Human Being in the Writings of the Báb

Perfection (itqán) in Work and Beautification (taltíf) of the World: Since humans are mirrors of God, they must follow the example of God in their work and industry. God creates everything in the utmost perfection. Therefore, in their economic and industrial life, humans should perform their work with the utmost perfection. In this way, human labor becomes labor by God, namely it is God who is acting through us. Our world has become a world in which economy has become the most important social institution. The writings of the Báb want to turn this most materialistic aspect of life into a spiritual activity. In addition, the Báb emphasizes that all our activities must be performed in the utmost litafat, which means beauty and refinement. In other words, humans must beautify the world through their industry and art. Beauty becomes the means which turn the material world into a spiritual and moral world. Spiritual Linguistics: The Báb wants to create a culture in which people see everything as a mirror of God and therefore treat everything with respect and dignity. In order to make this attitude a habitual process, He commands that when people mention the name of a thing, they should divide that name into its constitutive alphabetical letters. Then they should see each of those letters as an abbreviation of one of the names of God. In this way everything becomes the embodiment of various divine names and attributes. In the Persian Bayán, He gives the example of sang or stone. Nothing is apparently more devoid of value than a piece of stone. Yet the Báb says that in the word sang, consisting of the three letters S, N, and G, they should see S as a reference to Subbúḥ (Sanctified), N as Núr (Light), and G (or K, because there is no G in Arabic) as Karím (All-Bountiful). Suddenly, a stone becomes a divine reality, worthy of respect and love, and endowed with rights. Birth, Marriage, and Death: I finish this discussion by giving an example of how the Báb turns every aspect of human life into a symbol and reflection of the spiritual reality of human beings. I emphasize three moments in the life of a person, namely birth, marriage and death. For the birth of a newborn, people should recite a name of God five times, each followed by reading a specific verse 19 times. For the death of a person, people should recite a name of God six times, again each is followed by reading a specific verse 19 times. In other words, birth is symbolized by five and death is symbolized by six. The Báb explains that together they constitute the word Huva or He, which refers to God. In other words, the entire process of life is the journey to reflect God on this earth. Marriage is also dependent on reciting a verse by the bride and groom. What is crucial and central in this verse is the word Lillah which means for the sake of God. That means that all human actions, including marriage, are done for the sake of God. The viewpoint of the Báb on human beings, therefore, is a logical expression of His perspective of the heart.