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THE SECRET OF DIVINECIVILIZATIONWilmette Institute CourseMay 2021Fariba Moghadam
B AC K GROU NDNaser al-Din Sháh Qajar was the Shah of Qajar, Iran, from 5September 1848 to 1 May 1896, when he was assassinated. He was thethird longest reigning monarch in Iranian history after Shapur II of theSassanid dynasty and Tahmasp I of the Safavid Dynasty. The treatise The Secret of Divine Civilization waswritten at a time when genuine reform of Iranseemed possible, as Mirza Husayn Khan was stillpolitically influential and Nasser al-Din Shah Qajarhad just made his first visit to Europe in 1873. Thereform process petered out in the late 1870s. The Sháh had (in 1875) resolved to bring about theadvancement of the Persian people, their welfareand security, and the prosperity of their country.He had spontaneously extended assistance to hissubjects, displaying energy and fair-mindedness,hoping that by the light of justice he might makeIran the envy of East and West, and set that finefervor which characterized the first great epochs ofPersia to flowing again through the veins of herpeople. The original text was written anonymously. Thefirst English translations were published in Londonin 1910 and Chicago in 1918, under the titleMysterious Forces of Civilization, attributed to “anEminent Bahá’í Philosopher.”
WH EN & WH Y WA S ITWRITTEN? Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá* in Persian in 1875;addressed to the rulers and people of Persia, butstill applicable to developmental reform in anysociety after over a century. Focuses primarily on how to transform society tocreate the conditions for progressive reform andmodernization. Printed in Bombay in 1882 and widely circulatedin Iran. The current English translation of TheSecret of Divine Civilization was first published in1957.https://bahai.works/Secret of Divine Civilization(This link to the publication has paragraph numbers.)* It is important to know that it was Bahá’u’láh who asked His sonto write this treatise. In one of His tablets, Bahá’u’lláh mentionsthat He asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to write some pages on the means andthe cause of development and underdevelopment of the world inorder to reduce the prejudices of the dogmatic conservatives. Inreading The Secret of Divine Civilization, one notes the interestingapparent paradox that Bahá’u’lláh called for an explication of theconditions for development of the world, whereas apparently‘Abdu’l-Bahá's book is oriented toward the question of thesocioeconomic development of Iran. However, there is nocontradiction here. On the contrary, this apparent paradox is thekey to understanding ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's concepts of modernity anddevelopment.
WH Y DID TH E MA S TERWITH H OLD H IS NA ME F ROMTH E WORK ? To promote general welfare Guidance toward righteousness is in itself arighteous act For God’s sakeTo demonstrate that His one purpose is to promote thegeneral welfare, He has withheld His name. Since Hebelieves that guidance toward righteousness is in itself arighteous act, He offers these few words of counsel to Hiscountry’s sons, words spoken for God’s sake alone and inthe spirit of a faithful friend. Our Lord, Who knows allthings, bears witness that this Servant seeks nothing butwhat is right and good; for He, a wanderer in the desert ofGod’s love, has come into a realm where the hand ofdenial or assent, of praise or blame, can touch Him not.“We nourish your souls for the sake of God; We seekfrom you neither recompense nor thanks.”Paragraph #10, The Secret of Divine Civilization
F OU R LAYERS OF DIS C OU RS EPRES ENT IN ‘ A BDU ’ L-B A H Á ’ SWORKTo understand the basic content of The Secret of Divine Civilization, oneshould understand the four layers of discourse present in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’swork:The first layer of discourse is directly related to the specific political andcultural developments in the decade of the 1870s.“The four layers are the key for understanding‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s concept of modernity anddevelopment. They deal with different debatesand questions. Although The Secret of DivineCivilization is related to specific questions ofdevelopment in the second half of the nineteenthcentury, its message is far more general anduniversal.”The second layer is related to the prevalent debate between secularintellectuals and traditionalist conservative ‘ulamá (guardians of religiousknowledge). The fundamental question here concerned the relation of Islámto society and the relation of religion to modernity and development.The third layer is related to the definition and nature of the concept ofdevelopment. The two sides of this debate can be called traditionalist/historicist and rationalist/objectivist. The question is whether it is possibleto define development in an objective and universal manner.The fourth layer is oriented to a question that was not seriously debatedin nineteenth-century Iran or in any other part of the world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’sanalysis is becoming increasingly relevant for humanity in the 21st century.The question here is the relation of development with nationalism andinternationalism. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addresses questions of world peace andinternational cooperation as imperatives for advancement and developmentof all humanity in the foreseeable future.Based on the Introduction to Secret of Divine Civilizationby Dr. Nader Saiedi
Even though this treatise waswritten for the nation ofPersia, the Master addressesthe people of Persia sixtimes, and every time Hewarns them about variousmoral and spiritual concernsand reminds them of theglorious times of the past. O people of Persia! Look into those blossoming pagesthat tell of another day, a time long past. Read them andwonder; see the great sight. Iran in that day was as theheart of the world; she was the bright torch flaming inthe assemblage of mankind. Her power and glory shoneout like the morning above the world's horizons, and thesplendor of her learning cast its rays over East and West.Word of the widespread empire of those who wore hercrown reached even to the dwellers in the arctic circle,and the fame of the awesome presence of her King ofKings humbled the rulers of Greece and Rome. Thegreatest of the world's philosophers marveled at thewisdom of her government, and her political systembecame the model for all the kings of the four continentsthen known. She was distinguished among all peoples forthe scope of her dominion, she was honored by all forher praiseworthy culture and civilization. She was as thepivot of the world, she was the source and center ofsciences and arts, the wellspring of great inventions anddiscoveries, the rich mine of human virtues andperfections. The intellect, the wisdom of the individualmembers of this excellent nation dazzled the minds ofother peoples, the brilliance and perceptive genius thatcharacterized all this noble race aroused the envy of thewhole world.Paragraph #11, The Secret of Divine Civilization
O PEOPLE OF PERS IA !O people of Persia! Awake from your drunken sleep! Rise upfrom your lethargy! Be fair in your judgment: will the dictatesof honor permit this holy land, once the wellspring of worldcivilization, the source of glory and joy for all mankind, theenvy of East and West, to remain an object of pity, deplored byall nations? She was once the noblest of peoples: will you letcontemporary history register for the ages her nowdegenerate state? Will you complacently accept her presentwretchedness, when she was once the land of all mankind'sdesire? Must she now, for this contemptible sloth, this failureto struggle, this utter ignorance, be accounted the mostbackward of nations?Were not the people of Persia, in days long gone, the head andfront of intellect and wisdom? Did they not, by God's grace,shine out like the daystar from the horizons of Divineknowledge? How is it that we are satisfied today with thismiserable condition, are engrossed in our licentious passions,have blinded ourselves to supreme happiness, to that which ispleasing in God's sight, and have all become absorbed in ourselfish concerns and the search for ignoble, personaladvantage?Paragraphs #14-15, The Secret of Divine Civilization
O PEOP LE OF PERS IA !This fairest of lands was once a lamp, streaming with the raysof Divine knowledge, of science and art, of nobility and highachievement, of wisdom and valor. Today, because of theidleness and lethargy of her people, their torpor, theirundisciplined way of life, their lack of pride, lack of ambition-her bright fortune has been totally eclipsed, her light hasturned to darkness. "The seven heavens and the seven earthsweep over the mighty when he is brought low."It should not be imagined that the people of Persia areinherently deficient in intelligence, or that for essentialperceptiveness and understanding, inborn sagacity, intuition andwisdom, or innate capacity, they are inferior to others. Godforbid! On the contrary, they have always excelled all otherpeoples in endowments conferred by birth. Persia herself,moreover, from the standpoint of her temperate climate andnatural beauties, her geographical advantages and her rich soil,is blessed to a supreme degree. What she urgently requires,however, is deep reflection, resolute action, training, inspirationand encouragement. Her people must make a massive effort,and their pride must be aroused.Paragraphs #16-17, The Secret of Divine Civilization
O people of Persia!How long will you wander?How long must your confusion last?How long will it go on, this conflict of opinions, thisuseless antagonism, this ignorance, this refusal tothink?Others are alert, and we sleep our dreamless sleep.Other nations are making every effort to improvetheir condition; we are trapped in our desires andself-indulgences, and at every step we stumble intoa new snare.Paragraph #21, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E MA IN C OMPONENTSOF TH E MOD ERNITY TH AT TH EBELOVED MA S TER IS OF F ERING TOTH E PERS IA NS ?Would the extension of education, the development of usefularts and sciences, the promotion of industry and technology,be harmful things? For such endeavor lifts the individual within themass and raises him out of the depths of ignorance to the highestreaches of knowledge and human excellence. Would the setting upof just legislation, in accord with the Divine laws which guaranteethe happiness of society and protect the rights of all mankind andare an impregnable proof against assault—would such laws, insuringthe integrity of the members of society and their equality before thelaw, inhibit their prosperity and success?Or if by using one's perceptive faculties, one can draw analogiesfrom present circumstances and the conclusions arrived at bycollective experience, and can envisage as coming realities situationsnow only potential, would it be unreasonable to take such presentmeasures as would guarantee our future security? Would it seemshortsighted, improvident and unsound, would it constitute adeviation from what is right and proper, if we were to strengthenour relationships with neighboring countries, enter intobinding treaties with the great powers, foster friendlyconnections with well-disposed governments, look to theexpansion of trade with the nations of East and West,develop our natural resources and increase the wealth ofour people?Paragraphs #24-25, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E C AU S ES OFS OC IA L DEF IC IENC IES IN AS OC IETY?It is obvious that not until the people areeducated, not until public opinion is rightlyfocused, not until government officials, evenminor ones, are free from even the leastremnant of corruption, can the country beproperly administered. Not until discipline,order and good government reach the degreewhere an individual, even if he should putforth his utmost efforts to do so, would stillfind himself unable to deviate by so much as ahair's breadth from righteousness, can thedesired reforms be regarded as fullyestablished.Paragraph #27, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E QUA LIF IC ATIONS OFTH E "PERS ONS F U NC TIONING INA S S EMBLIES OF C ONS U LTATION” ?If these individuals prove to be pure and highminded, if they remain free from the taint ofcorruption, the confirmations of God will makethem a never-failing source of bounty tomankind. He will cause to issue from their lipsand their pens what will bless the people, so thatevery corner of this noble country of Iran willbe illumined with their justice and integrity andthe rays of that light will encompass the wholeearth. "Neither will this be difficult with God."Paragraph #29, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH O A RE TH E F OU R GROU PSTH AT TH E MA S TER A DDRES S ES INTH IS WORK ?1. Those whose reason has been corrupted bypersonal motives and the clarity2. Those whose perception has been clouded by selfinterest and conceit3. Those whose energies are devoted to the serviceof their passions4. Those whose sense of pride is perverted to thelove of leadership, have raised the standard ofopposition and waxed loud in their complaintsParagraph #30, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE “ TH E P RIMA RY C AU S ESOF OPPRES S ION A ND INJU S TIC E,OR U NRIGH TEOU S NES S ,IRREGU LA RITY A ND DIS ORDER”IN A S OC IETY? Close investigation will show that the primarycause of oppression and injustice, ofunrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is thepeople's lack of religious faith and the factthat they are uneducated. When, for example, the people are genuinelyreligious and are literate and well-schooled, and adifficulty presents itself, they can apply to thelocal authorities; if they do not meet with justiceand secure their rights and if they see that theconduct of the local government is incompatiblewith the Divine good pleasure and the king'sjustice, they can then take their case to highercourts and describe the deviation of the localadministration from the spiritual law. Those courts can then send for the local recordsof the case and in this way justice will be done.At present, however, because of theirinadequate schooling, most of the populationlack even the vocabulary to explain whatthey want.Paragraph #31, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT IS TH E P U RPOS E OFMA N' S C REATION? A man should pause and reflect and be just: hisLord, out of measureless grace, has madehim a human being and honored him with thewords: “Verily, We created man in the goodliestof forms―and caused His mercy which rises outof the dawn of oneness to shine down upon him,until he became the wellspring of the words ofGod and the place where the mysteries ofheaven alighted, and on the morning of creationhe was covered with the rays of the qualities ofperfection and the graces of holiness. How can he stain this immaculate garment withthe filth of selfish desires, or exchange thiseverlasting honor for infamy? “Dost thou thinkthyself only a puny form, when the universe isfolded up within thee?” The Imám Alí.Paragraph #33, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E ATTRIBU TESOF “ JU S T K INGS ” ? Powerful champions of the people's rights[whose name] has echoed through creation These give no thought to amassing enormousfortunes for themselves They believe, rather, that their own wealth liesin enriching their subjects To them, if every individual citizen hasaffluence and ease, the royal coffers are full They take no pride in gold and silver, butrather in their enlightenment and theirdetermination to achieve the universal goodParagraph #35, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT IS TH E MA IN OBJEC TIVE IN ES TA BLIS H ING PA RLIA MENTS ?It is unquestionable that the object in establishingparliaments is to bring about justice andrighteousness, but everything hinges on the effortsof the elected representatives. If their intention s will be forthcoming; if not, it is certainthat the whole thing will be meaningless, the countrywill come to a standstill and public affairs willcontinuously deteriorate. “I see a thousand buildersunequal to one subverter; what then of the onebuilder who is followed by a thousand subverters?”Paragraph #40, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE ‘ A BDU ’ L-B A H Á ’ SREMA RK S C ONC ERNINGWEA LTH ? WH AT MA K ES WEA LTHA PRA IS EWORTH Y OBJEC T? It should not be imagined that the writer's earlier remarksconstitute a denunciation of wealth or a commendation ofpoverty. Wealth is praiseworthy in the highest degree, if it isacquired by an individual's own efforts and the grace ofGod, in commerce, agriculture, art and industry, and if it beexpended for philanthropic purposes. Above all, if a judicious and resourceful individual shouldinitiate measures which would universally enrich themasses of the people, there could be no undertakinggreater than this, and it would rank in the sight of God asthe supreme achievement, for such a benefactor wouldsupply the needs and insure the comfort and well-being ofa great multitude. Wealth is most commendable, provided the entirepopulation is wealthy. If, however, a few have inordinateriches while the rest are impoverished, and no fruit orbenefit accrues from that wealth, then it is only a liabilityto its possessors.Paragraph #43, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E MA IN DU TIES OFS C H OLA RS IN TH E WORLD?It is essential that scholars and the spirituallylearned should undertake in all sincerity andpurity of intent and for the sake of God alone,to counsel and exhort the masses and clarifytheir vision with that collyrium which isknowledge. For today the people out of thedepths of their superstition, imagine that anyindividual who believes in God and His signs,and in the Prophets and Divine Revelations andlaws, and is a devout and God-fearing person,must of necessity remain idle and spend hisdays in sloth, so as to be considered in thesight of God as one who has forsaken theworld and its vanities, set his heart on the lifeto come, and isolated himself from humanbeings in order to draw nearer to God.Paragraph #51, The Secret of Divine Civilization
H OW C A N A PERS ON BEC OME A“ F U LLY DEVELOPED A NDC OMPREH ENS IVELY LEA RNEDINDIVIDUA L” ? In view of the fact that at the present time suchfully developed and comprehensivelylearned individuals are hard to come by,and the government and people are in direneed of order and direction, It is essential to establish a body of scholars thevarious groups of whose membership wouldeach be expert in one of the aforementionedbranches of knowledge. This body should with the greatest energy andvigor deliberate as to all present and futurerequirements, and bring about equilibrium andorder.Paragraph #64, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E ATTRIBU TESOF PERF EC TION? Learning and the cultural attainments of themind. This eminent station is achieved when theindividual combines in himself a thorough knowledgeof those complex and transcendental realitiespertaining to God. Justice and impartiality. This means to have noregard for one’s own personal benefits and selfishadvantages, and to carry out the laws of God withoutthe slightest concern for anything else. It means tosee one’s self as only one of the servants of God. To arise with complete sincerity and purity ofpurpose to educate the masses: to exert theutmost effort to instruct them in the variousbranches of learning and useful sciences, toencourage the development of modern progress, towiden the scope of commerce, industry and the arts,to further such measures as will increase thepeople’s wealth. For the mass of the population isuninformed as to these vital agencies which wouldconstitute an immediate remedy for society’s chronicills.Paragraphs #60-68, The Secret of Divine Civilization
OTH ER ATTRIBU TES OFPERF EC TION? To fear God To love God by loving His servants To exercise mildness and forbearance and calm To be sincere, amenable, clement and compassionate To have resolution and courage, trustworthiness andenergy To strive and struggle To be generous, loyal, without malice To have zeal and a sense of honor To be high-minded and magnanimous To have regard for the rights of others“Whoever is lacking in these excellent humanqualities is defective”Paragraph #70, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E C ORREC T WAYSOF PROPAGATING TH E FA ITH OFGOD? The Faith of God must be propagated throughhuman perfections, through qualities that areexcellent and pleasing, and spiritual behavior.If a soul of his own accord advances toward God hewill be accepted at the Threshold of Oneness, forsuch a one is free of personal considerations, ofgreed and selfish interests, and he has taken refugewithin the sheltering protection of his Lord. He will become known among men as trustworthyand truthful, temperate and scrupulous, highminded and loyal, incorruptible and God-fearing. In this way the primary purpose in revealing theDivine Law―which is to bring about happiness in theafter life and civilization and the refinement ofcharacter in this―will be realized. As for the sword,it will only produce a man who is outwardly abeliever, and inwardly a traitor and apostate.Paragraph #77, The Secret of Divine Civilization
W H AT I S “ O N E O F T H E P R I N C I PA LREASONS WHY PEOPLE OF THEOT H E R R E L I G I O N S H AV E S H U N N E DA N D FA I L E D TO B E C O N V E RT E D TOT H E FA I T H O F G O D ” ?Fanaticism and unreasoning religious zealSee for example the divine words that were addressed toMuḥammad, the Ark of Salvation, the LuminousCountenance and Lord of Men, bidding Him to be gentlewith the people and long-suffering: “Debate with them inthe kindliest manner.” That Blessed Tree Whose light was“neither of the East nor of the West” and Who cast over allthe peoples of the earth the sheltering shade of ameasureless grace, showed forth infinite kindness andforbearance in His dealings with every one. In these words,likewise, were Moses and Aaron commanded to challengePharaoh, Lord of the Stakes:“Speak ye to him with gentlespeech.”Paragraph #93, The Secret of Divine Civilization
H OW DOES TH E BELOVED MA S TER DES C RIBE TH EATTRIBU TES OF A TRU E BELIEVER? Endowed with the attributes of true faith Characterized with spiritual qualities Just and fair-mindedness Forbearance with compassion and generosity Consideration for others Candor, trustworthiness, and loyalty Love and loving-kindness Devotion, determination, and humanity Truly righteousParagraph #95, The Secret of Divine Civilization
H OW DOES ‘ A BDU ’ L-B A H Á DES C RIBE TH E S TATE OF TH ERELIGIOU S PEOPLE OF TH E TIME?They have closed their eyes to every righteous act and have sacrificed the abidinghappiness of society to their own transitory profit. They regard fanaticism andzealotry as redounding to their credit and honor, and not content with this, theydenounce one another and plot each other's ruin, and whenever they wish to puton a show of wisdom and learning, of virtue and godliness, they set about mockingand reviling this one and that.Paragraph #96, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT A RE TH E C ONDITION A ND B A S E F OR JU DGING AGOOD C H A RAC TER?A good character is in the sight of God andHis chosen ones and the possessors ofinsight,themostexcellentandpraiseworthy of all things, but always oncondition that its center of emanationshould be reason and knowledge and itsbase should be true moderation.Paragraph #101, The Secret of Divine Civilization
H OW DOES ‘ A BDU ’ L-B A H Á DES C RIBE TH E S TATE OF EU ROPEAT TH E TIME?All the peoples of Europe,notwithstanding their vauntedcivilization, sink and drown in thisterrifying sea of passion and desire, andthis is why all the phenomena of theirculture come to nothing. Let no onewonder at this statement or deplore it.Paragraph #102, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT IS TH E P U RPOS E OFC IVILIZ ATION?We should continually be establishing new bases forhuman happiness and creating and promoting newinstrumentalities toward this end.The primary purpose, the basic objective, in layingdown powerful laws and setting up great principlesand institutions dealing with every aspect ofcivilization, is human happiness; and humanhappiness consists only in drawing closer to theThreshold of Almighty God, and in securing thepeace and well-being of every individual member,high and low alike, of the human race; and thesupreme agencies for accomplishing these twoobjectives are the excellent qualities with whichhumanity has been endowed.Paragraph #102, The Secret of Divine Civilization
H OW DOES TH E MA S TER DES C RIBE TH E RELATIONS H IPBETWEEN C U LTU RE A ND MORA LITY?A superficial culture, unsupported by acultivated morality, is as “a confused medleyof dreams,” and external lustre withoutinner perfection is “like a vapor in thedesert which the thirsty dreameth to bewater.” For results which would win thegood pleasure of God and secure the peaceand well-being of man, could never be fullyachieved in a merely external civilization.Paragraph #103, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT IS MEA NT BY “ MORA L C IVILIZ ATION” ?The peoples of Europe have not advanced to the higher planes of moral civilization, astheir opinions and behavior clearly demonstrate. Notice, for example, how the supremedesire of European governments and peoples today is to conquer and crush oneanother, and how, while harboring the greatest secret repulsion, they spend their timeexchanging expressions of neighborly affection, friendship and harmony.Paragraph #104, The Secret of Divine CivilizationINTEGRITYETHICSHONESTYMORAL
WH AT A RE TH E ELEMENTS OF TRU E C IVILIZ ATION A S H AVEBEEN OU TLINED BY TH E MA S TER?True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmostheart of the world whenever a certain number of itsdistinguished and high-minded sovereigns―the shiningexemplars of devotion and determination―shall, for thegood and happiness of all mankind, arise, with firmresolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause ofUniversal Peace. They must make the Cause of Peacethe object of general consultation, and seek by everymeans in their power to establish a Union of the nationsof the world. They must conclude a binding treaty andestablish a covenant, the provisions of which shall besound, inviolable and definite. They must proclaim it to allthe world and obtain for it the sanction of all the humanrace. This supreme and noble undertaking―the realsource of the peace and well-being of all theworld―should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell onearth.Paragraph #112, The Secret of Divine CivilizationAll the forces of humanity must bemobilized to ensure the stabilityand permanence of thisMost Great Covenant
In this all-embracing Pact:H OW S H O U L D A L L T H E F O R C E S O FH U M A N I T Y B E M O B I L I Z E D TO E N S U R ET H E S TA B I L I T Y A N D P E R M A N E N C E O FT H I S M O S T G R E AT C OV E N A N T ? The limits and frontiers of each and every nationshould be clearly fixed, The principles underlying the relations of governmentstowards one another definitely laid down, and allinternational agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner, the size of the armaments of everygovernment should be strictly limited, for if thepreparations for war and the military forces of anynation should be allowed to increase, they will arousethe suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pactshould be so fixed that if any government later violateany one of its provisions, all the governments on earthshould arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay thehuman race as a whole should resolve, with everypower at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to thesick body of the world, it will assuredly recover fromits ills and will remain eternally safe and secure.Paragraph #112, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT IS TH E GREATES TINS TRU MENT “ F OR AC H IEVINGTH E A DVA NC EMENT A ND TH EG L ORY OF MA N” ?It is certain that the greatest of instrumentalitiesfor achieving the advancement and the glory ofman, the supreme agency for the enlightenmentand the redemption of the world, is love andfellowship and unity among all the members ofthe human race. Nothing can be effected in theworld, not even conceivably, without unity andagreement, and the perfect means forengendering fellowship and union is truereligion.Paragraph #124, The Secret of Divine Civilization
WH AT WA S TH E IMPAC T OFIS LÁ M ON EU ROPE? In the early ages of Islám the peoples of Europeacquired the sciences and arts of civilization fromIslám as practiced by the inhabitants of Andalusia. A careful and thorough investigation of thehistorical record will establish the fact that themajor part of the civilization of Europe is derivedfrom Islám; for all the writings of Muslim scholarsand divines and philosophers were graduallycollected in Europe and were with the mostpainstaking care weighed and debated at academicgatherings and in the centers of learning, after whichtheir valued contents would be put to use. Today, numerous copies of the works of Muslimscholars which are not to be found in Islamiccountries, are available in the libraries of Europe. Furthermore, the laws and principles current in allEuropean countries are derived to a considerabledegree and indeed virtually in their entirety fromthe works on jurisprudence and the legal decisionof Muslim theologians.Paragraph #149, The Secret of Divine Civilization
O people of Persia! How long will your torporand lethargy last? You were once the lords of thewhole earth; the world was at your beck and call.How is it that your glory has lapsed and you havefallen from favor now, and crept away into somecorner of oblivion?You were the fountainhead of learning, theunfailing spring of light for all the earth, how is itthat you are wit
The Secret of Divine Civilization was written at a time when genuine reform of Iran seemed possible, as Mirza Husayn Khan was still politically influential and Nasser alDin Shah Qajar - had just made his first visit to Europe in 1873. The reform process petered out in the late 1870s. The Sháh had (in 1875) resolved to bring about the
