From: hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim)
Subject: Re: Some more info on the Baha'is
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 17:07:37 GMT


Continuation from part 3:

farzin@apollo3d.apollo3.ntt.JP (Farzin Mokhtarian), you write:

>About the most modern Bahai laws I can mention the following:
>Page 18, line 5 of the Holy book "Aghdass" : Burn alive whomever burns a house
>intentionally"

The punishment of "arson" according to the prescription of the Book of 
Aq'das is what you have mentioned above. The important point to remember 
is that the implementation of this law IS NOT left to the individual, but 
given to the society! We view it as the most practical means for the 
PREVENTION of arson.

>The 'mahr" for urban women's marriage is 19 misghal of gold and for rural
>women's 19 misghal of silver!

Mahrieh is a metaphorical gesture in the Baha'i marriage. Exorbitant 
mahrieh exchanged in Muslim marriages in Iran has been done away with
in the Baha'i law.

>Seyed Bab's teaching is really noble:
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Don't drink donkey's milk and don't carry weghts on the cowsand don't hit
>the eggs to something before you cook it! Page 49 of Bayan-e-Arabi

The Bab has, in the Arabic Bayan, forbidden the consumption of donkey's
milk. The approximate translation of the verse under discussion is: 
"Do not drink donkey's milk and do not force the animal outside of its
ability and tolerance."

I am not going to pretend that I understand the reason for this rule, yet, 
as a Messenger of God of the same caliber as Prophet Muhammad and Moses,
The Bab had the authority to establish or abrogate dietary laws. Please 
note that Moses made the consumption of pork meat forbidden, yet, this 
law became inapplicable during the ministry of Jesus, and was enforced 
again through the Qur'anic dispensation. The nobility of the dietary law 
established by The Bab is similar to the nobility of the laws established 
by Prophet Muhammad. Another example of this issue is the religious
prohibition against certain kinds of fish in the Muslim law.

In reference to carrying of weights on cows: The Bab reveals in the
Arabic Bayan: "Don't allow a cow to carry something or give ride if you
believe in God and His verses." [My own approximate translation of the 
verse]

This is the first time in the history of religion where laws are revealed 
about the rights of animals. Through this law, The Bab forbids his follower 
to subject the animal to constant pressure and hardship of work and finally 
slaughter it for the consumption of its meat. In Islam, it is lawful to
use cows for carrying and riding and slaughter. The Bab is abrogating this
practice.

In reference to eggs: The Bab reveals in the Arabic Bayan, whose approximate
translation is as follows: "Don't hit eggs to anything which might spoil
what is inside, before cooking it." Another issue mentioned about eggs in
the Bayan is: "If there appears blood inside of an egg, you might consume
that egg and God will forgive you."

Any intelligent person such as yourself could readily recognize that a
cracked egg is unhealthy. It can serve as a perfect medium for the growth 
of various germs resulting in illness. E-Coli is one such bacteria which 
grows in egg, which can cause serious health problems. A close look at 
the practices of people in the Middle-east clarifies the reason behinds 
this law. Another aspect of the verse of the Bayan deals with the 
presence of blood in Egg. The Bab makes the consumption of such an egg 
lawful by abrogates the Islamic practice.

						Part 4 of 12
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