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Ishraqat – What is Religion For?
In Ishraqat we also find an explicit discussion of the purpose of religion. The fact that Bahá’u’lláh has set this out in such explicit terms is another of the unique aspects of his life’s work as a prophet. The purpose of religion … is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife. The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity amongst men. The progress of the world, the development of nations, the tranquillity of peoples, and the peace of…
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Ishraqat – Universal Education, World Language and Global Institution
The work Ishraqat is a rich source of key teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Among them are universal education, a world language and the establishment of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha’i Faith. Both Universal Education and a World Language are later identified by Abdu’l Baha as key principles of the Baha’I Faith. The Universal House of Justice is a foundation stone for human unity. In drawing attention to the importance of education, Bahá’u’lláh reminds his readers that in his book of laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, he has made the provision of education to children (both sons and daughters) an obligation of the child’s father (or where…
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Ishraqat – Religion, Peace and Wisdom
Ishraqat, like Tajalliyat, is a letter written by Bahá’u’lláh to one of his followers. Today, Bahá’u’lláh’s works are collected together and translated into many languages. It was not so when these works were created by Bahá’u’lláh. The Baha’i Faith was suppressed and it was dangerous to even possess such writings. They had to be carried in secret over thousands of miles by trusted messengers. To obtain a copy, each work had to be laboriously copied by hand. Some of the conditions of this time can be understood from Edward Granville Browne’s description of meeting Baha’is when he was in Persia, which we have seen in a previous article. It is…
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The Divine Lote Tree Beyond Which There is No Passing
In the previous article, we saw that the first Tajalli, of Bahá’u’lláh’s four Tajalliyat, draws on the symbol of the “Spirit of Truth” found in Christian scriptures. The fourth Tajalli discusses similar concepts to those in the first Tajalli, but using different symbols – in this case from Islamic scripture. The fourth Tajallí is concerning Divinity, Godhead and the like. Were a man of insight to direct his gaze towards the blessed, the manifest Lote-Tree and its fruits, he would be so enriched thereby as to be independent of aught else and to acknowledge his belief in that which the Speaker on Sinai hath uttered from the throne of Revelation. …[1] O…
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Tajalliyat – Radiant Lights and the Spirit of Truth
Tajalliyat is a work written by Bahá’u’lláh to one of his followers. It starts with a preamble in Arabic and then switches to Persian so that the Persian people may “become aware of the utterances of the Merciful Lord” and “discover the truth”. We have seen that the question of language is one which arises repeatedly in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings. Bahá’u’lláh counsels the adoption of a world language. Moreover, when asked about language preference Bahá’u’lláh focusses on the purposes of language as a vehicle for effective communication. Also in Tajalliyat, Bahá’u’lláh summarises the objections the “people of tyranny” have made to him: Some of them say: “He hath laid claim to…
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Tablet of Wisdom: dimensions of a life of wisdom
In the Tablet of Wisdom we have already seen an exploration of the harmony of science and religion. This article seeks to explore some of the ways we might understand “wisdom” from the discourse that Bahá’u’lláh unfolds in this work. Initially we may observe that part of wisdom is to appreciate that there is more to reality that the purely material world. When the eyes of the people of the East were captivated by the arts and wonders of the West, they roved distraught in the wilderness of material causes, oblivious of the One Who is the Causer of Causes, and the Sustainer thereof, while such men as were the source and the wellspring of…
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The Prophet and the Philosophers
Bahá’u’lláh does an unusual (perhaps unique) thing for a prophet – he writes about philosophers and philosophy. There may be a precedent somewhere in human history, but if so, I haven’t yet been able to discover it. In fairness though, this has not prevented the flourishing of philosophy and science in the past. For example, despite parochial assumptions sometimes entertained in western thought that science and philosophy entered a “dark age” after the fall of the western Roman Empire, in fact, science and philosophy flourished for over a millennium in the Islamic world, before influencing the renaissance of Europe. And this is to say nothing of the rest of the…
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Bahá’u’lláh is freed from the Prison City
The circumstances in which Bahá’u’lláh was freed from the prison city of Akka provide a remarkable contrast from the circumstances in which he was condemned to perpetual exile within its walls. Secular and religious opponents had brought it about. Nine years had passed since that imprisonment and over the years he had become a revered and loved figure in the prison city. Now, both secular and religious leaders assisted in bringing about Bahá’u’lláh’s release from the prison city – notwithstanding that he was still a condemned prisoner. Abdu’l Baha tells the story of how his departure from the city came about. Bahá’u’lláh loved the beauty and verdure of the country.…
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Water Restored to Akka and Service to the Community
As time went on the people of Akka began to see the true character of Bahá’u’lláh and his followers. The initial contempt and hatred with which they had been greeted on entering the city changed into respect and even reliance. Bahá’u’lláh in this period largely ceased the open association he had followed with the people until their time in Adrianople and instead Abdu’l Baha took on the task of the many requests and expectations that were placed on them by a diversity of enquirers. The following from the recollections of Tuba Khanum, a daughter of Abdu’l Baha provides a sense: [Abdu’l Baha] would go first to the Bírúní, a large reception…
