958. Physician is Blessed Who Heals in the Name of God
"Well is it with the physician who cureth ailments in My hallowed and dearly cherished Name."
- (From a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh: Selections from Bahá’í Writings on Some Aspects of Health, Healing, Nutrition and Related Subjects, op. cit.)
959. To Seek Medical Treatment and Obey the Doctor is a Divine Ordinance
"It is incumbent upon everyone to seek medical treatment and to follow the doctor's instructions, for this is in compliance with the divine ordinance, but, in reality, He Who giveth healing is God."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 156)
960. One Must Obey Command of God and Submit to Medical Opinion
"One must obey the command of God and submit to medical opinion. Thou hast undertaken this journey to comply with His command and not for the sake of healing, since healing is in the hand of God, not in the hand of doctors."
- (From a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to an individual believer: Selections from Bahá’í Writings on Some Aspects of Health, Healing, Nutrition and Related Subjects, op. cit.)
961. The Science of Medicine is Extremely Useful
"Thou shouldst endeavour to study the science of medicine. It is extremely useful and serveth as the greatest instrument for the dissemination of the Cause. It is absolutely imperative that thou acquire this bounty. Strive day and night that thou mayest become highly qualified in this science. And when thou wishest to dispense treatment, set thy heart toward the Abhá Kingdom, entreating divine confirmations."
- (From a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to an individual believer: Ibid.)
962. The Sick Must Refer to a Skilled Doctor
"…thou hast written about thy poor sight. According to the explicit divine text the sick must refer to the doctor. This decree is decisive and everyone is bound to observe it. While thou art there thou shouldst consult the most skilled and the most famed eye specialist."
- (From a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to an individual believer: Ibid.)
963. The Physician Has Two Powers
"O thou distinguished physician! … Praise be to God that thou hast two powers: one to undertake physical healing and the other spiritual healing. Matters related to man"s spirit have a great effect on his bodily condition. For instance, thou shouldst impart gladness to thy patient, give him comfort and joy, and bring him to ecstasy and exultation. How often hath it occurred that this hath caused early recovery. Therefore, treat thou the sick with both powers. Spiritual feelings have a surprising effect on healing nervous ailments."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 150-151)
964. When Giving Treatment, Turn to the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u’lláh
"When giving medical treatment turn to the Blessed Beauty, then follow the dictates of thy heart. Remedy the sick by means of heavenly joy and spiritual exultation, cure the sorely afflicted by imparting to them blissful glad tidings and heal the wounded through His resplendent bestowals. When at the bedside of a patient, cheer and gladden his heart and enrapture his spirit through celestial power. Indeed, such a heavenly breath quickeneth every mouldering bone and reviveth the spirit of every sick and ailing one."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Ibid., p. 151)
965. It is Imperative to Consult a Doctor Even if One is an Eminent Physician
"According to the explicit decree of Bahá’u’lláh one must not turn aside from the advice of a competent doctor. It is imperative to consult one even if the patient himself be a well-known and eminent physician. In short, the point is that you should maintain your health by consulting a highly-skilled physician."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Ibid., p. 156)
966. God Alone Has the Power to Give True Healing—Many Men Have Died of the very Disease of Their Specialty
"All true healing comes from God! There are two causes for sickness, one is material, the other spiritual. If the sickness is of the body, a material remedy is needed, if of the soul, a spiritual remedy.
"If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being healed then only can we be made whole, for medicine is but the outward and visible means through which we obtain the heavenly healing. Unless the spirit be healed, the cure of the body is worth nothing. All is in the hands of God, and without Him there can be no health in us!
"There have been many men who have died at last of the very disease of which they have made a special study. Aristotle, for instance, who made a special study of the digestion, died of a gastronomic malady. Avicenna was a specialist of the heart, but he died of heart disease. God is the great compassionate Physician who alone has the power to give true healing."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, 1972 ed., p. 19)
967. Service is Prayer
"This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Ibid., p. 177)
968. Doctors Versed in Medical Science Can Treat Case Better Than Loving Mothers
"… He fully sympathizes with you in this great sorrow that has afflicted you. At such occasions, the true servants of God should be resigned and try to act wisely, using at the same time all available means to help their loved one who is in distress and is suffering from illness.
"Bahá’u’lláh tells us that in case of disease we should pray but at the same time refer to competent physicians, and abide by their considered decisions. Shoghi Effendi wishes you therefore to find whether your son has really become ill, and if he is, then follow the directions of the doctor. Being versed in the medical sciences they can treat better than even a loving mother can. You can render your assistance by praying for him and at the same time helping the physicians to treat him."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, April 9, 1933: Selections from Bahá’í Writings on Some Aspects of Health and Healing, pp. 5-6)
969. Powers Released by Bahá’u’lláh Destined to Reveal Themselves Through Instrumentality of His Followers
"These investigations you have so painstakingly pursued in the field of medical science, and on a subject which is still puzzling the minds of all the leading scientists in the world, cannot but be of a captivating interest and of a great value to all medical research workers.
"It is significant that you as a believer should have undertaken a work of this nature, as we all know that the powers released by the Manifestation of Bahá’u’lláh in this day are destined, in the course of time, to reveal themselves through the instrumentality of His followers, and in every conceivable field of human endeavour.
"That you should increasingly prove, through your confirmed researches in the domain of medicine, to be one of those instruments, is the fervent hope of our beloved Guardian."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 29, 1938)
970. Doctors Should not Work on 9 Holy Days
"He thinks it is better for Bahá’í doctors not to work on our 9 Holy Days…but, of course, that does not mean they should not attend to very sick people and emergencies on these days."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, August 2, 1946: Dawn of a New Day, p. 116)
971. Corrupt Practices
"The Guardian feels that your attitude towards the corrupt practice of accepting commissions from fellow physicians and pharmacists is most admirable. The more upright and noble the Bahá’ís are in their conduct, the more they will impress the public with the spiritual vitality of the Faith they believe in."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 20, 1953: Living the Life, p. 18)
