Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Badi Shams, Practical Suggestions for Community Service, bahai-library.com.
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Practical Suggestions for Community
Service

Badi Shams

As responsible citizens, we often struggle to balance our time
among our efforts at spiritual growth, our family life, our work,
and render a service to the community. No thanks to technological
advancement with so many gadgets that enable us to multi-task
more and more, we have been transformed from human beings to
human doings. Added to that is also the rampant spread of
materialism that is consuming our spiritual growth and draining
our energy. How can we have time for one more thing- one more
social action, one more commitment? Though providing a service
may sound like one more commitment to fit into our already busy
lives, in reality, service does not necessarily need to become a big
project. Any look, gesture, word or action that helps others is an
act of service.

To serve humanity is one of the essential duties of the Baha’is.
They have been asked to devote their time and energy to provide
a service to make the world better for its citizens.

“It is incumbent upon every man of insight and
understanding to strive to translate that which hath been
written into reality and action…. That one indeed is a man
who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire
human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he
that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and
kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath
proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his
own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world.
The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” -
Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 249.

“. . . all effort and exertion put forth by man from the
fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the
highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This
is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of
the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the
sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in
the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise.” -
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 176.

The concept of service has been part of all societies throughout
human history and has helped it in its path. Serving others is
nothing new to the people of all religions:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Christianity, Mark
10:45.

“And do not forget to do good to one another.” –Islám, Qu’rán
2:238.

“That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to
the service of the entire human race.” – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings
from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 250.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the
service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Service to humanity is service to God.” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The
Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 8.

How else can our world become united if, as citizens, we don’t
try to help each other? How else can the sufferings of the world
be reduced? The ordinary people of the world like you and me
will ultimately make a difference and make this earth a better and
more peaceful place if we take one more extra step to help our
fellow human beings.

Serving others has the added benefit of solving one’s problems
and can give peace and contentment to our souls. It helps us to
deal with our problems and tests, which can destroy or
undermine our happiness.

“Be not the slave of your moods, but their master. But if you
are so angry, so depressed and so sore that your spirit cannot
find deliverance and peace even in prayer, then quickly go
and give some pleasure to someone lowly or sorrowful, or to
a guilty or innocent sufferer! Sacrifice yourself, your talent,
your time, your rest to another, to one who has to bear a
heavier load than you — and your unhappy mood will
dissolve into a blessed, contented submission to God.” -
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West. (This statement is a pilgrim note, it cannot be
authenticated.)

Most of us want to do some service but do not know where to
start. So perhaps it is a good idea to revisit this concept, and with
the help of the list below, look at the possibilities of service open
to us. There are countless ways that we can serve, and you can
explore many other ways to serve your fellow human beings. If
you approach the opportunity to serve others with a radiant

countenance and the pure motivation of kindness and love, you’ll
find that the gifts you give will come back to you a thousandfold.

Below are some practical suggestions for you to find out if they
match your passion and expertise:

➢ Doing one’s job the best way possible is not only
excellent service but an act of worship. We are blessed to
know that doing our job to the best of our abilities is like
saying prayers.

➢ Offer a kind gesture, a kind word, a kind act. A smile
can sometimes convey more than many words. It does not
cost anything, and yet it is a fantastic way of creating a
loving atmosphere.

➢ Random acts of kindness, e.g. paying for someone’s
coffee, paying for someone in front of you in line, giving
your place in line for someone in a rush, presenting a
stranger with flowers, mowing the neighbour’s lawn. Your
imagination is the limit.

➢ Paying for the education of poor children. Baha’u’llah
has instructed us to educate the children and has stated that
those who help educate a child are as if they have educated
His children.

➢ Paying for medicine. The cost of medication is
increasing, and at the same time, the rate of poverty is
rising, which leaves millions of sick people who cannot
pay for their medicine. This is an opportunity to help the
poor.

➢ Visiting in senior facilities. Not many realize how lonely
some of the old people are. Some have lost their family
members or children, or families neglect to visit them. A
short visit makes a significant difference in the quality of
their lives.

➢ Visiting the sick in hospitals. Experiencing pain and
being confined to a hospital bed often leads to frustration
and discouraging thoughts. A visit is a great diversion and
helps to uplift their souls and aids in their healing.

➢ Volunteering to serve residents in group homes. Having
had the opportunity to work in a group home for people
with disabilities, I have learned that it is not just a kind act.
Still, rather it is an acknowledgement of acceptance, and
that helps them in their integration into society.

➢ Driving people to appointments. When people are sick,
they are overwhelmed by their difficulties and their
attempts to look after themselves. They may, therefore, be
unable to drive themselves safely. Driving them to
appointments keeps them safe and makes them feel cared
for, which helps the healing process.

➢ Shopping for your neighbours in need. Every person
will go through some problems such as sickness or an
accident. Being there in a time of need and helping with
some of the chores will make them feel appreciated and
loved.

➢ Cleaning homes of people who cannot do it themselves.
This reminds me of stories of great souls who did that and
cared for the sick.

➢ Volunteering in women’s centres. These centres provide
help and support to the victims of domestic violence and
other issues, and there may be volunteer opportunities to
assist in that work.

➢ Volunteering for the Red Cross/ Red Crescent. This
organization provides a variety of services, one of which
is collecting blood, and for that, they need volunteers to
donate blood and also to care for those donating.

➢ Volunteering in treatment facilities and similar
organizations. These centres are very specialized, and
training may be needed to help out, but there is always a
need for caring helpers in this field.

➢ Cleaning roads and highways or cleaning garbage in
your neighbourhood or on trails. Many religious and
other organizations have adopted this activity, but there is
always a need to clean up our environment.

➢ Teaching: Dance / Music / Painting / any other forms
of the arts. These activities create a passion in life. To be

able to teach these arts is like opening the door to a new
life.

➢ Coaching sports. Like teaching art, sport is a passionate
endeavour. It is also is a bridge that can bring people
together.

➢ Picking fruit. There is a lot of fruit in many places, and
people do not have the time or the energy to pick it, so it
goes to waste even though there are hungry people. By
picking it and donating it to food banks or other charitable
organizations, one can feed the poor.

➢ Calling or visiting those in need or offering
companionship to lonely people Tragedy strikes all of us,
and when that happens, a visit or a simple phone call can
make the difference for those who are feeling sad.
Loneliness can cause depression, and visiting or calling
may interrupt this process.

➢ Connecting with Baha’is outside of meetings. Our
relationship with Baha’i friends may be limited just to our
meetings. Being in touch with Baha’is outside of the
meetings either in their homes or out in the community,
creates closeness of hearts.

➢ Offering services to literacy agencies. Every town or city
has an organization that provides educational services to
newcomers to the country and those who require tutoring
in reading, writing and computer literacy. They rely
heavily on volunteers.

➢ Volunteering at homeless shelters and halfway houses.
The number of homeless people is on the rise. Besides
providing shelter, there are other needs to be met, and
every little contribution helps.

➢ Manning school crossings. By helping in this way,
children and their parents will feel safe.

➢ Teaching yoga /Tai Chi/ martial arts/ any other
exercise classes/coaching sports. This is another way of
helping.

➢ Self-help classes. Dealing with our personal and
emotional issues is very important for our spiritual

development. Teaching these classes empowers others to
have a sense of control in their lives.

➢ Teaching product-making classes like soap or candle-
making. In some underdeveloped countries, these skills
are the only way people can make a living. In the absence
of banks from which to borrow money or government
institutions to help, this knowledge provides skills and
empowers the poor.

➢ Teaching gardening, farming classes. Gardening is a
therapeutic activity. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá loved it. It creates a
sense of achievement, and the added benefit can be fresh
and organic food that enhances our health.

➢ Teaching woodwork classes. This skill can change lives
by empowering people to build and repair.

➢ Providing classes for jewellery making, beadwork, home
decoration, food preserving and others. All these enrich
people’s lives.

➢ Providing driving lessons. Being able to drive
encourages independence and self-reliance for many
people. For those who cannot afford the cost of driving
lessons, this service is a great gift.

➢ Providing foreign language lessons. For immigrants,
learning the language of the new country is not a luxury
but a necessity.

➢ Teaching house repairs, appliance repair, car repairs.
Acquiring these skills can help individuals save a
considerable amount of money.

➢ Teaching computer classes. Computers are the gateway
to knowledge in this age. Many people do not know how
to use this miracle of technology, and without it, they can
feel quite lost. What a bounty to open up this new world to
them!

➢ Helping refugees and newcomers by volunteering with
the welcome wagon or other like-minded
organizations. When people come to a new country or a

new city, they need some orientation. The newcomers
much appreciate any help in this regard.

➢ Teaching adult education. Not every adult is educated. It
is not easy for adults who were unable to get an education
in their childhood. To succeed in getting an education
when they are adults, they need help and encouragement.
➢ Picking up medicine, providing food, cooking, cutting
the grass or doing landscaping for the sick. These are
other ways we can care for those who are ill or unable to
do this work for themselves, which creates an opportunity
for providing a service.

➢ Translating written materials or interpreting. Most
newcomers in the country will take time to learn the
language, and if they are older, it may take them much
longer, so they have to rely on people to translate for them.

➢ Babysitting. Babysitting for those who cannot afford to
pay for it and yet desperately need a break at times is
liberating for those parents so that they have a little time
with each other and can charge their batteries for facing the
constant challenges of their lives.

➢ Doing taxes. Doing income tax is challenging and
confusing for most of us, but for those who are new to it is
an almost impossible job. Many can’t afford to pay
someone to do it. Doing taxes is one of those gifts that not
many can give to others, and that makes it very special.

➢ Giving financial advice. Sound advice on finances can
change the direction of one’s life. Not many know to
manage finances properly. Some people have learned this
skill and can impart it to those who are badly in need of it.

➢ Offering to counsel those who need it. It is such a
blessing to help someone who is struggling in life with
mental or emotional, or physical challenges. It is highly
rewarding.

➢ Providing medical services. This, like counselling, is a
specialized field, but it does not mean that ordinary people
like you and me cannot volunteer to provide first-aid, for
example, if we have the training.

➢ Providing legal services. Though legal aid is a very
affordable service, some people do not know how to access
it. We can be the liaison to connect them.

➢ Doing makeup or making the costumes for plays. This
is a unique service with its own rewards.

➢ Volunteering in community gardens. There is always
some work in these gardens to help people who do not have
land to grow their vegetables. Young people are always
welcome to offer their manual services.

➢ Connecting with volunteer organizations for
possibilities. In every town or city, there are many
varieties of organizations that are trying to provide service
to people. They rely on volunteers to help them. By
connecting and consulting with these organizations and
agencies, we can find many opportunities for service in the
community that we live in.

➢ Volunteering with food programs in schools. Many
schools have a food programme whose goal is to make sure
no student goes to class hungry. They depend on the
donations of stores and the services of volunteers to run
them.

➢ Providing accommodation for the sick and needy. Most
of the sick people in rural areas have to travel to bigger
cities to get treatment and naturally have to stay in hotels
and motels. Besides being expensive, these
accommodations are not welcoming and do not provide an
ideal environment for getting healthy. To open our homes
and heart to help the sick was Abdul’-Baha’s way and His
wish for us to emulate.

➢ Remembering in your prayers and supporting those who
are going through difficult times. Even if we don’t have
time to offer a service for our communities, we can always
rely on the power of prayers that can have more beneficial
effects than our physical efforts.

Choose a second text to read in parallel — a translation, or any other text.