Fidál, 14 Masáʼil (Questions), 181 B.E.
Walking Together on a Path of Service
Quotes for Reflection
SAY: O people! Withhold not from yourselves the grace of God and His mercy. Whoso withholdeth himself therefrom is indeed in grievous loss. What, O people! Do ye worship the dust, and turn away from your Lord, the Gracious, the All-Bountiful? Fear ye God, and be not of those who perish. Say: The Book of God hath been sent down in the form of this Youth. Hallowed, therefore, be God, the most excellent of makers! Take ye good heed, O peoples of the world, lest ye flee from His face. Nay, make haste to attain His presence, and be of them that have returned unto Him. Pray to be forgiven, O people, for having failed in your duty towards God, and for having trespassed against His Cause, and be not of the foolish. He it is Who hath created you; He it is Who hath nourished your souls through His Cause, and enabled you to recognize Him Who is the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing. He it is Who hath unveiled to your eyes the treasures of His knowledge, and caused you to ascend unto the heaven of certitude—the certitude of His resistless, His irrefutable, and most exalted Faith. Beware that ye do not deprive yourselves of the grace of God, that ye do not bring to naught your works, and do not repudiate the truth of this most manifest, this lofty, this shining, and glorious Revelation. Judge ye fairly the Cause of God, your Creator, and behold that which hath been sent down from the Throne on high, and meditate thereon with innocent and sanctified hearts. Then will the truth of this Cause appear unto you as manifest as the sun in its noontide glory. Then will ye be of them that have believed in Him. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
O people! Hasten to enter beneath the shadow of God, that it may shield you from the blazing heat of this Day wherein none shall find shelter or refuge save under the shadow of His Name, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. Attire yourselves, O people, with the raiment of certitude, that it may protect you from the darts of idle fancy and vain imaginings and that ye may be numbered with the faithful in these days—days wherein none may attain certitude nor achieve constancy in the Cause of God save by renouncing that which is current amongst men and by turning towards this hallowed and refulgent Beauty. — Bahá’u’lláh 2
My dear Friend: Pleasing and acceptable as is a person of righteous actions before God’s Holy Threshold, yet deeds should proceed from knowledge. However matchless and exquisite may be a blind man’s handiwork, yet he himself is deprived of seeing it. How sorely do certain animals labour on man’s behalf, what loads they bear for him, how greatly they contribute to his ease and comfort; and yet, because they are unaware, they enjoy no recompense for all their pains. The clouds rain down their bounty, nurturing the plants and flowers, and imparting verdure and enchantment to the plain and prairie, the forest, and the garden; but yet, unconscious as they are of the results and fruit of their outpourings, they win no praise or honour, nor earn the gratitude and approbation of any man. The lamp imparteth light, but as it hath no consciousness of doing so, no one is indebted to it. This apart, a man of righteous deeds and goodly conduct will assuredly turn towards the Light, in whichever quarter he beholdeth it. The point is this, that faith compriseth both knowledge and the performance of good works. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 3
Questions for Consideration
Can one strengthen one’s faith by acquiring knowledge alone? How do conscious knowledge and action together help one rid oneself of doubt and gain certainty? 4
Perplexity Pro Response 5
The interplay between faith, knowledge, and action forms the foundation for spiritual growth and certainty. While acquiring knowledge alone is insufficient to strengthen faith, combining conscious understanding with deliberate action can help individuals overcome doubt and deepen their convictions.
The Relationship Between Faith and Knowledge
The relationship between faith and knowledge is complex and complementary. While knowledge forms an important foundation for belief, faith transcends mere intellectual understanding, involving trust, commitment, and lived experience [6]. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains, “faith compriseth both knowledge and the performance of good works” [1]. This interplay is crucial, as faith’s validity is intrinsically tied to the knowledge upon which it is based [6]. However, faith occupies a distinct category from both doubt and certainty, requiring a unique approach to cultivation and strengthening [8]. Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of this balance, urging people to “attire yourselves… with the raiment of certitude” [9] while also calling them to “make haste to attain His presence” [5], highlighting the need for both knowledge and active engagement in one’s spiritual journey.
The Limitations of Knowledge Alone
Acquiring knowledge in isolation proves insufficient for building genuine faith due to several key limitations. “Faith and knowledge require equal effort and commitment. We cannot expect to have faith at the center of our lives if all of our efforts are expended on knowledge, sports, hobbies, making money, or other pursuits.” [10] Intellectual understanding alone lacks transformative power and does not automatically translate to trust or conviction [2]. Even extensive knowledge can coexist with persistent doubt if not coupled with lived experience [3]. As one source aptly notes, “Knowledge creates the illusion of greater faith; a puffed up appearance without substance” [2]. This underscores the importance of complementing knowledge with practical application and personal spiritual experiences to truly strengthen one’s faith and overcome uncertainty.
Combining Knowledge and Action
Conscious integration of spiritual understanding with faithful action is essential for strengthening faith and overcoming doubt. This process involves putting knowledge into practice through daily application of spiritual principles, seeking personal spiritual experiences through prayer and meditation, serving others compassionately, and facing challenges as opportunities for growth [3]. As Bahá’u’lláh advises, “Hasten to enter beneath the shadow of God” and “attire yourselves… with the raiment of certitude”, emphasizing the need for both knowledge and active engagement [9]. By consistently uniting knowledge and action, individuals can progressively build conviction and gain greater certainty in their beliefs over time [6] [10]. As one source explains: “Knowledge and love must work together for faith to be meaningful and fruitful. Knowledge without love can only bring harm and oppression.” [2]
Steps to Gaining Certainty
Gaining certainty in one’s faith involves a cyclical process of growth and reinforcement. This journey begins with an initial step of faith based on limited knowledge, followed by taking action aligned with that faith [10]. As individuals engage in this process, they gain new insights and experiences that reinforce their beliefs, leading to a deeper commitment and understanding [4]. Repeating this cycle progressively builds conviction over time, allowing one to overcome doubt and attain greater certainty in their spiritual convictions. Setting small, achievable goals, taking action, and maintaining deep faith that one’s talents are part of their destiny can help overcome fear and uncertainty [7]. Through this conscious effort of uniting knowledge and action, individuals can strengthen their faith and move towards a state of certitude in their beliefs and practices.
In conclusion, while knowledge forms an important foundation, it is through the conscious integration of spiritual understanding and faithful action that one can truly strengthen faith, overcome doubt, and attain certainty in one’s beliefs and convictions.
Citations
[1] Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks – Bahá’í Reference Library
[2] Sermon: Knowledge and Faith – The Here and the Hereafter
[3] Lost in Doubt? – Dharma Wisdom
[4] Faith, Certainty and Insight – Part 1 – The Review of Religions
[5] Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh – Bahá’í Reference Library
[8] Faith, Doubt, and Certainty – Neil Shelve – Apologetics
[9] Days of Remembrance – Bahá’í Reference Library
[10] Strengthen Faith as You Seek Knowledge – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can one balance the acquisition of knowledge with the practice of faith?
- What role does love play in strengthening one’s faith?
- Can mindfulness practices help in overcoming doubts about faith?
- How does action complement knowledge in deepening one’s faith?
- What are some examples of how knowledge can be misused in the name of faith?
- What are the key steps to attaining spiritual certainty?
- How can one’s faith be strengthened through both knowledge and action?
- What role does self-reflection play in gaining certainty?
- How can one differentiate between true faith and an illusion of faith?
- What are the common obstacles to achieving spiritual certainty?
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1935. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/3#789310221. ↩
- Bahá’u’lláh. Days of Remembrance. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/days-remembrance/6#538687357. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 2018. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/additional-tablets-extracts-talks/391749310/1#397971255. ↩
- Ruhi Institute. Walking Together on a Path of Service. 2.1.1.PE February 2024. Vol. Book 7. 14 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2024, 14-17. Download PDF. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Can one strengthen one’s faith by acquiring knowledge alone? How do conscious knowledge and action together help one rid oneself of doubt and gain certainty?” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 22, 2024. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 