Daily Frameworks for 01 May 2025

Istijlál, 05 Jamál (Beauty), 182 B.E.

Twelfth Day of Ridván

Social Action: Underlying Concepts and Principles

Quotes for Reflection:

The light of men is Justice. Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men. The ocean of divine wisdom surgeth within this exalted word, while the books of the world cannot contain its inner significance. Were mankind to be adorned with this raiment, they would behold the daystar of the utterance, “On that day God will satisfy everyone out of His abundance,” (Qur’án 4:129) shining resplendent above the horizon of the world. Appreciate ye the value of this utterance; it is a noble fruit that the Tree of the Pen of Glory hath yielded. Happy is the man that giveth ear unto it and observeth its precepts. Verily I say, whatever is sent down from the heaven of the Will of God is the means for the establishment of order in the world and the instrument for promoting unity and fellowship among its peoples. Thus hath the Tongue of this Wronged One spoken from His Most Great Prison. — Bahá’u’lláh ^{1 2}

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 tranquility of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behooveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony. In the estimation of the people of Bahá man’s glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank. O people of the earth! Appreciate the value of this heavenly word. Indeed it may be likened unto a ship for the ocean of knowledge and a shining luminary for the realm of perception. — Bahá’u’lláh ^{3 4}

Question for Consideration

What is the relationship between justice and unity?

Perplexity Pro Response ⁵

Justice and unity are deeply interdependent in the Bahá’í teachings, with justice described as both the prerequisite and the foundation for true unity among humanity.

Justice: The Prerequisite for Unity

• Justice is considered “the necessary prerequisite to true brotherhood and unity among all peoples, the foundation for the organization of the world, the basis for the life of mankind and a guardian and protection for men” [2].
• Bahá’u’lláh explicitly states, “The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men,” highlighting that justice is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the higher goal of unity [1] [3] [4] [6].
• Without justice-meaning fairness, equity, and the protection of the rights of all-unity cannot be genuine or lasting. Unity built on injustice or oppression is superficial and unsustainable [1] [5].
  

How Justice Fosters Unity

• Justice ensures that all people are treated equitably, regardless of nationality, rank, or background. This creates the conditions in which diverse individuals and groups can come together in harmony [2] [3] [5].
• When justice prevails, “the rights of all the people must be considered,” and “desire for others only that which you desire for yourselves” becomes the guiding principle. This mutual consideration and fairness are essential for building trust and solidarity [2] [3].
• Justice removes the barriers of estrangement, prejudice, and vainglory, allowing people to “set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony” and to “cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquility of all mankind” [3] [6].
  

Unity as the Fruit of Justice

• Unity is described as the “noble fruit that the Tree of the Pen of Glory hath yielded,” made possible by the establishment of justice [3] [4].
• Justice provides the standard by which individual and collective conduct can be measured, enabling the creation of a society where all have the opportunity to contribute and flourish [5].
• In the Bahá’í view, justice is not merely a legal or institutional matter but a universal spiritual principle that must be applied at all levels of society, from personal relationships to global governance [1] [2] [5].
  

Summary Table

Justice	Unity
Ensures fairness and equity for all	Is the result of widespread justice
Protects the rights and dignity of individuals	Manifests as harmony and solidarity
Requires universal participation	Unites diverse peoples and cultures
Foundation for social order and peace	Culmination of justice in society

Conclusion

In summary, justice is the essential foundation for unity. It is only through the establishment of justice-where the rights of all are upheld and equity prevails-that true and lasting unity among humanity can emerge. Justice is the light that enables the “appearance of unity among men,” and unity is the highest purpose and fruit of justice [1] [3] [4] [6].

Citations

[1] A Spiritual Path to Unity & Social Justice (PDF) – Bahá’ís of the United States

[2] Justice – Bahaipedia

[3] Justice: The Best Beloved of All Things – Bahá’í Library Online

[4] Purpose of Justice: Unity Among People – BahaiTeachings.org

[5] Truthfulness, Trustworthiness and Justice – The Bahá’í Faith

[6] Social Action-A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 (PDF)

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How does justice promote unity among different cultures?
• What role does justice play in establishing global harmony?
• Can you explain the relationship between justice and the oneness of humankind?
• How does the Bahá’í concept of justice differ from traditional legal systems?
• What are some practical examples of justice leading to unity in society?

1. 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#124139864. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 66-67. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/3#549730774. ↩
3. 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#124139863. ↩
4. Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 67-68. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/3#327958234. ↩
5. Perplexity Pro. “Relationship Between Justice and Unity.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. April 30, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-light-of-men-is-justice-qu-F1SEJUM6TlCI3ZmErCiSkw. ↩