20,000 Martyrs

4 September 2005

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 21 June 2005 concerning the source of a statement about 20,000 martyrs in our letter dated 22 January 1984 to an individual believer has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre.

You may be aware that, in his work "Táríkh-i-Zuhúru’l-Ḥaq", Fáḍil-i-Mázandarání has made the following statement: "the author of the Násikhu’t-Taváríkh wrote that up to the present time 20,000 individuals have been killed". While Fáḍil-i-Mázandarání makes mention of the author of Násikhu’t-Taváríkh, he does not indicate in which of his many works the reference to 20,000 can be found. In our letter dated 22 January 1984, it was assumed that the number was recorded in the Násikhu’t-Taváríkh. The Research Department has now been asked to confirm in which of the author’s works the reference is located, and it was not able to provide any further information.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Concerning a passage attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Baha: - "Share your time with God"

19 September 2004

In an email message of 12 July 2004, Dr. --- enquired about the source of the following statement, attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which appears on the back cover of a book entitled “A Bahá’í Perspective on Economics of the Future”, compiled by Badi Shams and published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of India in 1998. The passages states:

“...Share your time with God. Spend half of the day in search of livelihood, guaranteeing your material life and dignified appearance, and dedicate the other half in the acquisition of moral virtues and service at the threshold of God...”

The Research Department has not, to date, been able to locate the passage cited above among the authenticated Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Based on available information, the statement appears to be a pilgrim’s note. We note, however, that the passage is included in a Persian-language compilation entitled, in English, “Service and Servitude”, published in England in 1990 by H. Goharriz. The source of the quotation is given as “Áhang-i-Badí‘”, volume 31, number 339, page 83. This latter publication refers to the statement as a pilgrim’s note and describes the context in which the Master made the statement—‘Abdu’l-Bahá was walking with a Western pilgrim and offered the guidance in response to the young man’s question—but does not name the pilgrim. The Research Department has also not been able to find an English translation of the passage, apart from the one provided by Dr. Diessner. It is suggested that he might wish to contact Mr. Shams, in care of the Publishing Trust of India, to determine whether he has any additional information.

Obligatory Prayer, Ablutions, and Repetition of the Greatest Name

6 June 2004

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 5 April 2004, in which you enquire whether the recitation of the specific verses associated with the performance of ablutions for the medium Obligatory Prayer would also be required when carrying out ablutions for the short and long Obligatory Prayers or for the recitation of the Greatest Name.

Responses to similar queries in the past have indicated that the recitation of the words specified in the medium Obligatory Prayer pertains only to that prayer; that is, for the short and long Obligatory Prayers it would be sufficient to wash one’s hands and face in preparation for each of these two prayers. It follows then that the recitation of the specific verses need not be applied when performing ablutions prior to the recitation of the phrase “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninetyfive times. However, there would be no objection to saying the verses with the ablutions in such cases, should any of the friends so desire.

Concerning your second query in which you request additional statements from the Bahá’í Writings regarding repetition of the Greatest Name ninety-five times a day, we are enclosing a memorandum that was prepared by the Research Department at the Bahá’í World Centre in response to an earlier query on this topic.

We hope this will provide the clarification you seek.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Concerning tattooing

19 August 2003

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 17 August 2003 regarding tattoos has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and referred to our Department for response.

In reply to your enquiry, nothing at all has been found in the Holy Texts on the matter of tattooing. There is, of course, the following general counsel given by Bahá’u’lláh:

“Let there be naught in your demeanour of which sound and upright minds would disapprove, and make not yourselves the playthings of the ignorant. Well is it with him who hath adorned himself with the vesture of seemly conduct and a praiseworthy character.” (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, paragraph 159)

Generally, what is appropriate in such matters will clearly vary from culture to culture.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Regarding Baha'is participating in demonstrations for peace

27 March 2003 

Dear Baha'i Friend.

Your email message of 4 March 2003 has been received at the Baha'i World Centre, and we can reply as follows. You state that there are large-scale demonstrations arising in your community and in communities around the world, and you inquire about the appropriateness of Baha'is participating in demonstrations for peace. It is important to keep in mind that while these activities are generally carried out in the name of peace, such occasions are motivated by highly political and controversial sentiments at a time of turmoil and confusion in the world. Not only would it be contrary to the Baha'i principle of non-involvement in politics for individual believers, or Baha'i institutions, to become associated with such activities, it could also be harmful to the interests of the Faith internationally. The point to bear in mind here is that current demonstrations are not intended to promote peace in principle but are focused on a specific dispute among governments. As you can no doubt understand, Baha'i participation in public demonstrations involving controversial issues would undermine the Faith's essential purpose of promoting unity in all aspects of human affairs, and your desire to remain focused on the essential work of the Faith is deeply appreciated.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

cc: National Assembly of the United States (by email)

(US Baha’i National Administrative website)