iversal Teacher, a universal Educator. Again,
consider Christ: how that marvelous expression of unity bestowed education
and ethical training upon the Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Syrian and Assyrian
nations and welded together a people from them in a permanent and
indissoluble bond. These nations were formerly at enmity and in a state of
continual hostility and strife. He cemented them together, caused them to
agree, conferred tranquillity upon humanity and established the
foundations of human welfare throughout the world. Therefore, He was a
real Educator, the Instructor of reality.

When we review the conditions existing in the East prior to the rise of
the Prophet of Arabia, we find that throughout the Arabian peninsula
intense mental darkness and the utmost ignorance prevailed among its
inhabitants. Those tribal peoples were constantly engaged in war, killing
and shedding blood, burning and pillaging the homes of each other and
living in conditions of the utmost debasement and immorality. They were
lower and more brutal than the animals. Muhammad appeared as a Prophet
among such a people. He educated these barbarous tribes, lifted them out
of their ignorance and savagery and put an end to the continuous strife
and hatred which had existed among them. He established agreement and
reconciliation among them, unified them and taught them to look upon each
other as brothers. Through His training they advanced rapidly in prestige
and civilization. They were formerly ignorant; they became wise. They were
barbarous; they attained refinement and culture. They were debased and
brutal; He uplifted and elevated them. They were humiliated and despised;
their civilization and renown spread throughout the world. This is perfect
proof that Muhammad was an Educator and Teacher.

In the nineteenth century strife and hostility prevailed among the people
of the Orient. Apathy and ignorance characterized the nations. They were
indeed gloomy and dark, negligent of God and under the subjection of the
baser instincts and passions of mankind. The struggle for existence was
intense and universal. At such a time as this Baha'u'llah appeared among
them like a luminary in the heavens. He flooded the East with light. He
proclaimed new principles and teachings. He laid a basis for new
institutions which are the very spirit of modernism, the light of the
world, the development of the body politic and eternal honor. The souls
who hearkened to these tea