From: B.MOHAJERIN@qut.EDU.AU (Babak Mohajerin)
Subject: The history of Baha'u'llah, Part 9
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 17:18:48 GMT


    As repeatedly emphasized in Baha'u'llah's exposition of the Bab's
message, the primary purpose of God in revealing His Will is to effect a
transformation in the character of humankind, to develop within those who
respond the moral and spiritual qualities that are latent within human
nature:

        Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and adorn your
    souls with the ornament of honesty.  Beware, O people, that ye deal
    not treacherously with any one.  Be ye the trustees of God amongst His
    creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people....[23]
 
    Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the
    thorns of hate or the thistles of malice.  Ye dwell in one world, and
    have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he

    who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and
    love.[24]

    The aggressive proselytism that had characterized efforts in ages past
to promote the cause of religion is declared to be unworthy of the Day of
God.  Each person who has recognized the Revelation has the obligation to
share it with those who he believes are seeking, but to leave the response
entirely to his hearers:

        Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another.  Should
    any one among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be
    striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing with him, a
    spirit of extreme kindliness and good-will....[25]

        The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the
    flood of grace which God poureth forth for him.  Let none, therefore,
    consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle....[26]

    Against the background of the bloody events in Persia, Baha'u'llah not
only told His followers that "if ye be slain, it is better for you than to
slay," but urged them to set an example of obedience to civil authority:
"In every country where any of this people reside, they must behave
towards the government of that country with loyalty, honesty and 
truthfulness."[27]

    The conditions surrounding Baha'u'llah's departure from Baghdad
provided a dramatic demonstration of the potency of these principles.  In
only a few years, a band of foreign exiles whose arrival in the area had
aroused suspicion and aversion on the part of their neighbors had become
one of the most respected and influential segments of the population.
They supported themselves through flourishing businesses; as a group they
were admired for their generosity and the integrity of theirconduct; the
lurid allegations of religious fanaticism and violence, sedulously spread
by Persian consular officials and members of the Shi'ih Muslim clergy, had
ceased to have an effect on the public mind.  By May 3, 1863, when He rode
out of Baghdad, accompanied by His family and those of His companions and
servants who had been chosen to accompany Him to Constantinople, 
Baha'u'llah had become an immensely popular and cherished figure.  In the
days immediately preceding the leave-taking a stream of notables, 
including the governor of the province himself, came to the garden where
He had temporarily taken up residence, many of them from great distances,
in order to pay their respects.  Eyewitnesses to the departure have
described in moving terms the acclaim that greeted Him, the tears of many
of the onlookers, and the concern of the Ottoman authorities and civil
officials to do their visitor honor.[28]

-- 
     Babak Mohajerin, 

Queensland University of Technology,
        AUSTRALIA

B.MOHAJERIN@qut.edu.au
 _^_							      _^_	     
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 |/| The day is approaching when all the peoples of the world |\|
 |/| will have adopted one universal language and one common  |\|
 |/| script. When this is achieved, to whatsoever city a man  |\|  
 |/| may journey, it shall be as if he were entering his own  |\|
 |/| home.... That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth |\| 
 |/| himself to the service of the entire human race....      |\|
 |/| It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own    |\| 
 |/| country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world.  |\|
 |/| The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.  |\|                    
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