Jamál, 08 Sulțán (Sovereignty), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
Every business company should be established on divine principles. Its foundations should be trustworthiness, piety and truthfulness in order to protect the rights of the people. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration
What are the implications of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s counsel to apply divine principles in business operations for the behaviors of owners, employees, suppliers, customers, community members, and other secondary stakeholders?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s counsel implies that everyone touched by a business is called to let trustworthiness, piety (God‑conscious service), and truthfulness show up in their concrete behavior, not only in words. Below are some key implications by stakeholder group. [1]
Business owners and leaders
- See the business as a trust from God, run it for service and the common good, not just personal gain. [1]
- Refuse corruption, manipulation, or exploitation, even if legal or profitable; set policies that embody fairness, justice, and transparency. [1]
- Ensure contracts, debts, and wages are honored; “the honouring of rights” is described as a binding commandment. [1]
Employees
- Treat work as a form of worship done with integrity, diligence, and a spirit of service. [1]
- Avoid deceit, laziness, or misappropriation (“so much as a single penny”); be reliable stewards of the employer’s and customers’ trust. [1]
- Show courtesy, honesty, and fairness in dealings with co‑workers and clients, so that one’s conduct itself becomes a proof of faith. [1]
Suppliers and business partners
- Neither exploit weaker partners nor allow oneself to exploit others; dealings should be “with the utmost trustworthiness and integrity.” [1]
- Pay obligations promptly when able, avoid oppressive terms, and insist on equity and justice in agreements. [1]
- Make commercial relationships a “cause of guidance to others” through evident fairness and good will. [1]
Customers
- Expect and reciprocate honesty: no pressuring for undue discounts, no attempts to defraud, and openness about needs and constraints. [1]
- Support businesses that act with integrity rather than rewarding unethical practices, thus reinforcing a culture of trust. [1]
- Interact respectfully with employees, recognizing their dignity and rights, not treating them as mere instruments. [1]
Community members and secondary stakeholders
Secondary stakeholders include neighbors, local institutions, authorities, and society at large.
- Hold businesses morally accountable, but also deal with them justly—no slander, false accusations, or unjust boycotts. [1]
- When serving in government or regulatory roles, avoid bribery and self‑interest, and apply laws with “rectitude, probity and righteousness.” [1]
- Use influence (e.g., as activists, media, or civic leaders) in truthful, non‑manipulative ways that protect the rights of all, not just a faction. [1]
Shared behaviors across all stakeholders
Across all groups, the appeal to divine principles means:
Each actor sees themselves as a trustee of God in their sphere, so even ordinary transactions are occasions to manifest noble character and safeguard “the rights of the people.” [1]
Words and deeds must match; hypocrisy is condemned more strongly than open unbelief. [1]
Personal profit, comfort, or convenience must never override justice, the honoring of covenants, or the protection of others’ rights. [1]
Citations
- Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue. Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, Revised August 1990 – Bahá’í Reference Library
Footnotes
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.“ Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Revised August 1990. https://www.bahai.org/r/433158251. ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Applying Divine Principles to Business Operations.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. January 24, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/every-business-company-should-KGwo0RAKT_uTF06ABJ7zDw#2 ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 