Istiqlál, 06 Jamál (Beauty), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Underlying Concepts and Principles
Quotes for Reflection:
Behold the disturbances which, for many a long year, have afflicted the earth, and the perturbation that hath seized its peoples. It hath either been ravaged by war, or tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities. Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath paused to reflect what the cause or source of that may be. Whenever the True Counselor uttered a word in admonishment, lo, they all denounced Him as a mover of mischief and rejected His claim. How bewildering, how confusing is such behavior! No two men can be found who may be said to be outwardly and inwardly united. The evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere, though all were made for harmony and union. The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. We cherish the hope that the light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from tyranny. If the rulers and kings of the earth, the symbols of the power of God, exalted be His glory, arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity, the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the children of men, and the effulgence of its light will envelop the whole earth. The Great Being saith: The structure of world stability and order hath been reared upon, and will continue to be sustained by, the twin pillars of reward and punishment. And in another connection He hath uttered the following in the eloquent tongue (Arabic): Justice hath a mighty force at its command. It is none other than reward and punishment for the deeds of men. By the power of this force the tabernacle of order is established throughout the world, causing the wicked to restrain their natures for fear of punishment. — Bahá’u’lláh 1 2
In another passage He hath written: Take heed, O concourse of the rulers of the world! There is no force on earth that can equal in its conquering power the force of justice and wisdom. I, verily, affirm that there is not, and hath never been, a host more mighty than that of justice and wisdom. Blessed is the king who marcheth with the ensign of wisdom unfurled before him, and the battalions of justice massed in his rear. He verily is the ornament that adorneth the brow of peace and the countenance of security. There can be no doubt whatever that if the daystar of justice, which the clouds of tyranny have obscured, were to shed its light upon men, the face of the earth would be completely transformed. — Bahá’u’lláh 3 4
Question for Consideration
How does the force of justice and wisdom impact humanity?
Perplexity Pro Response 5
According to Bahá’u’lláh’s writings, the force of justice and wisdom represents a transformative power that is essential for establishing world stability, order, and the advancement of human civilization. This power operates on multiple levels and impacts humanity in profound ways.
The Transformative Power of Justice
Justice serves as one of the twin pillars (alongside reward and punishment) upon which world stability and order are built. Bahá’u’lláh declares that “There is no force on earth that can equal in its conquering power the force of justice and wisdom” and affirms that “there is not, and hath never been, a host more mighty than that of justice and wisdom.” [1]
The impact of justice on humanity is described as potentially revolutionary: “if the daystar of justice, which the clouds of tyranny have obscured, were to shed its light upon men, the face of the earth would be completely transformed.” [1] This indicates that justice has the power to fundamentally alter human society and relationships.
Justice as a Unifying Force
One of the most significant impacts of justice is its ability to foster unity among people. Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes that all humans are “the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch,” suggesting that justice helps humanity recognize its fundamental oneness. [1] When justice prevails, it counteracts the “discord and malice” that are “apparent everywhere,” despite humanity being created for “harmony and union.” [1]
Justice creates the conditions for unity by ensuring that the rights and dignity of all people are respected. It establishes a framework where diverse individuals and communities can coexist peacefully, recognizing their shared humanity while honoring their differences.
Justice and Social Order
The force of justice also impacts humanity by establishing social order. Bahá’u’lláh states that “By the power of this force the tabernacle of order is established throughout the world, causing the wicked to restrain their natures for fear of punishment.” [1] This suggests that justice creates boundaries and expectations that help regulate human behavior.
Justice provides a framework for social relationships that protects the vulnerable and ensures that power is not abused. It creates the conditions for trust and cooperation, which are essential for the functioning of any society.
The Role of Rulers and Leaders
Bahá’u’lláh particularly addresses the responsibility of “rulers and kings of the earth” in establishing justice. He states that if they “arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity, the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the children of men.” [1]
This indicates that those in positions of power have a special responsibility to uphold justice and wisdom. When leaders embody these qualities, they become “the ornament that adorneth the brow of peace and the countenance of security.” [1] Conversely, when leaders fail to uphold justice, society suffers from “discord and malice.”
Justice as a Path to Peace
Ultimately, the force of justice impacts humanity by creating the conditions for peace. Bahá’u’lláh describes the “blessed” king as one who “marcheth with the ensign of wisdom unfurled before him, and the battalions of justice massed in his rear.” [1] This imagery connects justice directly to peace and security.
When justice prevails, conflicts can be resolved equitably, resources can be distributed fairly, and human rights can be protected universally. These conditions allow humanity to focus on advancement and progress rather than conflict and survival.
In conclusion, the force of justice and wisdom impacts humanity by transforming social relationships, establishing order, fostering unity, guiding leadership, and creating the conditions for peace. According to Bahá’u’lláh, this force has unparalleled power to reshape human society and advance civilization.
Citations
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can the force of justice and wisdom transform global politics?
- What are some historical examples of justice and wisdom leading to positive change?
- How does the concept of justice and wisdom differ across various cultures and religions?
- What role do leaders play in promoting justice and wisdom in their societies?
- How can individuals contribute to the spread of justice and wisdom in their communities?
- 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#124139862. ↩
- 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, 163-164. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/5#260206487. ↩
- 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#124139862. ↩
- 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, 164-165. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/5#750272111. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “The Force of Justice and Wisdom.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. May 01, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/behold-the-disturbances-which-YcXyY2LQRT2sNd9ADhmXOA. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 