IV. HAS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT COME?

 

1. The Qur’an teaches that the meaning of the Day of Judgment is a mystery which will be revealed by God on the Day of Judgment itself:

    “They will ask Thee of the Hour – for what time is its coming fixed? SAY: The knowledge of it is only with My Lord: none shall manifest it in its time but He.” (A’raf – 7:187)

 يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَٮٰهَا‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى‌ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيہَا لِوَقۡتِہَآ إِلَّا هُوَ

     What the mind of man has thought or thinks about the Day of Judgment is mere imagination. How can the leaders of Islam say that the Day of judgment has not come, and still try to explain its nature and signs literally?

 

2. It is further pointed out in the Qur’an that the contents of that Holy Book are divided into two parts: the part that it easily understood (called the “perspicuous”) and the part which is in picture or story form (called the “figurative”). The first part is clear and straightforward, whilst the second part is revealed in a style which is full of figures of speech and therefore cannot be properly understood. The second part needs interpretation. That interpretation, according to the Qur’an, is not man’s function, but God’s; and God shall reveal at a later age its interpretation. Here are the verses:

     “He it is Who hath sent down to Thee the Book (the Qur’an). Some of its verses are of themselves perspicuous; – these are the basis of the Book – and others are figurative. But they whose hearts are given to err, follow its figures, craving discord, craving an interpretation; yet none knoweth its interpretation but God.” (al-Imran – 3:5)

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِنۡهُ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ مُّحۡكَمَـٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ۬‌ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمۡ زَيۡغٌ۬ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَـٰبَهَ مِنۡهُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةِ وَٱبۡتِغَآءَ تَأۡوِيلِهِۦ‌ۗ وَمَا يَعۡلَمُ تَأۡوِيلَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱللَّ

    “And now have We brought them the Book: with knowledge have we explained it; a guidance and a mercy to them that believe. What have they to wait for now but its interpretation? When its interpretation shall come, they who aforetime were oblivious of it shall say, ‘The Prophets of our Lord did indeed bring the truth.’” (A’raf – 7:51-52)

 وَلَقَدۡ جِئۡنَـٰهُم بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ فَصَّلۡنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ هُدً۬ى وَرَحۡمَةً۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ هَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا تَأۡوِيلَهُ ۥ‌ۚ يَوۡمَ يَأۡتِى تَأۡوِيلُهُ ۥ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ          

            The Bahá’ís point out that most of the verses in the Qur’an which are “figurative” are those describing the Day of Judgment. As the meaning of the Day of Judgment is to be disclosed by God only when that Day actually comes, the advent of that Day and the promised interpretation of the Qur’an must necessarily come together. The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh not only proclaimed that the Day of Judgment has come, but have given us clearly in their writings the true meanings of all the symbols and allegories of that Holy Book.

 

3. The description set forth in the Qur’an of the phenomena to take place in the physical world on the Day of Judgment is most arresting. For example, the earth is to change into another earth (See Zumar – 39:67;

    Ibrahim – 14:48; Inshiqaq – 84:3; Qaf – 50:44; Rum – 30:50; Hadid – 57:17) and the heaven is to be cleft and split asunder (See Inshiqaq – 84:1; Infitar – 82:1; Naba’ – 78:19; Anbiya – 21:104; Rahman – 55:37;

    Dukhan – 44:10; Furqan – 25:25; Zumar – 39:67). In the Sura of Tawkir – 81 we even read:

    “When the heaven shall be stripped away.”

 وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتۡ

     And in the Sura of Ma’arij – 70: “When the heavens shall become as molten brass.”

 يَوۡمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ

     Furthermore, the earth is to quake and the mountains are to pass away (See Naml – 27:88; Waqi’ah – 56:5; Qari-ah – 101:5; Muzammil – 73:14; Mursalat – 77:10; Naba – 78:20; Takwir – 81:3; TaHa – 20:105)

     Likewise, the sun is to be folded up and lose its light (Takwir – 81) and the stars are to disperse and be blotted out (Infitar – 82; Mursalat – 77)

     But now let us compare other verses with the above description. Here are four verses. Notice the words  underlined:

     “What! Are they sure that the overwhelming chastisement of God shall not come upon them, or that the Hour shall not come upon them, suddenly, while they are unaware?”

 أَفَأَمِنُوٓاْ أَن تَأۡتِيَہُمۡ غَـٰشِيَةٌ۬ مِّنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡ تَأۡتِيَہُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغۡتَةً۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

     “Warn them of the day of sighing, when the decree shall be accomplished, while they are sunk in heedlessness and while they believe not.” (Maryam – 19:39)

 أَنذِرۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡحَسۡرَةِ إِذۡ قُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ وَهُمۡ فِى غَفۡلَةٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

     “But on the day of Resurrection some of you shall deny the others, and some of you shall curse he others. (Ankabut – 29:25)

يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكۡفُرُ بَعۡضُڪُم بِبَعۡضٍ۬ وَيَلۡعَنُ بَعۡضُڪُم بَعۡضً۬

                                         

    Let us now ask ourselves this question: if the overwhelming description of the changes in the physical world to take place on the Day of Judgment is to be interpreted literally, would it be reasonable to expect that the unbelievers would still be “unaware” of it, would not know its occurrence, and particularly, after the “decree would be accomplished” for them to still be sunk in “heedlessness” and not to believe, and above all for men to “deny” and “curse” one another? Wouldn’t the physical signs and portents be so drastic that there would be no room for unbelief, heedlessness and cursing to continue?

     Surely the answer is that the signs of the Day of Judgment must be interpreted symbolically, not literally.  Then we would understand why unbelief and heedlessness would still prevail at such a time.  

 

4. From the above, we note that the events of the Day of Judgment are to be taken symbolically. We shall now see how these spiritual developments are also to take place gradually:

                a. “And they will bid Thee to hasten the Chastisement (Day of Judgment). But God cannot fail His threat. And verily, a day with Thy Lord is a thousand years, as ye reckon them.” (Hajj – 22:46)

 وَعۡدَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَإِنَّ يَوۡمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلۡفِ سَنَةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ وَيَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَكَ بِٱلۡعَذَابِ وَلَن يُخۡلِفَ ٱللَّهُ

                  This verse shows us that the “Day” of Judgment is not an ordinary day of 24 hours, but 1000 years.

                b. “He bringeth forth the living out of the dead, and He bringeth forth the dead out of the living: and He quickeneth the earth when dead. Thus it is that ye too shall be brought forth.” (Rum – 30:18)

 يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَىِّ وَيُحۡىِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا وَكَذَٲلِكَ تُخۡرَجُونَ‌ۚ

                   The “bringing forth” mentioned in this verse is generally accepted by commentators to be a reference to the Day of Judgment. Thus we see how the resurrection of the dead, is the new creation, as it is sometimes called in the Qur’an, on the Day of Judgment is likened to the growth of vegetation from the earth in the physical world; and vegetable growth is a gradual process.

 

5. We are further told in the Qur’an that on the Day of Judgment, God shall reveal a new “Book”, that there will be a “call”, and that the “new creation” is none other than the “Faith of God.”

                a. “And on the Day of Resurrection will We Bring forth to him (man) a Book which shall be referred to him wide open.” (Bani-Isra’il – 17:14)

 وَنُخۡرِجُ لَهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ ڪِتَـٰبً۬ا يَلۡقَٮٰهُ مَنشُورًا

                b. “On that day shall God call you forth.” (Bani Isra’il – 17:54)

                c. “And list for the day whereon the Crier shall call from a near place: the day on which men shall in truth hear that shout will be the day of their coming forth from the grave.” (Qaf – 50:41)

 وَٱسۡتَمِعۡ يَوۡمَ يُنَادِ ٱلۡمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٍ۬ قَرِيبٍ۬يَوۡمَ يَسۡمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيۡحَةَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُرُوجِ

               d. “Set thou they face then, as a true convert, towards the Faith (the religion of God), this creation of God, with which He hath made men. No change is there in God’s creation, for, lo, it is the right faith. (Rum – 30:30)

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۚ فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡہَا‌ۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ

    So we see how the Day of Judgment is to witness the revelation of a new Book, which is none other than the Holy Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. The “Crier”, referred to, is also Bahá’u’lláh, and the “near place” from where He “called” the people was Baghdad, which is near Arabia. It was in Baghdad that Bahá’u’lláh announced His Mission. Finally, according to the last verse, God’s “making” and “creation” of man, is through the revelation of His “Faith”, and life in His sight is acceptance of His Faith.

 

6. We shall see how the Qur’an, itself, explains some of the terms and expressions used in the description of the Day of Judgment:

              a. Life: One of the important events on the Last Day is that the dead will find life. As we have already seen, this means a spiritual life, the life of faith. The following verse was revealed when Hamzih, the uncle of Muhammad, joined Islam. Hamzih, who was a pagan before becoming a    Muslim, is referred to as “dead.” His subsequent acceptance of Islam is referred to as “being quickened” and receiving “light”:

                   “Shall the dead, whom we have quickened, and for whom we have ordained a light whereby he may walk among men, be like him, whose likeness is in the darkness, whence he will not come forth?” (An’am – 6:122)

 أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيۡتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَيۡنَـٰهُ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُ ۥ نُورً۬ا يَمۡشِى بِهِۦ فِىٱلنَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ لَيۡسَ بِخَارِجٍ۬ مِّنۡہَا‌ۚ‌ۚ

                    This verse is of particular interest, because it shows that “life” and “light” are both to be taken spiritually, not physically.

                    “While the gods whom they call on beside God, create nothing, but are themselves created. Dead are they (the unbelievers), lifeless! and they know not when they shall be raised.”  (Nahl – 16:20-22)              

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخۡلُقُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُمۡ يُخۡلَقُونَ

أَمۡوَٲتٌ غَيۡرُ أَحۡيَآءٍ۬‌ۖ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبۡعَثُونَ

                    “O ye faithful! Make answer to the appeal of God and His Apostle when He calleth you to that which giveth life.” (Anfal – 8:24)

 يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمۡ لِمَا يُحۡيِيڪُمۡ‌ۖ

                b. Light: On the Day of Judgment, the sun is to be folded up and lose its light, thereby casting confusion in the heavens, the stars, the clouds, etc. as well as the earth. When the sun, the centre of the solar system, is disturbed, naturally all the units of that system are also to suffer. The Bahá’í interpretation is, of course, that light is spiritual light, not physical; therefore, the centre of light in our system, the sun, symbolizes the Manifestation or Apostle of God in each Day or Dispensation. Darkness, or the loss of light, represents the unbelief, the heedlessness and wickedness of the people. The heaven symbolizes God’s religion, from where the Manifestation shines. The sun is always shining but often we cannot see its light, because of clouds. Clouds are moisture coming from the earth. In the spiritual meaning the Light of God is always pouring forth, but men cannot always see it because of the clouds of human fancies and imaginings which rise from the hearts and minds of men (the earth) and obstruct this light. Stars represent spiritual leaders, who appear in the heaven of religion, after the sun has set, that is after the Manifestation of God has left this world. The fall of the stars symbolizes their spiritual downfall in the eyes of men.

                   Let us now review some of the Qur’anic verses on the meaning of light:

                   “God is the light of the Heavens and the Earth.” (Nur – 24:35)

 ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ

                    “Fain would they put out God’s light with their mouths: but God only desireth to perfect His light, albeit the infidels abhor it.” (Tawbah – 9:33)

 وَيَأۡبَى ٱللَّهُ إِلَّآ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ ۥ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطۡفِـُٔواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ

                                                                                            

                  “Now hath a light and a clear Book come to you from God.” (Ma’idah – 5:17)

 قَدۡ جَآءَڪُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٌ۬ وَڪِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

                  “This Book have we sent down to Thee that by their Lord’s permission Thou mayest bring men out of darkness into light, into the path of the Mighty, the Glorious.” (Ibrahim – 14:1)

 الٓر‌ۚ ڪِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ لِتُخۡرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡ

إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِي

                    These are but few of many such verses in the Qur’an. There is a tradition in Islam, not included in the Qur’an, that on the Last Day the sun will rise from its “maghrib” (its west, or setting point). Muhammad’s sun set in Islam. The new sun, Bahá’u’lláh, rose from Islam.

                c. The Earth and its Quaking. We read in the Qur’an (Hajj – 22:1 and Zilzal – 99:1) that on the Last Day the earth will quake. We have already seen that the “earth” means the hearts of men.

                   Here are two verses which confirm that:

                    “Men’s hearts on that day shall quake.” (Nazi’at – 79:8)

 قُلُوبٌ۬ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ وَاجِفَ

                    “Then were the faithful tried, and with strong quaking did they quake.” (Ahzab – 33:11)

 هُنَالِكَ ٱبۡتُلِىَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ وَزُلۡزِلُواْ زِلۡزَالاً۬ شَدِيدً۬ا

                d. Fire. Addressing the believers, Muhammad describes their condition before their belief:

                   “And when ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, he drew you back from it. Thus God clearly showeth you His signs that ye may be guided. Imran – 3:99)

 مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَا‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَہۡتَدُونَ وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬

                e. Physical senses.

                   “Their (the unbelievers’) hearts and their ears hath God sealed up; and over their eyes in a covering.” (Baqarah – 2:6)

 خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَعَلَىٰ سَمۡعِهِمۡ‌ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ غِشَـٰوَةٌ۬

                    “Deaf, dumb, blind: therefore they shall not retrace their steps from error.” (Baqarah – 2:17)

 صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

                    “Hearts have they with which they understand not, and eyes have they with which they see not, and ears have they with which they hearken not. They are like the brutes: Yea, they go more astray: they are the heedless.” (A’raf – 7:178)     

لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا

يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ

               f. The Return. In the following verses Muhammad reports the argument between Him and the Jews:

                   “To those who say, ‘Verily, God hath enjoined us that we are not to credit an Apostle until he present us a sacrifice which fire out of Heaven shall devour’, SAY: Already have Apostles before Me come to you with miracles, and with that of which ye speak. Wherefore slew ye them? Tell Me, if ye are men of truth.” (Al-Imran – 3:179-180)

 لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَنَا بِقُرۡبَانٍ۬ تَأۡڪُلُهُ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيۡنَآ أَلَّا نُؤۡمِنَ

وَبِٱلَّذِى قُلۡتُمۡ فَلِمَ قَتَلۡتُمُوهُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِى بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ

                    In the above verse, we see how Muhammad, in the words: “Wherefore slew ye them?” accuses the Jews who were living in His time, of slaying the Apostles of God of former ages. How could the Jews living in the days of Muhammad have existed thousands of years before, in the age of   former Prophets? Why should Muhammad have charged them with slaying those Prophets? The only answer is that the “return” means not the return of the self-same people, but the return of the same qualities in the people.

                    Such also is the expected return of Jesus Christ (See Nisa – 4:158 and Zukhruf – 43:61) on the Day of Judgment. His coming does not mean the coming of the self-same Jesus from the physical sky, but to the advent of the promised Apostle of God with the same qualities as Jesus evinced during His mission. He was Bahá’u’lláh, the Glory of God, whose holy life and                    teachings are the very foundations of love and peace in the world today.

                g. God and His Angels. The verse that states that God and His Angels will come on the Day of Judgment reads as follows:

                   “What can such expect but that God should come to them overshadowed with clouds, and the angels also, and their doom be sealed? And to God shall things return.” (Baqarah – 2:206)

 هَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡغَمَامِ

وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ‌ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ

                    “God”, therefore, refers to the Manifestation of God who is to appear on the Last Day. God is Spirit and beyond visibility or material things. The Qur’an further testifies that what applies to the Manifestation of God, applies to God Himself:

                   “In truth, they who plighted fealty to Thee (Muhammad) really plighted that fealty to God.” (Fat’h – 48:10)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ

                    As to the “angels”, they are the saints and heroes of God’s Faith who trumpet its news Everywhere. Note this verse:

                   “And if we had appointed an angel, we should certainly have appointed one in the form of a man, and we should have clothed him before them in garments like their own.” (An’am – 6:8)

 وَلَوۡ جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ مَلَڪً۬ا لَّجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ رَجُلاً۬ وَلَلَبَسۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّا يَلۡبِسُونَ

                h. Two Blasts. The Qur’an announces that the Trumpet of God, i.e. the Cause of God, will have two blasts on the Day of Judgment, signifying two Manifestations of God, to follow each other, as did the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.          

                   “And there shall be a blast on the Trumpet, and all who are in the Heavens and all who are in the Earth shall expire, save those whom God shall vouchsafe to live. Then shall there be another blast on it, and lo! Arising they shall gaze around them: And the earth shall shine with the light of her Lord.” (Zummar – 39:68-69)

 وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا مَن

شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخۡرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمۡ قِيَامٌ۬ يَنظُرُونَ

وَأَشۡرَقَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّہَا

                    “One day, the disturbing trumpet-blast shall disturb it (the universe), which the second blast shall follow … Verily, it will be but a single blast.” (Nazi’at – 79:6,7 & 13)

 يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلرَّاجِفَةُ

تَتۡبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَ

فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجۡرَةٌ۬ وَٲحِدَةٌ۬

                 Notice the word “follow”, as Bahá’u’lláh did follow quite closely after the Báb. Also notice that the two blasts are really considered as one blast, as the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh whose Causes have become merged into one single world Faith. The references in the first verse to the earth shining with the “light of her Lord”, refers to the name of Bahá’u’lláh. BAHA means “glory, splendour, light” in Arabic. The second part of Bahá’u’lláh’s name means, of course, “of God”, which is the equivalent of “of her Lord”.`

                i. Other Signs:

                   1. Among other signs in the Qur’an to occur on the Day of Judgment are that the Jews will no more be subjected to the Christians, that enmity and hatred between the Jews themselves and sectarianism amongst the Christians will continue till the Day of Judgment. Here are the verses:

                        “Remember when God said: “O Jesus! … I will place those who follow Thee above those who believe not (the Jews), until the Day of resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and wherein ye differ will I decide between you.’” (Al-Imran – 3:48)

وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوۡقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ … إِذۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّ

فَأَحۡڪُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡ فِيمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرۡجِعُڪُمۡ

                    “We have put enmity and hatred between them (the Jews) that shall last till the day of Resurrection.” (Ma’idah – 5:69)

 وَكُفۡرً۬ا‌ۚ وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا بَيۡنَہُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٲوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ

                         “And of those who say, ‘We are Christian’ … they too have forgotten a part of what they were taught; wherefore we have stirred up enmity and hatred among them that shall last till the day of Resurrection.” (Ma’idah – 5:17)

 مِيثَـٰقَهُمۡ فَنَسُواْ حَظًّ۬ا مِّمَّا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِهِۦ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَخَذۡنَ

ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ وَسَوۡفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَصۡنَعُونَ فَأَغۡرَيۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمُ ٱلۡعَدَاوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ

                        We see how true have been both these prophecies, how the Jews themselves after centuries of subjection have established themselves as an independent nation in Israel, and how enmity and hatred are changed into unity and love, when Jews and Christians become Bahá’ís.

 

               2. We must bear in mind that Muhammad refers to His Cause and to His Book as the means for deciding between the differences, and settling the disputes of religions in His day (See Nahl – 16:63-64). Therefore, when He speaks of the Last Day as the Day when differences and disputes of religions will be finally settled, He surely means the advent of a fresh measure of Divine Grace through another revealed religion from God. In the following verse, notice the wide circle of religions which will all have their various matters and problems cleared up and settled on the Day of Judgment:

                   “As to those who believe (Muslims), and the Jews, and the Sabeites (or Sabians) and the Christians, and the Magians (Zoroastrians) and those who join other gods with God (pagans) of a truth, God shall decide between them on the Day of Judgment: for God is witness of all things.” (Hajj – 22:17)

 وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلۡمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِي إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ

ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِي أَشۡرَڪُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفۡصِلُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ

                3. The Day of Judgment is clearly stated to be the Day of Unity. Bahá’u’lláh announced and through His teachings is establishing the unity of mankind in this glorious age:

                   “O our Lord! For the day of whose coming there is no doubt, thou wilt surely gather mankind together. Verily, God will not fail the promise.” (Al-Imran – 3:7)

 رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوۡمٍ۬ لَّا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخۡلِفُ ٱلۡمِيعَادَ

                    “Say: Aye, the former and the latter (religions) gathered shall they all be for the time of a known Day.” (Waq’iah – 56:49 – 50)

 لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَـٰتِ يَوۡمٍ۬ مَّعۡلُومٍ۬ قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأَخِرِينَ

                j. Life after Death: According to the Bahá’í interpretation of the Qur’an and the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, the soul of man, after the death of the body, receives at once its individual judgment for its life and actions in this material world. This could be called the individual resurrection of the soul of man in the next world, where it would receive its due reward or punishment. The following verses of the Qur’an testify to this truth:

                 1. In the story of the martyrdom of Habib, the carpenter, by the people of Antioch, the Qur’an states:

                      “It was said to him (Habib), ‘Enter thou into Paradise.’ And he said, ‘Oh, that my people knew how gracious God hath been to me, and that He hath made me one of His honoured ones.” (YaSin – 36:25-26)

 قِيلَ ٱدۡخُلِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَۖ قَالَ يَـٰلَيۡتَ قَوۡمِى يَعۡلَمُونَ

بِمَا غَفَرَ لِى رَبِّى وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِي

 

                        2. “And repute not these slain on God’s path to be dead. Nay, alive with their Lord, are they richly sustained, rejoicing in what God of His bounty hath vouchsafed them.” (Al-Imran – 3:163-164)

وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمۡوَٲتَۢا‌ۚ بَلۡ أَحۡيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يُرۡزَقُونَ

 

V. HOW CAN WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TRUE AND THE FALSE?

 1.  The Qur’an teaches that miracles are not signs whereby people should be led to believe. The revelation of a Holy Book by the Apostle of God is sufficient:

    “And they say, ‘Unless a sign be sent down to Him from His Lord …’ Say: Signs are in the power of God alone. I am only a plain spoken warner. Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to thee the Book to be recited to them? In this verily is a mercy and a warning to those who believe.” (Ankabut – 29:49-50)

 مُّبِي قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡأَيَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِي وَقَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّ

لَرَحۡمَةً۬ وَذِڪۡرَىٰ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِهِمۡ أَنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡ

     This does not mean that the Manifestations of God are powerless to produce miracles. In fact, a study of the lives of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh will show the superhuman powers that they possessed. The proof of the mission of the Manifestation of God, however, should not be based on miracles. One proof, as stated above, is the revelation of a Book. The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh revealed their Writings in Arabic and Persian. The Holy Writings of Bahá’u’lláh have been assessed to cover 100 volumes, some of which have already been translated into English and other languages.

 

 2. Another proof found in the Qur’an to demonstrate the validity of a Divine Message is based on the idea that if it is truly from God, it will spread and will receive the response and allegiance of men:

    “And as to those who dispute with God (i.e. God’s religion), after pledges of obedience are given to Him, their disputings shall be condemned by their Lord, and wrath shall be on them, and theirs shall be a sore torment.” (Shura – 42:15)

 وَٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآجُّونَ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا

رَبِّہِمۡ وَعَلَيۡہِمۡ غَضَبٌ۬ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ شَدِي ٱسۡتُجِيبَ لَهُ ۥ حُجَّتُهُمۡ دَاحِضَةٌ عِندَ

     The Bahá’í Faith has not only received a response from men, but no less than 20,000 of its devoted adherents have already given their lives as a testimony to its truth.

 

3. Another proof found in the Qur’an on the mission of the prophets is that the true Faith of God, like a good tree, yields good fruits, that the true Prophets and their followers receive divine blessings and are assisted by God, and that the false and evil prophet, like a bad tree, is uprooted and his lies and misleading teachings are made known to man. Here are the verses:

     “Seest thou not to what God likeneth a good Word? To a good tree: its root firmly fixed, and its branches in the Heaven: yielding its fruit in all seasons by the will of its Lord. God setteth forth these similitudes to men that haply they may reflect. And an evil word is like an evil tree, torn up from the face of the earth, and without strength to stand.” (Ibrahim – 14:29-31)

 ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬

لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ

ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ۬ خَبِيثَةٍ۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ

     “Assuredly in this present life will we succour our Apostles and those who shall have believed.” (Mu’min – 40:54)

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى

     “God hath written this decree: ‘I will surely prevail, and My Apostles also.’ Truly God is Strong, Mighty.” (Mujadilah – 58:21)

 ڪَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغۡلِبَنَّ أَنَا۟ وَرُسُلِىٓ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِي

     “Our word came of old to Our Servants, the Apostles, that they should surely be succoured, and that our armies should procure the victory for them.” (Saffat – 37:171-173)

 جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ وَإِنَّ إِنَّہُمۡ لَهُمُ ٱلۡمَنصُورُونَ وَلَقَدۡ سَبَقَتۡ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِي

     “Verily, falsehood is a thing that vanisheth.” (Bani Isra’il – 17:83)

 جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلُ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقً۬

     “Nay, we will hurl the truth at falsehood, and it shall smite it, and lo! it shall vanish.” (Anbiya – 21:18)

 بَلۡ نَقۡذِفُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ عَلَى ٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ فَيَدۡمَغُهُ ۥ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ۬

    In full conformity with the above principle, notwithstanding the almost life-long imprisonment of Bahá’u’lláh, and the martyrdom of the Báb and no less than 20,000 of its loyal followers, the Bahá’í Faith  has succeeded in diffusing its light throughout the five continents, and in 254 countries of the world, in translating and disseminating its literature in more than 200 languages, and to winning to its ever swelling ranks believers from all the religions and most of the races of mankind. Isn’t this an eloquent proof of the truth and validity of its divine mission?

 

4. Another proof found in the Qur’an to distinguish the true from the false is the fulfillment of prophecies found in former religious scriptures:

    “But they say, ‘If he come not to us with a sign from his Lord …’ But have not clear proofs for the Qur’an come to them, in what is in the Books of old?” (TaHa – 20:133)

 وَقَالُواْ لَوۡلَا يَأۡتِينَا بِـَٔايَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦۤ‌ۚ أَوَلَمۡ تَأۡتِہِم بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

     As the purpose of these notes is merely to present briefly some of the proofs of the Bahá’í World Faith found in the Qur’an, it would not be within our present scope to consider here the scriptures of all past religions. It would be enough to state that a study of the literature of the Faith will show that it has the clearest and most convincing proofs based not only on the Qur’an, but also on the Old Testament for the Jews, the New Testament for the Christians, as well as the Holy Books of the Zoroastrians, the Buddhists,    and the Hindus.

 

5. The last proof that the Qur’an gives us to use as a criterion for truth and falsehood is this verse:

    “SAY: O Jews, if ye profess that ye rather than other men are the Friends of God, then wish for death, if ye are men of truth. But never on account of their previous handiwork will they wish for it, and God knoweth the wrongdoers. (Jumu’ah – 62:6)

 إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِي أَوۡلِيَآءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوٓاْ إِن زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ

 بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِي بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوۡنَهُ ۥۤ أَبَدَۢا

     Willingness on the part of followers to offer their lives is the criterion. A study of Bahá’í history will show how the 20,000 martyrs who died for the love of Bahá’u’lláh did so with utmost confidence, dedication, selflessness and spiritual joy.

VI. WHY HAS BAHA’U’LLAH BROUGHT US NEW LAWS?  

 1. Religious teachings are divided into two parts. The first part consists of teachings which deal with the spiritual life of man, unity, truthfulness, chastity, etc. Such teachings are eternal and unchangeable and constitute the basis of every religion. The second part consists of laws dealing with the material life of man, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, forms and times of prayer and fasting, prohibited foods, etc.

    These teachings are not the essential part of religions. They are changed by each Manifestation of God to suit the conditions of is age. The above principle is also upheld by the Qur’an. Regarding the changeable laws affecting the material life of man we read the following:

    “To every one of you (Moses, Jesus, & Muhammad) have We given a law, an open path. And if God had pleased He had surely made you all one people. (Ma’idah – 5:52-53)

 ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَڪُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ جَعَلۡنَا مِنكُمۡ شِرۡعَةً۬ وَمِنۡهَاجً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ لِكُلٍّ۬

     “To every people have we appointed observances which they observe. Therefore let them not dispute this matter with Thee, but bid them to Thy Lord.”  (Hajj – 22:66)

 فَلَا يُنَـٰزِعُنَّكَ فِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ‌ۚ وَٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّ لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكًا هُمۡ نَاسِڪُوهُ

     Regarding the changeable part of religious teachings, which affect the spiritual life of man, we note that Muhammad calls the Old Testament, in one instance, “Al-Furqan” (See Anbiya – 21:49), and then uses the same title for the Holy Qur’an (See Furqan – 25:1). Of course, the laws of the Old Testament are different from those of the Qur’an, and the two Holy Books are not the same, but by applying the same title to both Books, Muhammad was conscious of the spiritual and fundamental teachings of the two Books, which of course are the same.

     In the same way, in this age, when Bahá’u’lláh has appeared, whilst the essence of His spiritual and moral teachings is the same as past Revelations, but, in compliance with the needs of an ever-changing and progressive society, He had to reveal also laws and ordinances to meet the requirements of this age.

 2. [One of the reasons that] could be cited to explain why Bahá’u’lláh has revealed new laws is that there are certain laws in the Qur’an which have become out of date, and can no more be practiced today. Let us take, for example, the following verse:

    “O Believers! Only they who join Gods with God are unclean.” (Taubah – 9:28)

 يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ۬

     “As to the thief, whether man or woman, cut ye off their hands in recompense of their doings.” (Ma’idah 5:42)

وَٱلسَّارِقُ وَٱلسَّارِقَةُ فَٱقۡطَعُوٓاْ أَيۡدِيَهُمَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا

     To consider those who join Gods with God as unclean or to cut the hand of the thief are laws that the majority of Muslims find it difficult, and in most cases impossible to obey.

     Such laws have become automatically void, forgotten and cancelled. Wouldn’t God replace them? The answer is given in the following re-assuring verse of the Qur’an:

    “Whatever verses we cancel, or cause to forget, we bring a better or its like. Knowest thou not that God hath power over all things?” (Baqarah – 2:100)

 عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ  بِخَيۡرٍ۬ مِّنۡہَآ أَوۡ مِثۡلِهَآ‌ۗ أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَا نَنسَخۡ مِنۡ ءَايَةٍ أَوۡ نُنسِهَا نَأۡتِ

 3. There is a clear ordinance in the Qur’an strictly warning the Muslims against sectarianism. Note these two verses:

    “Observe this Faith, and be not divided into sects therein.” (Shura  42:11)

 أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِ‌ۚ

     “And be ye turned to Him, and fear Him, and observe prayer and be not of those who unite gods with God: of those who have split up their religion and have become sects, where every party rejoices in what is their own.” (Rum – 30:30-31)

 وَلَا تَكُونُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِي مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيۡهِ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ

حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡہِمۡ فَرِحُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَهُمۡ وَڪَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا‌ۖ كُلُّ مِنَ

     Despite these clear injunctions, Islam has split itself in 72 sects. Is this keeping with God’s Commandment? What else but the power of a fresh Revelation from God could unite this divided Islam,  and indeed this divided world? In the following verse we are assured that such unity can only come from God:

    “Hadst Thou (Muhammad) spent all the riches of the earth, Thou couldst not have united their hearts: but God hath united them, for He is Mighty, Wise.” (Anfal – 8:64)

 وَلَـٰڪِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيۡنَہُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ۬  ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا مَّآ أَلَّفۡتَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِهِمۡ لَوۡ أَنفَقۡتَ مَا فِى

 

VII. FURTHER REFERENCES

 1. [The people for whom the message of the Qur’an is brought are referred to as] an intermediate people: that is, other religious communities will come after Islam:                   

    “He guideth whom He will into the right path. Thus have We made you an intermediate people.” (Baqarah – 2:136-137)

 وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا يَہۡدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

 2. Muhammad refers to His religion as the right path. (See Zukhruf – 43:61). But as He gives “Islam” its universal meaning, He also gives “right path” a wider meaning to include the way of God, whether at this time or in the future. This is made clear in the verse:

    “Guide Thou us on the right (straight) path.” (Fatihah – 1:5)

 ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ

     This is further confirmed and becomes even more pronounced in the following verse:

    “And God calleth to the Abode of Peace; and He guideth whom He will to the right path (way). (Yunus – 10:25)

 يَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيَہۡدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ وَٱللَّهُ

     It is most interesting that Baghdad, where Bahá’u’lláh announced His mission, was known as the “Abode of Peace”, or “Dar-es-Salaam” in the original Arabic. So God’s Holy Messenger, Bahá’u’lláh, did call the people to both the outer Abode of Peace, Baghdad, as well as the inner Abode of Peace, which is God’s Holy City and His Good-Pleasure, and guided them to God’s right path, which represents His Faith. If we should take to “right path” in this verse as Muhammad’s religion, then the Muslims did not need to be guided, as they were already guided!

 3. After successive exiles from Baghdad to Constantinople, and from there to Adrianople, Bahá’u’lláh was finally banished to Akka, in the Holy Land. It is indeed God’s mysterious plan, that of all the countries in the world, it should be the Holy Land where Bahá’u’lláh should be finally exiled to – the     Holy Land repeatedly promised in the Old and New Testaments as the seat and home of the Promise of All Ages. Furthermore, of all the towns and centres in the Holy Land, it should be to Akka that He should be sent, not of His own free will, not through the request of friends, but by His own enemies, who thought they would, in this way, be exterminating Him and His Faith. They were ignorant of God’s mysterious plans. They were in reality being used by Almighty God to bring to fulfillment His promises of old. Some of the traditions regarding Akka, accepted by both Sunnis and Shi’as as true and authenticated sayings of the Holy Prophet of Islam are recorded here:

     “Akka is a city in Syria, to which God hath shown His special mercy.” (From Abdu’l-Aziz, son of Abdu’s-Salam).

[Arabic omitted]

     “I bring you tidings of a city betwixt two mountains in Syria, in the middle of a meadow which is called Akka. Verily, he that entereth therein, longing for it and eager to visit it, God will forgive his sins, both of the past and of the future. And he that departeth from it other than a pilgrim, God will not bless his departure.” (From Ibn-i-Mas’ud)

     “I announce unto you a city, on the shores of the sea, white, whose whiteness is pleasing unto God – exalted be He! It is called Akka. He that hath been bitten by one of its fleas is better, in the estimation of God, than he who had received a grievous blow in the path of God.” (From Anas, son of Malik)

 [Arabic omitted]

    “Blessed is the man that hath visited Akka, and blessed he that hath visited the visitor of Akka.”

 [Arabic omitted]

   4. We read this verse in the Qur’an:

    “Lo! Ye are they, who are called to expend for the Cause of God: and some of you are niggards: but whoso is niggardly shall be niggard only to his own loss; for God is the Rich and ye are the poor: and if ye turn back, He will change you for another people, and they shall not be of our like.” (Muhammad – 47:40)

 هَـٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِى

يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنڪُم مَّن يَبۡخَلُ‌ۖ وَمَن

قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ أَمۡثَـٰلَكُم ٱلۡغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ‌ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ

     Muhammad was asked who were the people He referred to as “another people”, who were to replace the Arabs. One of His followers, Salman, a Persian, was sitting near Him. Muhammad patted on the legs of Salman and said: “He, and his people.” And then He continued: “By the True One, in Whose hand is My life, if the Faith of God should be suspended in the Pleiades, surely, men from Persia shall reach it.” (This tradition is accepted by both Sunnis and Shi’as and is included by Nasafi in his book, Vol. IV, page 169, as well as by Muhammad Farid Vajdi, in his book, third edition, page 676.)

 [Arabic omitted]

     And now to end this study of the truths of the Qur’an, let these holy verses ring in our hearts:

    “O Our people! Obey the Summoner of God and believe in Him, that He may forgive your sins and rescue you from an afflictive punishment. And he who shall not respond to God’s Preacher, yet cannot weaken God’s power on earth, nor shall he have protectors beside Him. These are in obvious error.”  (Ashqaf – 30-31)

 عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ يَغۡفِرۡ لَڪُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ

ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِىَ

لَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءُ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ

    And let this prayer of Bahá’u’lláh assist us in winning the good-pleasure of God in this glorious Day:

                   “Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil  conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire!

               Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God! Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquility on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!”

 [Arabic omitted]

Bahá’ís in Tacoma prepare to go out and present the Faith to neighbors in March 2008. Photo by Bonita Dannells.

 

O YE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINDS TO KNOW AND EARS TO HEAR!
The first call of the Beloved is this: O mystic nightingale! Abide not but in the rose-garden of the spirit. O messenger of the Solomon of love! Seek thou no shelter except in the Sheba of the well-beloved, and O immortal phoenix! dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is thy habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm of the infinite and seekest to attain thy goal.

 Bahá’u’lláh

Over the space of two weekends in July the Bahá’ís in Pierce County will make a special effort to reach out to their neighbors and offer to present to them the unique Message that Bahá’u’lláh has given humanity for this age. We will prepare to do this by meeting together at our quarterly Reflection Meeting on Saturday, July 11th to prepare ourselves for this stimulating nine-day effort. Then off we go!

And in the fourth Gospel, according to John, it is recorded: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness.” And elsewhere He saith: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” And: “But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you…” And yet again: “Nevertheless I tell  you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” And: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

 Bahá’u’lláh in Gems of Divine Mysteries

Who is the Comforter of whom Bahá’u’lláh speaks in quoting the Words of Christ? For Bahá’ís, Bahá’u’lláh is that Comforter.

O SON OF MAN!
Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee the mysteries of My greatness and shine upon thee with the light of eternity.

 Bahá’u’lláh

 

I pray Thee, O Thou Who causest the dawn to appear, by Thy Name through Which Thou hast subjected the winds, and sent down Thy Tablets, that Thou wilt grant that we may draw near unto what Thou didst destine for us by Thy favor and bounty, and to be far removed from whatsoever may be repugnant unto Thee. Give us, then, to drink from the hands of Thy grace every day and every moment of our lives of the waters that are life indeed, O Thou Who art the Most Merciful! Make us, then, to be of them who helped Thee when fallen into the hands of those Thine enemies who are numbered with the rebellious among Thy creatures and the wicked amidst Thy people. Write down, then, for us the recompense ordained for him that hath attained Thy presence, and gazed on Thy beauty, and supply us with every good thing ordained in Thy Book for such of Thy creatures as enjoy near access to Thee.

                                                                                                                             Bahá’u’lláh

A photo of the mansion at Mazra’ih, a short distance north of Akká.  Following more than two years incarceration in the prison city of Akká, a place without verdure of any kind, Bahá’u’lláh was permitted to depart from the city and make His residence a short distance away at Mazra’ih, which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had rented for Him.  Here, he was able to enjoy nature’s greenery, which He loved, and His followers were given much greater freedom to attain His presence.

~

Glorified be Thy name, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy power that hath encompassed all created things, and by Thy sovereignty that hath transcended the entire creation, and by Thy Word which was hidden in Thy wisdom and whereby Thou didst create Thy heaven and Thy earth, both to enable us to be steadfast in our love for Thee and in our obedience to Thy pleasure, and to fix our gaze upon Thy face, and celebrate Thy glory.

                                                                                                        Bahá’u’lláh

~

 Obedience to the will of God, whose will is expressed through His Manifestation, is a virtue. Here is a story of the importance of complete, exact, and instant obedience to that Will. It is from The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 4, by Adib Taherzadeh.

The story of Hájí Muhammad would not be complete without referring to one of his noble qualities, namely, his utter obedience to the Centre of the Cause. There was a time when Hájí Muhammad had a business concern in ‘Akká. One day he was sitting in his office when the Master arrived with an urgent instruction from Bahá’u’lláh that Hájí Muhammad should immediately proceed to Jaddih (Jiddah) in Arabia. He asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if he could be permitted to attain the presence of Bahá’u’lláh before departing for Jaddih. The Master told him that there was no time, for the boat was leaving at any minute. Hájí Muhammad at once closed the office, and without even paying a visit to his family boarded the ship which sailed away almost immediately. Once on board, he realized that because of the extraordinary rush, he had not even thought to ask the Master the purpose of his trip to Jaddih. But now it was too late, and he knew that Bahá’u’lláh would guide his steps when he arrived in that city. This is the best example of instant, exact and complete obedience to the command of Bahá’u’lláh.

The journey was fraught with danger because the sea was unusually stormy. The danger of the ship sinking was in everyone’s mind except for Hájí Muhammad, who was sure that it would sail safely to its destination because God had given him a mission in Jaddih, the nature of which was as yet unknown to him. Soon after disembarking from the ship, he heard two people speaking in Persian among the crowds. When he approached them he soon found out that they were Bahá’ís. They were Hájí Mírzá Haydar-‘Alí, that illustrious follower of Bahá’u’lláh, and his fellow prisoner Husayn-i- Shírazí who had been set free from their ten-year imprisonment in Khartúm and were on their way to ‘Akká. They were in need of help and guidance, for this was their first journey to the Holy Land. Hájí Muhammad knew then   that the purpose of his mission in Jaddih was to assist these two souls to go to ‘Akká, a task which he then carried out ably. 

 ~

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