From Tablets and addresses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

“Temples are symbols of the Reality and Divinity of God—that is, the Manifestation of God is the real divine Temple and Collective Center of which the Church is a symbol.

“The real Temple is the very Law of God, for to that all humanity must resort, and that is the center of unity for all mankind. That is the Collective Center. That is the cause of accord and unity of the hearts. That is the cause of the solidarity of the human race. That is the source of life eternal. Temples are symbols of that unifying force, in order that when the people gather there, in a given edifice of God, they may recall the fact that the Law has been revealed for them and that the Law is to unite them. That just as this edifice was founded for the unification of mankind, the Law preceding and creating this Temple was issued therefore.

“In the Temple of the Lord man must be submissive to God. He must enter into a covenant with His Lord in order that he shall obey His Commands and be unified with his fellowmen. He must not consider divergences of races nor difference of nationalities; he must not view variation in denomination and creed, nor should he take into account the differing degrees of thoughts; nay rather, he should look upon all mankind and realize that all must become united and agreed. He must recognize all as one family, one race, one nativity; all the servants of one God, dwelling beneath the shelter of the Mercy of God. Just as the external world is a place where various peoples of different hues and colors, of various faiths and denominations meet; just as they are submerged in the Sea of Favors, likewise, all may meet under the dome of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and adore the One God in the same Spirit of Truth, for the ages of darkness have passed away and the century of Light has arrived. The imaginary prejudices are in process of dispersion and the Light of Unity is shining.

“In the days of the Manifestation, any city wherein a Temple was founded, afforded the means of promulgation (of the Cause), the confirmation of the hearts and the confidence of souls; for in those buildings the Name of God is ever commemorated. For the tranquillity and repose of the hearts there is no other means save the commemoration of Almighty God.

“The original purpose is this: that is why His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh has commanded that a place be built for all the religionists of the world. Not only does the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár have an effect upon those who built it but upon the whole world."

“The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár must have nine sides, doors, fountains, paths, gateways, columns and gardens, with the ground floor, galleries and domes, and in design and construction must be beautiful. The mystery of the edifice is great and cannot be unveiled yet, but its erection is the most important undertaking of this Day.