G:
If Bahais can make "seal" mean something other than last, then you should be able to find ways of understanding the Quran in ways which are consistent with fair, just compassionate treatment of women.
J:
Gilberto, this is an interesting statement. I have a couple of comments:
1) Do you think we are making 'seal' mean something other than last to *justify* Baha'u'llah? The fact is that Baha'u'llah stands on His own merits and does need the Qur'an's interpretation for validation. Qur'anic proof for Baha'u'llah is the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. Baha'u'llah would still be Baha'u'llah even if He failed to meet *all* the prophecies of the Qur'an, for it would be a test for the people. But don't get me wrong, all the prophecies of the Qur'an do point to Baha'u'llah (but that is not the point). Stated another way, we are not into word games, to try to reinterpret (for the good) the meaning of the Qur'an to prove that women have absolute equality. We are only human, and none of us are interpreters of the Word of God. Baha'is are promoters of the Words of Baha'u'llah, and believe that revelation is progressive, so there is a need for the renewal of God's Law and God's
Commandments and God's Word, plain and simple.
2) If you have not gotten the impression yet, Baha'u'llah states that there are always multiple levels of meaning in the words of God. This applies to the equality of men and women, and to the 'seal of the Prophets', and to whether the Manifestation is God, or whether God's religion stays the same over time, or whether all the prophets are one, or whether .... everything.
3) *ALL VALID* ways of viewing the meaning of the 'seal of the prophets'.
1 - The Last Prophet of all time. In this view, Muhammad as a Manifestation has the same spirit as Baha'u'llah, Jesus, .... and the very last physical prophet before the Sun goes into a supernova. Therefore, in this sense, since Muhammad is the same spirit as the last prophet to walk the earth in like 1000000 years or whatever, He is in fact the Last Prophet.
2- The Last Prophet of the Prophetic Cycle. In this view, Muhammad was the last to foretell the coming of the Twin Manifestations the Bab and Baha'u'llah, who opened the Cycle of Fullfillment.
3 - Confirmer/Ratifier/Securer of the Prophets. In this view, Muhammad as the .... etc. etc.
4 - Stamp of the Prophets. In this view, ... I think you get my drift.
5 - End of Nabis.
6 - etc. etc. I am sure you can think of a few more. I am no scholar.
4) The same principle can apply on the question of Women. Yes, on one level, the Qur'an established COMPLETE equality between men and women. On another level, there are marked differences between the sexes. Both are valid, as history has attested to the abuse of Women by the Muslim people as well as other people. The veiling of women may have been a sign of PURITY and CHASTITY and HOLINESS, as nuns are veiled too. But this has been taken advantage of my men in the middle east to batter, put down, and cage women in their own homes.
5) One way or another, nothing changes the fact that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of God, and the only one since the coming of Muhammad (except the Bab). He will also be the only Manfiestation of God within the next 800 or so years. How do I know this? Faith in His words, for I am convinced that He is Who He says He is.
6) Baha'u'llah states that Revelation is Progressive, and only God can change people from bad to good. Reformers, scholars, and good, honest people like you can, indeed, make a big difference in Islam, and I, and others, praise you for your efforts. But Only God can resurrect the dead, enrich the poor, cure the blind, and heal the leper. God be praised for Speaking again to humanity through Him Manifestation Baha'u'llah.
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