From: hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim)
Subject: The Station of The Bab (Re: A Refutation of Baha'i view....) 4/10
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 28 JAN 93 10:10:10    


Continuation from part 3:

HS>(1) Nuqtat-ul-Kaaf (The dot of the letter Kaaf), compiled by M.J.
HS>    Kashani and E. Browne, Brill Printing House, Liden, Holland (1910);
HS>   * Panj Sha'an (Five Affairs) of Ali Muhammad Shirazi;
HS>   * Talkhise Taarikhe Nabil Zarandi, Baha'i Publications, Amri Pub.,
HS>     Tehran (1946);
HS>   * Zuhoor-ul-Haq (The appearance of the truth), p. 173.

Dr. Siddiqui, it is rather impressive that you offer so many references, 
yet the references you cite clearly demonstrate that you have not read a 
single one of them. Perhaps I should respectfully request that you 
demonstrate your knowledge on this issue by the virtue of quotation 
from these texts?! I will be very happy to examine each reference in
detail if you wish!

HS>and later as a prophet and the bringer of a new religion (2). 
       ^^^^^
HS>(2) Nuqtat-ul-Kaaf, p. 151;
HS>   * Bayan (Expression) of Muhammad Shirazi, ch. 2, unit 2;
HS>   * Makaatib (Letters) of Abbas Afandi, vol. 11, p. 266;
HS>   * Al-Mufavedaat (Conversations) of Abbas Afandi, Brill Printing House,
HS>     Liden, Holland (1908), p. 124.

If The Bab has so clearly established His claim in the first night of His
Revelation as has already been demonstrated in the previous replies, then
what does LATER mean? Allow me to offer the quotation from the reference 
in the Book of Bayan which you have cited above:

"...All [The Bab is referring to Muslims. KH] say today, `we believe in 
God, and in the signs [aayaat. KH] of the Qur'an,' whilst the Tree of 
Truth [i.e. The Bab is referring to Himself. KH], who is the Revealer of 
the Qur'an [Here the Bab is equating Himself with Prophet Muhammad. This 
was however done in The Bab's earlier work Qayyum'ul-Asma' as previously 
discussed. KH], is dwelling in this mountain (i.e. Mountain of Maku in 
Azarbayejan. KH]."
						Persian Bayan 2:2

I hope you realize that The Bab is not claiming anything new here. Perhaps
reading the previous three parts of this posting has offered you a new
perspective on Who The Bab was and what were His claims.

HS>He was not
HS>emotionally balanced, and as such, later claimed Godhood (3). 

Your understanding of this issue is also on the rusty side. Let us examine
together the Writings of The Bab and determine the validity of your opinion:

"God, hath out of sheer nothingness and through the potency of His command,
created the heavens and the earth and whatever lieth between them. He [i.e.
								   ^^^^^^^^
God. KH] single and peerless in His eternal unity with none to join partner
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
with His holy Essence, nor is there any soul, except His Own Self, who can
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
befittingly comprehend Him."
					Qayyum'ul-Asma', Chapter 62
Moreover;

"Indeed I am a man like unto you. However, God bestoweth upon Me whatever
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
favours He willeth as He pleaseth [Reference to Qur'an 14:13], and that
which your Lord hath decreed in the Mother Book is unbounded."

					Qayyum'ul-Asma', Chapter 88

In His Epistle addressed to Muhammad Shah, the King of Persia, He Writes:

"The substance wherewith God hath created Me is not the clay out of which
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
others have been formed. He hath conferred upon Me that which the worldly-
wise can never comprehend, nor the faithful discover."

The above verses will hopefully offer you a different perspective on this
issue. There is no claim of Godhood in the Writings of The Bab. Perhaps it
is your literalistic approach to the Writings of The Bab and your biased 
attitude which has made you to conclude in such a manner. I feel that I
should remind you that any of the Messengers of God Who claimed to 
something PERCEIVED contrary to the common belief have been ridiculed 
according to the testimony of the Qur'an:

"Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, 
yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the 
sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His 
coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy 
might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of 
concealment, and be made manifest to all the world. And whensoever the 
portals of grace did open, and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon 
mankind, and the light of the Unseen did shine above the horizon of 
celestial might, they all denied Him, and turned away from His face-the 
face of God Himself. Refer ye, to verify this truth, to that which hath 
been recorded in every sacred Book.

Ponder for a moment, and reflect upon that which hath been the cause of 
such denials on the part of those who have searched with such earnestness 
and longing. Their attack hath been more fierce than tongue and pen can 
describe. Not one single Manifestation of Holiness hath appeared but He 
was afflicted by the denials, the repudiation, and vehement opposition of 
the people around Him. Thus it hath been revealed: `O the misery of men! 
No Messenger cometh unto them but they laugh Him to scorn.' [Qur'an 36:30] 
Again He saith: `Each nation hath plotted darkly against their Messenger 
to lay violent hold on Him, and disputed with vain words to invalidate the 
truth.' [Qur'an 40:5]
				Baha'u'llah, Ketab-ul Iqan (pp.***)

						Part 4 of 10
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