A Compilation on Women | Page 6

[10]

11: The establishment of a women's assemblage for the promotion of
knowledge is...
The establishment of a women's assemblage for the promotion of
knowledge is entirely acceptable, but discussions must be confined to
educational matters. It should be done in such a way that differences
will, day by day, be entirely wiped out, not that, God forbid, it will end
in argumentation between men and women. As in the question of the
veil, nothing should be done contrary to wisdom. The individual
women should, today, follow a course of action which will be the cause
of eternal glory to all womankind, so that all women will be illumined.
And that lieth in gathering to learn how to teach, in holding meetings to
recite the verses, to offer supplications to the kingdom of the Lord of
evident signs, and to institute education for the girls. Ponder the
manner in which Jináb-i-Táhirih used to teach. She was free from every
concern, and for this reason she was resplendent.
Now the world of women should be a spiritual world, not a political
one, so that it will be radiant. The women of other nations are all
immersed in political matters. Of what benefit is this, and what fruit
doth it yield? To the extent that ye can, ye should busy yourselves with
spiritual matters which will be conducive to the exaltation of the Word
of God and of the diffusion of His fragrances. Your demeanour should
lead to harmony amongst all and to coalescence and the good-pleasure
of all....
I am endeavouring, with Bahá'u'lláh's confirmations and assistance, so
to improve the world of the handmaidens that all will be astonished.
This progress is intended to be in spirituality, in virtues, in human

perfections and in divine knowledge. In America, the cradle of
women's liberation, women are still debarred from political institutions
because they squabble. They are yet to have a member in the House of
Representatives. Also Bahá'u'lláh hath proclaimed: "O ye men of the
House of Justice." Ye need to be calm and composed, so that the work
will proceed with wisdom, otherwise there will be such chaos that ye
will leave everything and run away. "This newly born babe is
traversing in one night the path that needeth a hundred years to tread."
In brief, ye should now engage in matters of pure spirituality and not
contend with men. 'Abdu'l-Baha will tactfully take appropriate steps.
Be assured. In the end thou wilt thyself exclaim, "This was indeed
supreme wisdom!" I appeal to you to obliterate this contention between
men and women....
No one can on his own achieve anything. 'Abdu'l-Bahá must be well
pleased and assist.
(From a Tablet - translated from the Persian) [11]

12: Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are
accounted the...
Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are
accounted the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His
own image, and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike
are the revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual
viewpoint there is no difference between them. Whosoever draweth
nearer to God, that one is the most favoured, whether man or woman.
How many a handmaid, ardent and devoted, hath, within the sheltering
shade of Bahá, proved superior to the men, and surpassed the famous of
the earth.
The House of Justice, however, according to the explicit text of the
Law of God, is confined to men;(2) this for a wisdom of the Lord God's,
which will ere long be made manifest as clearly as the sun at high
noon.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá" [rev. ed.], (Haifa:
Bahá'í World Centre, 1982), sec. 38, pp. 79-80) [12]

13: And among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is the equality of women
and...
And among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is the equality of women and
men. The world of humanity has two wings--one is women and the
other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly.
Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world
of women becomes equal to the world of men in the acquisition of
virtues and perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they
ought to be.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá", sec. 227, p. 302) [13]

14: Inasmuch as this is the century of light, it is evident that the Sun
of...
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