A Compilaton on Women

the Writings

ry one of you to engage in

orship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth

g your whole trust in God, the Provider of all means. When anyone occupieth himself in a craft or trade, such occupation itself i

the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" [rev. ed.], (Haifa:

ritings and Utteran

d and the bondsmaids in H

em to stand out and achieve renown in the circles of women. That is, they should associate with them with supreme chastity and steadfast decency, with uns

translated from

uality between man and woma

possible. Even granted that woman is inferior to man in some degree of capacity or accomplishment, this or any other distinction would

an recognize and realize equality, social and politi

ivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the U

ligion has been revealed b

n in the social and economic equation. Then the world will attain unity and harmony. In past ages humanity has been defective and inefficient because it has been incomplete. War and its ravages have blighted the world; the education of woman will be a mighty step toward its abolition and ending, for she will use her

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

tablished in history tha

ein woman has been a participant has attained importance. This is historically true and beyond disproof even in religion. Jesus Christ had twelve disciples and among His followers a woman known as Mary Magdalene. Judas Iscariot had become

.

national peace and arbitration, and universal pe

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

fact that universal peac

e cannot be accomplished until there is politi

rious independent states. It may not be a republican or a democratic form. To cast aside centralization which promotes despotism is the exigency of the time. This will be productive of international peace. Another fact of equal importance in bringing about international peace is woman's suffrage. That is to say, when perfect equality shall be established between men and women

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

receive the same opportun

be utterly destroyed. Without equality this will be impossible because all differences and distinction are conducive to discord and strife

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

vote her energies and abilit

sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful. By this means she will dem

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

how in the human world tha

ropic and responsive toward the needy and suffering, that they are inflexibly opposed to war and are lovers of peace. Strive that the ideal of international peace may become realized throug

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

virtues as man, rising throu

attainment, women will become the peers of men, and until this equality is estab

ly in their behalf. Consider, for instance, a mother who has tenderly reared a son for twenty years to the age of maturity. Surely she will not consent to having that son torn asunder and killed in the field of battle. Therefore, as

livered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the

t of this age, women must

rtments of life, becoming equal to men. They must be on the same level as men and enjoy equal

ahá'u'lláh and the N

of the greater importance

and the animal worlds. The palm which carries the fruit is the tree most prized by the date grower. The Arab knows that for a long jo

an; she has also special gifts which enable he

Notes of Conversations" (London: Bahá'í

rs Written on Behal

sentation at the All-Asian

position of women in society. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the National Assembly will do its best to win the admiration of all the assembled delegates for the teachings of t

National Spiritual Assemb

about the women arising fo

t war there can be no war. The Bahá'í women are already organized through being members of the Faith and the Administrative Order. No further organization is needed. But they should, throug

to an individua

Written by the Unive

men, the achievement of fu

of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. There are no grounds, moral, practical,

o the Peoples o

itten on Behalf of the U

sphere of relationships bet

the child, and the most important formative influence in his development, the father also has the responsibility of educating his children, and this responsibility is so weighty that Bahá'u'lláh has stated that a father who fails to exercise it forfeits his

lag behind: they have equal rights with men, and will enter, in the future, into all branches of the administration of socie

ag

irs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws

Himself has envisaged that women as well

e earneth through trade, agriculture or other occupation, for the training and education of chi

táb-i-Aqdas", p. 90) (28 December 1980 to the

eing the first educators o

hen she becomes a mother, to determine how best she can discharge on the one hand her chief responsibility as a mother and on t

to an individua