Posted by Richard on October 06, 1998 at 08:06:48:

In Reply to: Re: Why did you choose Bahaism over Islam? posted by Salik on March 13, 1998 at 20:31:17:

: : Dear Reezwan,

: : No offense taken at all. It's a good question, and one that you have every
: : right to ask. By the way, Baha'is refer to the religion as the "Baha'i
: : Faith" and feel uncomfortable with the term "Baha'ism," in much the same
: : way as a Muslim would dislike the term "Muhammadanism."

: Salam 'Alaykum wa Allahu Abha.
: Not to stir sedition however, I have a furhter question for members of the Baha'i Faith.
: As a former member of the Baha'i Faith and now a Shi'a Muslim why is it that one must
: break with Islam to believe in the manifestation of Baha'u'llah. Since it is recorded according
: to 'Abdu'l-Baha he did not consider himself a member of an independent religion and Shoghi Effendi
: wrote that Baha'is must be Muslims to understand their faith. I would ask is it not a part of the
: purpose of religion to promote unity and communal well-being (muslah). It has been
: my conclusion that we as individuals cannot posit legal opinions which would divide the Muslim community
: apart this is the role of the Majlis (assembly) of officials written of by 'Abdu'l-Baha. I know
: all this sounds unusual but parts of what I am talking about can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/5016/wasiya.html
: Just curious why Baha'is consider themselves unique to the rest of the Islamic Ummah, I don't think
: the Shari'a principle is substantial enough for such a break until the entire Mulsim community is ready
: to accept the possibility that Khatm (seal) is open to further revelation. But to independently posit this and
: break with Islam is not appropriate in the teachings of 'Abdu'l-Baha as he practiced it, in my observations.
: Hopefully, such an opinion of staying with the Islamic majority until the majority of scholars is ready to recognise
: the new ideas of khatm is not perceived as "taqlid", hopefully the point I am making is being read as:
: "in the interest of communal well-being Baha'is should not break with the rest of the Islamic community until the entire community is prepared to move in one direction together."

: Peace be with you and God's glory,
: Salik

Dear Salik:
My apologies for such a tardy response. I only read this today, 6 Oct. 1998.

The reason Baha'is are essentially independent from Islam is parallel to the reason Islam is distinct from Christianity. Furthermore, the Holy Qu'ran is for Baha'is an old Testament from God. Baha'u'llah's "Kitab-i-Iqan" removes the barrier that most Muslims imposed upon themselves by interpreting the Seal of the Prophets to mean that Muhammad was the last of the Messengers from God and that future Messengers, with such an interpretation, would be impossible.

I was reared in a Christian home. I now believe in and fully accept the Holy Qur'an as the Word of God because of the teaching of both the Bab and Baha'u'llah.

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