The Babi and Baha'i Religion

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LTD

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION Prepared by S u f i A.Q.Niy a z © Islam International Publications Ltd First English Edition 1960 Reprinted 1967 First published in England 2004 Published by Islam International Publications Ltd.Islamabad Sheephatch Lane Tilford, Surrey United Kingdom GU10 2AQ Printed in UK at Raqeem Press Tilford, Surrey Cover Design: Nasir Sajjad ISBN: 1 85372 751 2

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Table of Contents FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION..................................................I FOREWORD TO THE PRESENT EDITION...........................................1 THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION.......................................................6 O RIGIN AND D EVELOPMENT............................................................6 C LAIM OF B A B...............................................................................10 M AIN P OINTS.................................................................................16 T HE G ENERAL S TATE OF A FFAIRS IN P ERSIA AT THE T IME..........18 L IFE OF ‘A L I M U H AMMAD B A B PRIOR TO HIS C LAIM...................20 H IS I NITIAL C LAIM.........................................................................22 C ONDITION IN GENERAL OF THE FOLLOWERS OF B A B...................23 T HE PROMINENT FOUR AMONG B A B ’ S FOLLOWERS......................24 S UB H - E -A ZAL................................................................................27 P OLITICAL NATURE AND AIMS OF THE B A B I MOVEMENT..............27 W HEN AND HOW WAS THE AMBITION BORN TO ABROGATE THE I SLAMIC S HARIA............................................................................29 T HE B A B I SHARIA..........................................................................33 A L -B AY A N.....................................................................................34 S UB H - E -A ZAL AND HIS BOOK........................................................35 S OME SALIENT POINTS OF THE SHARIA OF A L -B AY A N..................36 H ISTORY OF THE B AH A ’ I M OVEMENT...........................................38 B AH A ’ ULL A H ’ S S CHEMES AFTER E XECUTION OF THE B A B..........39 M OVE TO I RAQ AND THE REASON BEHIND THAT MOVE.................41 O PPOSITION FROM S UB H - E -A ZAL..................................................42 B AH A ’ ULL A H GOES TO S ULAIM A N I YYAH......................................43 R ETURN TO B AGHDAD FROM S ULAIM A N I YYAH............................43 T O C ONSTANTINOPLE....................................................................45 D EPARTURE FOR ‘A KK A................................................................47 W AS B AH A ’ ULL A H A PRISONER IN ‘A KK A ?..................................49 L IFE AT ‘A KK A...............................................................................51 B AH A ’ ULL A H ' S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IN REGARD TO HIS SUCCESSOR.....................................................................................53 A QDAS , BOOK OF THE NEW SHARIA OF THE B AH A ’ I S.....................54 B AH A ’ I A TTITUDE IN R EGARD TO P UBLICATION OF THIS B OOK...54 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC AND THE BAH Ā ’ Ī SHARI’ Ā HS................................................................................................58 T HERE CAN BE NO C OMPARISON B ETWEEN THE H OLY Q UR ’ AN AND A QDAS.....................................................................................58 T HE B AH A ’ I SHARIA IS IN T HREE P ARTS.......................................61

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THE QUR Ā N IS A LIVING BOOK & THE ISLAMIC SHARIA IS IRREPLACEABLE....................................................................................78 B AH A ’ I SM FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE I SLAMIC S HARIA DESERVES TO BE ABANDONED.......................................................78 C ORRECT MEANING OF THE VERSE (107 OF A L -B AQARAH )..........79 W HEN DOES A NEW L AW COME ?...................................................82 B A B I AND B AH A ’ I LEADERS THEMSELVES ADMIT THAT THE H OLY Q UR ’ AN EMBODIES A COMPLETE , COMPREHENSIVE AND UNIVERSAL SHARIA........................................................................83 T HE Q UR ’ AN SAFE FROM INTERFERENCE......................................85 T ESTIMONY OF THE Q UR ’ AN ITSELF..............................................86 M EANING OF A L -Q AYYIM...............................................................94 A C ONCLUSIVE A RGUMENT...........................................................94 B AH A ’ ULL A H C LAIMED D IVINITY FOR HIMSELF...........................96 B AH A ’ ULL A H C LAIMED G ODHEAD AND D IVINITY......................100 P ART M AN AND P ART G OD..........................................................100 SUMMARY...............................................................................................103

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i Foreword to the first edition This brief outline of the background and develop- ment of the B a b i and Bah a ’ i religions has been prepared by S u f i A.Q.Niy a z at the request of Wak a lat-e-Tabsh i r, Rabwah.It is based mainly on a series of articles in the ‘Review of Religions’, and two books on the subject: one by Maulaw i Fa d al D i n and the other by Maul a n a Abul ‘ Ata ’.It is hoped readers will find the subject dealt with as compactly and comprehensively as was possible in a brief study of the kind aimed at in these pages.Mirz a Mub a rak Ahmad Secretary, Foreign Muslim Missions Rabwah: 10th February, 1960.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 1 Foreword to the present edition 'The B a b i and Bah a ’ i Religion' is a short but com- prehensive treatise in English on the teachings of Mirz a ‘Al i Muhammad B a b of Shiraz (Iran) and his successor (who later broke away from B a b and introduced his own religion, Bah a ’ i ism) Mirz a H usain ‘Al i Bah a ’ull a h, was compiled by A.Q.Niy a z and published by Wak a lat-e-Tabsh i r, Rabwah, Pakistan, in 1960.It was reprinted in 1967.Because the book deals with a contemporary religious movement—Bah a ’ i ism * —which alleges that it replaces Islam as a world religion and is a quite active evangelical movement, it needs to be looked at with critical but impartial approach as an Islamic response to it.We deem that the treatise in question is an adequate response to the challenge of Bah a ’ i ism to Islam and needs to be reprinted and widely published.The book covers (1) the history of B a b i ism and B a h’ i ism and their basic tenets; (2) the true nature of the claims of B a b and Bah a ’uall a h; (3) a comparison between the Islamic and Bah a ’ i Sharias; and (4) the question why the Qur’an and Islamic Sharia are irreplaceable.* Bah a ’ i ism is an offshoot of B a b i ism—the faith propagated by ‘Al i Muhammad B a b.B a b i ism was itself offshoot of Ithn a ‘Ashariyyah sect of Shiite Islam.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 2 Su f i A.Q.Niy a z, a great scholar in his own right, compiled the book from the Scholarly literature of Jam a ‘at Ahmadiyya, such as books and articles by Hadrat Maul a n a Abul ‘A ta’ J a landhar i , who was the first to publish, and bring it in public Al-Aqdas the Holy book of Bah a ’ i s, which till then was not circulated even among Bah a ’ i s, except their trusted elites, let alone the non-Bah a ’ i s.Moreover, he was very well versed in the B a b i and Bah a ’ i literature and had met great Bah a ’ i leaders.Here, we would like to make one general observa- tion about Bah a ’ i ism.Bah a ’ i ism inspite of its so called worldwide reputation remains an esoteric creed and a secret organization the true teachings of which, especially about the real nature of Bah a ’ull a h ' s claim, are known only to the selected few so much so that its own followers are kept ignorant about these facts.However, an attractive and acceptable facade is erected around the nucleus of the teachings to attract and exploit the credulous common man.Moreover, as a consequence of the above, Bah a ’ i ism is very adept at disguising itself behind various masks to appeal to various religions and creeds.The name of Muhammad sa , the Holy Prophet of Islam, has been followed by the symbol sa , which is an abbreviation for the salutation ‘may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.’ The names of other

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 3 prophets and messengers are followed by the symbol as , an abbreviation for ‘on whom be peace.’ The actual salutations have not generally been set out in full, but they should nevertheless, be understood as being repeated in full in each case.The symbol ra is used with the name of the Disciples of the Holy Prophet sa.It stands for Ra di All a hu ‘anhu/‘anh a / ‘anhum (May Allah be pleased with him/with her/with them).In transliterating Arabic words we have followed the following system adopted by the Royal Asiatic Society.ا at the beginning of a word, pronounced as a , i , u preceded by a very slight aspiration, like h in the English word ‘honour’.ث th , pronounced like th in the English word ‘thing’.ح h , a guttural aspirate, stronger than h.خ kh , pronounced like the Scotch ch in ‘loch’.ذ dh , pronounced like the English th in ‘that’.ص s , strongly articulated s.ض d , similar to the English th in ‘this’.ط t , strongly articulated palatal t.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 4 ظ z , strongly articulated z.ع ‘, a strong guttural, the pronunciation of which must be learnt by the ear.غ gh , a sound approached very nearly in the r ‘ grasseye ’ in French, and in the German r.It re- quires the muscles of the throat to be in the ‘gar- gling’ position whilst pronouncing it.ق q , a deep guttural k sound.ئ ’, a sort of catch in the voice.Short vowels are represented by a for — َ — (like u in ‘bud’); i for — ِ — (like i in ‘bid’); u for — ُ — (like oo in ‘wood’); the long vowels by a for — ٖ — or آ (like a in ‘father’); i for ی — ِ — or — ٖ — (like ee in ‘deep’); ai for ی — َ — (like i in ‘site’) ♦ ; u for و — ُ — (like oo in ‘root’); au for و — َ — (resembling ou in ‘sound’).Please note that in transliterated words the letter ‘e’ is to be pronounced as in ‘prey’ which rhymes with ‘day’; however the pronunciation is flat without the element of English diphthong.If in Urdu and Persian words 'e' is lengthened a bit more it is transliterated as 'ei' to be pronounced as 'ei' in 'feign' ♦ In Arabic words like ﺷ ﻴﺦ (Shaikh) there is an element of diphthong which is missing when the word is pronounced in Urdu.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 5 without the element of diphthong thus ' U ² ' is translit- erated as 'Kei'.For the nasal sound of 'n' we have used the symbol ' ń '.Thus Urdu word ' è¿ O Š ' is transliterated as 'mei n '.* The consonants not included in the above list have the same phonetic value as in the principal languages of Europe.We have not transliterated Arabic, Persian or Urdu words which have become part of English language, e.g., Islam, Mahdi, Qur’an, Hijra, Ramadan, Hadith, ulema, umma, sunna, kafir, pukka etc.● For quotes straight commas (straight quotes) are used to differentiate them from the curved commas used in the system of transliteration, ‘ for ع , ’ for ء.Commas as punctuation marks are used according to the normal usage.The Publishers * These transliterations are not included in the system of transliteration by Royal Asiatic Society.● Concise Oxford Dictionary records Qur’an in three forms—Quran, Qur’an and Koran.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 6 THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION Origin and Development Among variants of the Shia point of view there is a sect called the Ithn a ‘Asharia.The Shias regard Hadrat ‘Al i as invested with special sanctity, to an extent where it involves denial of the authority of the three Khal i fas who preceded Hadrat ‘Al i in this office, namely, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Uthm a n.According to the belief of the Ithna ‘Asharia, there have been twelve rightful Imams after Hadrat ‘Al i , eleven of them having died after the normal span of their lives, but the twelfth having disappeared and gone into hiding in some cave, to reappear towards the end of the world as the expected Imam Mahdi to bring the mission of his Im a mat to completion.Shias of the Ithna ‘Asharia sect also hold that ever since the time the twelfth Imam went into hiding, he keeps one of his followers, the best and most devoted, in the position of a B a b, i.e., a door through which the rest of his followers could maintain spiritual contact and communion with him.According to Alq a m i , a noted Shia writer and divine, "To this day there have always been among his followers people of special devotion who have held the position of a B a b (door)

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 7 in relation to him, with functions to serve as a link between the Imam and his followers for the communi- cation of what should and what should not be done." 1 In Shia history there have been four people who have claimed the position of a B a b, the last among them having been Abul H asan ‘Al i bin Mu h ammad- al-Samr i , who died in the year 260 of the Hijra, according to one source, in 328 according to another.Subsequent to the death of the fourth B a b, above- mentioned Abul H asan, the idea about the existence and the necessity for the presence of a B a b began to weaken.Towards the end of the 12th century of the Hijra it had practically faded out since popular expectations in regard to the reappearance of the Hidden Imam had not been fulfilled.The Ithn a ‘Asharia sect had gained a considerable amount of footing in Iran where some people tried to keep the belief in the necessity for a B a b alive among the people; and the idea such people tried to exploit was that the time for the reappearance of the Imam was drawing very near.Foremost among those who worked for this revival were men like Shaikh Ahmad al-A h s a ’ i and Sayyid K az im Rasht i.These two are the most important for the purpose in hand since the B a b i and the Bah a’ i religions grew out of their teaching and 1 Ikm a lud d i n , page 56.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 8 the positions they took up in regard to a number of questions.Shaikh Ahmad al-A h s a ’ i was born in 1167 Hijra in a tribe of Bahrain, known by name of Bani Sakhr.His father’s name was Zainuddin al-A h s a ’ i.Ahmad al-A h s a ’ i was the founder of the sub-sect of the Ithn a ‘Asharia which is known as the Shaikhiyyah.He died in 1242 Hijra (A.D.1826).The ideas he preached were essentially of the nature of Shia beliefs, but he brought forth rather a different interpretation of the Qur’an and the Hadith, this being the reason why those who accepted his way of thought came to be known as a new sect called the Shaikhiyyah.2 That Shaikh Ahmad al-A h s a ’ i was a true Shia is quite clearly borne out by Alkaw a kib, page 42.With regard to the Imam Mahdi, Ahmad A h s a ’ i 's idea was that the twelfth Imam, ‘Askar i , who was held to have gone into hiding, was still alive, and would reappear at the proper time, which now was going to be very soon.His main point was the good news he professed to bear that the time of the reappearance of the Hidden Imam was very near 3.On this rallying point Al-A h s a ’ i gathered together a considerable number of followers.2 Collection of Journals printed in Egypt, page 77.3 Al-Kaw a kib , page 45.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 9 In fact some of these have held him to be the Mujaddid of the 13th century 4.In his own lifetime Ahmad Al-A h s a ’ i had ap- pointed Sayyid K az im Rasht i as his successor.Rasht i was born in Rasht in 1205 Hijra.When Ahmad Al- A h s a ’ i died in 1242 Hijra, K az im Rasht i became the head of the Shaikhiyyah sect.While in the main he strove to spread the teaching of Ahmad Al-A h s a ’ i , he also differed in some points, this being the reason why his followers came to be known by a different name, i.e., the Kashfiyyah.K az im Rasht i died at Karbala in 1259 Hijra.K az im Rasht i divided his followers into three groups.The most important among them were the people who remained with him day and night.Before these he opened the innermost chambers of his heart.Sayyid ‘Al i Muhammad B a b, who became the founder of the B a b i religion, was the foremost among these, and when he put forth his claim to being himself the B a b, most other membeis of this inner group of the followers of Rasht i accepted his claim.One among these was a woman named Umm-e-Salm a to whom K az im Rasht i had given the title of Qurratul ‘Ain.4 Arris a latul Tis‘a ‘Asharia , page 11.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 10 It is to be carefully noted that neither Ahmad al- A h s a ’ i nor K az im Rasht i laid any claim to be recipients of Divine Revelation.Both had been emphasising the near approach of the time when the Hidden Imam was to reappear, and it was no matter for surprise that a large number of their followers were on tip-toe, so to say, to hear his call.In fact many zealots among them wandered about in the jungles and wastes in the hope of coming across him by good luck.Claim of B a b As to the time when ‘Al i Muhammad put forth his claim to being the B a b, and the precise nature of this claim, we come across the following in Bah a ’ i sources: (i) One day in a mosque in B u shaihar he claimed that he was the B a b for reaching the concealed personage who was expected to appear soon.(ii) In the presence of mullah H usain Bashr u ’ i , who was a prominent follower of the Shai- kiyyah sect, ‘Al i Mo h ammad first declared his mission as B a b.In B a b’s book entitled Bay a n the exact time of this declaration is given as 1260

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 11 Hijra, the fifth of Jam a d i ul Awwal, two hours and fifteen minutes after sunset 5.Beginning at first with a claim that he was the B a b, ‘Al i Muhammad also claimed later that he was the expected Mahdi as well.But he never claimed to be a prophet, nor did his followers accept him as such.However, he claimed to be the " Nuq t ah " (point), but left the meaning of this expression conveniently vague.His activities and those of his followers soon came to be looked upon with grave suspicion, especially as there was a considerable measure of secrecy observed by him and his followers in the matter of the inner teaching, so much so that the central scripture of the Bah a ’ i faith, entitled the Bay a n, one hardly ever sees anywhere even to this day.This secrecy gave rise to a deep suspicion in the mind of the authorities that the inner teaching bore the taint of violent political aims, for, otherwise, it was argued, there was no ground for the strict secrecy observed.The authorities first acted by placing certain re- strictions upon ‘Al i Mu h ammad.This was in 1262 Hijra.He was to remain confined to his house; was not to mix with people; and was to refrain from 5 May 23, 1844, of the Christian era.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 12 propagating his views.His uncle, Haji ‘Al i , had to stand surety that these instructions would be obeyed.As to the question why the government took this seemingly oppressive stand in regard to a religious movement, only one quotation need be given here.According to Mak a t i b ‘Abdul Bah a ’ , Vol II, page 266 , "During the days of the advent of Hadrat-e-‘Ala, (Founder of the B a b i religion) the, teaching was that heads should be cut off, books and leaves burnt, places demolished and laid waste, and a general slaughter made, except in the case of those who rendered belief and homage." Evidently this was not the kind of teaching which the established government of the country could very well leave to spread in the land unchecked.Another interesting fact also deserves to be borne in mind.On Rama da n 21, 1262 Hijra, the ulema of Shiraz, acting through the administrative agencies, called upon ‘Al i Muhammad to appear before the people in a mosque, where he was asked to recant from his claims and views.There upon ‘Al i Mu h am- mad mounted the pulpit and made a remarkable speech.It was remarkable in the sense that those present failed to get any idea as to what he was driving at.According to Al-Kaw a kib , page 88, "The audience was left in no position to understand whether he had spoken in renunciation of his views or in

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 13 support thereof." But this source admits that the ulema were reassured that he had given up his claim.‘Al i Muhammad then resumed the life of isolation he had begun to lead some time before.Some other historical sources state that in response to the call by the ulema, Ali Muhammad "mounted the pulpit and in a clear, loud voice renounced and repented of his views as demanded by the ulema.Then he came down and kissed their hands." 6 In this connection mention also needs to be made of the written recantation and renunciation of his views which ‘Al i Muhammad submitted to N as irudd i n Sh a h, the Heir-Apparent at that time.7 Following this recantation, or explanation, or whatever it was intended or taken to be, ‘Al i Mu- h ammad B a b took outwardly to a life of comparative seclusion.But inwardly the activities of the movement continued more or less as before, though of course greater care was taken to keep them secret.Clashes with the public and the authorities, however began to occur frequently, so that the government at last arrested ‘Al i Muhammad B a b and put him into prison.When disturbances continued even after that, the authorities decided that he should be shot, along with 6 Al- H ar a b , by Muhammad F ad il, printed in Egypt, page 173.7 Kashful Hiyal , Vol.II, pages 88, 89.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 14 two followers.One of these recanted at this juncture and was spared, while ‘Al i Muhammad and the other follower were shot in 1850 of the Christian era.At the time of his death ‘Al i Muhammad was barely thirty years of age, and his mission not more than six years old.He was succeeded by, Mirz a Ya h y a , who took the title of " S ub h- e-Azal" (Morning of Eternity).In 1852 several B a b i s made an attempt on the life of the King, but failed and were arrested.A plot was suspected and many more B a b i s were put to death among them the beautiful but fiery Qurratul ‘Ain.Mirz a Ya h ya, or S ub h i Azal, thereafter removed himself to Baghdad from where he peacefully propagated his views.Himself he lived in seclusion, leaving the direction of affairs in the hands, of his brother, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i.This position lasted for ten years, during which time Mirz a H usain ‘Al i was content with the second position assigned to him.But then he took his stand on the basis of certain prophe- cies of ‘Al i Muhammad B a b which spoke of "one whom God was to manifest." It is to be noted that these prophecies had been left as vague and undefined as the meaning of "Nuq t ah" one of the titles taken up by ‘Al i Muhammad B a b.These prophecies gave no indication as to the time or signs when this manifestation from God was to take

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 15 place.He had simply said that when the expected one came he would be recognised by all.In 1863 Mirz a H usain ‘Al i declared that he was the one whose advent had been foretold by ‘Al i Muhammad B a b, and he took the title of Bah a ’ull a h, meaning the Splendour of God.But Mirz a Ya h y a , with some of his followers, refused to accept this claim, the split giving rise to two sections, the Azal i s and the Bah a ’ i s—those who remained with S ub h e Azal in his denial of the claims of Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , and those who accepted the latter’s claim that he was the Bah a ’ull a h.Following the unsuccesful attempt on the life of the king when several B a b i s were arrested, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i was among them.He remained in prison for about four months, was released, and soon afterwards moved to Baghdad, where he thought that he would perhaps be better in a position to pursue his ambitions and schemes.S ub h- e-Azal also thereafter went to live in Baghdad.The rivalry between the two sects, the Azal i s and the Bah a ’ i s, began to give rise to quarrels between the followers of both, so that the Turkish Government decided that S ub h- e-Azal and Bah a ’ull a h should be kept at different places.In 1868 Bah a ’ull a h and his followers were exiled to ‘Akk a in Syria, while S ub h- e-Azal was sent to Famagusta in Cyprus.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 16 Bah a ’ull a h died on 16th May, 1892, and was succeeded by his son, ‘Abb a s A fand i.But another son named Muhammad ‘Al i advanced claims of his own for succession.He gained but few followers, but in ‘Akk a itself was successful in obtaining custody of Bah a ’ull a h’s tomb.The Azal i sect has since been losing ground while the Bah a ’ i s have made some progress in gaining converts in some places, in Europe and USA among others, though much ground is left for speculation in regard to their precise number and the exact nature of their prevailing teaching, since there is reason to believe that they conveniently shift their ground from one climate to another.Main Points Thus, from a close study of the background from which the B a b i movement rose the following interesting and rather significant points emerge beyond any kind of doubt whatsoever: (a) The B a b i movement began as an offshoot of the Shia point of view, the central doctrine having been the position of the Hidden Imam and the importance of the B ab as an intermediary between him and his followers.The Ithn a ‘Ashariyya and the Shaikhiyyah, which represent the parent body of B a b i and Bah a ’ i thought, laid so much empha-

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 17 sis on the near approach of the time when the Hidden Imam was to reappear as the Imam Mahdi that the hopes of devout followers rose to white heat.‘Al i Muhammad first claimed to be the B a b, then went a step further by claiming that he was the Imam Mahdi so eagerly expected.After ‘Al i Muhammad B a b, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , who called himself Bah a ’ull a h, initially exploited in his own favour certain passages in the writings of ‘Al i Muhammad B a b which vaguely appeared to speak of the appearance of another teacher after him: but later he seems to have overshot those marks, for he ended by abrogating the Islamic Sharia, a point which we shall discuss in some detail at another stage.(b) As is universally admitted to be usual with the Shias, the B a b i s observed a considerable measure of secrecy in regard to their doctrine and inner aims.(c) Some of these aims were undeniably political, with a possibility, even a probability of recourse, if practicable, to violent means for the attainment of those aims.(d) Due to (b) and (c) a head-on clash with the government and portions of the public was only natural.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 18 The General State of Affairs in Persia at the Time In the history of Persia this was a period of ex- treme decadence, political as well as religious.Aggressive sectarianism was at its height.Says, ‘Abb a s A fand i : "In Iran different sects and separate groupings exist in large numbers, such as Mutashar i ‘a, Shaikh i yyah, Su f i a, and Na s ir i yyah, etc., all of which regard the others as K a firs and F a siqs." 8 About the middle of the 13th century the Shias in general, and the Shaikhiyyah in particular, were waiting for the appearance of the Imam Mahdi with an eagerness which almost bordered on impatience 9.Another Bah a ’ i writes: "All the followers of Shaikh Ahmad and Sayyid K az im in those days were waiting for the appearance of the Promised One with a great deal of eagerness and impatience." 10 Moreover, like many other Asiatic countries, Iran at that time was preparing to rise against the old system of absolute monarchy, while European statesmen in the leading countries had their fingers on the pulse of the country, waiting for a chance to turn events to their own advantage.In a serious study of the genesis of the B a b i and B a h a ’ i movement, factors 8 Maq a lah Sayy ah , page 113.9 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Arabic Edition, page 22.10 Ris a latul Tis‘a ‘Asharia , page 20.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 19 such as these cannot be overlooked.It is incontestable that the Government of Iran, to begin with, did not take up any attitude of hostility towards the move- ment 11 and this continued to be the policy of the Government until the B a b i s and Bah a ’ i s took to the path of rebellion, following which the Government, of course, had to adopt a severe line of action.There is also reason to believe that the movement had contact with some foreign powers.We read in Bah a‘i history that when some B a b i s fired at the Emperor in an attempt to assassinate him many of them were arrested, and "Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , Bah a ’ull a h, also was imprisoned, and in one district alone 400 villages belonging to him were confiscated.And if the British and Russian Embassies had not taken an interest in the case, world history might well have been deprived of the events of an illustrious life" 12.It is also known that when the B a b was executed, the Russian Council managed to take a photograph and sent it to his Government 13.Bah a ’ull a h himself writes: "When we started from Iran, we were accompanied by horsemen of Iranian and Russian Governments until we reached Iraq to be received with due respect." 14 11 Maq a la Sayy ah , page 16.12 Bah a ’ull a h ki Ta‘l i m a t , printed at Agra, page 18.13 Al-Kaw a kib , page 446.14 Nabdhatu min Ta‘l i mul Bah a , page 71.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 20 Life of ‘Al i Muhammad B a b prior to his Claim ‘Al i Muhammad B a b was born in a family of businessmen and traders.When he was about fifteen years of age he went into business with his uncle.As regards his education, "since he was born in a trader family, his education had been mainly confined to arithmetic necessary for book-keeping, as was the case in India for some time, and as continues to be the case in Iran even now.It is likely that this education also included the learning of the Holy Qur’an by heart, as was usually the case in most old-fashioned families." 15 Right from the start ‘Al i Muhammad was a fol- lower of the Shaikhiyyah sect, having been brought up by his uncle who was a zealous member.Thus the atmosphere in which he spent his childhood was one that was permeated by a great hope and expectation in regard to the appearance of the Hidden Imam.The effect of this atmosphere on the mind of ‘Al i Muhammad was so deep that as soon as his uncle set him up in business in partnership with a son of his own, he began to show signs of an inner agitation and mental absorption."He did not appear to be happy with the claim the business made upon his time and mind.He began to show a preference for spending his 15 Bah a ’ull a h k i Ta‘1im a t , page 4 and Ris a latul Tis‘a ‘Ashar i ‘a , page 28.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 21 time, in seclusion.He would extricate himself from the business of the shop, climb to the roof, and there devote himself to prayer and meditation." 16 At this stage he began to write in support of the Shia doctrine, with some monographs on the Hidden Imam, which attracted a considerable amount of attention in Shaikhiyyah circles."The B a b wrote in detail in regard to the Imam Mahdi and his character- istic attributes, and he always withheld his pen from writing anything against the Shia view.In fact he supported and extolled this view, holding it to be correct, including the belief in regard to the Hidden Imam." 17 ‘Al i Muhammad married when he was 22, and his friends and relations thought that now perhaps he would settle down.After one year a child was born, but died in infancy.Now more disturbed in mind than ever before, he left home and went to Karbala.This was 1258 Hijra, when K az im Rasht i was yet alive.In addition to visiting the tombs of celebrated saints, ‘Al i Muhammad also attended the dars 18 of K az im Rasht i 19.He returned from Karbala to Bushahr 16 A l-Kaw a kib , page 64.17 Al-Kaw a kib , page 66.18 A lecture or discourse by a learned religious scholar in an informal class which anyone interested can attend.[Publisher] 19 Al-Ris a tul Tis’a ‘Asharia , page 29.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 22 after some time, but his restlessness of mind did not leave him.Then only a few months afterwards K az im Rasht i died in 1259 Hijra, and this event had a profound effect on ‘Al i Mu h ammad.He closed his shop and returned to his native town, Shiraz.His Initial Claim It has been stated already that, to begin with, Sayyid ‘Al i Muhammad only claimed that he was the B a b, which claim was no more than that of Ahmad al- A h s a ’i and K az im Rasht i before him, or that of the earlier B a bs.The Badasht Conference was held in 1264 Hijra, and we have it on the authority of Tadhkiratul Waf a 20 that till that time ‘Al i Muhammad had not put forth his claim that he was the expected Imam Mahdi.It appears that he made this claim for the first time on his return from the castle of Chihr i q.This was 1264 Hijra, shortly after the Badasht Conference.In Tadhkiratul Waf a 20 we have the following passage: "Mirz a H usain ‘Al i.mullah Muhammad ‘Al i B a rfarush i , and Ummi Salma Qurratul ‘Ain used to meet at night.The declaration had not yet been made in regard to the Q a imiyyat of Sayyid ‘Al i Mu h ammad, Bah a ’ull a h and mullah B a rfarush i passed a resolution 20 ibid page 307.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 23 in regard to open preaching and the abrogation of (earlier) sharias." We learn from Al-K a w a kib that when he put forth the claim that he was the Mahdi long being awaited by the Muslims, a violent disturbance took place.21 Condition in general of the followers of B a b With the exception of a few people, the early followers of B a b were rather narrow minded, ignorant, and prone to violent fanatical fervour.In Bah a ’ull a h k i Ta‘l i m a t , pages 12 and 13 we read: "Those who accepted the claim of Sayyid ‘Al i Muhammad came to be known as B a b i s.The history of these B a b i s makes extremely painful and pathetic reading, for most of them were illiterate, simple, credulous, and good at heart.In mosques and Imam B a r a s these people had from childhood listened to dissertations on the expected advent of the Innocent Imam Q a ’im, A l-e-Mu h ammad, Hadrat Mahdi as in words which stirred the heart to its depths.Now, if the B a b had not been imprisoned these people would have gone to him seeking to know and understand his teaching.But since this was not possible, on the whole they remained ignorant of his teaching of which fact there is ample proof in their actions." 21 ibid page 397.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 24 In T a r i kh Amri-B a h a ’ i 22 we read: "With the ex- ception of a very limited number no one seemed to have really recognised the B a b, only a few having grasped his teaching.On the basis of that inner fire which the common people are capable of evincing under a strong religious impetus, the devotees, in a manner of speaking were mad after the B a b.It was their belief that it was binding upon them that they should all gather under his banner and be ready to shed their blood so that a revival and regeneration should take place, and all difficulties and troubles should melt away and disappear.But they did not really understand his teaching.Some of them even believed that what was forbidden before the appear- ance of the B a b had become lawful now." This was the condition of the B a b i s in the begin- ning.In regard to their end, the following passage from the writings of ‘Abdul Bah a ’ A fand i would not be without interest."They are steeped in the darkness of superstition.’ 23 The prominent four among B a b’s followers The most prominent among B a b’s followers from the earliest times were the following four ‘mullah H usain of Bushrawaih, to whom the title of B a bul B a b 22 ibid page 28.23 Khutab a t Abdul Bah a ’ , volume 1, page 258.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 25 (Gate of the B a b) was given; Mirz a H usain ‘Al i who later came to he known as Bah a ’ull a h, of whom it is said that when news in regard to the B a b spread, the first to support his claim in Teheran was Bah a ’ull a h 24 ; mullah Muhammad ‘Al i B a rfarush i ; and the daughter of mullah Sa li h Al-Qazwain i , Ummi Salm a by name.On account of her golden hair, in some historical records she is spoken of as "Zarr i n T a j", meaning Golden Crown.Among the B a b i s she later on came to be known as Qurratual ‘Ain.Born about 1231 Hijra, she was married to her cousin mullah Mu h ammad.Under the influence of her uncle, mullah ‘Al i , she had early joined the Shaikhiyya sect.Surprisingly beautiful and intelligent, she is said to have won the title of Qurratul ‘Ain from Sayyid K az im.After the demise of Sayyid K az im she used to teach and instruct his disciples.At this stage she was about 30 years of age.When ‘Al i Muhammad claimed to be the B a b, she joined his followers.Qurratul ‘Ain had children from this marriage, but since her husband and her father-in-law were not well disposed towards the B a b i movement, the relationship became strained, and she gave up living with her husband.When some friends tried to bring about reconciliation, she is reported to have said on one 24 Bah a ’ull a h ki Ta‘lim a t , page 17.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 26 occasion in regard to her husband: "That Khab i th (unworthy and undesirable man) cannot be a proper mate for a woman like me".25 Later on when mullah Taq i , her father-in-law was killed in Qazwain.some people thought Qurratul ‘Ain had a hand in the affair, and some of her friends were arrested.Thanks to strenuous efforts made on her behalf by H usain ‘Al i (Bah a ’ull a h), she succeeded in slipping to Teheran.In those days she did not observe pardah.In N a sikhul Taw a r i kh it is stated that she looked upon purdah between males and females as something reprehensible.In the circle of her friends she appeared without a veil, but when speaking to the common people she usually had one on.This roused a great deal of unfavourable comment in B a b i circles, and a question on the point was addressed to the B a b.This was during the time when the B a b was a prisoner.The B a b's verdict supported Qurratul ‘Ain, and Sayyid ‘Al i Bashar, the man who had raised this question, was rebuked as one who was weak and shaky in belief.This answer from the B a b was not welcomed by some among his followers, who left the movement.When the Badasht Conference was held, Qurratul ‘Ain took up a very bold attitude.On this occasion she is reported to have said quite openly that 25 Al-Kaw a kib , page 203.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 27 their time being the time of fatrat 26 the former religious laws had become null and void.( N a si Khul Taw a r i kh , vol.III).She was executed in 1852 for complicity in an attempt to raise a rebellion following the failure of a B a b i attempt on the life of Sh a h Nas i r- ud-D i n.S ub h -e-Azal When B a b’s apprehensions increased in regard to his own life, in 1265 Hijra he appointed Mirz a Ya h y a , at that time only 19, as his successor.This Mirz a Ya h y a among the B a b i s is known by the title of S ub h - e-Azal.Following the execution of the B a b, S ub h -e- Azal was accepted as the Executor of the last will and testament of the B a b, and the head of the B a b i movement.Evidence on this point is so full and so convincing that no Bah a ’ i can afford to reject it.Political nature and aims of the B a b i movement.It was noted earlier that from the very outset there was an air of great secrecy about the movement, which increased following the claim of the B a b that he was the long awaited Mahdi.Suspicion in Government circles in regard to the aims of the movement was a natural result of secrecy, and this suspicion increased with the development from day to 26 Transitional period.[Publisher]

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 28 day in the political aims of the movement.Following the claim of the B a b that he was the Mahdi, distur- bance took place in many places, with varying degrees of bloodshed, culminating in the arrest of the B a b and his imprisonment in the fortress of M a k u.In the Badasht Conference held in 1264 Hijra resolution was passed to the effect that all B a b i s should converge on M a k u in an organised manner, so that all possible efforts should be made to encompass liberation of the B a b from imprisonment.27 The B a b i s who responded to this call have been thus described by B a h a ’ i historians: "Most of them carried arms and moved in bands of about twenty or more" 28.In 1264 Hijra the B a b i s took possession of the fort of Tabras i , put it in good repair and installed them- selves in it.Muhammad Sh a h of Iran died at about this time, which greatly encouraged the B a b i s.Even prior to the execution of the B a b, distur- bances had occurred in a number of places, with clashes between the B a b i s and Government forces.In places like Zanj a n M a zandar a n and N i r i z the army had suffered considerable losses.According to a B a h a ’ i historian in one clash alone about four hundred 27 Al-Kaw a kib , 227.28 Al-Kaw a kib , page 225.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 29 army men were killed, of which number 35 were officers 29.The B a b i battle-cry in these clashes was "Y a Sahibul Zam a n," which shows that Jihad had been proclaimed among them.Following the execution of the B a b, resentment against the Government reached white heat among his followers, of which the attempt on the life of the king was a result.According to ‘ A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu, page 31: "August 1852 an event occurred for the B a b i s which raised such a storm that the lives of all were put into danger.A young man, S a diq by name, who was a B a b i , was so enraged by the martyrdom of his master that, fired by a desire for revenge, he made an attempt on the life of the king." When and how was the ambition born to abrogate the Islamic Sharia For some time the followers of the B a b i move- ment continued to observe the Islamic Sharia.‘Abdul Bah a ’ A fand i writes in connection with the Badasht Conference "See how careful were the B a b i s in sticking to Islamic habits and ritual.They were under the impression that in this way they were striving to establish the truth.Indeed to that day all had depended on the Islamic Sharia, not a single injunction having 29 Al-Kaw a kib, page 276.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 30 been changed till that time" ( T a r i kh Bah a ’ull a h mei n Mu h adath a t-e-‘Abdul Bah a ’, page 20) The background of the Badasht.Conference was that the B a b was, in prison, while followers of the movement, generally speaking, were in great distress.Religious decrees had been issued by the ulema against the B a b i s, and the B a b i rally was designed to think out ways and means for meeting the situation.Outcome of the conference was a resolution that an organised and armed attempt should be made to rescue the leader of the movement.On the other hand, in order to avenge themselves on the ulema, the tendency was born and accelerated that they should cut themselves away from Islam altogether.This step, therefore, was; for the greater part, a retaliatory measure against the ulema: Bah a ’ull a h himself writes in Iqtid a r 30 : "If ‘the Muslims had not failed to yield belief to the claims of the movement, the Islamic Sharia would not have been abrogated." As mentioned earlier, the four who took the most leading part in this Conference were: Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , mullah Muhammad ‘Al i , mullah H usain Bushrawaih, and Ummi Salm a , Qurratul ‘Ain.This inner group of the leadership of the movement frequently consulted each other, the main point under 30 Pages 47 and 48.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 31 discussion having been that the Islamic Sharia should be abrogated 31.The result was that a large number of the B a b i s began to incline to this view.But a small portion thought that there was no valid reason for abrogating the Islamic Sharia, and that no change in it could be held, permissible 32.Qurratul ‘Ain was in the first group, being in fact one of its most vehement exponents.She insisted that the B a b should have a sharia of his own, and that the time had come when the Islamic law had to be changed.But the other B a b i leaders were extremely apprehensive that any step of this kind would radically displease the rank and file of the movement, and was likely to be repudiated by them.Discussion continued till at last Qurratul ‘Ain came out with a proposal that since the Islamic law did not ordain death far a woman apostate, she would take upon herself the responsibility to move the idea publicly that the time had come when the Islamic Sharia had to be abrogated and abandoned.If the proposal was well received, so far so good; but if any very great deal of resentment was expressed, she would take back what she said, and the incident would be closed for the time being.On a suitable occasion, when the other prominent leaders had deliberately 31 Al-Kaw a kib , page 219.32 Al-Kaw a kib , page 220.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 32 failed to put in an appearance, Qurratul ‘Ain raised the question 33.But the people in general were staggered when they heard her.They took a complaint against her to mullah Muhammad ‘Al i , who was in fact collaborat- ing with Qurratul ‘Ain in the matter.He managed to silence the critics, expressing his readiness to look into the matter carefully with Qurratul ‘Ain.Conver- sations later took place on the point, but those who were really deeply religious at heart began to perceive that the whole activity was a sort of diplomatic move to allay suspicion; and seeing this many of them went back to their homes.According to the well thought out scheme Bah a ’ull a h intervened in the controversy, but he sided with Qurratul ‘Ain.This created great resentment among the followers.‘Abdul Bah a ’ writes that at first almost all of them turned their backs, but later some people returned 34.Then it was decided that for final decision the question should be referred to the B a b in prison.Bah a ’ i history has it that the B a b agreed with Qurratul ‘Ain and the decision to abandon the Islamic Sharia was finally taken 35.33 Al-Kaw a kib , page 221.34 Tadhkirtul Waf a , page 308.35 Al-Kaw a kib , Page 223.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 33 The B a b i sharia When we study the B a b i movement in its histori- cal perspective, we find that it can be said to have coined three separate sharias after deciding to abandon the Islamic Sharia: namely, those embodied in Al-Bay a n , Al-Mustaiqaz , and Al-Aqdas.The author of Al-Bay a n is ‘Al i Muhammad known as the B a b; that of Mustaiqaz is Mirz a Ya h y a , known by the title of S ub h -e-Azal, appointed by Ali Muhammad B a b to succeed him: while the author of Al-Aqdas is Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , the man who played a prominent part in the movement in the life of Ali Muhammad B a b and who, later, on his own claim, become Bah a ’ull a h, the founder of the B a h a ’ i movement, which is a develop- ment of the B a b i movement.According to the B a h a ’ i s the sharia of Al-Bay a n too has been abrogated in turn.Nor do the B a h a ’ i s have faith in the sharia embodied in Al-Mustaiqaz by S ub h -e-Azal, leader of the B a b i movement appointed to that post by ‘Al i Muhammad the founder, but whose position was challenged after some years by Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , Bah a ’uhll a h, who became the founder of the B a h a ’ i movement.The followers of Bah a ’ull a h denounce Mirz a Ya h y a , S ub h -e-Azal, and ignore the sharia embodied by him in Al-Mustaiqaz.Those who call themselves B a b i s today hold faith in Al-Bay a n, taking Al-Mustaiqaz to be only a supplement of the former.Those who call

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 34 themselves B a h a ’ i s attach no importance either to Al-Bay a n or Al-Mustaiqaz: their sharia is embodied in Al-Aqdas, of which the author is Bah a ’ull a h.Al-Bay a n After the decision to abrogate the Islamic Sharia taken at the Badasht Conference, ‘Al i Mu h ammad, B a b, started writing Al-Bay a n while he was in prison in Fort Maku.Some people think that the duration of his imprisonment in this fortress is nine months, while others extend it to about a year and a half.But in any case all agree that Al-Bay a n was written during this time, whether we take it to have extended to nine months or to a year and a half.‘Abdul Bah a ’ says that the B a b wrote Al-Bay a n in the fort of M a ku where he was in prison 36.The Bah a ’ i historian ‘Abdul H usain confirms this view 37.No one is permitted to give any commentary on Al-Bay a n 38 B a b's idea in regard to Al-Bay a n was that he would divide it into 19 parts, with 19 chapters in each part But he could not carry out this plan as he had originally conceived it 39.In actual fact he wrote 36 T a r i kh Bah a ’ull a h , page 2.37 Al-Kaw a kib , pages 382, 405.38 Bah a ’ull a h ki Ta‘l i m a t , page 8.39 Al-Kaw a kib page 406.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 35 only eight parts complete, while of the, ninth parts he wrote only nine chapters 40.It is to be noted here with care that this is a curious kind of sharia of which the author did not have time or an opportunity enough to complete it.S ub h -e-Azal and his book Mirz a Ya h y a , titled S ub h -e-Azal, was half brother from the father’s side of Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , who called himself Bah a ’ull a h and became the founder of the B a h a ’ i movement.The B a b, ‘Al i Mu h ammad, had appointed Mirz a S ub h -e-Azal as Wa si after himself, i.e., the Executor of his will, and leader of the movement founded by him.At first this position of Mirz a Ya h y a was accepted by all followers of the B a b, including Mirz a H usain All.But, later Mirz a H usain ‘Al i challenged his half brother in this position, managed to gather the greater portion of the followers round him and became Bah a ’ull a h.Mirz a Ya h y a claimed that after the B a b he was the’ Ma s dar-e-Amr, source of all authority.Bah a ’ull a h and his followers hold that he was the "man whom Allah had manifested" as foretold in Al-Bay a n.But S ub h -e-Azal claims this position for 40 A1-Kaw a kib 410.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 36 himself.Among the old B a b i s, the followers of Subhi- e-Azal came to be called Azal i s.Al-Mustaiqaz , the book written by S ub h -e-Azal as the new sharia following the abrogation of Al-Bay a n , was ignored by Bah a ’ull a h, who has accused the followers of S ub h -e-Azal that they had taken their leader as their God 41.Some salient points of the sharia of Al-Bay a n The sharia embodied by Bah a ’ull a h in Al-Aqdas will be discussed at a stage when we come to a detailed study of Bah a ’ull a h and his claims.But a passing reference to some salient points of the sharia of Al-Bay a n seems advisable: 1.The B a b has directed that no follower of his should read any book other than Al-Bay a n 42.2.The B a b has directed that all books other than those written by him should be destroyed 43.3.The B a b i sharia directs that all who did not accept this sharia should be put to death 44.4.The principle has been laid down that all B a b i s were pure people, while all those who failed to 41 Majm u ‘a-e-Aqdas , page 125.42 W a hid 4, B a b 10.43 Al-Mun a zir a t , page 167.44 Mak a t i b , Volume 2, page 266.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 37 accept the B a b were impure and dirty, and the same principle applied to all their belongings and things connected with them.The B a b has further explained this point by saying that even if the non- B a b i s bathed in the sea a thousand times every day, they could not become clean and pure in body.45 5.The B a b began the fifth W ah id of the fifth B a b Al-Bay a n as follows: "Those who do not accept the B a b and his religion, all their belongings should be snatched away from them, if that is possible: but if they accept him their property can be returned to them.6.The B a b i Sharia ordains that where a man was in possession of a hundred misq a ls of gold, he should hand over 19 misq a ls to the B a b and 18 disciples called the H ar u ful H ay i.In case these had died, the gold was to be given to their heirs 46.It has also been ordained that of everything the best portion was for the B a b; the middle one for disciples specially near and dear to him; and only the lowest quality was for the use of the common people.7.It has been written that it is the duty of every B abi king that he should not allow any non-B a b i to live 45 B a b 2, W a hid 6.46 B a b 16, W ah id 8.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 38 in his realm.This is also binding upon the other B a b i s as well.The only non-B a b i who could be allowed to live in the country was one who carried on some trade of benefit for other people 47.8.It is ordained in the B a b i sharia that any one who hurts the feelings of the B a b, or his successors after him, was to be killed; and for bringing about his death every possible means could be adopted 48.9.Just as the use of intoxicants is forbidden, similarly the use of medicines also is prohibited.History of the Bah a ’ i Movement Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , Bah a ’ull a h, was born in Tehe- ran on November 12, 1817, father’s name being Mirz a ‘Abbas Nur i.It is said that the Q a ch a r i kings used to select their ministers and advisers from this family, which originally came from Nur in the district of M a zandr a n *.According to B a h a ’ i sources, Bah a ’ull a h was not educated in any school or college.His father passed away when he was only 22.Five years after this Bah a ’ull a h joined the B a b i movement.In 1844 when he put forth his claim he was 27 years of age.In 47 B a b 4, W a hid 8.48 Al-Bay a n 15 , B a b W a hid 6.* Here z is pronounced as 'su' in the English word pleasure.In Persian it is written as 9Ãژ/¿ را ن.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 39 collaboration with Qurratul ‘Ain, he was the man who devised the plan to abandon the Islamic Sharia, a resolution to this effect having been passed at the Badasht Conference, as mentioned earlier.In, 1850 when the B a b was executed while he had not yet had time to complete the new sharia, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i was greatly shocked and upset.But he immediately busied himself in schemes to carry out the intention of the Badasht resolution.Bah a ’ull a h’s Schemes after Execution of the B a b While Bah a ’ull a h was still deep in devising his plans some B a b i s made an attempt on the life of the king, but failed.Bah a ’ull a h was among those arrested in this connection.He remained in prison for four months, of which the effect on his mind may be gauged from his own words: "During the period of imprisonment, on account of hardship caused by the chains in which I was kept, and the foul air of the cell, I could get very little sleep.But sometimes when sleep did come, it seemed as if something were falling from my head on my breast—like a big stream falling down from the top of a hill.This resulted in a peculiar feeling, as if a tire were burning in all my limbs During such moments words and passages came on my lips of such stupendous, awful import that I do not

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 40 think there is any one in this world who could bear to hear." 49 As to what were his thoughts during these sleep- less hours in the prison cell, Bah a ’ull a h himself has told us "Day and night in prison I used to review the actions of the B a b i s and the conditions under which they were living and felt greatly pained by the fact that in spite of the lofty position in view of their mission, and their high intelligence and thorough grasp, they were guilty of such an act as daringly to make an attempt on the life of the king.One result of this contemplation was that on being released from prison I would make the utmost effort to educate and civilize the followers of the movement.One night I heard the following voice in a vision, and the same voice and words seemed to be coming from all sides: "Indeed we shall help thee with thy pen.Do not be afraid" 50.In view of this it would not be very far wrong to conclude that following the execution’ of the B a b, the thoughts of Mirz a H usain ‘Al i were full of the urgent need for some man of calibre to assume leadership of the movement, and that in his own mind he felt convinced that he himself was the man for the task.49 Lau h i ibni Dha’ib Urdu, page 17.50 ibid page 16.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 41 Move to Iraq and the reason behind that move.The B a h a ’ i s say that Bah a ’ull a h was exiled to Iraq by the Persian Government, but this does not appear to be correct.The fact seems to be that on coming out of prison, when he saw the intensity of feeling still prevalent in the country against the followers of the movement, he thought it would be risky if he claimed for himself leadership of the movement that had won such odium in the eyes of the common people.He therefore, managed to obtain permission from the king to travel to Iraq, and for holding this view we have the following basis.1.We learn from the author of Maq a lah Sayy ah that " Hadrat Bah a ’ull a h requested that he be permitted to go on a pilgrimage to the sacred places.After, a few months, having obtained permission from the king and ‘the prime minister, he set out, attended by some minions of the ‘king" 51.2.Bah a ’ull a h himself writes "In accordance with the permission granted by the king, I proceeded to Iraq" 52.These passages seem to establish that though Bah a ’ull a h was a follower of the B a b i movement which had decided to abandon the Islamic Sharia 51 B a bul Hayy a t , page 47.52 B a bul H ayy a t , page 128.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 42 altogether and start a new religion,’ he dissembled before the Government of the country, pretended to, be a Shia, and obtained a passport to go abroad on the plea that he desired to visit the sacred places of the Shias in Iraq.In any case he reached Iraq in Muharram, 1269 Hijra.Opposition from S ub h -e-Azal.Another reason why Bah a ’ull a h decided to leave Iran was most probably the presence in the country of Mirz a Ya h y a , S ub h -e-Azal, who had been installed in the position of leader of the movement by the B a b himself some time before he was executed.He may have thought that in Baghdad he would be in a position to work more freely, in view of the difficul- ties his rival might create for him in case he stayed in Iran and tried to work from a base in that country.It appears, however, that Mirz a Ya h y a , too, was fully aware of the surcharged atmosphere in Iran.Nor does he seem to have failed to perceive that by installing himself in Iraq his rival had managed to secure greater freedom.He, therefore, himself managed to move into Iraq and settle in Baghdad, as Bah a ’ull a h had done 53.53 B a bul H ay a t , page 56.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 43 Bah a ’ull a h goes to Sulaim a n i yyah After a period of bickering between the two for one year, Bah a ’ull a h moved to Sulaim a n i yyah in Kurdistan.For some light on this struggle between the two rivals reference should be made to Professor Browne in Muqaddamah Nuq t atul Q a f.During this period before he came to Baghdad a second time, Bah a ’ull a h, it appears, was in contact with some Naqshband i people, of which some trace is discernible in his later writings.One B a h a ’ i historian has opined that during this period of two years Bah a ’ull a h was mentally preparing himself for the position he subsequently claimed for himself 54.Return to Baghdad from Sulaim a n i yyah But on his return to Baghdad he found the same old trouble on his hands from his rival.As one way out, he tried to procure the return of S ub h -e-Azal to Iran.Bah a ’ull a h himself writes: "It was decided that Mirz a Ya h y a should go to Iran with these documents and try to propagate them in that country" 55.Mirz a Ya h y a , however, did not fall into this trap, and stayed on in Iraq, close on the heels of his rival.54 T a r i kh Amr-e-B a h a ’ i , page 30.55 Lau h i ibni Dha’ib , Urdu, page 112.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 44 In 1278 Hijra, during his stay in Baghdad, Ba- h a ’ull a h wrote I q a n , in which his approach is that of a disciple of the B a b.As mentioned earlier, he was, however, preparing himself mentally for a claim superior to that of the B a b, but based initially on a prophecy which the B a b appears to have made in regard to ‘Whom Allah would manifest".This claim had obtained possession of his mind, but he was also hesitant in putting it forth from fear that followers of the movement may not take kindly to it.Another significant fact connected with his stay in Baghdad is that after some time the Government of Iran began to receive unfavourable reports concerning the activities of Bah a ’ull a h, and Teheran began to urge upon the Turkish Government that he should be moved from Baghdad to some other place where he may not be in a position to do any harm to the interests of the Government of Iran.These representa- tions obtained favourable consideration from the Turkish Government, with the result that it was decided to move Bah a ’ull a h to Constantinople.This development had this immediate effect on Bah a ’ull a h that the claim which he had been deliberately holding back, waiting for some favourable moment to make it, he now went ahead in putting it forth.Another circumstance which also might have helped him in this direction was that some followers of the B a b had

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 45 started to come forward with a similar claim in their own behalf, and Bah a ’ull a h might have felt that if he waited longer there was danger of his being left behind in his bid for support among the B a b i s.In any case he put forth his claim in 1863 while he was still in Baghdad 56.But to begin with, the claim was rather privately made in the presence of a few chosen friends and companions 57.It is also to be carefully noted that Bah a ’ull a h has never claimed that the basis of his claim was any light or command to this effect from Allah.Rather it is clear that he took this step urged on by his own judgment and desire.To Constantinople During his stay in Baghdad Bah a ’ull a h had ob- tained Turkish citizenship for his friends.Partly due to this reason, and partly because it was also the desire of the Government of Iran that he be well looked after, the Turkish Government treated him with considerable ceremony and honour.‘Abdul Bah a ’ says that in the course of this journey the Turkish officials showed much respect and consideration, with a degree of formal ceremonial everyday when the caravan started on the day’s journey, or halted to camp for the night.In Constantinople itself the 56 Shauq i A fand i in the World Religion , page 5.57 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu, page, 36.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 46 caravan was received with much respect and lodged as guests of the Government, then soon moved into bigger accommodation, the first having proved inadequate for the large number of members of the party 58.In Constantinople the party remained for about four months during which time the struggle between Mirz a Ya h y a , S ub h -e-Azal, and Mirz a H usain ‘Al i Bah a ’ull a h became more acute than ever, and the Turkish Government moved them all to Adrana (Adrianople).They reached this place in December 1863.Among the B a h a ’ i s Adrana is known by the name of Ar d ul Sirr.The unpleasantness and struggle between the two rivals continued here as well.After five years in Adrana, during which time the struggle between the two rivals had continued unabated, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i publicly put forth his claim which towards the end of his stay in Baghdad he had announced privately in the presence of some select friends only.His claim was that he was the leader in regard to whom there was a prophecy in Al-Bay a n 59.H ashmatull a h Bah a ’ i writes: "Left without a leader, when the B a b i s reached a very sad state, 58 B a bul H ay a t , page 92.59 Prof.Browne in Muqaddamah Nuq t atul Q a f.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 47 Bah a ’ull a h in Adrana declared that the man in regard to whom the B a b had given glad tidings, and for whose sake he had sacrificed his own life, was he (Mirz a H usain ‘Al i himself): that Man Yu z hiruhull a hu was his own title, and that of no one else.This declaration at first stunned most people, but gradually his claim was accepted by all B a b i s: and from that time those who yielded belief to Bah a ’ull a h came to be known as B a h a ’ i s 60.There is no evidence in B a h a ’ i records that this claim on the part of Mirz a H usain ‘Al i was in any way based on light or commandment from Allah.Departure for ‘Akk a With the advancement of this claim on the part of Mirz a H usain ‘Al i , relations between him and S ub h -e- Azal deteriorated still further, and it began to appear as if it was impossible that both should live at peace in the same town.In ‘A s r-e-Jad i d we read: "In Adrana he generally proclaimed that he was the expected manifestation, to which a large part of the B a b i s yielded belief; but a small group under Mirz a Ya h y a put up bitter opposition, and went over to join the Shias, the old enemies of the B a b i movement.This quarrel continued to grow more and more bitter every 60 Bah a ’ull a h ki Ta‘l i m a t , pages 19 and 20.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 48 day, until the Turkish Government sent Bah a ’ull a h and his friends to ‘Akk a , while Mirz a Ya h y a was sent to Cyprus, This happened in August 31, 1868" 61.When Bah a ’ull a h reached ‘Akk a , his party com- prised 72 members.Since the Turkish Government had some suspicions in regard to the B a b i s in general, it took this precaution that in the group of Bah a ’ull a h four Azal i s (followers of S ub h -e-Azal) were included, while four followers of Bah a ’ull a h were put in Subh- e-Azal’s party.Professor Browne has given the names of these eight men, and added that of these four the Bah a ’ i s poisoned one even before they had left for ‘Akk a , and the remaining three were disposed of in similar manner after reaching ‘Akk a.Mirz a Na s rull a h Tafrash i was the name of the man poisoned before leaving for ‘Akk a "After reaching ‘Akk a the remain- ing three were killed by the Bah a ’ i s in one night" 62.Following these murders, the Turkish Government for a brief period brought a hard hand to bear upon the Bah a ’ i s, but they managed to bribe some of the corrupt officials and obtained a considerable measure of facilities locally 63 , so that they were not subjected to any restrictions.61 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu, page 37.62 Muqaddamah Nuq t atul K a f.63 Al-B a biyun fit T a r i kh , page 22.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 49 Was Bah a ’ull a h a prisoner in ‘Akk a ? Some Bah a ’ i historians have sought to create an impression that Bah a ’ull a h was in ‘Akk a as a prisoner.For instance H ashmatul a h says: "From 1868 to 1892 Hadrat Bah a ’ull a h remained in prison in ‘Akk a , and after forty years in prison, he died at the age of 75, in a garden about a mile outside ‘Akk a " 64."Now even if we assume that all the time he was in ‘Akk a he was being held as a prisoner, even then from 1868 to 1892 makes 24 years at the most, in no case forty.But it is altogether wrong to say that at ‘Akk a Bah a ’ull a h was treated as a prisoner.From what we know of the circumstances of his life in ‘Akk a , we can say that the word ‘prisoner’ was never applicable to him.‘Abdul Bah a ’ himself admits that though technically Bah a ’ull a h may be said to have been in ‘Akk a , yet it was a confinement during which he was treated with great honour, never as a common prisoner 65.In regard to the early years which the Bah a ’ i s describe as ‘prison’, Bah a ’ull a h’s son, ‘Abdul Bah a ’ himself says: " Hadrat Bah a ’ull a h was a prisoner only in name, for the orders of Sul ta n ‘Abdul ‘Az i z were never formally cancelled.But in fact in his life and behaviour be showed such dignity that all 64 Ta ‘ l i m a t , page 22.65 Khit a b a t ‘Abdul Bah a ’, volume 1, page 144.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 50 rendered him great respect and thought very highly of him.The Governor of Palestine used to envy his position of respect and his influence.The Governor, Muta s arrif, generals, and prominent officers requested interviews with considerable humility, and even these were seldom granted" 66.Even before the long period of his life spent in Bhajah, the treatment given to him was such that ‘Abdul Bah a ’ says: "In spite of the harsh order of Sul ta n ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, which did not permit me to see him, I presented myself at the door in a carriage; and taking him with me I went to the palace (garden of Muhammad Pasha and the bungalow) and no one tried to stop me.I left him there, and returned to the town myself.He remained in this beautiful and lovely place for two years.Then it was decided that he should go to Bhajah" 67.On the same page ‘Abdul Bah a ’ describes life in Bhajah in the following words: "At that place the.doors of grandeur and majesty were opened on him." The reason for the great courtesy and leniency shown by the local authorities was: "On account of the large number of presents received from his followers he had 66 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu page 44.67 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d, page 44.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 51 big sums of money, at his disposal, which he spent just as he deemed fit" 68.Here it is also to be remembered that Bah a ’ull a h also received considerable amounts from the Turkish Government for his maintenance.‘Abdul Bah a ’ admits this as well."For the maintenance of Bah a ’ull a h and Azal ‘the Government made very comfortable arrangements" 69.The story that Bah a ’ull a h lived in ‘Akk a as a prisoner and a persecuted man is pure invention made to suit the needs of their propaganda designed to create sympathy for Bah a ’ull a h and the Bah a ’ i movement.Life at ‘Akk a In ‘Akk a , when he found the atmosphere favour- able for the purpose, Mirz a H usain ‘Al i began to implement the scheme he had worked out carefully, but which had suffered a set-back in the execution of the B a b, a scheme of which the central point was to abandon the Islamic Sharia.The B a b i s believe that if the B a b had not been executed so soon after the Badasht Conference, he would have succeeded in abrogating the Islamic Sharia.Allah gave a long life 68 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Arabic, page 45.69 Maq a lah Sayy a h , Arabic, page 68.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 52 to Bah a ’ull a h, and this man also had some ample means for the task he had planned for himself.From the time he arrived in Iraq, to the time of his death (1269 to 1309 Hijra), for full forty years he lived among the Arabs.In spite of this the new sharia which he embodied in Aqdas stands as a living proof of failure in the task of producing a better book than the Holy Qur’an.In fact Aqdas is so faulty that the Bah a ’ i s up to this day have never dared to bring it into the open.It is not available in the market.In fact it has never been published, for it is guarded as something secret which should not be allowed to fall into the hands of anyone except the close inner circle of a few people.In regard to the daily pursuits of Bah a ’ull a h at ‘Akk a , ‘A s r-e-Jad i d says "The greater part of his time was spent in prayer and devotion, contemplation, in study of the sacred books, in the naz u l of the Alw ah and in improving the moral tone and the spiritual education of friends and followers" 70.From the words ‘sacred books and Alw ah in this passage are meant those dissertations, answers to queries, or letters which Bah a ’ull a h dictated, since according to the Bah a ’ i view every word and writing of Bah a ’ull a h, is an Ilh a m (inspiration).In other 70 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu, page 46.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 53 words these books did not descend on Bah a ’ull a h, but Bah a ’ull a h sent them down on his disciple.At the end of I q a n we read the following words 'descended from Bah a ’ull a h'.71 Bah a ’ull a h's last will and testament in regard to his successor.The Bah a ’ i s say that two years before his death Bah a ’ull a h wrote his will, which is called Kit a b ‘A h d i and entrusted it to ‘Abdul Bah a ’.This document has been reproduced in the book of Bah a ’ i history entitled Al-Kaw a kibul Durr i yah.Bah a ’ull a h had written in ‘ Aqdas that after his death the authority would lie with his two sons.In his will also he wrote: "Indeed we have chosen the Akbar after the A‘ z am", i.e., Mirz a Muhammad ‘Al i , the younger son after the elder son 72.It is to be noted here that Mirz a Muhammad ‘Al i does not hold this will to be correct, nor do his friends.And it is also surprising that ‘Abdul Bah a ’ also failed to entrust leadership to his younger brother after his own time, but proceeded to install his own grandson, Shauq i A fand i in that position.In any case it stands proved that the last will and testament 71 Descended from al-Ba’i wal Ha’i (i.e.Bah a ’ull a h Iq a n , page 216).72 Al-Kaw a kibul Durr i yah , Persian, volume II, page 22.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 54 dictated by the ‘Al i m and Khab i r (Bah a ’ull a h’s God) was cancelled and disobeyed by his own eldest son.Aqdas , book of the new sharia of the Bah a ’ i s.The Bah a ’ i s claim that the sharia compiled by Bah a ’ull a h and embodied in his book entitled Aqdas is the best among sacred and heavenly scriptures; and that the solution for all the world problems of mankind lies, in this book.Abul Fa d al, a Bah a ’ i missionary writes: "Bah a ’ull a h has compiled a sharia without which the task of reformation and civilizing the people is impossible and unreasonable to expect.Aqdas is the greatest and the best remedy for the ills of mankind, and for attracting the human heart it is the most powerful magnet 73.Bah a ’ i Attitude in Regard to Publication of this Book.In view of this claim it is not possible for any sensible person to believe that the Bah a ’ i s to this day have never plucked up courage enough to make the book public by publishing it for the benefit of all who might wish to study it, irrespective of the fact whether he was a Bah a ’ i or not.There are any number of Bah a ’ i s who have never seen this book, much less read it.Such being the case, the question as to how far 73 Al-Far a ‘id , page 13.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 55 the Bah a ’ i s observe the sharia embodied in this book does not even appear to arise, for how can anyone observe a sharia who never in his life catches even a passing glimpse of the book in which it is embodied.Most members of the Bah a ’ i movement would appear to have joined it merely on hearsay.And when a reasonable person comes to think of the matter, there appears to be no earthly reason why the Bah a ’ i s should behave in such an extraordinary manner in regard to a book which they believe is the crowning glory of their faith, and the salvation of mankind.This question was raised before the Bah a ’ i s in Egypt and Palestine by missionaries of the Ahmadiyyah movement on many occasions; but each time it was met with a stony silence, or transparent evasion, pure and simple.Prohibiting the Bah a ’ i s from publishing the Aqdas , or from making it public in any other way, the foremost leader of the movement after Bah a ’ull a h, his own son Abdul Bah a , writes: "If Aqdas is published, it would spread and fall into the hands of mean and hostile people.Therefore it is not permissi- ble that it should be printed.Some irreligious and shaky people like M i rz a Mahdi Beig succeeded in getting a copy into their hands, and this has been published.But since this book has been published in journals of the mulhid i n (heretics), the people in general have been able to form some idea of the

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 56 enmity they bear in their hearts.What they say therefore, is unreliable and their statements meaning- less and confused.But if the Bah a ’ i s themselves were to bring out the book, then it would be a different matter" 74.In regard to Aqdas , Maul a n a Abul ‘A ta ’, a well- known divine and missionary of the Ahmadiyyah movement, writes in his Bah a ’ i Ta h r i k par Tab s irah : "From 1931 to 1936 I have been in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Egypt.In Haifa I twice met the present leader of the Bah a ’ i s, namely, Shauq i A fand i.In the course of my interview on June 7, 1933, I requested that I be allowed to have a look at Aqdas.He told me clearly that he did not happen to have a copy with him, but that I might find it in Iraq.After that, with a great deal of endeavour, I succeeded in obtaining a copy through a friend, and had it printed at the Ahmadiyyah press in Kab a b i r, Jablul Karmal.In 1938, when I was in Bombay, on June 9 and 10, in the Bah a ’ i Hall, in the presence of the local president of the Bah a ’ i move- ment, I obtained an opportunity to compare the copy with me with the copy which happened to have been made available for me for consultation at that place.On this occasion I also showed my own copy to the 74 Jaw a b N a mah Jam a ‘at Bah a ’ i , page 37, printed in Egypt 1338 Hijra.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 57 Bah a ’ i s there, which they confirmed to be genuine after having a look at it." Maul a n a Abul ‘A ta ’ has reproduced the entire Aqdas in his book of the title above mentioned, with this challenge that if anyone proved his copy to be wrong or faulty, he would be prepared to give a prize to the person who did so.And interestingly enough the prize so far has remained unclaimed.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 58 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC AND THE BAH Ā ’ Ī SHARI’ Ā HS There can be no Comparison Between the Holy Qur’an and Aqdas About thirteen hundred years ago Allah Almighty sent down the Holy Qur’an as a complete and comprehensive Sharia, the most clear and vigorous scripture and the best code for all mankind.At the same time a claim to this effect was advanced in the Holy Book itself "If all mankind, their big and small, were to come together, aiming to produce another book like it, they shall never have the power to do so, even though some of them might become the helpers of others in the task" 75.The basis of this claim is explained in the next verse as follows: "We have fully explained for the people in this Qur’an all that pertains to their good and well being." 76 This challenge of the Holy Qur’an has never been taken up by anyone in the East or the West, and it stands even today.Attempts here and there in history 75 17:89.76 17:90.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 59 have been made by some people to produce books of sharia to match the Holy Qur’an, but all such attempts stand in human history as ghastly failures.From Musailmah Kadhdh a b this story extends to people like ‘Al i Muhammad B a b and Mirz a H usain ‘Al i Bah a ’ull a h.People try to put out the Light of Allah with the breath of their mouths, but Allah is deter- mined fully to fulfil its purpose, however much the unbelievers might dislike it.The book entitled Aqdas which Bah a ’ull a h pro- duced to replace and supersede the Holy Qur’an in Arabic; and according to a Christian writer, Khad u r i Ily a s, he had desired to produce something superior to the Holy Qur’an.But its language, throughout, is extremely unimpressive, in places entirely wrong.Although Bah a ’ull a h appears to have made an attempt to capture the style of the Holy Book, he has alto- gether failed even as an imitator.The clumsy, unimpressive style of expression and wrong grammar and usage apart, in point of substance and subject matter, there is all the less possibility of any valid and justifiable comparison between the two books.We give below the following rather detailed but brief study.And all other things apart, Bah a ’ull a h’s own sons and successors appear to have felt their weakness on this point.In regard to Mirz a Muhammad ‘Al i , the

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 60 younger son, we read in Bah a ’ i history: "The sons of Bah a ’ull a h have spread the idea among the followers of other religions that their father had not claimed to be a prophet in his own position and right, nor did he compile any new sharia.Rather, he was a Wal i and Qu t ab , and he always followed the Islamic Sharia.But of course our brother ‘Abbas A fand i has raised another fraud, and laid the foundation of another sharia" 77.This shows that with the exception of ‘Abb a s A fand i all sons of Bah a ’ull a h gave out that their father was a follower of the Islamic Sharia They also said that he had made no new sharia, which plainly means that Aqdas in their estimation also could in no way be compared to the Holy Qur’an,, When Maul a n a Abul ‘A ta ’ interviewed Muhammad ‘Al i in Bhajah, he had said that, as in Islam, he prayed five times a day.As for ‘Abdul Bah a ’ ‘Abb a s A fand i , in 1338 Hijra he decreed that it was not permitted that Aqdas should be printed and published.( Jaw a b N a m a h Jam a ‘at page 37) This shows that inside his heart he knew quite well that this book had no chance when it came in comparison with the Holy Qur’an.And all members of the Bah a ’ i movement, by failing to publish it, seem to prove by their action that they in 77 Al-Kaw a kib , Persian, volume 11, page 31.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 61 fact feel so ashamed over it that they cannot even pluck up courage to make it public.The Bah a ’ i sharia is in Three Parts The Bah a ’ i sharia can be divided into three parts.Matters and questions pertaining to early stages of civilization and culture, which mainly comprise principles which mankind in general already believe in and tries to live by, as for instance that superfluous growth of nails should be removed: to sit on a chair or stool is more convenient than sitting on the ground: one should wear clean clothes, etc., there being no need for us to go into details over such questions.But it is to be noted even here that wherever Bah a ’ i ism has tried to make a departure from Islam, the attempt has produced ridiculous or ugly substitutes for principles laid down by Islam.Things which have been copied down or imitated by Bah a ’ull a h from the Holy Qur’an in these he has tried to make some amendments on the basis of his own intellect, but in all such cases he has only made a mess, without making the least contribution to the progress of mankind.A notable thing in this connection is that Bah a ’ull a h appears to have a gravely faulty idea in regard to the attributes of the Divine Being, for invariably the wrong attributes are invoked or referred to in the wrong places.The substance of a passage and

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 62 the Divine attributes in its connection do not appear to have any affinity at all.This is a quality of Aqdas which no discerning reader will fail to notice.The third part, which really is the body of the Bah a ’ i sharia, comprises only a few principles.Below we set down some of the main characteris- tic features of the Bah a ’ i sharia 1.According to the Bah a ’ i sharia, religion has nothing to do with politics.Therefore the Bah a ’ i sharia gives no guidance with regard to principles on which the politics and administration of a coun- try should be based.Bah a ’ull a h says: "By Allah, we intend no interference in your countries, hav- ing come only for changing the hearts".This pas- sage ‘Abdul Bah a ’ has tried to explain as follows: "Religion has nothing to do with political matters.Religion concerns itself with the soul and its per- ception." 78 2.In the Bah a ’ i sharia all things have been held pure ( Aqdas 161,162).According to this principle the flesh of animals like pigs and swine is regarded as fit for human consumption, this being the reason why in regard to pork and bacon there is no other mention as to whether their use is permitted or not.78 Khi ta b a t , volume 1, page 176.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 63 ‘Al i Muhammad B a b prohibited smoking 79.But Bah a ’ull a h himself indulged in it 80.On the basis of this principle, the Bah a’i sharia makes no dis- tinction between articles of food and drink fit for human consumption and those not fit, as in the case of the Islamic Sharia.‘Abdul Bah a ’ has fur- ther clarified this point: "Some Western friends requested a code for use by American Bah a ’ i s in the matter of articles of diet.‘Abdul Bah a ’ replied that in the matter of material food he did not wish to interfere: they were free to eat what they liked.We interfere only in the case of spiritual food 81.3.In the matter of dress, males are permitted to use silken garments 82.There are no restrictions in the matter of dress 83.In regard to growing a beard or shaving it, all restrictions have been removed 83.But in no case is man to shave off his head, since the hair on the head are a decoration 84.There is no permission for eating out of gold and silver plates, 79 Al-Ris a latul Tis‘a ‘Ashar iyy a , page 109.80 Mak a t i b ‘Abdul Bah a ’, Volume 1, page 327.81 Bad a ‘ul A th a r, Safar n a mah Abdul Bah a , Volume 1, page 23.82 Aqdas 22.83 Aqdas 344.84 Aqdas 101.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 64 but the keeping of photographs for decoration in homes is forbidden 85.4.For cleanliness it is prescribed on the one hand that pure ‘I t r and rosewater is to be used.On the other it is said it is enough if the whole body is bathed only once a week 86.The feet are to be washed during winter once every three days, and during summer once every day 87.5.In the Bah a ’ i sharia a man is forbidden to marry the widows of his father.Apart from that there is no restriction.It is written in Aqdas "The widows of your fathers are forbidden unto you, and we felt a shame in saying anything in regard to boys" 88 6.Human semen has been held not dirty hygieni- cally 89.Therefore, it is to be presumed, a bath is not necessary after sexual intercourse, nor would discharge necessitate a fresh ablution for prayer.Nor is there any need for anyone to trouble to remove drops of semen from clothes if any should happen to fall thereon.85 Aqdas 64.86 Aqdas 228.87 Aqdas 330.88 Aqdas 235.89 Aqdas 158.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 65 7.No one is permitted to marry more than two wives 90 , though Bah a ’ull a h himself had three.But ‘Abdul Bah a ’ has given out in the West that the Bah a ’ i sharia allows only monogamy.On this basis it is written in ‘A s r-e-Jad i d 91 that Bah a ’ i ism forbids polygamy.The Bah a ’ i historian writes: "It is to be remem- bered that the Bah a ’ i religion does not uphold polygamy, although in Aqdas a male is permitted to have two wives, but justice in that case would be binding as a condition.And ‘Abdul Bah a ’, who is the rightful commentator of the book, has said that since the dealing out of justice among one’s spouses is impossible, one should be content with only one wife" 92.Further it is to be noted that in this statement Mirz a ‘Abdul H usain has made a manifest misstate- ment, for in Aqdas the permission to have two wives is not conditional on the dealing out of equal justice in the case of the two wives.By pronouncing judgment that the dealing out of equal justice is not possible, ‘Abdul Bah a ’ has proved virtually that, in his opinion in any case, and in the 90 Aqdas 130.91 Arabic , page 174.92 Al-Kaw a kib , Persian, Volume II, page 9.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 66 opinion of many other modern minded Bah a ’ i s, Bah a ’ull a h in this connection had set down a meaningless principle, which his son and disciples had to set right.8.The Bah a ’ i sharia has no guidance to give as to what ways are helpful in guarding chastity, and what ways are not so helpful—in fact are injuri- ous.On the other hand there are passages which tend to indicate that the author of the Bah a ’ i sharia has sought only to play with this basic human problem.In the B a b i and Bah a ’ i religion there are no instructions to guide and control the social intermingling of the opposite sexes—a problem which has shown many dangerous trends in West- ern countries.The mode of conduct set by Qur- ratul ‘Ain is a distinctive feature of Bah a ’ i women.It is lawful in the Bah a ’ i religion to take a virgin into one’s service (130).Comment here seems superfluous.It is also to be borne in mind that the Bah a ’ i sharia prescribes no punishment for fornication except that the fornicator should pay nine misqals of gold into the Bah a ’ i House of Justice.But the remarkable thing in this connection is that the House of Justice here mentioned has not yet come to be set up.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 67 It is interesting to compare the punishments pre- scribed for murder by mistake, which is one hundred misq a ls of gold, while according to B a b for injuring the feeling of another person the penalty is nineteen misq a ls of gold.In other words, fornication is a much minor of- fence as compared with murder by mistake or injuring the feelings of another person.Further it is be noted that anyone who burns down the dwelling of another deserves to be burnt alive.9.Following in the footsteps of the B a b, Bah a ’ull a h has prescribed that there should be nineteen months in a year ( Aqdas 269).10.In the sharia manufactured by him, Bah a ’ull a h has made some attempt to remove the defects which are to be found in the sharia prepared by the B a b, although in one place he has said of himself that he himself was responsible for the descent of Al-Bay a n , which would seem to mean that he claims the book was written under inspiration from himself 93.Of the errors which Bah a ’ull a h has sought to remove, four may be mentioned by way of example: (a) the B a b had ordered that all books other than Al-Bay a n were to be destroyed.But in the opinion of the Bah a ’ i s this order of the 93 Majm u ‘a Aqdas , page 90.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 68 B a b can become the root of great conflict in the world, and Bah a ’ull a h has cancelled it; he has written that Allah had forgiven them for what had been written in Al-Bay a n in regard to the destruc- tion of all other books 94.(b) The B a b wrote that the penalty for injuring the feelings of another is nineteen misq a ls of gold.But Bah a ’ull a h has said that in his time Allah had cancelled it.(c) Bah a ’ull a h says it was forbidden in Al-Bay a n for any one to ask any question in regard to it, but Allah had cancelled the order 95.(d) Another inter- esting case is furnished by the following words of Bah a ’ull a h: "Allah had ordained that every one should present himself in the august presence with his most precious thing as a gift, but as a sign of grace we have cancelled this order 96.11.Out of the penalties prescribed by Bah a ’ull a h for various offences, the one for fornication has been mentioned, while for a person who burnt down the dwelling of another there are two penalties: that he should be burnt alive, or sent into prison for life 97.The penalty in case of theft has been set down in the following words: exile in the case of the first 94 Aqdas 166.95 Aqdas 267.96 Aqdas 245.97 Aqdas 129.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 69 offence: imprisonment in case of a second of- fence: and some mark to be burnt on the forehead for a third offence by which all should be able to know him for what he is 98.The penalty for assault and battering is still more interesting.It is written that for battering the penalty would depend on the kind and intensity of the blows dealt, of which details were to be given later 99.But they have not been given to date, which seems to mean that the sharia after all is still incomplete.12.Bah a ’ull a h has made most orders dependent on the institution of the House of Justice.He has prescribed that the properties of the heirless should come to the House of Justice (54 and 52).But the fact remains that this House of Justice has not come into existence to this day.13.All the revealed world religions have been striving to establish the Unity of God.But Bah a ’ull a h claimed divinity for himself, as would be shown at another place in this treatise.In regard to the Qib- la, Bah a ’ull a h has directed that during his lifetime the Bah a ’ i s should offer their prayers with their faces turned towards him, or in his direction.Afterwards the Qibla would be the place where he 98 Aqdas 102.99 Aqdas 122.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 70 might meet his end.Prayers then were to be of- fered facing his tomb or grave (14, 15, 292).An interesting question here would be in which direction did he turn his own face when saying his prayers? Or would it be wrong to conclude here that himself he never took the trouble to offer any? It is also to be remembered that, since his death, the Bah a ’ i s actually say their prayers facing in the direction of his grave in ‘Akk a 100.The Bah a ’ i s prostrate themselves in sajdah , at his grave.14.The changes made in the Islamic mode of prayer are also a notable feature of the Bah a ’ i sharia.Bah a ’ull a h has prescribed nine rak’ats for morn- ing, afternoon and evening (13).Then he has said that details of prayers he had given in another paper (19).But it is to be remembered that this detail is nowhere to be met with.To this day there is a difference of opinion among the Bah a ’ i s in regard to their being nine rak‘ats or not.Simply for the sake of taking a different stand than that of Islam Bah a ’ull a h has forbidden any prayer in connection with the eclipse of the sun or the moon (27), and he has prescribed six takb i rs for the funeral prayer.Besides, he has declared that 100 Dur u sul Day a na , page 24.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 71 prayer in congregation had been deemed unneces- sary, except in the case of the funeral prayer.All other prayers were to be offered singly, in contrast with Islam where the five obligatory prayers are held binding to be said preferably in congregation, except in specified cases when they could be offered singly by each individual.15.With regard to fasting Bah a ’ull a h has taken this new stand that whereas the Islamic calendar being lunar, the month of fasting went all round the year, passing through all seasons, the Bah a ’ i month of fasting has only nineteen days, and comes always in the same season.The second departure he has made from it is that in Islam those who happen to be on a journey during the period of fasting, or who happen to be ill, have to make up later.But in the sharia of Bah a ’ull a h they are not called upon to make up the deficiency (42).Moreover in Bah a ’ i fasting all that is needed is that one should not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset.The early meal before dawn is not necessary, nor is one required to refrain from sexual intercourse between man and wife during the time they are fasting.16.The Hajj (pilgrimage to the Ka‘bah) is held binding in Islam on all Muslims who have the means and health for the journey.In contrast with

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 72 this Bah a ’ull a h has laid down two pilgrimages for his followers: one to the house of B a b in Shriaz, the other to Bah a ’ull a h’s own house in Baghdad 17.Bah a ’ull a h has made a departure from Islam in the matter of Zak a t.He had laid down that one who possessed a hundred misq a ls of gold should give nineteen’ misq a ls to God (210).In another place he has said " Zak a t is obligatory for you on all grains and other things".This order has been given by him who has sent down the A y a t in strong parchment.In the near future, if God wills, we shall set down details in this behalf (314).Bah a ’ull a h died long ago, but these details still remain to be set down.It is also to be carefully noted that the wording of the passage above referred to shows conclusively that Bah a ’ull a h composed this sharia entirely on his own, not on the basis of any Revelation or wa hi from Allah.Further it is to be noted that during his life Bah a ’ull a h kept the control of properties of the movement in his own hand, leaving it in the hands of his sons after his death; and it was only after the death of these sons that anyone else was to have a say in their management and control (98).Evidently, in this way he turned financial resources of the movement into a family concern for the benefit of his own person and then of his heirs.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 73 The income from Zak a t is public property in Is- lam.In addition, individuals spend on the poor in charity according to their means and noble impulse.Islam has discouraged begging, but if someone resorts to it in distress, Islam does not absolutely forbid it.In fact it has ordained on the rich and directed them that the poor too have share in their wealth: But while on the one hand Bah a ’ull a h strengthened his own hold on public properties, he forbade that help be extended to any needy person, "From whomsoever anyone begs, it is not permissible for him to give anything to the beggar" (315).For the well-to-do Bah a ’ull a h directs that they should be laid to rest in costly boxes of crystal and expensive woods, and silken clothes (270, 279).18.Bah a ’ull a h has remained silent about intoxicating drinks.Also about pork and bacon.But he has twice written opium is forbidden (233, 409).While ignoring questions of such great impor- tance, he sometimes astounds the intelligent reader with fuss over trifles (331).19.Bah a ’ull a h has directed that it is the duty of every Bah a ’ i that he keeps his home well decorated (64).The second point in this connection is that every nineteen years he is to change all the furnishings (328), and it would be interesting to find out, if one could, how far the Bah a ’ i s act upon this ad-

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 74 vice tendered as a principle in the Sharia.Surpris- ingly enough, Bah a ’ull a h has not indicated what was to be done with the old furnishings.Also in the same breath he has said that in case the people could not observe this principle, Allah would forgive them (329).To lay down a principle in one breath and then to cancel it in the next is a peculiarity of the Bah a ’ i sharia.20.On the point of mahar (alimony) in marriages, Bah a ’ull a h has ordained that it is to be nineteen misq a ls of gold in all cases, whether of people living in towns or in the countryside.This seems to be extremely unreasonable and impolitic, for all are not of the same standard of means.There are many people in the world for whom this mahar is too much.Are such people to remain celibate because they cannot afford the mahar prescribed ? 21.The rules laid down by Bah a ’ i sharia in regard to division of property of the deceased among his heirs is altogether arbitrary.It does not seem to be based on any principle, except that departures have been made from the Islamic Sharia— departures which seem to have brought no addi- tional benefit.22.One point in the Bah a ‘ i sharia is that it is forbidden for anyone to sell slaves (150).

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 75 In comparison with the principles laid down by Islam with the aim to abolish slavery, this aspect of the Bah a ’ i sharia appears to be altogether pointless.Islam ordains that slaves can be made only in case where they are caught fighting with arms in battle to interfere with the freedom of conscience of other people (The Qur’an 9:67).And then in regard to slaves made in such cases Islam has directed that some of this number are to be set free without any ransom at all, while from others ransom is to be insisted upon, the sum to be demanded depending on a number of factors.Out of these, not to be released without payment of a ransom, it is permissible, even praiseworthy, for any one to buy them and set them free.By laying down that for the Bah a ’ i s it is not per- mitted that they sell any salves, Bah a ’ull a h has in fact perpetuated the slavery of those who happen to be slaves, since no one can now buy them and set them free.Further, Bah a ’ull a h has nowhere said anything about the desirability of people setting their slaves free.23.The Bah a ’ i sharia permits interest on loans.24.Bah a ’ull a h has directed that a world language should be evolved, a new language, while Islamic point of view is that Arabic being the mother of all languages, and being the most virile and compre-

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 76 hensive as a vehicle of expression, it deserves to be made the universal language.This brief study of the Bah a ’ i sharia would be enough to indicate that the departures made from Islam are either pointless or absurd.They seem to have been made simply for the sake of making departures, for they bring no additional benefit in any way.In some places they denote a tendency to cater to certain modern trends in society in the Western countries, but since these trends in themselves are highly superficial, or of doubtful value for mankind, the desire to pander to them is questionable, to say the very least.In this category fall all those departures made on the question of polygamy, slavery, financial dealings on the basis of interest, and points connected with cleanliness and personal hygiene.While these departures denote, on the one hand, failure on the part of Bah a ’ull a h to appreciate the deep wisdom of the Islamic point of view, they indicate on the other his utter inability to frame a code of laws and regulations for the benefit of human society which, at the hands of an intelligent person, could deserve serious attention.Wherever a departure has been made, the framer of the Bah a ’ i sharia has stumbled very badly.Another point lies in the two books which embody the two sharias, namely, the Holy Qur’an and Aqdas.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 77 While on the one hand, the Holy Qur’an has been in the hands of mankind for the last thirteen hundred years, with a clear and ringing challenge for all to bring a better book, or the like of it, in regard to Aqdas the Bah a ’ i themselves feel weakness in their own hearts and cannot pluck up courage enough to bring it into the light of day.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 78 THE QUR Ā N IS A LIVING BOOK & THE ISLAMIC SHARIA IS IRREPLACEABLE Bah a’i sm founded on the belief that the Islamic Sharia deserves to be abandoned.The starting point of the B a b i and Bah a ’ i case is the belief that the Holy Qur’an no longer can meet the needs of human society under the changed conditions prevailing in the world today.Very often the Bah a ’ i s do not say this openly and frankly: they prefer to work on the mind of people by leaving this crucial question in the dark.To begin with, they start talking about the belief among some ignorant Muslims that certain verses of Holy Qur’an have been abrogated: and once they have made sure that the mind of an intended victim has been well prepared to accept this erroneous doctrine, the rest of the task is easy for them, for where five or ten, or a hundred, or in some cases even 500 verses of the Holy Qur’an can be taken to have been abrogated, the leap becomes possible to a point where one can say that the whole Qur’an needs to be replaced with another book, and the Islamic Sharia needs to be replaced by another law.On June 7, 1933, Maul a n a Abul ‘A ta , a well known Ahmadiyya missionary, had a talk in Haifa

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 79 with Shauq i A fand i , leader and head of the Bah a ’ i s.When all Muslims, with the exception of the followers of the Ahmadiyyah movement, accepted the doctrine of abrogation in the Holy Qur’an, what is the harm, he asked on this occasion, if the Bah a ’ i s take the stand that the whole Qur’an and the Islamic Sharia need to be replaced with something more modern and better suited to meet the changed conditions? In this the Bah a ’ i s have said nothing new, he added.But this stand on the part of the Bah a ’ i s is not correct or justified.If the Muslims happen to have accepted the idea of abrogation of some verses of the Qur’an, it does not necessarily follow that this idea is also correct, so that the Bah a ’ i s or anyone else should complacently proceed to raise superstructures on it.The real question which needs to be settled first is whether, in the light of the Holy Qur’an, abrogation of any of its verses can be held acceptable or not.Correct meaning of the verse (107 of Al-Baqarah) Those among the general Muslims who believe that some verses of the Holy Qur’an have been abrogated by certain other verses, and all the Bah a ’ i s, are misled in this connection by the following verse: "Whatever sign, We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than that or the like thereof.Dost thou not know that Allah has the power to do all that

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 80 He wills" 101.They interpret this verse to mean that Allah herein says that if He will abrogate the Qur’an, He will bring another, a better one, in its place, or one quite like it.But the basis of this inference on their part is altogether too flimsy, as becomes amply evident the moment one gives proper thought to the context in which this passage occurs.The construction of the sentence, in the first place, denotes that the statement made in it is conditional.What has been said is just this that if Allah were to choose in his wisdom to abrogate an A yah , or cause it to be forgotten, he would bring another like it, or a better one in its place.How can this conditional statement be taken to mean that Allah has indeed chosen to abrogate the A yah spoken of here, or to replace it with one better or like it? And how does it follow that by the word A yah in this verse the Holy Qur’an and the Islamic Sharia is meant? Even if we accept the Bah a ’ i meaning, and also their view that by A yah here is meant the Qur’an, the utmost that would follow is just this, and no more, that whenever Allah decides in his wisdom to abrogate the Holy Qur’an, he would do so by bringing another book like it, or a better one to replace it.It cannot in any way mean that he has in fact chosen to do so at this time, and in this case.101 The Qur’an 2:107.[Publisher]

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 81 The fact is that by the word A yah in this sentence is meant not the Holy Qur’an, but the previous Sharias and Scriptures.Use of the word in this sense is quite established in the Arabic language and usage; it is fairly common in this sense in the Holy Qur’an itself.The verse which goes before very clearly points to the fact that this is the meaning in which it has been used here.Allah says therein: "Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book, or from among those who associate gods with Allah, desire not that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord; but Allah chooses for His mercy whomsoever He pleases" 102.This passage which precedes the verse in question shows very clearly that here an objection has been met which was raised by the People of the Book and those who associate gods with Allah, namely, if they accepted the Holy Qar’an they would have to hold that the previous Scriptures had been abandoned and abrogated.Allah has replied to this objection by saying He chooses for His favour whomsoever He pleases, and for reasons best known to Him in His wisdom He had selected another people to become the bearers of another Book and another Law, to say the least, which was better than the one that was entrusted to them.The People of the Book, Jews and Christians, and those who associate gods with Allah, have here 102 The Qur’an 2:106.[Publisher]

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 82 been invited to study the Holy Qur’an and see for themselves if it was not better than the Scriptures or stories in their hands.After a study in this light, if they found that the Qur’an was a better Book, it was undoubtedly their duty to yield belief to it.The verse in question, thus, only means that with the coming of the Holy Qur’an all previous sharias had been abrogated by this new Book and new Law.When does a new Law come? This verse, moreover, clearly lays down the prin- ciple as to when and under what kind of circum- stances a new Scripture and a new Law is sent down by Allah.This, we are told, happens in two cases: (a) when a sharia specifically meant for catering to the needs of a particular group of humanity, outlives the time of its utility and needs to be replaced; (b) or when a previous sharia no longer remains in its pure and original form, having suffered through human interference from one cause or another; (c) or when a previous sharia, owing to some limitation to which it is subject, no longer can suffice for the changed needs of changed situation.In any of these cases a new sharia will come, and it will be better than the one it replaces, or in any case will be as good as the one which had suffered from human interference.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 83 Seen in this light, the Holy Qur’an and the Islamic Sharia need no replacement, and the B a b i and Bah a ’ i claim that a new sharia is needed cannot be substanti- ated.B a b i and Bah a ’ i leaders themselves admit that the Holy Qur’an embodies a complete, comprehensive and universal sharia.Not only do the contents of the Holy Qur’an show that it is a perfect code of laws and the best book for the spiritual guidance and uplift of mankind, the B a b i leaders themselves admit that it is so.‘Al i Muhammad B a b wrote: "Since at the time when the Holy Qur’an was revealed the people of those days prided themselves over their mastery of the language, Allah sent down this book in such a beautiful, vigorous and perfect style of language that nothing better can be imagined.And in this book the truth of the claims of the Holy Prophet Muhammad has been established on the most evident, manifest and irrefutable basis" (Al-Bay a n Ms.) ‘Abdul Bah a ’ writes: "Among the miracles of the Holy Qur’an one is that it stands on a sure foundation of reason and wisdom in everything it teaches.On the basis of complete certainty it has propounded a sharia which for the people of this age forms the very essence of spiritual life.In addition to formulating a

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 84 sharia the Qur’an also explains some weighty points of History and Mathematics which run counter to the theories accepted in those days, and it has been proved that the Qur’anic view is the correct one" 103.Bah a ’ull a h himself says: "The faulty intelligence and grasp of human beings cannot fully comprehend the vast body of truths embodied in the Holy Qur’an, just as a spider cannot hunt down and catch a bird" 104.‘Abdul Fa d al, a well-known Bah a ’ i missionary, says These verses of the Holy Qur’an clearly indicate that the principles of sharia, its details, the arguments which support it, its origin and achievement, in short everything has been fully and conclusively dealt with in it, no aspect of any worthwhile question having been left incomplete or inconclusive" 105.Bah a ’ull a h wrote during his life at ‘Akk a : "The sharia of Muhammad is complete and perfect in every way.The fault lies with the Muslims that they do not live up to it.If the Muslims were to act upon it, there would be peace in the whole world" 106.103 Khat a b a t Abdul Bah a , Volume 1, page 58.104 Haft W a d i , page 43.105 Al-Durarul Bahiyah , page 134.106 B a bul H ayat , page 68.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 85 The Qur’an safe from interference.The Holy Qur’an being a complete book, and since it embodies a comprehensive code for the guidance and uplift of mankind for all its needs till the end of time, the only occasion for abrogation could have risen if it had been possible for any human or other agency to interfere with its text.And here the fact is that at the very moment when this book was being revealed Allah said: "it is We Ourselves have sent down this book and We Ourselves shall be responsible for its safety and purity" 107 and the entire history of Islam and the Muslims bears testimony to the fact that, Allah has indeed fulfilled this promise.So much so that even the most hostile critics of Islam admit this.Noldke says "Efforts of European scholars to prove the existence of later interpolations in the Qur’an have failed" 108.Sir William Muir wrote: "There is otherwise every security internal and external that we possess that text which Muhammad gave forth and used" 109.Thus we find that in accordance with the Divine promise History bears testimony to the fact that the Holy Qur’an has remained perfectly safe against 107 The Qur’an 15:10.108 Encyclopaedia Britannica under Qur’an.109 Life of Muhammad.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 86 human interference of every kind.The question of abrogation in its case, therefore, does not rise.Testimony of the Qur’an itself.The Bah a ’ i s admit that the Holy Qur’an is the Word of God, but add that in their view it was to be abrogated after a time, and now has been so abro- gated.But the Holy Qur’an, as they concede, is the Word of God, repudiates this view in the most emphatic terms, and claims that it will stand and remain applicable till the end of time.1."This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." 110 2."Surely the true religion with Allah is Islam." 111 3."And whoso seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the losers." 112 4."Shall I seek for judge other than Allah, when He it is Who has sent down to you the Book, clearly explained? And those to whom We gave the Book, know that it has been sent down from thy Lord with truth; so be thou not of those who doubt.And 110 The Qur’an 5:4.111 The Qur’an 3:20.112 The Qur’an 3:86.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 87 the word of thy Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice.None can alter His words: and he is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." 113 5."And this is a blessed Message which We have sent down: will ye then reject it?" 114 6."Indeed this is a Message for all the worlds.And indeed you shall realise the grandeur of the proph- ecy after some time." 115 7."And We have revealed unto thee the Book com prising the truth and fulfilling that which was revealed before it in the Book, and as a guardian over it" 116 The Holy Qur’an, thus, claims that it preserves those portions of the earlier dispensations which are of permanent value.8."We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a guide, a mercy, and glad tidings for Muslims." 117 9."We have explained in detail in this Qur’an for the benefit of mankind every kind of similitude.But man in most things is contentious." 118 113 The Qur’an 6:115, 116.114 The Qur’an 21:51.115 The Qur’an 38:88, 89.116 The Qur’an 5:49.117 The Qur’an 16:90.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 88 10."We have put forth for people in this Qur’an every kind of parable in order that they may receive admonition." 119 11."Say, if the whole of mankind and the Jinns were to come together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.And we have explained to man in this Qur’an every kind of similitude: yet the greater part of men refuse to accept it except with ingrati- tude." 120 12.Do they say, "He has forged it." Say, "Bring ye then ten S u rahs forged, like unto it, and call to your aid whomsoever ye can other than God, if ye speak the truth." 121 13."Indeed those who repudiated the Message when it came to them, (they are in manifest error), for verily it is a book that dominates: falsehood can- not reach it, neither from the front, nor from be- hind; it has been sent down by Him who is H ak i m and H am i d (the possessor of all wisdom and all praise." 122 118 The Qur’an 18:55.119 The Qur’an 39:28.120 The Qur’an 17:89, 90.121 The Qur’an 11:13.122 The Qur’an 41:42, 43.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 89 14."Then we put thee on the right way of Religion, so follow thou that way, and follow not the desires of those who do not know." 123 15."Indeed it is a Message to all the words for whosoever will go straight." 124 16."Behold, this is the word that distinguishes (good from evil).It is not a thing vain, for amuse- ment." 125 17."It is Allah who has sent down the Message in the form of a book, the most suitable for human na- ture, which when they read it who have the fear of Allah in their hearts, they tremble (are stirred to their deepest depths) and they turn to His remem- brance.This is Allah’s guidance; with it He guides those He wishes to make successful; and who can guide him whom Allah should reject as having gone astray." 126 18."Indeed it is the exalted Qur’an (Message which shall always be read over and over again) in a book well guarded, which none shall touch except the pure." 127 123 The Qur’an 45:19.124 The Qur’an 00:27, 28.125 The Qur’an 86:14, 15.126 The Qur’an 39:24.127 The Qur’an 56:78-80.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 90 19."Indeed this Qur’an guides to that which is most sure, strong, and most enduring, and it gives glad tidings to the Believers who do appropriate deeds that for them is a great reward." 128 20."And the Messenger said, O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this book as a thing aban- doned." 129 Now this verse, taken in the context in which it stands, indicates that on the Day of Judgement the Holy Prophet would complain before Allah that his people had abandoned the Qur’an.Evidently, the people here spoken of are the Muslim peoples, those who call themselves by this name.What requires very careful thought here is this: If the Holy Qur’an was indeed destined in God’s wisdom to be superseded by another book, then how could the Holy Prophet stand up on the Day of Judgement and proceed against his own people on the basis that they had abandoned the Book? Would not the reply in that case be justified that it was abandoned because it had been replaced by another sharia? The Bah a ’ i s say that for the question under discussion Bah a ’ull a h’s advent was the Day of Judgement spoken of here.But even in that case the Divine Promise of protection for the Holy Qur’an 128 The Qur’an 17:10.129 The Qur’an 25:31.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 91 militates against any supposition on the part of Bah a ’ i s that this Book was ever intended by the Almighty to be replaced with another.In fulfilment of this promise, when the followers of Muhammad did in fact look as if they had abandoned the Qur’an as the guiding principle of their lives, Allah raised a servant of this dispensation to revive the Islamic Sharia, Ahmad, the Promised Mahdi, who said: Do not make the Holy Qur’an into a thing abandoned, for your life lies in it.Those who yield respect to the Qur’an shall be treated in heaven with respect.Those who give preference to it over every Hadith and every saying, shall themselves be given preference in heaven.For mankind on this earth there is no other book except this one; and for the sons of man there shall now be no Prophet and no Shaf i ‘ except Muhammad, the peace and blessings of God be upon him." 130 21."Recite thou this book from thy Lord which has been sent down upon thee.There is none to change His words, and thou shalt not find any shelter except with him." 131 This verse clearly indicates that after stumbling a great deal the world shall return to the Holy Qur’an for this Sharia is destined to endure for ever, and there 130 Kasht i’ N uh page 30.131 The Qur’an 18:28.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 92 is none who can bring about its abrogation or destruction.22."Allah had made the Ka‘bah into the inviolable House for the people, destined to endure for ever, as a means of support and uplift for mankind, as also the Sacred Month and the offerings and the animals with collars.That is so that you may know that Allah knows all things well." 132 In this verse Allah as mentioned the Ka‘bah as the place of pilgrimage for all time to come, and He has referred to it as an argument to establish His own existence, and as a sign of His all embracing knowl- edge, wisdom and power.In other words the Hajj of the Ka‘bah is not to be abolished as long as the world lasts; and when the Islamic Hajj is never to be abolished, it is only too just and natural to conclude that the Sharia in which this Hajj forms one of the main pillars is never to be abolished or replaced with another.23."The reckoning of months with Allah has been twelve months by Allah’s ordinance since the day He created the heavens and the earth.Of these four are sacred.That is the right creed." 133 132 The Qur’an 5:98.133 The Qur’an 9:36.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 93 In this verse a calendar year of’ twelve months has been spoken of as an arrangement in force since the time heaven and earth were created, and one that is destined to continue for all time.But the Bah a ’ i year has 19 months.24."An Apostle from Allah, rehearsing scriptures, pure and holy: in them are Books destined to endure." 134 This verse says quite clearly that in the Holy Qur’an all the teachings of earlier dispensations which deserve to be preserved have been embodied.25."All praise belongs to Allah Who has sent down the Book to His servant, and has not put therein any crookedness.He has made it a guardian, that it may give warning of grievous chastisement from Him, and that it may give the believers who do good deeds the glad tidings that they shall have a good reward." 135 The Qur’an here is spoken of as faultless, not lacking in any respect.The conclusion here is, quite obviously, that it will never need to be replaced at any future time.26."Therefore set thy face to the Religion that is destined to endure, before there come from God 134 The Qur’an 98:3, 4.135 The Qur’an 18:2, 3.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 94 the Day in which there is no chance of avert- ing." 136 Meaning of Al-Qayyim.The word Al-Qayyim , which qualified the word D i n in the above verse is derived from qiy a m and qaum.The meaning of Qiy a m is to stand up and to endure.Q a ma ‘alal amri means d a ma wa sabata stood for all time 137 , became firm in its place for ever and did not move from there 138.The word Qayyim has much greater force and intensity of meaning than the root it is derived from, since it is what in Arabic is s i gha mub a lighah *.This word also carries the meaning that it is never to be abrogated or changed 139.A Conclusive Argument In addition to all these arguments, the Holy Qur’an has set forth another, still more conclusive for all times to come.It says: "Seest thou not how God sets forth a parable? A goodly Word, like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach into the heavens—it brings forth its fruit at all times, 136 The Qur’an 30:44.137 Aqrab.138 Lis a n.* Part of speech which intensifies the meaning of the root word from which a word is derived.139 Mufrid a t.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 95 by the leave of its Lord.So God sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition" 140.In other words the truth and principles embodied in the Holy Qur’an are firm and everlasting like a rock, and they yield fruit at all times.They are never dead.The Holy Prophet has said that to revivify Islam at the turn of every century Allah will raise Reformers from amongst the Muslims themselves who will from time to time extricate Islam from all excrescences for one reason or another which should accumulate on it.History bears out that these reformers have been appearing throughout the centuries since the inception of Islam, the latest of which number came just at the time when the followers of the B a b and Bah a ’ull a h were saying that the Islamic Sharia had been abro- gated and replaced by another.Had Islam and the Holy Qur’an ceased to yield fruit like a healthy and vigorous tree, the B a b i and Bah a ’ i design to abrogate it might have succeeded: but now since the tree itself is full of life, standing firm on its own roots, it is idle to think that it can be uprooted by shallow and superficial designs such as those of the B a b i s and the Bah a ’ i s.140 The Qur’an 15:25, 26.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 96 Bah a ’ull a h Claimed Divinity for himself.History shows that two kinds of people have at different times claimed the allegiance of their fellowmen: (a) Those who claimed to be Prophets and Messengers of God; (b) and those who claimed Godhead and Divinity for themselves setting themselves up as more than human.In the Holy Qur’an we read that at the time when Allah sent Moses for the deliverance of Israel, the ruler of Egypt at the time claimed that he himself was their supreme Lord and Master, their Deity, and that if they dared to worship any other God than himself, he would treat them with dire punishment 141.In fact he threatened that in that case he would put them into prison.When Allah sends down any of his Apostles, He himself establishes the truth of their claim by means of powerful signs and miracles, and by the light of their teaching.Therefore, whenever a Messenger of Allah appears, his claim as such has to be carefully studied, to be accepted or rejected on merit.But where a frail human being goes so far astray in regard to his own position as to claim Godhead and Divinity for himself, his claim needs no study at all, being on the very face of it wrong and most preposterous.141 The Qur’an 26:30.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 97 The misunderstanding, or difference of opinion in regard to the claim of Bah a ’ull a h has risen for two reasons.In the first place he never based his claim on grounds on which the Apostles and Messengers of Allah base their claims: he never made his claim openly and publicly, keeping back a portion of it even from his followers of the innermost circle.He also directed his followers that they should take care to keep their property, their movements and their beliefs secret from the outside people.Secondly the writings of Bah a ’ull a h, especially the book known as Aqdas , has never been published.This enables the Bah a ’ i s to change their stand and outlook whenever they consider such a change to be advantageous for them selves.Bah a ’ i s themselves admit this."Generally speaking, due to the unavailability and scarcity of the books of the B a b, Bah a ’ull a h and Abdul Bah a ’, certain misunderstandings in regard to some historical sects and their teachings have sprung up" 142.Moreover, the attitude taken up by ‘Abdul Bah a ’ A fand i has caused misunderstandings to increase.In spite of the fact that the Islamic prayer in congrega- tion has been forbidden in the Bah a ’ i sharia, and the Islamic prayer itself has been abrogated, ‘Abdul Bah a ’ to the end of his life continued to offer his prayers in 142 Bah a ’ull a h Ki Ta ‘ l i m a t , page 2.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 98 congregation in Muslim mosques behind non-Bah a ’ i Imams 143.Although in Europe Abdul Bah a said that a man could be a Bah a ’ i , even though he may never have heard of Bah a ’ull a h, but Bah a ’ull a h’s own writings do not uphold this point of view.With Aqdas kept safely hidden, such vague and meaningless things could be said with impunity by his followers and advocates.But now, since we have managed to bring this important document full into the open, it is no longer possible for the Bah a ’ i s to take shelter behind such seemingly innocent and harmless platitudes.Whatever the precise nature of his claim, there is not the least possible shadow of doubt that, as he saw things, acceptance of his claim was a basic starting point in a man’s spiritual progress.Those who do not believe in him, Bah a ’ull a h dubs them down as Mushrik.He who rejects his claims is lost and gone astray 144.All other sharias except his own he pronounces as unfit for human guidance 145.All acts of devotion, all good deeds he has made dependent upon his own pleasure and approval 146.He has held that rejection of his 143 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Arabic, page 72.144 Aqdas , 1.145 Aqdas 291.146 Aqdas 75 to 78.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 99 claim deserves punishment, and he says that those who turn away from his claim will go to hell.But it is not correct to attribute to Bah a ’ull a h any claim of prophethood.He never claimed to be a nab i.He seems to believe in the Holy Prophet being Khatamul Nab i yy i n in the same sense as the generality of Muslims interpret this expression 147.‘Abdul Fa d al, a well known Bah a ’ i missionary, writes: "This idea of the Shaikh (‘Abdul Sal a m) that the B a b and Bah a ’ull a h claimed prophethood for themselves is altogether wrong and imaginary.Everyone acquainted with Bah a ’ i literature knows fully well that this claim is neither to be found in the Alw a h , nor have any of their followers used this word in regard to them" 148.In the book entitled Al-Bah a ’ i ya , published in Egypt, one reads: "Bah a ’ull a h, ‘Abdul Bah a ’, or the B a b, none of them ever claimed to be a prophet" (Page 49).In the Bah a ’ i journals entitled Kaukab-e-Hind we read "Neither does the word Nab i (Prophet) occur in the A yah Mubaarakah, nor has the Promised One of the Furq a n been called a nab i nor do the Bah a ’ i s take Hadrat Bah a ’ull a h as a prophet: and this has been 147 Alwa h i - Mub a rakah , page 405.148 Al-Far a ’id , page 275.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 100 openly proclaimed a number of times in Kaukab-e- Hind.149 Bah a ’ull a h Claimed Godhead and Divinity.Then what did the claim of Bah a ’ull a h precisely amount to? Kaukab-e-Hind answers this question as follows "The Bah a ’ i s hold that the epoch of prophethood has come to an end.They hold that prophethood has come to an end even among the followers of Mu h ammad.But of course they do not hold that the Power of God has come to an end.Therefore they accept a new manifestation of the power, which goes a step beyond prophethood, implying thereby the end of the epoch of prophethood.This is the reason why the Bh a’i s never say that prophethood has not ended and that the Promised One of all the religions is a nab i or ras u l.What they say is this that advent was a Mustaqil Khud a’i Z ah u r 150.Moreover, it stands only too true to reason that one-step beyond prophethood is nothing else but Godhead and Divinity itself.Part Man and Part God.In spite of Bah a ’ull a h’s claim to Divinity, it was and always shall be quite impossible for the Bah a ’ i s to 149 Kaukab-e-Hind.Delhi, Volume VI, Number 4, May 17, 1928.150 Kaukab-e-Hind Volume VI, Number 6, June 24, 1928.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 101 run away from the fact that he was just as much a frail human being as any one else.They have therefore taken the stand that in this respect he was like Jesus Christ.151 Some people think that the Ahmadis are alone in attributing Godhead and Divinity to Bah a ’ull a h.But this is not so.Here three examples shall suffice.Shaikh Rash i d, Editor Al-Man a r , Egypt, writes: "The Bah a ’ i s are a culmination of the B at in i sect who worship Bah a ’ull a h, believing in his Godhead and Divinity.The Bah a ’ i s have their own separate sharia" 152.A well-known Christian scholar, Ily a s Khadur i , writes: "In numerous places in his book Bah a ’ull a h has by implication, and also openly claimed Godhead and Divinity for himself." 153 Maulaw i San a ull a h of Amritsar, who was a bitter opponent of the Ahmadiyyah Movement, insisted for a long time that Bah a ’ull a h claimed prophethood.But at last he had to admit that Bah a ’ull a h, according to his followers, had claimed Godhead and Divinity."Till now we have been insisting that Shaikh Bah a ’ull a h had claimed prophethood for himself.But 151 A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu, page 52, 53 & 254.152 Alman a r Volume XIII, Number 10, Shaww a l 30, 1328 Hijra.153 Muqaddamah Aqdas.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 102 today the Bah a ’ i organ, Kaukab-e-Hind , has very strongly refuted our stand" 154 From the writings of Bah a ’ull a h himself in regard to this question, the following two references should suffice: 1.Bah a ’ull a h says: "He who is at the moment speaking from prison, is the creator of all things, and the originator of all names.He has borne great hardships in order to give life to the world" 155.2."Other than myself, who am in prison, alone at the moment, there is no God" 156.154 Ahlihadith , Volume XXV, Number 35, July 6, 1928.155 Majm u ‘ah Aqdas , printed Bombay, page 286.156 Mub i n page 286.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 103 SUMMARY The B a b i and the Bah a ’ i movement are develop ments out of the Ithn a Ashar i ah doctrine in regard to the Imam Gh a ib (Hidden Imam), Popular ideas and expectations connected with this doctrine have always had a deep political tinge in regard to aims, which those who held them kept carefully hidden from outsiders, from fear of getting into trouble with the administrative authorities.The movements started by Shaikh Ahmad Al- A h s a ’ i and K az im Rasht i shared this political tinge to the fullest And the same holds true in regard to the move- ments started by ‘Al i Muhammad B a b and Mirz a H usain ‘Al i Bah a ’ull a h.In fact the B a b i movement soon began to come into open clash with the rulers of Iran.Rebellion and blood shed led to strict measures against the B a b i s.which in turn drove the real aims and impulse of the movement more and more underground.Exasperated by the opposition of the Muslim Ulema, B a b and Bah a ’ull a h decided to cut themselves away from the Islamic Sharia.Each of the two manufactured a Sbariyah for himself.

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THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 104 The sharia of B a b is embodied in Al-Bay a n.That of Bah a ’ull a h is embodied in Aqdas.Departures from Islam seems to have been made merely for the sake of making departures, for they do not confer upon mankind any additional benefit as compared to the Islamic Law which these sharias seek to replace.Taken on an intellectual plane, these sharias ex- pose themselves as crude and clumsy attempts to take the place of the Holy Qur’an.Departures made in regard to polygamy, Interest, number of daily prayers, their timing, instructions in regard to ablutions and personal hygiene, and the law of inheritance are either pointless, arbitrary, without any basis on sound reason that anyone can see, or simply absurd.Or they seem to cater for certain superficial social trends which half- baked and ignorant people take as signs of culture, civilization and progress.Neither the B a b nor Bah a ’ull a h claimed to be a prophet of God.Nor do their followers hold faith in them as such.Bah a ’ull a h ended by claiming Divinity for him- self, and no very great amount of intelligence is needed to reject outright the claim of a person who claims Divinity.

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