’Idál, 11 ʼIzzat (Might), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Methods and Approaches
Quotes for Reflection:
O servant of God! To ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, homelessness is home and the gloomy prison his nest. He seeketh a lofty mansion, but in the world of God; he desireth the Frequented Fane, but in the heavenly realm. An earthly edifice, even if raised as high as the heavens, will ultimately become a ruin, nay, a darkened tomb. Erecting edifices, palaces, mansions, and stately homes is acceptable and praiseworthy in the religion of God, but one should not become attached to them or set one’s affections upon them. The intention should be the advancement of the world and the establishment of human civilization. A man of true knowledge and understanding will build public structures, that is, places that belong to all—a house of worship, a school to teach children of all ages, a hostel for travellers, a hospital—for every public building is a divine edifice, eternal and everlasting. Upon thee be greetings and praise. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration
How can one reconcile “an earthly edifice, even if raised as high as the heavens, will ultimately become a ruin” with “every public building is a divine edifice, eternal and everlasting?”
Perplexity Pro Response 2
This apparent contradiction is reconciled through the spiritual perspective offered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: while the physical forms of public buildings will inevitably perish, their true value and eternal nature lies in their spiritual purpose and the enduring impact they have on human society and civilization. [1] [2] [3]
Temporal vs. Eternal Aspects
- Earthly edifices (“raised as high as the heavens”) represent material accomplishments that are subject to the laws of nature and time, ultimately destined to decay and disappear. [4] [5]
- However, when these structures are built with the intention of serving humanity—such as houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings—they embody divine qualities and the spirit of service, which are considered eternal and everlasting in the Bahá’í teachings. [2] [3] [1]
The Divine Purpose of Public Buildings
- Public buildings, according to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, serve as channels for advancing civilization, spiritual education, communal unity, and social progress. [3] [1]
- Although their physical form will fade, the spiritual reality they represent—the qualities of selflessness, service, and unity—continues to exist beyond material destruction, making these edifices “divine and everlasting”. [1] [2] [3]
The True Home and Mansion
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá teaches that one’s true home is not material but “in the world of God”. [5] [4]
- The intention behind constructing public buildings should focus on the well-being and advancement of society rather than attachment to their material existence, ensuring their legacy endures eternally in the spiritual realm. [3] [4] [1]
In summary, the reconciliation lies in understanding that while all physical buildings are impermanent, those dedicated to public service are endowed with a spiritual dimension that is eternal and everlasting, due to the divine purpose and intention behind their creation. [4] [1] [3]
Citations
Houses of Worship: Spiritual Centers for Community Life – BahaiTeachings.org
Bahai Monuments, Funds and Houses of Worship – Reddit
Century of Light – Bahá’í Reference Library
Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas, Volume I – Bahá’í Library Online
Follow-Up Approaches Proposed by Perplexity
- Explore the spiritual significance of public buildings in Baha’i teachings.
- What roles do Houses of Worship play in community life according to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
- How does the Baha’i Faith view material attachments to buildings?
- Describe the difference between earthly ruins and divine edifices in the Faith.
- Investigate examples of public buildings serving eternal purposes in the Baha’i Faith.
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/300964817. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Raising Divine Edifices.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. September 16, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/o-servant-of-god-to-abdul-baha-2srsvmJmTfqde2jR5PQ7kw. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 