Bahai Provisions: A Rehash Of Bayan

10.   Baha’s Good News
Baha’s Tablet of Good News (Basharat) consists of fifteen good news:

10.1  Good News #1
“Expunction of the commandment for Jihad from the Book of God.” In P.B VII, 6 the Primal Point forbade the carrying of arms except in time of necessity or fighting (al-Mujahada). As in the Bayan Baha commanded that it is forbidden to carry arms except in time of necessity (Aqdas, p.66). In G.N.1 he expunged the command for Jihad from the Book of god. In the absence of a provision by Baha to contrary, the provision to carry arms in time of fighting stands.

11.2  Good News #2
“All sects and people to associate with one another with joy and sweetness.” This is from the Aqdas, p.43.

During his lifetime Baha forbade his followers to associate with Bayanis who did not acknowledge him. He also forbade the reading of the Bayan. Abdul Baha followed suit. He excommunicated members of Baha’s family. Shoghi Effendi followed suit; He excommunicated members of Abdul Baha’s own family.

11.3  Good News #3
“To study Foreign Languages”
Kings or Ministers of states throughout the world to choose an existing language and script as a medium for international communication or collectively to create a new language and a new script for the same purpose. This provision is from Aqdas P.55 and P.74. In his interview with “Kamal Pasha in Istanbul” after his arrival there upon his removal from Baghdad in 1863, Baha, according to him, suggested to meet with “the other officials of the (Turkish) government” and choose one of the divers languages, and likewise one of the existing scripts, or else to create a new language and a new script for universal use.” And “we fain hope”, Baha adds, “that the Persian (Iranian) government will adopt it and carry it out. At present, a new language and a new script have been devised. If thou desirest, we will communicate them to thee.” The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, PP. 137-138. The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf was written by Baha subsequent to the tablet of Good News.

In the Introduction to the Son of the Wolf, p. xvi it is stated that “the language and script referred to on P.136 were never communicated to anyone by Bahaullah.” In fact the new script (Khat-i-Badi’) was created by Baha’s son Mirza Muhammad Ali, the reviser of his writings. He submitted his invention to his father Baha who approved it and authorized the incorporation of the new script in the Kitab-i Mubin printed in Bombay in 1890. Enclosure X. Kashful-Hiyal by Abdul-Husayn Ayati, Vol. III, 3rd printing, pp.188-189 containing a printed specimen of the new script with the autograph signature of Ahmad Ali Nirizi in the new script. See J.R.A.S July 1889, P.498; J.R.A.S October 1892, P.709, footnote 3.

11.4  Good News #4
All Baha’s followers are bound to vie the one with the other in their loving kindness for and service to any being who rises up for the protection and the helping of the wronged sect.

11.5  Good News #5
Members of this sect must behave themselves honestly, truthfully and sincerely towards the country in which they dwell.

11.6  Good News #6
The most great peace revealed by the supreme pen. Well is it with him who adheres to it and follows what has been commanded on the part of god, the knower, the wise. This edict beats in vain. It failed to bring even lesser peace to members of Baha’s own family.

11.7  Good News #7
The reins as to dress and arranging and trimming one’s beard are held in one’s own hands. Beware but you make yourselves the laughing-stock of the ignorant. This provision is from the Aqdas P.60.

11.8  Good News #8
The monks and priests of the fold of His Holiness the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ), Salutation of God and His Glory rest upon him, are acknowledged by god. But today they must form their seclusion make for the open and busy themselves with what will project them and others.

We have vouchsafed their permission to marry to bring forth what will make mention of god.
This provision is from the Aqdas P.32 (ascetic practices) and P.40 (marriage).
Monastic life is prohibited in the Bayan, P.B. VIII, 15 (marriage); A.B., X, 10 (remarriage).

11.9  Good News #9
Sins are not to be confessed to men, but to god. This provision is from Aqdas, p.32. Provision is made for this in the Bayan, P.B. VII, 14.

11.10  Good News #10
“We have expunged the commandment for the annulment (mahv) of books from writings and tablets.” This provision is from Aqdas P.45, it is laid down that “God has excused you from what was sent down in Al-Bayan regarding the destruction of Books.”

As already stated in Aqdas Provisions section 6.24, there is no provision in the Bayan requiring destruction of non-Bayani Books. Inasmuch as the principal, revealed book of a preceding manifestation, is annulled by that of a later manifestation, its accessory, books written by creatures, is deemed to have been annulled. What is meant by annulment is the destruction of the validity of such books and not their physical destruction. Stress is on religious literatures. Enclosure IV, P.B VI, 6.

The Primal Point forbade his followers to learn, to teach, and to write any literature on Muhammedan Principals, Muhammedan Logic, Rules of Muhammedan Jurisprudence and Philosophy, and the science of Obsolete words. There is no destruction of books. The Primal Point permitted his followers to learn teach and write any literature on any science subject to a prescribed colophon from the Bayan. Enclosure V, P.B., IV, 10.

The Primal Point commanded his followers to renew their books over which a period of two hundred and two years have elapsed. They are to dispose of the old copies by washing them out in sweet water or by donating them to a person. Everything in the Bayan should be brought to the summit of skill and perfection. Apparently the information for renewal applies to handwritten books as the Primal Point speaks of nineteen different kinds of writings, beginning with the Khat-i-Abha and ending with the Khat-i-Ala. A.B. P.B. VII, 1.

It is to be noted that there is nothing in the original text of G.N. 10 to indicate that Baha has abrogated the Bayanic provision for renewal.

In the absence of any provision by Baha to the contrary the provision for renewal stands.

11.11  Good News #11
The study of useful art and science is commended. This provision is from Aqdas P.32 (occupation) and pp.37-38 (education).

These provisions are laid in A.B VIII, 17; Four Grades (Chahar Sha’n); A.B. XI, 15; P.B. IV, 10.

11.12  Good News #12
All men must learn and practice some craft, trade and provision.
Authority as in G.N.11

11.13  Good News #13
Subject to rules as to worship (Ibadat)
Laid down in the Aqdas, the House of Justice is the competent authority to enact legislation for people. This provision is from the Eighth Ishraq, enclosure VII.

11.4  Good News #14
Pilgrimage to “Inhabitants of the Tombs” [i.e. the buried, the dead] are no longer obligatory. Funds required for the pilgrimage if diverted by the rich to the “House of Justice” would be meritorious in god’s sight.

In the Bayan pilgrimages to the graves of the Eighteen Letters of the Living whose whereabouts are unknown; are only undertaken by the rich. P.B. VI, 16 (Chapter IV).
Provision is made for visiting graves of one’s dead relative once a month. P.B. VIII, 11 (Chapter IV).

11.15  Good News #15
The best form of government is a constitution of monarchy and a republic.
A monarchy and a republic are poles apart. They are meant for Iran. This apparent combination of two contradiction stems from the fact that Baha at first wrote in the Aqdas that “god will bless the throne of Teheran through him who rules with justice and gathers the sheep of god [i.e. Bahais] which have been scattered by wolves” (Aqdas, P.49).

In the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf which he wrote after the Aqdas, PP.148-149, Baha, after quoting the Aqdas provision for monarchy “O land of Al-Ta (Teheran) … and Splendor of Him who is in the kingdom of the Cause continually”, Aqdas, PP. 49-50. Baha says: “These verses were revealed provisionally now, however, the following verse has been sent down;

‘O God, my god! Baha beseacheth thee, and imploreth thee, by the light of thy countenance and the billows of the Ocean of thy Revelation, and the effulgent splendor of thine utterance, to aid the Shah to be fair and equitable. If it be thy wish, bless thou through him, the throne of authority and sovereignty. Potent art thou to do what pleaseth thee.

There is none other god but thee, who hearest, who art ready to answer. Rejoice with great joy O Land of Ta (Tehran), for god hath made thee dayspring of His light, inasmuch as within thee was born the manifestation of his glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee a name through which the Day-Star of grace hath shed its splendor, through which both earth and heaven have illumined. Ere long will the state of affairs within thee be changed and the reins of power will fall into the hands of the people. Verily, thy lord is the All-Knowing. His authority embraceth all things. Rest thou assured in the gracious favor of thy lord. The eye of His everlasting loving-kindness shall everlastingly be directed towards thee. The day of approaching when thy agitation will have been transmuted into peace and quite calm. Thus hath it been decreed in the wondrous book.’”

What the Co-revisers of the Aqdas, Baha’s son Mirza Muhammad Ali and Baha’s amanuensis Aqa Jan of Kashan, did was to delete “these verses were revealed previously …… who art ready to answer” and to insert the remainder “Rejoice … book” in the Aqdas immediately after “the Cause continually.” The prediction for Iran revolves round a monarchy or a republic.