Baha'i Leader Speaks About Black Africans~'Abdu'l-Baha on the African Race

'Abdu'l-Baha on the African Race

'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921)
Abbas Effendi, the son of Baha'u'llah, called by his followers 'Abdu'l-Baha (pronounced="awb-dell-baw-haw"--meaning "Servant of Glory" in Arabic). Son of the Founder of the Baha'i Religion. Leader and "Exemplar" of the Baha'i Religion from 1892 until his death in 1921. Considered to be the "Example" of what every Baha'i should be. Considered to be "infallible" by Baha'is. His station is considered to be quasi-divine--higher than a human being, but lower than a Prophet. His words and writings are considered 100% infallible; not capable of error in any way. When refering to 'Abdu'l-Baha Baha'is use the terms "He" and "Him" instead of of "he" and "him"; because they believe "He" has a "unique station" between human being and Manifestation of God than no other human being has ever held.
Author: Darrick Evenson. No copyright!

The Baha'i ("baw-high") Faith is a world religion, with 6 million adherents worldwide. It was founded in 1863 by Baha'u'llah ("baw-haw-ool-law"-- in Arabic this means "The Glory of God"), a Persian nobleman born as Mirza Husayn-Ali Noori in 1817. Mirza Husayn-Ali was a disciple of Siyyid Muhammad Ali Shirazi ("The Báb"), a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who claimed, in 1844, to be the promised "Imaam Mahdi" (Rightly-Guided Leader) that Shi'ite Muslims expected to come in the last days to unite the Muslims and prepare the way for the return of the Prophet Isa (Jesus).
Baha'u'llah claimed that in some metaphorical sense "Jesus" had returned "in My Person". Thus, The Báb" (means "The Gate" in Arabic) and Baha'u'llah fulfilled Shi'ite Muslim hopes of the coming of the Imaaam Mahdi and the Prophet Isa (Jesus) in the last days to establish the Justice of God on Earth.
Baha'u'llah died in 1892, but before his death he appointed his his eldest son, Abbas Effendi, as his successor. Abbas Effendi changed his name to 'Abdu'l-Baha; which in Arabic means "Servant of Glory".
The Baha'is that followed Abbas Effendi eventually grew into a world-wide organization of over 6 million; which presents itself to the world as "The Baha'i Faith" under the "Universal House of Justice" (council of 9 men elected every 5 years) in Haifa, Israel.
Baha'is are taught from birth that the very purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to bring "World Peace and Race Unity" and that 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, was the most anti-racist and loving Man (not a "man" but a "Man") on Earth, that He (not "he" but "He") had a "unique station" between the Manifestations of God (superhumans) and humans (i.e. "He" was not a Manifestation of God but not an ordinary human being either).
Baha'is are taught, and teach others, that the Baha'i Faith is the world's first "racist free" religion, and that the very purpose of Baha'i Faith is "Race Unity"; to bring the races together in harmony and love.
This is what 'Abdu'l-Baha had to say about native Africans:
The inhabitants of a country life Africa are all as wandering savages and wild animals. They lack intelligence and knowledge; all are uncivilized; not one civilized and a wise man is not to be found among them. These are the proofs of the wise men. The prophets also acknowledge this opinion, towit: That education hath a great effect upon the human race, but they declare that minds and comprehensions are originally different. And this matter is self-evident; it cannot be refuted. We see that certain children of the same age, nativity and race, nay, from the same household, under the tutorship of one teacher, differ in their minds and conprehensions. One advanceth rapidly, another is slow in catching the rays of culture, still another remaineth in the lowest degree of stupidity. No matter how much the shell is educated (or polished), it can never become a radiant pearl. The black stone will not become the world-illumined gem." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha p.567 vv.3-4)
'Abdu'l-Baha wrote a tablet to August Forel; whom He considered to be a 'wise man'. Forel believed that Negroes were "inherently inferior" to Caucasians, and could never ever be equal to them in intelligence. Forel was an early Western Bahá'í. Forel wrote:
"...the brain of the Negro is weaker than that of the white... Even for their own good the blacks must be treated as what they are, an absolutely subordinate, inferior, lower type of man, incapable themselves of culture. That must once and for all be clearly and openly stated." (August Forel, quoted in Houston S. Chamberlain's _The Foundations of the Nineteenth Century_)
'Abdu'l-Baha, in His Tablet (Epistle) to Forel, writes:
"O revered personage, lover of truth! ***Thy works are no doubt of great benefit, and if published, send us a copy." (verse 6:1,7)
That Tablet is infallible Scripture to Baha'is!
'Abdu'l-Baha called Forel a "lover of truth!" and that his works were of great value. 'Abdu'l-Baha also wrote this about native Africans:
"It is, therefore, certain that sins such as anger, jealousy, dispute, coventouness, avarice, ignorance, prejudice, hatred, pride, and tyranny exist in the physical world. All these brutal qualities exist in the nature of man. A man who had not had a spirutal education is a brute. Like the savages of Africa, whose actions, habits and morals are purely sensual, they act according to the demands of nature to such a degree that they rent and eat one another." (Some Answered Questions 29:5)
"As ignorance is the cause of crimes, the more knowledge and science increases, the more crimes will diminish. Consider how often murder occurs among the barbarians of Africa; they even kill one another to eat each other's flesh and blood!" (Some Answered Questions 77:13)
"If a child is left in its natural state and deprived of education, there is no doubt that it will grow up in ignorance and illiteracy, its mental faculties dulled and dimmed; in fact, it will become like an animal. This is evident among the savages of central African, who are scarcely higher than the beast in mental development." (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.311)
'Abdu'l-Baha taught (in 1913) that black people should ever be grateful to white people:
"The black man must ever be grateful to the white man, for he has manifested great courage and self-sacrifice in behalf of the black race. Four years he fought their cause, enduring severe hardships, sacrificing life, family, treasure, all for his black brother until the great war ended in the proclamation of freedom. By this effort and accomplishment the black race throughout the world was influenced and benefited. Had this not been accomplished, the black man in Africa would still be bound by the chains of slavery. Therefore, his race should everywhere be grateful, for no greater evidence of humanism and courageous devotion could be shown than the white man has displayed. If the blacks of the United States forget this sacrifice, zeal and manhood on the part of the whites, no ingratitude could be greater or more censurable. If they could see the wretched conditions and surroundings of the black people of Africa today, the contrast would be apparent and the fact clearly evident that the black race in America enjoys incomparable advantages. The comfort and civilization under which they live here are due to the white man's effort and sacrifice. Had this sacrifice not been made, they would still be in the bonds and chains of slavery, scarcely lifted out of an aboriginal condition. Therefore, always show forth your gratitude to the white man. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.12)
How did black Americans live in 1913 when 'Abdu'l-Baha said this?
Did 'Abdu'l-Baha teach that all races were equal in intelligence? He wrote:
"Ten children of the same age, with equal station of birth, taught in the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject to the same environment, their interests equal andin common, will evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement; some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned professor while another under the same course of education proves dull and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but the results and outcomes vary from the highest to the lowest degree of advancement. It is evident therefore that MANKIND DIFFERS in natal capacity and intrinsic intellectual endowment." (Foundation of World Unity, pp.54-5 verse 3)
'Abdu'l-Baha actually taught that the Persian race was the most innately superior of all races:
"It should not be imagined that the people of Persia are inherently deficient in intelligence, or that for essential perceptiveness and understanding, inborn sagacity, intuition and wisdom, or innate capacity, they are inferior to others. God forbid! On the contrary, they have always excelled all other peoples in endowments conferred by birth." (Secret of Divine Civilization, p.9)
He also wrote:
"Every imperfect soul is self-centred and thinketh only of his own good. But as his thoughts expand a little he will begin to think of the welfare and comfort of his family. If his ideas still more widen, his concern will be the felicity of his fellow citizens; and if still they widen, he will be thinking of the glory of his land and of his race." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.69)
That is just like something David Duke (American white-supremacist) once wrote!!!
About 45% of American Baha'is are African-Americans. This is because they have been told that the Baha'i Faith is the only "racist free" religion; that it alone has no history of racism.
But the FACTS are:
*The Báb, (Muhammad Ali Shirazi--considered by Baha'is to be an infallible "Manifestation of God") the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, was a merchant who bought and sold black slaves from Africa.
*Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith (considered by Baha'is to be the "Supreme Manifestation of God"--superior to all other Prophets including Jesus!), owned black slaves, and sold one of them (Isfanahar) to pay a debt.
*Baha'u'llah forbade the slave trade in 1873 with His Kitab-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book), but never forbade Baha'is to OWN black slaves; which continued among Baha'is well into the early 1920s. He forbade Baha'is to be involved in the violent black slave trade where Arabs on the East coast of Africa would rade black villages, killing all the men, capturing the women and boys. The women would be sold as concubines (sex slaves), and the boys would often be castrated to serve as slaves in harems. The Báb was involved in importing these blacks slaves to Iran in the 1840s.
*White Baha'is (Persians) continued to own black SLAVES until Iran, Egypt, and the Arab countries were FORCED to end the slave trade in the late 1890s by France and England, then controlled by Evangelical Christian governments.
* Baha'i leaders believe that these FACTS need to be covered up. They do NOT inform their followers of any of these facts.
*90% of African-American Baha'is and 70% of white American Baha'is have never been told these facts. Many who do know say that Baha'u'llah and the Bab had "black servants, but they were not slaves". This is FALSE!. The Báb imported black slaves to Shiraz, Iran, from Arab merchants from Zanzibar (a major center of the Arab slave trade). Baha'u'llah owned black SLAVES who were bought and sold and could not leave their "Masters" without permission.
*Baha'is reject Christianity because they believe that Christianity brought racism and the opression of women for thousands of years.
*Baha'is say that "all the Prophets are equal" but they call Baha'u'llah the "Supreme Manifestation" and believe that "He" is FAR SUPERIOR to all the other Prophets, including Muhammad and Jesus Christ.
*Baha'is reject all concepts of "sin" and personal salvation. They believe that Jesus came merely to "teach peace and tolerance" and "to improve the status or minorities and women" and "to unite cities" (Jesus said, "I come NOT to bring peace but a sword!" There is NO evidence that He came to "unite cities" or to improve the status of minorities and women). Baha'is believe that Jesus' death on the Cross offered no atonement for sin whatsoever.
*Baha'is believe that Jesus never arose from the grave, but that the Gospels are "mere parables" after His death. Jesus died and was buried and that was that. He never arose from the grave, never ascended into Heaven. They believe that Jesus died, was buried, and is still in His grave somewhere under Jerusalem. They believe the Resurrection accoutns are "myths" or "mere parables" of His disciples taking courage after 3 days and preaching His message of Peace to the world.
Now YOU know the truth!
IS THE BAHA'I FAITH THE FIRST "RACIST FREE" RELIGION?
To speak to a Haifan Baha'i from anywhere in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) please call: 1-800-22-UNITE.
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