Visit any Bahá’í website and you will find a mention of “Persecution of Bahá’ís”. While I condemn any kind of persecution, I believe we should not accept any claim at its face value. More so, if it comes from the Bahá’ís.
Before we delve further, it would be very important to note, this discussion has very little to do with the Baha’i faith. This discussion is more for social interest than religious significance. Simply because being persecuted or is not a proof for establishing the truthfulness of the claimant or the veracity of the claim. To explain this further, if being persecuted was a characteristic of a Prophet, every executed traitor would become a Manifestation of God. This would become an established methodology of recognizing a Prophet. In fact, the Ghulam Ahmed Qadian, a contemporary of Bahaullah, was in a more formidable position to be a Prophet instead of Bahaullah, as the Qadianis are seeing more difficult times than the Bahá’ís. On the other hand, the Bahá’ís would then be required to deny the Prophet-hood of king and Prophet David (the one from whose progeny would be the Manifestation of God (read Bahaullah) as claimed by the Bahá’ís). In short, being persecuted or not is not a sign of being a divine religion.
Let me touch upon an important aspect of this discussion. Past prophets have been harassed and persecuted —Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is the best example. He was troubled by the Quraish, the polytheists, the Christians and the Jews. Please note, he was troubled by all those whose beliefs he abrogated. By all, and not by the followers of the previous Prophet only. Bahá’ís, as they claim, are persecuted in Muslim countries, only give a new dimension to our discussion. Why is it that the Bahá’ís are persecuted in Muslim countries and supported by non-Muslim countries? Is Bahaullah not a Prophet for the Jews, as well? Are Israeli Jews not eligible for salvation by accepting the Bahá’í Faith? Then, why the arrangement between the Bahá’ís and the Jews of Israel that the Faith would not be sold to them? Why are Jews supporting the Bahá’í Faith (as long as they do not preach the Jews)? Why is the West (primarily Christian countries) supporting the Bahá’ís? Is this the continuation of persecuting the Muslims, now ideologically?
So, is it the Bahá’ís who are being persecuted or is it the Muslims? So, if persecution establishes the veracity of a religion, then we can simply close the discussion and submit to Islam. Muslims are not only being persecuted politically, but ideologically as well. I am sure the Bahá’ís would now insist that being persecuted is no proof for truthfulness.
This claim that the Baha’is are oppressed seems to be a disgrace to the demands of their leaders where Abdul-Baha said: “If there is absolute freedom in Iran without aggression, it will not be of any use to us, because we must be persecuted and cursed for the sake of Jamal Mubarak, and we will be persecuted and punished. Whenever we are comfortable like others, we can do nothing and benefit We will not win.” [1]
When Shoghi Effendi planed the Baha’is strategy, he implemented to this statement. Therefore, the oppression was described as one of the seven stages [2] in achieving Baha’is golden rule.
Do you still believe that the Baha’is are under pressure??
Notes:
1.Dr. Habib Moayed; Khaterat Habib, 118 Badi, Baha’i Publishing Trust, p.68.
2.Shoghi Effendi, Toghiate Mobarakeh 1952-1957, 119 Badi, Baha’i Publishing Trust, p.111
“The period of ignorance, which is the first stage in the development of the Baha’i community, and the second stage of oppression and subjugation that Jamal Mubarak Abha is currently going through in Iran, both expire.”
**The above documents translated from the persian copy of Baha’i text. So, you can see the main text in the specified address of these books.