The religion of God consists of two parts: One is the very
foundation and belongs to the spiritual realm; that is, it pertains to
spiritual virtues and divine qualities. This part suffers neither change nor
alteration: It is the Holy of Holies, which constitutes the essence of the
religion of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb, and
Bahá’u’lláh, and which will endure throughout all the prophetic Dispensations.
It will never be abrogated, for it consists in spiritual rather than material
truth. It is faith, knowledge, certitude, justice, piety, high-mindedness,
trustworthiness, love of God, and charity. It is mercy to the poor, assistance
to the oppressed, generosity to the needy, and upliftment of the fallen. It is
purity, detachment, humility, forbearance, patience, and constancy. These are
divine qualities. These commandments will never be abrogated, but will remain
in force and effect for all eternity. These human virtues are renewed in every
Dispensation; for at the close of each Dispensation the spirit of the law of
God, which consists in the human virtues, vanishes in substance and persists
only in form…
The second part of the religion of God, which pertains to
the material world and which concerns such things as fasting; prayer; worship;
marriage; divorce; manumission; legal rulings; transactions; and penalties and
punishments for murder, assault, theft, and injury, is changed and altered in
every prophetic Dispensation and may be abrogated—for policies, transactions,
punishments, and other laws are bound to change according to the exigencies of
the time.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha;
‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World
Centre)
