Apology
Bahá'ís to apologize for harsh words uttered[edit]
"Perhaps the greatest test Bahá'ís are ever subjected to is from each other; but for the sake of the Master they should be ever ready to overlook each other's mistakes, apologize for harsh words they have uttered, forgive and forget. He strongly recommends to you this course of action."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, February 18, 1945: Living the Life, p. 12, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2037)
Quite free to spontaneously acknowledge we have been wrong in something or have a fault of character[edit]
"...if we spontaneously desire to acknowledge we have been wrong in something, or that we have some fault of character, and ask another person's forgiveness or pardon, we are quite free to do so."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, cited in Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note no. 58)
Call of 'Abdu'l-Bahá for a believer to apologize (on behalf of Him due to circumstances beyond His control)[edit]
"O thou son of the associate and companion[3 Mirza Ameen Ullah Fareed, son of Mirza Assad Ullah] of Abdul-Baha!
"You brought many letters with you from those regions, but on account of the great disturbance it was not possible to write the answers. You saw what a commotion was set up in the Blessed Spot[1 Acca] throught the instigation of the jealous brother. It still continues. Therefore you must apologize: Say that Abdul-Baha has considered every one of the letters with the eyes of the spirit, has read each, and through the valid messenger—that is, through the spiritual susceptibilities—has sent each the message of peace and greeting. Therefore, let them turn to the blessed and Radiant Spot with a pure heart and an attracted spirit, that they may receive answer through the lights radiating therefrom.
"Communication is not confined to writing. This is a trace, while the spiritual message is fruitful and effective.
"That is the essential, and without it communication is useless."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, vol. 1, pp. 33-34)
