Jamál, 17 Mulk (Dominion), 182 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
The Guardian feels that your attitude towards the corrupt practice of accepting commissions from fellow physicians and pharmacists is most admirable. The more upright and noble the Bahá’ís are in their conduct, the more they will impress the public with the spiritual vitality of the Faith they believe in. — written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi 1
Question for Consideration
What available methods can bolster one’s agency to choose upright and noble conduct in the face of prevailing corrupt practices?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
Several complementary methods can strengthen a person’s agency to act uprightly in the midst of corrupt norms.
1. Deepen conviction and clarity
- Regularly study writings that praise trustworthiness, uprightness, and truthfulness, and condemn corruption, so that your mind is very clear on what is right and why it matters. [1]
- Reflect that the “purpose underlying creation” is the appearance of qualities such as trustworthiness, sincerity, and goodwill among humanity; seeing integrity as your life’s purpose gives inner strength when pressured to compromise. [1]
- Meditate on statements that “the sword of upright conduct and a goodly character is sharper than blades of steel,” strengthening the belief that moral courage is more powerful than social or economic pressure. [1]
2. Build habits that support virtue
- Make specific advance decisions (e.g., “I will never accept or pay under‑the‑table commissions”) so that choices are already made before you face pressure. [1]
- Establish daily practices—prayer, meditation, brief self‑accounting—that reinforce truthfulness and trustworthiness as core habits rather than occasional efforts. [1]
- Start with smaller acts of integrity (accurate reporting, keeping promises, punctual payment of debts) to train your “moral muscle” for larger tests. [1]
3. Use conscious self‑accounting
- Review each day: “Where was I fully upright? Where did I yield to fear, gain, or convenience?” and then plan a concrete corrective step for the next similar situation. [1]
- Weigh any proposed compromise against long‑term spiritual consequences, recalling that even a minor breach of trust can “sully” the Cause and one’s own dignity, whereas a single loaf of bread with integrity is better than riches gained by corruption. [1]
- Keep in mind that if a person lacks trustworthiness, other virtues are hollow; this framing makes even small dishonest gains feel too costly. [1]
4. Strengthen reliance on God
- Pray explicitly for the “robe of justice” and the “light of trustworthiness,” asking to be protected from venality and corruption in work and public life. [1]
- In moments of pressure (when a bribe is offered, a kickback suggested, or an unethical favor requested), silently turn to God and reaffirm that your honour and sustenance come from Him, not from corrupt advantage. [1]
- Remember that God “requites” every sincere effort, even if some leaders or colleagues do not appreciate integrity; this reduces fear of worldly loss and frees you to choose the right course. [1]
5. Choose environment and companions wisely
- Seek out colleagues, supervisors, or professional settings where honesty is valued; even one trustworthy ally at work can make resistance to corrupt norms much easier. [1]
- In your community, associate closely with people known for scrupulous honesty, since “companions” like trustworthiness and piety act as “sentinels” guarding you from harm. [1]
- Where you cannot avoid a corrupt milieu (e.g., a profession or institution), define clear red lines and, if necessary, be prepared to change roles or workplaces rather than live in ongoing compromise. [1]
6. Reframe work as service, not gain
- Treat your profession as “service to the whole of humanity,” not as a means for personal enrichment; this makes corrupt shortcuts feel like a betrayal of a trust, not cleverness. [1]
- Remember that any office or employment should be approached with “entire detachment, integrity and independence of spirit,” content with rightful remuneration and avoiding any “bribery and fraud.” [1]
- See your business or practice as an instrument of teaching by example, so that people are moved to say, “How great is their truthfulness, how high their trustworthiness”; this public witness becomes a strong motive to remain upright. [1]
7. Prepare for and accept material sacrifice
- Accept in advance that refusing corrupt advantages may mean slower progress, financial loss, or professional obstacles, yet brings “imperishable riches and…everlasting honour.” [1]
- Recall that glory does not lie in fortunes, especially those “unlawfully amassed through extortion, embezzlement and corruption,” but in equity, uprightness, and detachment. [1]
- When you suffer for choosing the right, reinterpret that suffering as proof of sincerity and as participation in a larger spiritual struggle to subdue the “citadels of men’s hearts” by noble deeds. [1]
8. Serve as a transparent, accountable example
- Welcome oversight and clear procedures (written policies, audits, shared decision‑making), because transparency makes it easier to remain firm and harder to be pressured into secret practices. [1]
- Involve consultation when facing gray areas—trusted peers, institutions, or assemblies—so that the decision is not left to your isolated fear or desire. [1]
- Aim that “no charge of secrecy, of fraud, of bribery or of intimidation may, however ill‑founded, be brought against” you; this standard encourages proactively avoiding situations that even resemble corruption. [1]
As an illustration: a physician who refuses kickbacks can (1) write down a personal code of conduct; (2) inform relevant colleagues and suppliers that all referrals are based solely on patients’ best interests; (3) put office policies and billing in writing and open to review; (4) regularly pray and reflect on trustworthiness; and (5) accept that some income or referrals may be lost, while trusting that such uprightness will, in the long run, attract the right patients and God’s confirmations. [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/968216182 ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Methods to Bolster One’s Agency.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. February 21, 2026. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-guardian-feels-that-your-a-Q1e6qioRR_.WUTKp3D27Ew#0. ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 