Slander
The friends should understand that they should not only cease backbiting and gossiping, but should cease listening to others who fall into this sin. Ignoring gossip and slander is a positive, constructive and healing action helpful to the community, the gossiper and to the persons slandered.
- Universal House of Justice, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities
Woe betide every slanderer and defamer.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 219
Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 219-220
Quote of the Day
Jalal 17 Masail 182 B.E.
We realize that a great problem is presented by gossip when it occurs in Bahá’í communities, and the poison it can instill into the relationship between the friends. However, deprivation of voting rights is usually of little help in such circumstances and should be resorted to only after other remedies have been tried and failed.
Universal House of Justice – Lights of Guidance, p. 60