Appendix 5

Justice

O SON OF SPIRIT!

         The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving‑kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.
         (Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words, Arabic, No. 5)

Unity and Oneness

Oneness

              *          of God,
*          of religion,
*          of humanity

         All the divine Manifestations have proclaimed the oneness of God and the unity of mankind. They have taught that men should love and mutually help each other in order that they might progress. Now if this conception of religion be true, its essential principle is the oneness of humanity. The fundamental truth of the Manifestations is peace. This underlies all religion, all justice. The divine purpose is that men should live in unity, concord and agreement and should love one another. Consider the virtues of the human world and realize that the oneness of humanity is the primary foundation of them all. Read the Gospel and the other holy books. You will find their fundamentals are one and the same. Therefore unity is the essential truth of religion and when so understood embraces all the virtues of the human world. Praise be to God! this knowledge has been spread, eyes have been opened and ears have become attentive. Therefore we must endeavor to promulgate and practice the religion of God which has been founded by all the prophets. And the religion of God is absolute love and unity.
         (Abdu'l‑Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 245)

         The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers ...
         (Abdu'l‑Baha, Abdu'l‑Baha in London, p. 19-20)

         Thirdly: Baha'u'llah taught, that Religion is the chief foundation of Love and Unity and the cause of Oneness. If a religion become the cause of hatred and disharmony, it would be better that it should not exist. To be without such a religion is better than to be with it.
         (Abdu'l‑Baha, Abdu'l‑Baha in London, p. 28)

         “In matters of principle, therefore,there should be uniformity, while in matters of detail and procedure not only is diversity permitted, it is also encouraged. As condition vary from country to country and, indeed, can vary from community to community within the country, Shoghi Effendi repeatedly advised the friends that they should be uncompromising in principle but flexible in subsidiary details.”
    (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Burundi, October 22, 1986)  (Lights of Guidance)

         Unity in Diversity

         In reality all are members of one human family—children of one Heavenly Father. Humanity may be likened unto the vari‑colored flowers of one garden. There is unity in diversity. Each sets off and enhances the other’s beauty.
         (Abdu'l‑Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 25)

         “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of a different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness.”
         (‘Abdu’l‑Bahá: Quoted in Advent of Divine Justice, p.32)