dissimulation [taqiyyih]; concealment or denial of Faith
Editorial introduction
The believer in Pharaoh’s household kept his faith hidden and still spoke up when Moses was to be killed, and Bahá’u’lláh calls his concealment greater than open acknowledgment, because of the wisdom in it [1]. That scene sets the terms. After the martyrdom of Badí‘ and of others, commands of wisdom and even of non-confession went out so that sacred lives might be preserved; the Báb counselled a prisoner to practise concealment; the Imams taught that patience and discretion were qualities their people had lost. Beside all this stands the Wronged One’s declaration that He is incapable of dissimulation and has revealed whatever He wished. None of these counsels is a universal licence to deceive or a demand for reckless exposure; each belongs to a speaker, a recipient and a danger. And the line is drawn sharply elsewhere: to deny one’s faith in order to evade a law of God is not protection but evasion. Courage and wisdom have to work together here, and the inquiry leads naturally to confidence and courage in teaching, and to honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness as the ground on which any discretion must rest.
And as the believer from among Pharaoh's people who concealed his faith said: "Will ye slay a man because he saith, my Lord is God?"
This concealment is greater than open acknowledgment, for therein lies infinite wisdom.
In Persia a handsome youth of twenty, son of a believer, was despised and oppressed for announcing his belief in this Revelation. He was imprisoned. His oppressors offered to release him provided he would deny his faith. He still remained steadfast, saying, 'I will give my life willingly for my belief.' He came from a very well-known and respected family. His mother was asked to speak with him, his persecutors thinking her influence might induce him to recant and save his life. She told them her words would have no effect upon him except to increase his faith. Then she was told he would be killed. The Governor sent him word that if he would renounce his faith his life would be spared. Still he remained fixed and steadfast. His friends pleaded with him, begging him for their sakesto change. Then his mother stood up beside him and kissed him, saying, 'Do not be shaken! Do not waver Be firm! Give your life to God! Say nothing that will deny His Cause! Glorify it by your death! If you deny or waver, you will no longer be my child!' She stood beside him as he was beheaded, pleading with him to the last that he might not deny the Truth. In this Dispensation the women will progress more rapidly and to a higher station than the men. God will assist them.
After the martyrdom of His Holiness Badi' - upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God - who appeared and shone forth from the horizon of power, the command of wisdom [hikmat] was revealed, such that most Tablets were adorned with this command. And after the martyrdom of His Holiness 'Ali from the land of Mim - upon him be all the most glorious Beauty - the command of non-confession ['adam-i-iqrar] was issued. … The oppression of the oppressors and the heedlessness of the heedless have reached such a state that the Supreme Pen spoke the words of one of the former Letters: "Dissimulation is my religion" et cetera. The purpose was to preserve sacred souls.
This year all have been commanded to practice concealment lest clamor be raised among the people.
In accordance with the revealed wisdom, We have forbidden all to acknowledge and confess this Cause before the faces of men. All must hold fast to what was said before: "Dissimulation is My religion and the religion of My forebears."
Observe the word of dissimulation while thou art imprisoned, and grieve not for what hath passed from thee in the path of thy Lord.
And he, peace be upon him, said: "Guard your religion and conceal it through dissimulation, for there is no faith for one who has no dissimulation."
And he, peace be upon him, said: "People were commanded two qualities which they have lost, thereby becoming as nothing: patience and concealment."
O God! Thou knowest the ruling of dissimulation in the days of concealment, as mentioned by Thy proof speaking with justice, Muhammad ibn 'Ali, peace be upon them both, who said - and his word is truth - that "these teachings of yours cause men's hearts to recoil; who accepts them, give him more, and who denies them, leave him be. There must needs be a trial wherein close companions will fall away, until he who splits a hair in two will fall, until none remain save us and our followers."
In that letter mention was made of teaching them. In this matter wisdom is required. Drink thou the sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting in the innermost mystery. Well is it with thee and pleasant it is to thee. In all circumstances We counsel you to wisdom. "Concealment is better than revelation." The people were not and are not worthy. Not every soul was or is worthy of this most pure Kawthar.
Question: A group from Qazvin submits that if we deny this true Cause in our province, we may perhaps be able to remain with a thousand mockeries and taunts, otherwise they deem our death obligatory. How should we conduct ourselves?
Answer: Those who fear not strive in God's path and fear not the blame of any blamer. This is God's grace which He bestows on whom He wills, for He is possessed of great bounty. "Prudent dissimulation is my religion and the religion of my fathers. Whoever has no prudent dissimulation has no religion."
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
To deny that one is a Baha'i while one still believes in Baha'u'llah is not withdrawal, it is dissimulation of one's faith, and Baha'i laws does not countenance the dissimulation of a believer's faith for the purpose of breaking the law.
For thought and discussion