John the Baptist and interpretation

 Memorandum

Date: 25 August 1989

To: The Universal House of Justice       

From: The Research Department

John the Baptist and interpretation

The Research Department has studied the questions about John the Baptist and the function of interpretation which were contained in the letter dated 29 May 1989 from Mr. -- to the Universal House of Justice. Specifically, Mr. --cites excerpts from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi and one written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice. The letter dated 30 November 1930 written on Shoghi Effendi’s behalf states that John the Baptist, "according to various authorities was himself the originator of laws which abrogated the teachings current among the Jews". The letter dated 24 August 1975 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice stated that the "teachings of John did not abrogate any of the laws of the Mosaic Dispensation". Mr. -- seeks clarification of the apparent contradiction raised by the juxtaposition of these two extracts, and he enquires about the extent of the authority of statements of an interpretative nature which do not appear to fit clearly into the domain of the functions specified for the Universal House of Justice. We provide the following response.

1. John the Baptist

1.1 The Station of John the Baptist

John the Baptist is accorded a very high station in the Bahá’í Writings. For example, in the "Kitáb-í-Badí"’, Bahá'u'lláh refers to John the Baptist as a Prophet and Messenger. Also, in "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" (published in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh: Selected Letters, rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), see pp. 118-19), Shoghi Effendi quotes a passage from Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings in which He identifies Himself with several Manifestations and Holy Ones of God, one of whom is John the Baptist. The following extract from a letter dated 14 August 1934 written on behalf of the Guardian to two believers affirms:

Guidance contained in the Bahá'í Writings about poets

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice  

Date: 13 March 1988

From: The Research Department

The questions concerning the guidance contained in the Bahá'í Writings about poets, raised in the letter of 19 January 1988 from Mr. ... to the Hand of the Cause of God Ali Akbar Furutan, have been studied by the Research Department and we provide the following response.

1. Guidance to Poets

As to whether Bahá'u'lláh outlined certain responsibilities, obligations, preference, and limits in relation to poets, Shoghi Effendi indicates that poets are "addressed separately" by Bahá'u'lláh. They, along with "the wise men of the world, its “men of letters”, its “mystics”, and even its “tradesmen" are exhorted by Bahá'u'lláh "to be attentive to His voice, to recognize His Day, and to follow His bidding."

There are many passages in the Writings which testify to the high position Bahá'u'lláh gives to the practice of the arts. For example:

“It hath been revealed and is now repeated that the true worth of artists and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind. Just as the foundations of religion are made firm through the Law of God, the means of livelihood depend upon those who are engaged in arts and crafts. True learning is that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not to pride and self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and pillage.”

Many verses from Arabic and Persian poetry have been quoted in the Writings of the Central Figures of the Faith. For instance, throughout the work, "The Seven Valleys" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1978), Bahá'u'lláh makes reference to the two great poets of Shiraz, Hafiz, and Sa'di, and many others who were also known as Sufi mystics.

Táhirih and woman's suffrage - additional

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice

Date: 16 March 1988

From: The Research Department

The Research Department has considered the issues raised by Mr. … in his letter dated 12 February 1988 to the Universal House of Justice. Mr. … explains that Dr. Denis MacEoin stated in a talk he gave some years ago at a Summer School, that Táhirih's association with women's suffrage originated with a book by a Western woman, and that, while the words of Táhirih to the effect that: "You can kill me as soon as you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women", might have the right ring in English, they were not credible within the context of 19th century Persian culture. We provide the following comment.

1. Táhirih and Woman's Suffrage

The Research Department has not been able to locate conclusive evidence which supports the idea that Táhirih's association with woman's suffrage originated with a book by a Western woman. It is our view, as was stated in our memorandum of 10 January 1988, that Táhirih, by proclaiming the advent of the New Day with its values of peace and unity, by transcending cultural constraints, by active involvement in the dramatic Conference at Badasht, was participating in the initiation of a process that was to bring about a revolutionary transformation in human society, a transformation which, given further impetus by the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, would, among other things, lead to the emancipation of women. The link between Táhirih and woman's suffrage derives, then, in the first instance, from her espousal of spiritual values which initiated a process of fundamental social change.

In “God Passes By" (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974), Shoghi Effendi stresses the impact of Táhirih's life in the West. He wrote: