< < back to Table of Contents
Chapter 37
---------------
Joining partners with God -- Rejecting the Prophets (both Independent and Dependent/Lesser Prophets), who are the Face of God.
1)
The Babis (Azalis) who rejected
Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet, "joined partners with God".
Beware, beware lest thou behave like unto the people of the Bayan. For
indeed they erred grievously, misguided the people, ignored the
Covenant of God and His Testament and joined partners with Him, the
One, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. Verily they failed to recognize
the Point of the Bayan, for had they recognized Him they would not have
rejected His manifestation in this luminous and resplendent Being. And
since they fixed their eyes on names, therefore when He replaced His
Name 'the Most Exalted' by 'the Most Glorious' their eyes were dimmed.
They have failed to recognize Him in these days and are reckoned with
those that perish. Indeed, had they known Him through His own Self or
by virtue of that which He hath revealed, they would not have
repudiated Him when He appeared in this glorious and incomparable Name,
which God hath ordained to be the Sword of His Revelation between
heaven and earth, and through which truth is separated from error, even
from now until the Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 185
I give praise to Thee, therefore, O my God, that Thou hast preserved
them that have acknowledged Thy unity, and hast destroyed them that
have joined partners with Thee,
and hast divided the one from the other through yet another word that
hath proceeded out of the mouth of Thy will, and flowed down from the
pen of Thy purpose. Thereby have Thy servants, who were created through
the word of Thy commandment, and were begotten by Thy will, caviled at
me, and so fiercely opposed me that they repudiated Thee, and have
rejected Thy signs, and have risen up against Thee.
-- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 308
We eventually succeeded in manifesting the Cause of God, and exalted it
to so eminent a position that all the people, except those who
cherished ill-will in their hearts against this Youth and joined
partners with the Almighty, acknowledged the sovereignty of God and His
mighty dominion. And yet, notwithstanding this Revelation whose
influence hath pervaded all created things, and despite the brightness
of this Light, the like of which none of them hath ever beheld, witness
how the people of the Bayan have denied and contended with Me. Some
have turned away from the Path of God, rejected the authority of Him in
Whom they had believed, and acted insolently towards God, the Most
Powerful, the Supreme Protector, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.
Others hesitated and halted in His Path, and regarded the Cause of the
Creator, in its inmost truth, as invalid unless substantiated by the
approval of him who was created through the operation of My Will. Thus
have their works come to naught, and yet they failed to perceive it.
Among them is he who sought to measure God with the measure of his own
self, and was so misled by the names of God as to rise up against Me,
who condemned Me as one that deserved to be put to death, and who
imputed to Me the very offenses of which he himself was guilty.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 273
2)
The Manifestation of God is "the Focal-Point of
Divine unity" and those who reject him/her have joined partners God.
Behold, how they have joined partners with Him Who is the Focal-Point
of Divine unity. Behold how their evil doings have hindered them from
recognizing, in the Day of Resurrection, the Word of Truth, exalted be
His glory. We cherish the hope that this people will henceforth shield
themselves from vain hopes and idle fancies, and will attain to a true
understanding of the meaning of Divine unity.
The Person of the Manifestation hath ever been the representative and
mouthpiece of God. He, in truth, is the Day Spring of God's most
excellent Titles, and the Dawning-Place of His exalted Attributes. If
any be set up by His side as peers, if they be regarded as identical
with His Person, how can it, then, be maintained that the Divine Being
is One and Incomparable, that His Essence is indivisible and peerless?
Meditate on that which We have, through the power of truth, revealed
unto thee, and be thou of them that comprehend its meaning.
--Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 69
3)
Those who rejected the Holy Imams (Dependent/Lesser Prophets of Muhammad), who are the Face of God, "joined partners with God".
Muhammad, Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these
words: "Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The
Book of God and My Family [the Holy Imams]."
-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 201
In response to thy request the Pen of Glory hath graciously described
the stations and grades of the Most Great Infallibility. The purpose is
that all should know of a certainty that the Seal of the Prophets [Muhammad]
-- may the souls of all else but Him be offered up for His sake -- is
without likeness, peer or partner in His Own station. The Holy Ones [The Imams]
-- may the blessings of God be upon them -- were created through the
potency of His Word, and after Him they were the most learned and the
most distinguished among the people and abide in the utmost station of
servitude. The divine Essence, sanctified from every comparison and
likeness, is established in the Prophet [Independent Prophet], and
God's inmost Reality, exalted above any peer or partner, is manifest in
Him. This is the station of true unity and of veritable singleness. The
followers of the previous Dispensation grievously failed to acquire an
adequate understanding of this station. The Primal Point [The Báb] -- may the
life of all else but Him be offered up for His sake -- saith: 'If the
Seal of the Prophets had not uttered the word "Successorship", such a
station would not have been created.'
The people aforetime joined partners with God [rejected the Holy Imams], though they professed belief in His unity; and although they
were the most ignorant amongst men, they considered themselves the most
accomplished. But, as a token of divine retribution upon those heedless
ones, their erroneous beliefs and pursuits have, in this Day of
Judgement, been made clear and evident to every man of discernment and
understanding.
-- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 124
7:33. Say: The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful
deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or
reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.
7:34. To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached,
not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in
anticipation).
7:35. O ye children of Adam! whenever there come to you Messengers [the Holy Imams]
from amongst you, rehearsing my signs unto you, those who are righteous
and mend (their lives), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
7:36. But those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, they are companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever).
-- The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 7
13:35. The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! --
beneath if [it] flow rivers: perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the
shade therein: such is the End of the Righteous; and the End of
Unbelievers is the Fire.
13:36. Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been
revealed unto thee: but there are among the clans those who reject a
part thereof. Say: "I am commanded to worship Allah, and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call, and unto Him is my return."
13:37. Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in
Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge
which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor
defender against Allah.
-- The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 13
No doubt is there that obedience is unacceptable except through obedience to the Proof of God.
Had that not been so, then the deeds of them that showed enmity towards
the People of the House [the Family of Muhammad, the Holy Imams] would have been mentioned before God, whereas
in this day, all decree that none should worship them, nor have their
deeds borne any fruit. In this way, the non- Shi'is today act in
accordance with the decrees of the Qur'án, whereas, since they have
turned aside from the Imamate (vilayat), these deeds are worthless in the sight of God.
-- The Bab, The Persian Bayan
See also references on the Cord of God from the Quran.
4)
'O thou who dost associate a partner with God and doubtest' refers to one who rejects Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet.
Say: 'The stunning trumpet blast hath been loudly raised, and the Day
is God's, the One, the Unconstrained.' 'Hath the Catastrophe come to
pass?' Say: 'Yea, by the Lord of Lords!' 'Is the Resurrection come?'
'Nay, more; He Who is the Self-Subsisting hath appeared with the
Kingdom of His signs.' 'Seest thou men laid low?' 'Yea, by my Lord, the
Exalted, the Most High!' 'Have the tree-stumps been uprooted?' 'Yea,
more; the mountains have been scattered in dust; by Him the Lord of
attributes!' They say: 'Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?' Say:
'The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self, O thou who dost
associate a partner with God and doubtest.' They say: 'We see not the
Balance.' Say: 'Surely, by my Lord, the God of Mercy! None can see it
except such as are endued with insight.' 'Have the stars fallen?' Say:
'Yea, when He Who is the Self-Subsisting dwelt in the Land of Mystery
(Adrianople). Take heed, ye who are endued with discernment!' All the
signs appeared when We drew forth the Hand of Power from the bosom of majesty and might.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 131
5)
In passage below from Gleanings CXXIX:
"concealed within the Holy Veil" -- refers to the realm of pre-existence of the Dependent Prophets, similar to the pre-existence of the Holy Imams.
"a company of His chosen ones" -- the Dependent/Lesser Prophets of Baha'u'llah.
"Warn, then, those that have joined partners with Him" -- warn
those who reject the Dependent Prophet as the Face of God (similar to those who rejected the Holy Imams as the Face of God in the era
of Muhammad).
"I am come from the Throne of glory" -- reference to her/his station as a Prophet, a Dependent Prophet of Baha'u'llah.
"And bear you an announcement from God" -- the declaration of the Dependent Prophet.
"Weigh it with the just Balance that ye possess, the Balance of the testimony of the Prophets and Messengers of God" -- judge their testimony with same standards you use for Prophets and Messengers of God, as they are.
There lay concealed within the Holy Veil, and prepared for the service
of God, a company of His chosen ones who shall be manifested unto men,
who shall aid His Cause, who shall be afraid of no one, though the
entire human race rise up and war against them. These are the ones who,
before the gaze of the dwellers on earth and the denizens of heaven,
shall arise and, shouting aloud, acclaim the name of the Almighty, and
summon the children of men to the path of God, the All-Glorious, the
All-Praised. Walk thou in their way, and let no one dismay thee. Be of
them whom the tumult of the world, however much it may agitate them in
the path of their Creator, can never sadden, whose purpose the blame of
the blamer will never defeat.
Go forth with the Tablet of God and His signs, and rejoin them that
have believed in Me, and announce unto them tidings of Our most holy
Paradise. Warn, then, those that have joined partners with Him. Say: I
am come to you, O people, from the Throne of glory, and bear you an
announcement from God, the Most Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Most
Great. In mine hand I carry the testimony of God, your Lord and the
Lord of your sires of old. Weigh it with the just Balance that ye
possess, the Balance of the testimony of the Prophets and Messengers of
God. If ye find it to be established in truth, if ye believe it to be
of God, beware, then, lest ye cavil at it, and render your works vain,
and be numbered with the infidels. It is indeed the sign of God that
hath been sent down through the power of truth, through which the
validity of His Cause hath been demonstrated unto His creatures, and
the ensigns of purity lifted up betwixt earth and heaven.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 280
6)
Those who reject the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah ("hands of ascendancy and might", "who will arise to win victory for this Youth") join partners with God.
Erelong shall God draw forth,
out of the bosom of power, the hands of ascendancy and might, and shall
raise up a people who will arise to win victory for this Youth
and who will purge mankind from the defilement of the outcast and the
ungodly. These hands will gird up their loins to champion the Faith of
God, and will, in My name the Self-Subsistent, the Mighty, subdue the
peoples and kindreds of the earth. They will enter the cities and will
inspire with fear the hearts of all their inhabitants. Such are the
evidences of the might of God; how fearful, how vehement is His might,
and how justly doth He wield it! He, verily, ruleth and transcendeth
all who are in the heavens and on the earth, and revealeth what He
desireth according to a prescribed measure.
1.35
Should any one of them be called upon to confront all the hosts of
creation, he would assuredly prevail through the ascendancy of My Will.
This, verily, is a proof of My power, though My creatures comprehend it
not. This, verily, is a sign of My sovereignty, though My subjects
understand it not. This, verily, is a token of My command, though My
servants perceive it not. This, verily, is an evidence of Mine
ascendancy, though none amongst the people is truly thankful for it,
save those whose eyes God hath illumined with the light of His
knowledge, whose hearts He hath made the repository of His Revelation,
and upon whose shoulders He hath placed the weight of His Cause. These
shall inhale the fragrances of the All-Merciful from the garment of His
Name, and shall rejoice at all times in the signs and verses of their
Lord. As for those who disbelieve in God, and join partners with Him, they
shall indeed incur His wrath, shall be cast into the Fire, and shall be
made to dwell, fearful and dismayed, in its depths. Thus do We expound
Our verses, and make plain the truth with clear proofs, that perchance
the people may reflect upon the signs of their Lord.
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 19
7)
Those who rejected the Bab and Baha'u'llah attribute (join) partners with God. In the following passage from the Quran, Muhammad fortells the coming of the Bab (first Trumpet) and Bahá'u'lláh (second Trumpet). "And the Earth will shine with
the Glory of its Lord" refers to the era of Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God. "the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward": the pre-existent Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah will be summoned to step forth from the realm of pre-existence and appear on earth. "Did not apostles come to you from among
yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord,.." refers to the Dependent Prophets
promoting the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet; the
same way, for example, that the Holy Imams promoted the teachings of Muhammad.
39:67 No just estimate have they made of God, such as is due to Him: On
the Day of Judgment the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and
the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is
He above the Partners they attribute to Him!
39:68 The Trumpet will (just) be sounded [appearance of the Bab],
when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except such
as it will please God (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded [appearance of Baha'u'llah], when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!
39:69 And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord [the era of Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God]: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward [the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah will be summoned to step forth from the realm of pre-existence and appear on earth] and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).
39:70 And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its Deeds; and (God) knoweth best all that they do.
39:71 The Unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowd: until, when they
arrive, there, its gates will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did
not apostles [Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah] come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord [promoting the teachings of Baha'u'llah],
and warning you of the Meeting of This Day of yours?" The answer will
be: "True: but the Decree of Punishment has been proved true against
the Unbelievers!"
-- Qur'an: 39 - AZ-ZUMAR
8)
O ye wise men of the City and philosophers of the world! Beware lest
human learning and wisdom cause you to wax proud before God, the Help
in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Know ye that true wisdom is to fear God,
to know Him, and to recognize His Manifestations.
This wisdom, however, can be attained only by those who detach
themselves from the world, and who walk in the ways of the good
pleasure of their Lord. Are ye possessed of greater wisdom than the one
who contrived a moon which would rise from one well and set in another,
and whose light was visible at a distance of three leagues? God,
verily, blotted out every trace of his works and returned him unto
dust, as ye have already heard or are now informed.
5.114
How many the sages and philosophers who equalled or surpassed him in
learning and wisdom! And how vast the number of those who equalled or
surpassed yourselves! Some of them believed in God, while others disbelieved and joined partners with Him.
The latter were at last cast into the Fire, there to take up their
abode, while the former returned unto the mercy of their Lord, therein
to abide. For God doth not ask you of your sciences, but of your faith
and of your conduct. Are ye greater in wisdom than the One Who brought
you into being, Who fashioned the heavens and all that they contain,
the earth and all that dwell upon it? Gracious God! True wisdom is His.
All creation and its empire are His. He bestoweth His wisdom upon
whomsoever He chooseth amongst men, and withholdeth it from whomsoever
He desireth. He, in truth, is the Bestower and the Withholder, and He,
verily, is the All-Bountiful, the All-Wise.
5.115
O ye learned of the world! Ye failed to seek Our presence, that ye
might hearken unto the sweet melodies of the Spirit and perceive
that which God in His bounty hath pleased to bestow upon Me. Verily,
this grace hath now escaped you, did ye but know. Had ye sought Our
presence, We would have imparted unto you a knowledge that would have
rendered you independent of all else. But this ye failed to do, and
thus hath the decree of God been fulfilled. Now have I been forbidden
to disclose it, since We stand accused of sorcery, if ye perceive Our
meaning. The same words were uttered by the deniers of old, men whom
death hath long since overtaken and who now dwell in the fire bewailing
their plight. The deniers of this day shall likewise meet their doom.
Such is the irrevocable decree of Him Who is the All-Powerful, the
Self-Sufficient.
-- Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 233
< < back to Table of Contents