Arts and Crafts
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Arts and Crafts, bahai-library.com.
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Arts and Crafts

Bahá'u'lláh

Abdu'l-Bahá

Shoghi Effendi

published in

Compilation of Compilations

Volume 1,  pp. 1-8

1991

I.

From the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

Blessed are those who have fixed their gaze on the realm of
glory and have followed the commandments of the Lord of Names. Blessed is he
who in the days of God will engage in handicrafts. This is a bounty from God,
for in this Most Great Dispensation it is acceptable in the sight of God for
man to occupy himself in a trade which relieveth him of depending upon charity.
The craft of every craftsman is regarded as worship.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the
Persian)

One of the names of God is the Fashioner. He loveth
craftsmanship. Therefore any of His servants who manifesteth this attribute is
acceptable in the sight of this Wronged One. Craftsmanship is a book among the
books of divine sciences, and a treasure among the treasures of His heavenly
wisdom. This is a knowledge with meaning, for some of the sciences are brought
forth by words and come to an end with words.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the
Persian)

God grant that thou wilt exert thine utmost to acquire
perfections, as well as proficiency in a craft.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the
Persian)

The one true God, exalted be He, loveth to witness handiworks
of high craftsmanship produced by His loved ones. Blessed art thou, for what
thy skill hath produced hath reached the presence of thy Lord, the Exiled, the
Wronged. Please God every one of His friends may be enabled to acquire one of
the crafts, and be confirmed in adhering to what hath been ordained in the Book
of God, the All- Glorious, the All-Wise.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the Persian and
Arabic)

Teach ye your children so that they may peruse the divine
verses every morn and eve. God hath prescribed unto every father to educate
his children, both boys and girls, in the sciences and in morals, and in crafts
and professions...

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the
Arabic)

It is incumbent upon the children to exert themselves to the
utmost in acquiring the art of reading and writing... Writing skills that will
provide for urgent needs will be enough for some; and then it is better and
more fitting that they should spend their time in studying those branches of
knowledge which are of use.

As for what the Supreme Pen hath previously set down, the reason is that in
every art and skill, God loveth the highest perfection.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

The fifth Taráz concerneth the protection and
preservation of the stations of God's servants. One should not ignore the
truth of any matter, rather should one give expression to that which is right
and true. 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.

In this Day the sun of craftsmanship shineth above the horizon of the occident
and the river of arts is flowing out of the sea of that region. One must speak
with fairness and appreciate such bounty...

("Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed After the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas" [rev, ed.], (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre,
1978)
pp. 38-39
)

The third Tajallí is concerning arts, crafts and
sciences. Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent.
Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences,
however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not
those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the claim of
scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. Unto this beareth
witness the Mother Book on the day of His return...

("Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed After the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas",
pp. 51-52
)

At the outset of every endeavour, it is incumbent to look to
the end of it. Of all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying
those which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and
elevate his rank. Thus the noisome odours of lawlessness will be dispelled,
and thus through the high endeavours of the nation's leaders, all will live
cradled, secure and in peace.

The Great Being saith: The learned of the day must direct the people to acquire
those branches of knowledge which are of use, that both the learned themselves
and the generality of mankind may derive benefits therefrom...

("Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed After the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas", pp.
16
&
69
)

The purpose of learning should be the promotion of the
welfare of the people, and this can be achieved through crafts. It hath been
revealed and is now repeated that the true worth of artists and craftsmen
should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind. Just as the
foundations of religion are made firm through the Law of God, the means of
livelihood depend upon those who are engaged in arts and crafts. True learning
is that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not to pride and
self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and pillage.

(Bahá'u'lláh from a Tablet - translated from the
Persian)

II.

From the Writings and Utterances of
`Abdu'l-Bahá

Every person must have an occupation, a trade or a craft,
so that he may carry other people's burdens, and not himself be a burden to
others.

('Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

Thou hast written regarding thy meeting with ... He hath
written that he desireth to teach thee one of the crafts and show thee
affection and consideration. We beseech God that this purpose may be attained,
and thou wilt learn such a skill, for according to the divine ordinances, every
person must acquire a craft.

('Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

He must study every day from morning till noon, so that he
may learn how to read and write. From noon till about sunset he should acquire
a craft. The children must both learn to read and acquire an art or skill.

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

It is necessary for all to learn a craft, through which the
people may earn their living. This commandment is universal.

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

It is the commandment of the Blessed Beauty, may my life be a
sacrifice at His Threshold, that whosoever engageth in a craft, should
endeavour to acquire in it utmost proficiency. Should he do so, that craft
becometh a form of worship.

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

Another friend asked, "In the Tablets it is stated that we
must be severed and detached. In another place it is stated that we must learn
a trade or profession. Do not these two statements contradict each other?"
`Abdu'l-Bahá replied, "In the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, it is
incumbent upon every soul to acquire a trade and an occupation. For example, I
know how to weave or make a mat, and you know some other trade. This, in
itself is an act of worship, provided that it is conducted on the basis of
utmost honesty and faithfulness.

And this is the cause of prosperity. Yet, in spite of being so occupied, if
the heart is not chained and tied to this world, and is not troubled by current
events, neither hindered by wealth from rendering service to mankind, nor
grieved because of poverty, - then this is human perfection. Otherwise in a
state of poverty, to manifest generosity and in a state of weakness to claim
justice - this can easily be said, but it is not a proof of man's attainments
and alertness."

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from an article written by Dr. Z. Baghdadi entitled
"`Abdu'l-Bahá in America", published in "Star of the West", Vol. 19,
No. 7, p. 219)

And further, according to the Divine commandments, every
child must learn reading and writing, and acquire such branches of knowledge as
are useful and necessary, as well as learning an art or skill. The utmost care
must be devoted to these matters; any neglect of them, any failure to act on
them, is not permissible.

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

Among the greatest of all great services is the education of
children, and promotion of the various sciences, crafts and arts. Praised be
God, ye are now exerting strenuous efforts toward this end. The more ye
persevere in this most important task, the more will ye witness the
confirmations of God, to such a degree that ye yourselves will be
astonished.

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

O ye recipients of the favours of God! In this new and
wondrous Age, the unshakable foundation is the teaching of sciences and arts.
According to explicit Holy Texts, every child must be taught crafts and arts,
to the degree that is needful. Wherefore, in every city and village, schools
must be established and every child in that city or village is to engage in
study to the necessary degree.

It followeth that whatever soul shall offer his aid to bring this about will
assuredly be accepted at the Heavenly Threshold, and extolled by the Company on
High.

("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá" [rev. ed., (Haifa:
Bahá'í World Centre, 1982),
Sec. 109
,
pp. 134-35
.)

Thy letter was received. Praise be to God it imparted the
good news of thy health and safety and indicated that thou art ready to enter
an agricultural school. This is highly suitable. Strive as much as possible
to become proficient in the science of agriculture, for in accordance with the
divine teachings the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts are
considered acts of worship. If a man engageth with all his power in the
acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he has
been worshipping God in churches and temples. Thus as thou enterest a school
of agriculture and strivest in the acquisition of that science thou art day and
night engaged in acts of worship - acts that are accepted at the threshold of
the Almighty. What bounty greater than this that science should be considered
as an act of worship and art as service to the Kingdom of God.

("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
126
, pp.

144-145
)

O thou servant of the One true God! In this universal
dispensation man's wondrous craftsmanship is reckoned as worship of the
Resplendent Beauty.

Consider what a bounty and blessing it is that craftsmanship is regarded as
worship. In former times, it was believed that such skills were tantamount to
ignorance, if not a misfortune, hindering man from drawing nigh unto God. Now
consider how His infinite bestowals and abundant favours have changed hell-fire
into blissful paradise, and a heap of dark dust into a luminous garden.

It behoveth the craftsmen of the world at each moment to offer a thousand
tokens of gratitude at the Sacred Threshold, and to exert their highest
endeavour and diligently pursue their professions so that their efforts may
produce that which will manifest the greatest beauty and perfection before the
eyes of all men.

("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá"
127
,
p. 145
)

Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the
day, and strain every nerve to carry forward the divine civilization.
Establish schools that are well organized, and promote the fundamentals of
instruction in the various branches of knowledge through teachers who are pure
and sanctified, distinguished for their high standards of conduct and general
excellence, and strong in faith; scholars and educators with a thorough
knowledge of sciences and arts.

Included must be promotion of the arts, the discovery of new wonders, the
expansion of trade, and the development of industry. The methods of
civilization and the beautification of the country must also be
encouraged...

(`Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet- translated from the Persian)

While the children are yet in their infancy feed them from
the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the cradle of all excellence, rear
them in the embrace of bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of
knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art.
Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to
dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake
studies that will benefit mankind.

("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
102
,
p. 129
)

III.

From letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi

to
individual believers unless otherwise cited

In connection with your dear husband, Shoghi Effendi would
consider it in full and happy accord with the expressed desire of the Master
that every man should have some permanent work. Much as he desires to see you
both devote your entire energies to a well thought out, progressive and
attractive presentation of the Cause - a thing he feels we lack lamentably - he
would be very pleased to see your husband follow what the Master often repeated
even to His own immediate family, namely the necessity of a profession. Of
course you know that He always said His had been mat-making.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 20 September
1929)

He sincerely hopes that as the Cause grows and talented
persons come under its banner, they will begin to produce in art the divine
spirit that animates their soul. Every religion has brought with it some form
of art - let us see what wonders this Cause is going to bring along. Such a
glorious spirit should also give vent to a glorious art. The Temple with all
its beauty is only the first ray of an early dawn; even more wondrous things
are to be achieved in the future.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 11 December
1931)

Shoghi Effendi was very much interested to learn of the
success of the "Pageant of the Nations" you produced. He sincerely hopes that
all those who attended it were inspired by the same spirit that animated you
while arranging it.

It is through such presentations that we can arouse the interest of the
greatest number of people in the spirit of the Cause. The day will come when
the Cause will spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings will be
presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better
awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalizing, especially among the mass
of the people.

We have to wait only a few years to see how the spirit breathed by
Bahá'u'lláh will find expression in the work of the artists.
What you and some other Bahá'ís are attempting are only faint
rays that precede the effulgent light of a glorious morn. We cannot yet value
the part the Cause is destined to play in the life of society. We have to give
it time. The material this spirit has to mould is too crude and unworthy, but
it will at last give way and the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh will reveal
itself in its full splendour.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 10 October 1932, cited
in "Bahá'í News", 73(May 1933) p. 7)

Although now is only the very beginning of
Bahá'í art, yet the friends who feel they are gifted in such
matters should endeavour to develop and cultivate their gifts and through their
works to reflect, however inadequately, the Divine Spirit which
Bahá'u'lláh has breathed into the world.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 4 November
1937)

As regards producing a book of Bahá'í songs,
your understanding that there is no cultural expression which could be called
Bahá'í at this time (distinctive music, literature, art,
architecture, etc., being the flower of the civilization and not coming at the
beginning of a new Revelation), is correct. However, that does not mean that
we haven't Bahá'í songs, in other words, songs written by
Bahá'ís on Bahá'í subjects. There is no objection
to getting out a compilation of these, but he does not think money should be
spent in printing it, in view of the state of the National Fund, and the much
more important work in the teaching field which needs to be undertaken this
year. If you can get out such a book in a mimeographed form, he feels this
would be sufficient to meet the needs at this time.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 21 September 1957 to
the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States)

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-- Arts and Crafts (Used by permission of the curator)