The Practice of Taqaiyyah (Dissimulation) in the Babi and

Baha’i Faith - Part IV

IMRAN SHAYKH

Pressure from the Family

In many cases the emotional pressure and physical harassment by the members of the immediate family coerce the new converts into observing Taqaiyyah. Some chose not to disclose their new affiliation with the family right from the start. From the family\'s point of view, public disclosure of their member\'s new faith was an open invitation for unwanted persecutions. It was a preamble to provoking the enmity of their neighbors and imposition of economic and social embargoes on the whole family. The easiest way out of the crisis was encouraging the \'wayward\' member to observe Taqaiyyah.

Recognition of the new faith caused many families to be disrupted, separated or even destroyed. The other members of the family with reputation, business or influence in the old system, those who wanted to achieve a higher status in the existing order or those who simply wanted to protect the status quo did not want to be drawn in to a raging conflict over religion. Whence they treated the \'wayward\' family member with the utmost contempt.

• \"Mirza Abu\'l Fadl conveyed this point to Prince Kamran Mirza who planned to massacre the Bahais in Tehran: \'Many Bahais conceal their faith to such an extent that their immediate family members remain unaware of their faith. Their identification is not possible by peaceful means.\' 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 4, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 291)
• \"Mulla Alyaz was a Jewish Physician in Hamadan. When he declared his interest in the faith to his father, his family became alarmed. His father - the influential leader of the local Jewish Community in Hamadan - concerned at the potential danger facing the Jewish minority at the hands of the Ulama and the mob, insisted that his son reconsider this matter. Mulla Alyaz became a Babi without his father\'s knowledge and concealed this matter from him for a considerable period of time. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 6, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 700)
• \"Mirza Aqa Ismu\'llah Moniru\'l Monib had a merchant father who was a hard line Shiite. He was extremely opposed to the Báb and the Babis. When Monib became a Babi, he initially practiced Taqaiyyah and concealed the matter from his father. A short time later he experienced a spiritually transformation, spending a considerable time in meditation and displaying outward signs of emotional attachment to the Cause. When his father found out, he took his son to the outskirts of Kashan in the company of a few of his colleagues. He then ordered them to kill his own son and abandon his body. After Monib pleaded with his father, he reluctantly agreed to free him on the condition that he leave the city and never return. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 6, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 641)
• \"Mirza Aqa Rekab-Saz was forced to practice Taqaiyyah in Yazd after his wife made a formal complaint to the Governor. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 6, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 874)
• \"Mulla Abul\'Hasan Ardikani observed Taqaiyyah and concealed his beliefs from his immediate family until the final day of his life. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 6, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 869)
• \"The relatives of Shaykh Zainu\'l Abedin Abrari encouraged him to practice Taqaiyyah in public. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 6, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 817)

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