The second teaching of Baha’u’llah concerns the unity of
mankind. All mankind is one family and all are the servants of God. God has
created all; all are the children of God; God provides for all; God rears and
nurtures all; God is kind to all. Why should we be unkind? This is the policy
of God, the lights of which have shown up the whole world; His sun is shining
upon all; His clouds send down rain upon all; His breezes refresh all.
Therefore, it becomes evident that humankind without exception is sheltered
beneath His protection. At most some are imperfect, they must be perfected;
some are ignorant, they must be taught; some are ill, they must be treated;
some are asleep, they must be awakened. The child must not be oppressed because
he is a child, he must be educated; the patient must not be neglected because
he is sick, nay rather one must entertain compassion for him, he must be
healed. This makes it evident that the animosity which exists between the
religious systems must be dispelled, and conditions of love and amity be
entertained by them all.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha
(From a talk, June 9, 1912’ Baptist Temple, Philadelphia; Star of the
West, vol. 5, no. 7, July 13, 1914)
