Impressions on ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Great Import of The Indigenous Population

Source: Compilation on the Indians of the Western Hemisphere, compiled by Littlebrave Beaston.

“The original population of the United States was very dear to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s heart, and He foretold for the Indians a great future if they accepted and became enlightened by the Teachings of Baha’u’llah. “To believe in the Mouthpiece of God in His Day confers very great blessings, not only on individuals, but on races, and He hopes that you who are now numbered amongst the followers of Baha’u’llah will give His Message to many more of your tribe, and in this way hasten for your people a bright and happy future.” (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 21, 1947) 

Attach great importance to the indigenous population of America. For these souls may be likened unto the ancient inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, who, prior to the Mission of Muhammad, were like unto savages. When the light of Muhammad shone forth in their midst, however, they became so radiant as to illumine the world.

Likewise, these Indians, should they be educated and guided, there can be no doubt that they will become so illumined as to enlighten the whole world.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 33)

All the peoples of Europe, notwithstanding their vaunted civilization, sink and drown in this terrifying sea of passion and desire, and this is why all the phenomena of their culture come to nothing. Let no one wonder at this statement or deplore it. The primary purpose, the basic objective, in laying down powerful laws and setting up great principles and institutions dealing with every aspect of civilization, is human happiness; and human happiness consists only in drawing closer to the Threshold of Almighty God, and in securing the peace and well-being of every individual member, high and low alike, of the human race; and the supreme agencies for accomplishing these two objectives are the excellent qualities with which humanity has been endowed. A superficial culture, unsupported by a cultivated morality, is as “a confused medley of dreams,” (Qur’an 12:44; 21:5) and external lustre without inner perfection is “like a vapor in the desert which the thirsty dreameth to be water.” (Qur’an 24:39.) For results which would win the good pleasure of God and secure the peace and well¬being of man, could never be fully achieved in a merely external civilization. The peoples of Europe have not advanced to the higher planes of moral civilization, as their opinions and behavior clearly demonstrate. Notice, for example, how the supreme desire of European governments and peoples today is to conquer and crush one another, and how, while harboring the greatest secret repulsion, they spend their time exchanging expressions of neighborly affection, friendship and harmony. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 60-61) 

You must give great importance to teaching the Indians, i.e., the aborigines of America. (p. 528) Likewise, should these Indians and aborigines be educated and obtain guidance, there is no doubt that through the divine teachings, they will become so enlightened as in turn to shed light to all regions.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 529)