Someone who wants to work and cannot find it is not lazy, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, and such a person deserves help; the one who sits and begs by choice is another matter. Bahá’u’lláh forbids mendicancy, forbids giving to those who make it a profession, and in the same breath calls on the wealthy to reach out to those who truly cannot earn. The two commands belong together. Work in a craft, a trade or a profession is raised to the rank of worship, and the idle life is pictured as a tree that bears no fruit, counted among the dead. Yet this is not a summons to grim and ceaseless labour: humour and joy are marks of a balanced life, and empty pastimes are what is warned against, not rest. The Bhagavad Gita, invoking Janaka, ties action to the welfare of the wider world, a thought worth setting beside work as worship [1]. From here the path runs toward the dignity of a useful occupation, the learning of a craft, and the question of what fruit a life brings forth.
Lazy people should not be assisted; otherwise everybody would leave his work and expect others to support them. There would be no end to it. But there may be someone who is either unable to work or is striving to find some work and is not able to find it; it is not really a shortcoming but he cannot succeed. Such souls are to be assisted.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Hannen, Latimer et al, spoken at Dublin Inn on 1912-Jul-31 -- ABU0266)
02
The most despised of men in the sight of God are they who sit and beg. Hold ye fast unto the cord of means and place your trust in God, the Provider of all means.
… It is unlawful to beg, and it is forbidden to give to him who beggeth. All have been enjoined to earn a living, and as for those who are incapable of doing so, it is incumbent on the Deputies of God and on the wealthy to make adequate provision for them.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), 1290-05-15 [1873-Jul-11] -- BH00001)
03
Begging in the marketplaces is not lawful, and whosoever begs, giving to him is forbidden. It is incumbent upon all to work, and those who cannot - O ye manifestations of wealth - ye shall reach out to them from Me.
(The Báb, Bayan-i-Arabi (Arabic Bayan) -- BB00020)
04
And regarding the blessed verse "Forbidden unto you is mendicancy, and whoso asketh, unto him is giving forbidden" - the meaning is that begging is forbidden, and giving to beggars who have made begging their profession is also forbidden. The intention is that the root of begging should be cut off.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911-Jun-12, to Fadlullah Naraqi (Muavinut-Tujjar) -- AB00632)
05
It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Bisharat (Glad-Tidings; =Lawh-i-Nida), 1308-06 ca. [1891-Jan] -- BH00568)
06
But there are some in this world who are outwardly and inwardly confused and scattered, idle and unemployed, a heavy burden upon others - they engage in no craft and pursue no occupation or profession, counting themselves among the free spirits while they would travel two hundred leagues for the mulberries of Shamran, the fruits of Tuserkan, or the date harvest of Arabia. Such idle souls are certainly not acceptable, for every soul must pursue some work, craft or profession so that they may carry their own weight rather than becoming a burden for others to bear, like a paralyzing nightmare.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Ali Muhammad Shirazi -- AB02662)
07
The Persian Bahais often live in the utmost poverty and want, yet they never complain nor ask for money from any one. Begging they consider to be below their spiritual station.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Dr. Getsinger, spoken on 1914-Aug-24 -- ABU1198)
08
Abdul Baha:
There was a time in the Orient when there was no mendicancy at all, six or seven hundred years ago. In Syria there was not any sign of it, and the reason was because the economic conditions were so simple, and there was no starvation. They had certain contributions which prevent them, and they are recorded now in historical documents.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr. Reed, at dinner, spoken at home of Mrs. Marriott on 1912-Oct-08 -- ABU0208)
09
The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth. Such men are verily counted as among the dead, nay better are the dead in the sight of God than those idle and worthless souls.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Words - Persian, 1274 ca. [1857-1858] -- BH00113)
10
Convey greetings to all the loved ones and forbid them from idle pastimes and games. The wine of love for the Peerless Lord and the cup of knowledge of the eternal Sovereign suffices for all who dwell in the realm. And greetings be upon those who follow the Truth.
(Bahá’u’lláh, to Mulla Muhammad Shafi Nayrizi son of Mulla Ali Naqi -- BH11251)
11
O true friend! Some of the friends who have now made the pretext of assuming the character of dervishes are engaged in praising the Ancient Beauty through hints and allusions in corners and streets and marketplaces, and are accustomed to encouraging people by singing ghazals and spiritual songs. These souls should abandon this practice henceforth, but for now it is causing encouragement among the people and no one should interfere with them.
God has created man noble, how can he degrade this station of divine nobility by begging? He has made him of the pure essence of spiritual wealth, how does he dare to alloy it by the base metal of mendicacy?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-May-24 -- ABU0106)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
13
Abandonment of "a frivolous conduct" does not imply that a Baha'i must be sour-faced or perpetually solemn. Humour, happiness, joy are characteristics of a true Baha'i life. Frivolity palls and eventually leads to boredom and emptiness, but true happiness and joy and humour that are parts of a balanced life that includes serious thought, compassion and humble servitude to God are characteristics that enrich life and add to its radiance.
M63-86 224.2 (8 May 1979 on behalf of the Universal House of Justice)
Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified