Forgiveness and Compassion
Forgiveness is a divine quality; showing mercy and compassion to those who wrong us transforms both parties.
The Bahá'í writings describe forgiveness as a divine quality to be cultivated. God forgives the sincere seeker; humans should do likewise. Abdu'l-Bahá extended extraordinary forgiveness to his enemies throughout decades of imprisonment. His example demonstrates that forgiveness is not weakness but the highest expression of spiritual strength.
Is there any deed in the world that would be nobler than service to the common good?
Abdu'l-Bahá's personal example of forgiveness during imprisonment is one of the most compelling demonstrations of spiritual principles in practice in any religious tradition.
Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá
Written about in
- What the Bahá'í Faith says about what to say and what to leave unsaid
What you say about someone who has wronged you is the test case, and the writings set the bar at Abdu'l-Bahá, who extended forgiveness to his enemies across decades of imprisonment. They treat this as strength rather than passivity, which leaves the justified complaint with very little room.