From: towfiq@nighthawk.clearpoint.com (Mark Towfiq)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian
Subject: Re: About Baha'u'llah...
Date: 22 Jul 92 13:43:56 GMT
Organization: Clearpoint Research Corporation

>>>>> On 20 Jul 92 18:46:01 GMT, hamid@telesoft.com (Hamid Radvar @nova) said:

hr> Please excuse my ignorance, but a question has occured to me after
hr> loosely following the discussions on Bahai faith.  How did
hr> Baha'u'llah come to be recognized as a divine being?  Did he
hr> perform some sort of a miracle much like other prophets?

  An excellent question Hamid.  This very topic has been addressed by
Baha'u'llah in a Tablet entitled "Sahifiy-i-Shattiyih" (The Book of
the River).  A discussion of it is in Volume I of Adib Taherzadeh's
monumental work, "The Revelation of Baha'u'llah":

      Baha'u'llah also speaks in this Tablet about miracles which are
    attributed to the Prophets.  He states that one should not deny
    the performance of miracles by these Holy Souls, but emphasizes
    that miracles are not a conclusive proof of the authenticity of
    Their Messages.  The greatest and the most evident sign of
    Prophethood has always been the Revelation of the Word of God.
    Everything created in this world is a miracle in itself if we look
    at it with the eye of discernment.  For example, the outpouring of
    energy from the sun is a miracle indeed, for the mind of man could
    never have believed in such a phenomenon if he had not actually
    seen the radiance of the sun with his own eyes.

      In the Writings of Baha'u'llah there are many references to
    miracles.  In all of these the Word revealed by the Prophet is
    regarded as the most potent force in the world.  The creativeness
    of the Word is a miracle which is everlasting and cannot be
    obliterated by the passage of time.  Other miracles, if performed,
    convince only those who witness them and are not accepted as
    conclusive proof by those who have not.

      The followers of all religions have attributed many miracles to
    their Prophets, miracles which traditionally are passed on from
    generation to generation although their inner significances have
    not been fully understood.  Upon these miracles have been built,
    over the centuries, many doctrines and dogmas which have become
    mighty barriers between God and man. [pp. 106-7]

    ...

      [At the time of Baha'u'llah's stay in Baghdad, the clergy was
    greatly alarmed at Baha'u'llah's influence, and some declared that
    a holy war should be proclaimed against the Babis.  Before this,]
    however, the conference of the divines decided to send the devout
    and high-minded Haji Mulla Hasan-i-`Ammu as an emissary to
    Baha'u'llah to put certain questions to Him, designed to establish
    the truth of His Mission.  Haji Mulla Hasan asked Prince Zaynu'l-
    `Abidin Khan, the Fakhru'd-Dawlih, a friend and admirer of
    Baha'u'llah who often visited His home, to arrange and interview
    with Him.  When the appointed day came, the prince took him
    personally to the house of Baha'u'llah.

      No sooner had Haji Mulla Hasan presented himself to Baha'u'llah
    than he discovered the ocean of His utterance surging before him
    and saw himself as a mere drop compared to the vastness of
    Baha'u'llah's knowledge.  Having had his questions answered with
    brilliance and simplicity, he then ventured to inform Baha'u'llah
    that the divines regarded the performance of a miracle to be the
    final and conclusive evidence of the authenticity of His mission.
    These are the words of Baha'u'llah in answer to him:

          Although you have no right to ask for this, for God should
        test His creatures, and they should not test God, still I
        allow and accept this request ... The `ulamas must assemble,
        and, with one accord, choose one miracle, and write that,
        after the performance of this miracle they will no longer
        entertain doubts about Me, and that all will acknowledge and
        confess the truth of My Cause.  Let them seal this paper, and
        bring it to Me.  This must be the accepted criterion:  if the
        miracle is performed, no doubt will remain for them; and if
        not, We shall be convicted of imposture.

      Haji Mulla Hasan found this answer to be satisfactory.  He
    arose, reverently kissed the knee of Baha'u'llah and promised to
    convey His words to the divines.  But the assemblage of the
    divines decided not to respond to Baha'u'llah's challenge and did
    not pursue the matter.  Haji Mulla Hasan conveyed this decision to
    Baha'u'llah through Prince Zaynu'l-`Abidin Khan.  Upon hearing
    this news, Baha'u'llah is reported to have said:

          We have, through this all-satisfying, all-embracing message
        which We sent, revealed and vindicated the miracles of all the
        Prophets, inasmuch as We left the choice to the `ulamas
        themselves, undertaking to reveal whatever they would decide
        upon. [pp. 145-6]

    [end of excerpt]

  Baha'u'llah did perform many miracles during His life, such as
physical healing, raising people from being physically dead, and so
on.  But as we know from His statement above, He did not regard these
as the most supreme proof of His Revelation, rather it is the Word of
God as revealed through Him which has this distinction.

  I hope this is the beginning of an answer to your question.
--
Mark Towfiq, FTP Software, towfiq@FTP.COM, W:+1 617 224 6275, H:+1 617 488 2818

O SON OF MAN!  The light hath shone on thee from the horizon of the sacred
Mount and the spirit of enlightenment hath breathed in the Sinai of thy heart.
Wherefore, free thyself from the veils of idle fancies and enter into My court,
that thou mayest be fit for everlasting life and worthy to meet Me.  Thus may
death not come upon thee, neither weariness nor trouble.
		-- Baha'u'llah, Arabic Hidden Words, #63
Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian