Questions about the Baha'i

[AskTheFamily]

Yaqoub was the "Sun" in the dream of Yusuf, so yes it's accurate to describe God's Prophets as metaphorical Suns.

 

[Arthra]

Mumin wrote the following:

"I found this other sentence:

“You have asked whether our prayers go beyond Bahá’u’lláh; It all depends whether we pray to Him directly or through Him to God. We may do both, and also can pray directly to God, but our prayers would certainly be more effective and illuminating if they are addressed to Him through His Manifestation Bahá’u’lláh."

The Baha'i religion sounded like they fell into shirk, finally I decided to make some research and I found the sentences that show clearly what they tried to conceal: shirk. Baha'is oppose God. It is a man-made religion, contrary to God's religion."

Thanks Mumin for your post!

You are free to come to any conclusion you wish..

You'll note in the sentence you quote:

"....our prayers would certainly be more effective and illuminating if they are addressed to Him through His Manifestation Bahá’u’lláh."

Note the word "through".

The above was a "directive" for Baha'is from Shoghi Effendi the Guardian of the Cause and a grandson of Abdul-Baha. The full statement reads:

“You have asked whether our prayers go beyond Bahá’u’lláh; It all depends whether we pray to Him directly or through Him to God. We may do both, and also can pray directly to God, but our prayers would certainly be more effective and illuminating if they are addressed to Him through His Manifestation Bahá’u’lláh.

“Under no circumstances, however, can we, while repeating the prayers, insert the name Bahá’u’lláh where the word ‘God’ is used. This would be tantamount to blasphemy.”

“In quoting prayers any part may be used, but should be quoted as it is, however short.”

Bahá'í Reference Library - Directives from the Guardian, Pages 58-59

In another place the following:

"We cannot know God directly, but only through His Prophets. We can pray to Him realizing that through His Prophets we know Him, or we can address our prayer in thought to Bahá'u'lláh, not as God, but as the Door to our knowing God."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer: High Endeavors: Messages to Alaska, p. 71, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1490 and no. 1699)

Hope that helps Mumin in your study!



- Art

 

[Mumin]

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[Mumin]

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[smaneck]

Bahá’u’lláh wasn’t stupid. He left himself - and his followers - plenty of wriggle-room when he added: ‘…….even though to outward seeming they be shorn of all earthly majesty....’

I think it was Jesus who said "my kingdom is not of this world." I think he was doing more than giving himself 'wiggle room.'

Of course, the entire point of the Kitab-i Iqan is to address the question as to how the Bab could possibly be the Mahdi if he went and got himself killed? Baha'u'llah's answer to that is in part, at least, to point to Christ and say, "This has all happened before."

 

[Arthra]

Mumin,

Thanks for your post!

My feeling is that we can learn more about God through His Prophets and Messengers... We Baha'is do not "invoke" Baha'u'llah in our prayers. There are no prayers to Baha'u'llah "invoking" Him.

You can access Baha'i Prayers here:

Bahá’í Prayers

You can also read them in Arabic and Farsi.

Also we do not adore the lamp itself rather the "light" that shines from it.

"The light is the same though the lamps may be different; we must look at the Light not at the Lamp"

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 66)




- Art

 

[Niblo]

I think it was Jesus who said "my kingdom is not of this world." I think he was doing more than giving himself 'wiggle room.'

Of course, the entire point of the Kitab-i Iqan is to address the question as to how the Bab could possibly be the Mahdi if he went and got himself killed? Baha'u'llah's answer to that is in part, at least, to point to Christ and say, "This has all happened before."

Good morning Susan.

I've really struggled with this discussion (especially since I'm at odds with a friend). I’m not being perverse or stubborn; I really can’t gel with what Bahá’u’lláh is saying re the manifestations. I guess his notions and mine are too far apart to reconcile. He and I would have to agree to disagree.

Allāh (Subḥānahu ūta'āla) knows best!

Have a great day, and please be assured of my utmost respect.

 

[Mumin]

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[Arthra]

Mumin,

Thanks for your post! The prayer for America was revealed when Abdul-Baha travelled to the West around 1912 and met Baha'is there...

O Thou kind Lord!

Baha'u'llah also sent Letters to the rulers and the "American Republics" around 1867...

The prayers and Tablets contain aspirations that the best qualities of the nations will be realized and help build world peace.

- Art