Soul

Detail of The child in the womb by Leonardo Da Vinci. The human soul in this world is described as being like a foetus in its mother's womb.

The Bahá’í Writings teach that human's have a soul that is associated with, but not inside the human body. This soul comes into being at the moment of conception and thereafter lives an immortal life; the purpose of which is progress towards God.. The Writings provide a way for understanding spiritual concepts by explaining that all physical things have spiritual counterparts, and visa versa. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá discusses how we can understand the life of the soul by looking at the development of an embryo in the womb of its mother. In brief, the embryo while in the womb world is developing the faculties that are necessary for its life in this physical world; and so too are we now meant to develop the spiritual faculties necessary for our spiritual life after death. This analogy can be extended in that if an embryo fails to fully develop certain faculties like eyes or ears, it would find itself born with disabilities in this life. Additionally, the embryo can not possibly imagine this physical world, even though it is separated from it by just a few inches.

Soul will progress, exist forever

Bahá’u’lláh states:

“ And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty... When the soul attaineth the Presence of God, it will assume the form that best befitteth its immortality and is worthy of its celestial habitation. ” — Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Progress in the context of our soul means the acquisition of virtues and Divine perfections. Progressing towards God, or attaining the presence of God does not mean Bahá’ís believe we will become God, or occupy the same station as God. God is and will always be infinitely exalted above His creation. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states:

“ As the grace of God is limitless, so too are the perfections of man. If it were possible for the reality of anything to reach the very summit of perfection, then it would become independent of God and the contingent reality would attain to the station of the necessary reality. But every created thing has been assigned a degree which it can in no wise overpass. So he who occupies the degree of servitude, no matter how far he may progress and acquire endless perfections, can never reach the degree of divine Lordship... For example, Peter cannot become Christ. At most, he can attain infinite perfections in the degrees of servitude, for every existing reality is capable of progress. ” — Some Answered Questions

Station and influence after death

Bahá’u’lláh describes the station and influence that holy souls will have after death in these terms:

“ Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him. Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with. Those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world. ” — Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Soul does not decline

‘Abdu’l-Bahá states:

“ Now let us consider the soul. We have seen that movement is essential to existence; nothing that has life is without motion. All creation, whether of the mineral, vegetable or animal kingdom, is compelled to obey the law of motion; it must either ascend or descend. But with the human soul, there is no decline. Its only movement is towards perfection; growth and progress alone constitute the motion of the soul. ” — Paris Talks

Intercession on behalf of souls who have passed on

Shoghi Effendi has said that through prayer we can assist those souls who have passed on:

“ Concerning your question whether a soul can receive knowledge of the Truth in the world beyond. Such a knowledge is surely possible, and is but a sign of the loving mercy of the Almighty. We can, through our prayers, help every soul to gradually attain this high station, even if it has failed to reach it in this world. The progress of the soul does not come to an end with death. It rather starts along a new line. Bahá’u’lláh teaches that great and far-reaching possibilities await the soul in the other world. Spiritual progress in that realm is infinite, and no man, while on this earth, can visualize its full power and extent. ” — Lights of Guidance

Books on related subjects

• Light After Death
• Odyssey of the Soul

External links

• Growing in the Bahá’í Faith by Adib Taherzadeh where he discusses the embryo in the womb of its mother as an analogy for the life of the soul. Day 1, @time=14:24.