Fidál, 13 Masá’il (Questions), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
Say: O bearer of My Name! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Thou hast ever been adorned with the fair robe of trustworthiness and piety. These twin qualities are as two companions for thee in whom thou mayest find solace. They are as two sentinels who shall stand watch over thee, and two guardians that shall, by God’s leave, keep thee from harm. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration
How do the qualities of trustworthiness and piety act as sentinels and guardians to stand watch and keep one from harm?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
Trustworthiness and piety keep one from harm by shaping a way of life in which many outer dangers are avoided and inner, spiritual damage is prevented. In Bahá’í texts these qualities are described as sources of security, tranquillity, and protection, both for the individual and for society. [1]
What these two qualities are
- Trustworthiness: being reliably honest, faithful to one’s word, fair in dealings, and worthy of confidence in all situations. [1]
- Piety (godliness/fear of God): living with a conscious awareness of God, striving to obey His commandments, and avoiding what displeases Him.
These are described as “twin qualities” and even as two “luminaries” shining from the divine law, which shows how central they are. [1]
How they guard from outer harm
Trustworthiness and piety naturally reduce many practical, worldly harms. When a person consistently embodies them: [1]
- Others learn they can rely on this person, so suspicion, conflict, and retaliation are less likely to arise around them. [1]
- In business, family, and public life, they avoid fraud, deceit, oppression, and corruption, and therefore avoid the legal, social, and financial consequences of such acts. [1]
Bahá’u’lláh calls trustworthiness “the greatest portal leading unto the tranquillity and security of the people” and “the door of security for all that dwell on earth,” indicating that this virtue itself creates a protective social environment. [1]
How they guard from inner harm
The deeper “harm” is spiritual: corruption of character, attachment to ego and materialism, and distance from God. Trustworthiness and piety guard the soul by: [1]
- Training the heart to turn away from selfish desire, hypocrisy, and deceit, which are described as destructive “moral afflictions.” [1]
- Keeping the conscience sensitive, so one feels pain at wrongdoing and joy in right action, which protects from gradual hardening of the heart. [1]
Texts explain that when these qualities are present, the “citadel” of the heart is won by noble character and praiseworthy deeds, not by contention or strife. [1]
How they “stand watch” like sentinels
Calling these virtues “sentinels” suggests constant, alert presence at the “gate” of one’s life. They function this way when: [1]
- Before acting or speaking, a person instinctively asks: “Is this honest? Is this pleasing to God?” and refrains if the answer is no. [1]
- In moments of temptation—financial gain, social pressure, anger—habitual trustworthiness and piety immediately warn the person and hold them back. [1]
In several passages, Bahá’u’lláh links fear of God and upright character with “hosts” that render the Cause victorious, implying that these virtues actively combat harmful impulses and influences. [1]
Protection by attracting divine aid
There is also a promise of protection that goes beyond natural cause and effect: trustworthiness and piety attract divine confirmations. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá state that: [1]
- Trustworthiness is “the chief means of attracting confirmation and prosperity” and “a light that shineth… and leadeth to the exaltation” of the Cause. [1]
- Piety and godliness draw down God’s grace and are among “the highest and most laudable of all acts,” ranking above other deeds. [1]
In this sense, these qualities act as “guardians” by placing a person under God’s special care; even when hardship comes, it becomes a means of growth rather than true loss or destruction. [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/549199458. ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Trustworthiness and Piety as Sentinels and Guardians.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 22, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/say-o-bearer-of-my-name-upon-t-FTGvorvBS5S8bKYJV.r5cQ#0. ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 