The accusation of spying by Baha’is and its background

Republished by: Bahaismiran

Although Abdul-Baha tried to satisfy the authorities of Ottoman government by means of spurious and flattering supplications, but “Jamal Pasha”, the Ottoman commander-in-chief, was very suspicious of him and found him guilty.

The following story is narrated by Abdul-Baha:

“When Jamal Pasha(1) arrived in Akka and wanted to visit me, I got on a donkey and went to his home. When he saw me, he received me and seated me beside himself and suddenly said to me: you are a seditious man in religion and that’s why the Iran government had exiled you.

But I thought he is Turk(2) and I should reply him in a ridiculous and silencing manner.”(3)

This suspicion had a background and although Shoghi Effendi tried to overlook it, but intelligent people who are familiar with the policies of the Old colonialist (England) will find out the truth.

Let’s review Shoghi Effendi’s narrations about this matter and then you can judge yourself. After pretending the claim that people welcome Baha’u’llah, he claimed:

“Functionaries of foreign governments, attempted, in their short-sightedness, to secure His support and assistance for the furtherance of the designs they cherished; designs which He unhesitatingly and severely condemned.”(4) (God passes by. Part 2, p.83)

The people who are familiar with politics will understand this part nicely; the functionaries of foreign government “in their short-sightedness!” found thoroughly that they can “secure His support and assistance for the furtherance of the designs they cherished”. Now, the question is that if they are short-sighted, how do they find the fact that Baha’u’llah is a good agent to help them to achieve their political goals?

Anyhow, they found the truth and that’s why:

“Nor was the then representative of the British government, Colonel Sir Arnold Burrows Kimball, consul-general in Baghdad, insensible of the position which Baha’u’llah now occupied. Entering into friendly correspondence with Him, he, as testified by Baha’u’llah Himself, offered Him the protection of British citizenship, called on Him in person, and undertook to transmit to Queen Victoria any communication He might wish to forward to her. He even expressed his readiness to arrange for the transfer of His residence to India, or to any place agreeable to Him. This suggestion Baha’u’llah declined, choosing to abide in the dominions of the Sultan of Turkey.”( Kitab-e Qarn-e Badi, vol.2, p. 134, (Persian copy) .God passes by. Part 2, p.83, (English copy))

These points can be concluded from the Shoghi Effenfi’s words:

1-   Representative of the British government, Colonel Sir Arnold Burrows Kimball, consul-general in Baghdad, was not aware of the high position of Baha’u’llah.

2-   After this sensibility (maybe completely Divine and spiritual!), he wrote a letter to Baha’u’llah.

3-   The consul- general offered Him the official protection of British government.

4-   And emphasized that Great Britain Empire is ready to imitate and follow Baha’u’llah!

It seems Shoghi Effendi’s intention is the suggestion of citizenship of Britain government to Baha’u’llah.

5-   In their meeting, the Consul- General undertook to transmit to Queen Victoria any communication He might wish to forward to her.

6-   Consul- General expressed his readiness to arrange for the transfer of His residence to India, or to any place agreeable to Him.

7-   Baha’u’llah declined all the offerings and preferred to abide in the domain of the Sultan of Turkey (Ottoman Empire).

Later on, after the hidden and obvious relations of Abdul-Baha and Britain government, the reasons of such compliments by consul-general and denials by Baha’u’llah became obvious; At those days, Baha’u’llah was under the protection of Tzari Russian state and he enjoyed the obvious supports of them (he was condemned to death because of his collaboration with the agents of the Nasiridin Shah’s terror. Then by the efforts of the Russian Ambassador he was released),so it was not advisable to have a relation with England which was known as the Russian political competitor!

But according to narrations of his son (Abdul-Baha), Baha’u’llah had revealed some tablets about Britain to pave the way for their support in future:

“Although the justice and good politics of the glorious government of Britain had been mentioned in the blest tablets of Baha’u’llah but now it became apparent. Actually, the people of this land experience convenience and comfort after great sufferings.”(Makatib, vol.3, p.346)

We are not sure about the revelation of such tablet by Baha’u’llah, because these expressions are narrated by Abdul-Baha when the Ottoman Empire had been disintegrated and Palestine had been occupied by the Britain. Maybe these words are attributed to Baha’u’llah (by Abdul-Baha) as a prediction before the victory of Britain!.

But if we accept the truth of this claim,  by considering the words of Baha’u’llah about the justice of Britain empire and their good policy, and considering the future events and the role of Abdul-Baha in those events, it will be obvious that although according to Shoghi Effendi, the functionaries of foreign governments could not secure Baha’u’llah’s  support and assistance for the furtherance of the designs they cherished, but they could profit the presence of Abdul-Baha for  their achievements thoroughly.

It should be mentioned that not only the short-sighted politics of Britain but also not well informed politics of French were sensible about the loftiness of the positions of Baha’u’llah . They wanted to reap the benefits of Bahaullah’s assistances and achieve their political and materialistic goals. When he was in Adrianople:

“The deputy consul of France who was one of the friends of Baha’u’llah, came to visit him secretly and had a private meeting with him, it took about 30 minutes. Officials were not aware of their talks. He had said to Baha’u’llah: if you become disgusted with Islam and introduce yourself as an allegiance of France, we will support you”(A.Ayati, Al-kavakeb Al-dorrieh, vol.1, p.380,381)

These points can be gathered from Shoghi Effendi’s words:

1-   Baha’u’llah had a record of friendship with deputy consul of France and we don’t know anything about the reason of this friendship.

2-   The deputy consul came to visit Baha’u’llah secretly, as if the officials were not aware of that meeting.

3-   He requested Baha’u’llah at that short meeting to become disgusted with Islam and to be a citizen of France.

4-   If he accepts their suggestions, the France government will support him.

We don’t know what the deputy consul means when he asked Baha’u’llah to disgust Islam, but it is necessary to know that:

a-    Baha’u’llah’s behavior had been in the manner that French people supposed him as a Muslim.

b-   But actually, he wasn’t a Muslim at those days; because in the story of “Badasht”, Islam had been abrogated by the Babis, who were present over there, and Bahaullah was one of them.

So maybe, the France government intention had been leaving the citizenship of Iran by disgusting Islam!

Although Baha’u’llah declined those offerings too, but really we don’t know what was in the behavior of Baha’u’llah which attracts all the colonial countries!?

The Frenchmen had been attracted not only by the characteristics of Baha’u’llah but also by the characteristics of his son, Abdul-Baha.

Abdul-Baha expressed his opinions in the tablets  revealed for Abulfazl Golpayegani:

“I received some letters from Tehran in which the authorities of the French embassy insisted to send some of Bahai teachers to Africa, Algeria, and Tunis; and they promise to observe and prepare the conditions for teaching the people of those countries.”( Eshraq Khavari, “Maideh Asemani”, vol.9, p.43, 49. This book consists of some tablets of Baha’u’llah, Abdul-Baha, and Shoghi Effendi.)

It is very surprising that the Frenchmen worried about the religion and spiritual affairs of their colonial countries to the extent that he insisted to send the Baha’i teachers over there! Why didn’t they invite them to Paris?! What was their intention by asking Abdul-Baha to teach the people of the colonial regions while the French authorities promised to collaborate with them thoroughly?

The wise people will understand the goals of colonialists behind those sympathetic and spiritual requests!