Baha\'u\'llah and Animals!
Courtesy and politeness are moral and ethical values that all true Prophets and Messengers of God advocate and abide too. Baha’is claim that their leader Baha’u’llah, has put a great emphasis on this topic. They cite quotes from him such as:
“O people of God! I admonish you to observe courtesy, for above all else it is the prince of virtues. Well is it with him who is illumined with the light of courtesy and is attired with the vesture of uprightness. Whoso is endued with courtesy hath indeed attained a sublime station.â€Â (Baha’u’llah,Tablets of Baha’u’llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 88)
The question is: was Baha’u’llah a courteous man himself and referred to other people with courtesy and politeness? Apparently not. Baha’u’llah refers to those who denied him and his enemies as pigs, donkeys, and dogs. He calls the followers of the Bab who refused to acknowledge him donkeys:
“یا ایها الØمیر ØÙ‚ آنچه بÙرماید ØÙ‚ است Ùˆ بکلمات مشرکین باطل نشودâ€
“Oh you donkeys! Whatever God says is the truth and will not become void by the words of the polytheists (deniers of Baha’ism).â€Â (Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i badi`, p. 174 [see scan below])
He referred to his enemies as dogs and beasts:
“Encompassed as I am at this time by the dogs of the earth and the beasts of every land, concealed as I remain in the hidden habitation of Mine inner Being.â€(Baha’u’llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 4)
In the midst of criticizing a person by the name of Shaykh Abdu’l-Husayn, Baha’u’llah refers to him as a pig and says:
“ا٠لک یا خنزیر Ùˆ بما اکتسبت یداکâ€
“Woe unto you pig for what you have committed.â€Â (Abdu’l-Hamid Ishraq Khavari, Rahiq-i makhtum, p. 27 [see scan below])
These words are uttered by the same Baha’u’llah that states:
“We, verily, have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark of such as are nigh unto Him. Courtesy, is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether young or old. Well is it with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe unto him who is deprived of this great bounty.â€Â (Baha’u’llah, Proclamation of Baha’u’llah, p. 20)
Baha’is deem it appropriate for their leader to refer to those that deny him as pigs, dogs, and donkeys. How will they react if a non-Baha’i calls a Baha’i a pig, dog, or donkey? Without doubt, great outrage will ensue.