'ABDU'L-BAHA ON SOCIALISM
The principles of socialism are outstripped in the religions of God. For instance, God commands, `But [they] prefer them [the poor] before themselves, although there be indigence among them' [Qur'án 59:9]. That is, the believers spend of their substance and share their possessions and prefer others to themselves willingly and with utmost spirituality. Socialists, however, desire to enforce equality and association by compulsion. Although the preference for others which is the exhortation of God is more difficult because the rich are enjoined to prefer others to themselves, this will become common and will be the cause of tranquillity and an aid to the order of the world, because it depends upon the inclination and willingness of the giver. But socialism and egalitarianism, although easier, as those who have are made equal with others, yet such a system will not become widespread and is the cause of disturbance and tumult because it rests on compulsion and coercion.
In the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh it is mentioned that if a rich man
neglects the duty of educating his children, the House of Justice is
authorized to compel him to assist financially and to educate them. But
this is a matter for the family of that wealthy man and comes under the
jurisdiction of the House of Justice. The point is that there are
matters greater than equality and socialism in divine religions. In the
Cause of God there were persons like the King of Martyrs [Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan] who,
in the days of tribulation, expended all their wealth and property to
relieve the sufferings of the poor and the weak. In Persia the Bahá'ís
were willing to sacrifice themselves for one another to such a degree
that once when one of the Bahá'ís was a guest in the home of another
believer, and the authorities demanded the arrest of the guest, the host
gave the guest's name as his own and surrendered himself to them, was
martyred in his place, thus sacrificing his life for his guest and
brother.
