Introduction of Edward G. Browne to the Book “Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi”
By: Mohammad-Reza Giyahpoor
Abstract
One of the westerners who met Abdu’l-Bahá was a man from America. After his meeting, he wrote a book about Abdu’l-Bahá called “Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi”. The publisher of the book asked Edward Granville Browne (1862-1926), a famous English orientalist and Iranologist, to write an introduction to this book, and he did so.
Examining the written introduction reveals interesting points about Edward Brown’s vision of Baha’is and reciprocally Baha’is’ view of him. Such as his view on the intolerance of Baha’is towards the followers of other religions in case of gaining power and his report on their desire to destroy all the copies of the ( Noghtat ul – Kaf ) book.
In the end, Brown expresses Some points from his view towards the Babis and Baha’is, as well ashis memories and (conversation) with an English diplomat: the lack of a canon holy book with an acceptable author, the lack of religious principles, their readiness and motivation to suppress historical facts and distort of historical subjects, Baha’is dissatisfaction with Brown’s research and his translation of the book (New History) and the fact that he has shown the historical roots of Babiism (and then Baha’ism) in Shiism and Shaykhism, the differences and divisions between the Ezelis and Baha’is and the reason why Babis are willing to sacrifice their lives.
Keywords
Abdu’l-Bahá, Babiism, Bahaism,Edward G. Browne
The critiques of the book “Some Answered Questions”
(Part three)
By: Hamid Sedehi, Researcher
Abstract
The book “Some Answered Questions”is the result of questions and answers from Laura Clifford Barney and Abdu’l-Baha. The contradictions and flaws in this book by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, who is considered “The mystery of God “ and “ Interpreter of the divine words of Baha –ullah “, are a sign of the inaccuracy of the principle of legitimacy and against the claim of Bahai leaders that they are divine and heavenly. In this paper, in addition to internal inconsistencies, the validity of the standards of perception from the point of view of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and the compatibility of some of the contents of the book with historical narrations are examined.
Keywords
Controversies, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’ism, Internal Inconsistency, Historical Inconsistency, Perceptions.
Book introduction:
Impartial History
Written by Sheikh Mahdi Sheikh Al-Mamalek Qomi
By: Seyyed Mohammad Hadi Sajjadi
Researcher in the field of Babi and Baha’i studies
Abstract
The book Tarikh Bigharaz (Impartial History), written by Sheikh Mehdi Sheikh Al-Mamalek Qomi, was published in 2019 with the efforts of Seyyed Meqdad Nabavi Razavi and with the cooperation of Negah Moaser publisher. In the first part of this book, proofreader of the book contents wrote an “Introduction to Impartial History” and while introducing Sheikh Al-Mamalek Qomi and touching upon his secret Babi and Aazali belief, showed that his book is not only “impartial” but also is sometimes biased, and sometimes it has also taken the position of a propagating book. The second part is the original text of the book according to Sheikh al-Mamalek Qomi, to which many evidences and explanations have been added. In the third part, the proofreader gives four appendices related to the book. After a brief explanation of different parts of the book, this article introduces Sheikh Mahdi Sheikh al-Mamalek Qomi and examines the content of his book.
Keywords
Impartial History, Sheikh al-Mamalek Qomi, history of Bab movement and Baha’i Faith, Edward Brown.
Baha’is in Pakistan
By: Mohammad Gogani, Hamid Farnaq
Abstract
This article deals with the historical background, social situation and current situation of the Baha’is of Pakistan, as well as their socio-religious and economic practices and activities. More than 150 years have passed since the arrival of the first Baha’i in Pakistan, and now Baha’is has had official organizations in that country for more than 60 years. Although the constitution of Pakistan respects the rights of minorities, it is illegal converting others to other religions, and for this reason, Baha’is do their propaganda covertly and secretly. However, due to various cultural and social reasons, the number of Baha’i population has not increased significantly for many years, and according to global statistics, out of the population of 227 million people in Pakistan, the Baha’i population is estimated to be around 33,000 people, although the actual number seems to be much lower than this figure.
In addition, the emergence of claimants such as Charles Mason Rimi and Jamshid Maani (Sama Allah), along with the inefficiency and corruption of the traditional management of the National Baha’i Society of Pakistan, who are mainly Iranian; It has caused the Baha’i community of Pakistan to be limited and its population is stagnant or even declining.
Keyword
Baha’i in Pakistan, prohibition of Baha’i propaganda in Pakistan, covert propaganda, Baha’i community of Pakistan, Jamshid Maani
The unity of the human world in the scale of criticism
Examining the principle of the unity of the human world, one of the twelve principles of Bahaism
Mohammad Ali Fallah Aliabad
Abstract
Abdu’l-Bahá has introduced the “unity of the human world” as a supreme principle in the Baha’i religion. He introduces Baha’i as a religion that seeks to realize this ideal, but to what extent Baha’i in general and Abdu’l-Bahá in particular is true in this matter while it is a matter of many doubts.
In this article, which is organized by descriptive and analytical method, the principle of unity of the human world is judged. The findings of this research show that the divine religions’ call for unity has always been around the monotheism and worshiping God but Baha’i has strayed away from this basic principle.
There are also contradictions among other Baha’i teachings with this issue. In addition, we can count numerous behavioral examples of Baha’i leaders that are in contradiction with this principle. These examples show that either this principle is basically not applicable – as the Baha’i leaders themselves have not been able to comply with its provisions or that it was formulated to achieve specific goals and for others and the Baha’i leaders themselves did not believe in it.
In the meantime, Baha’i’s leader’s dependence on the humanistic schools of thought in the East and West distort the innovation and correctness of this principle in this Faith. On the other hand, in its behavior and belief, Baha’i not only does not have a solution to realize the “unity of the human world”, but also does not move in the direction of achieving it.
Key words
unity, Baha’i, Abdu’l-Bahá, twelve principles, human world, monotheism
A Study of Distortion in Baha’i Books
By: Maryam Kheradmand
Abstract
After the formation of any sect or faith that claims to be divine, an important thing to examine the legitimacy or rejection of that faith is the book or books that they claim to be divine. In fact, the main books of any religion reveal the vision, attitude, thoughts, deeds and faiths of that religion. One of the sects that claim to be divine is Baha’ism. For this reason, we decided to examine the truth or falsity of this claim by carefully examining its books, which are valid for the Baha’is.
In this article, we review the original Baha’i book, Iqan, as well as the overview of the book A glance at Baha’i Faith , Baha’u’llah and the New Age, and The Barber Memoirs . During their various years of publication, we have reviewed these books carefully. Although, according to the Baha’ism, all books published under the auspices of the National Committee for the Publication of Baha’i Books are divine, incorruptible, and approved by the Baha’i Organization. In order to clarify the truth, in this article we examine the different versions of publication of these books. While examining these books, significant differences are observed between their different editions.
Key words
Baha’i Faith, Distortion of the Baha’i Books, Contradictions, Fragmentation of Books, Distortion of the Iqan , Baha’u’llah and the New Age, Overview of A glance at Baha’i Faith ,The Barber Memoir.
Baha’i from the point of view of Baha’i intellectuals and critics
Episode 12: Brendan Cook
By: Hamid Farnaq – senior expert in international law
Abstract
Dr. Brendan Cook, Baha’i teacher, writer, artist, intellectual and critic, was born in the 1970s to a Baha’i family in Western Canada. He received his PhD in History and English Literature from the University of Toronto in Canada. According to the call of conscience, Brendan Cook was attracted to the teachings and slogans of Baha’i faith, and believing in it, he was a member of the Canadian Baha’i Community for about 30 years and was present in Baha’i prayer and study groups and circles.
In all these years, he tried to research about his beliefs and not to accept everything easily. In 1994, he got acquainted with the group of Baha’i intellectuals on the Talisman website and started collaborating and posting content on the Talisman website. Cook was suspected by the Baha’i leadership in Haifa (Beit al-Adl or UHJ) and was unofficially expelled from the Baha’i community due to his contacts and communications with Baha’i intellectuals and the publication of critical articles. Cook has a serious objection to the performance of the Baha’i organization. He objects to the impossibility of the presence of women at the highest level of Baha’i leadership (Bait al-Adl: UHJ) and considers it against the claim of “equal rights of men and women in Baha’i”. The so-called Heavenly Book of the Baha’is (Aqdas) is outdated and Inapplicable. He has objected to the fact that the Baha’i leadership instructs its followers on how they should think and considers it to be against reason and the reason for the lack of freedom of thought in Baha’ism. Cook does not consider the teaching of “non-interference in politics and obedience to governments” to be logical and correct.
In his stories, in a humorous language refers to the infallibility of the universal House of Justice (UHJ), the abuse of UHJ from the hard bigotry of some followers, the rejection and expulsion of Baha’is because they do not agree with the House of Justice, and the persecution of the expelled Baha’is. He considers such actions contrary to reason and morality measures. In this article, we get to know some of Brendan Cook’s critical positions.
Keywords: Baha’i intellectuals, Brendan Cook, Bait al-Adl, equality of men and women, involvement in politics, obedience to the government, ex- communication.
The twelfth Imam of the Shiites
in an advanced treatise of the Sunnis
Seyyed Moqdad Nabavi Razavi
Master of Islamic History – Shahid Beheshti University
Abstract
What this article shows is a view of the “systematic structure of Shia Mahdism” which provides a historical approach to the authenticity of the event of the birth of the 12th Imam of the Shiites and his position as the Mahdi and Qaim of the Family of Muhammad, which should be shown in detail in its place. to be given. Among the building blocks of this structure, the old Sunni and Shia narratives – which go back to the time of the eleven Shia imams – have a special place. One of these narrations is found in “Abu Hafs Hadadi’s version” (d. 240 A.H., one of the leading Sunni scholars), which shows that the name “Muhammad bin Al-Hasan bin Ali” was the ruler of the Muslims at the time of the descent of Jesus bin Maryam – who is the Mahdi. It is mentioned before his birth (255 AH). In the meantime, the explanatory approaches of Azalyan and Baha’is to the Mahdavi narratives are shown, and their interpretative view of the descent of Christianity and the representation of the returning Jesus in Mirza Malkam Khan Armenian (from Azalyan’s point of view) and Mirza Hossein Ali Baha’u’llah (from Baha’i’s point of view) are examined.
Keywords
The twelfth Imam of the Shiites, a historical view of the belief of Shiite Mahdism, the version of Abu Hafs Hadadi and Isa Ibn Maryam.
