Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
Bahá’u’lláh has made no exception to this rule. He said that among mankind
there may be those who are ignorant; they must be trained. Some are sick;
they must be treated. Some are immature; they must be helped to attain
maturity. In other respects humanity is submerged in the ocean of divine
mercy. God is the Father of all. He educates, provides for and loves all;
for they are His servants and His creation. Surely the Creator loves His
creatures. It would be impossible to find an artist who does not love his
own production. Have you ever seen a man who did not love his own actions?
Even though they be bad actions, he loves them. How ignorant, therefore,
the thought that God, Who created man, educated and nurtured him,
surrounded him with all blessings, made the sun and all phenomenal
existence for his benefit, bestowed upon him tenderness and kindness and
then did not love him. This is palpable ignorance, for no matter to what
religion a man belongs, even though he be an atheist or materialist,
nevertheless, God nurtures him, bestows His kindness and sheds upon him
His light. How then can we believe God is wrathful and unloving? How can
we even imagine this, when as a matter of fact we are witnesses of the
tenderness and mercy of God upon every hand? All about us we behold
manifestations of the love of God. If, therefore, God be loving, what
should we do? We have nothing else to do but to emulate Him. Just as God
loves all and is kind to all, so must we really love and be kind to
everybody. We must consider none bad, none worthy of detestation, no one
as an enemy. We must love all; nay, we must consider everyone as related
to us, for all are the servants of one God. All are under the instructions
of one Educator. We must strive day and night that love and amity may
increase, that this bond of unity may be strengthened, that joy and
happiness may more and more prevail, that in unity and solidarity all
mankind may gather beneath the shadow of God, that people may turn to God
for their sustenance, finding in Him the life that is everlasting. Thus
may they be confirmed in the Kingdom of God and live forever through His
grace and bounty.
Bahá’u’lláh has clearly said in His Tablets that if you have an enemy,
consider him not as an enemy. Do not simply be long-suffering; nay,
rather, love him. Your treatment of him should be that which is becoming
to lovers. Do not even say that he is your enemy. Do not see any enemies.
Though he be your murderer, see no enemy. Look upon him with the eye of
friendship. Be mindful that you do not consider him as an enemy and simply
tolerate him, for that is but stratagem and hypocrisy. To consider a man
your enemy and love him is hypocrisy. This is not becoming of any soul.
You must behold him as a friend. You must treat him well. This is right.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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