Jalál, 19 Jalál (Glory), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Underlying Concepts and Principles
Quotes for Reflection:
“The heights,” Bahá’u’lláh Himself testifies, “which, through the most gracious favor of God, mortal man can attain in this Day are as yet unrevealed to his sight. The world of being hath never had, nor doth it yet possess, the capacity for such a revelation. The day, however, is approaching when the potentialities of so great a favor will, by virtue of His behest, be manifested unto men.”
For the revelation of so great a favor a period of intense turmoil and wide-spread suffering would seem to be indispensable. Resplendent as has been the Age that has witnessed the inception of the Mission with which Bahá’u’lláh has been entrusted, the interval which must elapse ere that Age yields its choicest fruit must, it is becoming increasingly apparent, be overshadowed by such moral and social gloom as can alone prepare an unrepentant humanity for the prize she is destined to inherit.
Into such a period we are now steadily and irresistibly moving. Amidst the shadows which are increasingly gathering about us we can faintly discern the glimmerings of Bahá’u’lláh’s unearthly sovereignty appearing fitfully on the horizon of history. To us, the “generation of the half-light,” living at a time which may be designated as the period of the incubation of the World Commonwealth envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh, has been assigned a task whose high privilege we can never sufficiently appreciate, and the arduousness of which we can as yet but dimly recognize. We may well believe, we who are called upon to experience the operation of the dark forces destined to unloose a flood of agonizing afflictions, that the darkest hour that must precede the dawn of the Golden Age of our Faith has not yet struck. Deep as is the gloom that already encircles the world, the afflictive ordeals which that world is to suffer are still in preparation, nor can their blackness be as yet imagined. We stand on the threshold of an age whose convulsions proclaim alike the death-pangs of the old order and the birth-pangs of the new. Through the generating influence of the Faith announced by Bahá’u’lláh this New World Order may be said to have been conceived. We can, at the present moment, experience its stirrings in the womb of a travailing age—an age waiting for the appointed hour at which it can cast its burden and yield its fairest fruit. — Shoghi Effendi 1 2
Question for Consideration
Who does the “generation of the half-light” include and what do future generations of humanity require of them?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
The “Generation of the Half-Light”: Who Are They?
The phrase “generation of the half-light,” as used by Shoghi Effendi, refers to those living in the transitional era between the initial revelation of Bahá’u’lláh and the full realization of the world-transforming potential of His teachings. This generation exists in a period described as the “incubation of the World Commonwealth envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh,” a time marked by both the decline of old social orders and the nascent stirrings of a new, unified world civilization [1].
This generation includes all those alive during this era of “moral and social gloom,” who are witnessing and experiencing the “operation of the dark forces destined to unloose a flood of agonizing afflictions,” yet who also perceive the early signs of the “New World Order” conceived by Bahá’u’lláh. In essence, it encompasses contemporary humanity—particularly those aware of, or striving to align themselves with, the Bahá’í vision for the transformation of society [1].
What Is Required of the “Generation of the Half-Light” by Future Generations?
Bearing the Burden of Transition and Preparation
- This generation is tasked with enduring and constructively responding to the intense turmoil and widespread suffering that are seen as necessary precursors to humanity’s collective maturity and the emergence of a just and unified world order [1].
- The period is likened to the “birth-pangs of the new” and the “death-pangs of the old,” requiring resilience, steadfastness, and hope in the face of deepening crises [1].
Laying Foundations for the World Commonwealth
- Members of this generation are called to actively participate in the “incubation” of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Commonwealth by striving to build communities that reflect the principles of unity, justice, and service to humanity [1].
- They must work to “rehabilitate the conditions in all regions,” promote education, advance civilization, and serve the general good, as repeatedly emphasized in the Bahá’í writings [1].
Cultivating New Patterns of Social Life
- The generation of the half-light is expected to model and promote a new conception of social relationships based on the oneness of humanity, transcending divisions of race, nationality, and class [1].
- This involves fostering cooperation, mutual aid, and the systematic application of spiritual principles to all aspects of society, including economics, governance, and education [1].
Embracing the Role of Protagonists in Social Transformation
- Rather than being passive observers, individuals are urged to become protagonists in the process of social change—learning, acting, and reflecting together to address the needs of their age [1].
- They are to be “anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements,” contributing to both spiritual and material advancement [1].
Preparing the Ground for Future Generations
- The sacrifices, efforts, and innovations of the generation of the half-light will determine the conditions inherited by future generations. Their role is to ensure that the “choicest fruit” of this age—the realization of global unity and justice—can eventually be harvested [1].
- This includes building capacity within communities, promoting knowledge and virtue, and establishing institutions and patterns of life that will enable future generations to thrive and fulfill the potentialities of Bahá’u’lláh’s vision [1].
Summary Table
| Aspect | The “Generation of the Half-Light” | Requirement for Future Generations |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Role | Transitional, preparatory | Foundation-laying for world unity |
| Main Challenge | Navigating turmoil, moral/social gloom | Enduring and transforming crisis |
| Core Task | Incubating Bahá’u’lláh’s World Commonwealth | Building new social patterns |
| Required Qualities | Resilience, hope, service, unity | Capacity-building, virtue, innovation |
| Legacy to Future Generations | New institutions, social models, spiritual vision | A world ready for unity and justice |
Conclusion
The “generation of the half-light” comprises those living in this pivotal era of transition, charged with the immense responsibility of preparing humanity for its collective maturity. Future generations require of them not only endurance and faith, but also proactive, unified service in building the foundations of a just and peaceful world order. Their actions, sacrifices, and innovations will make possible the full realization of Bahá’u’lláh’s vision for humanity [1].
Citations
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can the “generation of the half-light” prepare for the challenges ahead?
- What specific tasks have been assigned to the “generation of the half-light?”
- How does the concept of the “generation of the half-light” relate to the broader teachings of Bahá’u’lláh?
- What role does the “generation of the half-light” play in the transition to the New World Order?
- How can the “generation of the half-light” contribute to the moral and social gloom that precedes the Golden Age?
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/social-action/2#180873845. ↩
- Effendi, Shoghi. The World Order of Baháʾuʾlláh: Selected Letters. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/shoghi-effendi/world-order-bahaullah/10#957102812 ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “The Generation of the Half-Light.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. April 25, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-heights-bahaullah-himself-HdQl8C0vR9G76ltkIqF6DQ. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 