“Although human custom has not yet established the practice of friendly and helpful communication between the different religious bodies of the East and the West, nevertheless we address this letter to the honored chiefs of Islám in confidence that it will be received in the same spirit of courtesy and brotherhood with which it is written, and with equal recognition of the fact that the conditions and needs of the present age make religious separation undesirable and in fact impossible.

“We hold firmly to the truth that the greatest gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind, which knowledge it must be the supreme privilege of all who hold positions of religious authority to spread throughout the world. It is this truth which encourages us to write to the chiefs of Islám in Persia, Turkey, Egypt and India, despite the long centuries of misunderstanding which have prevented spiritual intercourse and co-operation between followers of one Prophet and followers of another. No wise and just person will fail to admit that religious teachings are the source of all human ideals, and the motive for all human action. If the teachings of religion at any time appear to justify separation and strife in the realm of belief, then history proves that separation and strife invariably follow in the realm of action. On the other hand, whenever religion upholds the ideal of fellowship and love, warfare and strife tend to disappear.

“Such a universal and divine truth could not be understood during previous ages, when humanity was grievously separated by language, custom, tradition and phvsical barriers of land and sea, but today its light dawns upon the East and the West, when the peoples of the different nations are drawn ever closer together through the new bonds of travel, education and communication by telegraph and radio. Does not this unbreakable material bond place upon the leaders of religion a new responsibility to emphasize those teachings which produce an unbreakable spiritual bond? Does not the overwhelming disaster of modern warfare inspire all people devoted to the victory of true religion to increase their efforts to inculcate the ideal of peace?

“First and foremost, then, our purpose in addressing this letter to you is to plead for peace in the realm of religion, that there may be peace among the nations of East and West. How can there be peace among the nations, unless there be the spirit of peace among the religions?

“We feel that it is right and proper for us to discuss this vital point with those who hold the reins of power in the Religion of Islám, since the Bahá’ís alone, among the great population of the West, recognize that Muḥammad was a divine Prophet and true Messenger of God. We gratefully acknowledge His mighty accomplishments in spreading spiritual ideals of brotherhood among millions of people in the East, and we appreciate the fact that the West itself still enjoys many blessings originally received from the noble and enlightened civilization which arose as the result of Muḥammad’s influence and which proved the power of His Word. There is no doubt in our minds but that the period of progress known to our historians as the Renaissance was inspired by the enlightenment of the Saracen world. But while these truths are universally accepted by the Bahá’ís, they are far from being prevalent among the Christians of Europe and America, and on many occasions the Bahá’ís of those regions have been reproached and even bitterly assailed for accepting Muḥammad as a Prophet of God ....