The Word of God/Words

Words

Introduction

We cannot gain understanding about the Word of God through our own unaided efforts. The Word of God, Baha’u’llah says, is “far higher and superior to that which the senses can perceive.”! We must learn about the nature of the Word by turning to the means God has provided—statements within the Word of God itself. This will be our method throughout the six lessons of this book.

We begin our study of the Word of God with a more familiar topic —the words of human beings. By exploring statements in the Baha’i Writings we will learn about the qualities and influence that words possess. On this basic understanding of the nature of words we can build, in lessons two and three, an understanding of the nature of the Word of God.

1 Tablets of Bahd'u'llaéh 140

[Page 6]Overview

“Every word,” Baha’u’llah says, “is endowed with a spirit.”2 This spirit gives words influence and produces effects that can continue for a long time.

Words, such as those used for backbiting or gossip, can produce harmful effects. Words can also produce positive effects. They can

inspire and uplift; they can unify people and promote the progress of civilization.

In every circumstance, words must be carefully selected to fit the situation. The same words do not suit the young child and the educated adult. Carelessly chosen words will have no effect, or worse, a negative effect. Words presented at the right time and suited to the hearer are more likely to produce the desired result.

To have their most positive influence words must be shared with

wisdom and kindness. Such words can bring spiritual life to human hearts.

2 Tablets of Baha’ u'lldéh 172

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[Page 7]We can better understand the characteristics of words by means of a concrete example. The effect of food on the body is similar to the effect of words on the mind and soul. For example:

¢ Food nourishes and helps build our bodies. Our diet can affect our health, our energy, even our mood. It can produce effects on the body that last a lifetime.

Words influence the development of our minds and souls. They influence our attitudes and behavior, and our interactions with other individuals and other societies. Baha’u’llah notes that the effects of words may “endure a century.”3

¢ Foods can have harmful or beneficial results. If food is spoiled, or if we eat too much of a rich or spicy type, we can become ill. A proper diet—with the right supply of vitamins, fiber, and other vital nutrients—promotes good health.

Harm or benefit also results from words. “One word is like unto springtime,” Baha’u’ll4h says, “. .. another word is even as a deadly poison.”4 Our use of words can range from backbiting, which “quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul”5 to teaching the Faith, which can “stir up the souls of all men and incline their hearts unto this most blessed and allglorious Court.”6

e We must receive the proper foods at the proper times to develop our full potential. Protein, for example, is necessary for the development of a child’s brain in the womb.

Words also have a proper time and place. “Say not that which the ears cannot bear to hear, for such speech is like luscious food given to small children,” ‘Abdu’1-Bahé states. “However palatable, rare and rich the food may be, it cannot be assimilated by the digestive organs of a suckling child.”?

3 The Kitdb-i-fqdn 193

4 Tablets of Baha'u'llah 173

5 Bahé’u’ llth, The Kitdb-i-fqdn 193 6 Baha’u’lléh, Gleanings 303

7 The Individual and Teaching 13

[Page 8]“No man of wisdom can demonstrate his knowledge save by means of words. This showeth the significance of the Word... . For it is through its potency and animating spirit that the people of the world have attained so eminent a position. Moreover words and utterances should be both impressive and penetrating. However, no word will be infused with these two qualities unless it be uttered wholly for the sake of God and with due regard unto the exigencies of the occasion and the people.

“The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.

“Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place. ... The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. Therefore an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility. And likewise He saith: One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison. It behoveth a prudent man of wisdom to speak with utmost leniency and forbearance so that the sweetness of his words may induce everyone to attain that which befitteth man’s station.” —Tablets of Bahd' u'lléh 172-73

“Utterance must needs possess penetrating power. For if bereft of this quality it would fail to exert influence. And this penetrating influence dependeth on the spirit being pure and the heart stainless. Likewise it needeth moderation, without which the hearer would be unable to bear it, rather he would manifest opposition from the very outset. And moderation will be obtained by blending utterance with the tokens of divine wisdom which are recorded in the sacred Books and Tablets. Thus when the essence of one’s utterance is endowed with these two requisites it will prove highly effective and will be the prime factor in transforming the souls of men. ... Whoso attaineth

thereto is invested with the power to teach the Cause of God. ...” —Tablets of Baha’ u'lléh 198-99

potency: power, might

animating: imparting life, energy, movement

impressive: capable of making a strong impression on the mind; inspiring awe or admiration

penetrating: to go or enter into; pervade; to affect deeply, to affect the emotions deeply

exigencies: demands or needs of a given situation

moderation: staying within reasonable bounds; not extreme; restraint

endowed: furnished with; provided; enriched

edified: instructed, benefited

verdant: covered with green vegetation

prudent: showing the ability to govern oneself through reason; using skill or good judgement

leniency: exertion of a soothing influence; mild and tolerant disposition

forbearance: patience, indulgence; self-restraint

induce: influence, persuade

essence: individual, real, or ultimate nature of a thing [Page 9]“How great the multitude of truths which the garment of words can never contain! How vast the number of such verities as no expression can adequately describe, whose significance can never be unfolded, and to which not even the remotest allusions can be made! How manifold are the truths which must remain unuttered until the appointed time is come! Even as it hath been said: ‘Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.’”

—Bahé’u’ lah, Gleanings 176

“He [the true seeker] must... observe silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century. “That seeker should also regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.” —Bahé’u’llah, The Kitdb-i-fqan 193

“Tf any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him... .

“If, however, a person setteth about speaking well of another, opening his lips to praise another, he will touch an answering chord in his hearers and they will be stirred up by the breathings of God.”

—Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahé 230-31

“A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding. ...” | —Bahé’u’llah, Gleanings 289

“Arise for the triumph of My Cause, and, through the power of thine utterance subdue the hearts of men... .” —Bahé’v’llah, Gleanings 92

“The things He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men’s hearts. ... Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance.” —Bahé’u’lldh, Gleanings 304

verities: fundamental truths; inevitably true values

allusions: indirect reference; slight mention or suggestion of something

manifold: various; diverse

aloof: at a distance; purposely apart

dominion: supreme authority; area of influence

incumbent: obligation of; duty of

lodestone: magnet; person or thing that attracts [Page 10]| Illustrations [i

“One day a rich lady went to a saintly man to ask his advice. She said that she wished to be a saintly woman, but there was one fault which she found difficult to overcome. The saint told her that there was no fault one could not overcome if one wanted to overcome it.

“Then the lady told the saint how she was in the habit of gossiping about others and how she had failed to overcome that fault although she had tried very hard.

““Can you help me?’ she asked the holy man. ‘I will do anything you ask me to do.’

“Very well,’ answered the holy man, ‘go to the market and buy a fowl. On your way back home, pluck the fine feathers of the fowl and throw them on the street as you walk along. Come and see me after you have done this.’

“The rich lady was surprised to hear this, but she respected the holy man. So she did as she was told and faithfully obeyed his orders.

“The next day she went and told the holy man that she had obeyed his commands.

““Very good,’ answered the saint. “You have done the first part of your task very well. Now comes the second part. Go to the market and walk along the street again and try to pick up the feathers which you threw on the road yesterday.’

““That’s impossible!’ said the rich lady. “The wind has already blown them in all directions. How can I collect the feathers again?’

““That is so,’ answered the holy man. ‘The same happens when you gossip about others. Your words are passed from mouth to mouth and it is impossible to stop the evil spreading, once it has started. The best thing to do is not to start it.””

—Taafaki, Thoughts: Education for Peace and One World 5-6

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[Page 11]Mirza Abu’1-Fadl is one of the greatest of the early Baha’i scholars. The following incident which occurred before he became a Baha’i demonstrates the power of words uttered for the sake of God:

“One Friday afternoon, Mirz4 Abu’l-Fadl, in company with a few mullas, left the city to visit a certain shrine in the countryside in the vicinity of the capital... .

“Tt so happened that on the way out one of the donkeys lost a shoe, so the party called at the nearest blacksmith shop for help. Noticing the long beard and large turban of Mirza Abu’1-Fadl— indications of his vast knowledge—the blacksmith Ustad Husayn-iNa‘l-Band (shoeing smith), who was illiterate, was tempted to enter into conversation with the learned man. He said to Mirza that since he had honored him with his presence, it would be a great privilege for him if he could be allowed to ask a question which had perplexed his mind for some time. When permission was granted he said, ‘Is it true that in the Traditions of Shi‘ah Isl4m® it is stated that each drop of rain is accompanied by an angel from heaven? And that this angel brings down the rain to the ground?’ ‘This is true,’ Mirz4 Abu’lFadl responded. After a pause, the blacksmith begged to be allowed to ask another question to which Mirz4 gave his assent. ‘Is it true,’ the blacksmith asked, ‘that if there is a dog in a house no angel will ever visit that house?’ Before thinking of the connection between the two questions, Mirza Abu’1-Fadl responded in the affirmative. ‘In that case,’ commented the blacksmith, ‘no rain should ever fall in a house where a dog is kept.’ Mirz4 Abu’1-Fadl, the noted learned man of Islam, was now confounded by an illiterate blacksmith. His rage knew no bounds, and his companions noticed that he was filled with shame. They whispered to him, ‘This blacksmith is a Baha’ i!’

“This incident left a deep impression on Mirz4 Abu’1-FadI.”

—Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahd'u'lléh, Vol. III 92-94

8 From Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahd’u'lléh, Vol. III 93: “It must be pointed out that the majority of the so-called traditions of Shf‘ah Islim are man-made and consist of trivial sayings. However, there are some authentic and weighty utterances by the Holy Im4ms that are in conformity with the form and spirit of the Qur’4n....”

11 [Page 12]Select one of the passages from the “Readings” section. Take time to think deeply about it. What does the passage mean? After some time, consider how the passage might relate directly to your own life. Is there some behavior you can change or some action you can take? Use the following space to record your thoughts and plans:

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[Page 13]1.

(Circle the best answer.) Influence through words primarily depends upon:

a. a pure heart b. unity

_c. proper timing d. goodly deeds

(Circle one answer.) Moderation in using words depends upon:

a. silence

b. fewness of words c. wisdom

d. detachment

(Circle one answer.) What is the result of backbiting?

a. the life of the soul is extinguished b. disunity among Baha’is

c. praising other people stops d.aandb

e. b andc

(Circle one answer.) The highest goal of speech is to:

a. have influence

b. seek spiritual truth c. create unity

d. give life to souls

13 [Page 14]Answers

The following are suggested answers. Depending on your understanding of the quotations, you may have different answers. Consider the suggested answers as a starting point for thought and discussion.

1. a. On page 8, the quotes state that influence “is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts that are detached and pure” and “influence dependeth on the spirit being pure and the heart stainless.” All the answers might arguably affect the influence of words. However, without perfect unity, timing, or deeds our words can still have some influence, while without purity of heart words will be ineffective.

2. ¢. See the quotations on page 8. Note that ‘Abdu’1-Baha defines wisdom in teaching as “not that wisdom which requireth one to be silent and forgetful of such an obligation, but rather that which requireth one to display divine tolerance, love, kindness, patience, a goodly character, and holy deeds.”8

3. d. The second and third quotations on page 9 address the effect of backbiting on the soul and on unity.

4. d. Baha’u’lla4h emphasizes the importance of using words to quicken souls in the last three quotes on page 9. Unity, “c,” is the ultimate outcome of giving spiritual life to souls. Note “b,” is the opposite of the correct answer, since the seeker “must observe silence, and refrain from idle talk” (second quote, page 9).

Discussion

What are some examples of how words can influence the interaction between individuals? Between societies?

According to the references on pages 8 and 9, what are the effects of words? What qualities must words possess to transform souls? How can you achieve each of these qualities?

What are constructive ways of dealing with backbiting?

What do you think Baha’u’ll4h means by “every word is endowed with a spirit?” (Refer to the first quotation on page 8.) 8 The Individual and Teaching 12

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