A true and adequate knowledge of the Cause is, indeed, indispensable to every
one who wishes to successfully teach the Message.
(From a letter dated 2 December 1935 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer)
[Bahá'í Library CD-ROM: Compilations: Teaching, Page: 46]
Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deep-felt appreciation of your
intention to study the Qur'an. The knowledge of this revealed holy Book is,
indeed, indispensable to every Baha'i who wishes to adequately understand the
writings of Baha'u'llah. And in view of that the Guardian has been invariably
encouraging the friends to make as thorough a study of this Book as possible,
particularly in their Summer Schools. Sale's translation is the most scholarly
we have, but Rodwell's version is more literary, and hence easier for reading.
(23 November 1934)
[Bahá'í Library CD-ROM: Compilations: Importance of Deepening, Page: 122]
"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the Surihs of the
Qur'an, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and
historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet.
The believers cannot possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Surihs after
the first or even second or third reading. They have to study them again and
again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries, and
explanatory notes as found, for instance in the admirable translation made by
Sale, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning
and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future
generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it. For the present, the
Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the book
according to subjects, and not verse by verse and also in the light of the
Bab's, Baha'u'llah's, and Abdu'l-Baha's interpretations which throw such floods
of light on the whole of the Qur'an." (From a letter written on behalf of the
Guardian to an individual believer, August 22, 1939: Baha'i News, No. 134, pp.
2-3, March 1940)
[Bahá'í Library CD-ROM: Compilations: Lights of Guidance, Page: 1666]
The first letter quoted says that to successfully teach the Faith we must have
an adequate knowledge of it. The following letter says that knowledge of the
Qur'an is necessary to adequately understand the writings of Baha'u'llah. So
knowledge of the Qur'an is necessary to adequately understand the Faith. That
letter and the one after show to what extant Baha'is must study the Qur'an to
have the necessary knowledge. Presumably the number of Baha'is who satisfy
that criteria would be less than 1000. If that is true then doesn't that mean
that most Baha'is have an inadequate understanding of the Faith and are
unsuccessful at teaching? Has the House ever reiterated this advice?
Finally, immediately following the sentence I quoted at the top Shoghi Effendi
says:
"The book of "Gleanings" gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire
this necessary knowledge and understanding. It gives them, in addition, that
inspiration and spiritual fervour which the reading of the Holy Words can alone
impart."
I don't see how to reconcile this with what is said on the Qur'an, as this
seems to indicate that studying Gleanings would give someone an adequate
knowledge to teach.
Regards,David
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