At 5:09 PM -0600 12/24/04, Gilberto Simpson wrote:
>Some relevant passages from Susan's paper below.
>
>If they are accurate then it seems likely that even if we ignore the
>the statements about collective security and righteous warfare in the
>Bahai writings, that it would be possible to invoke "hikmat" to
>apparently suspend the Bahai 'abrogation' of holy war "to ensure the
>protection of the Faith" "to guard and protect the Cause"
>
The Writings are pretty explicit that this is not the case
Baha'u'llah indicates that the first words He heard betokening his
Manifestation indicated otherwise -
One night, in a dream, these exalted words were
heard on every side: "Verily, We shall render Thee
victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen."
(ESW +P21)
Later in this same work He says -
And yet again in another connection: "Beware lest
ye shed the blood of any one. Unsheathe the sword of
your tongue from the scabbard of utterance, for
therewith ye can conquer the citadels of men's hearts.
We have abolished the law to wage holy war against
each other. God's mercy hath, verily, encompassed
all created things, if ye do but understand."
(ESW +P25 )
This is a quote of a part of the Suriy-i-Haykal
42 Beware lest ye shed the blood of anyone. Unsheathe the sword of your
tongue from the scabbard of utterance, for therewith ye can conquer the
citadels of men's hearts. We have abolished the law to wage holy war
against each other. God's mercy, hath, verily, encompassed all created
things, if ye do but understand.
(--Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, Page 78-9)
>From that same time period is this statement from His letter to Napoleon III
150 Say: We have ordained that our Cause be taught through the power of
utterance. Beware lest ye dispute idly with anyone. Whoso ariseth wholly
for the sake of his Lord to teach His Cause, the Holy Spirit shall
strengthen him and inspire him with that which will illumine the heart of
the world, how much more the hearts of those who seek Him. O people of
Baha! Subdue the citadels of men's hearts with the swords of wisdom and of
utterance. They that dispute, as prompted by their desires, are indeed
wrapped in a palpable veil. Say: The sword of wisdom is hotter than
summer heat, and sharper than blades of steel, if ye do but understand.
Draw it forth in My name and through the power of My might, and conquer
then with it the cities of the hearts of them that have secluded themselves
in the stronghold of their corrupt desires. Thus biddeth you the Pen of
the All-Glorious, whilst seated beneath the swords of the wayward.
(--Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)
I think you'll find that hikmat has to do with what one does *not* do, not
what they *do* do.
Don C
He who believes himself spiritual proves he is not.
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