Re: Baha'i/Ahmadi and Jehad
Ahang Rabbani (rabbana@a1.bmoa.umc.dupont.com)
Fri, Jan 6 1995 15:04:47 GMT
Dear Friend,
One of the critical teachings of the Bab was abrogation of the
law of Jihad, (Islamic Holy War). He permitted defense in face
of opposition, but abolished the Islamic law of promotion of the
Faith through military engagement and use of force.
Baha'u'llah in turn continued with this teaching and in fact
prohibited His followers from any kind of military engagement for
propagation of God's Cause, to the point that in a Tablet that He
revealed on the Day of His Declaration (April 21, 1863), He
forbade His followers from carry any form of weapon. (Later on,
Abdu'l-Baha explained that carrying weapons were permitted by
those that their occupation required it, such as Police, or
people that lived in an extremely inhospitable environments,
etc.)
The teaching of Baha'u'llah that its best to be killed than to
kill, is often misunderstood as pacifism by some. What
Baha'u'llah taught was that the true weapon of a warrior in the
path of God, is his love for humanity and his sense of
resignation in the path of his Beloved. Let me share from one of
His many Tablets in this regard. This Tablet is known as the
Lawh-i-Shikar Shikan, and was Revealed during His Baghdad stay
(1853-63), circa 1857 -- has a very interesting story but that
has to wait some other occasion:
"They that yearn for the abode of the Beloved, they that circle
round the sanctuary of the Desired One, are not apprehensive of
trials and adversities, nor do they flee away from that which is
ordained by God. They receive their portion from the ocean of
resignation and drink their fill from the soft-flowing stream of
His mercy. They would not surrender the good-pleasure of the
Friend in exchange for the kingdom of both worlds, nor would they
barter that which the Well-Beloved hath decreed in return for
dominion over the realms of the infinite. They would eagerly
drink the venom of woe as it it were the water of life and would
drain deadly poison to its bitter dregs just as a sweet and
life-giving draught. In the arid wastes of desolation they are
stirred with enthusiasm through the remembrances of the Friend,
and in the dreary wilds of adversity they are eager and impatient
to offer themselves as a sacrifice. Unhesitatingly have they
renounced their lives and directed their steps towards the abode
of the Best-Beloved. ... It behoveth us to kiss the hand of the
would-be assassin and set out, dancing, on our way to the
habitation of the Friend. How indescribably pleasant is that
hour, how immeasurably sweet that moment when the inmost spirit
is intent upon sacrificing self, when the tabernacle of fidelity
is hastening to attain the heights of self-surrender!"
The above quotation from Baha'u'llah clearly explains the
position of Baha'i community in this regard. We pray to be
worthy to give all we have in the path of God, including life
itself.
So many of such noble souls, well over twenty-thousands Baha'is,
have suffered the most gruesome death at the hands of the enemies
of the Faith, and have never raised a hand in defense.
The latest episodes of such sacrifices occurred in Iran from the
beginning of the Islamic revolutionary regime, in 1979. During
this latest pogrom, the most severe onslaught of persecution
against the community was launched and affected every single
member of Baha'i community in Iran, all or its endowments, its
holy places, and all its institutions. About half-million
Baha'is in Iran have suffered in silence and many lave lost life
and limb, simply because of their belief in the oneness of man
and brotherhood of humanity.
The greatest privilege for anyone of us is to drink from the cup
of self-sacrifice and the chalice of martyrdom.
deepest regards, Ahang Rabbani