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In the Name of God بسم الله

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  • 4 months later...
  • Advanced Member
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Hi @alidu78, I watched the video and wanted to note a few things.

For Baha'is, the picture of Baha'u'llah is very sacred and only viewed on special occasions like on pilgrimage and with most reverence so me seeing it in the video was a bit startling.

Anyways, I have broken down the different parts of the video below.

Founders supported:

Baha'u'llah was not supported by the British. Much of His life was in exile. If He wanted money and power He could have easily had it because His father was a minister in the court of the Shah and Baha'u'llah could have had that same position but He turned it down and instead helped the poor and needy which earned Him the title of "The Father of the Poor".

Summary of the life of Baha'u'llah: http://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/life-bahaullah

Dissimulated Faith:

Not only did Baha'u'llah proclaim that He was the Promised One to His friends and family but He also Wrote to the Kings and Rulers of the World to let them know. There was no dissimulation. 

Letters Written: http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/summons-lord-hosts/

Belief About Islam & Consider Themselves to be Muslims

We don't believe that Islam is dead. We believe that the true religion of God is Islam. It has always been and will always be. We read in the Quran the following:

Quote

But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah ?" The disciples said," We are supporters for Allah . We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].(3:52)  https://quran.com/3/52

Even before the Quran, there were Muslims. Being a Muslim means submitting to the Messenger of God. So the followers of Christ are Muslims but if they reject Prophet Muhammad, then they are not because they have not submitted to the Will of God. Baha'is believe that The Bab and Baha'u'llah are continuing to reveal the Word of God and are submitting to it and therefor would be considered Muslims according to this definition and not by the common known definition of being followers of Quran. We believe the Quran to be the Word of God but we follow the laws revealed by Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas.

We believe in progressive revelation. That each Messenger brought laws and teachings in accordance with the need and capacity of that time. And this is why laws have changed from each religion. Consider laws in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and how they differ in diet, family life, prayer and fasting. Baha'u'llah's teaching are for this time and age. God forbid that anyone should think that what is revealed by God is the extent of God's Knowledge. God is All-Knowing and All-Wise. What we receive from the Messengers is only what we are capable of. If not, The Quran could have been revealed to Moses or Christ but it wasn't so.

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O SON OF BEAUTY! 
By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy and by My beauty! All that I have revealed unto thee with the tongue of power, and have written for thee with the pen of might, hath been in accordance with thy capacity and understanding, not with My state and the melody of My voice. (Baha'u'llah, Arabic Hidden Words, number 67) http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/HW/hw-68.html 

Each religious dispensation has a fixed time:

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And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]. (7:34) https://quran.com/7/34

Bahai's believe that this time is the year 1844, 1260 AH, when the Bab declared to Mullah Husayn.

Converted Muslims:

Yes, many! Specially in the beginning in Persia when the news had not spread far. One example is Siyyid Yahya Darabi, surnamed Vahid Akbar, a renowned scholar of Shia Islam who was sent by the Shah of Persia to investigate the truth of the Bab's Message and after meeting with The Bab, he declared his faith. 

Observance of Hijab:

It is not prohibited but also not obligatory. The following from the Kitab-i-Aqdas should help:

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The Lord hath relieved you, as a bounty on His part, of the restrictions that formerly applied to clothing and to the trim of the beard. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the Omniscient. Let there be naught in your demeanour of which sound and upright minds would disapprove, and make not yourselves the playthings of the ignorant. Well is it with him who hath adorned himself with the vesture of seemly conduct and a praiseworthy character. He is assuredly reckoned with those who aid their Lord through distinctive and outstanding deeds. Aqdas, paragraph 59 - http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka-7.html#gr159

Using Women for Entertainment:

I don't even want to know what this is and it has no place in the Writings of Baha'u'llah. Like in Islam, sex before marriage is prohibited.

Interested In Converting:

No one! Baha'is are forbidden to proselytize, but it is the duty of every Baha'i to share the revelation of Baha'u'llah with every one.

Quote

“If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and goodwill. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him.”  Baha'u'llah, "Episle to the Son of The Wolf" - http://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/life-generous-giving/sharing-bahai-beliefs

Converting in Deception:

Like above, conversion is not the goal. I've already fulfilled my duty by sharing the Message of Baha'u'llah. The Writings of Baha'u'llah are available online at http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/ in farsi, arabic and english so each person can read about it themselves.

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The virtues and attributes pertaining unto God are all evident and manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books. Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while communing with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath decreed, contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience, nay, thankfulness in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in all circumstances, upon Him. -Baha'u'llah, Gleanings CXXXIV - http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/#f=f7-729

Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues. Without truthfulness progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are impossible for any soul. When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also be acquired. -Abdul-Baha (Son of Baha'u'llah) 

NWO, New World Order:

This is building a Divine Civilization on earth. It'll probably not be done in my lifetime but I take immense joy that I have the opportunity to contribute to it. It is beyond me to even imagine it but this is the Promised time of all religions, when there will be peace, justice and prosperity on earth. 

Major Pilgrimmages that they cannot perform:

Unfortunately, the House of The Bab in Shiraz was destroyed by the revolutionary guards of Iran and so was the House of Baha'u'llah in Baghdad.

Minor Pilgrimages:

The sites mentioned are Haifa and Akka and those are the main places of pilgrimage. The remains of the Bab are on Mount Carmel Haifa and the remains of Baha'u'llah are in Bahji, near Akka.

Charity outside of community:

Quote

O CHILDREN OF DUST! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues. -Baha'u'llah, Persian Hidden Words, 49

and original Farsi for the Farsi speakers:

ای پسران تراب

اغنیا را از نالهٴ سحرگاهی فقرا اخبار کنید که مبادا از غفلت بهلاکت افتند و از سدرهٴ دولت بی نصیب مانند الکرم و الجود من خصالی فهنیئاً لمن تزیّن بخصالی

Bahai's are concerned for the well being of their communities (not just Baha'is, ALL) and are involved in many socio-economic projects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socioeconomic_development_and_the_Bahá'í_Faith

Has Sects:

There are no sects in the Baha'i Faith because Baha'u'llah appointed His Son, Abdul-Baha as His successor and as an Interpreter of His Writings. So any argument about meanings could be solved by looking to Abdul-Baha and this is why the Bahai Faith has no sects. 

Wrote Books:

Yes, many. From book of laws, to interpretations of Quran, Tablets and others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selections_from_the_Writings_of_the_Báb

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/

https://bahai-library.com/khavari_writings_bahaullah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_writings_of_Bahá'u'lláh

Discouraging members to read 'harmful' literature:

I personally have never heard of this but one of the principles of the Baha'i Faith is Independent Investigation of Truth. We don't have clergy, like priests or Mullahs so each member has the duty of reading the Writings daily and finding the truth for themselves.

Effects of these new Faiths:

I dont think it created more division and confusion but it actually brought people together. Baha'is come from all walks of life from virtually every part of the world. And even though different in background, all are united in the Vision of Baha'u'llah.

I hope this helps clear some misconceptions about the Baha'i Faith.

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