Tobacco

[David Friedman]

The Bab, at the outset of His mission, explicitly prohibited tobacco, and 
the friends one and all abandoned its use.  But since those were times when 
dissimulation was permitted, and every individual who abstained from smoking 
was exposed to harassment, abuse and even death  - the friends, in order not 
to advertise their beliefs, would smoke.  Later on, the Book of Aqdas was 
revealed, and since smoking tobacco was not specifically forbidden there, 
the believers did not give it up.  The Blessed Beauty, however, always 
expressed repugnance for it, and although, in the early days, there were 
reasons why He would smoke a little tobacco, in time He completely renounced 
it, and those sanctified souls who followed Him in all things also abandoned 
its use.
	(`Abdu'l-Baha:  Selections ...  `Abdu'l-Baha, Page: 148)

Could someone tell me the reasons why Baha'u'llah, in the early days, smoked 
a little tobacco?  Was dissimulation a reason?  If so, there was obviously 
at least one other reason, as 'Abdu'l-Baha says there were "reasons" 
(plural).  I have always wondered about this.  In what year did He renounce 
smoking?

David

_________________________________________________________________
Download MSN Messenger @  http://messenger.xtramsn.co.nz   - add your 
friends!

----------
You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Baha'i Studies is available through the following:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st
news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st
http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public)
http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)