Interpretation of Chapter of Hajj

MOHAMMED REZA ISFAHANI

The Baha’i Viewpoint

Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئِينَ وَالنَّصَارَى وَالْمَجُوسَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

\"Those who believe (in the Qur\'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for Allah is witness of all things.\"

(Ref: Chapter of Hajj, verse 17)

Baha’is interpret this verse as follows - The Day on which this judgment between the communities will take place is the day of advent of the great messenger, which is the \"greater\" Day of Judgment. The name of this great messenger, as per the traditions, is Maseeh or Hussein.

Our Response:

1. The Baha’is want to fit every verse and tradition onto the personality of Mirza Hussein Ali Bahaullah. But this is wrong, as the verse clearly states that the one who will judge between people is Allah Himself, and not any prophet or messenger - neither Maseeh nor Hussein.

2. The Baha’i interpretation of the verse is also incorrect for the simple reason that the \"great messenger\" Bahaullah has come and gone, implying that the \"major\" Day of Judgment is over (as per Baha’is). He was followed by a new \"prophet\" Abdul Baha who is also no longer in this world. Yet, the differences between the communities are far from being solved. Forget about resolution, conflicts between the communities remain as stark as ever. The next prophet prophesised by Bahaullah will come after a long term of 1,000 years. So will these conflicts continue till then. And if the new prophet is to resolve these conflicts, then how come this verse of Quran is being associated with Bahaullah?

Conclusion:

Baha’is have this irritating habit of taking any verse and quoting and interpreting it out of context. We pray to Allah that he hasten the reappearance of His last Proof, Hazrat Mahdi (as) who on his advent, will fill the earth with justice and equality and put an end to this meaningless interpretation of the Quran.

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