Istiqlál, 10 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
O my spiritual friends! Among the greatest means of achieving modern advancements, the prosperity of nations, and the civilization of the peoples is the establishment of companies for commerce, industry, and other sources of wealth, inasmuch as a company is a symbol of oneness, unity, and harmony in the Cause of God. It is most difficult for humankind to succeed in anything singly, but when an assemblage is formed and a company established, the members will be enabled jointly to accomplish great tasks. Consider, for instance, an army. If each soldier were to enter into combat singly, he would be fighting with the force of one man, but when a troop is formed, each member of that troop resisteth with a thousand-fold power, for the power of a thousand individuals is converged upon one point. It is the same in other matters. However, every business company should be established on divine principles. Its foundations should be trustworthiness, piety, and truthfulness, in order to protect the rights of the people and to become, as day followeth day, a magnet of fidelity, so that the confirmations of the All-Glorious may be unveiled. Moreover, a legitimate company must needs exert all within its power to safeguard the rights of the people in all matters, whether great or small, and to administer the affairs of the company with the utmost perfection, uprightness, and care. If it be so conducted, that company, beyond a shadow of a doubt, will become the embodiment of blessings, and that assemblage will attract the confirmations of the Lord of all bounties and, safe under the protection of the Greatest Name, will remain shielded from every misfortune. Upon you be greetings and praise. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration
What characteristics define a company such that it “will become the embodiment of blessings, and that assemblage will attract the confirmations of the Lord of all bounties and, safe under the protection of the Greatest Name, will remain shielded from every misfortune?”
Perplexity Pro Response 2
According to ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s statement and the wider guidance from the Bahá’í writings, a company becomes “the embodiment of blessings” and receives divine confirmations when it is founded and operated upon divine principles rather than merely material ones. The compilation Social Action further illuminates these foundational qualities from the Bahá’í perspective on economic and social life.
Spiritual Characteristics
A legitimate and blessed company must be built upon spiritual qualities such as trustworthiness, piety, and truthfulness. These virtues are central in Bahá’í teachings because they cultivate justice and integrity in all dealings. Trustworthiness ensures that investors, workers, and the public are protected; piety safeguards the moral standards of business conduct; and truthfulness enables transparency and reliability in every transaction. [1]
Protection of Rights
A company should “safeguard the rights of the people in all matters, whether great or small”. This includes fair treatment of workers, respect for consumers, and equity toward partners and shareholders. When an enterprise strives to uphold the common good, it aligns itself with divine law, which is justice manifested in social relations. [1]
Excellence and Care in Administration
Management should be characterized by “perfection, uprightness, and care”. Decisions ought to be motivated by service rather than personal gain. In Bahá’u’lláh’s and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s view, work is a form of worship when performed in a spirit of service and excellence, thus linking industry with spirituality. [1]
Cooperation and Unity
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá describes a company as “a symbol of oneness, unity, and harmony”. The collective nature of business reflects the Bahá’í principle of consultation and mutual cooperation. Just as an army gains strength through unity, a business achieves greater success when its members act in concert with shared purpose and mutual respect. [1]
Moderation and Justice in Wealth
The Bahá’í teachings call for moderation in profit, fairness in wages, and sharing of wealth through equitable arrangements. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá advocates both fair wages and a share of profits for workers, seeing such justice as a divine safeguard against extremes of wealth and poverty. Wealth itself is praiseworthy when acquired and used justly—for social good, education, and upliftment of humankind. [1]
Coherence of Material and Spiritual Purpose
The Universal House of Justice has emphasized that economic activity must reveal “a dynamic coherence between the material and spiritual requirements of life”. A company that serves not only to generate material prosperity but also to uplift morality, promote unity, and contribute to social advancement is aligned with divine intention. [1]
Summary
Therefore, a company becomes a “magnet of fidelity” and attracts divine confirmations when it embodies the following traits:
- Founded on trustworthiness, piety, and truthfulness.
- Protects the rights and welfare of all people connected to it.
- Administers its affairs with justice, uprightness, and care.
- Operates in a spirit of unity, cooperation, and consultation.
- Practices moderation in profit-making and fairness in labor relations.
- Channels material means toward spiritual and social advancement.
Such a company serves as both a practical and spiritual enterprise—a reflection of divine order in human economic life, capable of contributing not only to prosperity but to the moral civilization of the world.[1]
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
Building companies upon divine principles requires deliberate reflection, consultation, and alignment of action with spiritual as well as material goals. To achieve this, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s guidance on trustworthiness, unity, and justice, along with the Universal House of Justice’s framework for coherent material–spiritual development, can be translated into guiding questions.
Foundational Purpose
These questions help clarify whether a company’s existence serves higher aims:
- What is the higher purpose of this enterprise beyond material profit ? [1]
- In what ways will this company contribute to human welfare, knowledge, or the advancement of civilization ? [1]
- How can its activities reflect both the spiritual and material dimensions of life, achieving coherence between them ? [1]
Principles of Conduct
These address the ethical and moral foundations of the company:
- Are truthfulness, trustworthiness, and justice evident in all its dealings and policies ? [1]
- Do management and employees understand their work as service to humanity—a form of worship through excellence and integrity ? [1]
- How does the enterprise ensure that means and ends are consistent, avoiding any success built on exploitation or deceit ? [1]
Structure and Relations
Questions in this category help shape just and united systems:
- How is consultation embedded in decision-making at all levels ? [1]
- Are relationships between owners, managers, and workers characterized by fairness, open communication, and mutual respect ? [1]
- Does the company’s structure protect the rights of all stakeholders—including employees, customers, and the community ? [1]
Wealth and Justice
To ensure right use of material means:
- How will profits be distributed to balance individual initiative with collective welfare ? [1]
- What measures ensure fair wages and just conditions, consistent with ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s principle that workers should share in profits ? [1]
- Is the company’s accumulated wealth applied for the upliftment of society—for education, health, and the arts ? [1]
Relationship to the Wider Community
For social contribution and unity:
- How does the company foster cooperation rather than competition in its industry and with the wider community ? [1]
- What provisions are made to protect the environment and sustain the natural resources entrusted to humanity ? [1]
- How is diversity valued and enabled within the company, reflecting the oneness of humankind ? [1]
Ongoing Spiritual Development
To sustain enterprises over time:
- What practices will cultivate a spirit of prayer, reflection, and moral learning among members ? [1]
- How will success be evaluated not only in economic terms but by growth in unity, justice, and service ? [1]
- What mechanisms ensure continuous learning and adaptability through consultation and feedback ? [1]
By asking and revisiting such questions through systematic consultation, a company gradually becomes what ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá described as “a magnet of fidelity” and a channel for divine confirmations—an institution where material means are made to serve spiritual ends for the benefit of all humanity. [1]
Citations
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/576249059. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Characteristics of Companies Established on Divine Principles.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. October 23, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/o-my-spiritual-friends-among-t-PRrmak_kS3qjIxwk59kgCw#0. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 