Dearest friends, Alláh’u’Abhá
As an assistant to the Auxiliary Board member for Protection, I wanted to share some concerns with you. I am sure all of you, Persian and non-Persian believers, have been following the events in Iran, the cradle of the Faith. You will have seen that all media outlets have been reporting the events with fervor and zeal.
The Faith is very specific about non-involvement in partisan politics. And even though there is only one political system in Iran, yet the existing divisiveness is just like those of partisan politics.
Our goals are much loftier than any political system, or any system of voting. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Center of the Covenant, speaks authoritatively on this issue:
“Speak thou no word of politics; thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man’s joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them, make thou no mention of the earth’s kings, and the worldly governments thereof. Rather, confine thine utterance to spreading the blissful tidings of the Kingdom of God, and demonstrating the influence of the Word of God, and the holiness of the Cause of God. Tell thou of abiding joy and spiritual delights, and godlike qualities, and of how the Sun of Truth hath risen above the earth’s horizons: tell of the blowing of the spirit of life into the body of the world.” [Selection from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, No. 53, p. 92]
The Guardian also states:
“Yet we Bahá’ís should remember that we stand above politics. That that field does not interest us; that we attribute importance to things of the spirit, that we await salvation to come from the Faith that burns in our hearts.” [The light of Divine Guidance, Vol. 1, p 311]
Our goal, however, is concerned with the soul of the individuals and no more. In addition we must never forget that the Bahá’í community is very much incarcerated in
its homeland. However, with consistent and honest service to the community, and by standing firm according to the principles of the Faith, the community is becoming
recognized as above all politics and concerned with spiritual goals. They have demonstrated the “influence of the Word of God”. They have lived the following advice of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
“Politics are occupied with the material things of life. Religious teachers should not invade the realm of politics; they should concern themselves with the spiritual education of the people; they should ever give good counsel to men, trying to serve God and human kind; they should endeavour to awaken spiritual aspiration, and strive to enlarge the understanding and knowledge of humanity, to improve morals, and to increase the love for justice.” [Paris Talks, p 157]
We should do the same. Consequently it is very important that we do not allow our concerns, and thus activities, to burn away the harvest of many years of sacrifice and
service.
For the sake of the friends, as well as the independence and the prestige of the Faith, I am asking you to restrain yourselves, your e-mail, your weblog postings, your
interaction with the Iranian community, and your FaceBook activities.
If you wish to engage the process, then share with all the glorious future of Iran based on Writings of the Faith, raise the call of oneness, and show restraint.
Would you also be kind enough to share this with those friends who do not have e-mail.
Yours in His service
