Chapter 6
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", pp. 283-84) [107]
108: Equality of the sexes will be established in proportion to the increased...
Equality of the sexes will be established in proportion to the increased opportunities afforded woman in this age, for man and woman are equally the recipients of powers and endowments from God, the Creator. God has not ordained distinction between them in His consummate purpose.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", p. 300) [108]
109: Woman must endeavour then to attain greater perfection, to be man's equal...
Woman must endeavour then to attain greater perfection, to be man's equal in every respect, to make progress in all in which she has been backward, so that man will be compelled to acknowledge her equality of capacity and attainment.
In Europe women have made greater progress than in the East, but there is still much to be done! When students have arrived at the end of their school term an examination takes place, and the result thereof determines the knowledge and capacity of each student. So will it be with woman; her actions will show her power, there will no longer be any need to proclaim it by words.
It is my hope that women of the East, as well as their Western sisters, will progress rapidly until humanity shall reach perfection.
God's Bounty is for all and gives power for all progress. When men own the equality of women there will be no need for them to struggle for their rights! One of the principles then of Baha'u'llah is the equality of sex.
Women must make the greatest effort to acquire spiritual power and to increase in the virtue of wisdom and holiness until their enlightenment and striving succeeds in bringing about the unity of mankind. They must work with a burning enthusiasm to spread the Teaching of Baha'u'llah among the peoples, so that the radiant light of the Divine Bounty may envelop the souls of all the nations of the world!
("Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris in 1911-1912", pp. 162-63) [109]
Extracts From Letters Written by Shoghi Effendi:
110: Regarding the position of the Baha'i women in India and Burma, and their...
Regarding the position of the Baha'i women in India and Burma, and their future collaboration with the men in the administrative work of the Cause, I feel that the time is now ripe that those women who have already conformed to the prevailing custom in India and Burma by discarding the veil should not only be given the right to vote for the election of their local and national representatives, but should themselves be eligible to the membership of all Baha'i Assemblies throughout India and Burma, be they local or national.
This definite and most important step, however, should be taken with the greatest care and caution, prudence and thoughtfulness. Due regard must be paid to their actual capacity and present attainments, and only those who are best qualified for membership, be they men or women, and irrespective of social standing, should be elected to the extremely responsible position of a member of the Baha'i Assembly.
This momentous decision, I trust, will prove to be a great incentive to the women Baha'is throughout India and Burma who, I hope, will now bestir themselves and endeavour to the best of their ability to acquire a better and more profound knowledge of the Cause, to take a more active and systematic part in the general affairs of the Movement, and prove themselves in every way enlightened, responsible and efficient co-workers to their fellow-men in their common task for the advancement of the Cause throughout their country.
May they fully realize their high responsibilities in this day, may they do all in their power to justify the high hopes we cherish for their future, and may they prove themselves in every respect worthy of the noble mission which the Baha'i world is now entrusting to their charge.
(27 December 1923 to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma) [110]
111: Full rights have been accorded to Baha'i women residing in the cradle of the...
Full rights have been accorded to Baha'i women residing in the cradle of the Faith, to participate in the membership of both national and local Baha'i Spiritual Assemblies, removing thereby the last remaining obstacle to the enjoyment of complete equality of rights in the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Persian Baha'i Community.
(April 1954, published in "Messages to the Baha'i World 1950-1957" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 65) [111]
113: That the members of this community, of either sex and of every age, of...
That the members of this community, of either sex and of every age, of whatever race or background, however limited in experience, capacity and knowledge, may arise as one man, and seize with both hands the God-given opportunities now presented to them through the dispensations of an all-loving, ever-watchful, ever-sustaining Providence, and lend thereby a tremendous impetus to the propelling forces mysteriously guiding the operations of this newly-launched, unspeakably potent, world-encompassing Crusade, is one of the dearest wishes which a loving and longing heart holds for them at this great turning point in the fortunes of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the American continent.
(20 June 1954 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, published in "Citadel of Faith: Messages to America 1947-1957" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1980), p. 132) [112]
Extracts From Letters and a Telex Written by the Universal House of Justice:
Concerning the point you raised in your letter ... that the women's liberation movement in ... is assuming extreme positions which are having some influence on impressionable Baha'i young women, we feel it would be helpful if your Assembly were to stress the unique position that women occupy by being members of the Baha'i Faith particularly through participation in the administration of its affairs on both a local and national scale.
(9 April 1971 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States) [113]
114: 'Abdu'l-Baha has pointed out that "Among the miracles which distinguish...
'Abdu'l-Baha has pointed out that "Among the miracles which distinguish this sacred dispensation is this, that women have evinced a greater boldness than men when enlisted in the ranks of the Faith." Shoghi Effendi has further stated that this "boldness" must, in the course of time, "be more convincingly demonstrated, and win for the beloved Cause victories more stirring than any it has as yet achieved." Although obviously the entire Baha'i world is committed to encouraging and stimulating the vital role of women in the Baha'i community as well as in society at large, the Five Year Plan calls specifically on eighty National Spiritual Assemblies to organize Baha'i activities for women. In the course of the current year which has been designated "International Women's Year" as a world-wide activity of the United Nations, the Baha'is, particularly in these eighty national communities, should initiate and implement programs which will stimulate and promote the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of Baha'i community life, so that through their accomplishments the friends will demonstrate the distinction of the Cause of God in this field of human endeavour.
(25 May 1975 to all National Spiritual Assemblies) [114]
115: PARTICULARLY CALL UPON BAHA'I WOMEN, WHOSE CAPACITIES IN MANY LANDS STILL...
PARTICULARLY CALL UPON BAHA'I WOMEN, WHOSE CAPACITIES IN MANY LANDS STILL LARGELY UNUSED, AND WHOSE POTENTIAL FOR SERVICE CAUSE SO GREAT, TO ARISE AND DEMONSTRATE IMPORTANCE PART THEY ARE TO PLAY IN ALL FIELDS SERVICE FAITH.
(24 March 1977 to all National Spiritual Assemblies) [115]
116: The youth have long been in the forefront of the teaching work, and now our...
The youth have long been in the forefront of the teaching work, and now our hearts rejoice to see the women, in so many lands where previously their capacities were largely left unused, devoting their capable services to the life of the Baha'i community....
(Ridvan 1978 to the International Baha'i Convention) [116]
117: At the heart of all activities, the spiritual, intellectual and community...
At the heart of all activities, the spiritual, intellectual and community life of the believers must be developed and fostered, requiring: the prosecution with increased vigour of the development of Local Spiritual Assemblies so that they may exercise their beneficial influence and guidance on the life of Baha'i communities; the nurturing of a deeper understanding of Baha'i family life; the Baha'i education of children, including the holding of regular Baha'i classes and, where necessary, the establishment of tutorial schools for the provision of elementary education; the encouragement of Baha'i youth in study and service; and the encouragement of Baha'i women to exercise to the full their privileges and responsibilities in the work of the community--may they befittingly bear witness to the memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the immortal heroine of the Baha'i Dispensation, as we approach the fiftieth anniversary of her passing.
(Naw-Ruz 1979 to the Baha'is of the World) [117]
118: The equality of men and women is not, at the present time, universally applied....
The equality of men and women is not, at the present time, universally applied. In those areas where traditional inequality still hampers its progress we must take the lead in practising this Baha'i principle. Baha'i women and girls must be encouraged to take part in the social, spiritual and administrative activities of their communities....
(Ridvan 1984 to the Baha'is of the World) [118]
119: Calling upon local and national Baha'i communities to sponsor a wide...
Calling upon local and national Baha'i communities to sponsor a wide range of activities which will engage the attention of people from all walks of life to various topics relevant to peace, such as: the role of women...
(23 January 1985 to all National Spiritual Assemblies) [119]
Extracts From Letters Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice:
120: The House of Justice regards the need to educate and guide women in their...
The House of Justice regards the need to educate and guide women in their primary responsibility as mothers as an excellent opportunity for organizing women's activities. Your efforts should focus on helping them in their function as educators of the rising generation....
(29 February 1984 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands) [120]
121: The principle of the equality between women and men, like the other...
The principle of the equality between women and men, like the other teachings of the Faith, can be effectively and universally established among the friends when it is pursued in conjunction with all the other aspects of Baha'i life. Change is an evolutionary process requiring patience with one's self and others, loving education and the passage of time as the believers deepen their knowledge of the principles of the Faith, gradually discard long-held traditional attitudes and progressively conform their lives to the unifying teachings of the Cause.
(25 July 1984 to an individual believer) [121]
VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baha'u'llah. "The Hidden Words". London: National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, 1949.
Baha'u'llah. "Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas", Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1978.
'Abdu'l-Baha. "Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha". Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1978.
'Abdu'l-Baha. "The Promulgation of Universal Peace". Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1982.
'Abdu'l-Baha. "Paris Talks". London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1961.
'Abdu'l-Baha. "'Abdu'l-Baha in London". London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1982.
Shoghi Effendi. "Messages to the Baha'i World, 1950-1957". Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1971.
Shoghi Effendi. "Citadel of Faith". Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1980.
"Baha'i Education, a compilation". Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1976.
"Family Life", 1982 U.K. Publishing Trust, p. 8
"'Abdu'l-Baha on Divine Philosophy", compiled by Isobel F. Chamberlain, Boston: The Tudor Press, 1917.
Esslemont, John Ebenezer. "Baha'u'llah and the New Era", Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1976.
Revised July 1990
FOOTNOTES
1 This Tablet was addressed to one Mrs. Pocohontas in Washington. According to Fadil Mazandarani, the recipient of the Tablet was a black woman. See "Tari-i-Zuhuu'l-Haq", vol. 8, part 2, p. 1209 (Tihran: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 132 B.E.). Additional information provided by the Archives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States indicates that Mr. Louis Gregory, in a history of the Washington, D.C. Baha'i community, mentions a black Baha'i, Mrs. Pocohontas Pope, who is likely the same person. Mrs. Pope learned of the Baha'i Faith through Alma and Fanny Knobloch and Joseph and Pauline Hannen. There is, at present no other information on Mrs. Pope.
2 From other extracts it is evident that the limitation of membership to men applies only to the Universal House of Justice, and not to the National and Local Houses of Justice.
3 This passage appears in the present compilation under Section IV., page 21.
4 The quotation in the original letter which was taken from "Paris Talks", p. 182, has been replaced by this revised translation.
5 Qur'an 49:13.
6 Qur'an 23:14.
7 Qur'an 55:2.