Reflections on the Passing of a Monarch
Upon the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the National Spiritual Assembly has expressed a message of condolence to the Royal Family on behalf of the New Zealand Bahá’í community.
On behalf of the New Zealand Bahá’í community, the National Spiritual Assembly Te Rῡnanga Wairua Tapu o nga Bahá’í o Aotearoa expresses sadness at the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, whose sovereignty for over 70 years has been an abiding presence in the lives of us all. Our warm condolences are conveyed to the Royal Family and our best wishes to the Queen’s successor, King Charles III and his Queen Consort.
To Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
“We have also heard that thou hast entrusted the reins of counsel into the hands of the representatives of the people. Thou, indeed, hast done well, for thereby the foundations of the edifice of thine affairs will be strengthened, and the hearts of all that are beneath thy shadow, whether high or low, will be tranquillized.” (The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
In the Tablet of the World (Lawḥ-i-Dunyá) Bahá’u’lláh also suggested Britain as a working example of a country which had combined representation with monarchy:
"The system of government which the British people have adopted in London appeareth to be good, for it is adorned with the light of both kingship and of the consultation of the people." (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh)
Bahá'u'lláh saw advantages to humanity in monarchy as well as an elected government:
“Although a republican form of government profiteth all the peoples of the world, yet the majesty of kingship is one of the signs of God. We do not wish that the countries of the world should remain deprived thereof. If the sagacious combine the two forms into one, great will be their reward in the presence of God.” (Fifteenth Glad Tidings, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh)
As it states in the previous quotation, a monarch is a symbol of the majesty and power of God. As a symbol of God in this sense, the monarch should also reflect the qualities of God by showing a concern for justice, for the poor and the disadvantaged. In His Tablet Súriy-i-Mulúk, Bahá'u'lláh wrote to “the concourse of the kings of the earth”:
"Thou art God's shadow on earth. Strive, therefore, to act in such a manner as befitteth so eminent, so august a station." (The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
And in the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Bahá'u'lláh said, "A just king enjoyeth nearer access unto God than anyone."
A monarch whose duties are performed in the right spirit is an example of selfless service and dedication, and a true representative of the nation/s which he or she serves. We can doubtless all agree that Queen Elizabeth II embodied this spirit. She was an enduring presence whose example of dedication to service is one we can all reflect on with deep respect and admiration.
It is not possible at this stage to foresee exactly how monarchy will develop. As mankind as a whole comes of age, we will need structures and institutions to reflect our new mature status and to ensure the peace and well-being of the entire planet.
