Comments on: Recent FAQs http://www.bahairights.org/2009/05/04/recent-faqs/ Defending the human rights of the Baha'i minority Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:25:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Bill http://www.bahairights.org/2009/05/04/recent-faqs/#comment-1699 Bill Wed, 06 May 2009 20:24:27 +0000 http://www.bahairights.org/?p=1045#comment-1699 Thank you for once again responding to our dear Muslim friends who ask these questions. Far too many have accepted without investigation the hate-filled propaganda directed at the Baha'is in some parts of the Islamic world. Fearful of what they have been told that the Baha'i Faith represents, they close their minds and hearts to any independent investigation. When you befriend Baha'is and actually study Baha'i sacred literature freed of preconceptions, it becomes impossible to hold onto these false notions and prejudices that have been propagated by clerics and politicians who insist on a stranglehold over the minds of men. I am a Baha'i. On forum after forum, I patiently explain that the existence of the Baha'i center in Haifa is no more a sign of Zionism than is the existence of al-Aqsa and the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem. If any Muslim believes that the Baha'i Center being in Haifa is a sign of Zionism, then he must work diligently to have Islam remove its shrines from Jerusalem, for that can only mean the same thing. In the end, what is behind these attacks on the Baha'is is the fear of the Baha'i belief that God has sent a Messenger after Muhammad. Muslims are free to disagree with that and argue against it. But by what verse of God's Holy Qur'an is it acceptable to harass, beat, insult, imprison, or kill someone who believes otherwise? "Let there be no compulsion in religion" and "To you your religion, to me my religion" are the overarching principle. May the one true God bless you for your work on behalf of my Baha'i brethren. May all receive the rights that God gave to every human being. Human rights are God-given rights. Thank you for once again responding to our dear Muslim friends who ask these questions. Far too many have accepted without investigation the hate-filled propaganda directed at the Baha’is in some parts of the Islamic world. Fearful of what they have been told that the Baha’i Faith represents, they close their minds and hearts to any independent investigation. When you befriend Baha’is and actually study Baha’i sacred literature freed of preconceptions, it becomes impossible to hold onto these false notions and prejudices that have been propagated by clerics and politicians who insist on a stranglehold over the minds of men.

I am a Baha’i. On forum after forum, I patiently explain that the existence of the Baha’i center in Haifa is no more a sign of Zionism than is the existence of al-Aqsa and the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem. If any Muslim believes that the Baha’i Center being in Haifa is a sign of Zionism, then he must work diligently to have Islam remove its shrines from Jerusalem, for that can only mean the same thing.

In the end, what is behind these attacks on the Baha’is is the fear of the Baha’i belief that God has sent a Messenger after Muhammad. Muslims are free to disagree with that and argue against it. But by what verse of God’s Holy Qur’an is it acceptable to harass, beat, insult, imprison, or kill someone who believes otherwise? “Let there be no compulsion in religion” and “To you your religion, to me my religion” are the overarching principle.

May the one true God bless you for your work on behalf of my Baha’i brethren. May all receive the rights that God gave to every human being. Human rights are God-given rights.

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