Association with righteous

Treasure the companionship of the righteous

"O FRIEND!

"In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words from the Persian, no. 3)

A true seeker should treasure the companionship of those who have renounced the world

"a true seeker...should treasure the companionship of those that have renounced the world..."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, par. (213)-214)

Enter into fellowship with righteous

"O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

"Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cup-bearer and even as the true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words from the Persian, no. 58)

Fellowship with the righteous cleans the rust from the heart; those seeking God should join their companionship and listen to them

"O MY SON!

"The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart. He that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the companionship of His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto the word of God, let him give ear to the words of His chosen ones."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words from the Persian, no. 56)

"Be..as a river of life eternal to My loved ones" is not literal; means to seek their fellowship

"In the passage 'eschew all fellowship with the ungodly,' Bahá'u'lláh means that we should shun the company of those who disbelieve in God and are wayward. The word 'ungodly' is a reference to such perverse people. The words 'Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones' should not be taken in their literal sense. Bahá'u'lláh's advice is that again we should flee from the enemies of God and instead seek the fellowship of His lovers."

(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 200)

(Unwell person told she must associate with joyous and happy people)

"Mrs Smith, a member of one of the distinguished families in Philadelphia, had recently embraced the Cause and had requested a Persian name. She was given the name Tábandih [Light-giver] by the Master. As she had a headache, He prescribed some medication for her, saying:

"You must always be happy. You must associate with joyous and happy people and be adorned with divine morals. Happiness has a direct influence in preserving our health while being upset causes illness. The basis of eternal happiness is spirituality and divine virtue, which is not followed by sorrow. But physical happiness is subject to a thousand changes and vicissitudes.

"Have you heard the story of the emperor who looked into the mirror and became very sad and despondent? He said, `Oh! What a healthy and vigorous body I had but how worn it has become now! What a handsome face I had but how ugly it has become now! What graceful stature I had but how bent my body has become with age!' Thus he spoke one by one of the physical conditions of his youth and expressed his sadness at their loss. Such is the end of the physical happiness."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Mahmúd's Diary, Wednesday, June 19, 1912, New York)

Must associate with those from whom one can get light or to whom one can give light

"Man must always associate with those from whom he can get light or be with those to whom he can give light. He must either receive or give instructions; otherwise, being with people without these two intentions, is spending one's time for nothing and by so doing he is neither gaining nor causing people to gain."

(Words of Abdul-Baha: From Kinney-Beede-Thompson Notes; taken at Acca, July 5, 1909; in Star of the West, vol. 7, issue 18, p. 188)

See also

• righteous
• ungodly/Eschewment of fellowship with ungodly