The Advent of The Prophets

MOHAMMED REZA ISFAHANI

The Baha’i Viewpoint

The Baha’is quote the following verse of the Chapter of Baqarah and as always, interpret it wrongly. The verse informs us:

\"Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. And only those unto whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them, through hatred one of another. And Allah by His Will guided those who believe unto the truth of that concerning which they differed. Allah guides whom He will unto a straight path.\"

The Baha’is say that it is the tradition of Allah and His firm law that when the scholars of the community, despite the revelation of clear proofs, create differences amongst themselves; and are unable to resolve the religious disputes within themselves, then a need arises for a third party to step in to find a solution. In such a time, Allah Himself intervenes and sends from His side, prophets along with the Book which is His message on the Truth. Those who submit to this Divine decree are those who are guided to the right path. These differences and disputes are no small matter. They tear the social fabric and are a cause for the command of Allah to be disobeyed as is seen currently. These disputes can turn out to be so severe that none other than Allah can resolve them for they are tantamount to polytheism (Shirk). Only Allah can save the community from this Shirk. Therefore He intervenes Himself and proclaims His Divine decree. This message is conveyed through directly by Allah through His prophets and messengers. On the Day when the prophets address their communities is the day known as the Day of Qiyamat; The Day of Judgment and the Day of the Religion - the Day of standing and reckoning - the Day when one dies and is reborn - the Day on which the religion of Allah is revealed to His prophet. This is the Day when the celestial trumpet is blown which implies that the prophet announces the message of Allah to His people. Through this message, a \"dead\" community is brought back to \"life\" and religion is \"enlivened.\" Those who submit to this message are spiritually brought back to life and through them a new, rejuvenated community is born. And those who reject the words of Allah are condemned to the Hell of humiliation and degradation.

By this logic, the advent of Hazrat Adam (as) was Qiyamat - and the day on which Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Nuh (as) announced their message was Qiyamat. The arrival of Hazrat Musa (as) was Qiyamat - the advent of Hazrat Isa (as) was Qiyamat - even the rising of the Seal of the Prophets, Hazrat Mohammed Mustafa (pbuh) was Qiyamat. Since it is the day on which a prophet arises in his community, it is called the Day of Rising. Since it is the day when a prophet is heralded to bring to an end the disputes in the community, it is called as the Day of Judgment. Since it is the tradition and custom of Allah to send prophets at regular intervals to \"enliven\" the dead community, how is it possible that the current Muslim Ummah can escape it?

Our Response

Indeed, the imagination of the Baha’is has been working overtime through their analysis of this verse. Pay attention to these points:

1. The advent of prophets was only for giving glad tidings and warning the community.

2. To dispel the differences amongst the people, prophets were sent with a Book.

3. The dispute was limited to those communities where a Book was revealed.

4. After receiving the Book with clear proofs, the people indulged in disputes and created differences.

5. The scholars of religion were the one who gave birth to these differences.

6. These disputes were tantamount to Shirk.

7. The advent of prophets was the Day of Judgment and the Day of Reckoning

8. The Day of Rising and the Day of the Trumpet is the day on which the prophets announced their message to the world.

It is interesting to note that in the above verse, there is no allusion to the word \"scholars.\" Rather the word used is \"Naas\" which means people. There is no lexicon in which the word people means scholars or vice verse.

If it is the scholars who split the society with their differences, then what can be said of the Babi scholars who created such a furore in the society? Was this the reason then that the new religion - the Baha’i Faith was born just 7 years after the death of the Bab?

The religion of the Babis was torn apart with the strife between two Babi scholars - Mirza Hussain Ali Noori (Bahaullah) and Mirza Yahya (Subhe Azal). If they created the differences, then as per the logic of the Baha’is, a third person, rather a separate prophet, should have resolved the dispute between them. But in this case, we see that Bahaullah himself announced his elevation to prophethood.

As has been enumerated above, if the scholars of religion created differences amongst the people, and hence the need arose for a prophet to bring about a solution to the conflict, then what can be said about the advent of Hazrat Adam (as)? The Baha’is say that he too was a prophet/ But at the time of Hazrat Adam (as), there was no person there and no conflict. The entire theory of the Baha’is with regards to this verse collapses in the case of Hazrat Adam (as).

If we apply this logic of the Baha’is to the present day circumstances, then we will need a new prophet very soon as the entire Baha’i community itself is engulfed in disputes and strife. To my memory, there are no less than 10 different sects of the Baha’i Faith and interestingly, each sect curses the other and refuses contact of any kind. Ironically, these sects are present in a community whose mantra is one world, one people and one faith...

The Baha’is should explain how they have arrived at the conclusion that disputes amongst the people are tantamount to Shirk. They should produce at least one verse, one traditions or one book of Arabic which conveys this meaning.

As per the Baha’is, the one who unites the people and judges between them is called a prophet and the day he conveys his message is Qiyamat. Then what does one have to say about the right given to the Bab that he can exchange the wives of men amongst them (Ref: Nuqtatul Qaf)

If the conflict between scholars is called as Shirk, then Bahaullah and his half brother Mirza Yahya are the first who did Shirk for they fought bitterly amongst themselves. And given that the present day Baha’is are fighting amongst themselves to establish which is the legitimate and original Baha’i sect, then the entire Baha’i community is Mushrik (polytheists).

Let us turn towards the Holy Quran to see how the concept of Qiyamat has been revealed for us:

Unto each nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord. Lo! thou indeed follow right guidance. And if they wrangle with thee, say: Allah is best aware of what ye do. Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein ye used to differ. 
(Ref: Chapter of Hajj, verses 67-68)

After reading the above verse, my readers can decide whether Qiyamat (Day of Resurrection) is the day of the advent of the prophets,

or

Is it the day of retribution for those people who differed with the prophets - individuals like Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl who fought with the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh)? As per the Baha’is, the day of the advent of the prophet and his announcement is the Day of Judgment. But pay attention to the verse - the dispute was not between the scholars. Rather, it was between the prophets and the non-prophets.

As per the Baha’is, after the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh), the new prophets are either Mirza Mohammed Ali Bab or Mirza Hussain Ali Noori Bahaullah. Neither the Holy Prophet (pbuh) nor Abu Jahl or Abu Lahab remained till the time the Bab and Bahaullah. So where was the question of Qiyamat for them? The sun on the Day of Judgment will never appear for them as they were never present at the time of the Bab and Bahaullah – the new prophets for this age. Such mindless beliefs can only come from the Baha’is. If one spends time thinking about their concepts, he can reach nowhere. It is better for us to refer back to the Holy Quran to observe the consequences for the ones who opposed the prophets.

While describing the result of those who fought with the prophets and rejected their words, the Holy Quran says,

(O Prophet!), If you could but see when they are confronted with the Fire! They will say: \"Would that we were but sent back! Then would we not reject the signs of our Lord, but would be amongst those who believe! Nay, but that hath become clear unto them which before they used to hide. And if they were sent back they would return unto that which they are forbidden. Lo! they are liars. And they say: There is naught save our life of the world, and

we shall not be raised (again).\" 
(Ref: Chapter of The Cattle, verse 27-29)

The Holy Quran is a guide for us till today. It arguments are sufficient to break down the poorly constructed theories of the Baha’is. If we pay attention to the above verse - if opposing the prophet causes man to be engulfed in the Hell of humiliation and degradation in this world, then why would Allah ask the prophet \"if only he could see\" The people and the enemies of the prophet were before him - who was he supposed to see.

And if Hell was in this world, then why would the disbelievers be Allah to be \"sent back\" Sent back where? The prophet was before their very eyes. They could have easily accepted his words and submitted to his prophethood.

Then Allah reasons - \"If they were sent back, there would not be any change found in them;they would commit the same mistakes.\"

The last part of the verse seems to be revealed for the Baha’is and people like them - Lo! they are liars. And they say: There is naught save our life of the world, and we shall not be raised (again).

For surely, it is the Baha’is who reject the Islamic concept of Qiyamat and say that we will not be brought back to life.

Conclusion:

The reason why the Baha’is, through their beliefs like this, raise their propaganda throughout the word is two-fold.

One, they wish to corrupt the beliefs of the Muslims. And secondly, by highlighting that there is no physical Heaven or Hell, or rather, life after death, it becomes easy for them to spread corruption in this world, in this life.

Muslims need to be aware of the hidden objectives of the Baha’is and remain alert in the face of such arguments presented by them.

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