Occasions for preference to Bahá'ís
General non-preference to Bahá'ís[edit]
Philanthropic affairs had previously been for one's respective people only, with the exception of small matters such as charity, but now philanthropic affairs are for all humanity[edit]
"In all the cycles of the prophets the philanthropic affairs were confined to their respective peoples only--with the exception of small matters, such as charity, which was permissible to extend to others. But in this wonderful dispensation, philanthropic affairs are for all humanity, without any exception, because it is the manifestation of the mercifulness of God. Therefore, every universal matter--that is, one that belongs to all the world of humanity--is divine; and every matter that is sectarian and special is not universal in character--that is, it is limited. Therefore, my hope is that the friends of God, every one of them, may become as the mercy of God to all mankind."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. IX, No. 1, pp. 8-9, and cited in a compilation, prepared by the Office of Social and Economic Development, entitled Social and Economic Development; in Lights of Guidance, no. 1030)
Friendship no longer confined, as to only a circle of believing friends[edit]
“In every dispensation the command of friendship and the law of love have been revealed, but it has been circumscribed within the circle of the believing friends and not with contrary enemies. Praise be to God that in this wonderful cycle the laws of God are not confined within any limitations, neither must they be exercised toward a special community to the exclusion of another. He hath commanded all the friends to show love, friendship, amity and kindness to all the people of the world.”
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, vol. 24, issue 1, p. 20)
Must discharge obligations even to an enemy (including Covenant-breakers)[edit]
"It [rectitude of conduct] must be demonstrated...in his honesty in discharging any obligations he may have towards him [an enemy]."
- (Advent of Divine Justice, p. 27)
"Personal relations with Covenant-breakers, however, such as personal contact or entering into correspondence with one is strictly forbidden. In this connection, however, it is important to remember two qualifications:
"First, the civil rights of Covenant-breakers must be scrupulously upheld. For example, if a Bahá'í owes a debt to a person who breaks the Covenant he must be sure that it is repaid and that his obligations are met.
"Secondly, although the believers are required to avoid, if possible, all contact with Covenant-breakers it sometimes happens that contact on business matters cannot be avoided. For example, in one city the head of the rate collection department was a Covenant-breaker. In such situations the believers should restrict their contact with the Covenant-breaker to a purely formal business level and to an absolute minimum."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, October 29, 1974; in Lights of Guidance, no. 611)
Mindful of the interests of all, especially the friends of God[edit]
"The people of Bahá must associate and deal with each other with the utmost love and sincerity. They should be mindful of the interests of all, especially the friends of God."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, in the context of a discussion on the dowry, cited in Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 95)
Expand wealth on poor in brethren in the Faith[edit]
"The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself, on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith."
(Elderly individual deserving of greatest love and consideration in view of services she and her husband rendered the Cause)[edit]
"He hopes that the N.S.A. watches over dear Mother Dunn. She is now advancing in years and deserves the greatest love and consideration in view of the imperishable services she and Father Dunn rendered the Cause there."
[edit]
"33. QUESTION: Again inquiry hath been made about the inheritance of the teacher.
"ANSWER: If the teacher is not of the people of Bahá, he doth not inherit. Should there be several teachers, the share is to be divided equally amongst them. If the teacher is deceased, his offspring do not inherit his share, but rather two thirds of it revert to the children of the owner of the estate, and the remaining one third to the House of Justice.
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Question and Answer no. 33)
