STUDY
OF QUR'ÁN
(Concerning
School Program)
"With
regard to the school's program (Louhelen) for the next summer; the
Guardian
would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a
thorough
study of the Qur'án, as the knowledge of this sacred Scripture is
absolutely
indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately
understand
and intelligently read, the writings of Bahá'u'lláh.
Although
there
are very few persons among Western Bahá'ís who are capable
of
handling
such a course in a scholarly way, the mere lack of such competent
teachers
should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better
acquainted
with the Sacred Scriptures of Islám. In this way, there will
gradually
appear some distinguished Bahá'ís who will be so well versed
in
the
teachings of Islám as to be able to guide the believers in their
study
of
that religion."
--
Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 63
The
passage above states the need for a "thorough
study of the Qur'án,
as
the knowledge of this sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable
for
every believer who wishes to adequately understand and
intelligently
read, the writings of Bahá'u'lláh."
This is at variance
with
the writings of Baha'u'llah below, regarding the qualities needed
to
understand the holy writings. The references from the Iqan, Quran
and
Bible also point to purity and spiritual qualities being the
fundamental
basis for understanding the holy texts and their hidden
meanings.
Those who lack such qualities, "those in whose hearts is
perversity"
(Quran 3:7), "the wicked" (Bible 12:10), "perishable and
barren
soil" (Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 48) will not understand the holy
writings.
The
understanding of His words and the comprehension of the utterances
of
the Birds of Heaven are in no wise dependent upon human learning.
They
depend solely upon purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom
of
spirit. This is evidenced by those who, today, though without a single
letter
of the accepted standards of learning, are occupying the loftiest
seats
of knowledge; and the garden of their hearts is adorned, through
the
showers of divine grace, with the roses of wisdom and the tulips of
understanding.
Well is it with the sincere in heart for their share of the
light
of a mighty Day!
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 211
This
sign of the revelation of the Divine Being in them that have joined
partners
with Him may, in a sense, be regarded as a reflection of the glory
with
which the faithful are illumined. None, however, can comprehend this
truth
save men endued with understanding. They that have truly recognized
the
Unity of God should be regarded as the primary manifestations of this
Name.
It
is they who have quaffed the wine of Divine Unity from the cup
which
the hand of God hath proffered unto them, and who have turned their
faces
towards Him. How vast the distance that separateth these sanctified
beings
from those men that are so far away from God!...
--
Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah,
p. 191
Know
verily that the purpose underlying all these symbolic terms and abstruse
allusions,
which emanate from the Revealers of God's holy Cause, hath been to
test
and prove the peoples of the world; that thereby the earth of the pure
and
illuminated
hearts may be known from the perishable and barren soil. From time
immemorial
such hath been the way of God amidst His creatures, and to this
testify
the records of the sacred books.
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 48
From
the Quran, explanation of allegorical writings. The example below is
the
prophecy about the coming of the Bab (first Trumpet) and Baha'u'llah
(second
Trumpet).
3:7
He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic
or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of
the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity
follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching
for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God.
And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the
Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:" and none will grasp the Message
except men of understanding.
--
Qur'an: 3 - AL-I-IMRAN
39:18
Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it:
those are the ones whom God has guided, and those are the ones endued
with understanding.
--
Quran: 39 - AZ-ZUMAR
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, 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, when, behold, they will be standing
and looking on!
39:69
And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord: the Record
(of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will
be brought forward 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.
--
Qur'an: 39 - AZ-ZUMAR
From the Bible, where Daniel
fortells the coming of Baha'u'llah - explained in
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Some
Answered Questions, p. 44
12:9
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end.
12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall
do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise
shall
understand.
12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two
hundred and ninety days.
12:12
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and
five and thirty days.
12:13
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in
thy
lot at the end of the days.
--
Bible: Daniel
