Daily Frameworks for 31 August 2023

Istijlál, 12 Asmá’ (Names), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

QUESTION: IT IS said in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “…whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed”. What is the meaning of this verse?

Answer: The meaning of this blessed verse is that the foundation of success and salvation is the recognition of God, and that good deeds, which are the fruit of faith, derive from this recognition.

When this recognition is not attained, man remains veiled from God and, as he is veiled, his good works fail to achieve their full and desired effect. This verse does not mean that those who are veiled from God are all equal, whether they be doers of good or workers of iniquity. It means only that the foundation is the recognition of God and that good deeds derive from this knowledge. Nevertheless, it is certain that among those who are veiled from God there is a difference between the doer of good and the sinner and malefactor. For the veiled soul who is endowed with good character and conduct merits the forgiveness of God, while the veiled sinner possessed of bad character and conduct will be deprived of the bounties and bestowals of God. Herein lies the difference.

This blessed verse means, therefore, that good deeds alone, without the recognition of God, cannot lead to eternal redemption, to everlasting success and salvation, and to admittance into the Kingdom of God. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ¹

Question for Consideration:

What effect do bad deeds have on the world? ²

Google Bard Response:

Referring to the quoted text above, bad deeds have the following effects on the world:

• They veil us from God and prevent us from achieving true success and salvation.
• They create suffering and discord in the world.
• They lead to spiritual and moral decay.
• They weaken the fabric of society and make it more vulnerable to harm.
• They prevent us from realizing our full potential as human beings.
  

The verse quoted above states that “whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed”. This means that even if we do good deeds, if we do not have the recognition of God, our good deeds will not have their full effect. We will still be veiled from God and will not be able to achieve true success and salvation.

The recognition of God is the foundation of all good deeds. It is the source of our motivation to do good and to avoid evil. When we recognize God, we see that we are all part of a larger whole and that our actions have an impact on others. This awareness leads us to act with compassion and kindness, and to build a better world for all.

Bad deeds, on the other hand, are rooted in ignorance and selfishness. They create suffering and discord in the world, and they prevent us from realizing our full potential as human beings. When we do bad deeds, we are not only harming others, but we are also harming ourselves. We are cutting ourselves off from the source of all good and beauty, and we are making it more difficult to achieve true happiness and fulfillment.

The best way to avoid bad deeds is to cultivate the recognition of God in our hearts. When we know God, we know that we are loved and accepted unconditionally. We also know that our actions have an impact on others, and this awareness motivates us to act with kindness and compassion. When we live our lives in accordance with God’s will, we create a world that is more just, peaceful, and loving.

Question for Consideration:

What effect do bad deeds have on those who commit them?

Google Bard Response:

According to the quoted text, bad deeds have the following effects on those who commit them:

• They veil the person from God. This means that the person loses their connection to God and becomes spiritually disconnected.
• They prevent the person from achieving their full potential. Good deeds are the fruit of faith, and without faith, a person cannot reach their full spiritual and moral potential.
• They make the person more susceptible to further sin. When a person commits a bad deed, they become more likely to commit more bad deeds. This is because sin creates a habit in the soul, and the more a person sins, the more difficult it becomes to stop.
• They deprive the person of God’s forgiveness and blessings. God is merciful and forgiving, but He will not forgive those who continue to commit bad deeds.
  

The text also makes a distinction between those who are veiled from God but do good deeds and those who are veiled from God and do bad deeds. The former are more likely to be forgiven by God than the latter. This is because the former have shown that they have some good in their character, even though they have not yet attained the recognition of God. The latter, on the other hand, have shown that they are not good people and are therefore less likely to be forgiven.

In conclusion, bad deeds have a negative impact on those who commit them. They veil the person from God, prevent them from achieving their full potential, make them more susceptible to further sin, and deprive them of God’s forgiveness and blessings. If you want to live a happy and fulfilling life, it is important to avoid bad deeds and focus on doing good deeds.

1. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Some Answered Questions. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed August 29, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/11#709479016. ↩
2. Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 5. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩