On Art in General:

O people of Bahá! The source of crafts, sciences and arts it the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there ray gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 72

The third Tajallí is concerning arts, crafts and sciences. Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his assent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the world, and not those which begin with words and with words.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 91-92

Of all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying those which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and elevate his rank. Thus the noisome odours of lawlessness will be dispelled, and thus through the high endeavours of the nation's leaders, all will live cradled, secure end in peace.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 168-69

The people of Bahá should not deny any soul the reward due to him, should treat craftsmen with deference, and, unlike the people aforetime, should not defile their tongues with abuse.

In this Day the sun of craftsmanship shineth above the horizon of the occident and the river of arts is flowing out of the sea of that region. One must speak with fairness and appreciate such bounty.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 98-99

Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame, if ye he of them that comprehend this truth. All the wondrous works ye behold in this world have been manifested through the operation of His supreme and most exalted Will, His wondrous and inflexible Purpose. Through the mere revelation of the word "Fashioner," issuing forth from His lips and proclaiming His attribute to Mankind, such power is released as can generate, through successive ages, all the manifold arts which the hands of man can produce. . . . No sooner is this resplendent Word uttered, than its animating energies, stirring within all created things, give birth to the means and instruments whereby such arts can be produced and perfected. All the wondrous achievements ye now witness are the direct consequences of the Revelation of this Name.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 141-42

In accordance with the Divine Teachings, the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts is considered as acts of worship. If a man engages with all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he has been worshipping God in the churches and temples. . . . What bounty greater than this that science should be considered as an act of worship and art as service to the Kingdom of God.

    * ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith, 377-78

All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shins through the mind of a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies. Again, shining through the mind of a poet, it is seen in fine poetry and poetic prose. When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of a painter, he producer marvelous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, when shoving forth the praise of God.

    * ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in The Chosen highway, 167


Art is worship. The drama is of the utmost importance. It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again.

    * 'Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, XIX, 341

On Music:

Those who chant the verses of the Merciful in most melodious tones will attain thereby unto that with which the kingdoms of earth and heaven can never compare. And they will inhale therefrom the fragrance of My realms which none discerneth in this day save those who have been granted vision by this sublime Beauty. Say, verily, the verses of the Merciful uplift the stainless hearts unto those realms of the spirit which cannot be described in words or expressed in symbols. Blessed are they that hearken!

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Kitib-i-Aqdas, quoted in Bahá’í Writings on Music, 1

We have permitted you to listen to music and singing. Beware lest such listening cause you to transgress the bounds of decency and dignity Rejoice in the joy of My Most Great Name through which the hearts are enchanted and the minds of the well-favoured are attracted.

    We have made music a ladder by which souls may ascend to the realm on high. Change it not into wings for self and passion. I seek refuge in God that you be not of the ignorant.

    * Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Aqdas, quoted in Bahá’í Writings on Music, 1

O bird that singeth sweetly of the Abhá Beauty! In this new and wondrous dispensation the veils of superstition have been torn asunder and the prejudices of eastern peoples stand condemned. Among certain nations of the East, music was considered reprehensible, but in this new age the Manifest Light hath, in His holy Tablets, specifically proclaimed that music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart.

    The musician's art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve. Wherefore . . . play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory.

    * ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 12

Music is regarded as a praiseworthy science at the Threshold of the Almighty, so that thou mayest chant verses at large gatherings and congregations in a most wondrous melody and raise such hymns of praise at the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár as to enrapture the Concourse on High. By virtue of this, consider how much the art of music is admired and praised. Try, if thou canst, to use spiritual melodies, songs, and tunes, and to bring the earthly music into harmony with the celestial melody. Then thou wilt notice what a great influence music hath and what heavenly joy and life it conferreth. Strike up such a melody and tune as to cause the nightingales of divine mysteries to be filled with joy and ecstasy.

    * ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, from a recently translated Tablet to an individual believer, quoted in Bahá’í Writings on Music, 4

The art of music must be brought to the highest stage of development, for this is one of the most wonderful arts and in this glorious age of the Lord of Unity it is highly essential to gain its mastery. However, one must endeavour to attain the degree of artistic perfection and not be like those who leave matters unfinished.

    * ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, extract from an untranslated Tablet, quoted in Bahá’í Writings on Music, 5-6

Music is one of the important arts. It has a great effect upon human spirit. Musical melodies are a certain something which prove to be accidental upon etheric vibrations, for voice is nothing but the expression of vibrations, which, reaching the tympanum, affect the nerves of bearing. Musical melodies are, therefore, those peculiar effects produced by, or from, vibration. However, they have the keenest effect upon the spirit. In sooth, although music is a material affair, yet its tremendous effect is spiritual, and its greatest attachment is to the realm of the spirit. If a person desires to deliver a discourse, it will prove more effectual after musical melodies. If you have a great desire and wish to attain your end, try to do so on a large audience after a great solo has been rendered, but it must be on an audience on which music is effective, for there are some people who are like stones, and music cannot affect stones.

    Music is an important mans to the education and development of humanity, but the only true way is through the Teachings of God. Music is like this glass, which is preferably pure and polished. It is precisely like this pure chalice before us, and the Teachings of God, the utterances of God, are like the water. When the glass or chalice is absolutely pure and clear, and the water is perfectly fresh and limpid, then it will confer life.

    * 'Abdu’l-Bahá, Table Talk, 'Akka, July 1909, quoted in Herald of the South, January 13, 1933, 2-3