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The laws of Islam are based on religious principles [usul or sources]
and jurisprudence [figh], but in the Mahábád and Hindu religions there
are only principles, and all laws, even those regarding the drinking
of water or giving and taking in marriage, are considered a part of
these principles, as are all other matters of human life. Kindly
indicate which view is acceptable in the sight of God, exalted be His
mention.1
This question relates to a problem particular to Islam. As
Baha’u’llah notes in His answer the principles of Islamic
jurisprudence were formulated by the great Sunni scholar, Abu Hanifa.
He enumerated these principles or sources as four, the Qur’an, the
sunna of the Prophet as found in the hadiths, analogical reasoning and
the consensus of the community as articulated by the ‘ulama. The third
usul or principle of Islamic law gives individual clerics a tremendous
amount of leeway to interpret Islamic law. Manakji appears to be
saying that in Zoroastrianism and Hinduism clerics have no such power.
Baha’u’llah answers by pointing out that ultimately there is only one
principle, namely the recognition of God through His Manifestation and
acceptance of whatever proceeds from Him. Manakji’s attention is once
again directed to the principle of “Be anxiously concerned with the
needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its
exigencies and requirements” and that Baha'u'llah's this revelation
is the primary principle in relationship to which all other
revelations are as secondary ordinances. In this Day, therefore the
approval or rejection of anything should be based solely on the Word
of God.” Baha’u’llah goes on to indicate however, that we should take
a magnanimous attitude towards Muslim scholars like Abu Hanifa without
getting bogged down in their petty differences: “The eye of divine
mercy casteth its glance upon all that is past. It behooveth us to
mention them only in favourable terms, for they do not contradict that
which is essential.”
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