History of Master’s Life

Working with All

Source:Myron Henry Phelps and Bahiyyih Khanum, Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi

Bahiyyih Khanum wrote about her brother, ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

I SHALL now collect some of my own observations with regard to Abbas Effendi (‘Abdu’l-Baha), and a number of incidents of his life related to me by others, which throw light upon and illustrate His character, but which I am not able to make a part of any consecutive narrative. …

The characteristic of Abbas Effendi, regarded as a religious leader, which is at once the most striking, the most attractive, and the most impressive, is His generous and tolerant liberality. It is disappointing to find that narrowness and intolerance have already shown themselves in the teachings of some of His followers, a perversion and degradation of true religion which is seen to be an almost inevitable tendency of human nature in all ages of the world, and which most religions have suffered in the hands of their adherents. The chief glory of [the Baha’i Faith] is that its true spirit, as exemplified in its Great Apostle, is utterly free from it.

One was that of a gentleman who wrote to Abbas Effendi to this effect: That he recognised him as a man of great spiritual force, and one who, in urging upon men the observance of the Law of Love, was doing much in the service of humanity; that he desired to work with him and for him; but that also He (Abbas Effendi) had said some things with which he did not agree, and that he himself had some spiritual light, which he did not wish to surrender.

Abbas Effendi replied that He welcomed him as a co-worker; that he asked him to give up nothing; that he approved of his continuing to adhere to any religious faith with which he might be associated, and that the one thing necessary was to love God above all things and seek Him.