Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is charity a duty prescribed by Baha'u'llah?
There are ample admonitions in the writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha concerning the importance of charity to a true spiritual life and to a true Baha'i life. Their own lives bear ample testimony to the importance of charity: though offer in dire conditions themselves, Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha, as well as their households, continuously extended generous material and spiritual support to the poor, ill, elderly, orphaned and downtrodden. The importance of community-organized charitable action was also underlined by the Guardian who directed the large Spiritual Assemblies of Iran to organize and dispense special funds for charitable works. In a letter written on his behalf, the Guardian states: "Bahá'í charity is of the very essence of the Teachings, and should therefore be developed in every Bahá'í community." Nevertheless, charity - like other spiritual obligations in the Baha'i Revelation - is ultimately a voluntary practice. The willing contribution of one's time, energy and money to charitable services is viewed as the outward expression of an inner spiritual orientation and certainly at this phase in the Baha'i era is left entirely to the discretion of the individual believer and/or community.
There are ample admonitions in the writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha concerning the importance of charity to a true spiritual life and to a true Baha'i life. Their own lives bear ample testimony to the importance of charity: though offer in dire conditions themselves, Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha, as well as their households, continuously extended generous material and spiritual support to the poor, ill, elderly, orphaned and downtrodden. The importance of community-organized charitable action was also underlined by the Guardian who directed the large Spiritual Assemblies of Iran to organize and dispense special funds for charitable works. In a letter written on his behalf, the Guardian states: "Bahá'í charity is of the very essence of the Teachings, and should therefore be developed in every Bahá'í community." Nevertheless, charity - like other spiritual obligations in the Baha'i Revelation - is ultimately a voluntary practice. The willing contribution of one's time, energy and money to charitable services is viewed as the outward expression of an inner spiritual orientation and certainly at this phase in the Baha'i era is left entirely to the discretion of the individual believer and/or community.
