The Bahai faith

[Shereen]

Here in New Zealand too there is 'Bahai' faith. It's like many religious groups & beliefs in one faith. What kind of faith is that? They believe in someone named 'Bahaullah'. So what do they believe in? Do they believe in Allah? Would they be included as a 'sect' of Islam?


Share ur views & also information about the Bahai faith

[SisterJennifer]

Asalaamu alikum,


I met a woman last fall who was Bahai. It was the first time I ever heard of these people. They are not a branch of Islam at all, but they consider themselves kind of like an extension of it. They believe in all of the Prophets from Adam through Muhammad peace be upon them. They claim that very shortly after the death of Prophet Muhammad another man claiming to be Prophet showed up I believe she said in Iran, and this is the man they follow and the founder of the Bahai faith.


But we know of course there is no Prophet after Muhammad.


They follow a calander different than ours. They have a month they call Ramadan and they fast but much different than we do, they have some sort of book they read and in it has a bunch oif similiar phrases said by various Prophets.


They believe in Allah but in what sense Im not sure.


Asalaamu alikum

[NaSra]

Asalamalaikum


The Baha'is believe in the religion brought by Baha'uddin, who was banished from Iran for religious ideas. He claimed that he was the 'Father Himself' and that the Day of Judgement was his coming.


For a detailed view on what Islam thinks of Baha'ism please go to


http://www.angelfire.com/journal/baha/Bahaiclaims.htm


For a detailed description of their 'laws' please go to http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/bahai/intro6.htm and see how different they are to Islam.

[NaSra]

I found a fatwa, insha'Allah this is better to understand then the previous sites i posted.


Details of Fatwa


Title of Fatwa The Baha’i Sect: History & Beliefs


Date of Fatwa 16/ December/ 2003


Date of Reply 16/ December/ 2003


Topic Of Fatwa: Sects


Question of Fatwa:

I have been Muslim all my life, but as of late have been studying the Baha’i faith. What can you tell me about this faith, if anything, in its relationship to Islam? What is Islam's position regarding it as a valid and holy religion? 

Name of Mufti: Sheikh 'Atiyyah Saqr



Content of Reply:


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.


As regards the Baha’i sect and their faith and dogmas, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, issued the following fatwa:


<b>“Historically speaking, the Baha’iyyah is a Shiite sect that was named after one of its leaders, Husayn Nuri. This faith emerged as a Shiite sect that was led by some Shiites who totally deviated from Islam. It first started at the hands of Ahmad Al-Ahsani or Al-Bahrini, who was notable among scholars in Karbila’, An-Najaf, and Iran. He has authored some books based on which he was accused of worshipping `Ali ibn Abi Talib. He was also accused of denying the resurrection of humans’ bodies, claiming that it would be merely a spiritual resurrection. His followers were called “Ash-Shaykhiyyah” and he died during the twenties of the ninetieth century. </b>


Kazim Ar-Rashti became leader after Al-Ahsani, and after his death in 1843 CE, there came Mirza `Ali Muhammad Ash-Shirazi, who was defied by the Iranian Government. After many debates between the Iranian Government and the Baha’i adherents, the former executed their leader then, Al-Bab, in 1850 CE, in Tabriz, then his corpse was carried to `Akka where he was buried.


Husayn Nuri (Al-Baha’), the one who came after Al-Bab, was very active in spreading the Baha’i faith and he wrote several books, foremost among them is al-Kitab al-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book). He died in `Akka, 1892 CE, where he was buried at the foot of Mount Carmel. His son, `Abbas Afandi, succeeded him in leading the sect and he died during the 1920s. Since then, the sect was divided into sub-sects and they no longer have a leader from the progeny of the founders. Instead, their affairs are maintained by one of the centers they established themselves.


Some Baha’i principles and beliefs:



1. Incarnation: Al-Bab claimed that Allah was personified in him. Also, he claimed himself to be god after his claim to prophethood. The same was claimed by `Abbas Afandi.


2. Inseparability of Allah from the world as claimed by some ancient philosophers.


3. Denial of the Day of Judgment. They interpret Paradise as the spiritual life, and Fire as the spiritual death.


4. Denial of the Prophets’ miracles and interpreting them as immaterial things, though they admit the possibility of prophethood. This shows the contradiction in their ideas and beliefs.


5. Claiming that they receive Divine Revelation (wahy) and writing books they claim to be better than the Glorious Qur’an.


6. The prophets were not sealed or finalized by Prophet Muhammad; the seal, to them, means the best, as claimed by the Qadyanis.


7. Going so far in interpreting the Glorious Qur’an – which they do not completely adhere to, but still use – to propagate their beliefs and “innovations”. There are many of these deviant and odd interpretations in one of their propagators’ books (Abu Al-Fadl Al-Garfadqani), entitled Ad-Durar Al-Bahiyyah.


8. There are many branches of their belief, foremost among which are the following:


a- The divine nature of the number “19” which is a Jewish concept. To them, the year consists of 19 months, the month consists of 19 days.


b- Lastly, they tried to interpret the Glorious Qur’an in the light of that “Divine” number. To them, prayer consists of 9 rak`ahs (i.e. prayer units). Their qiblah (i.e. direction of prayer) is where the Baha’ is. To them, it is a must to denounce Hajj and moreover, they should demolish the Sacred House when they are able to.


Based on the above, we conclude that Baha’ism is a mixture of various religions, sects and philosophies. It is vague and has nothing to do with reform. Instead, it is a movement meant to defy all religions that had been manipulated by international colonialism. It is similar to masonry in that both of them are anti-religion by using deceiving slogans, such as the service to humanity, and achieving international brotherhood and justice. `Abbas declared that he wanted to unite the Muslims, Christians and Jews and bring them together on the principles and Law of Moses (Musa) in whom they all believe. (Quoted from `Abd Al-Baha’ wal-Baha’iyyah, p. 87-93)


The detailed critical refutation of such deviant beliefs cannot be given within the limited scope of a fatwa. Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee issued a Fatwa that whosoever converts from Islam to Baha’iyyah is an apostate;
his/her marriage will be invalid, even if he is married to a Baha’i just like himself.


For further elaboration, read my books Dirasat Islamiyyah li ahamm al-Qadayah al-Mu`asirah (Islamic Studies of the Most Important Contemporary Issues), and Al-Babiyyya wa al-Baha’iyya: Tarikhan wa Madhhaban (Al-Babiyyya and al-Baha’iyya: History and Doctrine).”


The ahmadiya and Bahais are not muslims.

[Shereen]

So, now it's clear that Bhai' faith isn't Islamic one [img]style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img]


To me it's like every 3 religions mostly (Judaism, Christian & Islam) mixed together....and coming up wid something different altogether

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Jazaki Allah khairan katheeran Intuition for this detailed reply it really added much. Alhamdulelah, I had a slight and brief idea in the sense that they are not Muslims. But had not idea about the details.


La hawla wala qowata ila billah


May Allah Protect us all and take us while we are Muslims ameen

[mohsie]

I have a friend who is a Baha'i, and we have had a few discussions on religion. From what I understand, they believe that Baha'ullah (their founder) was a Rasool of God (who they don't call by the name Allah). They say that Prophet Muhammad (saw) was a seal of the "Nabi", but not a seal of the "Rasool". They say that they believe in the Taurat, Injil and the Qur'an. They say that for each groups of people, there was a different religion... i.e. during the time of Prophet Musa, Judaism was the religion, which was then changed to Christianity, and then later to Islam. Now, they believe that Baha'i is the "next" religion in the series. Although they say that they believe in the Qur'an, they hardly follow ANY of the teachings as far as I have seen. There was one book written by a Muslim who had converted to Baha'i, in which he had taken a few Ayahs from the Qur'an and interpreted them in his own way to justify "Baha'i-ism". Inshallah I'll try to get details of this book and post the info here as soon as I can...


They also have their official website at http://www.bahai.org with a lot more information

[Al Furqaan]

Baha'is



1. Mirza `Ali Muhammad ("Bab"), born 1235 AH. Claimed to be the bab (precursor to the Mahdi) in, 1260. Arrested and imprisoned, then executed in 1265 AH.


2. Mirza Husayn `Ali ("Baha'ullah") was imprisoned for four months, then was released and fled to `Iraq in 1269 AH. Remained there 12 years inviting to his religion, then was exiled to Istanbul, and imprisoned for 5 years, after which he was moved to `Aka, where he died in 1309 AH.


* Give esoteric meanings to the Qur'ân.


* Believe that they are a continuation of Islam!


* Believe that the Hereafter is now!


Truth Regarding Baha'ullah


http://www.answeringbahaullah.com/

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


I am here just to welcome brother Al Furqan to the board.