re: Resolving perplexities

[Brent Poirier]

I wrote:  >>Why   would the Master and Baha'u'llah establish such a provision, 
if in Their divine wisdom and foresight they knew it would never come about?">>

Susan replied:  >>First off, as you know it was Abdu'l-Baha, not Baha'u'llah 
who made this provision. But on what do you base you assumption that the Master 
knew this would never come about? >>

Shoghi Effendi repeatedly emphasizes the unity of the Aqdas and the Master's 
Will, to the degree of referring to "their Will:" 

"Both in the administrative provisions of the Bahá'í Dispensation, and in the 
matter of succession, as embodied in the twin institutions of the House of 
Justice and of the Guardianship, the followers of Bahá'u'lláh can summon to 
their aid such irrefutable evidences of Divine Guidance that none can resist, 
that none can belittle or ignore. Therein lies the distinguishing feature of 
the Bahá'í Revelation. Therein lies the strength of the unity of the Faith, of 
the validity of a Revelation that claims not to destroy or belittle previous 
Revelations, but to connect, unify, and fulfill them. This is the reason why 
Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá have both revealed and even insisted upon certain 
details in connection with the Divine Economy which they have bequeathed to us, 
their followers. This is why such an emphasis has been placed in their Will and 
Testament upon the powers and prerogatives of the ministers of their Faith.  
For nothing short of the explicit directions of their Book, and the 
surprisingly emphatic language with which they have clothed the provisions of 
their Will, could possibly safeguard the Faith for which they have both so 
gloriously labored all their lives." (WOB 21-22)

So although the Master was the outward author, the Guardian emphasizes that the 
provisions of the Master's Will entirely reflect the intentions of Baha'u'llah, 
in both of His first two World Order letters, and in the Dispensation.  That's 
why I said it that way.

I base my impression that the Master knew how it would come out, on my view 
that the Master often demonstrated prescience; and on my view that He and 
Baha'u'llah both made provision for the House to function without the Guardian.

JS asks: "Did Mirza Muhammad-Ali begin opposing Abdu'l-Baha while Baha'u'llah 
was alive?"

The Master was not in a leadership function while Baha'u'llah was still alive, 
so in that sense there was nothing to oppose.  However, Mirza Muhammad Ali had, 
as Mr. Taherzadeh has explained in his two books on the Covenant, during 
Baha'u'llah's lifetime, claimed in writing to believers in Persia that his 
writings were divine Revelation.  Baha'u'llah chastised him for this.  This is 
the origin of the Tablets from Baha'u'llah which the Master quotes in His Will, 
where Baha'u'llah states (p. 6) that some of His "foolish loved ones" regarded 
Mirza Muhammad Ali as Baha'u'llah's partner in Revelation; and also 
Baha'u'llah's Tablet in which He says of Muhammad Ali: "Should he for a moment 
pass out from under the shadow of the Cause, he surely shall be brought to 
naught."

The Master brings these things to mind in narrating in His Will the opposition 
of his half-brother.

My personal view is that to Baha'u'llah, Mirza Muhammad Ali's profound jealousy 
of the Master was very evident; and that Baha'u'llah was well aware that when 
He, Baha'u'llah, left this world, the Master would have His hands full dealing 
with Muhammad Ali.  

I personally think this is why Baha'u'llah made provision in His Will, for 
Mirza Muhammad Ali to be the Master's successor.  I think it was an incentive 
for Muhammad Ali to follow the Master; that if he obeyed Him and turned to Him, 
he could have the leadership of the Cause.  I think that Baha'u'llah was well 
aware that Muhammad Ali would not do so; but this provision showed that He, 
Baha'u'llah, gave Muhammad Ali every chance.

There was even a confrontation between the Master and Muhammad Ali, in which 
the Master urged His half-brother to obey Him; and if he did, he would have 
everything he wanted after His passing.  Muhammad Ali retorted, how did he know 
that he would outlive Him? (GPB 249)  In fact, he outlived the Master by 16 
years.

Brent







   

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