The truth is that
all mankind are the creatures and servants of one God, and in His estimate all
are human. Man is a generic term applying to all humanity. The biblical
statement "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" does not
mean that woman was not created. The image and likeness of God apply to her as
well. In Persian and Arabic there are two distinct words translated into
English as man: one meaning man and woman collectively, the other
distinguishing man as male from woman the female. The first word and its pronoun
are generic, collective; the other is restricted to the male. This is the same
in Hebrew. To accept and observe a distinction which God has not intended in
creation is ignorance and superstition....
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘The Promulgation of
Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United
States and Canada in 1912’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)
