‘Idál, 07 Masá’il (Questions), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
The fourth Ṭaráz concerneth trustworthiness. Verily it is the door of security for all that dwell on earth and a token of glory on the part of the All-Merciful. He who partaketh thereof hath indeed partaken of the treasures of wealth and prosperity. Trustworthiness is the greatest portal leading unto the tranquillity and security of the people. In truth the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it. All the domains of power, of grandeur and of wealth are illumined by its light. — Bahá’u’lláh 1 2
Question for Consideration
How does trustworthiness act as “the door of security for all that dwell on earth and a token of glory on the part of the All-Merciful”?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Trustworthiness acts as a “door of security” because it creates a reliable moral and social environment in which people, institutions, and relationships can function without fear of betrayal, exploitation, or hypocrisy, and it is a “token of glory” because it mirrors God’s own attributes of faithfulness and reliability in human life. [1]
Door of security
When people and institutions are trustworthy, others can confidently entrust them with their lives, property, honour, and secrets, so fear and anxiety are replaced by assurance and calm. Bahá’u’lláh states that “the first, the fundamental purpose underlying creation” is the appearance of “trustworthiness and godliness, of sincerity and goodwill amongst mankind, for these qualities are the cause of peace, security and tranquillity.” [1]
Trustworthiness protects the “city of humanity” like a stronghold, and its absence is likened to blindness, because without it people cannot safely navigate personal, economic, or political affairs. In practical terms it governs contracts, commerce, family life, and community administration, making promises dependable and rights secure. [1]
Basis of stability
Bahá’u’lláh says “the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it,” indicating that any lasting endeavour—marriage, business, governance, or community-building—rests on trustworthy conduct. When trustworthiness prevails, cooperation can deepen and complex collective projects become possible, since people are not forced to waste energy guarding against deceit. [1]
Because of this, trustworthiness becomes “the greatest portal leading unto the tranquillity and security of the people,” opening the way to justice, equitable prosperity, and social cohesion. Even economic life is described as a “heaven, whose sun is trustworthiness and whose moon is truthfulness,” showing that material systems collapse without this spiritual foundation. [1]
Token of divine glory
Trustworthiness is called a “token of glory on the part of the All-Merciful” because it is one of the clearest reflections of divine qualities in human character. Bahá’u’lláh personifies it as a radiant figure proclaiming “I am Trustworthiness and the revelation thereof… I am the supreme instrument for the prosperity of the world, and the horizon of assurance unto all beings.” [1]
When a person adorns themselves with trustworthiness, they become “the trustees of God amongst His creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people,” thus honouring God and attracting His confirmations. In this way, living faithfully and reliably is not only an ethical duty but a form of worship that manifests the glory and mercy of God in everyday life. [1]
Citations
- Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá’í Virtue. Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, Revised August 1990 – Bahá’í Reference Library
Footnotes
- 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/340406367. ↩︎
- Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 37. https://www.bahai.org/r/580894915. ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Trustworthiness: The Door of Security for All that Dwell on Earth.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 16, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-fourth-taraz-concerneth-tr-3wbgHSIpQNu1mdoAjs8e0g#0 ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 