saddening another soul
Editorial introduction
Some wounds leave no mark that anyone can see. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls the best of people the one who gladdens the broken-hearted and the worst the one who brings pain to a heart, and His warnings against grieving any soul or making anyone lose hope ring out with unusual urgency. The concern reaches into the home, in the counsel to treat a father with the utmost love, and outward to every kind of person one meets, where moderation and vigilance become daily disciplines. The Báb goes further still: to grieve a believer is to grieve Him, and to bring joy to one is to gladden Him. Even hard truths are to be spoken gently, as God bade Moses and Aaron address Pharaoh with mild words [1]. Such tenderness does not weaken honesty; it makes honesty bearable. From here the path leads to becoming a source of light for others, to the nature of true guidance, and to the plainer harms that the hand, and not only the tongue, can do.
The best man is that person who cheers and gladdens the broken-hearted ones and the worst man is that soul who causes suffering and pain to one's heart. Consequently strive as much s you are able to rejoice the hearts and uplifts the spirits.
Beware, beware of grieving any heart! Beware, beware of hurting any soul! Beware, beware of acting contrary to love toward anyone! Beware, beware of making anyone lose hope! Any soul who causes sorrow to a heart and despair to a soul - if they were to seek shelter in the depths of the earth it would be better than moving about upon it.
A Baha'i publication must never publish anything which may cause provocations or injure the feelings of any one or displease any soul. It must publish such matters that would be conducive to the happiness, hopefulness, advancement, guidance and illumination of the readers. Its field must be universal, its sympathy must be universal, its ideals must be universal. Its contents must establish fellowship between the hearts of all the religionists and not publish anything which might pain or wound the feelings of others.
For in the Bayan, there is no act of piety more beloved in the eyes of God than that one soul should benefit another, even though it be by means of bringing joy into his heart; while there is no action more remote from godliness than that one soul should inflict harm upon another, even though it be by means of bringing sorrow into his heart.
However, thou must treat thy father with the utmost love. Any action that would cause him harm or grief is not acceptable.
Exercise caution that no one, of whatever type of person, be made sorrowful by you. Great moderation is necessary, and likewise be vigilant and alert that no one should cause harm.
If you observe any shortcomings on the part of any, as much as you can, be forgiving and do not be harsh. Even if you wish to admonish, let your admonition be in symbols; do not express it explicitly lest any heart should be saddened. Remember that in the world of existence there is nothing so bad as injuring a heart, for the heart of a man is the place of the descent of the Merciful and man must not at all disquiet or harm the place of the Merciful. Man must ever strive to make the hearts grateful, to rejoice the spirits, to render the thoughts radiant, to be the cause of the comfort and ease of others. This is the station of the Bahais and this is the utmost desire of those who are divine.
Grieve not any soul in the Bayan, for if ye grieve one who believeth in God, it is as though ye were grieving the Gates of Guidance, and the Gates of Glory, and the Gates of the Primal One, and the Seven Letters, and indeed, it is as though ye were grieving Me. Likewise, if ye bring joy to any soul in the Bayan, it returneth unto Me, as though ye were bringing joy unto Me.
Moderation, moderation. You must speak in such a manner that not a single soul will be offended.
… You must speak and write in such a manner as not to offend anyone. The Lord addressed Moses and Aaron saying when you go to [Pharaoh], speak in a moderate, sweet language.
However, thou must walk in the footsteps of the Wronged One and engage in dispute with no one regarding any matter. For example, if someone asks a question and thou mentionest a word in reply, if it is accepted, well and good; otherwise silence is preferable, lest there proceed from thee that which would sadden hearts. Observance of this station is most essential for thee. The protection of the Cause is incumbent upon thee. For instance, God forbid, if someone were to revile thee, thou must remain grateful. By the life of God! Through silence in this station all things will speak. It behooveth Us not to disclose more than what We have disclosed unto thee as a token of Our grace. Verily thy Lord is the All-Merciful, the Helper. In all conditions, the exaltation of the Cause must be kept in view, and this cannot be achieved except through wisdom, and wisdom is not attainable except through meditation and patience.
For thought and discussion