Daily Frameworks for 11 December 2025

Istijlál, 01 Masá’il (Questions), 182 B.E.

Quotes for Reflection

The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds. — Bahá’u’lláh ^{1 2}

Question for Consideration

What behaviors reflect “the purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself” and achieve His object “to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds”?

Perplexity Pro Response ³

Living in a way that reflects this purpose means letting truth, love, and justice shape ordinary, concrete choices every day. [1] [2]​

Inner orientation

• Turning the heart toward God through daily prayer and reflection, seeking to align motives with divine pleasure rather than ego, fear, or social approval. [1] [3]​
• Meeting both joy and hardship with trust in God, contentment, and even gratitude, rather than resentment or despair. [2] [4]​​

Truthfulness and sincerity

• Speaking plainly and honestly, avoiding exaggeration, flattery, gossip, or any form of deceit, even when a lie would be easier or more advantageous. [2] [4]​​
• Letting words and actions match, so that promises are kept, agreements are honoured, and others can rely on one’s word as a mirror of inner sincerity. [1] [5]​

Piety and trustworthiness

• Treating every responsibility—as employee, employer, professional, student, or official—as a sacred trust, refusing bribery, corruption, shortcuts, or negligence. [1] [4]​​
• Being scrupulous with money, time, and the property or reputation of others, so that people experience Bahá’ís as entirely dependable and fair. [1] [2]​

Resignation and submissiveness

• Accepting God’s laws and guidance even when they challenge personal habits or desires, and changing conduct accordingly. [1] [3]​
• Meeting tests, losses, and injustices with patience, constructive effort, and prayerful reliance, rather than bitterness or retaliation. [1] [4]​

Forbearance and kindliness

• Responding to provocation, insult, or disagreement with calm self-restraint, refusing to backbite or return harshness with harshness. [1] [2]​​
• Proactively showing kindness—listening with respect, serving the poor, forgiving offenders, and looking for ways to uplift rather than to win. [3] [5]​​

Uprightness and wisdom

• Acting with integrity in family, work, and community life: being just in judgement, avoiding partisanship and prejudice, and refusing any form of oppression. [1] [2]​
• Seeking knowledge and consulting with others, then applying spiritual principles thoughtfully to complex situations so that decisions serve the common good, not narrow self-interest. [3] [5]​​

A life of “holy and goodly deeds”

These qualities become a “mantle of a saintly character” when they are expressed steadily in visible deeds: serving one’s community, working honestly, nurturing loving families, participating in society’s betterment, and allowing every relationship—private and public—to be a field for truthfulness, trustworthiness, patience, and compassion. [4] [5]​

​​Citations

1. Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue (PDF) – Bahá’í Reference Library
2. Truthfulness, Trustworthiness and Justice – The Bahá’í Faith
3. Character and Conduct – The Bahá’í Faith
4. Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue – The Bahá’í Faith
5. An extract from the writings of Shoghi Effendi on character and conduct – The Bahá’í Faith
6. Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (PDF) – Bahá’í Library Online
7. Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue – Bahá’í Reference Library
8. Baha’u’llah’s “Gleanings”: A Gift to Humanity – BahaiTeachings.org
9. The purpose of the one true God – Journey With The Baha’i Faith (Facebook)
10. To Be Trustworthy – Ocean of Lights
11. Trustworthiness: Baha’i Feast Devotional Program – Uplifting Words
12. They who dwell within the Tabernacle of God – Bahá’u’lláh > Quotes > Quotable Quote on goodreads
13. ʻAbdu’l-Bahá – Wikipedia
14. List of virtues – Bahai9
15. Why Should We Acquire Virtues? Why Should We Develop Our Character? – Educational Psychology Interactive
16. The Importance of Good Character and Conduct – BahaiTeachings.org
17. The 24 spiritual qualities from Ruhi book 3 with accompanying quotes – The Bahai faith (Facebook)
18. The Purpose of Baha’u’llah – Reflections on the Baha’i Faith
19. 5. Quotations on Virtues – Clearwater Spiritual Awakening
20. ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ: A STUDY OF A CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER – Bahai.works
21. Becoming A Brilliant Star Attributes, Values, and Virtues Selections from the Bahá’í writings (PDF) – Educational Psychology Interactive

Footnotes

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Revised August 1990. https://www.bahai.org/r/061531230. ↩︎
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1935. https://www.bahai.org/r/953729665. ↩︎
3. Perplexity Pro. “The purpose of the one true God.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 10, 2025.https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-purpose-of-the-one-true-go-gneNIbosSl6Kk9tKobU96A#0 ↩︎