“Be thou a summoner to love, and be thou kind to all the human race. Love thou the children of men and share in their sorrows. Be thou of those who foster peace. Offer thy friendship, be worthy of trust. Be thou a balm to every sore, be thou a medicine for every ill. Bind thou the souls together.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

In His will, Bahá’u’lláh appointed His eldest son, ʿAbdu'l-Bahá, as His successor and the interpreter of His teachings. ʿAbdu'l-Bahá became renowned across both the East and the West as an ambassador of peace and a supreme example of the application of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings in daily life.

ʿAbdu'l-Bahá lived his life by a single guiding principle: unity and oneness. Through His boundless love, He consistently emphasized the importance of love, unity, and harmony during His travels to both the East and the West. In one of His talks, He said: “...when we examine the world of existence, there is nothing greater than love. Love is the cause of life. Love is the means of salvation. Love forges a connection between human hearts. Love grants glory and progress to the human race. Love is the means of entering the Kingdom of God. Love confers eternal life...”