International Day of Peace

The Bahá’í Faith

O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.

O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.

O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.

O God! Establish the Most Great Peace. Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.

O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.

Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.

-Bahà'u'llàh

Christianity

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
breathren to dwell together in unity! It is like the
precious oil upon the head, running down on the
beard, the beard of Aaron. Running down on the
edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon,
descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the
Lord commanded the blessing of life for ever- more.

-Psalm 133

Islam

This is what God announceth to his servants who
believe and do the things that are right. SAY: for this
ask I no wage of you, save the love of my kin. And
whoever shall have won the merit of a good deed, we
will increase good to him therewith; for God is
forgiving, grateful.

-Qur’àn

The Bahá’í Faith

The second teaching of Bahà'u'llàh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Every human creature is the servant of God. All have been created and reared by the power and favor of God; all have been blessed with the bounties of the same Sun of divine truth; all have quaffed from the fountain of the infinite mercy of God; and all in His estimation and love are equal as servants. He is beneficent and kind to all. Therefore, no one should glorify himself over another; no one should manifest pride or superiority toward another; no one should look upon another with scorn and contempt; and no one should deprive or oppress a fellow creature. All must be considered as submerged in the ocean of God's mercy. We must associate with all humanity in gentleness and kindliness. We must love al with love of the heart.
-‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Judaism

Come let us go up the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares,
and our spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation—
neither shall they learn war any more.
And none shall be afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
-Jewish Writings

Hinduism

When once a man can see that (all) the diversity Of contingent beings abides in One (alone)
And from That alone they radiate, Then to Brahman he attains.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace
In celestial regions.
May there be peace on earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants
bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to us.
May thy Vedic Law propagate peace
All through the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all,
and may that peace come to me also.

-Bhagavad-Gita

The Bahá’í Faith

“Bahá’u’lláh has proclaimed the oneness of the world of humanity. He has caused various nations and divergent creeds to unite. He has declared that difference of race and color is like the variegated beauty of flowers in a garden. If you enter a garden, you will see yellow, white, blue, red flowers in profusion and beauty --each radiant within itself and although different from the others, lending its own charm to them. Racial difference in the human kingdom is similar. If all the flowers in a garden were of the same color, the effect would be monotonous and wearying to the eye. Therefore, Bahá’u’lláh hath said that the various races of humankind lend a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole. Let all associate, therefore, in this great human garden even as flowers grow and blend together side by side without discord or disagreement between them.”
-‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Buddhism

May all beings everywhere plaguedwith sufferings of body and mindquickly be freed from their illnesses.May those frightened cease to be afraid,and may those bound be free.May the powerless find power,and may people think of befriending one another.May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wilderness -the children, the aged, the unprotected -be guarded by beneficent celestials,and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.
- Buddhist prayer

Christianity

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart:for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is thekingdom of heaven.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say allmanner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for sopersecuted they the prophets which were before you.
-Matthew 5:9

Islam

You will not enter paradise until you have faith and you will not complete your faith until you love one another.
-Prophet Mohammad

Islam

O Allah, unite our hearts and set aright our mutual affairs.
Guide us in the path of peace.
Liberate us from darkness by Your light.
Save us from enormities whether open or hidden.
Bless us in our ears, eyes, hearts, spouses, and children.
Turn to us; truly you are Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
Make us grateful for Your bounty and full of praise for it,so that we maycontinue to receive it and complete Your blessings upon us.
-Islamic prayer

Native American Prayer

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors,
I raise my pipe to you.
To your messengers the four winds,
and to Mother Earth,
who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children
to love, to respect, and to be kind to each
other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all good things that
you provide for us on this Earth.

Judaism

Love The Stranger among you,
love them as yourself.
See yourself in their eyes;
with your own hands, bind up their wounds.
Teach your children to unlock their hearts
and share their wealth.
Inscribe words of welcome at your gates and ports of entry-
for you have been strangers in every corner of the world.
-Leviticus 19-34

The Bahá’í Faith

Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed. It is self-evident that the unity of the human world and the Most Great Peace cannot be accomplished through material means. They cannot be established through political power, for the political interests of nations are various and the policies of peoples are divergent and conflicting. They cannot be founded through racial or patriotic power, for these are human powers, selfish and weak. The very nature of racial differences and patriotic prejudices prevents the realization of this unity and agreement. Therefore, it is evidenced that the promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of all the Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the divine power and breaths of the Holy Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are incapable of accomplishing this.
-‘Abdu’l-Bahá