Usefulness
The importance of being useful[edit]
The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth[edit]
O MY SERVANT! The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth. Such men are verily counted as among the dead, nay better are the dead in the sight of God than those idle and worthless souls.
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words from the Persian, no. 81)
It is incumbent upon Baha'is to engage in some occupation, such as a craft or a trade[edit]
O people of Bahá! It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation—such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God. Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn. Waste not your hours in idleness and sloth, but occupy yourselves with what will profit you and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon hath shone the day-star of wisdom and utterance. The most despised of men in the sight of God are they who sit and beg. Hold ye fast unto the cord of means and place your trust in God, the Provider of all means. --Bahaullah, Kitab i Aqdas
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 33)
Action is required to advance both materially and spiritually[edit]
Without action nothing in the material world can be accomplished, neither can words unaided advance a man in the spiritual Kingdom. It is not through lip-service only that the elect of God have attained to holiness, but by patient lives of active service they have brought light into the world.
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 80)
The mere word “Bahá’í”, if it yield no fruit, will come to nothing[edit]
The instruction of these children is even as the work of a loving gardener who tendeth his young plants in the flowering fields of the All-Glorious. There is no doubt that it will yield the desired results; especially is this true of instruction as to Bahá’í obligations and Bahá’í conduct, for the little children must needs be made aware in their very heart and soul that “Bahá’í” is not just a name but a truth. Every child must be trained in the things of the spirit, so that he may embody all the virtues and become a source of glory to the Cause of God. Otherwise, the mere word “Bahá’í”, if it yield no fruit, will come to nothing.
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, sec. 123, p. 143)
Usefulness and education[edit]
Children's education should not be neglected, so that they grow up to be useful[edit]
There are many things which will, if neglected, be wasted, and come to nothing. How often in this world do we see a child who has lost his parents and who, unless attention be devoted to his education and training, can produce no fruit. And better off dead than alive is he who produceth no fruit.
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Compilation on Bahá’í Education, p. 59)
Academic pursuits that begin and end in words are not of any worth[edit]
…The learned of the day must direct the people to acquire those branches of knowledge which are of use, that both the learned themselves and the generality of mankind may derive benefits therefrom. Such academic pursuits as begin and end in words alone have never been and will never be of any worth. The majority of Persia’s learned doctors devote all their lives to the study of a philosophy the ultimate yield of which is nothing but words.
At the outset of every endeavour, it is incumbent to look to the end of it[edit]
At the outset of every endeavour, it is incumbent to look to the end of it. Of all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying those which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and elevate his rank.
