To Zeinobia, in Egypt

As we cannot watch Egyptian TV Channels here in Portugal, I haven’t had a chance to watch that show of Wael El-Abrashi on Dream 2 "The truth". But your comments and opinions on the Baha’i Faith prompt me to write some comments to your post.

“Bahais don't claim that they are Muslims” -- Right. The Baha’i Faith is an independent religion. That means it has its own sacred books, laws, teachings and administration. It also means it not a sect or a schism in Islam. The relation between Baha’i Faith and Islam is the same that exists between Judaism and Christianity.

“Baha Allah the founder of the Religion and their claimed messenger was an Ex-Muslim , also saying that Believing in Allah and all his messengers from Mohamed,Jesus and Moses is confusing people” -- Baha'u'llah thaught that all great world religions came from God. God sends His Messengers with teachings that are according to the needs and maturity of people. God allways sends these Messengers from time to time. His hands are not chained up.

“also you can feel that their book "The holiest" and their religious scripts are so influenced from the Quran” -- This is a surprise to me. I thought Muslims believe the Quran to be matchless! Unless, of course, one believes the Quran and the Baha’i Holy Writings have the same source.

“in Egypt in the 20 th century they had temples or what it is called in Arabic "Lodge"” -- Baha’is only have seven temples. In most countries they meet in private homes or a local seat. And Baha’is never behave like a “secret society”; when there are fears of persecution, the believers are very careful when (and to whom) mention their religion. That also happened here in Portugal before the 1974 revolution.

“in their Holy Book El-Aqads "The Holiest" it is obligatory for the Bahai to send the annual Zaqat to the "Home of Justice"in Aka, Haifa, this Home is the highest authority for the Bahais” – Only Baha’is make contributions to Baha’i Funds; such contributions are secret and voluntary. We can contribute to National funds or International fund. The money to National funds goes to national activities; the money to International fund goes to several activities, such as social-economical development projects, special projects (as building temples) and maintenance of the Baha’i Gardens and buildings in the Holy Land. Do you smell danger here because the money is being sent to a Baha’i Institution located in Israel? The fact that Baha’is send money to Baha’is institution located in Israel is used by anti-baha’i propaganda to call us “Israeli agents” and “Zionist” and other things like that. That reminds me that Baha’is are building a new temple in Chile. Therefore, Baha’is have to send money to Chile. Would that make us “Chilean agents” to?

“I never read a statement from the Bahais or their higher authority attacks or condemns the Hebrew state acts against the Palestinians” – Of course you haven’t! Just like you will never read a statement from a baha’i institution condemning the acts of the Sudanese government against the people in Darfur, the invasion of Kuwait, the lack of freedom in North Korea, Cuba and several central Asia countries. Why? Because baha’is don’t get involved in politics! Some Baha’i individual may express personal opinions, but not Baha’i institutions. And there is more: Baha’i teachings foster obedience to national governments and forbid involvement in subversive acts.

“Look to their holy places and Look to the Muslim and Christian holy Places , there is a discrimination in treatment !!” – Who do you think paid the construction and pays the maintenance of Baha’i holy sites in the Holy Land? Only Baha’is! The Israeli Government never gave us a cent! All the land there was brought with Baha'i contributions. I take your expression as recognition of the beauty and magnificence of the Baha'i holy places. Did you ever see the Baha’i Temple in India? It was also built only with Baha'i contributions.

“If you get your passports and Ids and in it you are mentioned as Bahai , would you visit the Mount Carmel and holy Lands in Haifa!?” – Of course any Baha’i would! What is more important: some act of “political correctness” or a visit to what one considers to be the holiest place on earth? Can you imagine a Muslim never having the Hajj because of some political correctness stuff? Would some one change a unique opportunity of a life time because of ephemeral considerations?

About Baha’is in Egypt

There are things I don’t understand about Egypt. I don’t understand why official ID documents on any country need to have religious identification of a citizen. Religion is a very personal phenomenon. In most European countries that would be unacceptable. this is a typical behaviour of former totalitarian European regimes. I wonder why they don’t also ask citizens to declare their political affiliation, sports affiliations, and others. It would also be unacceptable to have a member of a European parliament saying that members of any religious minority to be killed. That would be a “political suicide”.

Baha’is have always been persecuted under totalitarian governments; such governments fear religious diversity (or religion!). It happened here in Portugal, before the 1974 revolution, it happened in the former Soviet Union, in Nazi Germany and elsewhere.

Pakistan and Bangla Desh may be the few Muslim countries where Baha’is enjoy more freedom of belief. In all other Muslim countries Baha’is face harassment and persecutions, based on religious prejudice and anti-israeli propaganda. Unfortunately, few Muslims have ever investigated what is the Baha’i Faith.

UPDATE:

"Bill to incriminate the embrace of the Bahai faith in Egypt" (Mideastwire.com) (reprinted here)
EGYPT: Interior ministry resists recognition of Bahai faith (Reuters)