Baha'i Sacred Writings (was: Baha'is and the Holy Quran)
Ahang Rabbani (rabbana@a1.bmoa.umc.dupont.com)
Mon, Dec 26 1994 00:40:33 GMT
Dear Friends,
A couple of days ago, a long posting was noted where extensive
statements from Qur'an were used to establish the uniqueness of
that Sacred Book and how the Baha'i writings must therefore be
inferior to Qur'an.
Actually, more than anything else, that posting underscored the
writer's lack of familiarity with the Revelation of Baha'u'llah
and the transcendent character of His writings. However, instead
of arguing over Who brought a more eloquent Revelation, Muhammad
or Baha'u'llah, allow me to share a historical story to bring out
something of the sublime character of Sacred Scripture in this
Dispensation.
In the city of Hamadan, in Iran, lived a great learned man by the
name of Haji Sadr-i-Hamadani. This man was a Muslim divine of
such abilities and skills that he had reached the office of
Sadru'l-Sudur, the highest ecclesiastical office of Shi'i Islam,
established during Safavid period. Truly no one could rival him
in piety, learning and knowledge in all branches of Islamic
sciences.
A few of the Baha'is in the city of Hamadan, decided that they
were going to teach this man about the Faith. Two of them, Nayr
and Sina, began meeting with Haji Sadr, the Sadru'l-Sudur, and
sharing with him proofs and evidences about the truth of this
Cause. They met with him night after night. Shared with him all
manners of prophecies, Qur'anic evidences, Hadith, proofs, etc.,
to convince him of the validity of the claims of the Bab and
Baha'u'llah.
However, Haji Sadr was so learned that he was able to easily
refute every proof offered him.
One night, Nayr and Sina, decided that its best to share with him
the actual Sacred Text of the Faith, and for this purpose
selected a 3-page Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha, known and
Lawh-i-Khurasan. In this Arabic Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha, towards
the middle He quotes a verse of Qur'an. This verse is from those
Surihs that were Revealed by Muhammad in Mecca, as such is known
to be among the most eloquent passages of Qur'an.
On hearing this Tablet, Haji Sadr exclaimed: Verily every verse
of this Tablet is most eloquent, except that one verse of Qur'an
that's there!!
That night, the great Haji Sadr became a follower of Baha'u'llah.
He went on the render great services in the path of the Faith.
All of this, because he became acquiented with the actual Words
of God revealed in this Day.
And now, we offer the same challenge to those that question the
sublimity and majesty of these verses revealed by the Bab,
Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi.
Have you read any of the passages of Qayyumu'l-Asma where in
1844, the combined Sunni and Shi'i leaders of the Islam declared
it to be on par with Qur'an? Have you read the Kitab-i-Aqdas?
Is there anything in the entire range of Arabic writings, as
majestic as Baha'u'llah's Aqdas? Is there anything in the range
of the Persian literary heritage that comes anywhere close to
beauty and cogency of a single passage of the Kitab-i-Iqan or any
of His other Tablets? Is there anything in the entire range of
Sufi literature and Islamic Mysticism that compares with the
directness and exalted character of the Seven Valley or His other
mystical Works? Have you ever seen among the prose and poetry of
the East, anything that compares, even remotely, to the beauty
and originality of the writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha? Are you aware
of any passage of Qur'an or of any other Islamic book that can
compare with the power of utterance of Shoghi Effendi's
Lawh-i-Qarn?
You see, we have read the Qur'an. But have you read any of our
Books?
Ahang Rabbani
rabbana@bmoa.dnet.dupont.com