UNITY!
236. UNITY! This may be a small word but it’s implications are enormous. Nothing lasting can be done in this world without unity. Unity is one of the most important concepts in the world today and until we achieve it no lasting peace is possible in the human world. Unity, we will find, is not an unknown concept to religion, all of the books of God talk of it: Unity and universal brotherhood are some of the main goals found in the Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’ís in every country, all around the world, in whatever country they may reside are working towards unity and once it is truly achieved the world will take on a mantle of peace and prosperity unlike anything the world has ever known. This concept is also found in the holy writings of the bible and the other faiths of God, it just requires a search on our part to see that this is true.
BAHA’I FAITH: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 13)
JUDAISM: Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
BAHA’I FAITH: “Do not only say that Unity, Love and Brotherhood are good; you must work for their realization.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 60)
BABI RELIGION: “IT is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God‘s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death.”
(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 75)
CHRISTIANITY: 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
BAHA’I FAITH: “We work and pray for the unity of mankind, that all the races of the earth may become one race, all the countries one country, and that all hearts may beat as one heart, working together for perfect unity and brotherhood.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 99)
BABI RELIGION: “Unity was the goal that ‘excelleth every goal!”
(Peter Smith, The Babi & Baha’i Religions, p. 83)
CHRISTIANITY: Romans 15:5 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.”
BAHA’I FAITH: “The seed of reality must be sown again in human hearts in order that a new tree may grow therefrom and new divine fruits refresh the world. By this means the nations and peoples now divergent in religion will be brought into unity, imitations will be forsaken and a universal brotherhood in the reality itself will be established.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 226)
BABI RELIGION: “The whole concourse of people strained their ears. He began to recite at the start a homily in Arabic on Divine Unity. It was delivered with utmost eloquence, with majesty and power. It lasted about half an hour, and the concourse of people, high and low, learned and illiterate alike, listened attentively and were fascinated. The people’s silence infuriated Shaykh Husayn, who turned to the Governor and said: ‘Did you bring this Siyyid here, into the presence of all these people, to prove His Cause, or did you bring Him to recant and renounce His false claim?”
(H. M. Balyuzi, The Bab – The Herald of the Days, p. 97)
CHRISTIANITY: 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” 1 Peter 2: 17 “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.”
BAHA’I FAITH: “Therefore, The Lord of mankind has caused His holy, divine Manifestations to come into the world. He has revealed His heavenly Books in order to establish spiritual brotherhood and through the power of the Holy Spirit has made it practicable for perfect fraternity to be realized among mankind. And when through the breaths of the Holy Spirit this perfect fraternity and agreement are established amongst men — this brotherhood and love being spiritual in character, this loving-kindness being heavenly, these constraining bonds being divine — a unity appears which is indissoluble, unchanging and never subject to transformation.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 391)
BABI RELIGION: “The chief aim of Bábísm is still however the unity of every religion. It advocates therefore toleration of all creeds, abolition of polygamy, emancipation of females, and other reforms in the Mussulman world.”
(Babi and Baha’i Religions, p. 363)
CHRISTIANITY: Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” Ephesians 4:3 “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” Ephesians 4:5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
BAHA’I FAITH: “Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. Let your eyes be directed toward the kingdom of truth and not toward the world of creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 92
BABI RELIGION: “Ye spend all your days contriving forms and rules for the principles of your Faith, while that which profiteth you in all this is to comprehend the good-pleasure of your Lord and unitedly to become well-acquainted with His supreme Purpose.”
(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 140)
ISLAM: 148. “To each is a goal to which Allah (God) turns him; then strive together (as in a race, as one race) toward all that is good. Where-so-ever ye are, Allah will bring you together. For Allah hath power over all things.”
(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 2)
Islam: 103. “Hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided.”
(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 3)
Islam: 92. “Verily, this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other).”
(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 21)
Islam: “The Prophet said, ‘I just wanted to attract and unite their hearts.”’
(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 9, Book 93, # 527)
ZOROASTRIANISM: 14. “O Zarathushtra, Those whom thou wilt unite in one house with thee, these will I call with words of Good Thought.”
(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 46)
Zoroastrianism: “Love attracts, while fear repels. Thus love is the principle of unity, unity with God and unity with men.” “When men love and help one another to the best of their power they derive the greatest pleasure from loving their fellowmen.” “The religion of the Gatha is the religion of love, and Mazda (God) is the friend of men.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 500, 507 and Denkard)
Zoroastrianism: “He who keeps united together the many faithful worshippers of Mazda. For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth being heard….”
(The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)
Zoroastrianism: “All of us are equally subject to desire, anger, fear, greed, grief, anxiety, hunger, and fatigue. What is the good of division into different castes?” (be united) (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 238)
Zoroastrianism: “Harmony of the world (making the world one) is the ideal that the prophet teaches. Harmony of the world should be the aim of the selfless worker.” (ZOROASTER Hymns of Atharvan p. 760)
Zoroastrianism: “Mazda is not the God of any particular tribe. The doors of Mazda are not closed to foreigners. So soon as anyone of them becomes fit he is to be included in the fold.” “Love of God is calculated to remove the distinction between one nation and another.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 542 and 544)
HINDUISM: “The world is overcome- aye! even here! By such as fix their faith on Unity. The sinless Brahma (God) dwells in Unity, And they in Brahma (God).”
(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 5)
Hinduism: “He who thus vows His soul to the Supreme Soul, quitting sin, Passes unhindered to the endless bliss Of unity with Brahma.”
(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 6)
Hinduism: “Be united,’ with four (verses) he unites them together; the metres are four, Agni’s dear body is the metres; verily with his dear body he puts them in order. ‘Be united, he says;”
(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda V)
Hinduism: 1. “Unity of heart, and unity of mind, freedom from hatred, do I procure for you. Do ye take delight in one another, as a cow in her (new) born calf!” “Be united, be in harmony, in affection, Radiant, with kindly thought, Clothed in food and strength, United have I made your minds, your ordinances, your hearts.”
(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda IV and Atharva Veda)
Hinduism: “Be united, he says; therefore the kingly power unites with the holy power.”
(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda V)
BUDDHISM: “He avoids tale-bearing, and abstains from it. What he has heard here, he does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what he heard there, he does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here. Thus he unites those that are divided; and those that are united, he encourages.”
((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))
Buddhism: “He unites those that are divided, and those that are united he encourages; concord gladdens him, he delights and rejoices in concord, and it is concord that he spreads by his words. He avoids harsh language and abstains from it. He speaks such words as are gentle, soothing to the ear, loving, going to the heart, courteous and dear, and agreeable to many. He avoids vain talk and abstains from it. He speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, speaks about the law and the disciple; his speech is like a treasure, at the right moment accompanied by arguments, moderate, and full of sense.”
((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))
Buddhism: “The primary cause of pure unity of enlightenment that has existed from the beginning of time is compassion, purity, harmony, likeness, permanency and peace.” (Buddha, Surangama Sutra)
SABEANISM: “May the gate of sin be barred to them and the gate of light be open for them. May they be knit together in the communion of Life (God) in which there is no separation.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 34)
Sabeanism: “Praise Thee, for amongst them all hatred, Envy and dissensions exist not. The Place which is all portals of radiance, light and glory Praiseth Thee.” In unity. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)
BABI RELIGION: “War,’ old Abbas had said, ‘is not of God because it does not unify.”
(Moojan Momen, The Babi and Baha’i Religions 1844-1944, p. 342)