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1661. The Date of Birth of Muhammad is Unknown
"There is a disagreement among Oriental scholars relative to the exact date of the birth of Muhammad. You should refer to authorities on the subject, such as Sale, whose translation of the Qur'án has become almost classical."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, July 10, 1939: Bahá’í News, No. 162, p. 5, April 1943)
1662. Biblical References to Muhammad and 'Alí
"References in the Bible to 'Mt. Paran' and 'Paraclete' refer to Muhammad's Revelation: Deuteronomy 33:2, Genesis 21:21, Numbers 12:16, Numbers 13:3. Genesis 17:20 refers to the twelve Imáms and in the Revelation of St. John, chapter 11, where it mentions two witnesses, it refers to Muhammad and 'Alí.
"The figures 1290 date from the declaration of Muhammad, ten years before His flight to Medina."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, December 26, 1941)
1663. Islam
"Islám attained a very high spiritual state, but western scholars are prone to judging it by Christian standards. One cannot call one world Faith superior to another, as they all come from God; they are progressive, each suited to certain needs of the times."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian by his secretary to an individual believer, November 19, 1945: Bahá’í News, No. 210, p. 3, August 1948)
1664. Muhammad's Teachings Heightened and Guarded the Cause of Human Development
"Shoghi Effendi hopes that your lectures will not only serve to deepen the knowledge of the believers in the doctrines and culture of Islám, but will set their hearts afire with the love of everything that vitally pertains to Muhammad and His Faith.
"There is so much misunderstanding about Islám in the West in general that you have to dispel. Your task is rather difficult and requires a good deal of erudition. Your chief task is to acquaint the friends with the pure teachings of the Prophet as recorded in the Qur'án, and then to point out how these teachings have, throughout succeeding ages, influenced nay guided the course of human development. In other words you have to show the position and significance of Islám in the history of civilization.
"The Bahá’í view on that subject is that the Dispensation of Muhammad, like all other Divine Dispensations, has been fore-ordained, and that as such forms an integral part of the Divine plan for the spiritual, moral and social, development of mankind. It is not an isolated religious phenomenon, but is closely and historically related to the Dispensation of Christ, and those of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. It was intended by God to succeed Christianity, and it was therefore the duty of the Christians to accept it as firmly as they had adhered to the religion of Christ.
"You should also cautiously emphasize the truth that due to the historical order of its appearance, and also because of the obviously more advanced character of its teachings, Islám constitutes a fuller revelation of God's purpose for mankind. The so-called Christian civilization of which the Renaissance is one of the most striking manifestations is essentially Muslim in its origins and foundations. When medieval Europe was plunged in darkest barbarism, the Arabs regenerated and transformed by the spirit released by the religion of Muhammad were busily engaged in establishing a civilization the like of which their contemporary Christians in Europe had never witnessed before. It was eventually through Arabs that civilization was introduced to the West. It was through them that the philosophy, science and culture which the old Greeks had developed found their way to Europe. The Arabs were the ablest translators, and linguists of their age, and it is thanks to them that the writings of such well-known thinkers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were made available to the Westerners. It is wholly unfair to attribute the efflorescence of European culture during the Renaissance period to the influence of Christianity. It was mainly the product of the forces released by the Muhammadan Dispensation.
"From the standpoint of institutionalism Islám far surpasses true Christianity as we know it in the Gospels. There are infinitely more laws and institutions in the Qur'án than in the Gospel. While the latter's emphasis is mainly, not to say wholly, on individual and personal conduct, the Qur'án stresses the importance of society. This social emphasis acquires added importance and significance in the Bahá’í Revelation. When carefully and impartially compared, the Qur'án marks a definite advancement on the Gospel, from the standpoint of spiritual and humanitarian progress.
"The truth is that Western historians have for many centuries distorted the facts to suit their religious and ancestral prejudices. The Bahá’ís should try to study history anew, and to base all their investigations first and foremost on the written Scriptures of Islám and Christianity."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 27, 1936)
1665. Clarification of Certain Issues Regarding Islám, the Imám Husayn, the Imamate, etc.
"'Alí's appointment was clear to the Khalifs, who actually disregarded the Prophet's oral statements.
"The usurpation occurred immediately after the Prophet's death.
"'Alí did not feel unqualified, but wished to avoid schism, which, unfortunately, could not be prevented.
"The schisms that have afflicted the religions preceding the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh establish its distinction from all previous Revelations, and single it out among all other Dispensations, as stated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
"The guidance vouchsafed to the Imáms regarding the laws and institutions of Islám was absolute and unqualified. Their infallibility was derived directly from the Manifestation.
"The Báb's descent from the Imám Husayn is no doubt a proof of the validity of the Imamate. According to Nabíl the dream the Báb had made him first conscious of His Revelation.
"The precedence of the name Husayn over 'Alí does establish the greatness of Imám Husayn.
"Imám Husayn has, as attested by the Íqán, been endowed with special grace and power among the Imáms, hence the mystical reference to Bahá’u’lláh as the return of Imám Husayn, meaning the Revelation in Bahá’u’lláh of those attributes with which Imám Husayn had been specifically endowed.
"Joseph was one of the 'Sent Ones' of the Qur'án, meaning a Manifestation of God.
"The friends should uphold Islám as a revealed Religion in teaching the Cause but need not make, at present, any particular attempt to teach it solely and directly to non-Bahá’ís at this time.
"The mission of the American Bahá’ís is, no doubt, to eventually establish the truth of Islám in the West.
"The spirit of Islám, no doubt, was the living germ of modern Civilization; which derived its impetus from the Islamic culture in the Middle Ages, a culture that was the fruit of the Faith of Muhammad."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 30, 1941)
1666. How to Study the Qur'án
"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the Súrihs of the Qur'án, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet. The believers cannot possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Súrihs after the first or even second or third reading. They have to study them again and again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries, and explanatory notes as found, for instance in the admirable translation made by Sale, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it. For the present, the Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the book according to subjects, and not verse by verse and also in the light of the Báb's, Bahá’u’lláh's, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's interpretations which throw such floods of light on the whole of the Qur'án."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, August 22, 1939: Bahá’í News, No. 134, pp. 2-3, March 1940)
1667. Meaning of "Jin" or "Genii"
"Regarding your question as to the meaning of Jin or Genii referred to in the Qur'án, these are not beings or creatures that are actually living, but are symbolic references to the power of men of evil and may be likened to evil spirits. But the point to bear in mind is that these have no positive existence of any kind."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, June 26, 1936: Bahá’í News, No. 105, p. 1, February 1937)
1668. Caliphate and Imamate
"Both Caliphate and Imamate means successorship. Either term could be used."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 19, 1945: Bahá’í News, No. 210, August 1948, p. 3)
1669. Muhammad Says That the Jews Did not Crucify Christ
"Regarding your question relative to Súrih 4, 156 of the "Qur'án" in which Muhammad says that the Jews did not crucify Jesus, the Christ, but one like Him; what is meant by this passage is that although the Jews succeeded in destroying the physical body of Jesus, yet they were impotent to destroy the divine reality in Him."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, March 19, 1938)
1670. Muhammadanism is a Fuller Revelation than any One Preceding it
"… Muhammadanism is not only the last of the world religions, but a fuller Revelation than any one preceding it. The Qur'án is not only more authoritative than any previous religious gospel, but it contains also much more ordinances, teachings and precepts, which taken together constitute a fuller Revelation of God's purpose and law to mankind than Christianity, Judaism or any other previous Dispensation. This view is in complete accord with the Bahá’í philosophy of progressive revelation, and should be thoroughly accepted and taught by every loyal Christian Bahá’í."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 12, 1933)
1671. Muhammad's Teachings Fostered the National State
"Regarding your questions: It is not the City State, but the National State which Muhammad's teachings fostered. Christ had nothing to do with the City State concept in any direct manner."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 22, 1949)
1672. The Plurality of Wives in Muslim Countries Does not Conform With the Teachings of Muhammad
"Concerning the question of plurality of wives among the Muslims: This practice current in all Islamic countries does not conform with the explicit teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. For the Qur'án, while permitting the marriage of more than one wife, positively states that this is conditioned upon absolute justice. And since absolute justice is impossible to enforce, it follows, therefore, that polygamy cannot and should not be practised. The Qur'án, therefore, enjoins monogamy and not polygamy as has hitherto been understood."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, January 29, 1939)
1673. Imám Husayn
"The names of those cited in Bahá’u’lláh's prayer in the Dispensation are quite correct as you have them.*
*The names of those whom Bahá’u’lláh identifies Himself with in this prayer are: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, John the Baptist, Jesus, Imám Husayn, and the Báb. See extract 1567
"The Prophets 'regarded as One and the same person' include the Lesser Prophets as well, and not merely Those Who bring a 'Book'. The station is different, but they are Prophets and Their nature thus different from that of ours.
"In the prayer mentioned above Bahá’u’lláh identifies Himself with Imám Husayn. This does not make him a Prophet, but his position was very unique, and we know Bahá’u’lláh claims to be the 'return' of the Imám Husayn. He, in other words, identifies His Spirit with these Holy Souls gone before; that does not, of course, make Him in any way their reincarnation. Nor does it mean all of them were Prophets.
"Your constant and devoted Bahá’í services are deeply valued by the Guardian, you may be sure, and he will pray in the Holy Shrines that your labours may be blessed and your power to confirm the souls increased."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 8, 1949)
