Agriculture and Rural Life
Exported from Holy-Writings.com on 2026-06-21 - 1 clipping

Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Abdu'l-Bahá, Agriculture and Rural Life, bahai-library.com.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Agriculture and Rural Life

Abdu'l-Bahá

Shoghi Effendi

Universal House of Justice

1995

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

Exert every effort in the fields of development and of civilization, in the
acquisition of knowledge, the increase of trade, the improvement of agriculture
and the promotion of modern discoveries.

(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)         [1]

The friends must engage in the work of developing Persia, that is, they must
exert great efforts in the promotion of agriculture, industry, trade,
education, arts, and sciences.

(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)         [2]

...and when thou passest by a field in which crops, flowers, blossoms and
vegetables are blended in harmony, it is evident that the field or the flower
bed hath been brought into existence and hath been arranged by an experienced
farmer. And, when thou observest plants that are scattered, disordered and
disarranged, it is clear they have been deprived of the skillful touch of an
experienced farmer, and that they are naught but wild weeds.

(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)         [3]

All the friends of God ... should contribute to the extent possible, however
modest their offering may be. God doth not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
Such contributions must come from all centres and all believers.... O friends
of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture,
your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with
goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a
tenfold reward. There is no doubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm
those who expend their wealth in His path.

(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)         [4]

Huqúq is applied on everything one possesseth. However, if a person
hath paid the Huqúq on a certain property, and the income from that
property is equal to his needs, no Huqúq is payable by that person.

Huqúq is not payable on agricultural tools and equipment, and on
animals used in ploughing the land, to the extent that these are necessary.

(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)         [5]

Woman must especially devote her energies and abilities toward the industrial
and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most
needful. By this means she will demonstrate capability and ensure recognition
of equality in the social and economic equation.

(The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912
(Wilmette:  Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), p.
283
)        [6]

From Letters Written by and on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi

The responsibilities of the members of the Spiritual Assemblies that are
engaged in teaching the Cause of God in Eastern lands have been clearly laid
down in the holy Texts.

These bid them to work towards the improvement of morals and the spread of
learning; to strive to eradicate ignorance and unenlightenment, eliminate
prejudice, and reinforce the foundation of true faith in people's hearts and
minds; to seek to develop self-reliance and avoidance of blind imitation; to
aim to enhance the efficient management of their affairs, and observe purity
and refinement in all circumstances; to show their commitment to truthfulness
and honesty, and their ability to conduct themselves with frankness, courage
and resolution.

They similarly enjoin them to lend their support to agricultural and
industrial development, to consolidate the foundations of mutual assistance and
co-operation, to promote the emancipation and advancement of women and support
the compulsory education of both sexes, to encourage application of the
principles of consultation among all classes, and to adhere in all dealings
to

a standard of scrupulous integrity.

(30 January 1926, to the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Iran, translated from the Persian)        [7]

Its high ideals are "to improve the characters of men; to extend the scope of
knowledge; to abolish ignorance and prejudice; to strengthen the foundations of
true religion in all hearts; to encourage self-reliance, and discourage false
imitation; ... to uphold truthfulness, audacity, frankness, and courage; to
promote craftsmanship and agriculture; ... to educate, on a compulsory basis,
children of both sexes; to insist on integrity in business transactions; to lay
stress on the observance of honesty and piety; ... to acquire mastery and skill
in the modern sciences and arts, to promote the interests of the public; ... to
obey outwardly and inwardly and with true loyalty the regulations enacted by
state and government; ... to honour, to extol and to follow the example of
those who have distinguished themselves in science and learning"....to help the needy from every creed or sect, and to collaborate with the people of the country in all welfare services.

(30 January 1926, to the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Iran, translated from the Persian)        [8]

The crisis that exists in the world is not confined to the farmers. Its
effects have reached every means of livelihood. The farmers are in a sense
better off because they at least have food to eat. But on the whole the crisis
is serving a great purpose. It is broadening the outlook of man, teaching him
to think internationally, forcing him to take into consideration the welfare
of his neighbours if he wishes to improve his own condition. In short it is
forcing humanity to appreciate the significance of and follow the precepts laid
by Bahá'u'lláh.

(February 3, 1932
[note: as submitted, the date given in this citation was "2 March 1932," but the 2004 edition of
Lights of Guidance,
page 130 quote 436, gives the 1932 date]
, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)         [9]

Shoghi Effendi was very glad to hear of your work among the ranchers. He
sincerely hopes that they will advance in spirituality and become imbued with
the spirit of Bahá'u'lláh. Country people should be much readier
for the Message, for they are not so completely carried away by material
civilization and its blinding influence. They ought to be more receptive and
more pure in heart.

(13 May 1932, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)         [10]

From Letters Written by and on Behalf of the Universal House of
Justice

One of the characteristics of the Bahá'í society will be the
gathering of the believers each day during the hours between dawn and two hours
after sunrise to listen to the reading and chanting of the Holy Word. In many
communities at the present time, especially in rural ones, such gatherings
would fit naturally into the pattern of the friends' daily life, and where this
is the case it would do much to foster the unity of the local community and
deepen the friends' knowledge of the Teachings if such gatherings could be
organized by the Local Spiritual Assembly on a regular basis. Attendance at
these gatherings is not to be obligatory, but we hope that the friends will
more and more be drawn to take part in them. This is a goal which can be
attained gradually.

(Naw-Rúz 1974, from the Universal House of Justice to all National
Spiritual Assemblies)         [11]

There are, at the present time, many villages in India, the Philippines,
Africa, Latin America, etc., where the Bahá'ís form a majority or
even the entire population of the village. One of the goals of the Five Year
Plan, as you will recall, is to develop the characteristics of
Bahá'í community life, and it is, above all, to such villages
that the goal is directed. The Local Spiritual Assemblies of such villages must
gradually widen the scope of their activities, not only to develop every aspect
of the spiritual life of the believers within their jurisdiction, but also,
through Bahá'í consultation, and through such
Bahá'í principles as harmony between science and religion, the
importance of education, and work as a form of worship, to promote the
standards of agriculture and other skills in the life of the people. For this
they will need the assistance of Bahá'í experts from other lands.
This is a major undertaking, and is being started gradually wherever and
whenever possible.

(27 July 1976, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)        [12]

There are two principles which the House of Justice feels are fundamental to
the generality of such projects of social and economic development, although,
of course, there will be exceptions. The first is that they should be built on
a substructure of existing, sufficiently strong local Bahá'í
communities. The second is that the long-term conduct of the project should aim
at self-sufficiency and not be dependent upon continuing financial support from
outside.

The first principle implies that the projects of social and economic
development now to be undertaken are a natural stage of the growth of the
Bahá'í community and are needed by the community itself, although
they will, of course, benefit a much wider segment of society. The
Bahá'í world is in no position, financially or from the point of
view of manpower, to launch undertakings for the economic and social
development of populations in areas where there are but few believers. The
greatest need of all peoples is for the Faith itself, so that they may know the
destiny towards which they as individuals and as members of society must
strive, and will learn from the teachings those virtues and methods which will
enable them to work together in harmony, forbearance and trustworthiness.

A symbol of this process may be seen in the House of Worship and its
dependencies. The first part to be built is the central edifice which is the
spiritual heart of the community. Then, gradually, as the outward expression of
this spiritual heart, the various dependencies, those "institutions of social
service as shall afford relief to the suffering, sustenance to the poor,
shelter to the wayfarer, solace to the bereaved, and education to the ignorant"
are erected and function. This process begins in an embryonic way long before a
Bahá'í community reaches the stage of building its own
Ma
sh
riqu'l-A
dh
kár, for even the first local centre that a
Bahá'í community erects can begin to serve not only as the
spiritual and administrative centre and gathering place of the community, but
also as the site of a tutorial school and the heart of other aspects of
community life. The principle remains, however, that the spiritual precedes the
material. First comes the illumination of hearts and minds by the Revelation of
Bahá'u'lláh, and then the grass roots stirring of the believers
wishing to apply these teachings to the daily life of their community. Such
stirrings can be fostered, encouraged and assisted by the national and
continental institutions of the Faith, but without them any activities
introduced from above might well prove abortive.

The second principle must take into account that any project started by the
Cause should be designed to grow soundly and steadily, and not to collapse from
attrition. In other words, external assistance and funds, Bahá'í
and non-Bahá'í, may be used for capital acquisitions, to make
surveys, to initiate activities, to bring in expertise, but the aim should be
for each project to be able to continue and to develop on the strength of local
Bahá'í labour, funds and enthusiasm even if all external aid
should be cut off.

(8 May 1984, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National
Spiritual Assembly)        [13]

With regard to the concept of the Bahá'í community as a model,
one of the distinguishing features of our community is its "unshakeable
consciousness of the oneness of mankind".

[1]

This awareness is coupled with the commitment of the believers to endeavour to
uphold spiritual principles "by which solutions can be found for every social
problem",

[2]

and the practice of which "induces
an attitude, a dynamic, a will, an aspiration, which facilitate the discovery
and implementation of practical measures".

[3]

In
keeping with the evolutionary nature of organic change, the
Bahá'í community represents a model for the potential and gradual
resolution of prejudices and other social ills, but cannot now present an
example of achievement in absolute terms. We see in the Bahá'í
community not only an example of diversity which is intrinsically attractive
and hope inducing, but also the will and desire to work for change and the
initial effects of such change, particularly in the discernible emergence of a
new way of life and in the embryonic operation of the administrative and social
structures being erected. Individual initiative is reinforced by the
Bahá'í community at large and is channelled into constructive
social action by the process of consultation. Clearly, the Bahá'í
experience addresses problems at a fundamental level and realizes the means for
their resolution; however, in presenting the Bahá'í community as
a model, care must of course be taken to avoid giving the impression that all
problems have been solved and all challenges met.

(23 September 1986, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer)         [14]

When the Bahá'í community in a village is a significant
proportion of the population, it has a wide range of opportunities to be an
example and an encouragement of means of improving the quality of life in the
village. Among the initiatives which it might take are measures to foster child
education, adult literacy and the training of women to better discharge their
responsibilities as mothers and to play an enlarged role in the administrative
and social life of the village; encouragement of the people of the village to
join together in devotions, perhaps in the early morning, irrespective of their
varieties of religious belief; support of efforts to improve the hygiene and
the health of the village, including attention to the provision of pure water,
the preservation of cleanliness in the village environment, and education in
the harmful effects of narcotic and intoxicating substances. No doubt other
possibilities will present themselves to the village Bahá'í
community and its Local Spiritual Assembly.

(25 July 1988, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a
National Spiritual Assembly)         [15]

Basically, "people of capacity" are those individuals, no matter in what walk
of life they are found, and no matter what their level of education, who
demonstrate capacity in various ways. For example, among any group of people
there are those who are outstanding because they show a capacity for
understanding, for work, for efficient action, for leadership, for drawing
other people together, for self-sacrificing and devoted service -- for any
number of qualities which enable them to respond actively to the needs of their
environment and make a difference to it. In some cases this capacity has
already been demonstrated; in others it is still latent but can be developed.
It is for such people that we should search, since they can quickly become
either devoted and active Bahá'ís or valued collaborators in the
work of promoting Bahá'í ideals.

(6 November 1994, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a
National Spiritual Assembly)        [16]

Notes:

From "The Promise of World Peace" (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1985), p.
13
.

Ibid.

Ibid.

METADATA

Views

17223 views since posted 2002-01-25; last edit 2012;

previous at
archive.org
...
/compilation_agriculture_rural_life
;
URLs changed in 2010, see
archive.org
...
/bahai-library.org

Language

English

Permission

&copy; BIC, public sharing permitted. See sources
1
,
2
, and
3
.

History

Formatted 2002-01 by Jonah Winters;  Proofread 2010-08 by Romane Takkenberg.

Share

Shortlink:

bahai-library.com/1452

Citation
:

ris/1452

select Collection:

Archives

Articles

Articles-unpublished

Audio

Bibliographies

BIC

Biographies

Books

Chronologies

Compilations

Compilations-NSA

Compilations-personal

Documents

East-asia

Encyclopedia

Essays

Etc

Excerpts

Fiction

Glossaries

Guardian

Histories

Introductory

Letters

Maps

Music

Newspapers

NSA-documents

NSA-letters

Personal

Pilgrims

Poetry

Presentations

Resources

Reviews

Scripts

Software

Statistics

Study

Talks

Theses

Transcripts

Translations

UHJ-documents

UHJ-letters

Video

Visual

Writings

home

sitemap

series

chronology

search
:

author

title

date

tags

adv. search

languages

inventory

bibliography

abbreviations

links

about

contact

RSS

new
-- Agriculture and Rural Life (Used by permission of the curator)