Thanks for the clarification. I recognise that the period was a difficult one for the Babis.
Having said that, I hope I can appeal to your rational side to recognise the impact of your words.
Here we have a religion - Islam in force for 1400 years which the Bab claims to have abrogated. We have the Bahais claiming that Bab was the 12th Imam - yet not a single prophecy was fulfilled by the Bab.
Much of Shi'ih Islam is based on the 12th Imam coming in the year 1260 AH 1000 years after the end of the Imamate. The year 1260 IS the year the Bab made His declaration.
The word 'abrogate' has definite meaning:
1 : to abolish by authoritative action
: [SIZE=-1]ANNUL[/SIZE]
2 : to treat as nonexistent <
abrogating their responsibilities>
synonym see
[SIZE=-1]NULLIFY[/SIZE]
The word 'abrogate' is only used in reference to the Qur'an in particular and definite ways, Baha`u'llah, for instance abrogated the Qur'anic law about what surfaces are appropriate for prostration by saying that "any clean surface" would do. The only thing abrogated in it's entirety by Baha`u'llah is the Bayan. The Bab gave He Whom God Would Make Manifest the particularright to do just that.
According to the Bab He did not abrogate the Qur'an, He fulfilled it.
"PONDER upon the people unto whom the Gospel was given. Their religious leaders were considered as the true Guides of the Gospel, yet when they shut themselves out from Muhammad, the Apostle of God, they turned into guides of error, notwithstanding that all their lives they had faithfully observed the precepts of their religion in order to attain unto Paradise; then when God made Paradise known unto them, they would not enter therein. Those unto whom the Qur'án is given have wrought likewise. They performed their acts of devotion for the sake of God, hoping that He might enable them to join the righteous in Paradise. However, when the gates of Paradise were flung open to their faces, they declined to enter. They suffered themselves to enter into the fire, though they had been seeking refuge therefrom in God."
(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 142)
The most defining objective of the return of the 12th Imam in Islam is that the 12th Imam will establish peace and justice in the world. In his lifetime. Where is that peace and justice. Ironically, the Bahais are crying themselves hoarse that the Bab himself was a victim of injustice!
When the religion did not spread his own country, how can the Babi Faith be considered as the one to replace Islam which Allah declared as the religion for all Mankind? Forget about his own country, even the book of the Bab is not considered reliable by his own adherents. Compare this to the Quran which has remained unchanged for more than 1400 years because its protection was guaranteed by Allah.
What kind of Unity are we talking about when Bahaullah could not create Unity amongst his own family members.
Lastly, refer to my post made a few days ago. You say that there were more than 20 people who made the claim of One Whom Allah will Manifest. This is bound to happen. And these are 20 whose information has reached us. Maybe there were more. The open ended interpretation of the verses of the Quran and lack of willingness to pay attention to traditions will lead to such a situation. The broad arguments made by Bahaullah are the same as any other person, for example, Qadianis to make the same claim., And you know what. Qadiani did make a similar claim.
Regards
Imran
Muhammad didn't create unity within His own family either, you know. Aisha made herself the enemy of Ali, and took it upon herself to support those who sought to destroy Ali. Muhammad had to rule that an adopted son was exempt from the right of the father to marry a wife divorced from his own son.
Baha`u'llah had eight children survive toadulthood, three were very faithful Mihdi, Abdu'l Baha, Bahiiyih Khanum. The ones who were not faithful were from a different mother. Free will is for everyone, even the family of an Apostle of God.
If you wish to oppose the Baha`i Faith vociferously, it is yourright to do so, but it is silly to argue beliefs with deepened Baha`i's, they are going to laugh at your misconceptions of the faith.
As to hard times for Baha`i's the Iranian government today has increased the surveillance of Baha`i's and oppression to the highest point since the return of Khomeini. The Congress of the U.S. recently adopted its eighth condemnation of the Iranian Government for the oppression of the Baha`i's.
How do you stand on that issue? Should Baha`i's be allowed to practice their religion in Iran? Should Baha`i's have the right to identity papers, higher education, retirement and pensions, the right to marry and even bury their dead in ground that will not be turned over by bulldozers? At this point a Baha`i can do none of these things without registering himself as a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew or a Zoroastrian and thereby breaking the Baha`i law against denying one's faith.
How do YOU stand on these things? I would like to know.
Regards,
Scott
