Women as Manifestations of God

Men being bolder and physically more powerful is why women have not appeared as Manifestations of God[edit]

"He sat at the table and invited all the friends from America to dine with Him. At this point a lady asked, `Up to the present time, not a single woman has appeared as a Messenger from God. Why have all the Manifestations of God been men?' `Abdu'l-Bahá replied:

"Although women are equal to men in abilities and capacities, there is no doubt that men are bolder and physically more powerful. This distinction is also apparent in the animal kingdom, for example among pigeons, sparrows, peacocks and others."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Mahmúd's Diary, July 11, 1912)

Notes[edit]

Regarding "bolder":

In 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, 1982 U.K. edition, pp. 102-103, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2093, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was to have suggested that:

"The woman has greater moral courage than the man; she has also special gifts which enable her to govern in moments of danger and crisis. If necessary she can become a warrior."

In Women (compilation), no. 113

"'Abdu'l-Bahá has pointed out that "Among the miracles which distinguish this sacred dispensation is this, that women have evinced a greater boldness than men when enlisted in the ranks of the Faith." Shoghi Effendi has further stated that this "boldness" must, in the course of time, "be more convincingly demonstrated, and win for the beloved Cause victories more stirring than any it has as yet achieved."

Regarding differences in the animal kingdom, note also:

"If we investigate impartially, we may even find species in which the female is superior or preferable to the male." ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 75)
"In the kingdoms below man sex exists, but the distinction between male and female is neither repressive nor restrictive. The mare, for instance, is as strong and often more speedy than the horse." (ibid, p. 434)
""We have only to look about us in nature," Abdul-Baha continued, "to see the truth of this. Is it not a fact that the females of many species of animals are stronger and more powerful than the male? The chief cause of the mental and physical inequalities of the sexes is due to custom and training, which for ages past have molded woman into the ideal of the weaker vessel." (Star of the West, vol. 3, issue 3, p. 4)

Possibility of a future Manifestation of God being a woman?[edit]

"Know thou moreover that in the Day of Revelation were He to pronounce one of the leaves to be the manifestation of all His excellent titles, unto no one is given the right to utter why or wherefore, and should one do so he would be regarded as a disbeliever in God and be numbered with such as have repudiated His Truth."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 185; note: "leaves" is used a reference to women believers)

All Manifestations of God known to us have been men; whether due to differentiation of function or time will become clear; not a sign of inequality[edit]

"...On the particular question of the relationship between womanhood and prophethood, it is hoped that the following comments will be of help."

"Even though there have been outstanding women such as Sarah, Ásíyih, the Virgin Mary, Fáṭimih, Ṭáhirih and the Greatest Holy Leaf in every Dispensation, it is an incontrovertible fact that all Manifestations of God known to us have been men. Moreover, it is a clear provision in Bahá’í administration that the Guardians were to be men and that membership on the Universal House of Justice is confined to men. Whether these facts point to a differentiation in function that is unalterable, or whether it was merely a characteristic of a period which will change when mankind attains its maturity is a matter that will, no doubt, become clear in the future. The important point for Bahá’ís to remember is that, in face of the categorical pronouncements in Bahá’í Scripture establishing the equality of men and women, even these facts are no evidence at all of the superiority of the male over the female sex. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has explained that equality does not mean identity of function. He has also stated that the few areas in which men and women are not equal are "negligible"."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001, sec. 7.9)