Abdul Baha\'s failed prophecy : All Iranian Jews will soon convert to Baha\'ism

Iranian Jews pray at the tomb of Harav Oursharga, one of the holiest Jewish sites in Iran, in the city of Yazd 420 miles (676 kilometers) south of capital Tehran. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) – 2014

In one of his letters on the occasion of the death of a number of Baha’is in Yazd and Isfahan, Abdu’l-Baha tries to blame the Scholars of Iran for their death and claims these deaths were the result of the Jealousy of Shia scholars due to the massive conversion of Persians to Baha’ism. This is what he states in a section of this letter that is part of the suppressed Baha’i texts that Baha’is simply refuse to translate to English:

“In summary, in these days the scholars of the Shia [belief], meaning the former religion of Iran, noticed that the call of God has been raised, and the East and West have stirred, the lights of the sun of truth have spread to such an extent that the eyes have become illuminated, the flag of the cause of God has been hoisted, the people enter by troops under the word of God (i.e. they are converting to Baha’ism), and the Shia have become Baha’is. Even the Israelites (Jews) are so excited and astonished that soon not a single one of them will remain in Iran but that he will be guided to the highest guidance (i.e. he would become a Baha’i). Also the majority of the Parsis (Zoroastrians), who are the ancient people of Iran and deny all the Prophets like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad), testify and admit that all Books, Messengers, and Divine Prophets [are legitimate] and with the utmost truthfulness and serenity have become Baha’is. This has become a source of animosity and jealousy for the evil scholars…” (Abdu’l-Baha, Makatib [Letters], vol. 3, pp. 124-125)

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The aforementioned paragraph is replete with false statements:

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1- Shia Islam is called the “former religion of Iran” thus making it seem that Baha’ism is now officially the religion of Iranians and most of the population have converted to Baha’ism. The intention to induce such a meaning is evident from what Abdu’l-baha states in the remainder of the paragraph.

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2- It is stated that “the people enter by troops under the word of God (i.e. they are converting to Baha’ism), and the Shia have become Baha’is.” This is also false because the percentage of Baha’i converts in Iran among the population was minute and still is.

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3- He claims “Even the Israelites (Jews) are so excited and astonished that ere long not a single one of them will remain in Iran but that he will be guided to the highest guidance (i.e. they will all become Baha’is).” This is obviously false and a failed prophecy because more than a century has passed since this claim was made but Iran still retains the second-highest Jewish population in the middle-east.

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4- He also claims that the majority of Zoroastrians are now Baha’is. The falsity of this sentence is self-evident and needs no further explanation.

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If one were to read these statements in light of Baha’i claims about the station of Abdu’l-Baha, including the infallibility of his Pen,[1] his superhuman knowledge,[2] the reception of direct inspirations from Baha’u’llah,[3] his own claims about knowing everything when he wants,[4] and that whatever he says is fact,[5] it would quickly become clear that these statements are all part of a great deception.

[1] “Little wonder that from the same unerring pen there should have flowed, after Abdu’l-Baha’s memorable visit to the West” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 75)

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[2] “while it does not by any means justify us to assign to Him the station of Prophethood, indicates how in the person of ‘Abdu’l-Bahā the incompatible characteristics of a human nature and superhuman knowledge and perfection have been blended and are completely harmonized,” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 134.)

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[3] “That Abdu’l-Baha is not a Manifestation of God, that He gets His light, His inspiration and sustenance direct from the Fountain-head of the Baha’i Revelation; that He reflects even as a clear and perfect Mirror the rays of Baha’u’llah’s glory … His words are not equal in rank, though they possess an equal validity with the utterances of Baha’u’llah” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 139)

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[4] “No, I do not know everything. But when I need to know something, it is pictured before me,” (Stanwood Cobb, Memories of Abdu’l-Baha in In his Presence: Visits to Abdu’l-Baha (Kalimat Press, 1989), p. 60)

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[5] “Many times He said, `I do not make a claim of infallibility (ma\'sumiyyat). I am the first of sinners (avval-i gunahkar). But the Blessed Beauty favored me with a gift (mawhibati). Whatever I say, it is that (har chih beguyam, haman ast).” (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jrcole/abinfall.htm)

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