“Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They
will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear
them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is the
impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws,
exhortations and teachings, the source of life on earth.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted
by the Universal House of Justice in a message
dated 10 February 1980, addressed to the Iranian believers resident in
other countries throughout the world, translated from Persian; ‘Messages from
the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)
Every discerning eye clearly sees that the early stages of
this chaos have daily manifestations affecting the structure of human society;
its destructive forces are uprooting time-honoured institutions which were a
haven and refuge for the inhabitants of the earth in bygone days and centuries,
and around which revolved all human affairs. The same destructive forces are
also deranging the political, economic, scientific, literary, and moral
equilibrium of the world and are destroying the fairest fruits of the present
civilization. Political machinations of those in authority have placed the seal
of obsolescence upon the root principles of the world's order. Greed and
passion, deceit, hypocrisy, tyranny, and pride are dominating features
afflicting human relations. Discoveries and inventions, which are the fruit of
scientific and technological advancements, have become the means and tools of
mass extermination and destruction and are in the hands of the ungodly. Even
music, art, and literature, which are to represent and inspire the noblest
sentiments and highest aspirations and should be a source of comfort and
tranquillity for troubled souls, have strayed from the straight path and are
now the mirrors of the soiled hearts of this confused, unprincipled, and
disordered age. Perversions such as these shall result in the ordeals which
have been prophesied by the Blessed Beauty in the following words: "...
the earth will be tormented by a fresh calamity every day and unprecedented
commotions will break out." "The day is approaching when its
[civilization's] flame will devour the cities." (Baha’u’llah, quoted by
Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Promised Day Is Come’)
In such an afflicted time, when mankind is bewildered and
the wisest of men are perplexed as to the remedy, the people of Baha, who have
confidence in His unfailing grace and divine guidance, are assured that each of
these tormenting trials has a cause, a purpose, and a definite result, and all
are essential instruments for the establishment of the immutable Will of God on
earth. In other words, on the one hand humanity is struck by the scourge of His
chastisement which will inevitably bring together the scattered and vanquished
tribes of the earth; and on the other, the weak few whom He has nurtured under
the protection of His loving guidance are, in this Formative Age and period of
transition, continuing to build amidst these tumultuous waves an impregnable
stronghold which will be the sole remaining refuge for those lost multitudes.
Therefore, the dear friends of God who have such a broad and clear vision
before them are not perturbed by such events, nor are they panic-stricken by
such thundering sounds, nor will they face such convulsions with fear and
trepidation, nor will they be deterred, even for a moment, from fulfilling
their sacred responsibilities.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a
message dated 10 February 1980,
addressed to the Iranian believers resident in other countries throughout the
world, translated from Persian; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986’)
