(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi'b (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf), 1308 ? [1891], to Muhammad Taqi Isfahani (son of the Wolf) -- BH00005)
The fire of religious fanaticism
fanaticism and hatred
Editorial introduction
Religious fanaticism and hatred, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá warns, are a world-devouring fire that only the hand of divine power can quench. He watched it burn in the Balkans, where Christians and Muslims each called their slaughter a holy war, so that religion, meant to bring peace, became the cause of strife. Beneath such fervour He finds ignorance and bigotry, a clinging to forms and dogmas, and worship of the self disguised as worship of God. Hearts clouded by enmity no longer reflect the light, like stone and sand before the sun. The Qur’an asks believers not to let hatred of any people turn them from justice [1], and that demand cuts to the root. The divine command lifts away ignorant prejudice and every cause of grief to the hearts of God’s servants, asking instead for love, fellowship, and worship together in one another’s houses of prayer. The question leads on to the true meaning of holy war, to violence done in God’s name, and to love and unity.
Selected passages
Such occurrences as we hear of in the Balkans at present, and the blood which flows there, is only the outcome of religious prejudices. Both parties, the Christians as well as the Mohammedans, declare it is a holy war, and thus religion, which should be the cause of peace, has become the cause of strife.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Obere Museum on 1913-Apr-06 -- ABU0212)
The main cause of the war that has broken out in the Balkans is religious prejudice -- sectarianism. God has revealed religious teachings for the purpose of creating fellowship and love, but religion has been used as an excuse for contention and warfare. This bond of unity has been used as an excuse for shedding blood. Religion, which was meant to be the foundation of justice, has been used for boundless tyranny. If religion should be the cause of warfare and contention, assuredly irreligion would be better. The foundation of religion is love; its purpose is to weld together the hearts. Should religion prove to be the cause of alienating the hearts and result in enmity and rancor, then it would not be religion but absolute misguidance, and irreligion would be better, -- without religion we could do better.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Oct-06 in San Francisco -- ABU0013)
These prejudices reached to such a high degree that the people killed each other in [Futon] not long ago.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to visitors, spoken at Rue Lauriston 97 on 1913-Mar-23 -- ABU1394)
When we look at history, we observe that from the beginning of the world until this day, thousands of wars and conflicts have occurred, and every bloodshed that has taken place has stemmed from prejudice. All wars have either stemmed from religious prejudice, sectarian prejudice, political prejudice, or racial prejudice. Even in this day, there is upheaval in the Balkans, and this conflict stems from religious prejudice. Once when I was in Rumelia, there was war between religions. There was absolutely no justice or fairness. They would plunder each other's property, destroy each other's homes, and kill men, women, and children--all the while thinking this would bring them closer to God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Japanese YMCA meeting on 1912-Oct-07 -- ABU0039)
O friends of God! Religious prejudices, political prejudices, racial prejudices and national prejudices are destructive to the world of humanity. Justice is to be praised and cherished, whether it comes from a native of the country or from a stranger. A well-wishing stranger is better than an ignorant acquaintance. The world of humanity must be wholly delivered from the delusions of prejudice. The earth is but one country and all mankind its citizens. All are the progeny of Adam, and religion has no connection with politics. Religion promotes praiseworthy morals. The followers of religions must strive to make religion the cause of fellowship between races, otherwise religion will yield no result. Divine religions are the cause of unity, so that racial prejudices may vanish, all peoples may become kind to one another, and be completely freed from the delusions of race. Justice is praiseworthy even if it comes from a stranger, and oppression is reprehensible even if it comes from one's brother. This is truth; all else is delusion. A just stranger is a brother, and an oppressive brother is a stranger.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Jan-17, to Baha'is of the United States -- AB12107)
The most important of all matters in question, and that with which it is most specially necessary to deal effectively, is the promotion of education. And no freedom or salvation could be imagined in the case of any nation which had not progressed in this greatest and most important point; just as the greatest cause of degradation and decadency of every nation is bigotry and ignorance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3170)
So far the religions have held tenaciously to certain forms and dogmas and becoming the worshippers of the ideas of Self and Ego.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a Persian friend, spoken on 1914-May-27 -- ABU1045)
The beloved of God strive to be polished mirrors that reflect the rays of the world's great Luminary, but there are many that are veiled from it completely, like stone and sand. This is particularly true of those who are distorted by hatred and enmity, by oppression and wrongdoing, and by blind fanaticism. Such people are so clouded over that they are like dull stones on which the light of the sun has no effect, and can create no radiance or reflection.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906-Nov-07, to Margaret M Sprague -- AB00652)
How long this fanatical attitude?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a Mohammedan Sheikh, spoken on 1913-Dec-16 -- ABU2352)
In the utmost unity and harmony, they must worship God, in the worshiping places of one another and they must abandon these false fanaticisms.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Feb-22 -- ABU1796)
O Mahmud! We have commanded all to show forth love, affection, fellowship and unity, and We have lifted the ignorant prejudices, killing, corruption and whatsoever causes grief to the hearts of God's servants, the Lord of all worlds.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305 ? [1887-1888], to Mahmud -- BH10110)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What distinguishes fervent conviction from the fanaticism described in these passages?
- How do ignorance, wounded pride, and attachment to inherited forms contribute to hostility?
- What would justice toward someone we strongly oppose require in speech and action?
- How could a community cultivate devotion whose visible effects are understanding and service?