Istijlál, 06 Qawl (Speech), 182 B.E.
Commemoration of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
The day will come when the Cause will spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings will be presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalizing, especially among the mass of the people. — Shoghi Effendi 1
Question for Consideration
How can art embody the spirit and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith such that it awakens noble sentiments and spreads the Cause like wildfire?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
Art embodies the spirit and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith when it reflects divine beauty, uplifts hearts, and helps people glimpse Bahá’í principles—such as unity, justice, and love—in living, felt form rather than abstract concepts. It can “spread the Cause like wildfire” when it is both spiritually rooted and artistically excellent, able to speak naturally to the wider culture rather than only to Bahá’ís. [2] [3] [4]
Start from spiritual purpose
For Bahá’ís, art is seen as a gift of the Holy Spirit whose highest purpose is to show forth the praise of God and draw souls closer to the divine. When an artist consciously creates with motives such as service, truthfulness, and love of humanity, that inner orientation infuses the work with a spirit that others can feel, even if there is no explicit religious content. [2] [5] [6]
Express core Bahá’í teachings
Art can embody the Faith by making its teachings visible and emotionally tangible in specific, human situations. For example, works that portray unity in diversity, the equality of women and men, the harmony of science and religion, or the oneness of religions help people “see” these principles lived out rather than only hear them described. [2] [3] [7]
Touch hearts more than argue minds
The Guardian explained that presenting the spirit and teachings of the Cause through stage, art, and literature can reach “the greatest number of people,” because art awakens noble sentiments more effectively than intellectual argument, especially among the masses. This suggests focusing less on didactic explanation and more on stories, images, music, and forms that evoke compassion, hope, courage, repentance, and a longing for a better world. [2] [3] [4] [6]
Strive for excellence and authenticity
Guidance on the arts emphasizes that believers are free to paint, write, and compose as their talents guide them, and that as the Cause grows, artists will produce works reflecting the divine spirit animating their souls. To spread like wildfire, such art needs genuine artistic quality and emotional truth, avoiding clichés or mere slogans and instead engaging deeply with the real sufferings and aspirations of humanity. [2] [4] [8]
Integrate art into community life
Shoghi Effendi’s encouragement of dramatic productions like the “Pageant of Nations” illustrates how collective artistic efforts can attract many hearts to the spirit of the Faith. Communities can embody this vision by weaving music, storytelling, visual arts, and drama into devotional gatherings, youth activities, social action, and public events, so that art becomes a natural channel for proclamation and community building rather than a separate, occasional embellishment. [2] [4] [7]
Citations
[2] The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith
[4] Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Arts and Crafts – Ocean of Lights
[5] Art as Connection with the Divine: A Baha’i Perspective – Edmonton Baha’i Community
[6] Drawing on the Spiritual Power of the Arts – BahaiTeachings.org
[7] Arts and the soul’s expression – Baha’is of the United States
[8] The Bahá’í Faith and the Arts – Wilmette Institute
[9] The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith | Bahá’í Reference Library
[10] Lights of Guidance/Bahá’í Arts and Drama – Bahaiworks, a library of works about the Bahá’í Faith
[11] Uncompiled Letters – Shoghi Effendi
[13] 5 Reasons the Arts Matter: An Artist’s Perspective | Baha’i Blog
[14] Baha’i Quotations on Environment and Sustainable Development
[15] The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith | Bahá’í Reference Library
[16] Why isn’t the Baha’i cause spreading like wildfire?
[17] Arts: Compilation on the Arts (PDF) – Bahá’í Library Online
[18] Why We Need Beauty in Our Lives – BahaiTeachings.org
[19] Why Do We Need Art and Artists? – BahaiTeachings.org
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/587865682. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “The Cause Will Spread like Wildfire.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. November 26, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-day-will-come-when-the-cau-6DWfl8W5QHCspqvAZD5eBQ#0. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 