O ye friends of God! These religious, political, patriotic, and racial prejudices are destructive of the world of humanity. Justice is desirable and praiseworthy whether it emanateth from compatriots or from strangers. A well-wishing stranger is better than a heedless friend. The world of humanity must be entirely freed from the idle fancy of prejudices. The whole earth is one homeland, all humanity is one people, and all are descendants of Adam. Religion is independent of politics. Religion promoteth praiseworthy qualities. The people of religion must strive for it to become a cause of fellowship amongst races; otherwise no benefit will result from it. Divine religions are the cause of fellowship, so that national prejudices may be abolished, and all peoples may become kind to one another and entirely severed from racial prejudice. Justice is praiseworthy though it come from a stranger, and tyranny is blameworthy though it be from one’s own brother. This is the truth, and all besides it is vain imaginings. A just stranger is a brother, and a tyrannical brother is a stranger.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Compilation: ‘Bahá’í Sacred Writings: A comprehensive collection of selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, representing the range of the Bahá’í teachings”, prepared by the Baha’i World Center, July 2025)
