Say: Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Bahá, for God
hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and
regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds. Such a deed is acceptable
only when he that teacheth the Cause is already a firm believer in God, the
Supreme Protector, the Gracious, the Almighty. He hath, moreover, ordained that
His Cause be taught through the power of men’s utterance, and not through
resort to violence. Thus hath His ordinance been sent down from the Kingdom of
Him Who is the Most Exalted, the All-Wise. Beware lest ye contend with any one,
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 faces towards God’s
sacred Court, the seat of resplendent holiness. - Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from
the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
