God sends Prophets for the
education of the people and the progress of mankind. Each such Manifestation of
God has raised humanity. They serve the whole world by the bounty of God. The
sure proof that they are the Manifestations of God is in the education and
progress of the people. The Jews were in the lowest condition of ignorance, and
captives under Pharaoh when Moses appeared and raised them to a high state of
civilization. Thus was the reign of Solomon brought about and science and art
were made known to mankind. Even Greek philosophers became students of
Solomon’s teaching. Thus was Moses proved to be a Prophet.
After the lapse of time the
Israelites deteriorated, and became subject to the Romans and the Greeks. Then
the brilliant Star of Jesus rose from the horizon upon the Israelites,
brightening the world, until all sects and creeds and nations were taught the
beauty of unity. There cannot be any better proof than this that Jesus was the
Word of God.
So it was with the Arabian
nations who, being uncivilized, were oppressed by the Persian and Greek governments.
When the Light of Muhammad shone forth all Arabia was brightened. These oppressed
and degraded peoples became enlightened and cultured; so much so, indeed, that
other nations imbibed Arabian civilization from Arabia. This was the proof of
Muhammad’s divine
mission.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a message to 'The Christian Commonwealth', September
29, 1911; ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London’)
