A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
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A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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14: Inasmuch as this is the century of light, it is evident that the Sun of… |
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Inasmuch as this is the century of light, it is evident that the Sun of
Reality, the Word, has revealed itself to all humankind. One of the
potentialities hidden in the realm of humanity was the capability or capacity
of womanhood. Through the effulgent rays of divine illumination the capacity
of woman has become so awakened and manifest in this age that equality of man
and woman is an established fact….
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In this day man must investigate reality impartially and without prejudice
in order to reach the true knowledge and conclusions. What, then, constitutes
the inequality between man and woman? Both are human. In powers and function
each is the complement of the other. At most it is this: that woman has been
denied the opportunities which man has so long enjoyed, especially the
privilege of education….
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The truth is that all mankind are the creatures and servants of one God,
and in His estimate all are human. Man is a generic term applying to all
humanity. The biblical statement “Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness” does not mean that woman was not created. The image and likeness of
God apply to her as well. In Persian and Arabic there are two distinct words
translated into English as man: one meaning man and woman collectively, the
other distinguishing man as male from woman the female. The first word and its
pronoun are generic, collective; the other is restricted to the male. This is
the same in Hebrew.
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It is my hope that the banner of equality may be raised throughout the
five continents where as yet it is not fully recognized and established. In
this enlightened world of the West woman has advanced an immeasurable degree
beyond the women of the Orient. And let it be known once more that until woman
and man recognize and realize equality, social and political progress here or
anywhere will not be possible. For the world of humanity consists of two parts
or members: one is woman; the other is man. Until these two members are equal
in strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the happiness
and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing, this is to be so.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912”, 2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 74–77) [14] |
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