Did the previous Divine Prophets causes enmity and disunity? Did they urge people to be evil, oppress, use foul language, and to start wars? Is this principle as `Abdu’l-Bahā claims new:

He sets forth a new principle for this day in the announcement that religion must be the cause of unity, harmony and agreement among mankind. If it is the cause of discord and hostility, if it leads to separation and creates conflict, the absence of religion would be preferable in the world.[1]

All divine prophets had appeared to overcome the divisions among humanity and to bring about fellowship among the people. `Abdu’l-Bahā confesses to this reality and says:

All the Prophets came to nurture the people so that the immature individuals could reach maturity and to bring about kindness and love among the people, not hatred and enmity.^[2]

We read in the Bible:

If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent.^[3]

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”^[4]

In the Zoroastrian traditions it has come that:

I pledge myself to the Mazdayasnian religion, which causes the attack to be put off and weapons put down.^[5]

Islam[6] too has a special concern for unity, fellowship, and not hassling other humans. The Prophet of Islam has stated:

God will not have mercy on whoever does not have mercy on the people.^[7]

It is obvious that in contrast to what Baha’is claim this principle is in no way novel and even amongst atheists and those that do not believe in any religion, there are countless individuals that have made kindness and servitude to others the goal of their lives. So, what is the innovation of Bahā’u’llāh and his religion?

[1] `Abdu’l-Bahā, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 454–455.

[2] `Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 65.

[3] Book of Matthew, 12:7 (New International Version).

[4] Book of Matthew, 18:21–22 (New International Version).

[5] Avesta, Yasna 12, section 9, translated by L. H. Mills, Sacred Books of the East (American Edition, 1898).

[6] The terrorists acts performed by those who claim to be Muslims must not be confused with the orders of true Islam.

[7] Al-Nūrī, Mustadrak al-wasā’il (Qum: Mu’assisat Āl al-Bayt, 1408 AH), vol. 9, p. 55, no. 10183.