Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any heart to sorrow;
lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a stranger, be he
friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye that all be blessed, all be forgiven.
Beware, beware, lest any of you seek vengeance, even against one who is
thirsting for your blood. Beware, beware, lest ye offend the feelings of
another, even though he be an evil-doer, and he wish you ill. Look ye not upon
the creatures, turn ye to their Creator. See ye not the never-yielding people,
see but the Lord of Hosts. Gaze ye not down upon the dust, gaze upward at the
shining sun, which hath caused every patch of darksome earth to glow with
light.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá (‘Selections from
the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
He [God] hath endowed every soul with the capacity to
recognize the signs of God. How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled His
testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their hearts. He
will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its
power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.
- Baha'u'llah (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah)
O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy letter hath been received
and its contents noted. Thou didst ask for a rule whereby to guide thy life.
Believe thou in God, and keep thine eyes fixed upon the
exalted Kingdom; be thou enamoured of the Abhá Beauty; stand thou firm in the
Covenant; yearn thou to ascend into the Heaven of the Universal Light. Be thou
severed from this world, and reborn through the sweet scents of holiness that
blow from the realm of the All-Highest. Be thou a summoner to love, and be thou
kind to all the human race. Love thou the children of men and share in their
sorrows. Be thou of those who foster peace. Offer thy friendship, be worthy of
trust. Be thou a balm to every sore, be thou a medicine for every ill. Bind
thou the souls together. Recite thou the verses of guidance. Be engaged in the
worship of thy Lord, and rise up to lead the people aright. Loose thy tongue and teach, and let thy face be bright with the fire
of God’s love. Rest thou not for a moment, seek thou to draw no easeful breath.
Thus mayest thou become a sign and symbol of God’s love, and a banner of His
grace.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)