From: hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim)
Subject: Re: Some more info on the Baha'is (7)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 17:12:13 GMT


Continuation from part 6:

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

>Sir Abbas afandi in his book "Makatib" page 347 prays in Arabic whose
>translation is "Parvardegara empratoore bozorg zhorzhe panjom (Gerorge IV)
>ra beh towfighate rahmaanie khod moa'yad bedar wa sayehye aan keshwar ra
>bar in mantegheh ( Palestine, where he was given the title of knighthood
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>for helping British army defeating Othoman Governor) beh yaari wa hefz wa
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>hemayate kheesh mostadaam bedar, tou(God)neeroomand wa aali wa aziz wa kareem
>meebashi.... Abbas Abdulbaha.

Makateeb is not Abdu'l-Baha's book. It is a compilation of 8 volumes of
the Tablets and communications of Abdu'l-Baha. The point you are referring
to can be found in the 3rd volume of Makatib, a part of which you have
chosen to quote.

What you have mentioned above is a prayer of Abdu'l-Baha. Eventhough your
translation is LESS THAN ADEQUATE, similar to what I have seen from you
SCHOLARSHIP, yet, you appear to have captured the gist of the prayer, so 
I will not attempt to translate it here. In reference to your parenthetical 
comment, I must say that it is an indication of your lack of understanding 
of the Baha'i writings and a manifestation of your prejudice against 
Baha'is.

Abdu'l-Baha had nothing to do with the downfall of the Ottoman Empire,
nor did He offer anything to the English army. I hope the following
will assist you to realize your error.

If Abdu'l-Baha is praising "George V", He is praising him for his
high-mindedness, character and accomplishments and nothing else. 
Prophet Muhammad is recorded to have said He was very happy to have 
been born during the reign of a just king [i.e. Anooshirvan Aadel.] 
Muhammad's praise of Anooshirvan does by no means constitute His 
political affiliation with the king, but His approval of king's 
manners.

Let us look at this issue from another angel. Abdu'l-Baha offers the 
following comments, in His Tablet "Rasalih-i Madani-eh" [Secret of
Divine Civilization] about Nasir-ud-Din Shah, the King of Persia. He 
is the same king responsible for the banishment of Baha'u'llah and 
His family [including the 9 years old Abdu'l-Baha] out of Iran. 
Abdu'l-Baha says:

"His Majesty the Shah has, at the present time, (1875) resolved to bring 
about the advancement of the Persian people, their welfare and security 
and the prosperity of their country.  He has spontaneously extended 
assistance to his subjects, displaying energy and fair-mindedness, 
hoping that by the light of justice he might make Iran the envy of East
and West, and set that fine fervor which characterized the first great 
epochs of Persia to flowing again through the veins of her people.  As 
is clear to the discerning, the writer [i.e. Abdu'l-Baha is referring to
Himself.] has for this reason felt it necessary to put down, for the sake 
of God alone and as a tribute to this high endeavor, a brief statement on 
certain urgent questions."
				Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 5-6

If Abdu'l-Baha praised George V for the reasons you offer, for what 
reason could He have praised Nasir-ud-Din Shah? Did He receive any-
thing but hardship and trouble from the Shah?

Furthermore, Abdu'l-Baha reveals in a prayer for America:

"O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These minds and
spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let
this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it
has aspired in material degrees, and render this just government
victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the
oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become
thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all nations of the world.
O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving
of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty
and bestowal."	
						"Abdu'l-Baha"

Abdu'l-Baha passed away in 1921. A close examination of the history
reveals that America did not play a role in the events happening in
Palestine (i.e. the downfall of the Ottoman Empire, etc..., etc...)
in that time frame. Make an honest attempt to determine what was the 
motive of Abdu'l-Baha for praising the government of America? 

						Part 7 of 12