Extraterrestrial life

Creatures to be found on every planet but exact nature of these to be discovered

"Regarding the passage on p. 163 of the 'Gleanings': The creatures which Bahá'u'lláh states to be found on every planet cannot be considered to be necessarily similar or different from human beings on this earth. Bahá'u'lláh does not specifically state whether such creatures are like or unlike us. He simply refers to the fact that there are creatures on every planet. It remains for science to discover one day the exact nature of these creatures."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 9, 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1581)

There are other worlds inhabited by beings capable of knowing God

"No. 6. No. But `Abdu'l-Bahá stated there are other worlds than ours which are inhabited by beings capable of knowing God."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 2, p. 82)

Dwellers of other planets exist but are adapted to their environment

"The earth has its inhabitants, the water and the air contain many living beings and all the elements have their nature spirits, then how is it possible to conceive that these stupendous stellar bodies are not inhabited? Verily, they are peopled, but let it be known that the dwellers accord with the elements of their respective spheres. These living beings do not have states of consciousness like unto those who live on the surface of this globe: the power of adaptation and environment moulds their bodies and states of consciousness, just as our bodies and minds are suited to our planet.

"For example, we have birds that live in the air, those that live on the earth and those that live in the sea. The sea birds are adapted to their elements, likewise the birds which soar in the air, and those which hover about the earth's surface. Many animals living on the land have their counterparts in the sea. The domestic horse has his counterpart in the sea-horse which is half horse and half fish.

"The components of the sun differ from those of this earth, for there are certain light and life-giving elements radiating from the sun. Exactly the same elements may exist in two bodies, but in varying quantities. For instance, there is fire and air in water, but the allotted measure is small in proportion.

"They have discovered that there is a great quantity of radium in the sun; the same element is found on the earth, but in a much smaller degree. Beings who inhabit those distant luminous bodies are attuned to the elements that have gone into the composition of their respective spheres."

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, I. F. Chamberlain, comp. "Divine Philosophy" (Boston: The Tudor Press, 1918), pp. 114-15; cited in Compilation on Nature, no. 14)

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh Primarily for This Planet

"As to your question whether the power of Bahá’u’lláh extends over our solar system and to higher worlds: While the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, it should be noted, is primarily for this planet, yet the spirit animating it is all-embracing, and the scope therefore cannot be restricted or defined."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, July 14, 1938, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1594)

See also

• UFOs
• Space travel
• Gaia

To-dos for this page

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