On 9/2/05, Iskandar Hai, M.D. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I guess I understand now what your question is.
More a suggestion than a question.
> And let me now try to
> share with you my own limited understanding of the issue(s). We believe
> that one of the things that has done the most damage to any religion is
> disunity, divisions, sectarianisms because there was no clearly defined
> line of succession or authority after the Founder.
Sure, that's a general problem. But as an outsider, I see that among
the group of people who believe the Bab is a Manifestation, there are
still differences of opinion on different questions. Even among those
who believe in Bahaullah. Even among those who accept the Guardianship
of Shoghi Effendi. And even now, even in the forum, one can see
tensions between "fundamentalist" Bahais and the more "academic"
Bahais.
> Now, in the Baha'i Dispensation, we have a written Covenant as to the line
> of succession and authority after Baha'u'llah by the Founder Baha'u'llah
> Himself. Did no one try to challenge this? No, some did try to challenge
> it. But Baha'u'llah promised humanity that the challenges would not amount
> to sectarianism and that the purity and integrity of His teachings would
> remain inviolate.
> Now, regarding what thw Wahhabis did to Mecca and Medina in 1802 and later
> in early 20th century after the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate: obviously,
> the violence was man-made. It was perpetrated by human beings (Sunni
> Wahhabi Muslims) against other human beings (Shi`ah Muslims) and I don't
> know how to put it so that it's less unpleasant. Yes, I'm certainly aware
> that there are Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Shi`ah Muslims at times
> praying together and I'd certainly hope and pray for more unity amongst
> the sects and more fellowiship and unity between members of different
> religions also but differences do exist even in the manner some rituals of
> the salAT are observed.
But one of the beautiful things about Islam is that Muslims of
different madhahib can still pray together anyway. They all believe in
the same Quran, the same prophet, the same pillars of practice. And
the differences are relatively minor.
> With regards to issues of succession and line of
> authority, the differences between Shi`ah and Sunni are
> really deep and major and unbridgeable.
I disagree. I think an orthodox and traditional Sunni perspective is
very close to a Shia perspective. For example, all of the major sufi
tariqats have chains of authority which include some of the shii
imams. Most of the sufi orders have chains which go from Muhammad
(saaws) to Ali (raa). A sunni is still able to aknowledge the
greatness and high spiritual stations of the imams.
> As another example, just see how difficult
> it is for Iraqis (just about all of them Muslims) to
> agree upon a Constitution.
That's not a theological problem. And its not a particularly deep one.
It's more like an ethnic conflict. The religious differences between
Catholics and PRotestants are much wider than the sunni-shia split and
yet the Troubles in Ireland are on their way to being resolved.
In any case, it is easier to imagine Muslims becoming unified than
Bahais taking over everything.
Peace
Gilberto
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