As to backbiting, the House of Justice points out that
learning not to concern oneself with the faults of others seems to be one of
the most difficult lessons for people to master, and that failing in this is a
fertile cause of disputes among Baha'is as it is among men and women in
general. In Star of the West. Volume 8, No. 10, on page 138, there is a record
of a reply given by 'Abdu'l-Baha in a private interview in Paris in 1913. He
was asked “How shall I overcome seeing the faults of others - recognizing the
wrong in others?” and He replied: “I will tell you. Whenever you recognize the
fault of another, think of yourself: What are my imperfections? - and try to
remove them. Thus you will grow, become more perfect. You will overcome self,
you will not even have time to think of the faults of others…"
- The Universal House of Justice (From a
message written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual
believer, 13 August 1980; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
