To him, service was worship. Whether someone fed the hungry, educated a child, visited the sick, or encouraged someone who felt hopeless—each act was a form of prayer. ʻAbdu’l-Bahá taught that humanity’s diversity—racial, cultural, religious, linguistic—is not a challenge to overcome but a beauty to celebrate. Just as a garden is more beautiful with different flowers, he believed humanity reaches its highest expression when all people are valued.
This idea helps explain why so many people of different backgrounds were drawn to him—not because he tried to make everyone the same, but because he honored who they already were. ʻAbdu’l-Bahá foresaw that humanity would face great challenges—wars, injustice, prejudice, material excess—but he believed these trials would also awaken a deeper longing for unity. Such principles form a blueprint for building communities where every person has dignity and opportunity.
