Jamál, 15 Sulțán (Sovereignty), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
If one of the friends … be appointed to a high administrative office, he should strive diligently to perform the duties committed to his charge with perfect honesty, integrity, sincerity, rectitude and uprightness. If, however, he abuse his position through corrupt or mercenary behaviour, he will be held in detestation at the Threshold of Grandeur and incur the wrath of the Abhá Beauty—nay, he shall be forsaken by the one true God and all who adore Him. So far from acting thus, he should content himself with his salary and allowances, seek out the way of righteousness, and dedicate his life to the service of state and people. Such must be the conduct and bearing of the Bahá’ís. Whoso transgresseth these bounds shall fall at length into manifest loss. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration
What are the spiritual consequences should a person appointed to a high administrative office “abuse his position through corrupt or mercenary behaviour,” and how should that person act instead?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that a person in high office who behaves corruptly will be “held in detestation at the Threshold of Grandeur,” incur “the wrath of the Abhá Beauty,” and “be forsaken by the one true God and all who adore Him,” ultimately falling “into manifest loss.” In contrast, such a person should be content with lawful “salary and allowances,” seek “the way of righteousness,” and “dedicate his life to the service of state and people” with “perfect honesty, integrity, sincerity, rectitude and uprightness.” [1]
Spiritual consequences of corrupt conduct
- The corrupt official becomes an object of detestation at the divine “Threshold of Grandeur,” meaning his conduct is abhorrent in the sight of God. [1]
- He incurs “the wrath of the Abhá Beauty,” implying he draws upon himself divine displeasure rather than mercy. [1]
- He is “forsaken by the one true God and all who adore Him,” indicating a condition of spiritual abandonment and estrangement from the community of the faithful. [1]
- ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá warns that “whoso transgresseth these bounds shall fall at length into manifest loss,” pointing to ultimate spiritual ruin despite any temporary worldly gain. [1]
How such a person should act instead
- He “should strive diligently” to fulfill his duties “with perfect honesty, integrity, sincerity, rectitude and uprightness,” making trustworthy service his governing principle. [1]
- He must “content himself with his salary and allowances,” explicitly rejecting bribery, extortion, and any illicit personal gain. [1]
- He should “seek out the way of righteousness,” orienting his decisions toward justice, fairness, and the fear of God rather than self-interest. [1]
- He is called to “dedicate his life to the service of state and people,” treating office as a sacred trust and form of worship, not as a means of enrichment. [1]
- ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá concludes, “Such must be the conduct and bearing of the Bahá’ís,” making this the model for all believers who hold public responsibility. [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/200929390 ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Seek Out the Way of Righteousness.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. January 31, 2026. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/if-one-of-the-friends-be-appoi-z23ZzSi2T5eByDva8tThWg#0 ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 