spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is
uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for
their hearts are pure and melodies have great influence in them. The
latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will
find expression through the medium of music. Therefore, you must exert
yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and
effect. It is incumbent upon each child to know something of music, for
without knowledge of this art the melodies of instrument and voice cannot
be rightly enjoyed. Likewise, it is necessary that the schools teach it in
order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and
exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment.
Today illumined and spiritual children are gathered in this meeting. They
are the children of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of heaven is for such souls
as these, for they are near to God. They have pure hearts. They have
spiritual faces. The effect of the divine teachings is manifest in the
perfect purity of their hearts. That is why Christ has addressed the
world, saying, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”—that is, men must become pure
in heart to know God. The teachings have had great effect. Spiritual
souls! Tender souls! The hearts of all children are of the utmost purity.
They are mirrors upon which no dust has fallen. But this purity is on
account of weakness and innocence, not on account of any strength and
testing, for as this is the early period of their childhood, their hearts
and minds are unsullied by the world. They cannot display any great
intelligence. They have neither hypocrisy nor deceit. This is on account
of the child’s weakness, whereas the man becomes pure through his
strength. Through the power of intelligence he becomes simple; through the
great power of reason and understanding and not through the power of
weakness he becomes sincere. When he attains to the state of perfection,
he will receive these qualities; his heart becomes purified, his spirit
enlightened, his soul is sensitized and tender—all through his great
strength. This is the difference between the perfect man and the child.
Both have the underlying qualities of simplicity and sincerity—the child
through the power of weakness and the man through the power of strength.
...
I give you my advice, and it is this: Train these children with divine
exhortations. From their childhood instill in their hearts the love of God
so they may manifest in their lives the fear of God and have confidence in
the bestowals of God. Teach them to free themselves from human
imperfections and to acquire the divine perfections latent in the heart of
man. The life of man is useful if he attains the perfections of man. If he
becomes the center of the imperfections of the world of humanity, death is
better than life, and nonexistence better than existence. Therefore, make
ye an effort in order that these children may be rightly trained and
educated and that each of them may attain perfection in the world of
humanity. Know ye the value of these children for they are all my
children.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912”, 2nd. ed.
(Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 52–54) [147]
“148: If a pupil is told that his intelligence is less than his fellow
pupils, it is...”
If a pupil is told that his intelligence is less than his fellow pupils,
it is a very great drawback and handicap to his progress. He must be
encouraged to advance...
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, pp. 76–77) [148]
“149: ...According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh the family, being a
human ,...”
...According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh the family, being a human ,
unit must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues
must be taught the family. The integrity of the family bond must be
constantly considered, and the rights of the individual members must not
be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother—none of
them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son
has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise, has certain
obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the
household have certain prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives
must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The
injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each,
the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 168) [149]
“150: He promulgated the adoption of the same course of education for man
and...”
He promulgated the adoption of the same course of education for man and
woman. Daughters and sons must follow the same curriculum of study,
thereby promoting unity of the sexes. When all mankind shall receive the
same opportunity of education and the equality of men and women be
realized, the foundations of war will be utterly destroyed. Without
equality this will be impossible because all differences and distinction
are conducive to discord and strife. Equality between men and women is
conducive to the abolition of warfare for the reason that women will never
be willing to sanction it. Mothers will not give their sons as sacrifices
upon the battlefield after twenty years of anxiety and loving devotion in
rearing them from infancy, no matter what cause they are called upon to
defend. There is no doubt that when women obtain equality of rights, war
will entirely cease among mankind.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 175) [150]
“151: The child must not be oppressed or censured because it is
undeveloped; it must...”
The child must not be oppressed or censured because it is undeveloped; it
must be patiently trained....
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, pp. 180–1) [151]
“152: Bahá’u’lláh has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of...”
Bahá’u’lláh has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education
are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and
instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will
be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal
education is a universal law....
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 300) [152]
“153: The education of each child is compulsory.... In addition to this
wide-spread...”
The education of each child is compulsory.... In addition to this
wide-spread education each child must be taught a profession, art, or
trade, so that every member of the community will be enabled to earn his
own livelihood. Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of
worship....
(“‘Abdu’l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy”, p. 83) [153]
(Compiled for inclusion with a letter dated 31 August 1976 written by the
Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies)
Revised July 1990
FOOTNOTES
1 Regarding this passage, an extract from a letter dated 5 January
1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer
states: “Unfortunately it would seem that the knowledge ‘which could
largely eliminate fear’ has not been disclosed or identified by
Bahá’u’lláh; so we do not know what it is”. This extract is also
published in Bahá’í News 210 (August 1948), p. 3.
2 Qur’án 3:67.
3 Cf Gen. 56:62.
4 Cf Gen. 1:26.
5 Cf Gen. 1:26.
6 Qur’án 17:22.
7 Bahá’u’lláh
8 Cf. Genesis. 9:25.
9 i.e. therefore people cannot be blamed for their character.
10 The Zaqqúm, Qur’án 37:60, 44:43.
11 Cf. “Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” [rev. ed.]
(Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), Sec. 97, p. 126.
12 Qur’án 25:55, 35:13, 55:19–25. See also Marriage Prayer revealed by
‘Abdu’l-Bahá beginning “He is God! O Peerless Lord! In Thine
almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage...”
13 See “Some Answered Questions, pp. 328–29 for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s comments
on the arc of descent and ascent.
14 Qur’án 24:35.
15 Qur’án 39:12.
16 Cf. “Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” [rev. ed.]
(Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), Sec. 114, p. 139.
17 “Consolation of thine eye”—idiomatic Persian expression meaning
“child”
18 In Questions and Answers, an appendix to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
Bahá’u’lláh lays upon children the obligation of serving their
parents and categorically states that after the recognition of the
oneness of God, the most important of all duties for children is to
have due regard for the rights of their parents.
19 One of the distinguished believers of Qazvín
20 Cf. “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh: Selected Letters” [rev. ed.]
(Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 126–27.
21 “Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, rev. ed.
(Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), p. 128.