New age martyr

Anniversary of the execution of The Bab


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New age martyr
by faryarm
09-Jul-2008
 

This piece is partially from Baha'i World News Service press release and includes paraphrase/quote from the late Bill Sears "Release the Sun".

For many in Iran and around the world, Muslim, Iranian or not , The Bab is believed to be the awaited Qaim; in the 1840s many of His immediate followers were truly pious learned men of Islam who actively awaited His appearance and gladly gave their lives in His Path in thousands.

This period in Iranian History from both a religious and social point of view is today recognized as a significant beginning of a new era for both Iran and the world.

This day , on 9 July 1850, at noon, the Bab was put to death by firing squad in the public square of Tabriz, Iran.

Six years earlier, He had declared that He was a messenger of God whose mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world. In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced publicly that He was that Promised One.

The Bab attracted tens of thousands of people to His teachings, thousands of whom were killed in persecutions that swept Iran. Finally, authorities had the Bab Himself put to death in an attempt to stamp out the new religion.

A half century after His execution, His sacred remains were brought to Haifa for entombment on Mount Carmel. Today His shrine is one of the most famous landmarks in Israel, and the Baha’i Faith is established in virtually every country.

The anniversary of the martyrdom of The Bab is one of nine holy days when Baha’is suspend work. It is commemorated with prayers and special programs at noon on 9 July.

For an historical account of the execution of the Bab, please see here.

***

The Bab was immediately beset by severe persecutions by religious and government forces who saw Him as a threat to their authority. He was exiled to the mountains of Adhirbayjan, imprisoned in the fortresses of Mah-Ku, and Chiriq, and eventually executed on July 9, 1850 in the city of Tabriz in northern Iran. The story of His execution was recorded by several Western journalists. Here is an account of the events surrounding the Martyrdom of the Bab, paraphrased from "Release the Sun", by Mr. William Sears.

The Bab, imprisoned in His cell in Shiraz, was to be taken to the authorities for the purpose of signing His death-warrant. When the guard came to take Him away He was in conversation with His secretary giving instructions. The Bab rebuked the guard saying that He was not yet done and that until He was, no power on earth could silence Him. The guard took Him nevertheless and His death-warrant was signed. He was placed in the charge of Sam Khan, commander of the regiment that was to execute Him. Sam Khan had become increasingly affected by his Prisoner and spoke with him privately telling Him that he was a Christian and had no ill-will against Him. Sam Khan said "If Your Cause be the Cause of Truth then enable me to free myself from the obligation to shed your blood." The Bab replied, "Follow your instructions and if your intention be sincere, the Almighty is surely able to relieve you of your perplexity."

The Bab and a young companion were suspended from a nail (see cross in picture) by ropes for execution by a firing squad of three ranks of 250 rifles each; a total of 750 rifles. Sam Khan, unable to avoid his duty, gave the order to fire. When the smoke cleared, the crowd of 10,000 persons was amazed to find the Bab's companion standing, alive and unhurt, the ropes severed by the bullets. The Bab was nowhere to be seen. He was found, back in His cell, finishing His business with His secretary. The Bab then said to the guard, "I have finished My conversation. You may now proceed to fulfill your duty." The guard, remembering the rebuke he had received earlier, resigned his post, shaken to the core and cut himself off from the enemies of the Bab.

Sam Khan, likewise removed himself and his regiment from this duty declaring, "I refuse ever again to associate myself and my regiment with any act which involves the least injury to the Bab." A colonel of the bodyguard then volunteered to carry out the execution. The Bab was again taken to the execution ground and suspended as before. Again the rifles fired. This time the bodies of the Bab and His companion were shattered by the blast. The bodies were thrown at the edge of a moat outside the city and guarded so that none of His followers could claim His remains. Two days after the execution His followers were able to recover the bodies, hid them in a specially made wooden case, and kept them in a place of safety. Today the body of the Bab is interred in the Shrine of the Bab at the Baha'i World Centre at Mount Carmel, in Haifa, Israel.

After His Martyrdom "No less than twenty thousand of His followers were put to death with such barbarous cruelty as to evoke the warm sympathy and the unqualified admiration of a number of Western writers, diplomats, travelers, and scholars, some of whom were moved to record them in their books and diaries."


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Dear Tahirih

by Ramin007 (not verified) on

Thank you for your reply.

the story of Mr. Lotfi was very moving and sad and unfortunately very familiar to too many Iranians, Baha'i or not.

I wish you the very best in defending and fighting for justice.

with much respect
Ramin


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Dear Anonym

by Ramin007 (not verified) on

Thank you for your reply,

Firstly I apologize for confusing the matter by using a political example to illustrate my point.

all I was trying to get across was that many people blame others for their misfortunes and shortcomings. It is very natural reaction.for example evangelical pastors who commit sins frequently blame Satan for their sins.

Unless we start acknowledging our mistakes and take responsibility for them, we are bound to repeat them again.

I think we both agree on this point and may disagree on the existence of an evil being called satan, and that is fine too.

regards
Ramin


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Execution of the Bab

by Ramin007 (not verified) on

for the friends who questioned the circumstances of the execution of the Bab.

first of all I welcome your skepticism, it is healthy and we probably will never find out exactly what happened that day.
However the fact that it did happen, ie the fact that the first attempt failed and the Bab was not killed is indisputable.

You have already seen the western accounts of the same event, posted by Faryam.
But even enemies of the Baha'i faith, such Mr. Kasravi, have not denied this event.

I refer you to Mr. Kasravi's book, Baha'i-gari page 37.

Regards
Ramin


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Mr. Ramin

by Anonym (not verified) on

I think the discussion here is about Bab and Bahaism not politics.

According to your statement:

"Anonym have ever thought that blaming Satan, for anything that we do wrong, is very easy way of shifting blame?"

Who said that we blame 'anything' or all the evil in the world on Satan? It seems that you are the one who is saying it, because I did not! One can not blame all the evils of the world as you mentioned on Satan alone.

True, Satan according to the holly scripture is a "helper" to promote people to do bad things. He will ,if he can, try to seduce and trick people to do bad things. Some people don't need help, they like to do bad all by themselves!

I hope that the confusion is clear for you now dear friend.

Regards.


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MY RELIGION IS LOVE

by PAPIJOON (not verified) on

Dearest friends here is my contribution read more on the life of The Blesed BAB THE MORN OF TRUTH WHOSE ADVENT WE HAD PRAYED FOR THOUSAND YEARS
LOVE AND GREETING FROM A REMOTE ISLAND MAURITIUS WHO HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE MESSAGE OF THE BAB AND BAHA'U'LLAH
//the-mission-of-the-bab.blogspot.com/


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existance of Satan

by Ramin007 (not verified) on

dear Mona and Anonym,

thank you both for your interesting and civil exchange.

Anonym have ever thought that blaming Satan, for anything that we do wrong, is very easy way of shifting blame?

as human beings we have been given free will to make choices in this life. Blaming others for our misfortunes has been a favorite pass time for a lot of people, whether it be the English(engelis-ha) or Israel in our politics or satan in our moral mishaps.

Isn't time for us to take responsibility for our actions?

Regards
Ramin


Mona 19

Dear Anonym...

by Mona 19 on

I read Quran and I underestand your point of view(s) about these subjects...and thank you for your civil and polite reply and Bless all the open minded Hamvatans.


The peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly source, and are the subjects of one God. ~ Baha'u'llah

 

Best of luck in all your endeavours, shaad va salamat bashid :))

Mona ;)

 


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Dear Mona

by Anonym (not verified) on

I have been to Bahai sites and did read those descriptions but thanks again for expanding on those.

I am not against Bahai's in any way. To me, you can not hold people from what they want to believe.

The description of Afterlife in the Bahai faith is interesting and good. After all what can be the greatest joy but to be closer to our Creator. I believe that also holds true in Islam and Christianity as well. Paradise is not a 'place' as we know it or can even visualize it. But I believe in its vast exitance in some form or the other. Hell is obviously when one is distanced from God and I believe it is also a vast area in the heavens where there is sufferings of different levels for the bad individuals. According to Koran, Paradise and Hell are where we go to in Afterlife and remain there 'forever'. So we can not have physical bodies exactly as we do now, otherwise we would get old and perish.

It is written in Koran that Satan (Devil) will help you if you ask for his help. But when the time comes that you need his help the most, he will turn around 180 degrees and run away. Please read the account of Richard Ramirez who was a serial killer and a worshipper of Satan. This is a good example of what Koran is talking about.

I do believe in the existance of a 'Satan' because there are times one, who is a good person, does things that is bad but can not for any reason figure out why he/she did it! Even though they *knew* it was a bad thing and was harmful even to themselves as well as others. There is much more I can tell you on this but maybe later.

The general belief of Bahaies, Christians, Moslems and other religions who believe in God is what counts. I am glad that Bahaies have a good description of God Almighty and talk about being and doing good and constant devotion to God is being promoted. As long as all people who love God understand that, then that is what counts. I am satisfied with Islam but respect all who love God and do good.


faryarm

Western Accounts:A Cry of Mingled Exultation and Terror Arose..

by faryarm on

 

In response to some incredulous remarks about the Miracle aspect of the Bab's execution, here is some historical documents by non Babi/Bahai western accounts.

 


Western Accounts

These events were witnessed by western journalists. Provided below is one source that is attributed to Sir Justin Shiel, Queen Victoria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran and written to Lord Palmerston, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs July 22, 1850. This can be found in its original form as document F.O. 60/152/88 in the archives of the Foreign Office at the Public Records Office in London.

"The founder of the sect has been executed at Tabreez. He was killed by a volley of musketry, and his death was on the point of giving his religion a lustre which would have largely increased his proselytes. When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Báb was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies. The balls had broken the ropes by which he was bound, but he was dragged [not literally, of course] from the recess where after some search he was discovered and shot. His death, according to the belief of his disciples, will make no difference as Báb must always exist." [Quoted in Ferraby, 1975]

Shoghi Effendi also prints a large selection of western quotes in his book God Passes By (p55), however most are unsourced.

Maulana's Account

Another view is recorded by Muhammad Ali Maulana, a member of the Ahmadiyya Islamic Community, in his bookHistory and Doctrines of the Babi Movement (1933):

Mulla Muhammad Ali was the only man who was executed along with him. It happened, however that when the smoke of musket fire cleared, Mirza Ali Muhammad [the Báb] was not there. The bullet[s] instead of hitting him hit the rope with which he was hung and Mirza Ali Muhammad fled to a closet from which he was brought again. Mirza Jani [an early Babi historian] is sure that the escape was due to the fact that he was not yet willing to be killed and therefore could not be killed, but willing or unwilling he had to submit to the same process a second time, and this time was killed.

Miller's Account

Another documentation was made by Miller, a Presbyterian missionary, in his book The Bahá'í Faith: Its History and Teachings (1974):

The execution was carried out by firing squads of soldiers, who fired three volleys. The first firing party was composed of Christian soldiers, and the second of Muslims.

In the presence of a great crowd Mirza Muhammad Ali was suspended by ropes from the parapet, and his body was riddled by the first volley of bullets. Then a second volley was fired by the same firing squad at the Bab, who was similarly suspended. When the smoke rolled away, “a cry of mingled exultation and terror arose from the spectators – for the Báb had disappeared from sight! It seemed, indeed, that his life had been preserved by a miracle, for, of the storm of bullets which had been aimed at him, not one had touched him; nay, instead of death they had brought him deliverance by cutting the ropes which bound him, so that he fell to the ground unhurt.”

Had the Báb been able to maintain his presence of mind and rush out alive and unhurt among the crowd, the spectators would without doubt have hailed his escape from death as a miracle of God, and would have eagerly espoused his cause. No soldier would have dared shoot at him again, and uprisings would have occurred in Tabriz which might have resulted in the overthrow of the Qajar dynasty. However, dazed by the terrible experiences he had passed through, the Báb took refuge in one of the rooms of the barracks. There he was soon found, “was seized, dragged forth, and again suspended; a new firing party was ordered to advance (for the men who had composed the first refused to act again); and before the spectators had recovered from their first astonishment, or the Babis had time to attempt a rescue, the body of the young prophet of Shiraz was riddled with bullets.

Source: Wikipedia under GFDL. 

 


Mona 19

Dear Anonym...

by Mona 19 on

Bahaullah and New Era ...truly the best book written introduction on the Bahai faith,and it's good start..that's my humble suggestion :)

//www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931847274

you may find it in your local library.

or //reference.bahai.org/en/t/je/BNE/

 

"Whose seeketh out a thing with ZEAL shall find it ."

Kindest regards,Mona ;)


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Martyrdom of the Bab

by mercedes (not verified) on

I appreciate seeing a non-judgmental coverage of a Baha'i Holy Day in an Iranian owned online publication. As an Iranian Baha'i I no longer feel as a minority but rather one of the many.

It is my opinion that as Baha'is we should appreciate such coverage and let people digest the information based on their "capacity".


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Dear Tahirih

by Rainer (not verified) on

As Bahai myself, one of the tenets of the Bahai faith that really appeals to me is being kind hearted, loving and respectful towards all people, even those who choose to be critical of my beliefs.

It is not the Bahai way to talk back to people who criticize the Bahai "at their level"; whatever that might be. Reacting with verbal aggression and tactlessness, achieves nothing but distrust and enmity among people. That's not to say that, if needed, we cannot be firm in stating our thoughts. But it is doing so along with genuine kindness, sincerity and respect toward others, even where we may disagree with them, that we can possibly get them to have regard for our views.

This is a public site. So, if some people do not wish to see Bahai writings posted here, then they have the right to express their views (and we should fully support that right), just as we have the right to express our views and say that we will not hide away forever and will express our beliefs in the open (like others), particularly as there has been so much misconception, distortion and fallacy spread about the Bahai faith in Iran and among many Iranians over the course of past 150 years..

Please do not take this as a criticism, as this was not my intention, but just a reminder that Bahai faith is not about confrontation, but rather about unity of people of all backgrounds and creeds.


faryarm

Paradise or Hell are not "Places"

by faryarm on

Every time there are discussions about Bahai idealogy, there are responses by some who simply dont know enough about the subject...

In Abstract Bahai Terms, Heaven is closeness to God and and Hell Remoteness..In earthly terms...so we can comprehend...Heaven is that absolutely ecstactic feeling of love and closeness to a loved one and Hell is the complete opposite of utter remoteness (deltangi) and the puishment of a constant reminder of one's misdeeds expreienced as one mightin a Bad dream ! But obviously that is just a limited and finite attempt to explain the infinite unknown.. I guess we will all know when our time comes..

in any case There is no physical place,  

Please see below on What Bahai's Believe about Life After Physical Death..

//reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-55.html 

//reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-64.html 


Mona 19

Anonym...

by Mona 19 on

1.Evil does not have independence existence, but is rather the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of light and cold is the absence of heat....Just as the sun is the unique source of all life in a solar system, so ultimately is there only one force or power in the universe, the force we call God.

Bahá'u'lláh explained that references to Satan in the Scriptures of earlier religions are symbolic and should not be taken literally. Satan is the personification of man's lower nature which can destroy him if it is not brought into harmony with his spiritual nature.

//reference.bahai.org/en/t/o/BNE/bne-156.html...

 

2.Heaven & Hell ~ A Bahai view of life after death


 

Heaven is the state of perfection, and Hell that of imperfection; Heaven is harmony with God’s will and with our fellows, and Hell is the want of such harmony; Heaven is the condition of spiritual life, and Hell that of spiritual death. A man may be either in Heaven or in Hell while still in the body. The joys of Heaven are spiritual joys; and the pains of Hell consist in the deprivation of these joys.

Respectfully,Mona ;)

 


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About Bahaism

by Anonym (not verified) on

First at this point I believe that we moslems should not fear Bahai's nor we should allow anyone to mistreat them.

Having said that, it also seems that there is a good deal of animosity towards Islam from some Bahais and that is understandable, to a point, but very very discomforting.

The other two (or more) points that are of great concern are:

* Bahai religion rejects the existance of Satan (unlike Islam and Christianity)

* Bahai religion does not believe in Paradise and Hell as moslems and christians do. (Reward for good and punishment for bad in the afterlife)

I think all those might a be a cause of concern for many moslems. But again, that should not be a cause to mistreat people of the Bahai faith, just to understand more.


Tahirih

Ramin Jan thank you for your reply

by Tahirih on

Azizam , I know as Bahai's we have to face cruelty , by kindness. And I have heard many stories like what you wrote. I know Mona Mahmodnejad kissed the rope before being hanged, and the list goes on and on.....

I have lost good friends too(  To my friend who taught me bravery ). I agree with you I should not come to their level, but I will defend what is just.

My dear , for you I will , not come down to their level, but still will confront ignorance:))

With most tender respect for you,

Tahirih


ThePope

A prophet is rejected in his hometown

by ThePope on

...and it has always been the case, with all God's prophets.

 

Hope one day soon all religious beliefs will have total freedom in Iran.

The execution of our baha'i brothers/sisters is definitely a big lost for ALL Iranians no matter what religion.

 

" '...What makes him so great?' And they where deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then He told them, 'a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family'." -Matthew 13:56-57

 


faryarm

Dear Friends; Roshangari and RoshanFekri

by faryarm on

Every time there are discussions about Bahai idealogy, there are responses by some who simply dont know enough about the subject...leading to sincere responses by believers that sometime become heated because of the passionate nature of the subject. 

The writings of the Bab and Then Baha'u'llah are an Ocean of words and wisdom, needing not just intellectual attention  but, sincere open minded meditation for deep comprehension of their purpose and meaning.. without the traditional middleman cleric. priest, mullah etc.

So please before responding go to //www.bahai.org choose your language from eighty languages. and read about tye subject you want to respond to; Nothing is hidden in the Bahai Faith...you can read online ALL authentic Bahai writings written in the hands of Baha'u'llah Himself.

These discussions should no longer be just  about Bahais trying to defend against the poisonous  lies and distortions of the Mullahs, but about, Real contributions by Bahais to society, their individual sacrifice, the sacrificial contributions of more than 30,000 men women and children who have been massacred in the path of truth and the hope for a new Iran and Global society. 

In essence there is One God, One truth and One Human race  with One Common Faith (//reference.bahai.org/en/t/bic/OCF/ocf-2.html) that can unite all human hearts..

True religion binds, unites and brings love to the hearts...without that its useless  and we are all wasting our time here...

related to above SKIP to minute 1:27 

 


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For those who care to know..

by hopeful (not verified) on

In response to "Mammad" and any one who has asks the question:
In Persian and Arabic...This clip should answer some of the questions about Islam is not the Last time God spoke to Mankind and what The Prophet Muhammad really meant by being the Khatam Nabi...what Shias wrongly interpret as the Last Ever messenger of god.

Mammad Jaan, please examine any new idea without preconcieved ideas..
that is the way to scientific learning and independent search for the truth...what the Mullahs don't want you to do...They are the dark clouds concealing the Sun of Truth..


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in all fairness mammad,

by Seagull (not verified) on

1)that is right, Islam had a different audience and that audience has changed and islam has not!

2)Iranians accepted Islam under the sword and can not change their destiny because they are still under the sword.

3)A true Jew does not accept Jesus, a true christian does not accept islam and a true moslem does not accept the bahai faith and so forth.
This just means you have your own interpretation and has nothing to do with the Truth.
Also the majority of Iranians have not yet accepted the faith but are accepting the failure of the islamic solutions to the mounting problems and are a first hand witness to that.

4)There is plenty of that granding is islam and other religions. You cant even say Mohammad without saying PBUH 3 times, unless you have a death wish.
We do not elevate God, He is elevated and if that is manifested in the person of the Bab or Bahaullah we only acknowledge the fact.

Also about a Moslem writing an article and being criticized, that is simply exaggeration.
First of all most people are critical of the actions of some who call themselves moslems like yourself but have other things in mind.
Second, these claimants use the islamic books and traditions to further their own agenda and oppress others by spreading falsehood, fear, paranoia and intimidation.
Third, some of the provisions of islam simply dont hold anymore and are subject to criticism, just clarify if you can.
No one is above the critical thinking of others, after all God has given us the right to think and that requires asking questions.
If Islam has more critiques today maybe we should look at the merits and be less reactionary.
"Why Hast Thou foresaken me"


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Dear Tahirih

by ramin007 (not verified) on

I am a Baha'i from Yazd. My uncle was one of the seven Baha'is who were executed in sep of 1980.
At the time we did not live in Yazd and we went for the funeral, i was about 14 then.
3 days after these people were killed, the pasdars moved in to confiscate all their belongings.
one of these Baha'is had a large family and he worked as a carpet mender so he was not very rich, so you can imagine how hard it must been for that family, not only to lose their father but all of their material things.
I would have not believe it if I had not seen it myself, the oldest son of family who was about 16, helped the pasdars to move every thing out, like he was holding one side of their TV, helping the man who had possibly killed his father 3 days earlier.
By the way the same boy helped to dig his own father's grave in middle of desert, a cemetry that was desecrated only 2 years later.
.
the reason I tell this story is that, as Baha'is we should always remember that in our history we have faced a lot of persecutions, much greater than any ill informed comment made on the internet, and we should never get to their level. we should try to bring everybody up to our level.
so lets remember the example of this young man next time we want to get down to anybody's level.

with respect
Ramin


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!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Seagull (not verified) on

"Did day see the cane turn into a serpent too?"

God has sent the Bab to help us get rid of the serpent that has had a hold on our conscience. A serpent much ferocious than the cane serpent.

"'Baba Khafeh Shodim .. Velemoon Kon'!!! Ah"

I dont believe that we have not had enough. A glance at our current standing and state is enough testimony.

"Amazing, how much we still are so ignorant"

You are not alone, we need to overcome our ignorance prejudice and hate before we can attempt at remedying our current situation.

"Second of all, the more I read about your religion, the more I come to the conclusion that it resembles more and more like a 'Cult', rather than a regular religion. The devotion that some of our Bahai'i friends have on this site towards their faith, in my opinion, is a bit 'over-the-top'."

Over the top deveotion of the cult members is making the news every day, it has to do with taking innocent lives and controlling every aspect of the lives of people, within and without. Indeed no prison compares to this control over conscience of the see of believers!

"And finally, although I don't personally consider myself a practicing Muslim, nevertheless I do have faith. You don't necessarily heve to be a practicing anything to be 'Spiritual'."

I hope you know what you are saying if you are being honest.

"I hope that you get my message. Again, no other religion proseletyzes like yours on this site. It is a shame that Jahanshah allows that. This site is first and foremost a 'Secular' site. Period."

It is a secular site, that is why both you and I are here, otherwise it wouldnt have been, unless you mean secular your way!

"there was a rumor that he was the creation or at least supported by British to divide the Muslim,like their divide and conquer policy"

Yes, this rummer was started by the shia clergy to control the mass of believers lest they would wake up and demand accountability from those who were supposed to lead them into a better life.
Also the British theory may go back to the time of Omar who divided Islam right after the passing of the prophet.

"Why Islam not Bahai faith?"

The question should be Why Bahai faith after Islam.
The sword of Islam that once spread the Islamic ideals has been rendered ineffective by the Almighty and the proof is indisputable.


Mammad

Why Islam not Bahai faith?

by Mammad on

Someone asked why Iranian people accepted Islam brought to Iran by Arabs, but do not accept the Bahai faith.

(1) The times during the Arabs invasion and Bab and Bahaollah were different.

(2) Why is it strange that Iranians accepted Islam anyway? Do we ever ask why, for example, South Americans accepted Christianity, even though in the process hundreds of thousands of them were killed by the Christian missionaries, and yet the Pope has the largest crowds when he travels there? Note that all those people were killed 1000 years after Arabs invaded Iran.

(3) When one is a true Muslim, one accepts one of its main tenets, namely, that the Prophet was the last prophet. Therefore, a true Muslim does not accept any claim, such as that of Bab or Bahaollah. So, I am not surprised that the vast majority of Iranians did not accept the claims of the two.

(4) Note how the author talks about Bab, and how he/she, in my opinion, exaggerates grandly about Bab and Bahaollah.  "His SACRED remains..." "He," not "he," and "His" not "his," as if Bab has been elevated to the level of God. "Many believe in Iran and around the world that Bab is the Qaim." "This period ... is considered a significant new era for Iran..." I have no problem with all of this - people should be free to express their belief anyway they want - but the point that I want to make is the following.

Just imagine that a Muslim write an article like this, and talk about Islam and the Prophet the same way.  We will have tens of people attacking and mocking the author in the most savage way.

Just Imagine a Muslim responds the way Tahirih does to some silly comments. We will have tens of people attacking her.

But, not in this case. We are extremely cautious in what we say. And if one or a few just deviate a bit from this line, people like Tahirih attack. Have you seen her writings criticizing those that attack Islam? If you have, give me the link. 

Mammad


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A question to all of you people

by nemah (not verified) on

Why Iranian freely attack a religion that is Iranian to begin with, but hold dearly an Arabic religion, just wondering how backward we are when we express our inherited Arab religion and if we even think when we write.....


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why is the Bab not buried in Iran?

by stop the hate (not verified) on

Ali reza,you seem to have not read or know any thing about the history of this native movement in Iran. After the Bab was executed, the Qajar Gov and the mullahs threw his boday into a ditch to be eaten by dogs. His followers, howver, were able to retrieve his mutilated body and kept it in a safe place in Iran for 50 years, away from the mullahs and the Gov, and eventually transported his remains to Palestine and that's why he is buried there . They wanted to erase him and his religion. Even today the cureent Gov. is afraid of dead Baha'is and does not allow the Baha'is to be buried in their own cemetaries. I guess you are not aware the the IRI and its thugs have routinely destroyed Baha'i cemetaries since the revolution. The house of the Bab( in Shiraz)was also destroyed after the Islamic revolution. SO, you wonder why the Bab was not buried in Iran, the answer is the mullahs did not allow that. Educate yourself please.


Mona 19

Ali Reza ...

by Mona 19 on

Bahá'u'lláh was exiled from his native land (Persia) by order of Nasir din Shah, who was a Muslim, to Baghdad(in 1853).... As his influence began to grow among the Muslim population of Baghdad, the Persian king asked his Ottoman counterpart, Sultan 'Abdu'l-'Aziz, another Muslim ruler, to send Bahá'u'lláh deeper into the Ottoman territories and farther from Persian borders. ...The Sultan first exiled Bahá'u'lláh to Constantinople (in 1863), then to Adrianople (Edirne) (later that same yr)and eventually to `Akká(in 1868). At the time, `Akká was a prison city in Palestine.

Bahá'u'lláh passed away in `Akká in 1892. (so his resting place is now in the same town.)... The state of Israel was not formed until 1948, almost 60 years after Bahá'u'lláh's ascention.


`Abdu'l-Bahá (Bahá'u'lláh's son) who passed away in 1921 also was buried in a "Palestinian" city (Haifa) 27 years before the state of Israel came to existence.

The Bab as you read in the article his remain transferred to Palestine and buried in Haifa in 1909 (40 years before the formation of Israel).

Mona


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I am the promised one?

by Ali reza (not verified) on

I had the same feelings for the last few years.Does anybody think that I can claim to be the one,and start my own religion.But my problem is I do not know where to start from? Would Internet be a good start? Beside the joke,there was a rumor that he was the creation or at least supported by British to divide the Muslim,like their divide and conquer policy.The other question that raises is that Why he is he buried in Israel and why not Iran,where he was born and died.Your enemy's enemy is my friend makes sense here.


TheMrs

Shaanseh T***ieh man: Komiteh resid!

by TheMrs on

Zeynab joon,

Some of your friends, khaaharaaneh Zeynab, gave me lots of warnings last time I was in Iran. Apparently, I'm bad hejaab! But I love a woman who knows how to handle steel and blade! And with your icon and your name, you might as well create a second id too. I suggest: Fati_Commando! I loved the way you explained sexuality, breasts and brains to your son. Love always... 


alborz

Responses by Baha'is

by alborz on

Read the response below entitled "Curious ... cult"

Alborz


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Dear Tahirih

by Rainer (not verified) on

As Bahai myself, one of the tenets of the Bahai faith that really appeals to me is being kind hearted, loving and respectful towards all people, even those who choose to be critical of my beliefs.

It is not the Bahai way to talk back to people who criticize the Bahai faith (which if we believe in the freedom of expression, as we do, they have every right to do) "at their level"; whatever that might be. Reacting with verbal aggression and tactlessness, achieves nothing but distrust and enmity among people. That's not to say that, if needed, we cannot be firm in stating our thoughts. But it is doing so along with genuine kindness, sincerity and respect toward the right of others to their views, even where we may disagree with them, that we can possibly get them to have regard for our views.

This is a public site. So, if some people do not wish to see Bahai writings posted here, then they have the right to express their views (and we should fully support that right), just as we have the right to express our views and say that we will not hide away forever and will express our beliefs in the open (like others), particularly as there has been so much misconception, distortion and fallacy spread about the Bahai faith in Iran and among many Iranians over the course of past 150 years..

Please do not take this as a criticism, as this was not my intention, but just a reminder that Bahai faith is not about confrontation, but rather about unity of people of all backgrounds and creeds.