The Commotions of Adolescence
The long ages of infancy and childhood, through which the human race had to pass, have receded into the background. Humanity is now experiencing the commotions invariably associated with the most turbulent stage of its evolution, the stage of adolescence, when the...
Adjusting our Motives
First and foremost, one should use every possible means to purge one’s heart and motives, otherwise, engaging in any form of enterprise would be futile. It is also essential to abstain from hypocrisy and blind imitation, inasmuch as their foul odour is soon detected...
Finding Insights to Problems
If you read the utterances of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with selflessness and care and concentrate upon them, you will discover truths unknown to you before and will obtain an insight into the problems that have baffled the great thinkers of the world. (In the...
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Love for the Sacrifices Made By the Poor and Lowly
When we read biographies of the early heroes and heroines of the Faith, we often read about people who were able to find time and money to serve the Faith, but we seldom read about how 'Abdu'l-Baha regarded the sacrifices made by those with extremely limited means. He...
How ‘Abdu’l-Baha Cheered the Hearts of the Poor
In this last of a series of articles on 'Abdu'l-Baha's love for the poor, we look at how he welcomed them and cheered their hearts. He made people feel completely at ease: In London it was noted that inquirers often hated to leave. If any were still present...
‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Justice for the Poor
‘Abdu’l-Bahá never let anyone take advantage of Him. When giving out money, He had people with Him to regulate the crowds: During this time this friend of the poor has not been unattended. Several men wearing red fezes, and with earnest and kindly faces, followed him...
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Practical Assistance to the Poor
He Gave Them Food Although He might not have any earthly means, He cut off what most of us would consider to be necessities (food, clothes, possessions): How could this Prisoner give to the needy of 'Akká every Friday morning? Had not His exiled family's wealth and...
How ‘Abdu’l-Baha Treated the Poor
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s generosity was not lost on others. Even though He was a prisoner, and lived in prison or exile from the age of 9, He was still generous with what He had: This man who gives so freely must be rich, you think? No, far otherwise. Once his family was the...
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Love for The Lowly, Abased and Downtrodden
Baha’ullah set this standard: If ye meet the abased or the down-trodden, turn not away disdainfully from them, for the King of Glory ever watcheth over them and surroundeth them with such tenderness as none can fathom except them that have suffered their wishes...
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Love for The Poor
‘Abdu’l-Baha met with many groups of people, but He had a special love for the poor and downtrodden. Poverty made ‘Abdu’l-Baha exceedingly sad and He wants us to become more sensitive to this issue: 'When He reached the Occident, however, 'Abdu’l-Bahá faced a...
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Simple Life
In this frenzied world, I often wonder how 'Abdu'l-Baha would have lived his life if He were alive now! It got me thinking about whether there might be some ideas based on how He lived a simple life back then. Here is the standard He strove for - simplicity...
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Love for The Sick
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s kind heart went out to those who were ill. If He could alleviate a pain or discomfort, He set about to do so. Calling on the feeble and sick was a daily occurance: Almost any morning, early, He may be seen making the round of the city, calling upon the...
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Love for the African-Americans
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was most uncompromising on the issue of racial equality during his visit to America: As part of the American South, Washington, D.C. was also a city in which racial segregation was a fact of life, and it was on the issue of racial equality that...
Our Sacred Duties
In addition to teaching every believer can pray. Every believer can strive to make his "own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendour of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá'u'lláh. Every believer can contribute to...