Bahá’í Views of Art and Spirituality

by Kathleen Norris Park

Photo by Paul Morgan on Flickr

Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah is the latest Messenger or Manifestation of God in His unfolding revelation to mankind. Baha’u’llah’s writings have been gathered into more than 100 volumes. You may learn more at www.Bahai.org or the Norman Bahá’í Center.

Arts, crafts, and sciences are given much importance in the writings of Baha’u’llah: “Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words.” (This is not to be taken as an indictment of literature, poetry, or other forms of art whose medium is words.) “Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. . . . In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and source of gory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him.”

“Baha’u’llah” is a title meaning Glory of God. He designated his eldest son, Ábdú l-Bahá (a title meaning “Servant of Bahá”; servant of the glory), as the interpreter of His words. Bahá’ís consider Ábdú l-Bahá’s writings equally authoritative as Baha’u’llah’s. Ábdú l-Bahá writes this about the social utility of art: “when the studying of art is with the intention of obeying the command of God, this study will certainly be done easily and great progress will soon be made therein; and when others discover this fragrance of spirituality in the action itself, this same will cause their awakening. Likewise, managing art with propriety will become the means of sociability and affinity; and sociability and affinity themselves tend to guide others to the Truth.”

“Singing and music,” says Ábdú l-Bahá, “are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. . . . . music is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts.” In another place Ábdú l-Bahá writes, “In this new century the attainment of science, arts, and belles lettres, whether divine or worldly, material or spiritual, is a matter which is acceptable before God and a duty which is incumbent upon us to accomplish.”

So there is no art for art’s sake. That’s no denigration of art, because there is no activity of man that exists for its own sake. Art is one of the ways of apprehending reality, of attaining understanding, of which Baha’u’llah has written that “the Almighty hath conferred upon man . . . . the gift of understanding. His purpose in conferring such a gift is none other except to enable His creature to know and recognize the one true God—exalted be His glory. This gift giveth man the power to discern the truth in all things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover the secrets of creation.”

Ábdú l-Bahá wrote “I hope that you will use your understanding to promote the unity and tranquility of mankind, to give enlightenment and civilization to the people, to produce love in all around you, and to bring about the Universal Peace.”