Chapter 6: The Equalization of the Means of Livelihood for All Humanity

1. Equalizing the Means of Livelihood a New Principle?

Abdu’l-Bahā: Former religious book have not spoken about this problem.

Abdu’l-Bahā, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 455.

Abdu’l-Bahā: “We ordered that the zakāt be paid as has been revealed in the Quran.”

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Ganjīniy-i ḥudūd wa aḥkām, chap. 12, p. 149

2. Is Usury Good or Bad? Does `Abdu’l-Bahā Hate Bahā’u’llāh’s Favors to the People?

Bahā’u’llāh: We made usury legal as a favor to God’s servants.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Ganjīniy-i ḥudūd wa aḥkām, chap. 24, p. 202.

Abdu’l-Bahā: Even though usury is allowed no one is allowed to engage in such an act because I hate it.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Ganjīniy-i ḥudūd wa aḥkām, chap. 24, p. 204.

3. Helping the Needy a Legal Obligation or Voluntary?

Abdu’l-Bahā: The wealthy must voluntarily help the poor.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 148

Abdu’l-Bahā: Helping the needy must be enforced by law.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 135.

4. Equalization of Means of Livelihood or Paying Thousands of Tons of Gold to the UHJ?

Abdu’l-Bahā: Remedying the means of livelihood for humans is necessary.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 134

Bahā’u’llāh: After 20 times of adultery pay 34 tons of gold to the UHJ and after 100 times, 8000 times the weight of earth.

Bahā’u’llāh, The Kitābi Aqdas, pp. 200–202.

5. Equalization of the Means of Livelihood or Depriving Some of Any Livelihood at All?

When the Baha’i kingdom materializes thieves and excommunicated individuals are kicked out of the community and are deprived of means of livelihood.

Bahā’u’llāh, The Kitābi Aqdas, pp. 35–36.

6. Must There Be Complete Equality between All People?

Abdu’l-Bahā: There must be complete equality between all people.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 30.

Abdu’l-Bahā: Complete equality is not possible in the community because people have different ranks and are from different classes.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 138

7. Has God Made Distinctions between People?

Abdu’l-Bahā: God has created people without any differences or distinctions.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 42.

Abdu’l-Bahā: People have different degrees of intelligence.

Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 134