Know them by their fruits.

 

81. Know them by their fruits: Know them by their fruits is a maxim found in the bible and the Bahá’í Writings that deals with the hidden nature of man. Jesus Christ uses this phrase to warn his followers about the coming of false prophets telling us how to recognize real prophets from false prophets to help guide us to make the right choices.  CHRISTIANITY: Matthew: 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew: 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits (actions). Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew: 7:17 “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Matthew: 7:18 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.’’ Matthew: 7:19 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew: 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

In the Bahá’í Writings the term deeds is often used in place of the term fruits to denote the warning we are given on how to recognize the authenticity of God’s Holy Messenger, as well as, how to recognize the upright character of those people we might place our trust in.

BAHA’I FAITH: “Thou hast said aright, that verily, Abdul-Baha looketh to deeds and not words. Even as it was said by Christ, ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.”’

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v2, p. 311)

 CHRISTIANITY: 1 John: 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 Thessalonians: 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” Luke: 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “If his morals become spiritual in character, his aspirations heavenly and his actions conformable to the will of God, man has attained the image and likeness of his Creator; otherwise, he is the image and likeness of Satan. Therefore, Christ hath said, ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.”’

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 335)

 BABI RELIGION: “Let a prophet, if his gospel be in question, be judged by his own preaching.” Judged him by his fruits.

(Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions 1844-1944, p. 46)

 “These ethics taught by a young man (The Bab) at an age when passions were intense, deeply impressed an audience, religious to the point of fanaticism, above all when the words of the preacher were in perfect harmony with his conduct.

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 158)

 JUDAISM: Hosea: 14:8 “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is Thy fruit found.” (God’s fruit within his heart). Enoch: 5:1 “Observe ye how the trees cover themselves with green leaves and bear fruit: wherefore give ye heed and know with regard to all His works.” (Other Apocrypha, The Book of Enoch)  CHRISTIANITY: Philippians: 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” Philippians: 1:10 “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” Philippians: 1:11 “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.’’

BAHA’I FAITH: “The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 156)

 BABI RELIGION: “The fruit is within the supreme testimony itself, not in the things derived therefrom.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 104)

 ISLAM: 273. “Thou shalt know them by their (unfailing) mark.” 24. “Their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.” Their deeds or actions will reveal what is in their hearts ye shall know them by their fruits.

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2 and 24)

 69. “As in the case of those before you: they were mightier than you in power and more flourishing in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their portion: and ye have of yours, as did those before you; and ye indulge in idle talk as they did. They! their works are fruitless in this world and in the hereafter, and they will lose (all spiritual good).” 94. “It is your actions that Allah (God) and His Messenger will observe:”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   9)

 “He is the sun of the spirit, not that of the sky, For from His light men and angels draw life.” “When the preacher has himself no light or life, How can his words yield leaves and fruit?“

(Islam, Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vol 1 and 5)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 19. “The man himself, O Spitama, hath set this before him after conceiving it in his own self. He that would see life indeed, to him will he make known what in actions by Mazda’s (God‘s) ordinance.” “I will declare unto ye so that ye can discern the wise and the unwise….. Through these actions.” Their fruits will reveal their true selves.

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 46 and 51)

 Denkard. Zoroaster, “Be it known that, the manifestation of the existence of roots is owing to fruits. And according as the root is, so are its proper fruits possessed of honesty. And they are, in their kind, good looking or ill looking, good smelling or evil smelling, in eating of good taste or bad taste, in vigor healthful or feeble of aspect according as are their roots.”

 HINDUISM: “By this sign (his actions) is he known Being of equal grace to comrades, friends, Chance-comers, strangers, lovers, enemies, Aliens and kinsmen; loving all alike, Evil or good.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 6)

 7. “He who is endowed with qualities, and performs works that are to bear fruit, and enjoys the reward of whatever he has done, migrates through his own works, That living soul is to be known, and yet it is to be infinite.”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 2, Svetasvatara-Upanishad)

 BUDDHISM: 2. “Of him who is energetic, mindful, Pure in deed, considerate, self-restrained, Who lives the Dharma and who is heedful, (his) Reputation steadily increases.” He is know by his actions.

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 5. “Well-done is that deed Which, done, brings no regret; The fruit whereof is received With delight and satisfaction.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 “Whatever Samadhis, psychic faculties and teachings are realized by the Bodhisattvas, they are made possible only by the sustaining power of the Buddhas; if it were otherwise, the ignorant and the simpleminded might attain the same fruitage.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “Man lives under the power of supreme reality of moral distinctions, (moral or unmoral actions), and of their absolute significance,” by which we can know them. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 35 and Seth son of Adam)

 “On the Tree fruit is set up (man’s deeds), And (other) trees gather together toward it. Toward it do the trees assemble, And a throne is set up for the Lord of Radiance For the Lord of Radiance a throne is set up And the Lord of Radiance sitteth thereon. Before him are set up recompenses Which he delivereth to the perfect, To the perfect doth he deliver them And said: ‘To each according to the works of his hands It is awarded” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 123)

BABI RELIGION: “By the uprightness of his life the young Siyyid (The Bab) served as an example to those about him. His words were repeated and elaborated upon and they spoke of him as the true Master.” By his pure fruits they recognized him.

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 158)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. Withhold not these fruits from the heedless. If they be accepted, your end is attained, and the purpose of life achieved. If not, leave them in their pastime of vain disputes.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 25)