Jalál, 09 Mulk (Dominion), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
Let them refrain from associating themselves, whether by word or by deed, with the political pursuits of their respective nations, with the policies of their governments and the schemes and programs of parties and factions. In such controversies they should assign no blame, take no side, further no design, and identify themselves with no system prejudicial to the best interests of that world-wide Fellowship which it is their aim to guard and foster. Let them beware lest they allow themselves to become the tools of unscrupulous politicians, or to be entrapped by the treacherous devices of the plotters and the perfidious among their countrymen. Let them so shape their lives and regulate their conduct that no charge of secrecy, of fraud, of bribery or of intimidation may, however ill-founded, be brought against them. 1 Let them rise above all particularism and partisanship, above the vain disputes, the petty calculations, the transient passions that agitate the face, and engage the attention, of a changing world. It is their duty to strive to distinguish, as clearly as they possibly can, and if needed with the aid of their elected representatives, such posts and functions as are either diplomatic or political from those that are purely administrative in character, and which under no circumstances are affected by the changes and chances that political activities and party government, in every land, must necessarily involve. Let them affirm their unyielding determination to stand, firmly and unreservedly, for the way of Bahá’u’lláh, to avoid the entanglements and bickerings inseparable from the pursuits of the politician, and to become worthy agencies of that Divine Polity which incarnates God’s immutable Purpose for all men. 2 — Shoghi Effendi
Question for Consideration
From a Bahá’í perspective, what behaviors would significantly lessen the likelihood of charges of “secrecy, of fraud, of bribery or of intimidation may, however ill-founded,” that may be brought against a person?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Behaviors that make such accusations far less likely, from a Bahá’í point of view, are those that make a person transparently trustworthy, truthful, just, and free of self‑interest in all their dealings, especially where money, power, or influence are involved. [1]
Core inner qualities
The writings repeatedly place trustworthiness, truthfulness, uprightness, and purity of motive at the very center of a Bahá’í life. When these are solidly established in a person, they naturally avoid anything that looks like deceit, pressure, or corruption. [1]
Key inner traits include: [1]
- Sincere truthfulness in speech (avoiding exaggeration, spin, and half‑truths).
- Detachment from wealth, position, and prestige, so decisions are not warped by self‑interest.
- Fear of God and conscience, experienced as a constant inner check on one’s motives.
- A resolute aversion to hypocrisy, plotting, and double‑dealing, even “for a good cause.”
Transparency instead of secrecy
The issue is not that confidentiality is always wrong, but that one’s conduct should not give grounds for thinking one is hiding self‑interested or unjust behavior. [1]
Practical behaviors include: [1]
- Using consultation and collective decision‑making rather than private, one‑person deals.
- Keeping clear, accessible records (minutes, accounts, receipts, agreements) and being willing to have them reviewed.
- Explaining decisions and criteria where possible, especially when they affect others’ rights.
- Avoiding back‑room understandings, side conversations, or “informal” arrangements that bypass agreed processes.
Safeguards against fraud and bribery
Bahá’í texts speak very strongly against any breach of trust, misappropriation, or taking advantage of others in business or public service. Fraud and bribery are treated as fundamentally incompatible with faith. [1]
Concrete safeguards: [1]
- Absolute honesty in all financial dealings: no falsified accounts, hidden fees, or misleading contracts.
- Contentment with one’s lawful salary or profit; refusing “commissions,” kickbacks, or gifts that create obligation or expectation.
- Clear separation between personal and organizational funds, with proper authorization for all expenditures.
- Avoiding any business structures or practices that depend on exploiting ignorance, desperation, or asymmetry of information.
- If entrusted with public or community resources, behaving as a guardian of others’ rights, not as an owner.
Conduct that rules out intimidation
The writings call on believers to win “the citadels of men’s hearts” with upright character and goodly deeds, not force, threat, or manipulation. Any use of pressure to get compliance is contrary to this. [1]
Protective behaviors: [1]
- Never using one’s spiritual, social, or official position to frighten, shame, or coerce people.
- Speaking with courtesy and dignity, even in conflict; no threats, insinuations, or veiled consequences.
- Allowing free choice (in belief, service, and opinion) and refusing to punish people for sincere disagreement.
- Avoiding emotional manipulation (guilt‑tripping, ostracism, fear‑mongering) as tools to obtain consent.
A life that “looks like” integrity
Shoghi Effendi links that specific sentence you quoted to an entire pattern of life in which rectitude of conduct shows up in the home, at work, in business, and in service to government or community. The goal is that even hostile observers, watching over time, see consistency between a person’s words and deeds and conclude that accusations of secrecy, fraud, bribery, or intimidation do not “fit” the kind of person they are. [1]
In practice, this means: [1]
- Letting principle rule even in small, unseen matters; not having “public” and “private” standards.
- Being punctual, reliable, and fair in contracts, employment, and payment of debts.
- Choosing work and roles that serve the common good, and conducting them in a way “altogether above suspicion.”
- Welcoming independent oversight and accountability, rather than resisting it.
From a Bahá’í perspective, the more a person consistently embodies these patterns, the more remote it becomes—not just in reality, but even in public perception—that such charges could rightly attach to them, even if someone tries to raise them. [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/712472690 ↩︎
- Effendi, Shoghi. The World Order of Baháʾuʾlláh: Selected Letters. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed February 13, 2026. https://www.bahai.org/r/480484836 ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “The Consequences of a Transparently Trustworthy, Truthful, Just, and Free from Self-Interest Life.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. February 13, 2026. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/let-them-so-shape-their-lives-m5BP.nX0RXuVye8fuiFeSQ#0 ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 