Hasan wrote on 8/23:
>Does the suffering of
Manifestations caused by a particular group of people
> (religion, sect, etc.) is a
real reason which causes suffering to the entire world
> (including innocent
people)?
> This quote of the Guardian
is related to this issue:
> Islam, at once the
progenitor and persecutor of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, is, if
> we read aright the signs of
the times, only beginning to sustain the impact of
> this invincible and
triumphant Faith. We need only recall the nineteen hundred
> years of abject misery
and dispersion which they, who only for the short space
> of three years
persecuted the Son of God, have had to endure, and are still
> enduring. We may well
ask ourselves, with mingled feelings of dread and awe,
> how severe must be the
tribulations of those who, during no less than fifty
> years, have, "at every
moment tormented with a fresh torment" Him Who is
> the Father, and who
have, in addition, made His Herald--Himself a
> Manifestation of
God--to quaff, in such tragic circumstances, the cup of
> martyrdom.
Hasan,
Shoghi Effendi didn't make
up this warning. The Guardian only echos the warning
made by God Himself in the Qur'an. God says that He is the one who
punishes the people after He sends His Messenger. "...nor would We
visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle." Qur'an 17:15
"Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his
own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens
can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had
sent an apostle. " Qur'an 17:15 (Yusuf Ali)
Please read the stories of the Prophets in the
Old Testament and the Qur'an. A punishment always accompanies their
coming. And isn't this one of the definitions of a Messenger, to warn
people of an impending disaster?
It seems that this is just the
system God uses, and will continue to use, since He says that His
method will never change. "...no change wilt thou find in God's way
(of dealing): No turning off wilt thou find in God's way (of dealing)." Qur'an
35:43 (Yusuf Ali)
So we know that coupled with the coming of the
twin Messengers of God, the Bab and Baha'u'llah, God has sent His punishment,
chastisement, and wrath.
Of course, we Baha'is must continuously
work to eliminate suffering, war, genocide, and all evil in the
world that cause suffering. This is really the ultimate goal of the
Baha'i Faith, to bring about the Most Great Peace. "We desire but
the good of the world and the happiness of the nations." Baha'u'llah.
Regards,
Hajir
