... If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result
will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make
them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the
friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one
who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly
manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful
purpose? Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour
of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the covenant, or be of any
possible benefit to any soul? No, never! On the contrary, it would make the
dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and
the eyes would not longer behold the light of truth.
('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections
from The Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
