contracting parties.

That which hath been sent down from the heaven of divine Will hath had as its purpose the unity and concord of mankind after the recognition of God, yet the heedless people have made it a cause of discord and dissension.

For instance: If the beloved of GOD wish to establish the oneness and solidarity of humanity, the people and the Government rise against them. If they publicly declare that racial, religious and national bias must cease and that the Standard of Peace must be upheld, they will be greatly persecuted because the old religion is full of prejudice.

The leaders of religions must be the means of binding the hearts together, establishing good-fellowship between the members of the human family, creating a desire for universal Peace and emphasizing more the essential unity of mankind.

This Wronged One hath had no purpose except the reformation of the world and the refinement of all nations. The Pen of the All-Merciful desireth to purify all who dwell within the realm of possibility from rancor and hatred through the living waters of utterance, and to enable all to attain true unity, that the whole world might become detached and free.

He sent forth the Spirit (Christ) to summon all the world to His oneness, for acknowledgment of this oneness is the cause of fellowship and unity among the peoples of the world. And when the light of unity encompassed the earth and overcame darkness, all were seen as one soul.

We have ordained the laws for love and unity, for kindliness and concord, yet the people have made them the cause of hatred. … We have borne the tribulations of earth for the unity of all therein and the revelation of what God hath willed.

Let no man exalt himself above another; all are but bondslaves before the Lord, and all exemplify the truth that there is none other God but Him.

This variety in forms and colorings which is manifest in all the kingdoms is according to creative wisdom and has a divine purpose. Nevertheless, whether the creatures be all alike or all different should not be the cause of strife and quarreling among them. Especially why should man find cause for discord in the color or race of his fellow creature?

The question of the races is one which is extremely regrettable. For the blacks hate the whites, while the whites distrust the blacks. You must overcome this by showing them that you make no distinction. The end will be very unfortunate for both if the differences are not removed.

O ye discerning ones! Verily, the words which have descended from the heaven of the Will of God are the source of unity and harmony for the world. Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness.

Baha'u'llah has proclaimed the oneness of the world of humanity. He has caused various nations and divergent creeds to unite. He has declared that difference of race and color is like the variegated beauty of flowers in a garden. If you enter a garden, you will see yellow, white, blue, red flowers in profusion and beauty -- each radiant within itself and although different from the others, lending its own charm to them. Racial difference in the human kingdom is similar. If all the flowers in a garden were of the same color, the effect would be monotonous and wearying to the eye.

His second principle is the oneness of mankind: that all men are the sheep of God, and God is their loving Shepherd, caring most tenderly for all without favouring one or another. 'No difference canst thou see in the creation of the God of mercy'; all are His servants, all implore His grace.

At a time when warfare and strife prevailed among nations, when enmity and hatred separated sects and denominations and human differences were very great, Baha'u'llah appeared upon the horizon of the East, proclaiming the oneness of God and the unity of the world of humanity.

Each one should endeavor to develop and assist the other toward mutual advancement...

Love and unity will be fostered between you, thereby bringing about the oneness of mankind. For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white will be an assurance of the world's peace.

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In the Kingdom of God, women and men are one and the same. It is incumbent on everyone to summon humanity to turn towards the Most Exalted Horizon and to spread the sweet savours of God.

Shall racial ideas prevail and obscure the creative purpose of unity in his kingdom? … God forbid! This earth is one household and the native land of all humanity; therefore, the human race should ignore distinctions and boundaries which are artificial and conducive to disagreement and hostility.

Baha'u'llah especially emphasized international peace. He declared that all mankind is the one progeny of Adam and members of one great universal family.

What is the reason that Parliament becomes so agitated over twenty-five people but says absolutely nothing about 6000 people, when those are human beings and these are human beings - all are descendants of Adam?

However, the divine person and heavenly soul is free from these limitations, and their breadth of thought and loftiness of purpose is of the highest degree. The sphere of their thoughts expands to such an extent that they consider the benefit of all humanity as the foundation for the happiness of each individual, and they regard harm to all nations and governments as harm to their own government and nation, indeed to their own family, nay even to their own self. Therefore, they strive with heart and soul to the extent possible to secure happiness and benefit for all humanity and to avert harm from all nations.

Therefore one should not focus on differences in minor feelings, but rather look to essential unity and say "all are from God" and find deliverance from the evils of self and passion.

Thy splendid letter aroused spiritual affections in my heart. I read it with admiration, for it was a melody of Divine Unity and an ensign proclaiming His oneness.

We must now strive so that the ignorant may be freed from religious, racial, economic and even national prejudices, released from all bonds, and become fully attached to the unity of the human world, so that this dark cloud of six thousand years that had made the horizons gloomy may be dispersed through the power of knowledge and wisdom, and the light of the oneness of humanity may encompass the world.

When the racial elements of the American nation unite in actual fellowship and accord, the lights of the oneness of humanity will shine, the day of eternal glory and bliss will dawn, the spirit of God encompass, and the divine favors descend.

This prisoner's desire is that among the friends two designations should not remain - that "Kalimi" and "Furqani" should not be spoken - only the single designation "Baha'i" should endure. For all are waves of one sea and flowers of one garden, graceful trees of one park, and guides and wayfarers of one path. How wonderful it would be if East and West became known and celebrated by one name and title, so that the unity of the human world might shine like the sun upon West and East.

For all of us are the children of one Father. God is at peace with all His children: why should they engage in strife and warfare among themselves? God is showering down kindness; why should the inhabitants of this world exchange unkindness and cruelty?

"Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch."

The association which has been formed for promoting the relationship and love between America and Japan will, God willing, be confirmed and assisted. This association is important. It will, unquestionably, bring forth great results.

The especial Convention, however, for the removal of racial enmity between the white and the colored is, as I wrote to the revered maidservant of God, Mrs. Parsons, blessed.

It is possible that the Europeans believe themselves to be superior to us, but we consider all people the servants of God and regard all humanity the same way.

The formation of gatherings of blacks and whites is a cause for the manifestation of the oneness of humanity. It will completely erase and eliminate racial prejudice and give everyone to drink from the spring of the water of life.

Abstract yourselves from these imaginations and cleanse and polish the mirrors of your hearts form the dross of these ignorant prejudices - thus you may become real kind and loving to the world of humanity, serving mankind with faithfulness and entertaining not the least trace of ill-feeling against the individual members of any nation, any religion, any community, any race and any country.

Concerning the event of the gathering where four of the white and four of the colored people with the utmost love and harmony sang thy hymn with the utmost joy and fragrance, indeed this is one of the great signs of God, because it hath gathered hearts which were scattered and filled with hatred, souls which were opposing one another, disputing and repelling with enmity and made them as one soul sing the astonishing melodies of harmony in different tones.

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.

Assistance today consists of goodly deeds, praiseworthy conduct, and unifying words - this has been and will continue to be so, as revealed and recorded in most of the Tablets. You must surely strive with the utmost effort and care to unite hearts, bring about agreement among souls, and follow what has been revealed in the Book, so that all may dwell in one pavilion and speak with one voice.

Say: The killing of souls is no proof of manliness or bravery. If ye are able, revive withered souls with the breaths of the All-Merciful. A single serpent can destroy a thousand humans with its venom, yet this power hath never been and will never be a source of pride for the serpent. Rather, it hath caused it to become detested by all hearts. Blessed is the one who ariseth to promote unity and concord, not one who causeth separation and discord.

It is thus that unity may be established. You cannot become one with another by merely talking religion to him; you must step upon an intimate basis with him and enter into the atmosphere of his life, so that it may become brighter through you. When such a principle is the guiding instinct of our intercourse with others, selfishness will disappear and the unity of mankind will be established as an irristible fact.

All knowledge is good, but it can bear no fruit but by action. It is well to know that riches are good, but that knowledge will not make a man rich; he must work, he must put his knowledge into practice. We hope the people will realize and know that Unity is good, and we also hope that they will not be content to stand still in that knowledge. Do not only say that Unity, Love and Brotherhood are good; you must work for their realization.

We must associate with all humanity in gentleness and kindliness. We must love all with love of the heart. Some are ignorant; they must be trained and educated. One is sick; he must be healed. Another is as a child; we must assist him to attain maturity. We must not detest him who is ailing, neither shun him, scorn nor curse him, but care for him with the utmost kindness and tenderness.

Second, the oneness of the world of humanity shall be realized, accepted and established. When we reflect upon this blessed principle, it will become evident and manifest that it is the healing remedy for all human conditions. All mankind are the servants of the glorious God, our Creator. He has created all. Assuredly He must have loved them equally; otherwise, He would not have created them. He protects all. Assuredly He loves His creatures; otherwise, He would not protect them.

The Sheikh called the nobles of his tribe and said to them: 'It is God's wish that we should associate with the other tribe. It is better that we should take this mare and the youth and go to the other tribe and give this mare to the head of that tribe and have this wedding.'

Seek fellowship and oneness, and forget estrangement and alienation.

The human world requires fellowship, and what befits humanity is forgiveness and love.

In this wondrous cycle, brotherhood between all humanity has been established by the decisive divine text. Therefore one must be a kind friend to stranger and acquaintance alike, and show utmost love and conscience toward both those who agree and those who oppose.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is the oneness of the world of humanity; that all human beings are the sheep of God and He is the kind Shepherd. This Shepherd is kind to all the sheep, because He created them all, trained them, provided for them and protected them. There is no doubt that the Shepherd is kind to all the sheep and should there be among these sheep ignorant ones, they must be educated; if there be children, they must be trained until they reach maturity; if there be sick ones, they must be cured. There must be no hatred and enmity, for as by a kind physician these ignorant, sick ones should be treated.

This is what was revealed in response: Today whatever is written should be considered with the utmost care so that it may not become a cause of differences or give rise to objections from the people. What the friends of God utter today reaches the ears of all the peoples of the earth.

The children of men are all brothers, and the prerequisites of brotherhood are manifold. Among them is that one should wish for one's brother that which one wisheth for oneself.

What a blessing that will be -- when all shall come together, even as once separate torrents, rivers and streams, running brooks and single drops, when collected together in one place will form a mighty sea. And to such a degree will the inherent unity of all prevail, that the traditions, rules, customs and distinctions in the fanciful life of these populations will be effaced and vanish away like isolated drops, once the great sea of oneness doth leap and surge and roll.

The Blessed Beauty saith: "Ye are all the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch." Thus hath He likened this world of being to a single tree, and all its peoples to the leaves thereof, and the blossoms and fruits. It is needful for the bough to blossom, and leaf and fruit to flourish, and upon the interconnection of all parts of the world-tree, dependeth the flourishing of leaf and blossom, and the sweetness of the fruit.

… Let them purify their sight and behold all humankind as leaves and blossoms and fruits of the tree of being. Let them at all times concern themselves with doing a kindly thing for one of their fellows, offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful help.

I have repeatedly summoned you to the cause of the unity of the world of humanity, announcing that all mankind are the servants of the same God, that God is the creator of all; He is the Provider and Life-giver; all are equally beloved by Him and are His servants upon whom His mercy and compassion descend.

"To be a Bahai simply means to love all the world, to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for Universal Peace, and the Universal Brotherhood," replied Abdul-Baha.

Its sword is the proclamation of human oneness, its world-conquering blade is divine bestowal, its military might is the love of God, its army's laws and principles are the expression of the knowledge of God, its commander-in-chief is the light of God's guidance, its principles and laws are love and kindness toward all humanity, to such degree that even the stranger is a friend, the other is a companion, the enemy a loved one, the ill-wisher a well-wisher, and this is how one behaves, for He addresses humanity saying that all peoples are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.

The friends of God must at all times be occupied with fostering love, unity and the reconciliation of hearts. Once these blessed words were heard from the Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness - exalted be His glory: "The sun of justice derives its brightness from the light of unity."

The purpose of unity is association, and the purpose of association is mutual assistance. The means that outwardly conduce to unity, fellowship, guidance and love are forbearance and beneficence.

Its fruitage and flower shall be the solidarity of mankind, the perfection of justice and the praiseworthy attributes of heaven manifest in humanity.

Strive ye by day and night to cultivate your unity to the fullest degree. Let your thoughts dwell on your own spiritual development, and close your eyes to the deficiencies of other souls. Act ye in such wise, showing forth pure and goodly deeds, and modesty and humility, that ye will cause others to be awakened.

How good it is if the friends be as close as sheaves of light, if they stand together side by side in a firm unbroken line. For now have the rays of reality from the Sun of the world of existence, united in adoration all the worshippers of this light; and these rays have, through infinite grace, gathered all peoples together within this wide-spreading shelter; therefore must all souls become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart.

Especially to those whose thoughts are material and retrograde show the utmost love and patience, thereby winning them into the unity of fellowship by the radiance of your kindness.

If you are faithful to your great work, following the Holy Sun of Truth without swerving, then will the blessed day of universal brotherhood dawn on this beautiful city.

If any differences arise amongst you, behold Me standing before your face, and overlook the faults of one another for My name's sake and as a token of your love for My manifest and resplendent Cause. We love to see you at all times consorting in amity and concord within the paradise of My good-pleasure, and to inhale from your acts the fragrance of friendliness and unity, of loving-kindness and fellowship. Thus counseleth you the All-Knowing, the Faithful. We shall always be with you; if We inhale the perfume of your fellowship, Our heart will assuredly rejoice, for naught else can satisfy Us.

The people of Baha, praised be the Lord, have returned the sword unto its scabbard and strive to promote love, harmony and union, that thereby the kindreds and peoples of the world may be reconciled.

They are awake and vigilant, they shun the obscurity of the world of nature, their highest wish centereth on the eradication from among men of the struggle for existence, the shining forth of the spirituality and the love of the realm on high, the exercise of utmost kindness among peoples, the realization of an intimate and close connection between religions and the practice of the ideal of self-sacrifice.

Briefly, we must strive with heart and soul in order that this darkness of the contingent world may be dispelled, that the lights of the Kingdom shall shine upon all the horizons, the world of humanity become illumined, the image of God become apparent in human mirrors, the law of God be well established and that all regions of the world shall enjoy peace, comfort and composure beneath the equitable protection of God.

We work and pray for the unity of mankind, that all the races of the earth may become one race, all the countries one country, and that all hearts may beat as one heart, working together for perfect unity and brotherhood.

When you go to Green Acre, you must have infinite love for each other, each preferring the other before himself. The people must be so attracted to you that they will exclaim, "What happiness exists among you!" and will see in your faces the lights of the Kingdom; then in wonderment they will turn to you and seek the cause of your happiness.

O Ibn-i-Dakhil! Set ablaze the loved ones with the heat of the Divine Word, but with such a blaze as would cause attraction and be the cause of turning unto God and of unity, not of conflict and contention.

O thou sincere seeker! Strive thou with all thy might to summon the people to the heavenly Kingdom, so that through divine guidance thou mayest enable the human souls to become even as the angels of Paradise, mayest promote universal peace in this distinguished Age and serve the oneness of the world of humanity, and mayest attain unto everlasting life, follow the example of Christ, and become a companion of 'Abdu'l-Baha in this path.

Humanity may be likened to a tree. This tree has branches, leaves, buds and fruit. Think of all men as being flowers, leaves or buds of this tree, and try to help each and all to realize and enjoy God's blessings. God neglects none: He loves all.

The divine loved ones share in all rights and in truth have the status of one soul. If one suffers loss, all have suffered loss. If one profits, all profit, for the bonds are firm and the foundation of unity is now established.

This is why in the divine tablets it states to this effect that all on earth are branches and leaves of one tree. Consider this universality, not the particularity of leaves, flowers and fruits.

Verily, God has chosen you for His love and knowledge; God has chosen you for the worthy service of unifying mankind; God has chosen you for the purpose of investigating reality and promulgating international peace; God has chosen you for the progress and development of humanity, for spreading and proclaiming true education, for the expression of love toward your fellow creatures and the removal of prejudice; God has chosen you to blend together human hearts and give light to the human world.

Some of the principles of Baha'u'llah's teaching are as follows:

First, that the oneness of humanity shall be recognized and established. All men are the servants of God. He has created all; He is the Provider and Preserver; He is loving to all. Inasmuch as He is just and kind, why should we be unjust toward each other? As God has quickened us with life, why should we be the cause of death? As He has comforted us, why should we be the cause of anxiety and suffering? Can humanity conceive a plan and policy better and superior to that of God?

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You must become of one heart, one spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth.

The loved ones of God must appear before all people adorned with the ornament of trustworthiness, truthfulness and purity, and must strive with all their might to foster the unity of hearts and fellowship of souls.

O friends! The gathering of that assembly in a photograph is proof that the Glorious Lord will soon bestow fellowship upon all humanity and make them of one heart, remove estrangement and raise high the banner of oneness, heal hearts and grant unity to souls.

Inasmuch as we are all created from the same substance, why should we prefer ourselves above others? We are all humans. We are all the children of one Father; the sheep of one Shepard; the members of one family; the birds of one orchard, the flowers of one rose-garden, the waves of one sea, the rays of one Sun; the stars of one heaven and the servants of One God.

I enquired if in future the prophets of God will meet with the same opposition as those offered to Baha'u'llah, Mohamed and Christ, he replied, "No, the world will be so trained that no one will harm even his own enemy."

Hold fast unto what is good and vie ye with one another in good deeds. Thus have ye been commanded by God, the Lord of the worlds.

… All must, through divine assistance and in perfect unity, gather at the table of the love of the All-Merciful, regard their aims as one and their purposes as united, vie with one another in service, and exert their utmost endeavor.

We beseech God to assist them to love and unity, to gather them beneath the pavilions of His Cause, and to make them of those who, in helping the Cause, have not regarded themselves and what they possess, but have helped God's Cause through their character, deeds and remembrance.

The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be wholly free from estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for they are the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of one heaven, the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one garden. Should harmony of thought and absolute unity be nonexistent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to naught.

This attainment is conditioned upon unity and agreement. The more perfect the love and agreement, the more the divine confirmations and assistance of the Blessed Perfection will descend. May this prove to be a divine meeting, and may boundless bestowals come down upon you.

The Baha'is are commanded to establish the oneness of mankind; if they cannot unite around one point how will they be able to bring about the unity of mankind?

Enable them to be steadfast in the Covenant according to the explicit divine Text, which is a conclusive evidence of the Truth, so that Baha'i unity may be preserved. Otherwise, a new sect would emerge each day, utter division would result, and the Cause of God would be destroyed---nay, exterminated. Were there any other power that could safeguard Baha'i unity, I would have summoned everyone unto it. But ponder and reflect: Is it possible for the unity of the Faith to be protected by any other power than that of the Covenant?

However, a true friend has always wished to see his loved ones united. Yet due to certain outward worldly matters, this quality is rarely observed. Therefore it is best that you travel together, and after arrival at the mentioned place, there is no objection if each person acts according to his own will in matters of outward affairs.

Say: O friends, have mercy upon yourselves! O loved ones, show compassion toward me! O beloved ones, lament for the Cause of God! What discord was this? What uproar was this? The matter of greeting was not something for you to dispute over. The appointed Interpreter was present - you should have asked and inquired. There was no need for contention.

Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope that the people of Baha may be guided by the blessed words: 'Say: all things are of God.' This exalted utterance is like unto water for quenching the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts and breasts of men. By this single utterance contending peoples and kindreds will attain the light of true unity.

I beg of God to strengthen these spiritual bonds as day followeth day, and make this mystic oneness to shine ever more brightly, until at last all shall be as troops marshalled together beneath the banner of the Covenant within the sheltering shade of the Word of God; that they may strive with all their might until universal fellowship, close and warm, and unalloyed love, and spiritual relationships, will connect all the hearts in the world. Then will all humankind, because of this fresh and dazzling bounty, be gathered in a single homeland. Then will conflict and dissension vanish from the face of the earth, then will mankind be cradled in love for the beauty of the All-Glorious.

It is daybreak, and from the rising-point of the invisible realms of God, the light of unity is dawning; and streaming and beating down from the hidden world of the Kingdom of oneness there cometh a flood of abounding grace. Glad tidings of the Kingdom are sounding from every side, and wafting in from every direction are the first morning signs of the exalting of God's Word and the upraising of His Cause. The word of unity is spreading, the verses of oneness are being sung, the sea of God's bestowals is tossing high its waves, and in plunging cataracts His blessings are pouring down.

The confirmations of Him Who is the Ever-Forgiving have wrapped every clime in light, the armies of the Company on high are rushing forward to do battle at the side of the friends of the Lord and carry the day, the fame of the Ancient Beauty -- may my life be offered up for His loved ones -- resoundeth from pole to pole and word of the Holy Cause hath spread to east and west.

All these things bring joy to the heart, and yet Abdu'l-Baha is sunk deep in an ocean of grief, and pain and anguish have so affected my limbs and members that utter weakness hath overtaken my whole body. Note ye that when, singly and alone, with none to second me, I upraised the call of God around the world, the peoples thereof rose up to oppose, to dispute, to deny. On one side, it is clear how the religionists of the past have mounted their attack at all points; again, there cometh word of the lying mockers and the extreme limits to which they are going to pull out the Divine Tree by the roots. What malicious and slanderous charges they bring against the Ancient Beauty, what pamphlets filled with wicked and depraved allegations they are busily writing and spreading against the Most Great Name! And now, in deepest secrecy, they are straining every nerve to deal this Faith a fearsome blow.

Again have the prideful devised all manner of plots and schemes to completely disable the Cause of God and to erase the name of Abdu'l-Baha from the Book of Life.

And now, added to all these tribulations, these miseries, these enemy attacks, there hath arisen a dust cloud of ill will amongst the believers themselves. This in spite of the fact that the Cause of the Ancient Beauty is the very essence of love, the very channel of oneness, existing only that all may become the waves of one sea, and bright stars of the same endless sky, and pearls within the shell of singleness, and gleaming jewels quarried from the mines of unity; that they may become servants one to another, adore one another, bless one another, praise one another; that each one may loose his tongue and extol the rest without exception, each one voice his gratitude to all the rest; that all should lift up their eyes to the horizon of glory, and remember that they are linked to the Holy Threshold; that they should see nothing but good in one another, hear nothing but praise of one another, and speak no word of one another save only to praise.

There are indeed certain ones who tread this way of righteousness, and God be thanked, these are strengthened and supported by heavenly power in every land. But others have not arisen as they ought to this gloried and exalted station, and this doth lay upon the heart of 'Abdu'lâ€'Baha a heavy burden of grief, of inconceivable grief. For no tempest more perilous than this could ever assail the Cause of God, nor could anything else so diminish the influence of His Word.

It behooveth all the beloved of God to become as one, to gather together under the protection of a single flag, to stand for a uniform body of opinion, to follow one and the same pathway, to hold fast to a single resolve. Let them forget their divergent theories and put aside their conflicting views since, God be praised, our purpose is one, our goal is one. We are the servants of one Threshold, we all draw our nourishment from the same one Source, we all are gathered in the shade of the same high Tabernacle, we all are sheltered under the one celestial Tree.

O beloved of the Lord! If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful purpose? Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the Covenant, or be of any possible benefit to any soul? No, never! On the contrary, it would make the dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and the eyes would no longer behold the light of truth.

If, however, a person setteth about speaking well of another, opening his lips to praise another, he will touch an answering chord in his hearers and they will be stirred up by the breathings of God. Their hearts and souls will rejoice to know that, God be thanked, here is a soul in the Faith who is a focus of human perfections, a very embodiment of the bounties of the Lord, one whose tongue is eloquent, and whose face shineth, in whatever gathering he may be, one who hath victory upon his brow, and who is a being sustained by the sweet savours of God.

Now which is the better way? I swear this by the beauty of the Lord: whensoever I hear good of the friends, my heart filleth up with joy; but whensoever I find even a hint that they are on bad terms one with another, I am overwhelmed by grief. Such is the condition of Abdu'l-Baha. Then judge from this where your duty lieth.

God be praised, wherever we turn, the Ancient Beauty hath opened wide the gates of grace, and hath in unmistakable words announced glad tidings of victory through the Lord's sustaining help. Through love hath He carried off the hearts of the believers, and He hath entrusted their triumph to the armies of the Concourse on high.

Now amidst all the peoples of the world must the beloved arise, with a heart even as the day-star, a strong inward urge, a shining brow, a musk-scented breath, a tongue speaking ever of God, an exposition crystal-clear, a high resolve, a power born of heaven, a spiritual character, a confirmation nothing short of the divine. Let them one and all become as a splendour on the horizon of heaven, and in the skies of the world a dazzling star. Let them be fruitful trees in the celestial bowers, sweet-scented blooms in the divine gardens; let them be verses of perfection on the page of the universe, words of oneness in the Book of Life. This is the first age, and the early beginnings of the dispensation of the Most Great Light, wherefore, within this century, virtues must be acquired, goodly qualities must be perfected within this span of time. In these very days the Abha Paradise must pitch its pavilions on the plains of the world. The lights of reality must now be revealed, and the secrets of God's bestowals must now be made known, and now must the olden grace shine forth and this world change into the pleasure-ground of heaven, the garden of God. And out of pure hearts, and through heavenly bounties, all the perfections, qualities and attributes of the divine must now be made manifest.

At all times doth Abdu'l-Baha supplicate and with tears entreat the Almighty at the sacred Threshold, and crieth out:

"O Thou kind Lord! We are servants of Thy Threshold, taking shelter at Thy holy Door. We seek no refuge save only this strong pillar, turn nowhere for a haven but unto Thy safekeeping. Protect us, bless us, support us, make us such that we shall love but Thy good pleasure, utter only Thy praise, follow only the pathway of truth, that we may become rich enough to dispense with all save Thee, and receive our gifts from the sea of Thy beneficence, that we may ever strive to exalt Thy Cause and to spread Thy sweet savours far and wide, that we may become oblivious of self and occupied only with Thee, and disown all else and be caught up in Thee.

"O Thou Provider, O Thou Forgiver! Grant us Thy grace and loving-kindness, Thy gifts and Thy bestowals, and sustain us, that we may attain our goal. Thou art the Powerful, the Able, the Knower, the Seer; and verily Thou art the Generous, and verily Thou art the All-Merciful, and verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, He to Whom repentance is due, He Who forgiveth even the most grievous of sins."

Think of one another, assist in each other's affairs, share in each other's sorrows. Leave none of the nation's people in need. Help one another so that all may unitedly and harmoniously become as one body.

Today the most remarkable favor of God centereth around union and harmony among the friends; so that this unity and concord may be the cause of the promulgation of the oneness of the world of humanity, may emancipate the world from this intense darkness of enmity and rancor, and that the Sun of Truth may shine in full and perfect effulgence.

O my spiritual loved ones! At a time when an ocean of trials and tribulations was surging up and flinging its waves to the heavens, when multitudes were assailing us and the tyrannical were inflicting upon us crushing wrongs--at such a time a band of individuals, intent on defaming us, allied themselves with our unkind brother, brought out a treatise that was filled with slanderous charges, and leveled accusations and calumnies against us.

In this way they alarmed and confused the government authorities, and it is obvious what the condition of this captive then became, in this dilapidated fortress, and what terrible harm and mischief was done, far worse than words can tell. In spite of everything, this homeless prisoner remained inwardly tranquil and secure, trusting in the peerless Lord, yearning for whatever afflictions might have to be encountered in the pathway of God's love. For bolts of hate are, in our sight, but a gift of pearls from Him, and mortal poison but a healing draught.

Such was our state when a letter came to us from the American friends. They had covenanted together, so they wrote, to remain at one in all things, and the signatories one and all had pledged themselves to make sacrifices in the pathway of the love of God, thus to achieve eternal life. At the very moment when this letter was read, together with the signatures at its close, 'Abdu'l-Baha experienced a joy so vehement that no pen can describe it, and thanked God that friends have been raised up in that country who will live together in perfect harmony, in the best of fellowship, in full agreement, closely knit, united in their efforts.

The more this compact is reinforced, the happier and the better shall all things be, for it will draw unto itself the confirmations of God. If the lovers of the Lord are hoping for grace to win as their friends the Company on high, they must do all they can to strengthen this compact, for such an alliance for brotherhood and unity is even as watering the Tree of Life: it is life everlasting.

O ye lovers of God! Make firm your steps; fulfill your pledge to one another; go forth in harmony to scatter abroad the sweet savors of God's love, and to establish His Teachings, until ye breathe a soul into the dead body of this world, and bring true healing in the physical and spiritual realms to everyone who aileth.

O ye lovers of God! The world is even as a human being who is diseased and impotent, whose eyes can see no longer, whose ears have gone deaf, all of whose powers are corroded and used up. Wherefore must the friends of God be competent physicians who, following the holy Teachings, will nurse this patient back to health. Perhaps, God willing, the world will mend, and become permanently whole, and its exhausted faculties will be restored, and its person will take on such vigor, freshness and verdancy that it will shine out with comeliness and grace.

The first remedy of all is to guide the people aright, so that they will turn themselves unto God, and listen to His counselings, and go forth with hearing ears and seeing eyes. Once this speedily effective draught is given them, then, in accordance with the Teachings, they must be led to acquire the characteristics and the behavior of the Concourse on high, and encouraged to seek out all the bounties of the Abha Realm. They must cleanse their hearts from even the slightest trace of hatred and spite, and they must set about being truthful and honest, conciliatory and loving to all humankind--so that East and West will, even as two lovers, hold each other close; that hatred and hostility will perish from the earth, and universal peace be firmly rooted in their place.

O ye lovers of God! Be kind to all peoples; care for every person; do all ye can to purify the hearts and minds of men; strive ye to gladden every soul. To every meadow be a shower of grace, to every tree the water of life; be as sweet musk to the sense of humankind, and to the ailing be a fresh, restoring breeze. Be pleasing waters to all those who thirst, a careful guide to all who have lost their way; be father and mother to the orphan, be loving sons and daughters to the old, be an abundant treasure to the poor. Think ye of love and good fellowship as the delights of heaven, think ye of hostility and hatred as the torments of hell.

Indulge not your bodies with rest, but work with all your souls, and with all your hearts cry out and beg of God to grant you His succor and grace. Thus may ye make this world the Abha Paradise, and this globe of earth the parade ground of the realm on high. If only ye exert the effort, it is certain that these splendors will shine out, these clouds of mercy will shed down their rain, these life-giving winds will rise and blow, this sweet-smelling musk will be scattered far and wide.

O ye lovers of God! Do not dwell on what is coming to pass in this holy place, and be ye in no wise alarmed. Whatsoever may happen is for the best, because affliction is but the essence of bounty, and sorrow and toil are mercy unalloyed, and anguish is peace of mind, and to make a sacrifice is to receive a gift, and whatsoever may come to pass hath issued from God's grace.

See ye, therefore, to your own tasks: guide ye the people and educate them in the ways of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Deliver to mankind this joyous message from the Abha Realm. Rest not, by day or night; seek ye no moment's peace. Strive ye with all your might to bring to men's ears these happy tidings. In your love for God and your attachment to 'Abdu'l-Baha, accept ye every tribulation, every sorrow. Endure the aggressor's taunts, put up with the enemy's reproaches. Follow in the footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and in the pathway of the Abha Beauty, long at every moment to give up your lives. Shine out like the daystar, be unresting as the sea; even as the clouds of heaven, shed ye life upon field and hill, and like unto April winds, blow freshness through those human trees, and bring them to their blossoming.

Fellowship and unity have various degrees - each degree is acceptable, and the more it progresses the more acceptable, beloved and pleasing it becomes, and causes nearness to the Court of the All-Glorious and attainment of infinite confirmations.

O ye beloved of the Lord and handmaids of the All-Merciful! No sooner had the Sun of Truth shone forth from the heaven of sanctity than it shed upon the horizons of the world the light of unity of thought, unity of opinion, unity of belief, and unity of truth. And this, so that humankind might come together at one single point with respect to thoughts and beliefs; that quarrels, disputes, and conflicts might wholly disappear from amongst humankind; and that the same Light radiating from the Sun of Truth might illumine every heart.

Today the one overriding need is unity and harmony among the beloved of the Lord, for they should have among them but one heart and soul and should, so far as in them lieth, unitedly withstand the hostility of all the peoples of the world; they must bring to an end the benighted prejudices of all nations and religions and must make known to every member of the human race that all are the leaves of one branch, the fruits of one bough.

Until such time, however, as the friends establish perfect unity among themselves, how can they summon others to harmony and peace?

And He commandeth all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the kindred and the Baha'is to turn toward Him. Now, either one must say that the Blessed Beauty hath made a mistake, or He must be obeyed. 'Abdu'l‑Baha hath no command for the people to obey save the diffusion of the fragrances of God, the exaltation of His Word, the promulgation of the oneness of the world of humanity, the establishment of universal peace, and other of the commands of God. These are divine commands and have nothing to do with 'Abdu'l‑Baha.

Should such a torch light up the world community, ye will find that the whole earth is sending forth a fragrance, that it hath become a delightsome paradise, and the face of it the image of high heaven. Then will the whole world be one native land, its diverse peoples one single kind, the nations of both east and west one household.

It should not be that each person follows their own opinion and thinks independently. … If it were such that each person had absolute authority and could carry out whatever they deemed good, the entire structure of affairs would completely fall apart, matters would become disordered, and both outward and spiritual chaos would ensue.

Indeed, the very foundation of the Law of God is that His loved ones should consort with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with the utmost kindliness, fellowship, and unity, and with truthfulness, sincerity, and faithfulness.

The answer to the fifth question is this: Baha'u'llah hath raised up the tabernacle of the oneness of mankind. Whoso seeketh shelter under this roof will certainly come forth from other dwellings.

O beloved of God and His chosen ones! With a heart enkindled by the fire of your love, a breast dilated by your remembrance, an eye gazing toward you, an ear hearkening to your call, tears flowing in longing for your success, and abundant prayers for your prosperity, I address you from this blessed and luminous Spot, and say:

Blessed are ye, O ye who have turned your faces unto Him! Glad tidings be unto you, O ye sincere ones! Blessed are ye, O ye steadfast ones! Glad tidings be unto you, O ye devout ones! Blessed are ye, O ye awakened by the breeze of God! Glad tidings be unto you, O ye quickened by the Spirit of God! Blessed are ye, O ye who have entered the Kingdom of God! Glad tidings be unto you, O ye who are drawn by the fragrances of God!

Verily I supplicate to God to strengthen you by an influential and Divine Power from the Supreme World and to reinforce you in these Days with the Hosts of Inspiration, and the Army of Peace, in such wise that ye may small the scent of Life from the Garment of Joseph (which is the Covenant) that in all times ye may be enlightened by the Lights which are dazzling from the Orb of Effulgence, that they may arise with union and agreement for the purpose of Exalting the Word of God, spreading the Signs of God and hoisting the Standard of God on the tops of the highest hills.

If ye be truly united, if ye agree to promote that which is the essential purpose, and to show forth an all-unifying love, I swear by Him Who causeth the seed to split and the breeze to waft, so great a light will shine forth from your faces as to reach the highest heavens, the fame of your glory will be noised abroad, the evidences of your preeminence will spread throughout all regions, your power will penetrate the realities of all things, your aims and purposes will exert their influence upon the great and mighty nations, your spirits will encompass the whole world of being, and ye will discover yourselves to be kings in the dominions of the Kingdom, and attired with the glorious crowns of the invisible Realm, and become the marshals of the army of peace, and princes of the forces of light, and stars shining from the horizon of perfection, and brilliant lamps shedding their radiance upon men.

Hasten! Hasten! O ye beloved of the Merciful. Be ye on the alert and hasten, O ye who have sincere thoughts. Be ye on the alert and hasten. O ye seers of the Kingdom of God. Be ye on the alert and hasten, O ye utterrers of the Name of God. Be on the alert and hasten, O ye who are illumined with the Lights of God – to unity, agreement, love and affinity, to have Word, to serve the matter of God, to turn to the Kingdom of God, to be firm in the Covenant of God, to render victorious the Religion of God, to spread the traces of God, and to straightforward in the Cause of God.

If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth.

He answered:

"The first duty of the members is to effect their own unity and harmony, in order to obtain good results. If there be no unity, or the Committee becomes the cause of inharmony, undoubtedly, it is better that it does not exist.

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Wherefore, O friends of God, gird up the loins of endeavour, and be so enkindled by the Lord’s burning Fire as to light up the East and the West in such wise that every Covenant-breaker would be put to flight and every wavering soul would take heed. Such a great bounty dependeth on unity, harmony, and concord among the beloved of the Lord. The friends in that region must grow so intoxicated by the wine of unity that they become even as a single sea. Though its waves be many, the sea is one; diversity is not an obstacle to unity.

Let them wish nothing but good for all peoples of the world.

In whatever country they live, let them act with utmost truthfulness, obedience, goodwill and trustworthiness toward that government.

Thou hast expressed satisfaction with the Convention, that this gathering hath been the means of the elevation of the Cause of God and the demonstration of the power of His Word. The greatness of the Cause will clear away these differences and may be compared to health in the body of man which, when established, cureth all disease and weakness. Our hope is that no trace of opposition may remain; but some of the friends in America are restless in their fresh ambitions and strive and seek under the ground and in the air to discover anything that breedeth dissension.

Likewise the spirits of men do reinforce and strengthen each other. If man does not receive spiritual assistance from others, his spirit will become weakened. The believers of God must reinforce each other's spirits, sacrifice their lives in the path of each other, through their mutual assistance, the utmost of unity be obtained.

The believers must love each other and must reflect the love of God. Some may say the lamp is a light; others may say the lamp is the place of the manifestation of light. Both statements are correct; but what is wrong is to quarrel, because it is contrary to the foundation laid by God.

Perchance will the lovers of God succeed in upraising the banner of human unity, so that the one-coloured tabernacle of the Kingdom of Heaven will cast its sheltering shadow over all the earth; that misunderstandings among the world's peoples will vanish away; that all nations will mingle one with another, dealing with one another even as the lover with his beloved.

If the handmaids of the All-Merciful achieve unity and oneness, associate with one another in love, praise each other, arise to serve, and teach the Cause, an extraordinary expansion will be achieved in a brief time.

Therefore, we should offer thanks to God, for He has confirmed us in attaining to the happiness of this occasion. He has appointed us servants of the human world, advocates of peace and unity among the religions, heralds of universal agreement among the races and nations, founders of divine reconciliation among all peoples.

The great and fundamental teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are the oneness of God and unity of mankind. This is the bond of union among Bahá’ís all over the world. They become united among themselves, then unite others.

The friends must be real peacemakers; not stirrers up of strife nor sowers of seeds of discord, nor acting with superiority one over another.

The election should be carried out with sincerity and good will. People should be elected who when united together will give the most harmony. No one should be electe who would cause inharmony.

One night when this evanescent servant was present in the Most Holy Court, He said: Write to K.D. - upon him be the Glory of God - that today your duty is to guide all people to love and unity, and with the utmost diligence to remove through kindly counsel from among the friends such matters and utterances as cause division. For division hath ever been and shall ever be the cause of disgrace, while unity is the source of exaltation.

O Jalal! We counsel thee and all the friends to unity and harmony. Should any ill-feeling arise between you, arise at once to dispel it, for discord causeth the Word to be arrested while harmony promoteth its exaltation.

Especially that two steadfast pillars from the Muslim and Jewish communities are closely associating with each other and arising to diffuse the divine fragrances in those regions. The sweetness of this news was more delightful than honey and sugar, for 'Abdu'l-Baha in his sorrow has no joy except in the steadfastness of the friends in the luminous Cause.

Therefore it is not befitting that for the election of an assembly, which must be purely spiritual and has no connection to material things, there should arise all this tumult, confusion and whispering.

Therefore I assign that you forgo the remaining hundred tumans so that love and harmony may be established among the brothers.

This estrangement among the friends has reached such a degree that not only are they themselves inactive, but even the Spiritual Assembly, which exists in all cities of the world, even in the villages of Iran, does not exist in Bombay which enjoys complete freedom.

Now the oneness of humanity is a seed that you are sowing - it seems of no importance. But when the spring of universal peace comes, then it will sprout and its importance will become manifest and apparent.

As for your question about the passage in the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, the primary intent of the Crimson Scroll is the Tablet of the Covenant, and that word commands unity, for human oneness and unity and accord are the cause of the manifestation of that universal power which has been deposited in human reality, nay rather, adds to it.

O ye beloved friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha! Should you observe that through a general election the Spiritual Assembly will gain increased influence and no one will have cause for objection or hesitation, and all will acknowledge the decisions of the Spiritual Assembly, in such case a general election would be better and more fitting. Indeed, God willing, that Assembly may reach such a degree that it will establish the foundation of the unity of the world of humanity, and the utmost unity, fellowship and oneness will be achieved.

But the friends dispute over small matters like a school branch or establishing a meeting, spending day and night focused solely on each proving the correctness of their own opinion. The Yahyais dig at the foundation of this house from outside day and night, while those inside the house argue with each other over curtains and veils.

And if any slight ill-feeling develops between two people, strive with all your soul to quickly reconcile them. If ill-feeling occurs during the day, do not let it reach nightfall, for at night a breach develops in the heart.

Likewise, when the regiments of an army and the members of a legion stand together and are connected with one another, mighty victories will be won. However, if they gather together one day and disperse the next, no results will be produced.

Therefore, as ye are a heavenly host and have become the army of life, ye must remain firm and unshakeable in unity, steadfastness, and concord, that ye may win spiritual victories.

They must unite the people. Should anyone, though he be dwelling in the highest heights of grandeur, utter words that would cause division among the people, divert them from the shores of the Most Great Ocean and turn their attention to any direction save the praiseworthy station which is manifested within human limitations and directions, all existence beareth witness that he is deprived of the breezes of the All-Merciful.

And regarding the friends of that land, His words, exalted be His grandeur:

Say to My loved ones who have soared in My nights and have turned with their hearts to the Ultimate Goal in My love and remembrance: If ye differ in anything, refer it to God, your Lord. He will judge between you with pure justice. He is in truth the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. God willing, all must gather on one plane and soar in one atmosphere.

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The Most Exalted Pen counsels His loved ones regarding two matters: First, wisdom, so that no harm may befall anyone and weak souls not be kept back from the shore of the sea of oneness; and second, unity and concord, for great harm befalls the Cause of God from discord - shun it and be among the steadfast.

Through the breaths of the Holy Spirit it performs miracles; the Orient and the Occident embrace each other, the North and South become intimates and associates, conflicting and contending opinions disappear, antagonistic aims are brushed aside, the law of the struggle for existence is abrogated, and the canopy of the oneness of the world of humanity is raised on the apex of the globe, casting its shade over all the races of men.

The races of mankind are not isolated as in former days. Now, in order to be in close relationship with all countries it is necessary to be able to speak their tongues.

A universal language would make intercourse possible with every nation. Thus it would be needful to know two languages only, the mother tongue and the universal speech. The latter would enable a man to communicate with any and every man in the world!

Some of the peoples of the world have exerted the utmost effort to converse in their native tongues alone, considering this to be conducive to their exaltation and advancement, even as the people of Persia, who are adorned with the ornaments of talent and capacity, have sought to speak their ancient language and to purge it of all that is foreign. However, that which is pleasing in the sight of this Wronged One is that they should regard the whole earth as one country and strive, as hath been previously stated, to promote a single language or two so that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth and its inhabitants may receive their portion from the Sun of Knowledge and the Ocean of Wisdom.

That which is the cause of the unity of the world and its peoples hath flowed forth from the Pen of the Most High in divers Tablets. God grant that all men may be adorned with the ornament of fairness and enabled to observe justice that they may partake of the fruits of what hath been mentioned and bear witness unto that which hath been ordained by the one true God, exalted be His Glory. He is the One Who guideth, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Moreover, the admission of children of non-Baha'i parents to the school for Baha'i children is permissible. And if, in this school, an outline of the fundamental principles underlying all religions be set forth for the information of the children, it can do no harm.

We have named the school "The School of the Unity of Mankind" so that all peoples and groups may send their students to that school and be assured that it is the cause of universal success and prosperity.

Its charities will be dispense irrespective of color or race. Its gates will be flung wide open to mankind; prejudice towards none, love for all.

Thou hadst written that the friends intend to contribute towards the cost of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. This news imparted infinite joy, inasmuch as the abundant effusions of the Kingdom, the heavenly outpourings of God's grace, and His unfailing confirmations are directed towards the establishment of the bonds of unity, harmony, and fellowship in the world of humanity.

Glory be to God! Other peoples establish companies and make agreements and advance their work and engage in occupation and labor. The loved ones must carry this out to an even greater degree and give guidance to the people of the world.

What taketh precedence over all else today is unity, harmony and rendering unto each his due right. The intent of these words is that there should be no negligence in paying debts.

Through their sympathetic articles and deep-searching words they must remove the misunderstandings that exist amongst the religions, races and countries. From ever so many standpoints they must prove to the satisfaction of the readers that mankind are the children of One God; that all humanity are the creatures of God; that His Bestowals have enveloped every individual and that all of them are submerged in the ocean of the Mercy of the Almighty.

You must discover the means of peace; invent guns of love which shall shake the foundations of humanity.

… You must work and experiment along this line. This work and accomplishment will be more wonderful than all you have done heretofore.

"If it is carried out in one village, it will be adopted in other places. If this is carried out it will be very good, but now each one is thinking of his own interest. That is why there is so much conflict. This must not be. If this system becomes established, then justice will prevail and there will be no war.

The sixth Ishraq

is union and concord amongst the children of men. From the beginning of time the light of unity hath shed its divine radiance upon the world, and the greatest means for the promotion of that unity is for the peoples of the world to understand one another's writing and speech. … The most glorious fruit of the tree of knowledge is this exalted word: Of one tree are all ye the fruit, and of one bough the leaves. Let not man glory in this that he loveth his country, let him rather glory in this that he loveth his kind.

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In the realm of humanity, therefore, cooperation and mutual aid are in a greater degree of completeness and perfection than that which prevaileth in the other realms of existence—so much so, that the life of humanity dependeth entirely upon this principle.

May you become learned in sciences, acquire the arts and crafts, prove to be useful members of human society and assist the progress of human civilization. May you be a cause of the manifestation of divine bestowals -- each one of you a shining star radiating the light of the oneness of humanity toward the horizons of the East and West.

Half of our lives are consumed in acquiring a knowledge of languages, for in this enlightened age every man who hopes to travel in Asia and Africa and Europe must learn several languages in order that he may converse with their peoples. But no sooner does he acquire one language than another is needed. Thus one's whole life may be passed in acquiring those languages which are a hindrance to international communication. The International Language frees humanity from all these problems.

Among the institutes of the Holy Books is that of the foundation of places of worship. That is to say, an edifice or temple is to be built in order that humanity might find a place of meeting, and this is to be conducive to unity and fellowship among them. The real temple is the very Word of God; for to it all humanity must turn, and it is the center of unity for all mankind. It is the collective center, the cause of accord and communion of hearts, the sign of the solidarity of the human race, the source of eternal life.

Third: Service to the oneness of the world of humanity; so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother to all mankind, irrespective of religion or race.

The most important principle of divine philosophy is the oneness of the world of humanity, the unity of mankind, the bond conjoining East and West, the tie of love which blends human hearts.

Therefore, it is our duty to put forth our greatest efforts and summon all our energies in order that the bonds of unity and accord may be established among mankind.

The school of the oneness of humanity in Kashan is the manifestation of the favors of the Most Great Jalil. This name is the cup of favors, for it demolishes the foundation of estrangement. My hope is that this school will lay the foundation of unity and concord in the world, and that this circle will expand day by day until that which is explicitly stated in the divine teachings and is the decisive text of the Most Great Name - that all are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch - will be realized.

For every era hath a spirit; the spirit of this illumined era lieth in the teachings of Baha'u'llah. For these lay the foundation of the oneness of the world of humanity and promulgate universal brotherhood.

Thou hast asked regarding the contribution toward the education of the children of the school of Tarbiat. Cooperation and mutual assistance are the basis of the religion of God. The East must assist the West and the West must assist the East.

Thou hast praised the Convention. This Convention shall acquire great importance in future, for it is serving the divine Kingdom and the world of mankind. It promulgateth universal peace and layeth the basis of the oneness of mankind; it freeth the souls from religious, racial and worldly prejudices and gathereth them under the shade of the one-coloured pavilion of God. Praise thou God, therefore, that thou hast attended such a Convention and hast listened to the divine Teachings.

A newspaper must in the first instance be the means of creating harmony among the people. This is the prime duty of the proprietors of newspapers, to eradicate misunderstandings between religions and races and nationalities and promote the oneness of mankind.

And Mr. Hishmatullah should engage in translating important Tablets that are relevant to these days and contain teachings on the oneness of humanity, universal peace, investigation of truth, uniting hearts through the power of religion, reconciliation of science and religion, abandonment of vain prejudices, establishment of the Supreme Tribunal, justice between women and men, universalization of education, invention of a universal language, work and crafts being worship, limiting jihad to the tongue and utterance, and so forth - and they should be carefully matched and published.

Likewise recite with utmost humility, submissiveness and conscientious feelings those blessed utterances that indicate the oneness of humanity and universal equality.

It will reach such a degree that all conventions of the world will become humble and submissive before this Convention, for its foundation is the unity of the human world, universal peace, fellowship and love between all humanity, cooperation and equality between all nations, and the dawning of the light of truth.

In Ishkabad, the believers of God made the erection of the Temple conducive to affinity and unity, so that it really became the cause of oneness of the Word.

Ye also make the erection of the Temple in America conducive to the unity and oneness of the believers, of the maid-servants and servants of the Merciful, so that, in one thought, one aim, they engage themselves in the building of the Temple.

The more world aspires to a perfect civilization the more the matter of co-operation and mutual assistance becomes manifest. More and more is it evident that the continuance of humanity depends upon this inter-relationship.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the seventh leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O ye men of wisdom among nations! Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquillity of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation.

O Afnan, O thou that has branched from Mine ancient Stock! My glory and My loving-kindness rest upon thee. How vast is the tabernacle of the Cause of God! It hath overshadowed all the peoples and kindreds of the earth, and will, ere long, gather together the whole of mankind beneath its shelter.

From springs of love and truth and unity will the true Shepherd give His sheep to drink.

O handmaid of God, peace must first be established among individuals, until it leadeth in the end to peace among nations. Wherefore, O ye Baha'is, strive ye with all your might to create, through the power of the Word of God, genuine love, spiritual communion and durable bonds among individuals.

In this matter, humanity is one family and the earth is one homeland. They must have cooperation and mutual assistance, and this necessitates protection.

The dignity and equality of every servant of God will be acknowledged; the ideal of the solidarity of the human race, the true brotherhood of man, will be realized; and the glorious light of the Sun of Truth will illumine the souls of all men.

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.

This issue must flow and circulate like a spirit through the arteries and nerves of the body of the world.

… The Baha'is, according to the decisive texts of Baha'u'llah and His binding commands, sacrifice their lives in all international matters that spring from the intention of the unity of the human world, especially universal peace, and are present and ready to serve.

He founded and taught this principle in the Orient fifty years ago. He proclaimed international unity, summoned the religions of the world to harmony and reconciliation and established fellowship among many races, sects and communities.

Above and beyond all this, a great love and fountain of affection shall bind and blend these two remote peoples, for Baha'u'llah has proclaimed to the world the solidarity of nations and the oneness of humanity. Addressing all mankind He has said, "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the drops of one sea." The world of humanity has been expressed by Him as a unit -- as one family.

Be ye aware that the children of men are sheep of God and He their loving Shepherd, that He careth tenderly for all His sheep and maketh them to feed in His own green pastures of grace and giveth them to drink from the wellspring of life. Such is the way of the Lord. Such are His bestowals. Such, from among His teachings, is His precept of the oneness of mankind.

Erelong we shall know that they have been cemented by the power of God. The oneness of the kingdom of humanity will supplant the banner of conquest, and all communities of the earth will gather under its protection. No nation with separate and restricted boundaries -- such as Persia, for instance -- will exist.

Countries will be so intimately connected, and peoples and nations so commingled and united, that the human race will become as one family and one kindred. The light of heavenly love will shine and the gloomy darkness of hatred and enmity will be dispelled as far as possible.

We are bound to you by the strongest ties of love and unity. We long with heart and soul for the day to arrive when the tabernacle of the oneness of humanity will have been raised in the midmost heart of the world and the banner of universal peace unfurled in all regions. The oneness of humanity must therefore be established, that the edifice of universal peace may be raised in turn.

May it be the first nation to proclaim the unity of mankind.

… The American people are indeed worthy of being the first to build the tabernacle of the great peace and proclaim the oneness of mankind...

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In every century a particular and central theme is, in accordance with the requirements of that century, confirmed by God. In this illumined age that which is confirmed is the oneness of the world of humanity. Every soul who serveth this oneness will undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed.

He broke the chains of religious prejudice, racial bigotry, patriotic fanaticism, and political animosity, and compared the world of humanity to a tree and all peoples to its branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruits. He destroyed the foundation of ignorant prejudice and raised up the edifice of universal love. He established the oneness of humankind and promoted equality amongst all people. He proclaimed that the mercy of God encompasseth all and divine blessings pour down upon everyone.

Praise be to God that the friends of Baku were, throughout these years of war, at peace with all communities, and, in conformity with the Divine teachings, compassionate unto all. … Now must they roar like the leviathan, make up for the years of war, and, with a rousing anthem and a rapturous refrain, stir that clime into an ecstasy of motion, in order that Divine illumination may so suffuse men's hearts that the rays of oneness may shine forth, the shades of estrangement may be banished, and all communities may mingle happily together---may, in love and amity, shed forth an ineffable sweetness and engender such a tumult of rapture and elation that surrounding countries too will be stirred into an ecstasy of motion.

We have no connection with any party: we are neither partisans of the victorious Government nor do we share the opinions of the glorious people. We stand aside from all strifes, wish well to all, and offer our prayers and supplications at the Throne of God that He will reconcile these two honourable elements with one another, so that they may become one element, and may work together for the glory and advancement of both Government and people.

All mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament and appear as fruits of the same tree. This is the happiness and felicity of humankind. This is the illumination of man, the eternal glory and everlasting life; this is the divine bestowal.

Baha'u'llah, addressing all humanity, said that Adam, the parent of mankind, may be likened to the tree of nativity upon which you are the leaves and blossoms. Inasmuch as your origin was one, you must now be united and agreed; you must consort with each other in joy and fragrance.

The Asiatic nations must become united together, not against the West, not on the basis of antagonism and religious prejudice. They must become united on the principle of reality, forget all their dogmas and hold fast to one divine Reality. A union of all the Asiatic countries on such a basis of friendship and co-operation with all humanity will be welcomed by the Western nations. But an offensive and defensive union will fail to accomplish this purpose.

The purpose of these quotations is to show that Baha'u'llah's great endeavor in the East was to unify mankind, to cause them to agree and become reconciled, thereby manifesting the oneness of the world of humanity, preparing the way for international peace and establishing the foundations of happiness and welfare.

We discussed the foundation of God's Cause, which is the oneness of the human world, the unity and freedom of humanity, the universality of divine grace and bounty, and that "Thou seest no imperfection in the creation of the Most Merciful."

All this enmity and discord are the fruit of ignorance and a lack of mutual understanding. Become ye instructed, so that all this may be banished, so that all mankind may become united.

We beseech God to aid first the people of divine unity to achieve unity and concord, and then to grant them strength that they may preserve their rights and be protected from the oppression of the aggressors and the tyranny of the idolaters.

May the eyes be opened and the ears become attentive; may souls become resuscitated and consort together in the utmost harmony as recipients of the same light. Perchance, God will remove this strife and warfare of thousands of years. May this bloodshed pass away, this tyranny and oppression cease, this warfare be ended. May the light of love shine forth and illumine hearts, and may human lives be cemented and connected until all of us may find agreement and tranquillity beneath the same tabernacle and with the standard of the Most Great Peace above us move steadily onward.

I have, O my Lord, offered up that which Thou hast given Me, that Thy servants may be quickened and all that dwell on earth be united.

O Lord! What an outpouring of bounty Thou hast vouchsafed, and what a flood of abounding grace Thou hast granted! Thou didst make all the hearts to become even as a single heart, and all the souls to be bound together as one soul.

O thou who art turned toward the Divine Kingdom and submissive to Divine Glory!

I beseech the Lord of the Kingdom, the Possessor of Glory and Might, to make thee and thy dear spouse two signs of harmony and unity, to bless your marriage for all eternity, to protect you both in the shelter of His protection, to watch over you with the eye of His providence, to cause your hearts to rejoice through His hidden favors, to gladden your eyes through divine bestowals, to continue upon you both magnificent bounties and heavenly blessings.

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O ye flock of the Lord of glory! Blessed are they who have observed the fast during its appointed month, who have gathered together in perfect unity and harmony, have freed themselves from the insinuations of doubt and stood firm in the Covenant, have been graciously enabled to promote the Cause of God, and have arisen with utter self-abnegation for love of Baha'u'llah.

O ye who are nigh unto the threshold of the Lord of grandeur! Render thanks unto God that in this age of the Covenant ye have been drawn together under the sheltering shadow of the Beloved of the worlds and that your faces have been illumined with the light of the most great guidance. I beseech God that ye may tread the path of truthfulness and rectitude, of fellowship and of devotion to God, that ye may gain everlasting life, be adorned with every human virtue, become the heavenly angels of the kingdom of universal peace and the conquering hosts of the realm of the oneness of humanity. Upon you be greetings and praise.

We beseech God--glorified be His majesty--to aid all to achieve unity and concord, and likewise to grant them success in reflecting and deliberating upon those matters which are the cause of tranquility and deliverance.

O kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock that they may be members of one family and Thy servants.

Pray that God may assist in this heavenly undertaking, that the world of mankind shall be saved from the ordeals of ignorance, blindness and spiritual death. Then will you behold light upon light, joy upon joy, absolute happiness reigning everywhere, the people of the religions consorting together in fragrance and felicity, this world in its maturity becoming the reflection of the eternal Kingdom and this terrestrial abode of man the very paradise of God. Pray for this! Pray for this!

O thou servant of the True Lord! Obligatory prayer and other supplications are essential to servitude unto Him Who is the All-Sufficing... When the Obligatory Prayers and other prayers are joined together and follow each other, worship attaineth its perfection. It can be seen that these two are spiritual companions and are like one soul in two bodies. May God assist you all to thrive in love and fellowship.

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To continue: thy letter hath been received. Praise be to God, it brought tidings of thine health and well-being. After experiencing joy, delight and gladness, I approached the Presence and attained the honor of hearing these words from our Lord - may our souls be a sacrifice for Him:

"O 'Ali-Akbar! We beseech the Lord of Destiny and the Sovereign of mankind to aid thee in whatsoever is pleasing unto Him. In the early days We established rules and principles for the assembled souls, that all might attain, through God's grace, to His manifest and hidden bounties. All this was done with the permission and leave of this Wronged One - some in Alif and Sin, others in Ba and Ya, and in Haifa and 'Akka, and Nun and Sad - that all might attain, through God's grace and mutual assistance, to the good things recorded in the Book and the bounties ordained in His knowledge. The purpose was that they might be occupied and enjoy the bounties of these few earthly days, while beseeching God - exalted be His glory - night and day for the salvation of all on earth, that perchance through the grace of the sincere ones and the believers the fire of envy and hatred might be extinguished and all might gather as one soul beneath the shade of the Tree of Divine Unity. Let them likewise supplicate and beseech the true Omnipotent One that the banner of peace and security might once again be raised aloft and the light of the words 'There is none other God but Him' might illumine the world. All the friends of God must strive for the reformation of the world. If outward means are cut off, they must hold fast to spiritual means through humility and supplication. God is powerful and generous, His Will encompasseth all things and His decree prevaileth. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

"For thee and for him who hath ascended to the Supreme Companion, that land - namely the land of Nazareth - hath been designated. By no means relinquish it. Engage thyself therein, placing thy trust in God. We beseech Him to bestow His blessing and withhold not His bounty. This Wronged One hath never in His lifetime considered His own interests; whatsoever He hath uttered hath been for the good of His loved ones. Blessed is the servant who hath attained, the ear that hath heard, and the eye that hath seen. Under all conditions, remain mindful of the remembrance of God and act according to that which hath been revealed in the Book. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous, the Compassionate, the Mighty, the Merciful." [End]

Praise be to God!

His generosity is not withheld from the manifestations of existence, and His bounty is not impeded by the differences among nations.

And praise be to God Who hath adorned the heaven of love with the stars of unity and concord

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The one all-loving God bestows His divine Grace and Favour on all mankind; one and all are servants of the Most High, and His Goodness, Mercy and loving Kindness are showered upon all His creatures. The glory of humanity is the heritage of each one. All men are the leaves and fruit of one same tree, they are all branches of the tree of Adam, they all have the same origin.

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So it is with humanity. It is made up of many races, and its peoples are of different colour, white, black, yellow, brown and red -- but they all come from the same God, and all are servants to Him.

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It beseemeth all men, in this Day, to take firm hold on the Most Great Name, and to establish the unity of all mankind.

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The evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere, though all were made for harmony and union. The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.... Say: O people! Walk ye neath the shadow of justice and truthfulness and seek ye shelter within the tabernacle of unity.

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Today on this earth there are many souls who are the spreaders of peace and reconciliation and are longing for the realization of the oneness and unity of the world of man

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The underlying foundation upon which the Kingdom rests is love and this must be securely established among the friends and must be widely spread so that it may become the cause of the establishment of the oneness of mankind. This love must be so intensified among the friends as to make of them true servants of one another expending their wealth and sacrificing their lives for one another and consecrating their being to the existence of other souls. Then ye shall observe how people will flock and gather under the shade of the pavilion of the oneness of mankind. SW_v13#12 p.343x,

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The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is a divine edifice in this nether world and the means of the attainment of the oneness of humanity, inasmuch as all nations shall gather in fellowship and unity in the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar

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This New World Order, whose promise is enshrined in the Revelation of Baha'u'llah, whose fundamental principles have been enunciated in the writings of the Center of His Covenant, involves no less than the complete unification of the entire human race.

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Let there be no mistake. The principle of the Oneness of Mankind--the pivot round which all the teachings of Baha'u'llah revolve--is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope.... Its message is applicable not only to the individual, but concerns itself primarily with the nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It does not constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal, but stands inseparably associated with an institution adequate to embody its truth, demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its influence.

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Acceptance of the oneness of mankind is the first fundamental prerequisite for reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the home of humankind. Universal acceptance of this spiritual principle is essential to any successful attempt to establish world peace. It should therefore be universally proclaimed, taught in schools, and constantly asserted in every nation as preparation for the organic change in the structure of society which it implies. In the Baha'i view, recognition of the oneness of mankind "calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world -- a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of the national characteristics of its federated units." ("The Promise of World Peace", Oct. 1985),

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With reference to the question you have asked concerning the time and means through which the Lesser and Most Great Peace, referred to by Baha'u'llah, will be established, following the coming World War: Your view that the Lesser Peace will come about through the political efforts of the states and nations of the world, and independently of any direct Baha'i plan or effort, and the Most Great Peace be established through the instrumentality of the believers, and by the direct operation of the laws and principles revealed by Baha'u'llah and the functioning of the Universal House of Justice as the supreme organ of the Baha'i super-state -- your view on this subject is quite correct and in full accord with the pronouncements of the Guardian as embodied in "The Unfoldment of World Civilization."

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Baha'u'llah's principal mission in appearing at this time in human history is the realization of the oneness of mankind and the establishment of peace among the nations; therefore, all the forces which are focused on accomplishing these ends are influenced by His Revelation. We know, however, that peace will come in stages. First, there will come the Lesser Peace, when the unity of nations will be achieved, then gradually the Most Great Peace -- the spiritual as well as social and political unity of mankind, when the Baha'i World Commonwealth, operating in strict accordance with the laws and ordinances of the Most Holy Book of the Baha'i Revelation, will have been established through the efforts of the Baha'is.

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It is the Baha'i view that the root cause of all war and injustice is the failure to recognize the fundamental oneness of the human race. Acceptance of the principle of oneness will induce the willingness to uncover and permanently resolve all other causes for conflict. Indeed, it must be the foundation for any serious attempt to find ways of living in harmony with our environment and each other.

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That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled -- what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.

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...the interests of the entire world ... and those of the Faith are destined to merge in the Most Great Peace.

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O Mankind, We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. (Quran 49:13 - Yusuf 'Ali)

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This is mine, that is his, say the small minded, The wise believe that the entire world is a family. Maha Upanishad 6.71-75

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