Khomeini favors religious freedom for everyone except the Baha'i

Khomeini's statements on individual rights, like many of his statements, sometimes seem progressive, but they can be misleading. He asserts that "woman is equal to man. Like him she is free to choose her destiny and activities." The freedom he would grant to women, however, is the freedom to be "moral." He opposes coeducation because, he claims, it undermines the family, and he favors the veiling of women to avoid temptation. He says he favors religious freedom for everyone except the Baha'i, who are considered heretics by most Muslims and pro-Shah by Khomeini.

(CIA Reading Room 01478463: RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI - IRAN by CIA Reading Room)

https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-01478463

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Many tablets revealed to the women have been lost.

In a tablet to Aqā Shāhzāda, Baha'ullah says he is addressing her from the prison in 'Akka with a call that is sweeter than sugar and more luminous than the sun and moon. Baha'ullah says that she has drunk the wine of revelation, and taken hold of his tablets and writings (Baha'ullah and 'Abdu'l- Baha 2005: 208). In another tablet to her, Baha'ullah likens his words to precious gems and pearls which were hidden and which he has now revealed for her. Elsewhere, Baha'ullah tells Shahanshāh Baygum that she has been mentioned at the throne ('arsh) of God, and that her name has been recorded in the tablets, and that he has revealed verses for her so that from them she might perceive the scent of the shirt of her Lord (a reference to the story of Joseph; ibid.: 205). It is impossible to know how many of the tablets originally revealed for these women have been lost. In a tablet to Diya' al-Ḥājjīya, Baha'ullah says she has repeatedly received divine verses (Ibid.: 219), and in a tablet to her from 'Abdu'l-Baha we read that she received many tablets (alvāḥ-i muta'addada) during the time of Baha'ullah (Ibid.: 294).

(The Baha'is of Iran: Socio-Historical Studies. (2012). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.)

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Baha_is_of_Iran/H4YrBgAAQBAJ

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Payam Aryan about false claim of equality of men and women in the Baha'i faith.

Former-Baha'i Payam Aryan states:

People like you are unbelievable. Of course men and women are different, but not in their rights. Becoming a member of international consultation and decision making assembly isn’t a role that women are incapable of doing. All humankind are entitled to be treated equally in the terms of rights and justice. Your reasoning is so weak. According to your “role” logic some people can be masters and some people are their slaves. Don’t forget that even AbdulBaha hasn’t answered a question regarding this injustice and said in the future “wisdom” of this divine law will be known by all. He has basically deceived people by saying that in a “unknown” future the problem will be solved. Moreover, in Bahai inheritance law there are several inequities. The main house goes to first male child. The share of father is more than mother. The share of brother is more than sister and so on….. these are all in contradiction to the “equality of rights between men and women” teaching/principle. False Claim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V4pKaCw3VE&lc=UgyRG0BAHXx_DZcj5X14AaABAg.ATRd4j1VERVATSc6diYwX6

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Ṭáhirih in the words of Qajari Historians

In Nasikh al-Tawarikh, Qurratu’l-ʿAyn (Zarrín Táj, later titled Ṭáhirih) is mentioned as acting in opposition to the Islamic law and the social customs of Iran of that period.

Qurratu’l-ʻAyn was the daughter of Ḥájí Mullá Sáliḥ of Qazvín, a well-known jurist. She was admired for her beauty, knowledge, and expertise in Arabic sciences. After becoming a follower of Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí, the Báb, she carried out the following actions:

• Public Appearance and Removing the Veil:
  She was famous for her beauty and hair scented like musk. She believed that the veil (hijab) for women was a source of suffering. She would prepare herself and her gatherings and then appear unveiled in front of Bábí followers.

• Abolishing Islamic Law and Encouraging Immoral Practices:
  She declared that the era of the Báb was a time of suspension (fitrah) in which all religious duties—such as prayer and fasting—were cancelled.

  • She taught that one woman marrying nine men was encouraged in the Bábí laws.

  • She urged her followers to share their partners and property with each other, promising that there would be no punishment for doing so.

• Inciting Murder:
  Her uncle, Mullá Muḥammad Taqí, a Mujtahid, opposed this behavior. Qurratu’l-ʻAyn issued a religious ruling (fatwá) calling for his killing. As a result, her followers murdered her uncle in the mosque at dawn during prayer.

• Immoral Conduct at Badasht and Hezar Jarib:
  While traveling in Mázandarán with Ḥájí Muḥammad ‘Alí of Bárfurúsh, she developed affection for him. The camel driver who carried them in one litter sang verses comparing their union to “the conjunction of the sun and moon.” It is reported that she and Ḥájí Muḥammad ‘Alí went to a bathhouse together and cohabited in the village of Hezar Jarib. When the villagers discovered this and learned of their beliefs, they attacked them and looted their belongings.

• Blasphemous Claims and Behavior:
  She sat on a throne and delivered sermons, saying that anyone who touched her (or smelled her) would be protected from the fire of hell. Those present kissed her breasts and lips—features she herself described as “ruby-like.”

In addition to these specific actions, the sources also describe the general behavior of Bábí women in their gatherings:

• Participation in Immoral Assemblies:
  Bábí followers held gatherings where they drank wine and performed acts forbidden by Islamic law.

• Serving Wine and Appearing Unveiled:
  Women were instructed to enter gatherings of unrelated men without a veil and to serve wine to them.

• Encouraging Violence:
  Before the attempted assassination of the Shah in Niyávarán, Ḥájí Sulaymán Khán held gatherings with women—including his sister and daughters—where wine was drunk. These meetings ended with the decision to attack the Shah.

Qurratu’l-ʻAyn’s extreme actions—abolishing Islamic law, promoting polyandry and cohabitation, appearing unveiled publicly, and calling for the killing of her cleric uncle—were an assault on the core principles of Islamic Shariah. According to these accounts, she acted like a “wrecking ball,” not merely modifying religious norms but attacking fundamental pillars of society such as modesty, marriage, and the authority of religious scholars, which led to social disorder and violence.

(Extracted from Nasikh al-Tawarikh by Sepehr. He was a court historian during the reigns of two Qajar kings).

About Nasikh al-Tawarikh, check Bijan Masumian's introduction, here:

https://bijanmasumian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/nasikh-al-tawarikh-introduction.pdf

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Women are commanded to engrave word Allāhum on their breasts with Henna

Women are commanded to engrave/tattoo (naghsh) the word Allāhum (اللهم) on their breasts. This engraving is to be performed using dyes (khidabāt) such as Henna (ḥinnāʾ) and similar substances. The overall practice of using these substances is permitted as a form of adornment (zīnāt).

(The Bab quoted in Hasht Bishisht. This book written by Shaykh Ahmad Ruhi & Mirza Aqa Khan of Kerman, the son-in-laws of Subh-i-Azal)

Check Page 57 of the PDF, here:

https://bayanic.com/showItem.php?id=hasht

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Attacks by intellectuals... The effort is to sow seeds of doubt among believers about the Faith's teachings and institutions

In general, the strategy being pursued has been to avoid direct attacks on the Faith's Central Figures. The effort, rather, has been to sow the seeds of doubt among believers about the Faith's teachings and institutions by appealing to unexamined prejudices that Bahá'ís may have unconsciously absorbed from non-Bahá'í society. In defiance of the clear interpretation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Guardian, for example, Bahá'u'lláh's limiting of membership on the Universal House of Justice to men is misrepresented as merely a "temporary measure" subject to eventual revision if sufficient pressure is brought to bear. Similarly, Shoghi Effendi's explanation of Bahá'u'lláh's vision of the future Bahá'í World Commonwealth that will unite spiritual and civil authority is dismissed in favour of the assertion that the modern political concept of "separation of church and state" is somehow one that Bahá'u'lláh intended as a basic principle of the World Order He has founded. Particularly subtle is an attempt to suggest that the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar should evolve into a seat of quasi-doctrinal authority, parallel to and essentially independent of the Local House of Justice, which would permit various interests to insinuate themselves into the direction of the life processes of the Cause.

(Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá'í Faith, Universal House of Justice, Bahá'í Publishing Trust of the United States, 1998-05)

https://bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai

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future Manifestations of God to allow the membership of the Universal House of Justice to include women

It would be possible for future Manifestations of God to allow the membership of the Universal House of Justice to include women. Shoghi Effendi has written, in a letter to the Bahá’ís of the East, that the next Manifestation of God will be empowered to change the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and to change the structure of the Administrative Order of the Faith. We are not told what changes He will make, but He certainly will have that authority.

(SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN by ‘Ali Nakhjavani, 2006)

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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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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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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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Abdul Baha telling women to tolerate their husband’s cruel actions and ill treatment.

“Hold thy husband dear and always show forth an amiable temper towards him, no matter how ill tempered he may be. Even if thy kindness maketh him more bitter, manifest thou more kindliness, more tenderness, be more loving and tolerate his cruel actions and ill-treatment”.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 226

Also this.

Now that you realize that your husband is ill, you should be able to reconcile yourself to the difficulties you have faced with him emotionally, and not take an unforgiving attitude, however much you may suffer.

Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 227

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Abdul Baha's association with corrupt officers and keeping notorious prostitute girl in his own house

In his memoir, Baha'u'llah's youngest son, Badiullah states:

This officer was a staff Colonel and associated with military & civil functionaries. He had a beautiful step daughter, the child of his wife by former marriage, who gathered young men around her.

Colonel Badri Beg hired a house at Haifa to spend the summer season there. He attended evening parties of the French Consul and leading members of the [Arab] Christian community. They engaged themselves in gambling.

The Most Great Branch [Sir Abbas Effendi] met all the [gambling] losses of the Beg, and provided for the upkeep of the [Beg's] house, and for the expenses of the [Beg's] step daughter. Thus the step daughter came to have plenty opportunity. She became familiar with a good looking Italian man. At night they met together and indulged themselves in love affair.

Some people became aware of the affair and advised the Beg to send the family to Acre. As the Beg himself had connection with the girl, and could not send her away from him. He disregarded the advice.

Eventually the Beg came to know about the affair and this roused his jealousy. One evening the Beg detailed two soldiers to go and deliver a message to the Italian young man on behest of the girl to come & see her at night. The house was unattended. The occupant had gone to Acre. As soon as the Italian young man came into the house & seated himself in the drawing room, the two soldiers appeared at the scene, caught hold of him, strangled him to death, stuffed up his throat with a long piece of rag, took him away and cast him into the sea.

In their hurry & bustle, they did not tie a stone to his foot to keep the corpse at the bottom of the sea.
In the morning his mother and relatives begun to search for the young man. Finally the young man's body was discovered near the sea shore, strangled to death.

The incident set people's tongue wagging. His mother and relatives raised a tumult in Haifa. They held Badri Beg responsible for the incident and brought an action against him and also against [Sir] Abbas Effendi because he came to Haifa after and frequented the Beg's house."

I realized that the allegation against the Most Great Branch [Sir] Abbas Effendi reflected on the whole family. By strong arguments and proof I applied myself to proving that it was impossible for him to have been involved in the matter. I called on members of the bereaved family to offer my condolences. I seized the opportunity to convince them that my brother [Sir] Abbas Effendi had not taken part at all in the matter. The mother of the deceased replied: "If he had not taken part in the matter, and had no connection with the girl, why did he take her to his own home in Acre?" I endeavoured as far as possible to exonerate the Most Great Branch [Sir] Abbas Effendi as the allegation reflected on the family as well as on Baha's name. But I did not expect that he would take her to his own house. I went to Acre to see what had happened. I enquired from the Baha'is and others. I found out that he had put up the notorious prostitute girl in his own house, the 'Abbud-House', which was the dwelling place of the Blessed Beauty [i.e. Baha], exalted be his power, before his ascension [i.e. death].

(Page 76-77, The Memoirs of Badiullah [The Most Luminous Branch] Baha'u'llah's Youngest Son)

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Abdul Baha's allegation of ‘European Prostitutes at the Bahja Mansion’

In his memoir, Baha'u'llah's youngest son, Badiullah states:

I came from Haifa to Acre. I called on the Most Great Branch Sir Abbas Effendi. He inquired after my health and displayed the utmost love towards me. He then said: "The Most Mighty Branch Mirza Muhammad Ali took three European prostitutes to the Bahja mansion and put them there for the night. He then despatched them to Syria. He has disgraced us."

Although I knew that such a thing was not possible to take place, yet it caused some astonishment. I proceeded to the Bahja mansion and enquired from the Most Pure Branch Mirza Diyaullah whether any female guests had stayed for the night in the mansion. He replied: "The Most Great Branch [Sir Abbas Effendi] sent a note in which he said: "three female travellers from Europe will spend the night in the Bahja mansion. Entertain them to the utmost. In the morning they will be travelling to Beirut, accompanied by [their dragoman] Khwaja Baha." Agreeably to his directions [in the note] we entertained them, and in the morning they proceeded to Beirut, accompanied by Khwaja Baha."

Mirza Diyaullah "produced to me the note, which was penned in Sir Abbas Effendi's handwriting." These three women were from Europe. They were not Bahais.

(Page 26, The Memoirs of Badiullah [The Most Luminous Branch] Baha'u'llah's Youngest Son)

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full equality between men and women

In the 1995 statement The Prosperity of Humankind the Bahá’í International Community identified “a commitment to the establishment of full equality between men and women, in all departments of life and at every level of society” as “central to the success of efforts to conceive and implement a strategy of global development.”

(Bahá’í World, v. 27, p. 241)

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Education as Prerequisite for Women Serving on Universal House of Justice

“Question. I see that in his tablet to Ex-Governor Sulzer the Master says that the Universal Arbitration Tribunal will consist of the best men and women of the different countries. Will women in the future sit in the Beit-ul-Adl also?

Abdul Baha: Men and women are equal in this respect, with the condition that women should reach to the degree of men. As yet they have not reached this state. They will become members of the Beit-ul-Adl in the future. The time will come when women will reach the degree of men (as regards education). Then they will be equal.”

[Abdu’l-Baha, oral statement recorded by Fujita, 7 December 1919 (Phelps ABU1350) – credit to Steven Phelps for the find]

https://web.archive.org/web/20220128080717/http://www.kashkul.org/2020/10/05/education-as-prerequisite-for-women-serving-on-universal-house-of-justice/#comment-101721

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Abdul Baha's stand on domestic violence

“Hold thy husband dear and always show forth an amiable temper towards him, no matter how ill tempered he may be. Even if thy kindness maketh him more bitter, manifest thou more kindliness, more tenderness, be more loving and tolerate his cruel actions and ill-treatment”.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 226)

Women should be obedient to their husbands:

“O Handmaids of the Self-Sustaining Lord! Exert your efforts so that you may attain the honour and privilege ordained for women. Undoubtedly the greatest glory of women is servitude at His Threshold and submissiveness at His door; it is the possession of a vigilant heart, and praise of the incomparable God; it is heartfelt love towards other handmaids and spotless chastity; it is obedience to and consideration for their husbands and the education and care of their children; and it is tranquility, and dignity, perseverance in the remembrance of the Lord, and the utmost enkindlement and attraction”.

(Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 225)

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Women will be barred once the NSA are converted to the NHJ

One exBaha'i says:

Women are allowed to serve on Spiritual Assemblies. What Baha'i women may not realize is that the Spiritual Assemblies will eventually end (according to Baha'i theory) and then they will be superseded by National and Local Houses of Justice. Only men are allowed on a House of Justice.

Baha'i women are working hard for the future subjugation of women.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/12evr7f/those_men_who_have_no_women_among_themselves_have/jfdfsxx/

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Baha'u'llah admits to have supplied women to Subh-i-Azal

Once We [Baha'u'llah] had entered Iraq and a number of days passed, We were joined by My brother [Subh-i-Azal], and he remained with Us for a period of months that hath been mentioned in Tablets. He sought from Us a wife; We procured for him what quelled his carnal desire, and he dwelled comfortably in the land.

Though We sent for believing women to be dispatched from other lands to appear before thee, whereafter thou didst enjoy intimacy with them and abide in conspicuous comfort, ...

Although, moreover, thou didst seek from Me what would gratify thy passion, till eventually thou didst gather around thyself a number of maidens and sustain thyself with them, ...

O My brother! How many a night didst thou repose on thy bed with thy wives while I personally protected thee, ...

(Baha'u'llah, Lawh-i-Mirza Rida-Quli)

https://adibmasumian.com/translations/lawh-i-mirza-rida-quli/

Check footnote 14, here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230605062427/https://adibmasumian.com/translations/lawh-i-mirza-rida-quli/

And Moojan Momen (Scholar loyal to the Baha'i UHJ) states:

Mírzá Yahyá is reputed to have been an uxorious man. His own son Ridvan-`Ali reports him to have had eleven or twelve wives while another source gives fourteen wives.

(The Cyprus Exiles)

https://bahai-library.com/momen_cyprus_exiles

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Beloved Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery on why the women are not eligible to the UHJ

"... why the women are not eligible to the House of Justice. You see, but the women who have the right, who are a member National Assembly, or the electors of the Universal House of Justice, and they don't have the duty of a member of the House of Justice. You will see how wonderful it would be with these little baby running around inside that the building of the Universal House of Justice just crying "mama, mama, mama" or something else. Now you can understand that. Bahá’u’lláh, in His wisdom, gave it to a woman an exemption from this honor [?] that he is to be a member of Universal House of Justice."

https://bahai.works/Transcript:Ugo_Giachery/Speaking_at_Scandinavian_Summer_School,_1974

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"particularly their sons, into higher education"

The over-representation of Iranian Baha'i students at AUB from Shiraz, and especially from the Afnan family, provides a clue to the broader patterns of class formation in the Middle East. The Afnans were involved in transnational commercial activities spanning Iran, India and the Persian Gulf. Merchant families sending their children, particularly their sons, into higher education indicates an awareness of the shifting nature of the modern economy, and the perceived need for command over new forms of knowledge in order to thrive in it.

The main member of the Afnan family who lived in Beirut and who sent many of his children to AUB was Sayyid ‘Ali Afnan. 

(The Iranians of AUB and Middle Class Formation in the Early Twentieth-Century Middle East, Farzin Vejdani)

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