See Kitab-i-Aqdas, verse 173. The learned in Bahá’: al-‘ulamá’ fi’l bahá’. The Arabic term ‘ulamá’ (from ‘ilm=knowledge) denotes those who know, who are qualified by their knowledge. In the Bahá’í community there are no formal criteria for becoming one of the “learned”, or a scholar of the Faith. The only qualification is deep knowledge of the Cause. Academic studies or exams are not required, but rather a deep knowledge of the faith and of religious history, which includes the ability to engage in and understand philosophical-theological discourse. This does not negate the fact that there are people with a deep understanding of the spiritual implications of the Faith, who teach it with passion and eloquence, who perform good deeds and are devoted, but who may have neither the background training nor the capacity of delving into an academic discourse. But one does not refer to such individuals as “scholars”.
-Loyalty to the Covenant and Critical Thought - A Commentary by Udo Schaefer
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