Charity and Service in the Baha'i Faith

The practice of charity occupies an important position in all of the world's religious traditions. Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, enjoins His followers to provide for the poor and needy, the sick and elderly, orphans, the oppressed and all others that could be uplifted in some way through acts of generosity and loving-kindness.

Baha'u'llah tells us:

"Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as a prince among goodly deeds." (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 71)

In numerous writings, He admonishes His followers to give of their substance and of themselves in order to relieve the burden of the poor and needy, to comfort the sorrowful, and to defend the helpless and the oppressed:

"Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy... Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression... Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive..." Baha'u'llah

Indeed, it is the actions of Baha'is, rather than their words, that attest to the true depth of their faith and love for God:

"If we are true Bahá'ís speech is not needed. Our actions will help the world...Therefore strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers... Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the hopeless, shelter the destitute! This is the work of a true Bahá'í, and this is what is expected of him."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 80)

Whether we give financially, of our time, or of our talents, as individuals or as communities, in the name of the Baha'i Faith, or otherwise, it is the spirit of charity, of generosity, of selfless service to the well-being of others that we are continuously called upon by Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha to evince in our lives as Baha'is.

Service to the Well-Being of the World
Newcomers to the Baha'i Faith may find that the word "charity" is perhaps not as common in discourses among Baha'is as it is in other religions, but this does not diminish its importance in the Baha'i teachings, nor in Baha'i community life.

Indeed, the Baha'i teachings regard the spirit and practice of charitable, beneficent, humanitarian and philanthropic service to the well-being of the world as one of the corner stones of a truly spiritual life, and as the very purpose of our existence on this earth:

"Service to mankind is the paramount motive of all existence." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 369.)

With this in mind, the purpose of this site is to give an overview of the concept of charity as it appears in the writings of Baha'u'llah (1817-1893), Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith; of Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921), the appointed Centre of Baha'u'llah's Covenant and the "Perfect Exemplar" of all Baha'i virtue; of the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957), and of the Universal House of Justice. The site also aims to present examples of how Baha'is around the world are today engaging in charitable, philanthropic, and humanitarian acts of service--as individuals, as communities and as charitable agencies.

Service Action

A Chorus that Sings Local and Acts Global

3 July 2013, Source: Mona Foundation

On Saturday June 15th approximately 150 people gathered to hear the Phinney Neighborhood Community Chorus sing their hearts and souls out to raise funds for the George Marcellus School in Haiti, which is supported by Mona Foundation.
The Phinney Neighborhood Community Chorus has been performing benefit concerts for around 10 years. Their membership of 70 to 80 singers has a motto of “sing local act global”. They gather to practice every week throughout most of the year under the leadership of Maggie McClellan.
They raised over $6,000 for George Marcellus! These funds will go a long way to support this small rural school in Haiti that educates over 200 students K-6. Thank you Phinney Neighborhood Chorus!