Introduction
In Islam, worship of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is one of the gravest sins you can commit. Muslims don’t like being called ‘Muhammeddans’ as they believe that it gives the wrong impression that they worship the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Now (some of the) Baha’is try to imitate this by telling others not to call their religion Baha’ism as they say it is same as calling Islam- Muhammedanism. They say that the right word for their religion is Baha’i Faith. On the look of it everything looks fine. But one has to remember that all that glitters is not gold. Let us look at some of the facts and Baha’i beliefs and decide whether it is the same as in the case of Islam or not.
Isn’t Baháʼu’lláh considered to be a prophet by the Baha’is?
Well, the answer is not that simple, we better let the Baha’is answer this question for they themselves are very much confused about the station of Baháʼu’lláh. Sometimes he is spoken of as God himself & sometimes as a Prophet of God (They both aren’t the same, are they?). I will merely reproduce here a few of his writing and let the Baha’is account for this.
Baháʼu’lláh initially claimed to be a Prophet beside the other hundred and one claims. But later on, after he knew that he had enough following, he came up & claimed divinity. The following is the first so called revelation that Prophet part of Baháʼu’lláh is supposed to have received when he was in prison:
“During the days I lay in the prison of Teheran, though the galling weight of the chains and the stench-filled air allowed Me but little sleep, still in those infrequent moments of slumber I felt as if something flowed from the crown of My head over My breast, even as a mighty torrent that precipitated itself upon the earth from the summit of a lofty mountain. Every limb of My body would, as a result, be set afire. At such moments My tongue recited what no man could bear to hear.”
To the non-Baha’is who are new to the faith, Baháʼu’lláh is portrayed only as a Prophet. There are several websites on the net which try to prove to the world the prophet hood of Baháʼu’lláh. It is however strange that he is also considered as God. Here are a few quotations where Baháʼu’lláh declares his divinity.
- “There is no God but I the Honored, the Wise.” (Kitab al Aqdas p. 43)
- “Accept whatever is commanded by Baha (himself) the Lord of Eternity.” (Kitab al Aqdas p. 144)
- “All praise is for you O Baháʼu’lláh, the Creator of existence” (Al mubeen p. 34)
- “Obey the commands of your Elevated, Splendorous God, Baháʼu’lláh.” (Al Mubeen p. 190)
- “You Most beneficent Lord, Baháʼu’lláh” (Al Mubeen p.297)
The truth is revealed! In all the above verses Baháʼu’lláh is clearly claiming divinity for himself here.
The Baha’is even turn towards the shrine of Baháʼu’lláh when they offer prayers. Just listen to this statement in the Badae ul Asaar of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá.
6. Baháʼu’lláh is unique, Incomparable. It is necessary for everyone to turn towards Baháʼu’lláh in his prayers.
Even more revealing is this statement of Baháʼu’lláh in a letter to his son ʻAbdu’l-Bahá.
7. “This s a letter from Allah, the Honored and the Wise (Baháʼu’lláh) to Allah the Gracious, the Aware “(ʻAbdu’l-Bahá).
This statement really shocked me when I read it. But the one statement which is most hurting to a Muslim is in the Kitab al Aqdas where Baháʼu’lláh writes:
“A lot of requests and supplications from my followers reached ‘My’ Arsh ( throne)wherein they have asked many questions from me. Thereupon Baha has revealed Epistles upon them. There was a request for revealing the Ahkam (Laws). But due to some wisdom, I withheld My pen and did not accede to their requests. Having received innumerable such requests from them, I have now acceded to their requests so that their hearts may remain alive”.
We have seen above that initially Baháʼu’lláh made less dramatic claims as he didn’t have the necessary following. Only after his popularity & following grew did he publically declare himself divine. We must also note that his claims grew bolder as time passed.
The divine status of Baháʼu’lláh is a fact of the Baha’i Faith which is cleverly hidden from the non-Baha’i. This is clearly a deceptive tactic used by the Baha’is. But those people who hide these facts must remember that they cannot hide the truth forever.
Reference:
https://thebahaiinsider.com/2013/08/10/was-Baháʼu’lláh-a-prophet-or-imposter/