The phrase "joining partners with God" is an Islamic term originally, and is
often interpreted to mean a belief that people should pray to Prophets,
Angels, Messengers to get closer to God, instead of approaching God
directly. It is condemned in the Qur'an as the only sin that God would not
forgive. I'm too tired to quote anything at the moment, but I will once I
get some sleep. However, it is not as black and white as that because the
Qur'an also alludes to the possibility of the permissibility of using
someone as an "intercessor" for God if God "permits" it. There are many
authentic traditions that support this view, but it in no way implies any
sort of worship of any other Being than God Alone.
On Fri, Mar 21, 2008 at 8:12 PM, Dean Betts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Fellow Baha'is,
>
> Please read the following from the Persian Hidden Words:
>
> 44. O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!
> Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep.
> Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify
> not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and
> wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed.
> Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with
> thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature
> sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal
> frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom
> for evermore.
>
> (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)
>
> To whom do you think " O COMPANION OF MY THRONE" refers?
> We are warned many times in the Writings to not "join partners with God".
> Would not a COMPANION OF HIS THRONE be at least a minor partner?
> Therefore, I am thinking that this Persian Hidden Word #44 must be
> addressed to the Blessed Beauty.
> But, Persian Hidden Word #44, does not appear to be addressed to
> Baha'u'llah.
>
> Please share your thoughts on this.
>
> Happy Naw-Ruz,
>
> Dean Betts,
> Charlotte, NC
>
>
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>
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