As potent and far-reaching as are the spiritual forces released by individual and collective devotions offered within the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and as essential as is a vibrant devotional life to one’s spiritual development, worship must also result, the House of Justice notes, in “deeds that give outward expression to that inner transformation”.47 Shoghi Effendi points out that the “very purpose” of the community—a community that is “divinely ordained, organically united, clear-visioned, vibrant with life”—is “regulated by the twin directing principles of the worship of God and of service to one’s fellow-men”.48 Indeed, the indispensable connection between these directing principles is integral to the oneness of humankind, which, as the House of Justice notes, “is at once the operating principle and ultimate goal” of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.49
The inseparability of worship and service, which finds full expression in the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, is progressively manifesting itself as the community implements the provisions of its framework for action with increasing effectiveness. The House of Justice observes that the friends “have not failed to appreciate the dynamic interaction between worship and endeavours to uplift the spiritual, social, and material conditions of society”.50 In its Riḍván 2012 message to the Bahá’ís of the world, the House of Justice states:
The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, described by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as “one of the most vital institutions in the world”, weds two essential, inseparable aspects of Bahá’í life: worship and service. The union of these two is also reflected in the coherence that exists among the community-building features of the Plan, particularly the burgeoning of a devotional spirit that finds expression in gatherings for prayer and an educational process that builds capacity for service to humanity. The correlation of worship and service is especially pronounced in those clusters around the world where Bahá’í communities have significantly grown in size and vitality, and where engagement in social action is apparent.51