الجمعية البهائية الاجتماعية 

 4 April 2020 

 

To our fellow brothers and sisters in Bahrain,

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The events that have been taking place in our dear nation due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) and the many fears that are threatening the world with its dire consequences has led us to reflect on the words of our leadership headed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister which have infused a spirit of hope and a sense of one family in the face of any challenge that we might encounter. What is happening today makes us ponder upon how to get through this crisis and continue on the path of development and prosperity for our beloved Kingdom. Consequently and upon reflecting on what the world is facing during this pandemic, the Baha’i Social Society has taken the initiative to write these lines.

People in every part of the world are being confronted with this health crisis which has developed very rapidly and had an unprecedented impact on different aspects of life worldwide. This has led to the awakening of the human community, and has impelled it towards the unification of its efforts in reaching greater maturity as well as higher levels of solidarity towards the path of unity which is indispensable for solving such crisis. The sincere efforts exerted by Individuals, institutions and the society of Bahrain bring us hope and confidence that we will ultimately overcome this affliction through our deep-rooted unity and strong bonds. For example, if we reflect on the creation of the human body, we would see how it has been created from different organs, cells and tissues. So, the health of the body is dependent upon the health and unity of its diverse organs and cells. Human beings have also become dependent on each other to safeguard their stability more than ever before. We see earth today as one country and mankind its citizens. It has become evident indeed, that what affects any spot on the face of the earth affects the world in its entirety.

The Corona virus has shown us that we do not live in isolation from the world and that the safety of one part is the safety of the whole. We have learned that no matter how near or far distances may seem, we will always belong to the same human family, and no matter how much we divide the Earth, it has been created as one planet and will remain as such. We must strive to serve our country from a global perspective in order for this affliction to subside and for the safety and comfort of all peoples to be realized.

Here, we pause and consider the responsibility of each person and the sacrifices that everyone is offering to eliminate this virus which include the participation in volunteering and service to the community, for Bahrain and its people.

In these times, we feel a pressing need for supplicating and praying to God the Almighty. Prayer has a great effect on development of the life of individuals and society; in creating an environment that is conducive to the service of humanity. Believers of different religions and sects find in the Words of God tranquility of heart as well as a source of inspiration, blessings and rectitude of conduct. Therefore, we call for a collective prayer initiative from our homes in which everyone who resides on this land participates in beseeching and supplicating God the Almighty to grant us all health, wellness and safety and to protect our Kingdom and the world as a whole from all affliction. Such initiatives enrich humanity spiritually and invite all who have the desire to participate in prayer – from different religious backgrounds – towards such noble collective goals. Bahrain is an example of great diversity of cultures, races and creeds, and this unity in diversity is considered a source of strength. The Baha’i Social Society has taken the initiative to prepare a short video with the participation of a diverse spectrum of Bahrain’s community which reflects our unity towards dealing with this pandemic.

In conclusion, we would like to commend the wise steps taken by the government, the tremendous efforts that are being taken by the medical team as well as the national initiative to tackle the COVID19 with a growing sense of collective work. We pray to God for the progress and development of our beloved country Bahrain and the world. It is through the sincere efforts of individuals and institutions that humanity can advance and prosper.

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Baha’i Social Society