Kamál, 13 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
The question has been asked: Will the spiritual progress of the world equal and keep pace with material progress in the future? In a living organism the full measure of its development is not known or realized at the time of its inception or birth. Development and progression imply gradual stages or degrees. For example, spiritual advancement may be likened to the light of the early dawn. Although this dawn light is dim and pale, a wise man who views the march of the sunrise at its very beginning can foretell the ascendancy of the sun in its full glory and effulgence. He knows for a certainty that it is the beginning of its manifestation and that later it will assume great power and potency. Again, for example, if he takes a seed and observes that it is sprouting, he will know assuredly that it will ultimately become a tree. Now is the beginning of the manifestation of the spiritual power, and inevitably the potency of its life forces will assume greater and greater proportions. Therefore, this twentieth century is the dawn, or beginning, of spiritual illumination, and it is evident that day by day it will advance. It will reach such a degree that spiritual effulgences will overcome the physical, so that divine susceptibilities will overpower material intelligence and the heavenly light dispel and banish earthly darkness. Divine healing shall purify all ills, and the cloud of mercy will pour down its rain. The Sun of Reality will shine, and all the earth shall put on its beautiful green carpet. Among the results of the manifestation of spiritual forces will be that the human world will adapt itself to a new social form, the justice of God will become manifest throughout human affairs, and human equality will be universally established. The poor will receive a great bestowal, and the rich attain eternal happiness. For although at the present time the rich enjoy the greatest luxury and comfort, they are nevertheless deprived of eternal happiness; for eternal happiness is contingent upon giving, and the poor are everywhere in the state of abject need. Through the manifestation of God’s great equity the poor of the world will be rewarded and assisted fully, and there will be a readjustment in the economic conditions of mankind so that in the future there will not be the abnormally rich nor the abject poor. The rich will enjoy the privilege of this new economic condition as well as the poor, for owing to certain provisions and restrictions they will not be able to accumulate so much as to be burdened by its management, while the poor will be relieved from the stress of want and misery. The rich will enjoy his palace, and the poor will have his comfortable cottage. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1 2
Question for Consideration
What consequences will follow the manifestation of the justice of God throughout human affairs?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
According to ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s teaching and the writings compiled in Social Action: A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (2020), the manifestation of the justice of God throughout human affairs will bring about a profound spiritual and social transformation of the world. [1]
Social and Economic Readjustment
When the justice of God becomes manifest, the human world will experience a readjustment in its economic conditions. Extremes of wealth and poverty will be eliminated—not through compulsion, but through voluntary generosity and wise institutions established by divine law. The rich will no longer be burdened by excessive possessions, and the poor will be freed from destitution and hardship. Economic moderation will create a balanced and compassionate society, where every individual enjoys comfort suited to personal needs. [1]
Universal Equality and Human Solidarity
One of the most immediate results will be universal recognition of human equality. The justice of God will ensure that no class or group remains oppressed or excluded. The world will “adapt itself to a new social form” founded on love, cooperation, and fellowship across races, nations, and religions. This shift will signify the maturity of humanity, realizing the oneness and wholeness of the human race as ordained in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. [1]
Moral and Spiritual Advancement
Justice will awaken the divine susceptibilities within humanity—the spiritual faculties that uplift thought and action. As material civilization is illumined by divine civilization, human values will be reoriented from self-interest to altruism. Institutions and systems will reflect moral principles, replacing exploitation and greed with fairness and trustworthiness in all social and economic dealings. [1]
Establishment of Peace and Prosperity
The justice of God will also lead to peace and collective well-being. When divine standards guide governance and economic relations, nations will find tranquility and stability. The poor will receive full assistance, and spiritual healing will accompany material prosperity. The world will flourish—symbolized, in ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s words, by “the earth putting on its beautiful green carpet”—as human cooperation replaces conflict, and divine mercy permeates every aspect of life. [1]
In sum, the manifestation of the justice of God will inaugurate a world civilization where material progress is harmonized with spiritual illumination, economic life is governed by compassion and equity, and humanity collectively experiences peace, prosperity, and unity under the light of divine truth. [1]
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
To deepen understanding of the topic of spiritual and material progress and the manifestation of divine justice, the following reflective and analytical questions can guide study, discussion, or meditation. These are inspired both by ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s teachings and the principles compiled in Social Action: A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (2020). [1]
Questions on Spiritual and Material Progress
- In what ways can material progress serve as a foundation for spiritual advancement rather than a distraction from it? [1]
- How can individuals today contribute to harmonizing material civilization with divine civilization in daily life, work, and community? [1]
- What are the consequences of pursuing material progress without corresponding spiritual growth? [1]
- How does the “lamp and light” analogy of material and spiritual civilization apply to current global challenges? [1]
Questions on the Justice of God
- What is the purpose of divine justice, and how does it differ from human legal or social justice systems? [1]
- How can individuals and communities embody the “light of justice” in economic, social, and cultural life? [1]
- What conditions are necessary for divine justice to be manifested at societal and global levels? [1]
- How might justice serve as the foundation for achieving true unity among the world’s peoples? [1]
Questions on Social Transformation
- How can social and economic development efforts be guided by spiritual principles rather than purely material objectives? [1]
- What role does community consultation play in realizing divine justice and equality? [1]
- How does the Bahá’í concept of the oneness of humanity reshape traditional ideas of wealth, poverty, and ownership? [1]
- In what ways can education be used as a means for achieving balance between material advancement and spiritual refinement? [1]
Questions on the Future of Civilization
- What signs indicate that humanity is entering its stage of collective maturity, as ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá described? [1]
- How can science and religion work together to establish an “ever‑advancing civilization”? [1]
- What responsibilities accompany humanity’s growing capacity for knowledge, technology, and innovation in light of divine justice? [1]
- How might the equilibrium envisioned by Bahá’u’lláh between spiritual illumination and material culture shape the future order of society? [1]
These questions invite deeper reflection on how the unfolding of divine justice, unity, and morality shapes the continued evolution of civilization and the individual’s role in bringing it about. [1]
Citations
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/924244012. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 131-132. https://www.bahai.org/r/841208804. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “The Manifestation of God’s Justice.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. October 26, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-question-has-been-asked-wi-6SepcgpxRu2Omde6RGBXNQ#0. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 