Loving one's enemies

Aspects

Impartiality, fair-mindedness, honesty toward

"Such a rectitude of conduct...must be demonstrated in the impartiality of every defender of the Faith against its enemies, in his fair-mindedness in recognizing any merits that enemy may possess, and in his honesty in discharging any obligations he may have towards him."

(Shoghi Effendi, Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 26-27)

Jesus founded the sacred Law on a basis of moral character and spirituality evident in verses like loving your enemies

"In the fifth chapter of Matthew beginning with the thirty-seventh verse He counsels: "Resist not evil and injury with its like; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." And further, from the forty-third verse: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, `Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and thou shalt not vex thine enemy with enmity.' ([49. The King James Bible reads: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy." Scholars object to this reading because it is contrary to the known Law as set forth in Leviticus 19:18, Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 25:21, the Talmud, etc.]) But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth down the rain of His mercy on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?"

"Many were the counsels of this kind that were uttered by that Dayspring of Divine wisdom, and souls who have become characterized with such attributes of holiness are the distilled essence of creation and the sources of true civilization.

"Jesus, then, founded the sacred Law on a basis of moral character and complete spirituality, and for those who believed in Him He delineated a special way of life which constitutes the highest type of action on earth."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 81-82)

Christ changed old stern law into love, mercy, and forbearance

"In the time of Moses, there were ten crimes punishable by death. When Christ came this was changed; the old axiom `an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth' was converted into `Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you', the stern old law being changed into one of love, mercy and forbearance!"

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 142)

Christian hostility and inquisition did not conform to the teachings of Christ to love your enemy

"The purpose of this is to show that the holy Manifestations of God, the divine Prophets, are the first Teachers of the human race. They are universal Educators, and the fundamental principles they have laid down are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations. Forms and imitations which creep in afterward are not conducive to that progress. On the contrary, these are destroyers of human foundations established by the heavenly Educators. These are clouds which obscure the Sun of Reality. If you reflect upon the essential teachings of Jesus, you will realize that they are the light of the world. Nobody can question their truth. They are the very source of life and the cause of happiness to the human race. The forms and superstitions which appeared and obscured the light did not affect the reality of Christ. For example, Jesus Christ said, "Put up thy sword into the sheath." The meaning is that warfare is forbidden and abrogated; but consider the Christian wars which took place afterward. Christian hostility and inquisition spared not even the learned; he who proclaimed the revolution of the earth was imprisoned; he who announced the new astronomical system was persecuted as a heretic; scholars and scientists became objects of fanatical hatred, and many were killed and tortured. How do these actions conform with the teachings of Jesus Christ, and what relation do they bear to His own example? For Christ declared, "Love your enemies, ... and pray for them which ... persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." How can hatred, hostility and persecution be reconciled with Christ and His teachings?"

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 86)

See also

• Turning the other cheek