(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Muhammad Ali (Rasht) -- AB06644)
Compassion and kindness
compassion; kindness
Editorial introduction
Of all pilgrimages, runs an old saying the friends were reminded of, the greatest is to relieve a sorrow-laden heart. Compassion in the Bahá’í writings starts there, in the practical relief of one person’s grief, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá makes it the measure of human goodness: the best person is the one who gladdens the broken-hearted, the worst the one who causes a heart pain. If prayer itself cannot free you from anger or depression, He advises, go at once and give pleasure to someone sorrowful. The forms are concrete and ordinary: shelter for the stranger, companionship for the lonely, water for the thirsty, a father’s tenderness toward relatives, enemies, animals and even plants. Kindness is to be a ray of God shining on this one and that one without choosing, yet it keeps company with truthfulness and wisdom, and there are moments when an apparent kindness only lets harm continue. The Samaritan who bandaged the wounded traveller and then paid for his continued care shows the same love carried through to its practical end [1]. The path leads on through loving all and consorting with all, through generosity, and through the kindness owed to animals.
Selected passages
The best man is that person who cheers and gladdens the broken-hearted ones and the worst man is that soul who causes suffering and pain to one's heart. Consequently strive as much s you are able to rejoice the hearts and uplifts the spirits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Pleiades Sylvan Bower, Alhammeh near Tiberias, 1914-May-10 -- ABU3383)
But if you are so angry, so depressed and so sore that your spirit cannot find deliverance and peace even in prayer, then quickly go and give some pleasure to someone lowly or sorrowful, or to a guilty or innocent sufferer!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken to Miss St. in Aug 1910 -- ABU3027)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1905-Jan-03, to Baha'is of the United States et al -- AB00027)
Therefore, as much as you can, bring joy to hearts and glad tidings to souls. Be a refuge and shelter for strangers, and grant those who are alone assistance and support. Be a remedy for every pain and a balm for every wound.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902-11 ca., to Ali Muhammad Shirazi et al -- AB02998)
Be a heart companion to every grieving one and become the dawn of hope for every hopeless one. Be refreshing water for the thirsty and life-giving for the dead.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902-Nov-13, to Mihrparvar Nawruz Parsi -- AB06988)
O respected companion! Remain firm in the Covenant and be steadfast and unwavering. Remember the friends and be a companion to the loved ones. Console the helpless and be kind to the distressed. Be a healing balm to every wound and the greatest remedy for every ailment.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Biman Bahram -- AB09561)
O thou maid-servant of God! The utmost desire of the lordly ones is the union of the friends, the agreement of the believers and the spiritual communication of the hearts; in order that they may shine in this darkened world like unto bright stars; educate all the communities of the world in the precepts of love; be kind and benevolent to every one, sympathetic and compassionate to all; to become the cool and pure water to every thirsty one, a heavenly table to every hungry one, a swift healing antidote to every sick one and the cause of the everlasting glory to every humiliated one.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906-Dec-13, to Juliet Thompson -- AB02575)
O Ibrahim! Be a compassionate father to humanity, so that the fire of Nimrod may be transformed into a rose garden of paradise, and the breeze of grace may waft, the morn of bounty may dawn, and thou mayest become a sign of "mercy to all the worlds" and manifest the bounty of "God loveth the doers of good."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Aqa Siyyid Ibrahim -- AB10335)
Deal with your relatives with the utmost love and kindness to such a degree as to attract their hearts, and strive that the light of faith may shine forth in their hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11031)
Whenever a friend gladdens the heart of a friend and shows kindness, this heart finds the utmost joy and delight.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Oct-06, to Dr Ataullah Bakhshayish -- AB05622)
Be very kind to them. Treat them most gently. Associate with them. Invite them to your home, perchance you may become the cause of their guidance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mrs Mary C. Bell, spoken on 1912-Oct-04 -- ABU1486)
In thankfulness for the favors of the one true God, be thou loving towards both friend and stranger, and as far as thou art able, be a loving companion to every broken-hearted one, and become the cause of joy and gladness to every depressed soul. This is the condition of loving-kindness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Mihraban Jamshid Parsi -- AB08244)
With heavenly qualities, and the utmost kindness, devote thyself to all sorts of people, even to enemies. Take no offense at anyone. Do not look at a person's behavior, at his deeds; do not treat him according to his capacity and his deserts. Look toward God; look toward the teachings of God. Thus, thou must be kind to all; thy desire must always be this, to rejoice some heart, make some soul happy....
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Feb-24, to Harriet M Cline -- AB08172)
The friends and handmaidens of the Merciful must be well-wishers and kind to all.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916-Sep-21, to Juliet Thompson -- AB11891)
You must be exceedingly compassionate to each other and to all the people of the world. Love and serve mankind just for the sake of God and not for anything else. The foundation of your love toward humanity must be spiritual faith and divine assurance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to students of Beirut College, 1914-Apr-15 -- ABU1347)
After the grace of God and divine favors, thou hast not transgressed, nor dost thou transgress, the binding and decisive commandments that have been revealed and sent down in the Tablets from the Supreme Pen, and thou hast been and art dealing with all souls with utmost kindness, love and patience, according to His command.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298 ? [1880-1881], to Jamal Burujirdi -- BH01886)
He is now extremely satisfied that you have engaged him in work, and surely day by day increase your love and kindness, for this is the cause of attaining God's good pleasure and my happiness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904-Apr-17, to Ibrahim Musavvar Rahmani -- AB07495)
Strive to scatter the seeds of kindness in the hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a stranger, spoken on 1914-May-09 -- ABU1561)
As much as thou canst, be thou a manifestation of the favors of the Merciful and an angel of the mercy of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Hasan Hammami -- AB06703)
O Mihraban! In this Baha'i Dispensation, kindness, mercy and loving-kindness are among the fundamental principles of the divine teachings.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mihraban Bahram Ushturi -- AB09532)
Beware! Beware! Lest ye offend any heart.
Beware! Beware! Lest ye hurt any soul.
Beware! Beware! Lest ye deal unkindly toward any person.
Beware! Beware! Lest ye be the cause of hopelessness to any creature.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Dec-01 in Paris -- ABU1027)
The best person is he who wins all hearts and is not the cause of grief to anyone. The worst of souls is he who causes hearts to be agitated and who becomes the cause of sadness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the Baha'is, spoken on 1912-Sep-26 -- ABU1819)
When I have bad news for someone, I do not convey it to him openly, rather do I converse with him in such wise that when he heareth that news, my words bring comfort to him.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-May-19 in Paris -- ABU2761)
Fourth--They must observe the utmost kindness, so that all may consider themselves servants of each other, and be truthful and honest to all mankind.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Alma Knobloch, spoken on 1908-Nov-07 -- ABU2077)
The friends of God must show complete wisdom and kindness to all, displaying good conduct, so it becomes clear and evident that these souls are the essence of bounty, the reality of mercy, the essence of favors, and pure justice and fairness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 ca., to Siyyid Isma'il Sina -- AB06125)
We counsel thee to observe wisdom, for the people are weak. The Lord, exalted be His glory, hath shown forbearance out of pure grace. Therefore must all be mindful of wisdom and treat mankind with kindliness and compassion.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1301-07 [1884-Apr], to Yari Hamadani -- BH07990)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Nov-12, to Baha'is of the United States -- AB00890)
But the Khan's cousin and relatives who are in America also have good intentions, and the friends of God must show them the utmost kindness because these souls are strangers, and strangers must be honored. … I ask God that that family, meaning the Khan's relatives, be happy in that foreign land and that the friends show kindness to them. … The divine friends must become the comfort of every stranger except the accursed one, and be the cause of joy to every sorrowful one, the shelter of every fearful one, and the consoler of every lonely one.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916-Oct-25, to Baha'is of the United States -- AB06018)
The perfect man is a mine of mercy and benevolence. It is necessary to be kind to both man and animal; for both have received a share from this life and are endowed with feelings.
Mercy is commended and accepted by His Highness the Almighty whether it is exercised toward man or animal; even Mercy and Kindness practiced towards the plant is acceptable and beloved.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Mar ca. ? -- AB09737)
If you have been kind to a dog once in your lifetime it will never forget and will follow you whenever it sees you.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Pleiades Sylvan Bower, Alhammeh near Tiberias, 1914-May-07 ca. -- ABU2394)
The greatest service to the Kingdom of God is kindness to the servants of God.
The greatest kindness to the friends of God, to the servants of God, is guidance or guiding them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to editors of Star of the West, spoken on 1912-May-01 -- ABU2195)
They do not mind if they are injured but they would feel most keenly if their fellowmen are harmed or maltreated. Their happiness is bound with that of mankind.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-Jan-29 -- ABU2895)
Kindness is a ray of God, and graciousness the brightness of heaven; yet in pure hearts there is light, while in sorrow-laden souls there is darkness. Look not upon this one or that one: be thou kind.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893 ca., to Mihraban Furud -- AB10609)
Man must be a mine of piety and sympathy. He must associate with all mankind with joy and fragrance. He must not turn away his face from any soul. He must raise the fallen and cheer the hopeless. He must treat with kindness both the friend and the stranger. At all times, man must be a mine of compassion and love, and associate with all people with joy.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jul-24 in Haifa -- ABU3473)
Each member must try to be kind to everyone and to show forth great affection towards every living soul.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-06 in Paris -- ABU2404)
Be always kind to everyone and a refuge for those who are without shelter.
Be daughters to those who are older than you.
Be sisters to those who are of your own age.
Be mothers to those who are younger than yourselves.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Sep-28 in London -- ABU2673)
Continue exploring
- consorting with all; being kind; loving to all
- generosity [kirama]
Follow compassion into the sharing of resources, comfort, and knowledge.
- kindness to and rights of animals
- walking the spiritual path; spiritual wayfaring; the virtuous life
- wisdom [hikmat]
- characteristics and conduct of true believers
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- How does the opening image of pilgrimage change what we understand as a spiritual achievement?
- Which kinds of suffering are easiest for us to notice, and which forms of companionship or care might we overlook?
- How can kindness, truthfulness, and wisdom work together when comforting someone, conveying difficult news, or responding to harmful behavior?
- What changes when compassion extends beyond friends and familiar people to enemies, animals, and other living things?
- How might the Good Samaritan’s sustained practical care help us translate one of this compilation’s images into a lasting habit?