Baha'ism
Site visit: Philadelphia Bahá'í Community 2462 Bryn Mawr Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131.
Overview of the Baha'i Tradition
The Bahai religion has its origins in nineteenth-century Persia with Mirza Ali-Muhammad, also known as “The Bab,” or, “the door,” to a Universal Messenger of God. The Bab was killed in Persia in 1850, having been declared a heretic by Islamic authorities. One of his disciples, Bahaullah, publicly declared that he was “He Whom God Shall Manifest.” Bahai followers believe in the unity of all humans and all religions. Key figures have brought important revelations (i.e. Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, etc.), but new revelations appropriate to new times can come through prophets like Bahaullah.
How to visit a Baha’i Community
What to expect during the service: Bahai communities gather for regular worship every 19 days. It is called the Nineteen Day Feast and refers to a spiritual feast. Services involve devotions, prayers, and reading selections from both Bahai and other religious texts. Readings are often followed by group discussions.
What to wear:
Both men and women should dress modestly. No head coverings are required. Participation by Non-Bahai Visitors: Visitors can sit wherever they like.
Religious Service:
Services may last 90 minutes or more.
Baha'i communities typically meet in homes and community centers.
Religious Leadership:
Chairperson or host: there are no clergy in the Bahai tradition. The host will guide theflow of activities during the service.
Select Bahai Holy Days:
World Religion Day: a day that celebrates the oneness of religion.
Ayyam-i- Ha: a holiday devoted to hospitality, charity, and fasting.
Festival of Ridvan: commemorates when Bahaullah declared his mission as God’smessenger.
Other holidays include Race Unity Day, the Martyrdom of Bab, and holidayscommemorating the births of both Bab and Bahaullah.
For current dates, consult the Inter-Faith Calendar (Links to an external site.)
Readings/Resources
Hatcher, William S. and J. Douglas Martin. The Baha’I Faith and the Emerging Global Religion. Illinois: Baha’i Publishing, 2002.
Stockman, Robert. Baha’i: A Guide for the Perplexed. New York: Bloomsbury, 2012.
Bahai.org (Links to an external site.)
The Baha’i Faith Summary
By Shoghi Effendi
The Revelation proclaimed by Baha’u’llah, His followers believe is divine in origin, all embracing in scope, broad in its outlook, scientific in its method, humanitarian in its principle and dynamic in the influence it exerts on the hearts and minds of men. The mission of the Founder of their Faith, they conceive it to be to proclaim that religious truth, is not absolute but relative, that Divine Revelation is continuous and progressive, that the founder of all past religions, though different in the non-essential aspects of their teachings “abide in the same Tabernacle, soar in the same heaven, are seated upon the same throne, utter the same speech and proclaim the same Faith” “His Cause they have already demonstrated , stands identified with, and revolves around, , the principle of organic unity of mankind as representing the consummation of the whole process of human evolution. This final stage in this stupendous evolution, they assert is not only necessary but inevitable, that is gradually approaching , and that nothing short of the celestial potency that with which a divinely ordained Message can claim to be endowed can succeed in establishing it.
The Baha’i Faith recognizes the unity of God and of His prophets, upholds the principle of unfettered search after truth, condemns all forms of superstition and prejudice, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, that it must go hand-in-hand with science, and that it constitute the sole and ultimate basis of a peaceful, an ordered and progressive society. It includes the principle of equal opportunity for, right and privileges of both sexes, advocates compulsory education, abolish extremes of poverty and wealth, exalt work in the spirit of service to the rank of worship, recommends the adoption of an auxiliary international language, and provides the necessary agencies for the establishment and safeguarding of permanent and universal peace. Shoghi Effendi the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.
Britain’s Role In Consolidation And Expansion Of Bahaism (Links to an external site.)
A-British support to Mirza Hussein Ali even after he was exiled from Iran.
The October 1917 Russian Revolution for a while preoccupied the Russians with their domestic issues and prevented them from other hegemonist policies. On the other hand, the Bolshevik doctrine, in the early years of its power, showed no willingness towards encouraging hegemonist tendencies. Therefore, Babism and later Bahaism which were directly or indirectly under the patronage of the Russian government, clearly fell into the hands of the British government. The Bahai base in Ashqabad was thus closed down. Qarn-e Badi, one of the reliable sources of Bahais, writes in this connection:
“Colonel Arnold Combal was the consul general of the British government in Baghdad. Noticing the sublime personality of Master Bahaullah, he wrote a friendly note to him asking him to accept the support and citizenship of his government. Being received in audience, he undertook the responsibility of making the required efforts in sending Bahaollah’s letter to the British court if the Master desired to correspond with Queen Victoria. He even proposed that he was ready to provide facilities for the transfer of the residence of the Master to India or wherever he desired.”(1)
On page 125, volume II of God Passes by, Shoghi Effendi writes
“ Colonel Sir Arnold Campbell wrote a friendly letter to His Holiness Bahaullah and proposed to him sovereign government acceptance to support His Holiness.
…He even went as far as to say that
He is prepared to arrange to settle him in India (British Colony) or any other place His Holiness might wish.”
In fact, even if this one document had been found on the subserviency of the Bahais to the British government, it would have been enough. Mirza Hussein Ali Bahaullah stayed in Iraqfor 12 years, the first two years of his exile in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdestan and the remaining period in Baghdad. While in the mountains, he would dress as sufis and live among them. A picture is available of him dressed as sufis.
Following the sufferings of the Iraqi Muslims at the hands of the rebellious Bahais, the Ottoman government upon a request by the Iranian ambassador in Istanbul Mirza Hussein Qazvini, who later became the chancellor, exiled the Babis to the remotest areas of the Ottoman territory. They were later sent to Adrianopole where the Babis refer to as the… secret land. It was in Adrianopole where Bahaullah laid claim to Bab’s mantle as the Awaited One and rejected his brother Mirza Yahya Sobh-e-Azal, It is interesting that Combal offered the title of Baron before these claims were raised by Hussein Ali Mirza.
When the seditious role of the Babis was revealed to all foreign governments, the French decided to take advantage as well. To this end, the deputy consul of the French embassy secretly met Bahaullah and held talks with him for half an hour. It was in this meeting that the French official, according to Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, asked Bahaullah to apply for French citizenship so that they could support him.(2) It is obvious that the objective of the British and French governments by offering citizenship to Bahaullah was to dispatch him to areas such as India on behalf of the British and to Algeria on behalf of the French governments in order to promote schism in Muslim land. Otherwise, the Bahais had no advantage other than disturbing peace and laying claims to prophethood.
After the Azalis and Bahais split, Mirza Hussein Ali was sent into exile to Akka where he stayed until he died in 1892 and was replaced by his son Abbas Affendi.
B-Espionage activities of Abbas Effendi for British Government earned him the title of “SIR”
At the outset of World War I, the leadership of Bahaism was in the hands of Abbas Effendi, the eldest son of Bahaullah. This man pretended to be Muslim and attended congregational prayers of Muslims in spite of the apparent prohibition by the Bahai faith.
(“God Passes By” by Shoji Effendi vol 3, pg 318)
However, as soon as the British imperialists scored victories in the war with the Ottomans, which drew Palestine into conflict, the Bahais acted as a powerful espionage group in support of the British Government and against the Moslems and the Ottoman government.
Abbas Effendi went so far that Jamal Pasha, commander of the Ottoman forces, decided to hang him on the slope of Mount Carmel.
(“God Passes By” by Shoghi Effendi vol 3, pg 297)
As soon as the British cabinet received news of this through the British army intelligence, Lord Curzon and Lord Lamington began taking measures, and Lord Balfore, the British Foreign Minister (promoter of the Zionist government) immediately cabled General Allenbly, commander of the British forces in Palestine, ordering him to use all his power to protect Abbas Effendi, his family and friends. After conquering Haifa and saving Abbas Effendi from Jamal Pasha, he transmitted a cable to London and reported the safety and health of Abbas Effendi to the officials.
(“God Passes By” by Shoghi Effendi vol 3, pg 297)
Foreign Minister Lord Balfour (1848 – 1930)
Abbas Effendi was rewarded with a large amount of money and as well a Knighthood bearing the title of “Sir”.
In this connection, Bloomfield writes “…The British Government honored Abdul Baha (Abbas Effendi) with a Knighthood, which he accepted as a gesture of honoring formally by a just king”
Abbas Effendi wrote a letter of gratitude “ O God, the tabernacle of justice has truly been erected on this holy land, and we thank and praise Thee. O God, may Emperor George V, Ruler of Britain, be assisted in his divine achievements, and May his shadow over this realm be everlasting.”
(Makatib by Abbas Effendi vol 3 pg 347)
During the leadership of Abbas Affendi, the Ottomans were embroiled in military hostilities with the British, and since Abbas Affendi was an advocate of the British government, he would collect military information in Akka and Haifa. He would also provide the English forces with the required foodstuff.
After the Ottomans found out that Abbas Afandi and his followers were spying for the British government in Palestine and that he was a British mercenary, as Showqi Afandi has asserted in his book Qarn-e Badi the commander-in-chief of the Ottoman government Jamal Pasha decided to execute Abbas Afandi for his espionage acts.(3) But Britain in an open support for Abbas Affendi, commissioned the then Foreign Minister Lord Balfour to send a cable to the commander of the British corps in Palestine General Lord Allenby, stressing protection for Master Abdol Baha (Abbas Affendi), his family and his friends.(4)
The possible arrest and execution of Abbas Affendi was reported to Lord Cruiseden by Jamal Pasha but General Allenby in a pre-emptive action, seized Haifa and cabled to London: “Palestine was seized today. Inform the world that Abdul Baha is alive.”
Abdol hussein Avareh writes in his book: “Seemingly, the British commander who seized Haifa in 1918 had received the special order to be received in audience by Abdol Baha. That is to say, he had been commissioned by the British empire to meet Master Abdol Baha upon his arrival in Haifa, and the British king decorated him with Knighthood.(5)
Abdul Baha was receiving the medal of Knighthood
Lady Bloomfield writes The English Government according to its usual system for protecting and encouraging the heroes awarded Abdul Baha a medal of knighthood which is ordered by the just King as a sign of honour for him and he accepted it.
In gratitude for receiving the title of ‘Sir’, Abbas Affendi prayed for the grandeur of the British King, George V, and the continuation of his rule in Palestine:
“O God, the royal court has been set up throughout this realm, from East to the West, and I thank you for such a powerful and just kingdom which does its best for the welfare of the people. O Lord! let the great empire of George V, the King of Britain be victorious and make his kingdom everlasting.”
Abbas Effendi wrote a letter of gratitude “ O God, the tabernacle of justice has truly been erected on this holy land, and we thank and praise Thee. O God, may Emperor George V, Ruler of Britain, be assisted in his divine achievements, and May his shadow over this realm be everlasting.”
(Makatib by Abbas Effendi vol 3 pg 347)
Abdul Baha was receiving the medal of Knighthood
The crystal clear connection between Bahais and the British government does not end here. In his various interviews arranged during his trips to Europe, Abdol Baha once said in London: “The power which attracted me towards you was the same magnet of your love. The Britons I have met so far had pure souls and were active for the purpose of peace (the British-type peace and the kind of unity to the advantage of the British government). Therefore, London would be suitable for the spread of this task (Bahaism). (6)
In one of his speeches, quoted from the book Collections of Abdol Baha’s Orations Abdol Baha addresses his English audience and says: “I am satisfied with the people and government of Britain…My coming here, has resulted in consolidation of friendship between Iran and Britain. This friendship will soon reach the extent that Iranians would sacrifice their lives for the sake of Britain.”(7)
C-British condolence at Death of Abdul Baha
Abbas Afandi , after making several trips to Europe and America with the objective of presenting Bahaism as a common ideal among all religions and all peace-loving nations was warmly received by his masters and finally gave up his ghost in 1921. The diplomatic representative of Britain in the Middle East , sent messages of condolences to the Bahais.
During his funeral processions high-ranking British personalities such as Herbert Samuel and Sir Ronald Stores were present. On this occasion, The British secretary of state for colonies, Mr. Winston Churchill telegraphed sent a cable of condolences to Haifa which read: “I hereby convey the sympathy and condolences of the Majesty government of Britain to the Bahai community. Similar cables have been sent by other high-ranking British officials on this occasion “ .
Similarly, General Congreve (Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary force), General Sir Arthur Money (Former Chief Administrator of Palestine) and other official of the British Government transmitted similar telegraphs.
Britain‘s support for Bahaism has continued till the present time and comprehensive research works have been conducted by major British universities to explore the possibility of further promotion of this pseudo-religion.
In Akhbar-e Amri magazine, the official publication of Bahai circle, published in 1919, it was reported that Bahai representatives attended meetings of the international union held in Colonge , West Germany along with high-ranking officials, including the former British prime minister. The same magazine some six years later congratulated the king of Englandon the occasion of his birthday in an official note sealed by the Bahai circle and the king in return thanked them.
There are several other instances but generally it could be said that Britain patronized the spread of Bahaism by encouraging Abdol Baha who was later decorated with medals for his espionage acts. Abdol Baha’s grandson, Showqi Afandi, is burried in London. Today, many Bahais are active in Britain and have invested in Britain’s economic activities.
Reference:
1. Qarn-e Badi, vol. 2, page 134, by Showqi Afandi
2. Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, vol. 1, pages 380-1
3. Qarn-e Badi , vol. 3 , page 291
4. Qarn-e Badi , vol. 3 , page 297
5. Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, vol. 2, page 305, by Abdolhussein Avareh
6. Trial of the Zionist Goldziher, page 270
7. Khatabat-e Abdol Baha , vol. 1, page 23
