Abolition of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty
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Dimensions of Unity: the Lawh-i-Ittihad
The theme of unity is woven explicitly and implicitly into Bahá’u’lláh’s mission and teachings. It is the entire purpose of his mission. In the Lawh-i-Ittihad, Bahá’u’lláh discusses some of the dimensions of unity. An authorised English version of this work is not available as yet, although descriptions of this work are available in Adib Taherzadeh’s fourth volume and Moojan Momen has provided a description and provisional translation. The following is a translation of two passages of the Lawh-i-Ittihad appearing in a letter of the Universal House of Justice. And amongst the realms of unity is the unity of rank and station. It redoundeth to the exaltation of the Cause, glorifying it…
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Workers’ Rights
As we have seen in previous articles, Bahá’u’lláh was concerned with the extremes of wealth and poverty he saw in society. He was concerned when the governors of society “reared palaces for themselves” at the cost of the poverty of their people. We has seen how, in freeing slaves he inherited with his family estate, Baha’u’llah affirmed the essential dignity and equality of all human beings. He was concerned also that workers’ received their proper due for work they performed. The people of Bahá should not deny any soul the reward due to him, should treat craftsmen with deference, and, unlike the people aforetime, should not defile their tongues with abuse.[1] Abdu’l…
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Extremes of Wealth and Poverty
The increasing gulf between rich and poor has recently re-emerged as an issue in public debate, both as an issue of economic justice and as an issue contributing to political instability in the world.[1] The issue has been a standing concern of the Baha’i community. In his early mystical writings Bahá’u’lláh draws attention to the injustice of disparities of wealth and poverty. Bahá’u’lláh challenges the common societal devaluation of the poor (and assumptions about a worthy human life): Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him on his way and behold thee in thy evil plight and confound thee forevermore.[1] This is not enough. The wealthy have obligations of generosity…
