Fidál, 14 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
… Bahá’u’lláh set forth principles of guidance and teaching for economic readjustment. Regulations were revealed by Him which ensure the welfare of the commonwealth. As the rich man enjoys his life surrounded by ease and luxuries, so the poor man must, likewise, have a home and be provided with sustenance and comforts commensurate with his needs. This readjustment of the social economy is of the greatest importance inasmuch as it ensures the stability of the world of humanity; and until it is effected, happiness and prosperity are impossible. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1 2
Question for Consideration
What principles set forth by Bahá’u’lláh guide and teach readjustment of the social economy and why is it of greatest importance?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Bahá’u’lláh’s principles of economic and social readjustment emphasize the interdependence of spiritual and material well-being and call for justice, moderation, and compassion in economic life. These principles aim to ensure that the material prosperity of society reflects divine virtues and serves all segments of humanity, not merely a privileged few. [1]
Key Principles of Economic Readjustment
Bahá’u’lláh set forth that social and economic arrangements must be guided by spiritual principles, not merely material considerations. Among the teachings drawn from His writings and those of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá are:
Moderation in Wealth and Poverty
Absolute equality or absolute inequality are both unjust. Society must establish laws and systems that prevent excessive accumulation of wealth while providing for the poor’s basic needs. The goal is “no millionaires and no abject poor”. [1]
Justice and Sharing
Economic justice is achieved when relationships of wealth and labour are guided by cooperation and fairness. The rich should, “for the sake of God and in the pathway of His service,” willingly share wealth with the poor, ensuring equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome. [1]
Voluntary Generosity and Spiritual Motivation
True adjustment cannot be achieved through coercion or class struggle, but through love, unity, and voluntary generosity. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá stress that welfare should come through “welfare, not warfare,” and that spiritual transformation must precede enduring social change. [1]
Work as Worship
Every person must engage productively in crafts, professions, or agriculture, for “results depend upon means.” Productive work done in the spirit of service is an act of worship and the foundation of personal dignity and communal prosperity. [1]
Taxation and Social Responsibility
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá outlined systems of taxation proportional to capacity and need so that increases in production bring proportionate responsibility for the welfare of others. He envisioned storehouses managed locally to care for orphans, the incapacitated, schools, and the poor, ensuring a balanced distribution of resources. [1]
Why It Is of Greatest Importance
The “readjustment of the social economy” is declared by ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá to be of the greatest importance because it is essential for the stability of the world of humanity and for universal happiness and prosperity. Without moral and spiritual foundations, material progress alone brings destruction and injustice; with both in coherence, “the lamp of material civilization” is lit by “the light of divine civilization,” bringing true harmony and prosperity. [1]
These teachings view economics not merely as a material science but as a moral and spiritual enterprise aimed at fostering unity, security, and peace among all peoples. Only when humanity’s economic life reflects these spiritual principles can enduring stability and happiness be achieved. [1]
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
To further one’s understanding of Bahá’u’lláh’s principles of economic readjustment and their importance, questions should invite reflection, practical application, and exploration of underlying spiritual ideas. Drawing from the themes in Social Action: A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (2020), the Universal House of Justice links true economic justice to unity, moderation, and the balance between spiritual and material progress. [1]
Foundational Questions
- What does Bahá’u’lláh mean by the “welfare of the commonwealth,” and how does it relate to justice and unity? [1]
- How do Bahá’í teachings reconcile differences in human capacity with the call for economic equality and balance? [1]
- Why does ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá emphasize voluntary sharing and moderation rather than forced redistribution of wealth? [1]
- In what ways does the concept of the “oneness of humanity” influence the Bahá’í view of economics and social interdependence? [1]
Reflective Questions on Application
- How can individuals practically apply Bahá’u’lláh’s principles—such as justice and voluntary sharing—in their own professions and communities? [1]
- What would a Bahá’í-inspired system of taxation or resource distribution look like today, especially in diverse modern societies? [1]
- How might Bahá’í communities serve as models for economic cooperation, consultation, and the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty? [1]
- In what ways can education contribute to understanding and implementing these economic teachings at the grassroots level? [1]
Deeper Inquiry into Spiritual Dimensions
- Why is material civilization considered incomplete without spiritual civilization, and how does this insight shape a just economic system? [1]
- What does it mean for economics to be “divine in nature,” and how can this concept guide the moral use of wealth? [1]
- How do science and religion act as complementary “systems of knowledge” in constructing a global economy aligned with spiritual values? [1]
Critical and Contemporary Exploration
- To what extent can Bahá’u’lláh’s economic principles inform or transform modern capitalism, socialism, or other global economic models? [1]
- How can nations and institutions reflect Bahá’u’lláh’s call for justice in international trade, resource management, and environmental stewardship? [1]
- What current obstacles—social, cultural, or moral—prevent the realization of Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of economic readjustment? [1]
These questions encourage both intellectual inquiry and moral reflection, helping one see economic readjustment not merely as policy reform, but as a transformative spiritual process essential for humanity’s collective stability and happiness. [1]
Citations
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/924244011. ↩
- ’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, 181-182. https://www.bahai.org/r/726278506. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Readjustment of the Social Economy.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. October 26, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/bahaullah-set-forth-principles-ei.ls5E2Rm2.9dPi64YZQw#0. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 