Baha’s Challenging Epistles to Rulers of the Earth
Summary
1. Summary
There is no documentary evidence to prove that these epistles were in fact sent to, and received by, their addressees. These epistles were kept under the carpet and used for purpose of propaganda.
1.1. America
The rulers of America and the presidents of the republics therein are addressed collectively in the Aqdas unbeknown to them.
1.2. Austria
Baha appealed to the Austrian ambassador to have his grievances against the Ottoman authorities redressed. In the Aqdas Baha reproved the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, the occasion of the outburst was the letter’s omission to inquire about Baha during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
1.3. England
British consul general! After a British protection to Baha during his sojourn in Baghdad accounts for the laudatory tone adopted by him towards Queen Victoria.
1.4. France
Baha sent his “petition of this servant” from Edirne to Napoleon III through Count Gobineau accompanied by a covering letter addressed to Counte Gobineau. He maintained his correspondence with Count Gobineau after his removal from Edirne to Acre. Baha’s letters to Count Gobineau are preserved in La Bibliotheque National et Universitaire de la ville de Strasbourg. Bas-Rhin, France.
Baha’s letters to Count Gobineau are SOS in which Baha implores him to “lay the petition of the Servant at the foot of the throne of the Monarch of the age to enable him to become French protégé. Count Gobineau delivered “the petition of the servant” to Napoleon III and informed Baha accordingly, adding that his Imperial Majesty had not yet been pleased to signify his pleasure and that Baha was at full liberty to address himself to French Diplomatic mission in Turkey to have his grievance redressed. The receipt of this communication caused unbounded joy and jubilation to Baha and his fellow-exiles, who together with Baha’s followers in Iran, were to commemorate the good name of Napoleon III and of Count Gobineau until the day of resurrection. Unfortunately there occurred a hitch and war broke out between France and Germany in 1870, and Napoleon III lost his crown and throne.
In the face of these unforeseen circumstances Baha turned the table on Napoleon III, his benefactor by a commentary epistle which was kept under the carpet. Baha, the implorer, the beseecher, to become a French protégé overnight turned into “god almighty” and “the petition of his servant” into “the Book of God”. Baha castigated Napoleon III for having ”cast behind the back of the Book of God”, namely the “petition of this servant” and postold his downfall.
1.5. Germany
The German emperor is reproved in the Aqdas, the occasion of this outburst was the Emperor’s the then Crown Prince of Prussia Friedrick Wilhelm’s omission to pay his respect to Baha when he visited the Holy land. Napoleon III’s designated of “the petition of this servant”, Baha warns, is to serve as an object-lesson to him.
1.6. Iran
The tone adopted towards the Shah in the section addressed by Baha to the Shah in the Sura-al-Muluk is one of fierce recrimination. This section lies buried in the writings in which it appears unbeknown to the Shah. On second thoughts in his epistle addressed by Baha to the Shah from Acre, Baha sought to conciliate the Shah. The bearer of the epistle, “Solomon’s lapwing” according to Sir Abbas Effendi, was Mirza Buzurg who lost his life on this “Martyr-sacrifice expedition”.
The Shah did not read “the weighty message from Sheba”. It was handled by his ministers. “The sovereign who will adorn the throne of Baha’s native land “and arrange for the in-gathering of “the sheep of god”, foreshadowed in the Aqdas, is yet undiscovered.”
1.7. Russia
In his epistle addressed from Acre to the Czar of Russia Nicolaevitch Alexander II Baha thanks him for “the assistance rendered by his minister to effect his release from imprisonment in Tehran, confers upon him a sublime station” and directs and instructs him to “summon the nations unto Baha’s cause.”
The epistle failed to reach its destination. Lame excuses are advanced for failure of Baha’s prophecy as regards the Czar of Russia.
1.8. Turkey
The epistle intended for the chief, namely, Sultan Abd al Aziz or his Premier Ali Pasha, affords a specimen of Baha’s comminatory style. Baha tells the chief that neither his “grunting” nor the “barking” of those around him would deter the manifestation from his onward march. In another epistle addressed to Sultan Abd al Aziz, the Sultan is censured for having looked down upon Baha. Contrasted with his information couched in the most humble and cringing terms and addressed to the Governor General of the Edirne Province, a subordinate of the Sultan and his premier, no rational person would even believe that Baha an Ottoman subject, already condemned to be banished from Edirne to Acre for his subversive activities, would have dared to have sent such offensive and disparaging epistles to the Sultan or his premier.
These epistles were kept under carpet.
1.9. The Pope
In the presence of Baha’s cringing submissions to Count Gobineau (See France) beseeching him to intercede with Napoleon III to extend his protection to Baha and his fellow-exiles, it does not stand to reason that Baha have sent such a disrespectful epistle to the Pope. The epistle was kept under the carpet.
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