Jamál, 13 Jamál (Beauty), 183 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
As the place from which spiritual forces are to radiate, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is the focal point for dependencies to be raised up for the well-being of humanity and is the expression of a common will and eagerness to serve. These dependencies—centres of education and scientific learning as well as cultural and humanitarian endeavour—embody the ideals of social and spiritual progress to be achieved through the application of knowledge, and demonstrate how, when religion and science are in harmony, they elevate the station of the human being and lead to the flourishing of civilization. As your lives amply demonstrate, worship, though essential to the inner life of the human being and vital to spiritual development, must also lead to deeds that give outward expression to that inner transformation. This concept of worship—inseparable from service—is promulgated by the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. — Universal House of Justice [1]
Question for Consideration
What ‘dependencies’ are included in the institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and how do they serve the local community’s needs? [2]
Gemini/NotebookLM Response
The institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár (the “Dawning-place of the Praise of God”) is defined as a union of worship and service, consisting of a central edifice for prayer surrounded by several “dependencies” or auxiliary institutions. These dependencies are designed to be “institutions of social service” that translate the spiritual forces generated through worship into practical, humanitarian action for the betterment of society.
Included Dependencies
According to the sources, a fully realized Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is connected to the following five primary types of institutions, though others may be added as needed:
- A Hospital and Drug Dispensary: Focused on physical wellness and providing medical intervention for the ailing.
- Schools and a University: Providing foundational literacy, academic education, and higher scientific studies.
- A Traveler’s Hospice: A hub for hospitality that provides shelter and sustenance for wayfarers and pilgrims.
- A School for Orphans and Haven for the Helpless: Offering institutional support and care for parentless children and the marginalized.
- A Home for the Incapacitated/Infirm: Providing a refuge and social safety net for the elderly, disabled, or those unable to care for themselves.
Service to Local Community Needs
These dependencies serve the community by creating a “dynamic coherence” between the spiritual and practical requirements of life. They address local needs in several specific ways:
- Integrated Healing: The hospital and dispensary represent the application of the Bahá’í principle that religion and science must work in harmony to restore the health of the individual and society.
- Educational Advancement: The schools serve to “gather all mankind into the impregnable stronghold of knowledge,” aiming to eliminate illiteracy and provide technical training. For example, the first House of Worship in ‘Ishqábád distinguished itself by ensuring all children and youth—particularly girls—were literate in a society where education was otherwise scarce.
- Relief of Suffering: These institutions are specifically intended to “afford relief to the suffering, sustenance to the poor, shelter to the wayfarer, [and] solace to the bereaved”.
- Spiritualized Service: Service rendered within these dependencies is characterized as “disinterested service to the cause of humanity,” performed in a spirit of worship. The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár functions as the “spiritual centre” from which the community derives the inspiration to perform these administrative and humanitarian tasks with trustworthiness and integrity.
Ultimately, the House of Justice describes these dependencies as the expression of a “common will and eagerness to serve” that enables a local population to become the protagonists of their own development. Even before a physical Temple is built, local communities can begin this process by holding devotional meetings and initiating small-scale humanitarian projects that evoke the spirit of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
Footnotes
[1] Universal House of Justice. “18 December 2014 – To the Bahá’ís of Iran.” Bahá’i Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/509732689
[2] Gemini/NotebookLM. “The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár: A Union of Worship and Social Service.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. May 9, 2026. https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/65808e18-87f2-4896-92b9-16a7aff29d15
Be the Voice of…
Therefore, all souls should consider it incumbent upon them to investigate reality. Reality is one; and when found, it will unify all mankind. Reality is the love of God. Reality is the knowledge of God. Reality is justice. Reality is the oneness or solidarity of mankind. Reality is international peace. Reality is the knowledge of verities. Reality unifies humanity. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá The Promulgation of Universal Peace | Bahá’í Reference Library.
Frameworks for Understanding the World 