Bahá'u'lláh and the New EraEsslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Religion
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era
Esslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Bahai Faith; Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892
And in the Tablet of the Branch, in which He explains the station of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, He says:—
Render thanks unto God, O people, for His appearance; for verily
He is the most great Favor unto you, the most perfect bounty upon
you; and through Him every mouldering bone is quickened. Whoso
turneth towards Him hath turned towards God, and whoso turneth
away from Him hath turned away from My Beauty, hath repudiated My
Proof, and transgressed against Me.
After the death of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had abundant opportunities,
both in His own home and on His extensive travels, of meeting people from
all parts of the world and of all shades of opinion. He heard all their
questions, their difficulties and objections, and gave full explanations
which were carefully recorded in writing. During a long series of years
‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued this work of elucidating the teachings and showing
their applications to the most varied problems of modern life. Differences
of opinion which have arisen among believers have been referred to Him and
authoritatively settled, and thus the risks of future misunderstandings
have been further reduced.
Bahá’u’lláh further arranged that an International House of Justice,
representative of all Bahá’ís throughout the world, should be elected to
take charge of the affairs of the Cause, control and coordinate all its
activities, prevent divisions and schisms, elucidate obscure matters, and
preserve the teachings from corruption and misrepresentation. The fact
that this supreme administrative body can not only initiate legislation on
all matters not defined in the Teachings, but also annul its own
enactments when new conditions require different measures, enables the
Faith to expand and adapt itself, like a living organism, to the needs and
requirements of a changing society.
Moreover, Bahá’u’lláh expressly forbade interpretation of the teachings by
anyone but the authorized interpreter. In His Will and Testament
‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed Shoghi Effendi to be the Guardian of the Faith
after Him and to be empowered to interpret the Writings.
In a thousand or more years another Manifestation will appear, under the
shadow of Bahá’u’lláh, with clear proofs of His mission, but until then
the words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Guardian and the decisions
of the International House of Justice constitute the authorities to which
all believers must turn for guidance. No Bahá’í may found a school or sect
based on any particular interpretation of the teachings or any supposed
divine revelation. Anyone contravening these injunctions is considered a
“Covenant-breaker.”(25)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:—
One of the enemies of the Cause is he who endeavors to interpret
the words of Bahá’u’lláh and thereby colors the meaning according
to his capacity, and collects around him a following, forming a
different sect, promoting his own station, and making a division
in the Cause.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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