17: The status of woman in former times was exceedingly deplorable, for it was...
The status of woman in former times was exceedingly deplorable, for it was the belief of the Orient that it was best for woman to be ignorant. It was considered preferable that she should not know reading or writing in order that she might not be informed of events in the world. Woman was considered to be created for rearing children and attending to the duties of the household. If she pursued educational courses, it was deemed contrary to chast.i.ty; hence women were made prisoners of the household.
The houses did not even have windows opening upon the outside world.
Baha"u"llah destroyed these ideas and proclaimed the equality of man and woman. He made woman respected by commanding that all women be educated, that there be no difference in the education of the two s.e.xes and that man and woman share the same rights. In the estimation of G.o.d there is no distinction of s.e.x. One whose thought is pure, whose education is superior, whose scientific attainments are greater, whose deeds of philanthropy excel, be that one man or woman, white or colored, is ent.i.tled to full rights and recognition; there is no differentiation whatsoever....
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by "Abdu"l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", p. 166) [17]
18: Woman"s lack of progress and proficiency has been due to her need of equal...
Woman"s lack of progress and proficiency has been due to her need of equal education and opportunity. Had she been allowed this equality, there is no doubt she would be the counterpart of man in ability and capacity. The happiness of mankind will be realized when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by "Abdu"l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", p. 182) [18]
19: He establishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the...
He establishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the teachings of Baha"u"llah, for all other religions have placed man above woman.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by "Abdu"l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", p. 455) [19]
20: Women have equal rights with men upon earth; in religion and society they...
Women have equal rights with men upon earth; in religion and society they are a very important element. As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.
("Paris Talks: Addresses given by "Abdu"l-Baha in Paris in 19111912", 10th ed. (London: Baha"i Publishing Trust, 1979), p. 133) [20]
21: In the world of humanity ... the female s.e.x is treated as though inferior, and...
In the world of humanity ... the female s.e.x is treated as though inferior, and is not allowed equal rights and privileges. This condition is due not to nature, but to education. In the Divine Creation there is no such distinction. Neither s.e.x is superior to the other in the sight of G.o.d. Why then should one s.e.x a.s.sert the inferiority of the other, withholding just rights and privileges as though G.o.d had given His authority for such a course of action? If women received the same educational advantages as those of men, the result would demonstrate the equality of capacity of both for scholarship.
In some respects woman is superior to man. She is more tender-hearted, more receptive, her intuition is more intense.
("Paris Talks: Addresses given by "Abdu"l-Baha in Paris in 19111912", p.
161) [21]
22: Divine Justice demands that the rights of both s.e.xes should be equally...
Divine Justice demands that the rights of both s.e.xes should be equally respected since neither is superior to the other in the eyes of Heaven.
Dignity before G.o.d depends, not on s.e.x, but on purity and luminosity of heart. Human virtues belong equally to all!
("Paris Talks: Addresses given by "Abdu"l-Baha in Paris in 19111912", p.
162) [22]
23: In the Dispensation of Baha"u"llah, women are advancing side by side with...
In the Dispensation of Baha"u"llah, women are advancing side by side with men. There is no area or instance where they will lag behind: they have equal rights with men, and will enter, in the future, into all branches of the administration of society. Such will be their elevation that, in every area of endeavour, they will occupy the highest levels in the human world.
Rest thou a.s.sured. Look not upon their present state. In future, the world of womankind will shine with l.u.s.trous brilliance, for such is the will and purpose of Baha"u"llah. At the time of elections the right to vote is the inalienable right of women, and the entrance of women into all human departments is an irrefutable and incontrovertible question. No soul can r.e.t.a.r.d or prevent it.
But there are certain matters, the partic.i.p.ation in which is not worthy of women. For example, at the time when the community is taking up vigorous defensive measures against the attack of foes, the women are exempt from military engagements. It may so happen that at a given time warlike and savage tribes may furiously attack the body politic with the intention of carrying on a wholesale slaughter of its members; under such a circ.u.mstance defence is necessary, but it is the duty of men to organize and execute such defensive measures and not the women-because their hearts are tender and they cannot endure the sight of the horror of carnage, even if it is for the sake of defence. From such and similar undertakings the women are exempt.
As regards the const.i.tution of the House of Justice, Baha"u"llah addresses the men. He says: "O ye men of the House of Justice!"
But when its members are to be elected, the right which belongs to women, so far as their voting and their voice is concerned, is indisputable. When the women attain to the ultimate degree of progress, then, according to the exigency of the time and place and their great capacity, they shall obtain extraordinary privileges. Be ye confident on these accounts. His Holiness Baha"u"llah has greatly strengthened the cause of women, and the rights and privileges of women is one of the greatest principles of "Abdu"l-Baha. Rest ye a.s.sured! Ere long the days shall come when the men addressing the women, shall say: "Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye! Verily ye are worthy of every gift. Verily ye deserve to adorn your heads with the crown of everlasting glory, because in sciences and arts, in virtues and perfections ye shall become equal to man, and as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior".
(From a Tablet to an individual believer - translated from the Persian, published in "Paris Talks: Addresses given by "Abdu"l-Baha in Paris in 19111912", p. 18284) [23]
24: The woman of the East has progressed. Formerly in India, Persia and...
The woman of the East has progressed. Formerly in India, Persia and throughout the Orient, she was not considered a human being. Certain Arab tribes counted their women in with the live stock. In their language the noun for woman also meant donkey; that is, the same name applied to both and a man"s wealth was accounted by the number of these beasts of burden he possessed. The worst insult one could hurl at a man was to cry out, "Thou woman!"
From the moment Baha"u"llah appeared, this changed. He did away with the idea of distinction between the s.e.xes, proclaiming them equal in every capacity.
In former times it was considered wiser that woman should not know how to read or write; she should occupy herself only with drudgery. She was very ignorant. Baha"u"llah declares the education of woman to be of more importance than that of man. If the mother be ignorant, even if the father have great knowledge, the child"s education will be at fault, for education begins with the milk. A child at the breast is like a tender branch that the gardener can train as he wills.
The East has begun to educate its women. Some there are in Persia who have become liberated through this cause, whose cleverness and eloquence the "ulama cannot refute. Many of them are poets. They are absolutely fearless.
I hope for a like degree of progress among the women of Europe-that each may shine like unto a lamp; that they may cry out the proclamation of the kingdom; that they may truly a.s.sist the men; nay, that they may be even superior to the men, versed in sciences and yet detached, so that the whole world may bear witness to the fact that men and women have absolutely the same rights. It would be a cause of great joy for me to see such women. This is useful work; by it woman will enter into the kingdom.
Otherwise, there will be no results.
(""Abdu"l-Baha on Divine Philosophy" (Boston: Tudor Press, 1918), pp.
8183) [24]
25: The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over...