Shoghi Effendi's opinion about Islam

Strange, incredibly strange, must appear the position of this most powerful branch of the Islamic Faith (Sunni), with no outward and visible head to voice its sentiments and convictions, its unity irretrievably shattered, its radiance obscured, its law undermined, its institutions thrown into hopeless confusion. This institution that had challenged...

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Titles of Baha'u'llah

• the "Light and the Splendor of God" • the "Lord of Lords" • the "Most Great Name" • the "Ancient Beauty"• the "Finger of Glory" • the "Pen of the Most High" • the "Hidden Name" • the "Preserved Treasure" • "He Whom God will make manifest"• "He Who is the Lord of all religions" • the "Most Great Light" • the "All-Highest Horizon" • the "Most Great...

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The effect of Bahá’u’lláh’s 200th Birthday Celebrations are staggering!

The effect of this (Bahá’u’lláh’s 200th Birthday Celebrations) has been staggering. A conservative estimate indicates that across India almost 200,000 friends spoke about Bahá’u’lláh and taught the Faith to more than 400,000 others. In addition, proclamation was also done through radio coverage reaching out to a number of cities and the film ‘Light...

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Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years...

Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray God that He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt, forgive him. If, however, he persisteth in his error, God will, assuredly, send down one...

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Your achievements during the Bicentenary amply proved the current potential for teaching. Go forward, then, with faith

In the United States, the Bicentenary events were attended by some 120,000 people, nearly two-thirds of them not members of the Faith. Impressive as this is, far more moving to us were stories we received from hundreds of individuals about their personal efforts to engage in meaningful conversations about the Blessed Beauty and His teachings. These...

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Miracles

Did you know that there were more than ten assassination attempts on the life of Baha'u'llah in the course of close to fifty years (1844-92), but instead, God meant for this Manifestation of God to live His life and produce some one hundred volumes of Holy Words for posterity in spite of the most severe tortures, imprisonment, deprivations, and exiles?...

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I am He Who hath raised up all creatures through a word of My mouth

I am He Who hath raised up all creatures through a word of My mouth, and My power is, in truth, equal to My purpose. (Baha'u'llah, Suriy-i-Haykal, Surih of the Temple, 1:75, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/SLH/slh-4.h...

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The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead.

Baha'u'llah says : By My Self! The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead. He, verily, is powerful over all things. http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-143.html...

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Were any of the Manifestations of God to declare: “I am God”, He, verily, speaketh the truth !

Baha'u'llah says : Were any of the all-embracing Manifestations of God to declare: “I am God”, He, verily, speaketh the truth, and no doubt attacheth thereto. For it hath been repeatedly demonstrated that through their Revelation, their attributes and names, the Revelation of God, His names and His attributes, are made manifest in the world… http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka-177.html...

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I am God and I am coarser than clay!

Baha'u'llah says : When I contemplate, O my God, the relationship that bindeth me to Thee, I am moved to proclaim to all created things “verily I am God”; and when I consider my own self, lo, I find it coarser than clay! http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka-177.html...

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I am He, Himself, and He is I, Myself...

By John Wiegley When I see my wife each day, I see her physical form, hear her voice, and say, "Yes, you are my wife". But I've never seen the soul of my wife; even she has not seen it. Does this mean I've never seen or known my wife? The relationship of the Manifestations of God to God is one of the great mysteries. I find it eloquently expressed...

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Bible : Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing..

(15) Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (16) By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (17) Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad...

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Shun any man in whom you perceive enmity for this Servant

Shun any man in whom you perceive enmity for this Servant, though he may appear in the garb of piety of the former and later people, or may arise to the worship of the two worlds. (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith—Selected Writings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha (Abdu’l-Baha’s Section Only), p. 4...

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Hossein Amanat is the brother of former Baha'i Abbas Amanat

Appointment of the Architect of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice 17 SEPTEMBER 1973 To all National Spiritual Assemblies 136.1 DELIGHTED ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT HUSAYN AMANAT BRILLIANT YOUNG BAHA'I ARCHITECT CRADLE FAITH AS ARCHITECT OF BUILDING FOR UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE Hossein Amanat is the brother of...

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We encourage interested Baha'is to learn Esperanto

We feel that, within the framework of their efforts for the promotion of peace, the Bahá'ís of Europe would do well to increase their collaboration with the Esperanto Movement, and we encourage Bahá'ís who feel the urge to assist in this area, to learn Esperanto and take an active part in the activities of the Movement. As you know, although both 'Abdu'l-Bahá...

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The Most Great Name or Ringstone Symbol Not Appropriate on Gravestones

"Normally the building of structures or headstones on graves should be left to the family of the deceased, and all expenses should be covered by them. "The use of the Most Great Name or the ringstone symbol on gravestones is not appropriate. In a letter dated September 17, 1971 to an individual believer we wrote the following: 'Concerning the questions...

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Books written by enemies of the faith should be ignored entirely.

"In reply to your letter of September 20, 1975, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that the friends should be advised to ignore these books and any similar ones which might be written by enemies of the Faith. There should certainly be no attempt made to destroy or remove such books from libraries. On the other hand there is no need...

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If people refuse to accept Baha'u'llah, they will bring upon themselves crisis and great affliction.

If men refuse absolutely to take the easier road of faith, of seeking out God's Manifestation for this age and accepting Him, then they will bring upon themselves a fresh crisis in human affairs and very great affliction.- Shoghi Effendi https://bahai-library.com/shoghieffendi_unfolding_destiny#451...

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Summary of rules of Baha'i translations

Arabic works cannot be translated into Persian. Persian works cannot be translated into Arabic. Persian and Arabic works can be translated "into Oriental languages such as Turkish and Urdu." Persian and Arabic works can be translated into English. Persian and Arabic works cannot be translated into non-English "European languages." English works can...

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"untimely and unwise" - "unpleasant and unworthy"

September 20. On this date in 1982, the UHJ wrote Kalimát Press about the publication of Ustad Salmani's My Memories of Bahá'u'lláh noting it "untimely and unwise" due to passages where believers refer to him as "You being God, Uncle" and other "unpleasant and unworthy" stories. https://bahai-library.com/uhj_salmani_letters...

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Baha'is are the Leaven of God, the Chosen People of God

"...The Bahá'ís are the leaven of God, which must leaven the lump of their nation. In direct ratio to their success will be the protection vouchsafed, not only to them but to their country. These are the immutable laws of God, from which there is no escape: 'For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.' "They cannot be the chosen...

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He feels that a course on Covenant-breaking should be included in the Summer School curriculum

"...and your Assembly cannot be too careful or vigilant in watching over the Community seeking out the sources of corruption and protecting the friends. He feels that a course on Covenant-breaking should be included in the Summer School curriculum, so that the friends may understand the nature of this evil, and how it has affected our Faith for one...

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Committee of Vigilance to watch over the Faith and protect it from its internal enemies!

"He feels that your Assembly should redouble its vigilance, in fact he feels that the National Assembly should consider itself, aside from its other duties, as a Committee of Vigilance to watch over the Faith and protect it from its internal enemies, and from the constantly carried on and insidious activities...." (From a letter written on behalf of...

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Expropriating the property owned and controlled by the Covenant Breakers

...and the setting in motion, through the instrumentality of various departments of the Israeli government, of a long-drawn-out process, culminating in the expropriation by the state of the entire property, owned and controlled by the remnants of the breakers of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant, immediately surrounding His resting-place and the Mansion of Bahjí,...

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'Abdu’l-Bahá visited the home of William Jennings who was not home at the time, as he was busy campaigning for Woodrow Wilson in whose administration he would serve as Secretary of State.

September 22. On this date in 1912, during his tour of North America, 'Abdu’l-Bahá visited the home of William Jennings Bryan in Lincoln, Nebraska. William Jennings Bryan was not home at the time, however, as he was busy campaigning for Woodrow Wilson in whose administration he would serve as Secretary of State. 'Abdu’l-Bahá met his wife and daughter...

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Circumstances around Abdu'l Baha's knighthood (KBE)

On September 23, 1918, during World War I, General Allenby's British forces captured Haifa from the Ottomans, an event which Shoghi Effendi in 1936 would refer to as "the liberation of Palestine." In 1920 'Abdu’l-Bahá would be ceremonially knighted in "a most wonderful celebration." September 23. On this date in 1918, during World War I,...

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Baha'is acquiring properties in Israel

September 24. On this date in 1951, a cablegram sent by Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assemblies announced that after "prolonged, delicate negotiations involving Ministries of Finance and Religious Affairs and Haifa Municipality have culminated in agreement in principle to purchase approximately twenty-two thousand meter area, estimated...

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Old religions are decaying before the eyes of their disillusioned adherents...

UHJ states : Events of the most profound significance are taking place in the world. The river of human history is flowing at a bewildering speed. Age-old institutions are collapsing. Traditional ways are being forgotten, and newly born ideologies which were fondly expected to take their place, are withering and decaying before the eyes of their disillusioned...

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What the Cause needs is such ardent and self-sacrificing servants and not lukewarm followers who are ready to reap the fruit...

"What the Cause needs is such ardent and self-sacrificing servants and not lukewarm followers who are ready to reap the fruit but unwilling to take a part in winning that victory. Shoghi Effendi, therefore, hopes that you will endeavour to make of your spiritual children of the type Bahá'u'lláh sought to have and create not passive admirers but active...

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Heedless non-Baha'is are Ignorants and they are indeed in evident loss.

"Hasten, hasten, O ye firm believers! Hasten, hasten, O ye steadfast! Abandon the heedless, set aside every ignorant, take hold of the strong rope, be firm in this Great Cause, draw light from this Evident Light, be patient and be steadfast in this wise Religion! Ye shall see the hosts of inspiration descending successively from the Supreme World,...

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One thousand years should not be taken literally.

"...as to the meaning of the passage in the 'Íqán' in which Bahá'u'lláh refers to the renewal of the 'City of God' once in about a thousand years: this, as the word about implies, is simply an approximate date, and should not therefore be taken literally." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 29, 1938:...

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Teach that person carefully until he becomes a Baha'i.

Never must they let a day pass, without teaching some soul, hoping that Bahá’u’lláh will cause each seed to grow. The Friends should seek pure souls, gain their confidence and then teach that person carefully until he becomes a Bahá’í — and then nurture him until he becomes a firm and active supporter of the Faith. http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/MC/mc-251.html...

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UHJ appeals Baha'is to convert more people.

We especially appeal to our fellow Bahá’ís everywhere to mount a mightier effort than ever before in offering the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to increasing numbers of their compatriots, and in inviting them to investigate and embrace His Cause. - The Universal House of Justicehttps://bahai-library.com/uhj_28_november_2004...

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Meat-eating in the writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha

By Sen McGlinn There is quite a lot on meat-eating in the writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha, beginning with the Aqdas: "If ye should hunt with beasts or birds of prey, invoke ye the Name of God when ye send them to pursue their quarry; for then whatever they catch shall be lawful unto you, even should ye find it to have died." This is expanded...

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The world is but one country and mankind its citizens.

This statement is the plagiarized version of a line of poetry from the 13th century Persian Poet called Saadi: Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. Baha’u’llah the founder of Baha’ism simply repeated this statement using other words and attributed it to himself.The statement is simply “stating the obvious”, yes...

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Abdul Baha went to the baths with the entire party.

On September 27, 1912, during his tour of North America, Mahmud's Diary relates that 'Abdu’l-Bahá availed himself of the resort amenities in Glenwood Springs, Colorado where he "strolled in the spacious garden and boulevard adjacent to the hotel until He reached the river where there were bath houses and hot springs...the Master went to the baths with...

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You should go to Spiritual Assemblies as a child would to its parents.

"...These bodies have the sacred obligation to help, advise, protect and guide the believers in every way within their power when appealed to--indeed they were established just for the purpose of keeping order and unity and obedience to the law of God amongst the believers. "You should go to them as a child would to its parents...." (From a letter...

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The Tablets of the Divine Plan, by Abdu'l-Bahá are the Charter for the teaching of the Faith.

"As you are no doubt aware, the Tablets of the Divine Plan, which were revealed by Abdu'l-Bahá during the First World War, are the Charter for the teaching of the Faith. All the teaching plans launched by the beloved Guardian, as well as those subsequently directed by the Universal House of Justice, are stages in the implementation of this master plan...

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Your generation must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs and administrators of future years.

On October 2, 1951, Shoghi Effendi urged Bahá'í Youth "to make up your minds to do great, great deeds for the Faith; the condition of the world is steadily growing worse, and your generation must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs and administrators of future years." http://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=5#n2128...

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Queen Marie's daughter : It is quite incorrect to say that my mother was a member of the Baha'i Faith.

On October 3, 1939, Shoghi Effendi posthumously appointed Martha Root as a Hand of the Cause of God. Martha Root had eight meetings with Queen Marie of Romania, which occurred from January 1926 through February 1936. Although Bahá'ís frequently refer to her as "the first member of a royal family to embrace the Bahá’í Faith," Queen Marie's daughter...

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'Abdu'l-Baha goes aboard the warship HMS Marlborough.

On October 4, 1919, on the invitation of Major Williamson, the acting Military Governor of Haifa, 'Abdu'l-Bahá goes aboard the warship HMS Marlborough....

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Why Baha'is are 'persecuted' in Iran?

...technically speaking, the Islamic Republic of Iran, while it does not constitutionally recognize or accord legitimacy to Bahaism as a creed, has no state sponsored policy of persecuting Bahaism either. Baha’is as Iranian citizens are legally accorded full citizenship rights under the law in Iran. It is their creed (together with its organization...

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Baha'is believe all non-Baha'is are astray.

"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though...

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Dr Sa'eed Khan about Baha'is

Dr Sa'eed Khan [was] a highly-respected physician...who had as a doctor treated the second widow of the Bab, and had for a lifetime known intimately both Babis [i.e. Bayanis] and Baha'is in Tehran and Hamadan. He says: "...There is no conscience with them [ i.e. the Baha'is], they keep to no principle, they tell you what is untrue, ignoring or...

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There is no way to appoint.. a second Guardian to succeed Shoghi Effendi.

On October 6, 1963, the UHJ sent a message to all NSAs stating that "the Universal House of Justice finds that there is no way to appoint or to legislate to make it possible to appoint a second Guardian to succeed Shoghi Effendi." http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19631006_001/19631006_001.pdf...

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The implementation of Bayan and non-implementation of Aqdas !?

The Bayan advocates death, violence, and war against non-Babis and since it was meant to be implemented that is exactly what the followers of the Bab did and created havoc and mayhem in Iran. If the laws of the Bayan were not meant to be implemented then there would be no need for Babis to cast aside their previous beliefs (mostly Islamic) and perform...

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UHJ gives guidance on how to Pray and Meditate !

On October 11, 1978, the Universal House of Justice sent a letter to Bahá’í Friend regarding his "appeal for guidance" telling him to "Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations, as they have the greatest power. Learn to remain in the silence of contemplation for a few moments. During this deepest communion take the next step. ...

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Perhaps Shoghi Effendi writes about himself...

So many misunderstandings arise from the passionate attachment of the friends to the Faith and also their immaturity. We must therefore be very patient and loving with each other and try to establish unity in the Bahá'í family. The differences ... which you describe in your letter he feels are caused by the above and not by enmity to the Faith or insincerity....

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World Religion Day.. was not meant primarily to provide a platform for all religions...

On October 22, 1968, the UHJ wrote, "World Religion Day, which is a celebration of the need for and the coming of a world religion for mankind, the Bahá'í Faith itself...the Day was not meant primarily to provide a platform for all religions and their emergent ecumenical ideas."http://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=4#n1710...

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Shoghi Effendi suggests Baha'i pilgrims to record their notes

"It is very important that the Bahá'ís should accurately record their experiences with the Master and events in the Cause's progress for these things form data for future histories of the Cause. They have not, however, the authority of the revealed Word of the Tablets,..." (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer,...

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Membership on the Universal House of Justice is confined to men.

On October 27, 1986, the UHJ stated that "it is an incontrovertible fact that all Manifestations of God known to us have been men. Moreover, it is a clear provision in Bahá’í administration that the Guardians were to be men and that membership on the Universal House of Justice is confined to men." http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19861027_001/19861027_001.pdf...

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Materials about the Faith authored by Baha’is must be reviewed by Baha’i institutions before publication.

On October 28, 1991, the Universal House of Justice addressed a letter to an individual believer, an academic, regarding the "requirement that materials about the Faith authored by Bahá’ís must be reviewed by Bahá’í institutions before publication." http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19911028_001/19911028_001.pdf...

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Personal relations with Covenant-breakers... is strictly forbidden.

"Personal relations with Covenant-breakers, however, such as personal contact or entering into correspondence with one is strictly forbidden."http://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance&chapter=2#n611...

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About the Bab's writings

Shírází was a man obsessed: obsessed by all things religious and esoteric, by the untapped possibilities inherent in Shi‘ite theology and philosophy, by words and concepts he had never fully understood, by his own personality and the parts he could play. He was an autodidact in a world that idolized a sometimes precious and affected learning. Words...

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Bab's books

"whole sections of the Bab's later books don't in fact mean anything very much, but are elaborate exercises in interesting things you can do with Arabic roots." - Denis MacEoin...

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Baha'u'llah's source of knowledge

"We purposed to read some of his works. Although We never felt disposed to peruse other peoples’ writings, yet as some had questioned Us concerning him, We felt it necessary to refer to his books, in order that We might answer Our questioners with knowledge and understanding. His works, in the Arabic tongue, were, however, not available . . . We sent...

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Love thy enemies - contradiction !

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 320. "O ye beloved of the Lord! The Kingdom of God is founded upon equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every living soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to treat compassionately all humankind—except for those who have some selfish, private motive, or...

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Baha'u'llah and Polytheists

“O group of polytheists (deniers of Baha’ism), if you take pride in your name remaining amongst the animals or being mentioned amongst the livestock, then take pride in that for you are worthy of it.” (Baha’u’llah, Athar-i Qalam-i A`la, vol. 2, no. 81, p. 452)“From this day, any individual that mentions as human [or humanness] a single person from...

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Baha'i Faith and Dissimulation

"In Istanbul, every day at noon Bahá'u'lláh would go to the Mosque of Sultán Muhammad and there recite the prayer in the manner of Islam" (Ustád Muhammad-`Alíy-i Salmání, MY MEMORIES OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH, pp. 38-39)"Thereupon, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sought water to perform His ablution. With the utmost deliberation, He completed His ablution and then commenced to...

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