The
responsibility of the Baha'is to teach the Faith is very great. The contraction
of the world and the onward rush of events require us to seize every chance
open to us to touch the hearts and minds of our fellow men. The Message of
Baha'u'llah is God's guidance for mankind to overcome the difficulties of this
age of transition and move forward into the next stage of its evolution, and
human beings have the right to hear it. Those who accept it incur the duty of
passing it on to their fellowmen. The slowness of the response of the world has
caused and is causing great suffering; hence the historical pressure upon
Baha'is to exert every effort to teach the Faith for the sake of their fellow
men. They should teach with enthusiasm, conviction, wisdom and courtesy, but
without pressing their hearer, bearing in mind the words of Baha'u'llah 'Beware
lest ye contend with anyone, nay, strive to make him aware of the truth with
kindly manner and most convincing exhortation. If your
hearer respond, he will have responded to his own behoof, and if not, turn ye
away from him, and set your face towards God's sacred Court, the seat of
resplendent holiness,'
(Extract from
"Statement of the Universal House of Justice Regarding Teaching the
Faith"; compilation: Lights of Guidance’)
