Once the hearts of
men are purified, and their secret thoughts are cleansed, and their perception
hath been freed of taint, then none will venture to perform any deed except
such deeds as please the Lord. Nay rather, any action that is inconsistent with
the high, God-given dignity of humankind, will seem to him an anguish more
afflictive than hellfire, more terrible than eternal punishment in the
bottomless pit.
At whatever time the
heavenly Teachings are spread abroad, and their pillars are set firm and deep,
and their walls raised up, and their rule is well established over the hearts,
it is certain that man will not raise his hand against man to the point where
such punishments as imprisonment, flogging, torment or the forfeiture of life
would ever be called for. "And God sufficeth the believers in their
fight.” [Qur'an 33:25] This verily is peace for all mankind, and complete
tranquillity, and the highest perfection destined by God for man.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; included in a Memorandum from the Research
Department of the Universal House of Justice dated 23 May 1991, forwarded to an
individual believer by the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House
of Justice)
