Baha'u'llah and The Bab
Their Reality:
His Holiness the Exalted One (the Bab) is the Manifestation of the
unity and oneness of God and the Forerunner of the Ancient
Beauty. His Holiness the Abha Beauty (Baha'u'llah) (may my life
be a sacrifice for His steadfast friends) is the supreme Manifestation
of God and the Day-Spring of His most divine Essence.
(`Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in Shoghi Effendi: World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 133)
That Baha'u'llah should, notwithstanding the overwhelming intensity of
His Revelation, be regarded as essentially one of these Manifestations
of God, never to be identified with that invisible Reality, the Essence
of Divinity itself, is one of the major beliefs of our Faith - a belief
which should never be obscured and the integrity of which no one of its
followers should allow to be compromised.
(Shoghi Effendi: World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 114)
...in the person of its Forerunner, the Bab, every follower of
Baha'u'llah recognizes not merely an inspired annunciator but a direct
Manifestation of God.
(Shoghi Effendi: World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 61)
Their Missions:
The Bab and Baha'u'llah over sixty years ago proclaimed the glad
tidings of universal peace. The Bab was martyred in the Cause of
God. Baha'u'llah suffered forty years as a prisoner and exile in
order that the Kingdom of love might be established in the East and
West. He has made it possible for us to meet here in love and
unity. Because He suffered imprisonment, we are free to proclaim the
oneness of the world of humanity for which He stood so long and
faithfully. He was chained in dungeons, He was without food, His
companions were thieves and criminals, He was subjected to every kind
of abuse and infliction, but throughout it all He never ceased to
proclaim the reality of the Word of God and the oneness of humanity.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 6-7)
These two Blessed Souls [Baha'u'llah and the Bab] devoted Their lives
to the foundation of international peace and love among mankind. They
strove with heart and soul to establish the teachings by which
divergent people might be brought together and no strife, rancor or
hatred prevail. Baha'u'llah, addressing all humanity, said that
Adam, the parent of mankind, may be likened to the tree of nativity
upon which you are the leaves and blossoms. Inasmuch as your
origin was one, you must now be united and agreed; you must consort
with each other in joy and fragrance. He pronounced prejudice -
whether religious, racial, patriotic, political - the destroyer of the
body politic. He said that man must recognize the oneness of
humanity, for all in origin belong to the same household, and all are
servants of the same God. Therefore, mankind must continue in the
state of fellowship and love, emulating the institutions of God and
turning away from satanic promptings, for the divine bestowals bring
forth unity and agreement, whereas satanic leadings induce hatred and
war.
This remarkable Personage was able by these
principles to establish a bond of unity among the differing sects and
divergent people of Persia. Those who followed His teachings, no
matter from what denomination or faction they came, were conjoined by
the ties of love, until now they cooperate and live together in peace
and agreement. They are real brothers and sisters. No
distinctions of class are observed among them, and complete harmony
prevails. Daily this bond of affinity is strengthening, and their
spiritual fellowship continually develops. In order to ensure the
progress of mankind and to establish these principles Baha'u'llah
suffered every ordeal and difficulty. The Bab became a martyr,
and over twenty thousand men and women sacrificed their lives for their
faith. Baha'u'llah was imprisoned and subjected to severe
persecutions. Finally, He was exiled from Persia to Mesopotamia;
from Baghdad He was sent to Constantinople and Adrianople and from
thence to the prison of Akka in Syria. Through all these ordeals
He strove day and night to proclaim the oneness of humanity and
promulgate the message of universal peace. From the prison of
Akka He addressed the kings and rulers of the earth in lengthy letters,
summoning them to international agreement and explicitly stating that
the standard of the Most Great Peace would surely be upraised in the
world.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 124-125)
For each and every people, and every religion, await a Promised One,
and Baha'u'llah is that One Who is awaited by all; and therefore the
Cause of Baha'u'llah will bring about the oneness of mankind, and the
tabernacle of unity will be upraised on the heights of the world, and
the banners of the universality of all humankind will be unfurled on
the peaks of the earth.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, p. 101)
Fulfillment of Prophecy:
The Bab announced that the greater Manifestation would take place after
Him and called the Promised One "Him Whom God shall make manifest,"
saying that nine years later the reality of His own mission would
become apparent.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 26)
Concerning the uniqueness of Baha'u'llah's station and the greatness of
His Revelation, Shoghi Effendi affirms that the prophetic statements
concerning the "Day of God", found in the Sacred Scriptures of past
Dispensations, are fulfilled by the advent of Baha'u'llah:
To Israel He was neither more nor less than the
incarnation of the "Everlasting Father", the "Lord of
Hosts" come down "with ten thousands of saints"; to
Christendom Christ returned "in the glory of the Father";
to Shi'ah Islam the return of the Imam Husayn; to Sunni
Islam the descent of the "Spirit of God" (Jesus Christ); to
the Zoroastrians the promised Shah-Bahram; to the
Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists
the fifth Buddha.
(The Universal House of Justice: Aqdas: Notes, p. 234)
The Life of the Bab:
As for the Bab - may my soul be His sacrifice! - at a youthful age,
that is to say, when He had reached the twenty-fifth year of His
blessed life, He stood forth to proclaim His Cause.(1) It was
universally admitted by the Shi'is that He had never studied in any
school and had not acquired knowledge from any teacher; all the people
of Shiraz bear witness to this. Nevertheless, He suddenly
appeared before the people, endowed with the most complete
erudition. Although He was but a merchant, He confounded all the
ulama of Persia.(2) All alone, in a way which is beyond
imagination, He upheld the Cause among the Persians, who are renowned
for their religious fanaticism. This illustrious Soul arose with
such power that He shook the supports of the religion, of the morals,
the conditions, the habits and the customs of Persia, and instituted
new rules, new laws and a new religion. Though the great personages of
the State, nearly all the clergy, and the public men arose to destroy
and annihilate Him, He alone withstood them and moved the whole of
Persia.
Many ulama and public men, as well as other
people, joyfully sacrificed their lives in His Cause, and hastened to
the plain of martyrdom.
The government, the nation, the doctors of
divinity and the great personages desired to extinguish His light, but
they could not do so. At last His moon arose, His star shone
forth, His foundations became firmly established, and His dawning-place
became brilliant. He imparted divine education to an
unenlightened multitude and produced marvelous results on the thoughts,
morals, customs and conditions of the Persians. He announced the
glad tidings of the manifestation of the Sun of Baha to His followers
and prepared them to believe.
The appearance of such wonderful signs and
great results; the effects produced upon the minds of the people, and
upon the prevailing ideas; the establishment of the foundations of
progress; and the organization of the principles of success and
prosperity by a young merchant, constitute the greatest proof that He
was a perfect Educator. A just person will never hesitate to believe
this.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, pp. 25-26)
The Life and Teachings of Baha'u'llah:
At a time when the Orient was rent by religious dissension Baha'u'llah
appeared. He founded teachings which became the means of uniting
the various and divergent peoples. He promulgated principles
which removed the cause of their dissension, until today in Persia
those who had been constantly at war are united. Christians, Muslims,
Zoroastrians, Jews - people of every belief and denomination who have
followed the teachings of Baha'u'llah - have attained complete
fellowship and spiritual agreement. Former differences and dissensions
have passed away entirely. Some of the principles of Baha'u'llah's
teaching are as follows:
First, that the oneness of humanity shall be
recognized and established. All men are the servants of God. He
has created all; He is the Provider and Preserver; He is loving to
all. Inasmuch as He is just and kind, why should we be unjust
toward each other? As God has quickened us with life, why should
we be the cause of death? As He has comforted us, why should we be the
cause of anxiety and suffering? Can humanity conceive a plan and
policy better and superior to that of God? It is certain that no
matter how capable man may be in origination of plan and organization
of purpose, his efforts will be inadequate when compared with the
divine plan and purpose; for the policy of God is perfect.
Therefore, we must follow the will and plan of God. As He is kind
to all, we must be likewise; and it is certain that this will be most
acceptable to God.
Second, that truth or reality must be
investigated; for reality is one, and by investigating it all will find
love and unity. Those who are ignorant must be educated, the
ailing must be healed, the undeveloped must be brought to
maturity. Shall we reject or oppose the ignorant, sick or
immature because of their incapacity? Is it not better to be kind
and gentle and to provide the means of remedy? Therefore, under no
circumstances whatsoever should we assume any attitude except that of
gentleness and humility.
Third, that religion is in harmony with
science. The fundamental principles of the Prophets are
scientific, but the forms and imitations which have appeared are
opposed to science. If religion does not agree with science, it
is superstition and ignorance; for God has endowed man with reason in
order that he may perceive reality. The foundations of religion
are reasonable. God has created us with intelligence to perceive
them. If they are opposed to science and reason, how could they
be believed and followed?
Fourth, that religion must be conducive to
love and unity among mankind; for if it be the cause of enmity and
strife, the absence of religion is preferable. When Moses
appeared, the tribes of Israel were in a state of disunion as captives
of the Pharaohs. Moses gathered them together, and the divine law
established fellowship among them. They became as one people,
united, consolidated, after which they were rescued from bondage.
They passed into the promised land, advanced in all degrees, developed
sciences and arts, progressed in material affairs, increased in divine
or spiritual civilization until their nation rose to its zenith in the
sovereignty of Solomon. It is evident, therefore, that religion
is the cause of unity, fellowship and progress among mankind. The
function of a shepherd is to gather the sheep together and not to
scatter them. Then Christ appeared. He united varying and
divergent creeds and warring people of His time. He brought
together Greeks and Romans, reconciled Egyptians and Assyrians,
Chaldeans and Phoenicians. Christ established unity and agreement
among people of these hostile and warring nations. Therefore, it
is again evident that the purpose of religion is peace and concord.
Likewise, Muhammad appeared at a time when the peoples and tribes of
Arabia were divergent and in a state of continual warfare. They killed
each other, pillaged and took captive wives and children. Muhammad
united these fierce tribes, established a foundation of fellowship
among them so that they gave up warring against each other absolutely
and established communities. The result was that the Arabian
tribes freed themselves from the Persian yoke and Roman control,
established an independent sovereignty which rose to a high degree of
civilization, advanced in sciences and arts, extended the Saracen
dominion as far west as Spain and Andalusia and became famous
throughout the world. Therefore, it is proved once more that the
religion of God is intended to be the cause of advancement and
solidarity and not of enmity and dissolution. If it becomes the
cause of hatred and strife, its absence is preferable. Its
purpose is unity, and its foundations are one.
When Baha'u'llah appeared in Persia, violent
strife and hatred separated the peoples and tribes of that
country. They would not come together for any purpose except war;
they would not partake of the same food, or drink of the same water;
association and intercourse were impossible. Baha'u'llah founded
the oneness of humanity among these people and bound their hearts
together with such ties of love that they were completely united.
He reestablished the prophetic foundations, reformed and renewed the
principles laid down by the Messengers of God who had preceded
Him. And now it is hoped that through His life and teachings the
East and West shall become so united that no trace of enmity, strife
and discord shall remain.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 127-129)
Baha'u'llah is the real Physician. He has diagnosed human
conditions and indicated the necessary treatment. The essential
principles of His healing remedies are the knowledge and love of God,
severance from all else save God, turning our faces in sincerity toward
the Kingdom of God, implicit faith, firmness and fidelity,
loving-kindness toward all creatures and the acquisition of the divine
virtues indicated for the human world. These are the fundamental
principles of progress, civilization, international peace and the unity
of mankind. These are the essentials of Baha'u'llah's teachings,
the secret of everlasting health, the remedy and healing for man.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 205)
In the European histories, no doubt, you have read detailed accounts of
the morals, customs and ideas of the Persians during the last
centuries. It is useless to repeat them. Briefly, we will
say that Persia had fallen so low that to all foreign travelers it was
a matter of regret that this country, which in former times had been so
glorious and highly civilized, had now become so decayed, ruined and
upset, and that its population had lost its dignity.
It was at this time that Baha'u'llah
appeared. His father was one of the viziers, not one of the
ulama. As all the people of Persia know, He had never studied in
any school, nor had He associated with the ulama or the men of
learning. The early part of His life was passed in the greatest
happiness. His companions and associates were Persians of the
highest rank, but not learned men.
As soon as the Bab became manifested,
Baha'u'llah said, "This great Man is the Lord of the righteous, and
faith in Him is incumbent upon all." And He arose to assist the
Bab and gave many proofs and positive evidences of His truth, in spite
of the fact that the ulama of the state religion had constrained the
Persian government to oppose and resist Him and had further issued
decrees ordering the massacre, pillage, persecution and expulsion of
His followers. In all the provinces they began to kill, to burn,
to pillage the converts and even to assault the women and
children. Regardless of this, Baha'u'llah arose to proclaim the
word of the Bab with the greatest firmness and energy. Not for
one moment was He in concealment; He mixed openly with His
enemies. He was occupied in showing forth evidences and proofs
and was recognized as the Herald of the Word of God. In many
changes and chances He endured the greatest misfortunes, and at every
moment He ran the risk of being martyred.
He was put into chains and confined in an
underground prison. His vast property and inheritance were
pillaged and confiscated. He was exiled four times from land to
land and found rest only in the "Greatest Prison."(3)
In spite of all this He never ceased for one
instant His proclamation of the greatness of the Cause of God. He
manifested such virtue, knowledge and perfections that He became a
wonder to all the people of Persia. So much so that in Tihran,
Baghdad, Constantinople, Rumelia, and even in Akka, every one of the
learned and scientific men who entered His presence, whether friend or
enemy, never failed to receive the most sufficient and convincing
answer to whatever question was propounded. All frequently
acknowledged that He was alone and unique in all perfections.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, pp. 27-28)
During His lifetime He was intensely active. His energy was
unlimited. Scarcely one night was passed in restful sleep.
He bore these ordeals, suffered these calamities and difficulties in
order that a manifestation of selflessness and service might become
apparent in the world of humanity; that the Most Great Peace should
become a reality; that human souls might appear as the angels of
heaven; that heavenly miracles would be wrought among men; that human
faith should be strengthened and perfected; that the precious,
priceless bestowal of God - the human mind - might be developed to its
fullest capacity in the temple of the body; and that man might become
the reflection and likeness of God, even as it hath been revealed in
the Bible, "Let us make man in our image."
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 28)
Mirza Husayn-'Ali, surnamed Baha'u'llah (the Glory of God), a native of
Mazindaran, Whose advent the Bab [Herald and Forerunner of Baha'u'llah]
had foretold, ... was imprisoned in Tihran, was banished, in 1852, from
His native land to Baghdad, and thence to Constantinople and
Adrianople, and finally to the prison city of Akka, where He remained
incarcerated for no less than twenty-four years, and in whose
neighborhood He passed away in 1892. In the course of His
banishment, and particularly in Adrianople and Akka, He formulated the
laws and ordinances of His Dispensation, expounded, in over a hundred
volumes, the principles of His Faith, proclaimed His Message to the
kings and rulers of both the East and the West, both Christian and
Muslim, addressed the Pope, the Caliph of Islam, the Chief Magistrates
of the Republics of the American continent, the entire Christian
sacerdotal order, the leaders of Shi'ih and Sunni Islam, and the high
priests of the Zoroastrian religion. In these writings He
proclaimed His Revelation, summoned those whom He addressed to heed His
call and espouse His Faith, warned them of the consequences of their
refusal, and denounced, in some cases, their arrogance and tyranny....
(Shoghi Effendi: The Promised Day is Come, p. vi)
Future Prophets Under Baha'u'llah's Shadow:
After Baha'u'llah many Prophets will, no doubt, appear but they will be
under His Shadow. Although they may abrogate the laws of this
Dispensation in accordance with the needs and requirements of the age
in which they appear, they nevertheless draw their spiritual force from
this mighty Revelation.
(Shoghi Effendi: Directives of the Guardian, p. 61)
1. The Bab is here designated by His title Hadrat-i-Ala, His
Supreme Highness; but for the convenience of the reader we shall
continue to designate Him by the name under which He is known
throughout Europe--i.e., the Bab.
2. Doctors of the religion of Islam.
3. Exiled first to Baghdad, then to Constantinople, then to
Adrianople, He was imprisoned in Akka (Acre), "the Greatest Prison," in
1868.
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