# Practical Economic Suggestions For Everyday Use

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Badi Shams, Practical Economic Suggestions For Everyday Use, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Practical Economic Suggestions
> For Everyday Use
> 
> The present economic system is sick and is dying. It cannot
> meet the needs of humanity. The gap between rich and
> poor is getting wider and wider, which has increased the
> suffering of the masses. The solutions that can heal it have
> been ignored. It is time to re-examine the fundamental
> assumptions that this system was built on and replace them
> with humane, moral and spiritual ones. We need to build
> an economic system fit to help humanity to achieve its goal
> of an ever-advancing civilization, a world where there is
> no room for economic injustice, and people have all the
> necessities of life so they can live peaceful and fulfilling
> lives. A shift in thinking is needed. Based on the Baha’i
> Teachings, this material aims to provide some insight and
> suggestions for taking steps to lay the foundation for a
> better economic future. We have the solutions and the
> technology to build a new system; all we need is the
> resolve and the will. Everyone has an inherent power to
> contribute. The time for action is upon us. This is our
> eleventh hour.
> 
> We live in a very confusing time, particularly after the
> economic market crash of 2008, which almost destroyed
> the whole economic system and forced governments to
> take desperate measures to save the system and avoid
> universal chaos. That was caused by unchecked greed,
> which led to a destructiveness that only a lack of morality
> can create.
> Economic problems started from its inception when
> Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, wrote
> “The Wealth of Nations.” His book became like the holy
> book for the economist. He described economics as a
> science of creating wealth and excluded morality and
> spirituality in his theories. He made self-interest the
> engine of the system. According to him, everybody is
> trying to maximize his or her satisfaction. That
> philosophy became the breeding ground for greed, the
> cause of so many economic problems in the world. Other
> economists followed his ideas and built their theories on
> his assumptions. What they failed to consider and didn’t
> care to find out was that Adam Smith was the first to
> acknowledge the importance of morality in his book “The
> Theory of Moral Sentiments,” which was written in 1759,
> seven years before “The Wealth of Nations.” He had
> recognized the inherent danger of wealth, even as he
> provided ideas for generating it:
> 
> “This disposition to admire, and almost to worship,
> the rich and powerful, and to despise or, at least,
> neglect persons of poor and mean conditions, though
> necessary both to establish and to maintain the
> distinction of ranks and the order of society, is, at the
> same time, the great and most universal cause of the
> corruption of our moral sentiments.”         – Adam
> Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, p.3.
> 
> The Baha’i concept of economics is fundamentally
> different and is based on spiritual and moral principles.
> Abdul’-Baha explains it clearly:
> “The secrets of the whole economic question are Divine
> in nature, and are concerned with the world of the
> heart and spirit.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Baha’i World,
> Volume 1V, p. 448
> 
> Shoghi Effendi shed more light on this:
> “… By the statement ‘the economic solution is divine
> in nature’ is meant that religion alone can, in the last
> resort, bring in man’s nature such a fundamental
> change as to enable him to adjust the economic
> relationships of society. It is only in this way that man
> can control the economic forces that threaten to
> disrupt the foundations of his existence, and thus
> assert his mastery over the forces of nature.” -Shoghi
> Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 551. (From a letter
> written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer, 26 December 1935)
> My understanding is that the aim of the Baha’is is the
> spiritualization of the economic system by injecting
> moral and spiritual values into it. Economics is made for
> humanity and has to reflect in it all human aspirations,
> including ethical, moral and spiritual.
> 
> It is important to remember that the Baha’i Economic
> System will occur when the transformation of man and
> society has been accomplished and with it man’s
> awareness of his spiritual station and his destiny. He will
> have subordinated his animal nature and will, therefore,
> behave less selfishly. At this time, it is almost impossible
> to imagine a society that has spiritually grown to that
> extent. But by introducing more of the spiritual qualities in
> our lives, we are laying the foundation for such a society
> and such an economic system. Some of our goals may
> seem idealistic, but that is precisely what we are, idealists.
> We are dreaming of a better world and are ready to make
> sure that Bahá’u’lláh’s World Commonwealth is going to
> be established. No great achievement can take place
> without a goal or dream. Without them, the ever-advancing
> civilization would not have progressed from the Stone Age
> to where we are now.
> 
> Since we do not have the Bahá’i economic system in place
> as yet, we may think that we cannot do anything to bring it
> about, and we must wait for its arrival. But that is not true.
> There is so much we can do as individuals, and in our
> communities, that is economical, and we can do it without
> realizing that we are participating in economic activity.
> Our participation will set the example for the rest of the
> world and, at the same time, prepare the ground for the
> time when the World Commonwealth will come into
> being.
> 
> The Universal House of Justice reminds us that time has
> come to pay greater attention to our economic side of our
> lives and take steps to improve the economic prosperity of
> the world.
> “Although Baha’u’llah does not set out in His
> Revelation a detailed economic system, a constant
> theme throughout the entire corpus of His teachings is
> the reorganization of human society. Consideration of
> this theme inevitably gives rise to questions of
> economics. Of course, the future order conceived by
> Baha’u’llah is far beyond anything that can be
> imagined by the present generation. Nevertheless, its
> 
> eventual emergence will depend on strenuous effort by
> His followers to put His teachings into effect today.
> With this in mind, we hope that the comments below
> will stimulate thoughtful, ongoing reflection by the
> friends. The aim is to learn about how to participate in
> the material affairs of society in a way that is consistent
> with the divine precepts and how, in practical terms,
> collective prosperity can be advanced through justice
> and generosity, collaboration and mutual assistance.”
> -The Universal House of Justice, March 1, 2017
> 
> Unfortunately, money is a yardstick that we use to measure
> poverty, wealth, failure and success. My wish is that as we
> spiritually grow and expand our spiritual horizons, we will
> adopt a spiritual yardstick to measure our lives. Money
> cannot and should not be the only means of measuring our
> life’s achievements.
> Today, more than your heart and intellect, you need the
> power of your imagination because you are going to
> picture yourself in the future. Once you do that and grasp
> the beauty of peace, love and harmony and see how the
> sufferings and misery have been removed and man no
> longer has to fight to survive in his economic life, you will
> bring yourself back to the present and hopefully, you will
> start making small changes in your economic activities that
> will lead to the fundamental changes in order to lay the
> foundation of a new and wonderful economic behavior
> based on spirituality and not greed.
> 
> ‘Abdu’l-Bahá often talked about very complex subjects.
> Still, He made them simple and easy to understand, and my
> belief is that economics doesn’t have to be daunting or
> confusing, especially when it comes to action. These
> suggestions are intended to be clear and simple to
> encourage you to participate in economic activities with
> increased awareness. They are meant for everyone,
> whether or not you are knowledgeable about economics.
> Hopefully, you may find them useful, and they will
> empower you to act to bring about a fundamental change
> in your character and your everyday economic actions. It
> also helps you realize what an incredible power we have
> 
> as individuals to transform society in every way, including
> economic ways.
> This list of suggestions may seem overwhelming, and you
> may not be able to practice all those that apply to your
> situation. But you have to remember that it is not about the
> results; it is about sincere and wholehearted efforts. It is a
> pure intention that counts.
> 
> ➢ Focus on the essential questions of life. After answering
> the questions “Who am, I?” and “What is the purpose
> of my life?” the equally important question of “How
> much is enough?” should be answered. One of the biggest
> problems everyone faces is that we do not get a chance to
> understand who we are and what constitutes the purpose of
> our lives. Also, we are so busy that we do not ask how
> much money is enough. How much do we need to live a
> fruitful life? Practice contentment. Life distracts us from
> asking ourselves some fundamental questions. Answering
> these questions can guide us to go through tests and
> difficulties in life.
> 
> ➢ Live a simple life, a life like ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Living a
> simple life brings peace of mind and removes some of the
> distractions of our life journey. Many studies indicate that
> simplicity reduces stress in life and creates a sense of
> freedom from the burden of material possessions. There is
> a movement already in place called “voluntary simplicity”
> that encourages people to live a simple life. There are some
> benefits to living a simple life. It is a decision made by
> many who had too much to handle.
> 
> ➢ Change your mindset. You need to believe that you are
> essentially a spiritual being and have a spiritual purpose in
> your life. You need to realize your spiritual destiny. Once
> this is realized, then acting accordingly is much more
> effective and easy. This mindset will help you to have a
> healthy approach to your material life. Every change
> begins first in your mind.
> 
> ➢ Pay a fair price. If you feel that the price is too low, pay
> more than the asking price. The Báb practiced this when
> 
> He worked as a merchant. One of the most beautiful things
> related to economic activities is the commitment of fairminded people to disregard existing prices and pay more
> because they believe their estimate of the price to be fair.
> 
> ➢ Share the profits with employees. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught
> us how important it is for the workers to have a share of
> the profits. Besides profit-sharing, there are many ways to
> help. Get medical coverage for employees. Support the
> emotional and physical well-being of employees. Taking
> care of workers is a privilege and an opportunity to be of
> service to people. Looking for such opportunities is a
> wonderful act.
> 
> ➢ Pay fair wages, not based on what society dictates. We do
> not need to follow the minimum wage guidelines. The
> Baha’i Writings provide the guidelines to ensure that we
> pay what is fair. The society’s wage guidelines should not
> prevent us from paying more if we think that is fair.
> 
> ➢ Be honest in your dealings. Present it with all the facts
> explained. In our society, we tend to misrepresent a
> product or share only enough information to present it in
> the best possible light.
> Truthfulness is the foundation of all virtues. When selling
> your car, house or other possessions, clearly describe the
> real condition. Mentioning the negative points about a car
> or a house is not wrong. I have done it, and it did help me
> to get a good price.
> 
> ➢ Provide the best quality of service or the best product
> possible and do so in a spirit of service. We are privileged
> to have the assurance that by doing our job well, we have
> demonstrated an act of worship. Make customer
> satisfaction a goal. There is more to our jobs than just
> earning money. How satisfying it is to know that the
> customer is happy and we have played a part in it. Being
> proud of our work is a blessing millions do not have. They
> make money but are not happy and satisfied inside.
> 
> ➢ Look for opportunities to extend to co-workers and cooperate in the workplace. Most workplaces are very
> isolating, and individuals work by themselves. To reach
> out and extend help and to treat each other fairly creates a
> better spirit and working environment. Extend support to
> others, even your competitors. Be a cause of unity by
> seeing them as you would see your employees or
> colleagues and doing as much as you can to help them.
> 
> ➢ Be content with a reasonable margin of profit. There is
> no end to greed in our society, so being satisfied with
> earning a certain profit will create a sense of contentment
> and provide an example to others. This is an extension of
> how much is enough question. There is nothing wrong
> with being satisfied and content with a set amount of profit.
> 
> ➢ Update yourself with the latest information and study in
> your field to provide a better service and to be the leader
> in your profession, and be punctual in business and other
> meetings. Being on time at work increases the efficiency
> of the system and demonstrates respect for others. If time
> is money, then one should not waste it.
> 
> ➢ Remember that your actions are the best manifestation
> of your beliefs, and be conscious of them. The cliché is
> true that actions speak louder than words. We should be an
> example for others since we are the ones to lead society
> towards an ever-advancing civilization.
> 
> ➢ If you are lending money, ask for a reasonable interest
> rate and not the maximum rate. We are told that the rate
> of interest has to be fair and reasonable. Baha’u’llah has
> advised us to do so. Banks should not be the only ones
> setting interest rates.
> 
> ➢ Resist the consumer mentality which exists in our
> society. As the standard of living rises, consumerism
> increases and consuming becomes a bad habit with severe
> consequences. Fighting this tendency is very important for
> our economic life and our spiritual development.
> Consumerism has become a disease that is spreading fast,
> and its forces are paralyzing the progress of our souls.
> 
> ➢ Be knowledgeable about advertising. Advertisements
> conceal the information we need to buy a product, and they
> make false claims, using psychological methods to make a
> sale. Advertising covers all areas of our economic life. One
> has to be very savvy to navigate through all the false claims
> of advertising. Selling has become very sophisticated, and
> one has to be very smart about it and read between the
> lines.
> 
> ➢ Spiritually justify your expenditure. With so much
> poverty in the world today, we have to answer to our
> conscience for any unnecessary spending. We have been
> advised to be frugal in our spending. It would be beneficial
> if we could create in us this “policeman” to check our
> spending.
> 
> ➢ Avoid wastage in the workplace and suggest ways to cut
> down on waste. We can all help in some way to avoid the
> loss of resources.
> 
> ➢ Protect the environment in your business and personal
> life. We owe it to future generations to protect the
> environment. What a sad situation it would be if humanity
> grows spiritually in the future, but the damage is done, and
> our environment is destroyed.
> 
> ➢ Increase your economic and business knowledge. The
> more we know about how economics works, the better we
> will be able to forecast the future.
> 
> ➢ Volunteer for service whenever possible with the spirit of
> service, following Abdu’l-Bahá’s example, Who served
> mankind all of His life.
> 
> ➢ Give to the Bahá’i Fund and also support worthy
> charitable organizations. Every act of giving is a small
> step towards reducing the gap between rich and poor.
> 
> ➢ Have or adopt a financial goal in life. As we have
> teaching plans in the Faith and other goals and plans in our
> life, it is vital to have an individual financial plan. Goals
> encourage discipline. This is very important. It is almost
> impossible to have a comfortable financial life without
> planning.
> 
> ➢ Avoid debt as much as possible since too many financial
> burdens damage the quality of spiritual and human life.
> Investigate the rate of interest on mortgages, loans and
> credit to reduce cost. Volumes can be written about this
> subject. Debts are one of the most destructive factors that
> should be avoided.
> 
> ➢ Create a habit of saving. Life is full of uncertainty and
> change, and having some money for a rainy day creates
> peace of mind. Saving should be part of our financial
> goals. It is a beautiful habit to have. It is not easy to save
> with the pressure of our consumer mentality today, but it
> is crucial.
> 
> ➢ Spread the word about honest and fair businesses and
> professionals. It is like giving them free advertising. They
> need all the help they can get. It has a very enabling power
> helping honest people and businesses.
> 
> ➢ Don’t buy the latest models if the old ones are in working
> order and provide the same service. Having the most recent
> of everything creates an unnecessary economic burden for
> an individual, which in turn decreases the quality of life.
> Be practical about material possessions. But it is hard not
> to want to purchase the latest model of car when everyone
> is doing the same.
> 
> ➢ Avoid keeping up with the Joneses. That is the worst
> kind of spending. It is also a sign of spiritual and emotional
> immaturity. And we see it happen every day. It is
> regrettable that people want the approval of others while
> their spiritual destiny is in jeopardy.
> 
> ➢ Support the concept of one world currency. If we have
> fewer currencies to exchange, life becomes much more
> comfortable, and this is a good step in the right direction
> towards world unity. And anything that can promote world
> unity is extremely important.
> 
> ➢ Don’t follow society’s shortcuts with regards to
> taxation. There are claims made which can perhaps be
> legally justified but are morally wrong.
> 
> ➢ Make honest insurance claims. False insurance claims
> have become like a source of income for some who claim
> damages to their bodies or their properties. This misuse
> hurts every honest person because the cost of insurance
> will increase due to the increase in dishonest claims. There
> are some incidences that though legally, one can make a
> claim, but morally it does not go with the spirit of honesty
> 
> ➢ Make fair expense claims at work. It has become
> common to claim the maximum amount even if it is not
> used, but we have the duty, to be honest about them.
> 
> Do not abuse sick leave. Some people use their sick leave
> even though they are not ill. They think that if they do not
> use it, they will lose it. But in reality, though sick leave is
> a right but has to be used in the right spirit, which when
> one is sick and should not be considered as a paid day off,
> even one is not sick.
> 
> ➢ Return to the store when you realize you have been
> undercharged or receive too much change for your
> purchase. This is practicing the virtue of honesty. Watch
> the face of the cashier when you do this. He or she is
> probably wondering, “Who are these people?” The answer
> is that we are the people from the future, where honesty is
> the norm.
> 
> ➢ Resist society’s corrupt practices of bribery and
> cheating. In some places in the world, giving bribes is a
> way of life, and that is a test and an opportunity to fight
> this harmful practice. It is very hard in places like India
> and China, where I have lived. Refusing to participate in
> these practices is very difficult.
> 
> ➢ Regard service first and profit second. This seems
> idealistic in society, but for Bahá'is, it is considered a way
> of life. And in the long run, it is the best advertisement one
> can buy for free.
> 
> ➢ Participate in social and economic projects. We can help
> to change the world for the better by getting involved in
> these projects. And they are a valuable way of learning and
> 
> contributing. We need to gain experience in social
> activities so that we can contribute more in the future.
> 
> ➢ Do not support the idea of the end justifying the means
> when it comes to promotion at work or getting a contract,
> or applying for a job. Our goal is to grow spiritually, and
> these practices do not help us to improve. That is the worst
> kind of numbing our conscience.
> 
> ➢ Be honest in a job interview. Society has adopted the
> practice of magnifying positive and minimizing or
> omitting negative, but in reality, it is a form of lying. It will
> feel strange to the interviewer and us, but we have to start
> being honest.
> 
> ➢ Be truthful in filling out forms or tenders. Exaggerating
> has become a way of life, but it is not a Bahá’i way of life.
> It is a tough thing to do when competing, but we can have
> the satisfaction that Baha’u’llah is happy with us.
> 
> ➢ Do not sacrifice your values to get a promotion or
> contract, even though there is nothing wrong with being
> ambitious and wanting to progress through the ranks.
> Some would do anything to get a promotion, but we cannot
> follow that practice.
> 
> ➢ Use good quality material in production. Do not use
> harmful ingredients in production. Be educated about the
> ingredients, so no harm comes as a result.
> 
> ➢ Protect the poor and underprivileged sections of our
> society in any way you can. It is our spiritual duty and
> privilege.
> 
> ➢ Give your Huqúqu’lláh (the Right of God), knowing well
> that this giving is a privilege and is not a tax. Give with a
> sense of sharing rather than a sense of loss. This is your
> opportunity to practice generosity. Giving is the best
> practical step for bridging the gap between the rich and
> poor.
> 
> ➢ Create a consciousness that your welfare, well-being
> and happiness depend on the welfare, prosperity and
> happiness of every poor, needy and underprivileged person
> in the world; that the real meaning of the oneness of
> humankind will come into being when we see others as
> members of our family. This should be easy for us since
> we have heard and said it many times that:
> “Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one
> branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love
> and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”
> -Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh,
> p.288
> 
> ➢ Money is a tool and not the goal of your life. The biggest
> mistake that most people make is that they forget that we
> have not been created to make money. That should not be
> our life’s goal. Money should be seen as an effective tool
> to serve humanity and to improve the spiritual and
> economic life of ourselves and others. This is the key that
> can make a person happy or sad at the end of our physical
> life. Since we cannot take it with us, then why not spend it
> for the good of humankind.
> 
> ➢ Give generously to those working for minimum wage
> or earning very little. We can find ways to pay more to
> all those working for a minimum wage, be it in the form of
> a generous tip or more than the asking price to street sellers
> who earn a little from their sales. How can we otherwise
> reduce the gap between the rich and the poor if we do not
> make small contributions?
> 
> ➢ Spend an equal amount of energy in becoming
> detached from material possessions as you spend getting
> them, recognizing that they are a test and remembering
> what Baha’u’llah said:
> 
> “Thou dost wish for gold, and I desire thy freedom
> from it. Thou thinkest thyself rich in its possession, and
> I recognize thy wealth in thy sanctity therefrom. By My
> life! This is My Knowledge, and that is thy fancy; how
> can My way accord with thine?”
> -Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic no.56
> 
> It is like spiritual detoxification. There is nothing
> inherently wrong with being rich as long as we are fully
> aware of its benefits and dangers. Baha’u’llah has allowed
> us to have all the luxuries we desire, as long as we are
> detached from them.
> 
> ➢ Remind yourself of your spiritual destination while
> pursuing financial goals since materialism can slowly take
> over your spiritual life. Without constant reminders of our
> spiritual destiy, materialism can destroy our spiritual wellbeing. We have to have the “big picture” in our view all
> the time so that we are not lost.
> 
> ➢ Live the Bahá’i Life. In a sense, it is a simple statement
> to live the Bahá’i life, but it requires an understanding of
> ourselves and our purpose in life. It is easier said than
> done.
> 
> ➢ Be considerate to those who rent from you. Be sensitive
> to their situation. If they are in trouble, be flexible with
> their rent payments. Let them miss a payment or part of a
> payment. Besides the spiritual satisfaction that you feel,
> you also gain a tenant who cares for you and your property
> and will use it as if it’s theirs. It even makes economic
> sense since you will probably lessen the cost of repairs.
> 
> ➢ Develop virtues that are common to all religions and are
> the foundation for any system’s success. At present,
> acquiring the virtues seems idealistic, but we have to
> remember that as we move closer to an ever-advancing
> civilization, acquiring these virtues will be commonplace.
> They may not look as if they have anything to do with
> economics, but they help us to gain spiritual and human
> qualities, which help us to create a better society. Here is
> the list of virtues identified by The Virtues Project:
> 
> Assertiveness, Caring, Cleanliness,
> Compassion, Confidence, Consideration,
> Courage, Courtesy Creativity,
> Detachment, Determination, Enthusiasm,
> Excellence, Faithfulness, Flexibility,
> Forgiveness, Friendliness, Generosity,
> gentleness, Helpfulness, Honesty,
> 
> Honor, Humility, Idealism,
> Joyfulness, Justice, Kindness,
> Love, Loyalty, Mercy,
> Moderation, Modesty, Obedience,
> Orderliness, Patience, Peacefulness,
> Prayerfulness, Purposefulness, Reliability,
> Respect, Responsibility, Reverence,
> Self-discipline, Service, Steadfastness,
> Tact, Thankfulness, Tolerance,
> Trust, Trustworthiness, Truthfulness,
> Unity
> 
> ➢ Deal with your insistent self or ego; otherwise, it can
> undo any success or progress if it is not recognized as a
> serious threat to our good efforts. History is full of
> examples of how egos created destruction throughout the
> ages. As human beings, our life in this world and our
> progress in the next world depend on the decisions we
> make. Some say we make our heaven and hell here on earth
> as a result of the choices we make. It is sad if we do not
> make the right decision and give our higher nature the
> upper hand. Because we are bombarded by advertisements
> and consumerism, nurturing our higher nature is very
> difficult, and that is why we need to tune ourselves
> spiritually to make the right choice so that we get the
> rewards and benefits of that choice. We know that reading
> the Writings has been encouraged in our Faith, and when
> we read the Holy Writings and meditate on them, our souls
> are uplifted, and that affects our decision making. Our
> souls are tuned by reading the Writings and bringing
> ourselves to account each day. It is like a spiritual balance
> sheet so that we can perceive the good and the bad in our
> ways. This is such an important factor in our lives, and
> we need to take the opportunity to deal with it
> adequately.
> 
> ➢ Recognize and nurture the four aspects of your being:
> 
> a)   Spiritual
> b) Physical
> c) Emotional
> d) Intellectual
> 
> Most people ignore one aspect for the sake of others, but
> we need all aspects to have balance in our lives. This
> sounds like one of those self-help mantras, but awareness
> of all aspects of our being is essential to realistic selfknowledge, which is the first step towards knowing
> God.
> 
> ➢ Be more vocal in a loving way about what we think about
> the changes that are needed for the improvement of the
> economic life of individuals and the society in which we
> live; in short, without being militant or aggressive, express
> our ideas and vision. We all have a say in all matters, and
> we can be the catalysts of positive change. We do not want
> to be political or militant, but we cannot forget that our job
> provides vision and direction to wayward humanity. It is
> like having the healing medicine and not giving it to the
> sick.
>
> — *Practical Economic Suggestions For Everyday Use (Used by permission of the curator)*