On 9/16/07, firestorm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> dean,
> i am vaguely choking on the term "render irrelevant"
You should. Yes, the laws of the Bayan are all aimed at insuring His
followers would recognize and respond to God's next Manifestation, but
in some sense we should all be in that state of preparation. Here is
an example of one of the laws of the Bayan. I leave you to consider
how it might apply today:
It is obligatory to answer each letter, question or request received.
The substance of this chapter [báb] is this. It hath been
ordained that in this Dispensation, should one write a letter to
another the recipient should give reply. And God doth not love
prolonged delays in answering. One must reply in one's own hand, or by
means of a scribe.
Likewise, should someone ask a question, the one thus questioned
must respond in a precise manner. Perchance on the Day of God's
Manifestation none will remain ignorant of that sublime Daystar; and
when He revealeth the divine word: "Am I not thy Lord?", all shall
respond with "Yea!".
In truth, the injunction to reply hath been ordained for none
other purpose except this, yet its obligations extend to the very last
atom of existence, and likewise as regards correspondence.
There can be no doubt that on the Day of His Manifestation His
books shall descend upon everyone; that none should remain ignorant on
account of the veils that envelop him, nor fail to answer Him,
inasmuch as the reality of one's being issueth forth from one's
response: in the world of the hearts, through the affirmation of His
Unity; in the world of the spirits, through the affirmation of His
Prophethood; in the world of the souls, through the affirmation of His
Successorship; in the physical world through the affirmation of His
Gatehood.
In each Dispensation, those that respond are distinguished from
those that remain silent. In the preceding Dispensation, all have
responded, inasmuch as it is inconceivable today that any within Islam
should fail to speak the twin confessions, of the station of
Successorship (walí),[1] and of the Qur'anic laws. It is impossible to
conceive of someone not uttering these words, and yet in the ensuing
Manifestation the sincere among them shall be distinguished from the
insincere by their response.
He is a servant endowed with insight who answereth God in every
degree and in all circumstances, be it through his writings, or
through his utterance, or through his deeds, which is the most potent
way. In accordance with this duty, all are enjoined to answer one
another, to the extent that if a child be found crying, it is
obligatory to answer his cries in the usual manner.
It is the same for one whose very state conveyeth request,
though it be without words, and it is incumbent upon them that
understand to respond accordingly. Likewise, should one be found whose
situtation betokeneth asking, it is needful to answer. The same
applieth to all kindred situations, which the man of vision promptly
perceiveth.
In all circumstances it is obligatory to answer. And this to the
end that none may, under any circumstance, become a source of torment.
Perchance on the Day of Judgement, when the most perceptive of hearts,
except those whom God pleaseth to exempt, fail to recognise their
Goal, their Best Beloved, no torment might come unwittingly upon Him;
for thereby would the very principle of their religion be rendered
vain, and they would remain shut out in darkness by reason of
questions which are but the consequences of those principles. Thus it
is that in each Manifestation they that remain in darkness do so on
account of these consequences.
But God aideth through His mercy whomsoever He willeth, and He
encompasseth all things.
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