The Covenant/Covenant-breaking

Covenant-breaking

Introduction

“Violate not the Covenant of God,” Bahaé’u’ll4h warns us.! Telling of the suffering of the Manifestations of the past at the hands of those who rejected Them, He explains: “My Pen groaneth, and all

created things weep with a great weeping, as a result of the woes...

suffered at the hands of them that have broken the Covenant of God.” In the Aqdas He states: “They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments . . . these have erred grievously in the sight of God.”? To break God’s Eternal Covenant with us by rejecting our personal responsibility to accept the Manifestation and obey His teaching injures our relationship with God, and deprives us of His blessings.

Yet another grievous error comes, in this Day, through the breaking of the specific Covenant Baha’u’llah made with His followers. This occurs when a believer attacks Baha’u’llah or the institutions He designated as the channel of infallible divine guidance— ‘“Abdu’1-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, or the Universal House of Justice.

Such action threatens the very existence of the Faith of Baha’u’lah.

1 Gleanings 328 2 Gleanings 57 3 Gleanings 331

71 [Page 72]Overview

There are three main questions involved in helping us gain a better understanding of the nature of Covenant-breaking:

¢ What is Covenant-breaking? ¢ How should Baha’is respond to Covenant-breaking? ¢ What is the effect of Covenant-breaking?

A Covenant-breaker is someone who, after accepting Baha’u’llah, attacks Him or the institutions designated as the infallible source of the divine will after His passing.

Covenant-breaking is a threat to the very life of the Faith and the accomplishment of God’s purpose. To prevent its harmful influence Baha’u’ lah instructs the believers to shun all Covenant-breakers.

Covenant-breaking brings harm upon the violators themselves and can harm individual believers who interact with them. Though Covenant-breaking can potentially destroy the Faith, the Covenant provides protection and is “indestructible.”

“When a person declares his acceptance of Baha’u’ lah as a Manifestation of God,” the Universal House of Justice writes, “he becomes a party to the Covenant and accepts the totality of His Revelation. If he then turns round and attacks Baha’u’ll4h or the central Institution of the Faith he violates the Covenant.’

Such actions are motivated, ‘Abdu’1-Bahé tells us, by “personal desires,”¢ “human pride” and the “demands of the insistent self” for “the achievement of leadership.”* “It is not that they do not know what they do—they are perfectly aware and still they exhibit opposition.”® The threat of Covenant-breaking is that it can, if unchecked, “destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past.’

4 Shoghi Effendi, Baha’ i Administration 192

5 The Power of the Covenant, Part II, 7

6 Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahdé 214 7 Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahé 259 8 Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahdé 214 9 Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd 216 10 Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Bahdé 20

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The Nature of Covenantbreaking [Page 73]It is just as important to understand what Covenant-breaking is not. For example, someone who breaks Baha’ law is not a Covenantbreaker.!! Someone who withdraws from the Faith is not a Covenant-breaker. Nor is someone who rejects Baha’u’llah’s claim to be a Manifestation of God.

A Baha’i who violates the Covenant is declared a Covenant-breaker only after “every effort is made to help that person see the illogicality and error of his actions.”!* The decision whether or not to expel or reinstate (if a Covenant-breaker sincerely repents) is made by the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land subject to the approval of the Universal House of Justice."

“One of the greatest principles of the Cause of God,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha states, “is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers. . . .”!* Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’1-Baha “also told us, however, to pray for them” for “these souls are not lost forever.”!*

To shun Covenant-breakers is not an act of disunity. ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains that Covenant-breaking is like a contagious disease. The sufferer must be isolated to prevent infecting others, and is attended only by those specialists who can help treat the problem. When

freed of the disease, the patient can once again associate with others.

Breaking the Covenant affects the Covenant-breaker and, potentially, the believers. Individuals who violate the Covenant are as “dead bodies—souls that are deprived of the Spirit of God and are lost in passion and self.”!° The “lamps” of the believers may, through association with Covenant-breakers, be “extinguished.”!”

Although Covenant-breaking could destroy the Faith if allowed to flourish, we are assured that the Covenant “will preserve the unity of the religion of God and the foundation of religion will not be shaken.”!8

11 Breaking Bah4’i law is breaking the Covenant of God (lesson 2) not breaking Baha’u’|l4h’s Covenant (lessons 3 and 4) which is being discussed here.

12 The Universal House of Justice, The Power of the Covenant, Part II, 7-8

13 The Universal House of Justice, The Power of the Covenant, Part Il, 44

14 Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd 20

15 Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahd’ i Administration 22

16 Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd 210

17 ‘Abdu’l-Bah4, The Promulgation of Universal Peace 381

18 ‘Abdu’l-Bah4, Star of the West, Vol. VIII, 223

The Response to Covenantbreaking

The Results of Covenantbreaking

73 [Page 74]1.“...A believer failing in his duties in living the Baha’ life would be a breaker of God’s Eternal Covenant, in the general sense of becoming heedless in following the way of God, not in the sense of being a Covenant-breaker of Baha’u’llah’s Lesser Covenant deserving to be identified and declared as such and to be shunned by the friends.” —Wriitten on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, letter of 3-4-81

2. “Every Baha’i is at liberty, nay is urged, to freely express his opinion and his understanding of the Teachings, but all this is in a totally different category from that of a Baha’i who opposes the clear Teachings of Baha’u’ll4h or who asserts his own opinion as an authoritative and correct interpretation of the Teachings, and attacks or opposes the very Institutions which Baha’u’ll4h has created to protect His Covenant. When a person declares his acceptance of Baha’u’llah as a Manifestation of God he becomes a party to the Covenant and accepts the totality of His Revelation. If he then turns round and attacks Baha’u’ lah or the central Institution of the Faith he violates the Covenant. If this happens every effort is made to help that person to see the illogicality and error of his actions, but if he persists he must, in accordance with the instructions of Baha’u’ll4h Himself, be shunned as a Covenant-breaker.”

—The Universal House of Justice, letter of 3-23-75

3. “One of the enemies of the Cause is he who endeavors to interpret the Words of Baha’u’llah and thereby colors the meaning according to his capacity, and collects around him a following, forming a different sect, promoting his own station, and making a division in the Cause.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahé4, quoted in Esslemont, Bahd’ w'lldh and the New Era 130

4. “Now some of the mischief-makers, with many stratagems, are seeking leadership, and in order to reach this position they instill doubts among the friends that they may cause differences, and that these differences may result in their drawing a party to themselves. But the friends of God must be awake and must know that the scattering of these doubts hath as its motive personal desires and the achievement of leadership.” = —sSelections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd 214

5. “These [Covenant-breakers] do not doubt the validity of the Covenant, but selfish motives have dragged them to this condition. It is not that they ignore what they do—they are perfectly aware and still they exhibit opposition.”

—‘Abdu’l-Bah4, Power of the Covenant, Part II, 11

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The Nature of Covenantbreaking

illogicality: senselessness, unreasonableness

stratagems: plans or action intended to fool or deceive

expulsion: dismissal; removal from membership

reinstatement: being restored to a previous position [Page 75]6. “For so grievous is the conduct and behavior of this false people that they are become even as an axe striking at the very root of the Blessed Tree. Should they be suffered to continue they would, in

but a few days’ time, exterminate the Cause of God, His word and themselves.” —Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd 25

7. “The seriousness of Covenant-breaking is that it strikes at the very centre and foundation of the unity of mankind. If God were to allow the instrument to be divided and impaired, how then would His purpose be achieved?

“... The believers are commanded to shun Covenant-breakers for the same reason as healthy people do not associate with a person suffering from a serious contagious illness. A contagiously sick person cannot catch health from a thousand healthy people, but, on the contrary, he can infect them with his illness. Therefore such a person is quarantined and only those few people qualified to attend him do so.... Then, if he proves adamant he is free to go his way, but the Baha’is must cease to have any association with him until such time as he repents when, of course, he can be accepted back

into the community.” —The Universal House of Justice, letter of 3-23-75

8. “Baha’u’llah and the Master in many places and very emphatically have told us to shun entirely all covenant-breakers . . . they have also told us, however, to pray for them. These souls are not lost forever. In the Aqdas, Baha’u’llah says that God will forgive Mirza Yahya if he repents. It follows, therefore, that God will forgive any soul if he repents. Most of them don’t want to repent, unfortunately. “... Also, it has nothing to do with ‘unity’ in the Cause; if a

man cuts a cancer out of his body to preserve his health and very life, no one would suggest that for the sake of unity it should be reintroduced into the otherwise healthy organism.”

—Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahd’ i Administration 22

9. “A hundred times it hath been foretold that the violators are lying in ambush and by every means desire to cause dissension among the friends so that this dissension may end in violation of the Covenant. How is it that, notwithstanding this warning, the friends have ignored this explicit statement?

“The point at issue is clear, direct, and of the utmost brevity. Either Baha’u’llah was wise, omniscient and aware of what would ensue, Or was ignorant and in error. ...

“... One must say that the Blessed Beauty hath made a mistake, or He must be obeyed. . . .” —selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd 213, 214

The Response to Covenantbreaking

grievous: extremely serious

exterminate: to get rid of by destroying completely

shun: to avoid completely and habitually; to keep away from a person or thing that is repugnant

adamant: unwilling to change

Mirza Yahya (mere-zawya-h-yaw): treacherous half-brother of Baha'u'llah and “Arch-Breaker of the Covenant of the Bab;” the Bab never named a successor or interpreter— He nominated Mirza Yahya as “a figurehead pending the imminent manifestation of the Promised One” (God Passes By 28, 233)

omniscient: all-knowing

ensue: to follow as a consequence; to result

75 [Page 76]10. ““The Hand of Omnipotence hath established His Revelation upon an unassailable, an enduring foundation. Storms of human strife are powerless to undermine its basis, nor will men’s fanciful theories succeed in damaging its structure.’”

—Bahé’u’llah, quoted in Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahd' u'lléh 109

11. “There have been violators here in Chicago for twenty years. What have they done? Nothing. Have they been able to teach anybody? Have they been able to speak in churches or address audiences elsewhere? Have they been able to make anyone firm in the Cause? They are doing nothing but extinguishing the lamps we ignite.” —‘Abdu’l-Bah4, The Promulgation of Universal Peace 381

12. “Under all conditions those who have remained firm in the Covenant have conquered, while the violators have met defeat, disappointment and dejection.” | —Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd 212

13. “The Covenant of God . . . is a lifeboat and ark of salvation. All true followers of the Blessed Perfection are sheltered and protected in this ark. Whoever leaves it, trusting in his own will and strength, will drown and be destroyed... .”

—‘Abdu’l-Bahé, Star of the West, Vol. VIII, 222

14. “These agitations of the violators are no more than the foam of the ocean, which is one of its inseparable features; but the ocean of the Covenant shall surge and cast ashore the bodies of the dead, for it cannot retain them... .” —Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd 210

15. “. . .With every fresh outbreak of hostility to the Faith, whether from within or from without, a corresponding measure of outpouring grace, sustaining its defenders and confounding its adversaries, has been providentially released, communicating a fresh impulse to the onward march of the Faith.” —Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America 51

16. “Today the Lord of Hosts is the defender of the Covenant, the forces of the Kingdom protect it, heavenly souls tender their services, and heavenly angels promulgate and spread it broadcast. If it is considered with insight, it will be seen that all the forces of the universe, in the last analysis serve the Covenant. ... In view of this fact, what can these weak and feeble souls achieve? Hardy plants that are destitute of roots and are deprived of the outpourings of the cloud of mercy will not last. What then may be expected of feeble weeds?” —Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd 228

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The Results of Covenantbreaking

extinguishing: putting out

dejection: unhappiness; depression

agitations: great disturbances

inseparable: cannot be separated

sustaining: maintaining

confounding: overthrowing or defeating

adversaries: enemies

providential: resulting from divine control

For more quotations on topics raised in this lesson

see the index, page 81. [Page 77]Illustration

“While the disciples of ‘Abdu’1l-Baha were blazing the trail in the west ...a hurricane... threatened to extinguish the light which they had lit and kept shining with exemplary devotion. The same person who had taken the Message of Baha’u’llah across the ocean, who had established the first Baha’i centre in the Christian west... became the vehicle of that storm. He, whose services ‘Abdu’l-Baha had highly extolled, whom He had addressed as ‘Baha’s Peter,’ chose to join the ranks of the violators of the Covenant. The success which attended Dr. Khayru’llah’s endeavours became eventually the instrument of his downfall. He became vainglorious and introduced tenets and interpretations . . . of his own invention. ...

“Khayru’ lah dreamt of sharing ‘Abdu’1-Bah4’s authority. Let ‘Abdu’l-Baha, he conjured in a mind dangerously distorted, have the East to guide and administer; he, Khayru’llah, by virtue of his brilliant achievement, would lead and shepherd the West. Until he went in Mrs. Hearst’s party on pilgrimage to ‘Akkaé [1898], he had not met ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It was then he saw how appallingly he had miscalculated. The integrity of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s stewardship could not be breached. But having become enamoured of power and having followed the mirage of leadership, Dr. Khayru’ll4h decided to turn to Mirz4 Muhammad-‘Ali [‘Abdu’1-Baha’s half-brother, who broke Baha’u’ll4h’s Covenant]... .

“*Abdu’1-Baha tried hard to rescue Dr. Khayru’ll4h. Haji ‘Abdu’l-Karim . . . who had taught [Khayru’llah] the Faith . . . was instructed by ‘Abdu’1-Bahé to go to the United States, both to protect the nascent community . . . and to endeavour to make Khayru’llah see the error of his ways. ...

“Tribulations which afflicted the newly-born community of American Baha’is were severe, and the gales of violation that swept over it were tempestuous. But the Bahd’is of America proved their mettle. ... Their ranks could not be breached.

“Thus Dr. Ibrahim Khayru’ll4h, defeated and disowned, passed from the scene. ...

“... The man who was once known as ‘the conqueror of America’ and ‘the second Columbus,’ condemned and exposed his own delusions. Not one person did he lead to the Faith of Baha’u’1lah in those long, long years of treading the wilderness. And he was the same man who established this Faith in the American continent in the days when he walked the high-road of the Covenant.”

—Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’ I-Bahd 85-89

exemplary: worthy of imitation

extolled: praised in the highest terms

vainglorious: full of vanity and boastfulness

tenets: beliefs, principles

conjured: to produce as if by magic

distorted: twisted

appallingly: frightfully

enamoured: in love with

nascent: just beginning to exist

tempestuous: stormy; turbulent; violent

mettle: spirit; courage

delusions: false, fixed beliefs that have little basis in reality; illusions

77 [Page 78]Further Study

Select one of the passages from the “Readings” section.

What does the passage mean What are the implications of to you? the passage for your life?

List any unanswered questions about the lesson you may want to explore in more depth. Use the index on page 81 and additional reading below to help you find answers to your questions.

1.

2.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahdé 208-228

God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi, Chapters X and XV A description of some activities of Covenant-breakers against Baha’u’ lah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

The Power of the Covenant, Part II A commentary, including quotations, on Covenant-breaking.

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Personal Reflection

Remaining Questions

Additional Reading [Page 79]1. (Circle all that apply.) A Covenant-breaker is someone who:

a. breaks God’s Covenant by rejecting Baha’u’llah

b. after accepting Baha’u’ll4h, violates His laws

c. after accepting Baha’u’llah, attacks Him

d. after accepting Baha’u’llah, attacks one of His central institutions

2. (Circle all that apply.) Covenant-breaking is caused by:

a. desire for leadership b. demands of the insistent self

c. disobeying Baha’i law d. not understanding Baha’u’ll4h’s Covenant

3. How are we to treat Covenant-breakers:

4. (Circle all that apply.) Covenant-breaking:

if unchecked, could destroy the Cause can damage the Covenant

ultimately yields no lasting harmful result is counteracted by a measure of divine aid

aos Pp

79 [Page 80]Answers

The following are suggested answers. Depending on your understanding of the quotes, you may have different answers. Consider the suggested answers a starting point for thought and discussion.

1. cand d. See page 72 and 73 and quotes #1 and #2 on page 74.

2. aandb. “Regarding “a,” see #4, page 74; for “b,” see page 72. Failure to understand Baha’u’llah’s Covenant is not a cause of Covenant-breaking. Covenant-breaking is a conscious act that occurs after the person recognizes Baha’u’llah. Suspected Covenant-breakers are always helped to understand the Covenant and the nature of their actions before they are declared to be violators.. See #2, page 74.

3. Shun them and pray for them. See the quotation on page 75.

4. a,c,andd. Regarding “a,” see #6, page 75; for “c,” see #10-12,

14, and #16 on page 76; and for “d,” see #15, page 76. Regarding “b,” see page 73 on the results of Covenant-breaking.

Discussion

Why is Covenant-breaking such a serious offense? Describe Covenant-breaking in relation to God’s will and purpose.

How would you respond to someone who raised this argument: “Shunning Covenant-breakers seems to go against the Baha’i teaching on unity?” (Refer to #8, page 75.)

In the opening of His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Baha describes the Covenant as a “shield” that guards the Cause “from the darts of doubtfulness.” Explore the ideas raised by the image “darts of doubtfulness.” What does it mean? How does the Covenant shield the believers from these darts?

What has been the result of Covenant-breaking?

What is the difference between expressing your opinion and understanding of the Teachings and opposing the Covenant?

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