Why Christians view the Baha'i Faith as a fraud or false religion?

The Baha'i Faith is considered a cult primarily due to its deviation from fundamental biblical doctrines regarding Christ, salvation, and its reliance on extra-biblical revelation and questionable historical actions.

Why Christians view the Baha'i Faith as a fraud or false religion?

Conflicts with the Deity and Uniqueness of Christ

• Denial of Essential Deity: Baha'is interpret allegorically the biblical doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the bodily Resurrection of Christ.
• Jesus as One of Many: Jesus is considered only one of nine Divine Manifestations of God and is in no manner superior to the other eight.
• False Claims of Baha'u'llah: Baha'u'llah claimed to be the return of Christ “in the glory of the Father” and the Comforter whom Jesus said would come, replacing Christ's unique role.
• Incomplete Revelation: Baha'is claim that the Christian revelation was for a previous age, while Baha'u'llah's religion is for today.
• No Bodily Return: The Christian belief is that Jesus rose "into the clouds" and will return in His body, not REINCARNATED into another person (such as Baha'u'llah).

Conflicts with the Christian Gospel (Salvation)

• Rejection of Atonement: Baha'is deny that man fell from his original state. Abdul Baha stated that there is no sin-atoning value in Christ's sacrificial death on the cross.
• Salvation by Works: Salvation is attained by keeping the commandments of God.
• Focus on Social vs. Personal Regeneration: Baha'is emphasize social regeneration and view the Christian focus on personal regeneration as irrelevant.
• Faulty Cure for Sin: They believe man's problems stem from the intellect, thinking that education is the ultimate answer. They consider sin to be characteristics of the lower nature, and they treat sin as an illusion, similar to Hinduism.
• Self-Seeking Savior: Baha'u'llah applied the title of "Savior and mediator between man and God" to himself, despite the Bible teaching that Jesus Christ is the ONE MEDIATOR.

Historical and Organizational Issues

• Violation of Predecessor's Injunctions: Baha'u'llah claimed to be a Manifestation, violating the Bab's appointment of Subh-i-Azal as his successor. Baha'u'llah also claimed prophethood despite the Bab indicating that the next manifestation would appear in a minimum of 1,511 years.
• Murder and Rewriting History: Baha'is murdered about twenty Babis, including relatives of the Bab, during conflicts with Subh-i-Azal's followers. The Baha'is also responded to resistance by rewriting many Babi writings and records.
• Family Conflicts and Lack of Love: Baha'u'llah and his descendants consistently showed an inability to love members of their own family when conflicts of ambition arose, suggesting a lack of credibility for their claims (e.g., Abdul Baha and Shoghi Effendi excommunicated large portions of their own families).
• Internal Contradictions in Succession: The history of Baha'i leadership is "filled with 'inspired' violations of 'inspired' injunctions" regarding succession, culminating when Shoghi Effendi died childless and without a will, leading to the end of the Guardianship.
• Seclusion of Baha'u'llah: Baha'u'llah lived largely in seclusion in Akka, and it was said among Baha'is in Iran that "whosoever went to Akka lost his faith," indicating a risk of disillusionment among followers.
  

Source : https://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Bahai/bahai_exposed.htm

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Badiullah confirms that ʻAbdu'l-Bahá did not physically assault anyone further after that day.

Badiullah recounts that he was near the garden area when ʻAbdu'l-Bahá approached, laughing in a manner that was "contrary to custom," and delivered one slap to Badiullah. Badiullah felt this blow was a severe strike motivated by malice. Badiullah’s immediate response was to retaliate by striking ʻAbdu'l-Bahá "on the chest with a fist," after which ʻAbdu'l-Bahá quickly departed.

Baháʼu'lláh, having heard the disturbance, summoned Badiullah and asked why he was so agitated. After Badiullah described the incident, Baháʼu'lláh stated that ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had committed the action because he bore enmity toward all of them. Baháʼu'lláh placed His hand on the mark left by the slap, promised to chastise ʻAbdu'l-Bahá that very day, and assured Badiullah that ʻAbdu'l-Bahá would never raise a hand again. Badiullah confirms that ʻAbdu'l-Bahá did not physically assault anyone further after that day.

(The memoirs of Badi'u'llah, Baha'u'llah's youngest son)

https://bayanic.com/showPict.php?id=badi&ref=0&err=0&curr=0

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What is written about 'Abdu'l-Baha in the memoirs of Badi'u'llah?

The memoirs and letters written by Badi‘u’llah and others claim that ‘Abbás Effendi (‘Abdu’l-Bahá), known as the Greatest Branch (Ghúsn-i-A‘zam), committed the following actions:

1. Striving for Succession and Personal Rule:

   • His primary intention was to establish Guardianship and succession through his own progeny.
   • He sought to establish a position of ruling authority or presidency (Ra'is).
   • His future planning was entirely contrary to the other Branches.

2. Corrupt and Destructive Intentions:

   • He constantly strives for the downfall of the other Branches.
   • His objective was to corrupt the Cause and destroy its foundation.
   • He sought the humiliation, destruction, and abolition of the other Branches and the family of Baha'u'llah.

3. Use of Political Machinations and Deception:

   • His actions were completely contrary to the laws of God.
   • He used political trickery and machinations to attract others.
   • He continuously engaged in political displays.
   • He acted as a hypocrite, being outwardly luminous but inwardly oppressive.
   • He was associating with the "Young Turks," enemies of the Ottoman Sultan.

4. Causing Strife and Division:

   • He was the direct cause of conflict, division, and dispute.
   • He sowed seeds of hostility in pure hearts.
   • His behavior was compared to the conflict between the Umayyads and Hashimites.

5. Oppressive and Violent Actions:

   • He was responsible for extreme oppression.
   • He gave orders resulting in the severe beating of Baha'u'llah's secretary (Haji 'Abdu'l-Husayn) and others.
   • He encouraged the cursing and humiliation of the family and other Branches in meetings.
   • He used harsh and abusive language.

6. Violation of Spiritual and Ethical Laws:

   • He violated the sanctity of the Cause.
   • He encouraged and practiced slander, backbiting, and lying, despite the Holy Book forbidding it.
   • He is described as a "lying slanderer".

7. Disrespect Towards Family and the Cause:

   • His actions caused Baha'u'llah daily distress.
   • He had hidden enmity toward Baha'u'llah.
   • He and his family disrespected Baha'u'llah's name.
   • He and his family showed extreme disrespect by laughing and failing to attend the funeral/mourning rites of his deceased brother, Diyá'u'llah, or visit his sickbed.
   • He used theatrical and dramatic movements (like staged weeping and political journeys) to force his will upon the family.

8. Financial Misconduct and Fraud:

   • He attempted to submit fraudulent financial accounts to the government regarding the Mansion's expenses to gain advantage over his brothers.
   • He was responsible of embezzling the inheritance rights and government pensions due to his brothers for eight years.

9. Involvement in Scandalous Behavior:

   • Was involved in bringing the "Isfahani woman" into the household, causing severe division and grief. Also arranged for three prostitute women (fāḥishih zan) from the West to visit the Mansion for a night.

10. Other Criticisms:

• He used dangerous substances (drugs?) to attract followers and control their minds.

(The memoirs of Badi'u'llah, Baha'u'llah's youngest son)

https://bayanic.com/showPict.php?id=badi&ref=0&err=0&curr=0

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God does not favor the Bahá'ís.

Every successor appointed in the Bahá'í age broke the instructions given by his predecessor: 'Abdu'l-Bahá by naming his grandson his successor in place of his chosen brother; Shoghi Effendi by excommunicating all of his family and not establishing the Universal House of Justice, making it impossible for the will of his grandfather to be followed; the Universal House of Justice is operating without a Guardian which is supposed to be essential to its function, thus, violating the very scripture its existence is supposed to be based on.

In addition, all of Bahá'u'lláh's successors suppressed his writings in some way, and failed to implement local divine bodies of authority, the Houses of Justice, keeping all power for themselves. In short, the so-called World Order of Bahá'u'lláh was dismantled before it even could be implemented, proving that God does not favor the Bahá'ís.

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The global spread of the Bahá'í Faith

The global spread of the Bahá'í Faith has been reflected in the increase in the number of National Spiritual Assemblies. While there were 56 National Assemblies in the world that first elected the House of Justice in 1963, 173 took part in the 2018 election. The large number of indigenous peoples who made up the membership of National Assemblies particularly on the most recent occasion-was evidence of the further penetration of the Bahá'í Faith into countless diverse societies. Between 2006 and 2020, National Assemblies were reformed in Afghanistan, Burundi, the Caroline Islands, Egypt, Liberia, and Vietnam.

(Baha'i World, Volume XXXV (2006-2021) p. 47)

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Membership of women on institutions

The administrative order of the Bahá'í world community is composed of both elected and appointed arms. As of 20 April 2021, some 42 percent of those elected to serve on the 174 National Spiritual Assemblies around the world were women, rising from about 30 percent in 1994-95. The ratio of women serving as office-bearers rose to 35 percent, compared to 19 percent in 1983, and some 53 percent of those serving as the principal executive officer (titled "National Secretary") were women. Membership of women on Regional Bahá'í Councils was about 46 percent. When considered in the global context of women's representation in governing institutions, such a high percentage of membership is impressive. These figures are worldwide results, including numerous societies where equality may not yet be accepted even in principle. They indicate a growing embrace of the spiritual principle of gender equality by the men and women who elect their institutions through secret ballot as well as confidence in women's administrative capacities.

On the appointed institutions, the percentage of women members is even higher-an indication of the attention given to identifying women of capacity and enlisting them to serve. As of April 2020, of the nine members comprising the International Teaching Centre, 56 percent were women, rising from 29 percent in 1973, when it was established. Of the 90 members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 47 percent were women (up from 19 percent in 1968 when the Continental Boards were created, and 52 percent of the 1,059 members of the Auxiliary Boards around the world were women.

(Baha'i World, Volume XXXV (2006-2021) p. 165-165)

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Increase in Bahá’í Activity (Recent Report)

The past quarter-century (pre-2022) saw a profound rise in capacity, culminating in significant increases during the preceding Five Year Plan:

• Overall Capacity Rise: The Bahá’í world underwent a transformation, acquiring an "undreamed-of capacity to learn, to grow, and to serve humanity".

• Core Activities Soared: The capacity for sustaining core activities rose from just over 100,000 (after 20 years of effort) to 300,000 being sustained simultaneously—a three-fold increase.

• Participation Skyrocketed: Participation in core activities rose above two million, also close to a threefold increase.

• Institute Success: The total number of institute courses completed by individuals reached two million—a rise of well over a third in five years.

• Growth Intensification: The number of Intensive Programmes of Growth (IPGs) more than doubled, reaching approximately 4,000.

• Advanced Clusters Quintupled: Clusters that passed the third milestone (learning how to welcome large numbers) rose from about 200 to an astonishing 1,000 in nearly 100 countries.

• Social Action Explosion: Compared to 1996, the number of formal social and economic development projects rose to 1,500 (from 250), and grassroots social action initiatives rose fifty-fold to over 70,000 annually.

(The Nine Year Plan 2022-2031 - Messages of the Universal House of Justice) 

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/uhj/uhj_nine-year_plan_2022.pdf

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The tasks of helping to watch over the security of the Cause, protecting it from its enemies

The tasks of helping to watch over the security of the Cause, protecting it from its enemies, internal and external, and ensuring the constant propagation of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh cover, in general, the functions of the Auxiliary Board members—functions they share with Local and National Spiritual Assemblies.

(The American Bahá’í - July, 1980)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_11/Issue_7/Text

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one is safe only when he is firm in the Covenant.

The new World Order, he said, has so upset the world’s equilibrium that one is safe only when he is firm in the Covenant.

(The American Bahá’í - July, 1980)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_11/Issue_7/Text

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caution in entering into financial dealings with LSA member

Pictured (left to right) are Assembly members Ken Zemke, Jeff Banks, Sharon Barnes, Ramiz Maher, Betty Ulius, Mary Zemke, John Barnes

(The American Bahá’í - June, 1979)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_10/Issue_6/Text

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to advise the friends that they should exercise caution in entering into financial dealings with Robert Jeff Banks, formerly of Calabasas-Topanga, California.

(The American Bahá’í - July, 1980)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_11/Issue_7/Text

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There is still time to participate in funding construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice

Question: Is there still time to contribute to the construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice?

Answer: As of April 1980, there has been no “cutoff date” announced for such contributions. At present, exterior construction of the building is complete, while work continues on the interior and on landscaping. There is still time to participate in funding construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, an opportunity that will never occur again.

(The American Bahá’í - July, 1980)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_11/Issue_7/Text

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existence of Tablets in the hands of non-Bahá’í descendants of early Bahá’ís.

However, the National Bahá’í Archives Committee is aware that a number of Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or letters from the Guardian are still in the hands of individuals, and therefore appeals for the original or a photocopy to be sent to the National Bahá’í Archives.

The Archives Committee would also like to know if any of the friends are aware of the existence of Tablets in the hands of non-Bahá’í descendants of early Bahá’ís.

The Archives Committee is seeking in particular Tablets addressed to Lilliam James, Arthur P. Dodge, Arthur Agnew, Percy Woodcock or Mrs. A.M. Bryant.

Any Tablets or information about Tablets should be sent to the National Bahá’í Archives, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.


(The American Bahá’í - July, 1980)

https://bahai.works/The_American_Bahá’í/Volume_11/Issue_7/Text

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Source of The Dawn-Breakers

Mullá Muḥammad Shafí, Hussein Ahdieh, trans. Diary of Mullá Muhammad Shafi, The (2010). Translation of a diary so thorough that it became the prime source of information for many future historians (incl. Nicolas, Mazandarani, Avareh, Rouhani, Faizi, and Shaykh Bahá'í), much of which was used in Nabíl's The Dawn-Breakers.

https://bahai-library.com/shafi_ahdieh_diary

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Ruhiyyih Khanum did not become pregnant

When the news of the impending marriage became known, a lady called Mrs. Edma Balloura Belmont, who had met the Master in America and had become a Baha'i, and who, upon her return to the Middle East had become a good friend of the family, was in Beirut undergoing medical treatment. Upon hearing the news she told the ladies of the family that she had nursed Mary Maxwell and knew her medical history and that it was impossible for her to have children. Soon after Mrs Belmont died, but her words were proved to be true.

In short, many of those who knew Mary Maxwell well were unhappy about this marriage but did not dare to express their opinions. My mother, Touba Khanum and her sister, Rouha Khanum were in Beirut at the time and apparently far removed from the matter. They were not capable of doing anything and therefore remained silent. The responsibility rested completely with Zia Khanum. She, in turn could not verify Mrs. Edma Belmont's words and upon that basis, prove anything.

Time passed, and Ruhiyyih Khanum did not become pregnant.

Dr. Raf'at Bek, a Turkish, Baha'i gentleman, residing in Beirut, educated in Germany, and a gynecologist by profession - he had been head of that department in the Turkish Medical School, - wrote to Shoghi Effendi, offering his services. Ruhiyyih Khanum refused to be examined by him. Dr. Raf'at Bek wrote again, suggesting that the problem may be with Shoghi Effendi himself. He recommended that he should eat strengthening food, including ten fresh eggs a day. Shoghi Effendi did not answer his letter, but asked his mother to provide him with such a diet. She obeyed. Time passed, but without any results. This was a source of anxiety for Zia Khanum, for too many eggs could cause other medical problems. She therefore asked Shoghi Effendi to relieve her of this duty and to ask Ruhiyyih Khanum to do it for him. This she refused to do, accusing Zia Khanum of not wanting her to get pregnant. This was the basis of the disagreement between the two parties and raised Shoghi Effendi's suspicions.

Some years later, in Beirut, I heard from Rouhanguise Khanum, Shoghi Effendi's eldest sister, that Shoghi Effendi finally convinced Ruhiyyih Khanum to see a doctor. In fact, two doctors saw her: Dr. Costero of the Italian Hospital in Haifa and Dr. Zondek, the gynecologist of the Hebrew University and the Hadassa Hospital in Jerusalem. They both stated that because of a problem that existed she was unable to bear children.

Source : Ruhi Afnan’s 1970 letter to the Spiritual Assembly of Iran

https://abdulbahasfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ruhi-afnan-1970-letter.pdf

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Why some people like Ghodsi Effendi were expelled by Shoghi Effendi?

After the end of the 1st World War the Master had chosen Ghodsi Effendi to collect the mail by hand from the post office and to bring it to him. His remuneration for this service was a daily meeting with Abdul Baha. After the Master passed away, he continued to render this service to Shoghi Effendi. At one point a member of the family asked him to deliver his mail to him directly and not to take it to Shoghi Effendi first. This he found difficult to do, and consequently asked Shoghi Effendi to relieve him of this duty. Shoghi Effendi became very angry at the idea that his mail would not be brought to him daily and by hand. As a result he kicked out Ghodsi Effendi. But matters did not stop there. Agha Sayyed Mirza Yahya. Ghodsi's father, was also kicked out because he did not shun his son, and expressed the opinion that for such an unimportant matter his son did not deserve to be thrown out of the Cause. This reached the ears of Shoghi Effendi and made him still more angry. He considered it a protest against the prerogatives of his guardianship and as a result kicked out the father, mother, brother and sister of Ghodsi Effendi.

Source : Ruhi Afnan’s 1970 letter to the Spiritual Assembly of Iran

https://abdulbahasfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ruhi-afnan-1970-letter.pdf

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Believers throughout the world have striven to pursue the aim of advancing the process of entry by troops.

That the Bahá’í world has succeeded in multiplying the number of devotional meetings sixfold over the past five years, that classes for children and junior youth have increased more than threefold during the same period, that the number of study circles worldwide has surpassed eleven thousand—these provide a measure of the extraordinary strength the believers can draw upon in shouldering the responsibility entrusted to them.

(The Universal House of Justice, 27 December 2005, Message to to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)

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The Marriage Dispute of Mirza Abdul-Husayn Khan Dihqan and Khazar Razi

The marriage dispute between Mirza Abdul-Husayn Khan Dihqan and Khazar Razi highlighted significant challenges within the early administrative establishment of the Baha'i Faith after 'Abdu'l-Baha's passing. The couple's marriage, conducted according to Islamic law instead of Baha'i law, was viewed as a serious violation, undermining the community's legal and administrative identity. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Cause, expressed deep concern and took decisive action, instructing the National Assembly to remove them from any positions in the Local Spiritual Assembly if re-elected and barring them from voting in the community. This incident became a key test of loyalty and adherence to Baha'i laws, setting a precedent for the enforcement of Baha'i administrative and spiritual order.

Source: Nineth volume of Tarikh Zuhur al-Haqq by Mirza Asadu’llah Fadil Mazandarani

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/m/mazandarani_tarikh_zuhur_haqq_9_typed.pdf

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Difference between the followers of Mohammed Ali and the followers of Abdul Baha

Sexual Immorality and Womanizing (Zan Parastī)

The Covenant-breakers are slaves to lust and devoted to women:

• The Covenant-breakers (Nāqiḍīn) are described as being "enslaved to woman-worship (zan parastī) and led by a "cursed chief (raʼīs-i manḥūs)".
• They are characterized as "enslaved to corruption and immorality (fisq wa fujúr)".
• A powerful poem in the book describes them as having "torn the veil of their honor (pardih-yi nāmūs)" due to their intense doubt (shak).
• One of the core accusations leveled against them is that they regarded sacred prohibitions (muḥarramāt) as permissible (ḥalāl). This context suggests that their engagement in "woman-worship" and "corruption" was a violation of established religious laws.

Alcohol and Wine Consumption (Sharāb / Bink)

The Covenant-breakers are frequently linked to the consumption of forbidden substances, including alcohol:

• They are explicitly identified as "merchants of vice and wine (murīd binuk wa sharāb)", indicating habitual use and a deep attachment to these illicit pleasures.
• The word binuk often translates to "vice" or corruption but, along with sharāb (wine/alcohol), suggests indulgence in intoxicating substances.
• Mírzá Muḥammad ʻAlí was specifically noted for drinking alcohol (ṣarf-i mashrūb) and engaging in "unacceptable (pasandīdah nabūd) actions. This detail suggests that the use of alcohol was associated with prominent figures among the Covenant-breakers.

Contrast with Faithful Believers (followers of Abdul Baha)

These accusations of immorality stand in stark contrast to the spiritual and moral ideals frequently presented in the book regarding the faithful:

• The Covenant-breakers are accused of being "steeped in ignorance and polytheism (shirk wa ḍalāl)" and acting "without fear or caution (bī bīm wa bāk)".
• In contrast, believers are praised, and there is a direct reference to the prohibition of opiate drugs and alcohol for the believers. One passage mentions that in the Baháʼí Faith, opium (afyūn) is forbidden (ḥarám).
• A passage attributed to the faithful explicitly cautions, "If you are wise, avoid three things perpetually: opium, hashish (ḥashīsh), and ripe or unripe wine (bādah pukhtah wa khām)" and states that anyone who uses or sells them is "unquestionably lower than livestock (past tar ast az anʻām)".
• The pure wine associated with the faithful is often metaphorical. For instance, drinking wine of devotion (may-i ʻishq) from the cup of Alast and the "wine of purity (khumr-i ṭahūr)". The Covenant-breakers, however, are accused of indulging in the physical vices of binuk wa sharāb.

(Tarikh Zuhur al-Haqq, Vol. 8, by Mirza Asadu’llah Fazil Mazandarani, edited by Adel Shafi'pour)

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/m/mazandarani_tarikh_zuhur_haqq_8_typed.pdf

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Wealthy Baha'i community

The Baha'i community has been instrumental in shaping the modern landscape of the German Colony in Haifa, primarily through the development and extension of its extensive gardens. The German Colony's central north-south thoroughfare is now famously connected to Mount Carmel via these newly rehabilitated Bahai Gardens, which are also referred to as the present-day Bahai complex. The significance of the Baha'i presence extends to urban development, as the Haifa Municipality's restoration project for the German Colony in the late 1990s—which was funded by the Ministry of Tourism—was explicitly assisted by the wealthy Bahai community’s newly developed and extended Gardens. This restoration effort was specifically fueled by the newly developed gardens, with the goal of attracting anticipated millennium tourists. Historically, the site of the present-day Bahai complex was the upper terminus of the vineyards planted by the original German Templers, stretching up the mountain slope from their dwellings.

(Reconstructed urbanity: The rebirth of Palestinian urban life in Haifa by Rachel Kallus, Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel)

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The Bab established several distinct commands and rules concerning non-believers

The Báb, in his book the Bayán (Arabic), views those who do not accept his revelation as being in a state of error, and he established several distinct commands and rules concerning non-believers or those outside the Bayán or the Islamic sects.

The overall perspective holds that all people outside the Bábí faith are equal in their error. Jews, Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Sunnis, Shiites, Sufis, and philosophers are all considered to be "in the error" and are seen as blasphemers. The Báb specifically rejects the doctrines of sects like Sufism expressing his "horror and disgust" for this school of thought.

The commands and expectations regarding non-believers fall into several categories:

Commands Regarding Property and Possessions

The Báb instituted commands requiring Bábís to acquire the property of non-believers, though this was generally reversible upon conversion:

1. Acquisition of Property: Bábís are instructed to take all the possessions of those who have not entered the Bayán.
2. Return Upon Conversion: If the non-believers subsequently come to believe in the Bayán, their goods must be returned.
3. Contextual Exception: This command to seize property is set aside if the Bábís are residing in a country where they do not have the power to act in this manner.
4. Purity of Goods: Any goods that Bábís seize from non-believers are immediately rendered pure upon coming into the believer's possession.
5. Conquered Cities: If a city is conquered by the religion of the Bayán, unique objects within that city must be seized and guarded for the future Manifestation of God (He Whom God Shall Make Manifest).

Commands Regarding Conversion, Faith, and Extermination

The Báb places a strong imperative on conversion and obedience to the Bábí law, or faces consequences:

• Exclusion of Non-Believers: The Báb ordered that after the Ulemas' impotence to match his verses is shown, the Babi ruler "must not leave on the surface of the earth any other than believers".
• Exception for Commerce: An exception to this exclusion is made for non-believers who engage in commerce under the belief of the Bayán or those from whom profit is derived.
• Consequences of Disbelief: Those who refuse to believe in Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest and his verses will be annihilated.
• Marriage and Sexual Relations: If one partner in a marriage converts to the Bayán and the other does not, it becomes illicit for the believer to approach (have sexual relations with) the non-converting spouse unless they convert. Furthermore, the reproductive act is not licit if both parties are not believers in the Bayán.
• Prohibition on Torment: Bábís are generally forbidden to torment others [Believers], even to the extent of striking someone's shoulder with one's hand.

Commands Regarding Religious Practices

The Báb instituted prohibitions on certain activities related to non-Bábís or non-Bábí practices:

• Forbidden Association: It is forbidden for Bábís to have relations with non-believers of the Bayán.
• Science and Learning: Bábís are commanded not to acquire sciences which hold no utility, nor to be burdened by sciences "of appearance and without fruit". Specifically, Bábís should not study books or sciences that originate from the "Manteq" (logic) and "Usool" (principles) that are rooted outside the Bayán tradition.
• Religious Blasphemy: The Báb criticizes Christians for accusing God of lying by saying He is one of the three persons of the Trinity, and the Jews for saying Ozéir is the son of God, stating that God will soon chastise them for their bad beliefs.
• Alcohol: Bábís are prohibited from possessing, selling, buying, or consuming fermented beverages or other intoxicants, unless they are used for industry. If someone drinks an intoxicating beverage, they are obliged to pay a fine of 55 mithkals of gold.

In sum, the Báb's commands distinguish between those in error (general non-believers) and those who accept the truth (Bábís), implementing legal and social barriers, including provisional seizure of property, and ultimately calling for a society composed only of believers.

(1905 French translation of Arabic Bayan "Le Béyan Arabe," of Séyyed Ali Mohammed (the Báb) by A.L.M. Nicolas)

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"This is the photograph of Baha'u'llah."

The entire pilgrim group of Persians and Westerners entered the center room of the three chambers allocated to the Archives, then turned into a side room. There Dr. Lutfu'llah Hakim, guide for the Pilgrims, stood beside a cabinet. As we approached he drew aside a covering which draped a cabinet, softly announced, "This is the photograph of Baha'u'llah."

I had seen the miniature painting of Baha'u'llah during the dedication of the American House of Worship in Wilmette, lovely, exquisite, a bounty to view. But here before me, inches distant, was the stark reality of a photograph of the Manifestation. I had not known one existed.

I pushed close to the venerable photograph, taken in Turkey when Baha'u'llah as prisoner was exiled to Palestine, taken after the stressful period when he had been poisoned by His envious half-brother, His health depleted, His hands forever after to tremor. A passport photograph, untouched, unflattering.

(The Great Adventure: Chapter 40: Pilgrimage by Florence Mayberry, pp. 135-146, Ottawa, ON: Nine Pines Publishing, 1994)

https://bahai-library.com/mayberry_great_adventure_pilgrimage

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Shoghi Effendi: The Guy Isaiah Was Low-Key Talking About

Who was Shoghi Effendi?

1. Guardian and Interpreter: He is the Guardian of the Baha'i faith and one of the two Interpreters (alongside ‘Abdu’l-Baha).

2. Successorship: He represents the second successorship after Baha'u'llah.

3. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The institution of the Guardianship was anticipated by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and Shoghi Effendi himself was predestined and mentioned in Holy Scriptures. 'Abdu’l-Baha confirmed that he was the "little child" prophesied in Isaiah. His name ("Shi") and the duration of his ministry were predicted.

4. Central Task: His greatest task was to form, to start, and to elaborate and unfold the World Order of Baha'u'llah and the Universal House of Justice.

5. Builder of the World Order: He was the builder of the components of the World Order of Baha’u’llah, including the Arc and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. The dedication of the twin monuments on Mount Carmel was considered the beginning and prelude to the formation of the Universal House of Justice.

6. Global Impact and Crusades: He announced the Ten-Year Crusade and, through his encouragement and plans, raised pioneers and martyrs whose sacrifices led to the victory of the Baha'i Faith. The fruits of the Ten-Year Crusade, such as Houses of Worship worldwide, are a result of his plans.

7. Ministry's Completion: The duration of his ministry lasted more than thirty-seven lunar years, and he felt assured that he had accomplished his assignments from God before his passing. Otherwise he would not have died!

8. Interpreter of Scriptures: He served as the Interpreter of the Writings, elucidating the meaning of passages regarding the future unfoldment of the Faith.

9. Rarity of the Guardianship: The Revelation of Baha'u'llah occurs only once in every 500,000 years, and only then will there be another Guardian of the Cause.

10. Defining the Bab's Station: Based on a verse in the Bayan, Shoghi Effendi defined the Bab as the Forerunner of the World Order of Baha'u'llah.

11. Wisdom and Capacity: He spoke to people according to their capacity and shortcomings, demonstrating that if he revealed his full power and knowledge, "none could stand it".

12. Symbolic Interpretation of the West: He interpreted Baha’u’llah’s poetic verse, stating that the Sun of miracles, mysteries, majesty, and dignity of the Baha'i Faith will rise from the West (America).

13. Spiritual Unity Achieved: His marriage to Ruhiyyih Khanum was announced via cable as the moment the "UNITY OF THE EAST AND WEST HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED".

14. Tireless Dedication: He worked with extraordinary diligence, starting work at 4:00 a.m. every day and finishing after midnight.

15. Defining Glad Tidings: He affirmed that the stories of the sufferings of the Baha'is of Iran were the "great glad tidings" that he instructed believers to deliver to friends in other lands.

16. Mention in Islamic Hadith and Scriptures: Shoghi Effendi was predestined and was mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

    • The name of the Guardian is there in all these scriptures, specifically cited as the Jafr-i-Jami of Imam-‘Ali.

    • In the Islamic Hadith, the duration of his kingdom is mentioned, predicting how long he and ‘Abdu’l-Baha would live.

17. Predicted Duration of Ministry: These references state that 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry (thirty lunar years) and the Guardian's ministry (more than thirty-seven lunar years) will reign seventy years when rounded off in the Arab custom (1892-1963). Shoghi Effendi knew the time of his passing because this duration was predicted in Holy Scriptures.

18. Fulfillment of Prophecy (Isaiah): He was confirmed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to be the "little child" prophesied in Isaiah (11:6). ‘Abdu’l-Baha attested that from him would "appear wondrous things" and that he would be "endowed with the most perfect appearance, supreme capacity, absolute perfection, consummate power and unsurpassed might".

19. Interpreter of Ancient Prophecy: He revealed profound interpretations of ancient scriptures. For example, he stated that the fifty-fourth chapter of Isaiah is addressed entirely to the mother of 'Abdu'l-Baha, a meaning that he noted nobody had known for thousands of years.

(The Beloved of All Hearts: Shoghi Effendi by Zikrullah Khadem, published in The Vision of Shoghi Effendi pp. 117-127, Ottawa, ON: Association for Bahá'í Studies North America, 1984-11)

https://bahai-library.com/khadem_beloved_all_hearts

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Kitab-i-badi - Baha'u'llah's use of severe and abusive words for those who denied or rejected him

In Kitab-i-Badi, Baha'u'llah used many severe and abusive words for those who denied or rejected him, this includes the likes of Mírzá Yaḥyá and his followers and Muḥammad Siyyid and his followers.

The words include:

Terms of Polytheism, Apostasy, and Disbelief:

• مُشْرِك / مُشْرِكِين (Polytheist, Associator)
• انْفُس مُشْرِكَه (Polytheistic souls/selves)
• فَرعونیّه انْفُس مُشْرِكَه (Pharaonic polytheistic souls)
• مُشْرِك بالله (Polytheist in God)
• نَفْس مُشْرِك (Polytheistic soul)
• كفروا و أشركوا (They disbelieved and associated partners)
• كُفَّارٍ أثيم (Sinful disbeliever)
• مُلْحِد (Heretic/Atheist)
• مُرتَد (Apostate - implied in târik, mafqud)

Terms of Denial and Opposition (Rejection):

• مُعْرِض / مُعْرِضِين (Rejecter/Averse one)
• مُنْكِر / مُنْكِرِين (Denier)
• أهل انكار (People of denial)
• جَاحِدَان (Deniers/Apostates - implied in root)
• مُعْتَرِض / مُعْتَرِضِين (Objector/Protester)
• مُحارب (Warrer/Combatant)

Terms of Malice, Falsehood, and Deception:

• ظَالِم / الظَّالِمِينَ (Oppressor/Wrongdoer)
• خَائِن (Traitor/Treacherous one)
• كَاذِب / الْكَاذِبِينَ (Liar)
• مُفْتَرِي / الْمُفْتَرِينَ (Slanderer/Fabricator)
• كذب صِرف (Pure falsehood)
• مفتری خبيث (Malicious slanderer)
• مُجْرِمُون (Criminals/Sinners)
• فَاجِر / فَجَّار (Wicked/Impious one)
• فَاسِقِين (Wicked ones/Impious ones)
• فَاسِقَه (Wicked woman/Impious one - specific application)
• خَبِيث / خَبِيثَه (Malicious/Evil one)
• أَشْرَار (Wicked ones)
• مُفْسِد / مُفْسِدِين (Corrupter/Depraved one)
• مَكَّار (Plotter/Deceiver)
• غَلّ مَنْبَع (Source of malice/rancor)
• بَحْر الغرض (Ocean of motive/self-interest)
• أفّ (Woe/Shame/Contempt)

Terms of Ignorance, Folly, and Mental Delusion:

• غَافِل / غَافِلِين (Heedless one)
• جَاهِل / جَاهِلِين (Ignorant one)
• نَادَانَان (Ignorant ones)
• الْعَوَّام (Common/Ignorant people - implying lack of spiritual status)
• أحْمَق / حمقاء (Fool/Idiot)
• مُتَوَهَّم / مُتَوَهَّمِين (Illusion-monger/Deluded one)
• نُفُوس مُتَوَهِّمَه (Illusory souls)
• أَوْهَام / ظُنُون (Illusions/Vain imaginings/Conjectures)
• أَوْهَام أَصْنَام (Idols of illusions)
• ظُنُونِيَّه هَيَاكِل (Illusory temples/bodies)
• بَصَر بِي (O ye devoid of sight)
• أصمّ باطنی / كر حقيقی (Inward deaf one / Real deaf one)
• رَمَد أوْهَام (Ophthalmia/Sickness of vain imaginings)
• بَرَهُوت (Hellish pit/Abode of foul air)
• هذيانات وهميّه نفسيّه (Illusory, self-generated ravings/delusions)

Terms of Baseness, Wretchedness, and Extremism:

• مُغَلِّين / مُغِلّ (Extremists/Exaggerators)
• أَرَاذِل / أراذِلُنا (Vile/Base ones / Our lowest people)
• رَذِيلَه نُفُوس (Base/Vile souls)
• أَرْذَل وُجُود (Vile of existence/creation)
• أَقْبَح (Ugliest)
• أَشْقِيَاء / شَقِیّ (Wretched/Miserable ones)
• خَائِب (Failing one)
• خَاسِر / الأخْسَرين (Losing one / The most losing)
• نُفُوس پژمرده محرومه (Withered, deprived souls)
• أُجَاج مِلح (Saltish/Bitter water)
• مَرْدُود (Rejected/Reprobate)
• أسفل السّافلين (Lowest of the low/Lowest abyss)
• نِيرَان أَسْفَل (Lowest fires/Hell)
• خُسراناً لكم (Loss/Woe unto you)
• ناراً عليكم (Fire upon you)
• يَلْعَنُهُ كلُّ الذّرّات (Whom every atom curses)

Animalistic and Idol-Related Metaphors:

• شَيْطَان / شَيَاطِين (Satan / Satans)
• مظاهر خنّاس (Manifestations of the Lurking Whisperer/Satan)
• عِجْل / عِجْلٌ جَسَدٌ لَهُ خُوَار (Calf / Calf, a body having a lowing sound/Idol)
• تعبدون البقر (You worship the cattle/oxen)
• جِبْت (Idol/Magic)
• الطَّاغُوت (Tyranny/Idol)
• ذِئَاب / ذِئَابِ النّفس و الهوی (Wolves / Wolves of self and passion)
• طُيُور ظُلْمَانِی (Dark/Obscurantist birds)
• زاغ ارض جرزه (Crow of the barren land)
• طَنِين ذُباب (Buzzing of a fly)
• كَلْب (Dog)
• حَمِير (Asses/Donkeys)
• شِرذِمَة الخنازير (Band of swine)
• جُعَل (Dung beetle)
• حِمارِ يَحمِلُ أسفاراً (Ass carrying books)
• خدع نسناسيّه (Deceits of the Nanâs/ape-like creatures)

Contemptuous Phrases:

• صِبْيَان كَلِمَات / مِثْل كَلِمَات صِبْيَان (Words of children)
• رَنُود (Rascals/Rogues)
• شَبَح (Spectre/Phantom)
• أظلال (Shadows)
• نُباحِ هؤلاء و قُِباعِهِم (Barking/Snarling of these ones)
• عَاصِی (Rebellious one)
• بَاطِل (False/Vain thing)
• مُغْرُور دارالغرور (Arrogant one of the abode of delusion)

https://oceanoflights.org/bahaullah-st-016-fa/

https://oceanoflights.org/file/autogenerated/bahaullah-st-016_fa.pdf

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In the future, UHJ may have to wage war against an opposing country or against an aggressor - Video

...that certain functions are made to be carried forward by men and certain functions by women, and I used the example of giving birth because that's just such a visible, such a distinctive characteristic. And I believe the House of Justice is the same way. Because if we go deep into the Writings—which I haven't been able to do yet, but you know, we can try to do that—we understand the House of Justice will not always be the way that it is now. One day, the House of Justice will be the ruling administrative body for the entire humanity. That's why it is the Universal, not the International or the National House of Justice. It is the Universal House of Justice.

And at that point, we don't know what sort of decisions they will have to make. They may have to wage war against an opposing country or against an aggressor—against someone, you know, a nation or people who arise against another nation and people. And as we read from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, He doesn't wish for women to acquire those qualities. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá doesn't wish for women to have to give orders to wage war, even against aggressors, because our functions are different. Our function is to be nurturing. We need to have the world—we’ll need to have mothers—forever and ever and ever...

-Baha'i scholar Gloria Yazdani

https://youtu.be/rKh61Nv1ZyM?si=5pMjO3HEPFajTSV-&t=288

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The event of death does not remove from a believer the obligation to pay Huququ'llah.

“Your understanding that the obligation to pay Huququ'llah arises during one's lifetime and is normally to be carried out with lifetime giving is correct, although at the same time it is true that there may be cases where a believer dies without having made provision in his or her will for payment of the unpaid portion of Huququ'llah, if any. The event of death does not remove from a believer the obligation to pay Huququ'llah. Whatever portion is due to be paid is therefore a debt due from the believer's estate at the time of his or her death. The cost of the funeral and burial, the payment of the debts of the deceased, and the payment of whatever portion of Huququ'llah remains due are prior charges on the estate which must be met before arriving at the amount of the property which has to be divided in accordance with the provisions of the law of inheritance. Thus, whether or not a person makes a will or, having made a will, whether he or she makes provision in it for the payment of Huququ'llah, the Huququ'llah should be paid, like all debts, before the rest of the state is divided.”

-The UHJ to an individual believer, July 1 1996

https://www.bahaiquotes.com/subject/will-and-testament

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an American woman knelt to Abbas Effendi

Dr. Henry H. Jessup recounted an incident where an American woman knelt to Abbas Effendi, crying "My Lord, my Lord," believing herself to be "in the very presence of the Son of God, the Christ". Jessup questioned Abbas Effendi about accepting worship "due only to the Creator," to which Abbas Effendi reportedly smiled, seemed disturbed, and deflected the conversation to "theological themes". Speer stated, "This is not an attitude which we, as Christians, can approve".

(Robert Elliott Speer Manuscript Collection; Series II: Correspondence; Box 32, File 32:10)

https://archive.org/details/correspondenceba00unse_1/page/n1/mode/2up

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trademark in the word "Bahá’í"

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America, Inc. ("National Spiritual Assembly") asserted counterclaims for trademark infringement and unfair competition against the Hereditary Guardianship. They claimed they were entitled to the exclusive use of the Bahá’í faith's marks and symbols, including a trademark in the word "Bahá’í" and other specific Bahá’í symbols, names, and phrases.

(Hereditary Guardianship v. Nat. Spiritual Assembly, Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Citations: 628 F.3d 837, Docket Number: 08-2306)

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/179728/hereditary-guardianship-v-nat-spiritual-assembly/pdf/

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erasing Azal from history

Subsequent Bahā’ī theologian-historians began the process of erasing Azal from history, denying his popularity among the Bābīs 1854–1865, and finding it implausible that an old-time Bābī like Mukārī could have initially leaned toward Azal. By the time we get to Tāherzādeh in the 1970s, information to the contrary is being actively suppressed in English. Bahā’u’llāh in the view of these later partisans had to have not only won out that September, he had to have always possessed supremacy. That the magnitude of Bahā’u’llāh’s victory can only be diminished by rendering Azal a non-entity did not faze them.

(Juan R. I. Cole, THE AZĀLĪ-BAHĀ’Ī CRISIS OF SEPTEMBER, 1867)

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recognize as friends your enemies

You must praise all the individuals amongst mankind. You must even recognize as friends your enemies; you must consider your evil-wishers as your well-wishers. You must not see evil as evil and then compromise, for to so compromise with the one upon whom you look as an enemy, is hypocrisy, and this is not allowable. For one to treat one's enemy in a smooth way, this is hypocrisy. You must consider your enemies as your friends and your evil-wishers as your well-wishers and then treat them accordingly. You must act in such a way that your hearts may be free from hatred of anyone.

(Abdul Baha. Star of the West, Vol. 5, p. 7.)

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A mutual language - prophecy?

A mutual language will become the mightiest means of a universal progress toward the union of the East and the West. It will make the earth one home, and become the divine impulse for human advancement. It will upraise the standard of oneness in the world of humanity, and make the earth a universal commonwealth. It will be the cause of love between the children of men and create good fellowship between the various creeds.

(Abdul Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 111)

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How ignorant are the soldiers!

How ignorant are the people! They are willing to forfeit their possessions, honor, wealth, property and even life in the path of their country, but unwilling to perform any sacrifice in the path of God. The battlefields of the world have been crimsoned with the blood of millions of soldiers, all to no purpose. Today no one knows their names. But when one soul sacrifices his life in the path of God, his name becomes eternal. Consider how precious is the blood of the martyrs!

-Abdul Baha, Extract from Ahmad's Diary, July 5, 1914

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Begging and giving to beggars is forbidden

Another meaningful way to look at this is to relate requirements to the gross income of the individual believer. If every adult believer gave $70.00 in the year to the National Fund, we would make the budget. If two thirds of the adult believers gave $100 we would almost make the budget. The latter figure is cited because it is known that many of the believers on the voting lists are completely out of touch with the Faith or inactive, or aged, ill and with very limited resources. To expect an average response of $100 from two thirds, however, seems not at all unreasonable. If the average income of Baha’is in the U.S. should be $5,000, which is below the national family average of over $6,200 at the present time, the amount requested for the National Fund would be only 2% of gross income. If one assumed that an equal amount would be given to the Local, International and Continental Funds and spent directly on unreimbursed Baha’i activities, the total Baha’i expenditures would be only 4% of gross income, on the average. When one considers that this is the Cause of God, the most important force for good in the world today, the Cause for which thousands of martyrs gave their lives and all their worldly goods, and that the immediate progress of this Faith depends to a great extent upon the financial and personal support of a few thousand Americans, the request that we give an average of 4% of gross income to our beloved Faith seems hardly extreme enough to be deemed sacrificial. If true sacrifice were involved we ought to be able to spare several times that. And it certainly seems reasonable to conclude that the higher one’s gross income, the greater the percentage of that gross income one can afford to give without undue hardship and with miraculously effective results. It is our great bounty to have had the opportunity to be of such great service to this magnificent Cause, if we could but realize it.

https://bahai.works/Bahá’í_News/Inserts/Issue_399/Budget_Message_1964-1965/Text

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Few lesser-known facts about the Baha'i faith.

1. The Baha'i faith is primarily focused on self-preservation and growth, with most activities centered around gaining new members.

2. It uses euphemistic language to obscure meaning - censorship is called "review," proselytizing is "teaching," and so on.

3. The religion presents itself as persecuted, but its origins involve violent rebellion and political intrigue, especially in 19th-century Iran.

4. Baha'is historically aligned with imperial powers like Russia, the Young Turks, and the British. Today they co-operate closely with Israel.

5. Membership numbers are inflated, relying on self-reported data that doesn't match independent census figures.

6. Stories of persecution in Iran are selectively told, many Baha'is travel there freely, suggesting the narrative is exaggerated for publicity.

7. The administrative system is authoritarian and male-dominated, with no campaigning, lifetime leaders, and women barred from membership in the UHJ.

8. Leadership excommunicated all of Baha'u'llah’s descendants. The Guardian role ended without a successor, breaking their own succession plan.

9. Failed prophecies are quietly ignored (like world peace by 2000), and older books are retroactively edited to remove inconvenient content.

10. Despite claiming respect for all religions, Baha'is reinterpret or reject core doctrines of others to fit their own theology.

11. Key writings were withheld from translation for decades, likely to shield followers from controversial or problematic content.

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increase of divorce amongst the Western Baha'is

As I started to say, the House of Justice is extremely concerned over the increase of divorce amongst the Western Baháʼís. We often talk about it in Haifa and it's a source of great worry to the members of the House, the House as a body, the Baháʼís in Haifa, the ITC, and so on. But in addition to being a source of worries, it's a downright scandal. How on earth can we Baháʼís lift up our heads and talk about marriage to the people of the world with the extraordinary attitude toward sex and marriage and divorce in the world today if we can't be, say 10% better in our western countries than the ordinary population? The Baháʼí rate of divorce I understand, I don't know about Canada, but I know in the United States it's as high as the national rate of divorce. We should hang our heads in shame. What kind of Baháʼís are we? Are we being affected by that world out there? Corrupt to the bone and falling apart. Or are we reflecting the power and light of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh which we have access to in our personal lives?

(On Marriage and Family, address at the ABS Annual Conference, 1982 by Ruhiyyih Khanum)

https://bahai.works/Transcript:Ruhiyyih_Khanum/On_marriage_and_family,_1982

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Deliberate policy, not to carry on missionary activity in Israel

Jewish Post & Opinion, a New York City newspaper, recently ran an article entitled “Missionary Agitation in Israel,” referring to efforts to convert Jewish children and adults in the Holy Land. The article included this statement: “A splendid positive example is set by the Bahá’í Faith. Although their world center is in Israel, this religion has made it a matter of deliberate policy not to carry on missionary activity here and not even to accept converts within Israel, in recognition of the hospitality which the Bahá’ís enjoy here.”

(Baha'i News, May 1963)

https://bahai.works/Bahá’í_News/Issue_386/Text

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the future of this Revelation.

During the time of Christ only a few souls believed in Him, but they were so powerful in spirit that none of the learned men among the Israelites could resist and stand against them, and afterwards their light illumined the world, their call was raised abroad, their stars twinkled in heaven, their diadem became resplendent and they are shining With great brilliancy. When Christ passed away He had eleven disciples. The greatest among them was Peter and he denied Christ three times, but when Baha’u’llah departed He had a hundred thousand believers who were calling out Yá-Baha’u’l-Abhá while they were under swords and daggers, and in these late years many men and women in Yazd were killed by inches without uttering a single cry or complaint, but rather called out the Greatest Name. From these incidents we may judge the future of this Revelation.

(The Bahá’í World, Volume 9, p 806)

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The “engine of growth”

The Martha Root Regional Training Institute has 55 Cluster Institute Coordinators who nurture, accompany, and train tutors throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. These devoted friends—along with 400 active tutors—keep the wheels of the “engine of growth” turning at the grass roots. A total of 550 people have completed the full sequence of Ruhi courses, with 310 study circles having been completed in one year, with a strong emphasis on the course practices. Neighborhoods have 53 children’s classes in progress with a total of 438 Bahá’í children and 258 non-Bahá’í children involved. There are 30 junior youth groups, involving 136 Bahá’í junior youths and 56 non-Bahá’í junior youths.

The Magdalene Carney Bahá’í Institute serves Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It manages 27 Cluster Institute Coordinators and 350 active tutors. A total of 640 people have completed the Ruhi sequence and 227 study circles have been completed this year. There are 108 children’s classes, with 386 Bahá’í children and 309 non-Bahá’í children participating. There are 37 junior youth groups, involving 110 Bahá’í junior youths and 91 non-Bahá’í junior youths.

(Riḍván 2009 Annual Report, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States)

https://www.scribd.com/document/14843259/NSA-of-Baha-is-of-USA-Annual-Report-2009

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A Baha’i theocracy would suck.

A Baha’i theocracy would suck. The big reason is that Baha’is have a goal and advocate for a one world government where Baha’i institutions slowly replace secular institutions. Baha’i institutions only allow Baha’is in good standing and over the age of 21 to vote and do not allow for campaigning during elections. This means all minorities have no right to vote and that nobody who is a Baha’i can meaningfully advocate for reform peacefully because you can’t run a campaign even if you are a Baha’i in good standing. This means Baha’is have less political mobility than even people in Iran (Iranians of multiple religions can vote and hold office despite it being an Islamic theocracy, and Iranians can hold campaigns and advocate for reform. I hate the Islamic Republic as an Iranian myself, so it takes a lot for me to admit even this shitty society still allows more political mobility than Baha’i politics does)

In this Baha’i society, alcohol and any other drugs would likely be banned, premarital sex (or even just kissing or holding hands) would be a punishable offense (loss of voting rights and fine), and women would be discriminated against in inheritance laws as well as not be eligible for the Universal House of Justice (highest religious court and main leadership arm of the faith). Also since the faith advocates for conversion therapy to this day, it is likely there would be state sponsored gay conversion therapy.

A Baha’i may defend this by saying only Baha’is must uphold Baha’i law, but this just means that the only way to have voting rights would be to uphold these laws and convert to the religion. And even if you have voting rights, you can’t campaign in favor of reform because campaigning is banned. In a Baha’i election, everyone in good standing is on the ballot of Local Spiritual assembly (this is the only election regular Baha’is can participate in, only higher up members can elect higher offices like National positions) and the people with the most votes win. The people with the most cotes tend to be the richest and most popular people on a community. This means even though you have elections, the same people tend to always win anyways, especially since all votes are closed door and you cannot see who votes for what or what the voting margin is. This would be like if the supreme court made a ruling but you don’t get to see the voting margin, who voted for what, or what the dissenting opinion was.

I also wanna clarify that most Baha’is are perfectly lovely people and I condemn infinitely how the Islamic Republic and other parts of the world treat Baha’is. Nobody deserves to have their human rights trampled on. I just wanted to write this rant because when the Baha’i Faith is discussed, it’s usually just the narrative the Baha’i Faith pushes and not the nuances or baggage associated with their narrative. If your answer is still the same, that’s fine, I just don’t want people to think Baha’i Theocracy is sunshine and rainbows. No theocracy is and a Baha’i Theocracy isn’t even uniquely better. Its just softer than conservative/fundamentalist Islamic law.

https://old.reddit.com/r/religion/comments/1mhmjfx/if_you_had_to_live_as_a_religious_minority_in_a/

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They don't mention that Counsellors 'out-rank' the democratically elected Assemblies.

The Faith's promotional materials always hype up that it's a democratic faith, and neglect to mention that Counsellors 'out-rank' the democratically elected Assemblies.

The appointed Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members are responsible for the 'spiritual well-being' of the community and 'advising' Assemblies, and in practice they fulfill all the functions of priests while the Faith also claims to have abolished clergy. The main difference as I see it is that usually clergy have to academically prove themselves knowledgeable about the religion in a formalized way, whereas in the Faith it is as you say an opaque process mostly built on brown-nosing and interpersonal politics in order to work ones way up the appointment lists.

Around the time I resigned a lot of very sincere young active Baha'is were cutting themselves off from the religion as well, not formally resigning since they still believed, but creating space due to immense stress from pressure being put on them by ABM's and Counsellors to try and get numerical results. In my opinion the KPI's of the Faith represent the ABM's and Counsellors 'job application' to get appointed to higher honors so they have a vested interest in crushing the spirit of people under them to try and get good numbers and a promotion like any good (bad?) capitalist enterprise.

The whole religion has become even more bureaucratic and opaque as in my country at least, and I assume most of the Western Baha'i world since Area Teaching Committees have been established. These committees appointed on the advice of a Counsellor. Another new-ish administrative body are Regional Baha'i Councils. Area teaching committees informally "outrank" Assemblies, calling meetings of LSA members in an area to coordinate them on teaching campaigns. The Regional Councils are elected by LSA members in an area (or are just straight up appointed by the NSA) and of course it is no surprise that ATC members are the people elected to the Regional Council. Following on from that of course it is Regional Council members who are elected to the NSA, so what it accomplishes is an ouroboros of administration where appointments control elections and ideological purity can be maintained.

The punchline of the Faith is that despite the complex multi-layered bureaucracy with dozens of institutions and roles constantly expanding and more firmly asserting its centralized control, the community is still shrinking year on year in most western countries and hemorrhaging active Baha'is.

https://old.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/1mc8u8p/uhj/

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All UHJ members since the 80's are members of the International Teaching Centre

All UHJ members since the 80's are members of the International Teaching Centre which is a body appointed... by the UHJ established in 1973. I think the only exceptions have been Douglas Martin, who was appointed by the UHJ as their international public relations officer prior to being elected, and Paul Lample who was appointed by the UHJ to head their social and economic development body.

A year or so before the UHJ term ends they usually have the ITC members tour the world which in my mind is a fairly transparent way to give them face time with NSA members (who form the electoral college who votes for the UHJ). Prior to this is was usually the Secretary of the US NSA that was elected to fill open slots, since pre 1963 the US NSA was responsible for coordinating the NSA's of Europe and Central & South America.

While it isn't formally spelled out it is fairly obvious the UHJ and ITC members each have a portfolio of a part of the world they are responsible for, given the pipeline is Continental Counsellor, then ITC member, then UHJ member, so active community members are usually at least somewhat familiar with the UHJ member that was Counsellor for their Continent prior to getting elevated up the pipeline. The active community is also incredibly tiny, at least in the west, so if you were at all active a decade ago there's a good chance you will have been in at least one meeting where a current ITC has given a talk or participated in a consultation. Twenty or thirty years ago? Make it a current UHJ member.

Baha'is don't display photographs of UHJ members or anything like that, but verbally I'd say UHJ members have historically been pretty deified by the rank and file Baha'is part of this is because a lot of them were pretty talented public speakers, and it used to be that elevation up the appointed ranks was in part based on existing popularity in the community. On the deification it is noteworthy I think that no UHJ member has ever been voted out of office, they have either died in office or announced their retirement.

Ali Nakhjavani, Adib Taherzadeh, and Peter Khan were especially popular figures. It's a bit of a conspiracy theory but Farzam Arbab (the inventor of the Ruhi system) seems to some to have sort of 'taken over' the UHJ in the mid 2000's and Counsellor/ITC picks became more about adherence to the Ruhi philosophy than popularity in the community so the current crop of administrators is a bit less well known in the community at large (but doubtless they are all very familiar to the people that serve in the Institute Process).

https://old.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/1mc8u8p/uhj/

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Baha'i faith growing in the US?

Baha'is with known addresses in the United States
2020 - 77290
2021 - 76965
2023 - 74933
2024 - 75350
2025 - 74773

(Annual Ridvan Reports published by the NSA of the US)

https://old.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/1lukdea/latest_us_bahai_statistics_from_ridvan_report_2025/

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The Office of Membership and Records

The Bahá’í Center Assistance Corporation (BCA) works with offices of the National Assembly to update and maintain data related to all Bahá’í properties requested by the Office for the Development of Administrative Systems at the Bahá’í World Center. BCA also worked with the IT department at the Bahá’í National Center to ensure that all relevant data requested by that office could be included in the properties database. This year, database fields were updated and modified so that the data spreadsheet could be populated by a query of the database. This includes all properties owned or rented by the National Assembly, Regional Bahá’í Councils, Local Spiritual Assemblies, and registered Bahá’í groups. National and regional offices can add to and update this information through UnityWeb, and Local Assemblies and registered groups can add or update properties through eMembership2.

(Ridvan Annual Report 2024)

The Office of Membership and Records plays a crucial role in maintaining the official records of all Bahá’ís, Local Spiritual Assemblies, and registered groups within the US Bahá’í community. In fulfilling this mandate, the Office is responsible for a range of essential functions:

• processing enrollments, child registrations, and international transfers to and from the United States

• facilitating UnityWeb access for Auxiliary Board members and individuals designated by Regional Bahá’í Councils

• providing UnityWeb and national website access (bahai.us/community) for approved foreign Bahá’ís

• updating the membership database to reflect changes in locality boundaries

• entering results for Ridván elections, Spiritual Assembly officer elections, and by-elections

• maintaining accurate records of contact information, postal addresses, marriages, and deaths

• issuing marriage and birth certificates

• distributing digital welcome letters and instructions for accessing virtual Bahá’í identification cards via bahai.us/community to new enrollees and new arrivals to the US Bahá’í community

• sending hard copy welcome packages to newly registered Bahá’í youth turning 15, including a welcome letter, Bahá’í ID card, a booklet of prayers titled Strive, and guidance on creating a Bahá’í Online Services Account (BOSA)

• cataloging correspondence exchanged between individuals, institutions, and the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies

(Ridvan Annual Report 2025)

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the parents may refuse consent for marriage on any ground

...the parents “may refuse consent on any ground and that they are responsible to God alone.” Baha’is who marry without providing verified parental consent are subject to deprivation of their Baha’i administrative rights and privileges.

-The Universal House of Justice

https://file.bahai.media/e/e7/The_American_Bahá’í_Vol5_No1.pdf

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And friends if we did not have this Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh,

And friends if we did not have this Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh, do you know what would have happened today? None of us would be sitting in this room. None of us, the Baháʼí community would have completely defused itself in such a way that it would have completely evaporated. We owe this Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to Shoghi Effendi, who built for us this marvelous system of the administrative order of Bahá’u’lláh.

-Adib Taherzadeh in his lecture "Speaking about the development of Bahá’í administration, tests, and George Townshend"

https://bahai.works/Transcript:Adib_Taherzadeh/Speaking_about_administration,_tests,_Townshend

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mystical intercourse between Baha'u'llah and Abdul Baha

This Will and Testament as Shoghi Effendi have said, is the child of the Covenant. He gives the analogy in his writings. He says that he here portrays Bahá’u’lláh as if Bahá’u’lláh... He says, as a mystical intercourse between the person of Bahá’u’lláh - I'm paraphrasing it for you - and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the mother and Bahá’u’lláh here acting as the father. As a result of this mystical intercourse between the person of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a child was born and that is the Will and Testament.

-Adib Taherzadeh in his lecture "Speaking about the development of Bahá’í administration, tests, and George Townshend"

https://bahai.works/Transcript:Adib_Taherzadeh/Speaking_about_administration,_tests,_Townshend

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Everyone wears robes of mourning on that day, ... Tahirih publicly bedecked herself in festive clothes.

There was much interest in the new religion and the new teachings, and it did not please the divines. They became worried, and above all afraid that they would lose their influence over the people of Karbila. That must definitely not happen. Angry, the mullas complained to the authorities. But Tahirih did not let it stop her. Not even during Ashura, the day on which Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husayn every year. Everyone wears robes of mourning on that day, and mourns the death of Imam Husayn. However, according to the Muslim calendar, the Birth of the Bab falls on the same day. While everyone was wearing robes of mourning, Tahirih publicly bedecked herself in festive clothes. How incredibly brave would you have to be to dare to do that! You can be very sure that you will then find yourself in trouble. And, predictably, that happened. The local authorities ordered her to be arrested.

(The Herald and His Heroes: Stories about the Báb by Hitjo Garst)

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his attitude toward the Jews was always excellent

He ('Abdu'l Baha) especially excelled in his tolerance for all religions, and his attitude toward the Jews was always excellent.

(Yeshayahu Karniel, Dar Hayom, 1921)

https://benyehuda.org/read/22503

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since the Promised One had now come, these days of mourning should be changed to days of joy.

He started by converting his wife, Mulla Fatimih, a learned woman who used to teach, translate and comment on the Qur’an for the women of the area. He then stopped attending his mosque and propagated his faith privately. On 26 November 1849 (the day of ‘Ashura, when the martyrdom of Imam Husayn occurred), a group of villagers came to his house and insisted that he come and preach to them. Since they would not relent, he reluctantly went to the Husayniyyih (building for the recital of the sufferings of Imam Husayn), which was the largest gathering place in the area and ascended the pulpit. He told them that since the Promised One had now come, these days of mourning should be changed to days of joy. As a result of this pronouncement, he was shunned by his former congregation and even attacked.

(Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851 to 1912, Vol. 1: The North of Iran by Moojan Momen)

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a state comprising a Baha’i majority

We can see that the basic positive spirit of the doctrine of toleration advocated by John Locke is far more strongly affirmed by Baha’u’llah and His successors. Not only must the state abstain from using coercion to force citizens to adopt a particular religion, but a state comprising a Baha’i majority would have an obligation to safeguard minority rights. We can see that this idea is one of the basic implications of the removal of the sword. However, Baha’u’llah’s message also cannot be equated with the liberal Western conception of civil society, religion, and state. If Baha’u’llah prohibits the use of coercion to enforce His religion, this does not mean that He therefore also accepts the Western—especially the American—idea of complete separation of religion from public life.

(Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. By Nader Saiedi)

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The Bahai Faith has hijacked the word "unity" to mean something else.

The Bahai Faith has hijacked the word "unity" to mean something else. For example religious "unity" actually means "we know more about your religion than you do and you're wrong about topic x,y,z" and "unity of the world" actually means a Baha'i hegemony where everyone has adopted their beliefs and are subjected to censorship and excommunication for stepping out of line. And "unity" in a Baha'i community is more about remaining silent, falling in line, and avoiding conflict. This is a horrible, Orwelian dystopia and not at all what normal people think of when they use the word "unity".

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Baha'i electoral system

Baha'is can't even vote for the UHJ. They elect delegates (each NSA determines what geographic areas get delegates and how many) and the delegates elect the National Spiritual Assembly, and the National Spiritual Assembly members are the only ones who actually get to vote for the UHJ (and in practice they only vote for members of the International Teaching Centre... who are appointed by the UHJ). Baha'i democracy is basically a sham anyway, especially nowadays. It's an entirely top down system with 'campaigns' being forbidden so nobody elected has any accountability and nobody has any idea what people serving actually do. Appointed officers of the Faith like ABM's and Counsellors excercise most of the control over what Bahai's actually do nowadays, with LSA's being limited to organizing pot-luck dinners for the most part in practice.

The Faith's ultimate goal is unity through establishing an unchallengable global theocracy ruled by the UHJ, however a lot of Baha'is aren't really aware of this despite the UHJ very firmly stating this in this letter: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19950427_001/1#985937741. Sen McGlinn wrote a book arguing that the Faith allowed for separation of Church and State and in response the UHJ released communications denouncing him and expelled him from the Baha'i community which is a nice preview of what Baha'i unity would be if they could get more than 0.000000001% of the population to convert. Despite this a lot of Baha'is, especially on reddit, seem to think the Faith believes in a seperation of Church and State, probably because the Ruhi books don't go into this and the Faith generally lets people believe whatever keeps them donating to the fund.

As to your question of how non-Baha'is not having a vote in their government in a hypothetical Baha'i state, as mentioned above the vast majority of Baha'is would also have no say in their government. While the Faith incorporates elections it believes in an unlimited totalitarian authoriatarian approach to governing society where the only protections from corruption and institutional abuse are the benevelonce of the institution itself and faith in divine intervention.

Quotes:

"That which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker. Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station. It debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and wickedness."

"True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it." - https://bahaiquotes.com/subject/submission

"The Guardian believes that a great deal of the difficulties from which the believers... feel themselves to be suffering are caused by their neither correctly understanding or putting into practice and administration. They seem -- many of them -- to be prone to continually challenging and criticizing the decisions of their Assemblies. If the Bahá’ís undermine the very leaders which are, however immaturely, seeking to coordinate Bahá’í activities and administer Bahá’í affairs, if they continually criticize their acts and challenge or belittle their decisions, they not only prevent any real rapid progress in the Faith's development from taking place, but they repel outsiders who quite rightly may ask however expect to unite the whole world when we are so disunited among ourselves!"

"There can be no protection for the Faith unless the friends are willing to submit to their administrative bodies, especially when these are acting in good faith; the individual believers are not in a position to judge their national Body. If any wrong has been done we must leave it in the hands of god, knowing, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, that he will right it, and in the meantime not disrupt the Cause of God by constantly harping on these matters." - https://www.bahaiquotes.com/subject/assemblies-obedience

"Once a decision has been reached, all members of the consultative body, having had the opportunity fully to state their views, agree wholeheartedly to support the outcome. What if the minority view is right? “If they agree upon a subject,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has explained, “even though it be wrong, it is better than to disagree and be in the right, for this difference will produce the demolition of the divine foundation. Though one of the parties may be in the right and they disagree, that will be the cause of a thousand wrongs, but if they agree and both parties are in the wrong, as it is in unity, the truth will be revealed and the wrong made right.” Implicit in this approach to the social utility of thought is the profundity of the change in the standard of public discussion intended by Bahá’u’lláh for a mature society." - https://www.bahai.org/documents/the-universal-house-of-justice/individual-rights-freedoms

"One delegate then asked about the income of NSA members and other employees of the Faith, inquiring as to whether some families earned large incomes from the Fund, and asking whether or not the Universal House of Justice could be consulted about what the delegate perceived as a widespread national concern over executive compensation. William Davis then replied, saying that the NSA reviews the financial needs of full-time executive employees annually, and that the UHJ is then apprised of the arrangements. Davis then expounded on the differences between the checks and balances in the "old world" US system, saying that lack of trust is endemic to it. He then questioned the faith in the Covenant of those who would mistrust the NSA, while saying that the question itself was a legitimate one." - https://bahai-library.com/langness_report_1995_convention

https://old.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/1lkmu1y/unity/

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19 reasons to hate Baha'u'llah

1. He hijacked the Báb’s movement.
   He dumped the rightful successor of the Báb and hijacked the whole movement for himself like a power-hungry opportunist.
2. He was abusive, foul-mouthed, and dangerous.
   This guy was a narcissist and a compulsive liar with a God complex. He cursed people out, abused Muslims, and even ordered hits on those who challenged him like the Azalis.
3. He lived like royalty but cried “prisoner.”
   While whining about being a “prisoner,” he lived in giant mansions with private gardens—one had around 30 rooms! Pure hypocrisy.
4. He claimed to be God.
   He didn’t just claim divine inspiration—he straight-up said there is no God but him. Full-blown delusion.
5. Failed family man with multiple wives.
   He married at least three times and completely failed at raising his kids. After he died, they went to war with each other—cursing and slandering like enemies.
6. His family was a disaster.
   The so-called “holy family” was the most fractured, toxic, and disunited mess imaginable.
7. Pretended to be Muslim his whole life.
   He kept up the act till the end—posing as a Muslim, performing Saum and Salah, and even getting buried the Muslim way. Fake to the core.
8. Faked divine knowledge.
   He studied Arabic, trained with Sufis, and had a big personal library—but had the nerve to claim his knowledge was “innate” and “divine.” Give me a break.
9. Ran away and left his family behind.
   When things got rough, he bailed. Fled to the mountains and left the women in his family to fend for themselves.
10. His cult contributed nothing to the world.
    His entire so-called religion gave zero value to humanity. Just empty words and cultish nonsense.
11. Started his movement after an erotic hallucination.
    He kicked off his “divine mission” after what sounds like a spiritualized wet dream about a “maiden of heaven.” Total creep vibes.
12. Let people worship him.
    His followers bowed to him, walked around him like he was the Kaaba, and he just soaked it up like a wannabe god.
13. Pimped out “believing women” to his brother.
    Yeah, he gave women from his cult to his brother. That’s not just twisted—it’s predatory.
14. Wrote long-winded trash.
    His writings are bloated with over-the-top hype and barely any real meaning. All noise, no depth.
15. Polluted a river with his garbage writings.
    He dumped thousands of his own writings into the Tigris River. People say the water actually changed color from the mess.
16. Let people kiss his hands and feet.
    He acted like a king, letting followers kiss his hands and feet—then called them “servants of God.” What a joke.
17. Claimed to be God but begged colonial powers for help.
    He preached he was divine, yet ran to imperialists and even The Times newspaper, begging for backup. So much for being all-powerful.
18. Wrote a law book full of holes.
    His so-called “book of laws” is a contradictory mess—flawed, inconsistent, and practically unusable.
19. Talked about religious unity while cursing everyone else.
    He preached unity, but anyone who didn’t worship him was called an infidel, a polytheist, or worse. Classic cult hypocrisy.

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