The Bahá'í teachings encourage the use of music, drama, painting, poetry, and other arts, as a means of worshipping God and bringing people together. The arts are a means for discovering and sharing truth, and therefore can help to create deep levels of unity. As 'Abdu'l-Báhá wrote:

All sciences, knowledge, arts, wonders, institutions, discoveries and enterprises come from the exercised intelligence of the rational soul.

In the Bahá'í community, the arts are used to increase the beauty and upliftment of collective worship, to enhance study of the Bahá'í sacred writings, to convey personal insights into the Bahá'í teachings, to beautify Holy Places, to inspire action and to prompt reflection.

One of the arts that features prominently in Bahá'í community life is music. 'Abdu'l-Báhá wrote to a Bahá'í musician:

Strike up such a melody and tune as to cause the nightingales of divine mysteries to be filled with joy and ecstasy.

On another occasion, he said:

The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted.

In Bahá'í gatherings, the power of music to heighten the effect of words is utilised through the singing of prayers and passages from sacred scripture. For example, in Bahá'í Houses of Worship, choral singing, in the special atmosphere of these buildings created for the worship of God, has a very moving effect on those who attend the Temple services. From home meetings to international conferences, Bahá'ís often celebrate their faith in group singing and through listening to musical performances.

Drama and dance are often used in presenting the Bahá'í teachings at summer schools and in public performances, and in telling stories from Bahá'í history at Holy Day commemorations.

Art is not something that only an elite few may practise. It is an aspect of being human, which everyone can be involved in, according to their talents and the time they have available. Folk arts and traditional crafts should be highly prized.

Literature, the graphic arts, garden design, architecture, and many other arts, all help to enrich the dynamism and progress of the Bahá'í community.

Quotations in context

Click on the links below to search for quotations from this page, in a Bahá'í reference website.

• "All sciences, knowledge, arts, wonders, institutions, discoveries and enterprises…"
• "Strike up such a melody and tune as to cause the nightingales of divine mysteries…" This quotation is found in a compilation of extracts from the Bahá'í Writings on music, available in booklet form from Bahá'í book outlets. The whole paragraph reads:

  "O servant of Baha! Music is regarded as a praiseworthy science at the Threshold of the Almighty, so that thou mayest chant verses at large gatherings and congregations in a most wondrous melody and raise such hymns of praise at the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar to enrapture the Concourse on High. By virtue of this, consider how much the art of music is admired and praised. Try, if thou canst, to use spiritual melodies, songs and tunes, and to bring the earthly music into harmony with the celestial melody. Then thou wilt notice what a great influence music hath and what heavenly joy and life it conferreth. Strike up such a melody and tune as to cause the nightingales of divine mysteries to be filled with joy and ecstasy."

• "The art of music is divine and effective."