Kamál, 14 Asmáʼ (Names), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Methods and Approaches
Quotes for Reflection:
The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding. — Bahá’u’lláh 1 2
Question for Consideration
What is the relationship of consultation and compassion to divine wisdom?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Consultation and compassion are described in the Bahá’í writings as two essential qualities that illumine divine wisdom and serve as fundamental pillars for guidance and understanding. [1] [2]
Consultation: Lamp of Guidance
Consultation is regarded as the process by which truth is collectively sought, building unity, awareness, and understanding among individuals. The Bahá’í writings teach that through consultation, “conjecture is transmuted into certitude,” and the maturity of understanding is made manifest. This collective deliberation is seen as a “lamp of guidance,” enabling groups to arrive at wise decisions and discover new insights. [3] [2] [4]
Compassion: Foundation of Unity
Compassion is equally emphasized as a vital spiritual quality that fosters harmony, love, and unity among participants in consultation. Genuine compassion ensures that the process of consultation takes place in a spirit of kindness, selflessness, and respect, without estrangement or attachment to personal ideas. Compassion helps create the atmosphere in which consultation can bear fruit—by enabling hearts to become receptive and cooperative. [5] [6] [3]
Relationship to Divine Wisdom
Bahá’u’lláh’s statement, “The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion,” implies that divine wisdom is only fully accessible when both consultation and compassion are present and integrated. Consultation provides the method for uncovering truth and understanding, while compassion ensures these processes produce harmony and unity, not division or conflict. [2] [3] [1] [5]
Summary Table
| Quality | Purpose in Divine Wisdom | Source Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Examines truth collectively, develops understanding, lamp of guidance | [2] |
| Compassion | Fosters love, unity, selflessness, spiritual harmony | [5] |
In essence, the relationship is that consultation and compassion together form the means by which divine wisdom is revealed, making the pursuit of truth both effective and spiritually transformative. [4] [1] [2]
Citations
[1] Consultation – The Bahá’í Faith
[3] Consultation at Baha’i National Convention – Bahá’ís of the United States
[4] Baha’i Quotes on Consultation – Uplifting Words
[5] Prerequisites and Conditions of Baha’i Consultation – Uplifting Words
[6] Consultation – Baha’i Feast Devotional Program – Uplifting Words
[7] The Beauty of True Consultation – BahaiTeachings.org
[8] Justice, Unity, Consultation: The Power to Transform the World – BahaiTeachings.org
[11] One Little Word that Will Help Solve Your Problems – and the World’s Too – Baha’i Blog
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How do consultation and compassion foster unity in decision-making?
- What qualities are essential for effective consultation in groups?
- How does consultation lead to greater understanding and maturity?
- What role does compassion play alongside consultation in leadership?
- How can consultation resolve conflicts without compromise of truth?
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/842285745. ↩
- 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, 168. https://www.bahai.org/r/545364905. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Consultation and Compassion.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. August 31, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-great-being-saith-the-heav-fuJhPtv.SfSJ0G5oh2zWDg. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 