Islam and Baha'i. whats the difference?

[arthra]

i think im beggining to understand, thank u for ur quick reply btw,
i have another question, what is the bahai view about "miracles".
beside the fact that we should think about the spiritual values and meaning of these events, do u believe that miracles actually/physically happen? (like splitting the sea, bringing death to life , etc..)

We Baha'is acknowledge that miracles can happen but in today's world a miracle is easily denied as being say second hand hearsay information or maybe an exaggeration over time..

The miracle is most real to those who directly experience it...after that it is "hearsay" information.

Unfortunately some people began to look on miracles as conjuring tricks when they demanded "signs" from the Prophets of God..

Also these reports of miracles were recorded long after the events were supposed to have occurred and some of these events may have occurred before say the advent of medical science .. or before people understood natural phenomena.

Abdul-Baha refers to miracles in the following way and note what He says about Moses:

We do not need to mention miracles, saying that out of rock water gushed forth, for such miracles and statements may be denied and refused by those who hear them. The deeds of Moses are conclusive evidences of His prophethood. If a man be fair, unbiased and willing to investigate reality he will undoubtedly testify to the fact that Moses was verily a man of God and a great personage.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 273

Abdul-Baha identifies bringing peace to the world as a miracle:

We are ever looking for some miracle, some proof -- for the Christ life as viewed from the outside seems so simple; yet could there be anything more dramatically miraculous than this: to establish peace in the hearts in the midst of a warring world? This kind of peace BAHA'O'LLAH calls the "most great peace." To establish this kingdom in the hearts -- verily, it is the unrealized dream of the planet!

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 11

He refers to miracles in the sense of scientific discoveries and ethical achievements:

Reflect upon the miracles of accomplishment which have already characterized it, the discoveries in every realm of human research, inventions, scientific knowledge, ethical reforms and regulations established for the welfare of humanity, mysteries of nature explored, invisible forces brought into visibility and subjection, a veritable wonder-world of new phenomena and conditions heretofore unknown to man now open to his uses and further investigation.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 18

 

[sina_html]

well thanks again for the nice answer, im pretty familiar with bahai faith as i have some really nice bahai friends, the only thing that i didnt understood realy good was the idea about miracles, thank u for your answer again.
in islam, they are all waiting... waiting for someone, waiting for something to happen and mak the world a better place, what i really liked about bahai faith is the fact that it actualy have a plan to make it happen.
in islam the idea is that some day, imam Mahdi will come and will guid the people to create a new global kingdom, global order, so every one would live in peace and love.
and this is exacly whta is happening with bahai faith.
so i really dont understand why most of the muslems are so exceptional about bahai faith, they dont even try to listen!!!

 

[arthra]

Well thanks for your posts Sina!

And again a warm welcome.

- Art

 

[Steinninn]

well thanks again for the nice answer, im pretty familiar with bahai faith as i have some really nice bahai friends, the only thing that i didnt understood realy good was the idea about miracles, thank u for your answer again.
in islam, they are all waiting... waiting for someone, waiting for something to happen and mak the world a better place, what i really liked about bahai faith is the fact that it actualy have a plan to make it happen.
in islam the idea is that some day, imam Mahdi will come and will guid the people to create a new global kingdom, global order, so every one would live in peace and love.
and this is exacly whta is happening with bahai faith.
so i really dont understand why most of the muslems are so exceptional about bahai faith, they dont even try to listen!!!

It can seem a little frustrating at times, but it's also very natural and human.

Guð umber ófullkomleika alls mannkyns.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings, Sina; it's great to have you here!

S>What is the Baha'i view on miracles?

They definitely exist, but we're told not to use them as "proofs" when teaching the Faith.

I quote the Baha'i scriptures:

Chapter 22: MIRACLES​

“Question.—It is recorded that miracles were performed by Christ. Are the reports of these miracles really to be accepted literally, or have they another meaning? It has been proved by exact science that the essence of things does not change, and that all beings are under one universal law and organization from which they cannot deviate; and, therefore, that which is contrary to universal law is impossible.”

“Answer.—The Holy Manifestations are the sources of miracles and the originators of wonderful signs. For Them, any difficult and impracticable thing is possible and easy. For through a supernatural power wonders appear from Them; and by this power, which is beyond nature, They influence the world of nature. From all the Manifestations marvelous things have appeared.

“But in the Holy Books an especial terminology is employed, and for the Manifestations these miracles and wonderful signs have no importance. They do not even wish to mention them. For if we consider miracles a great proof, they are still only proofs and arguments for those who are present when they are performed, and not for those who are absent.

“For example, if we relate to a seeker, a stranger to Moses and Christ, marvelous signs, he will deny them and will say: “Wonderful signs are also continually related of false gods by the testimony of many people, and they are affirmed in the Books. The Brahmans have written a book about wonderful prodigies from Brahma.” He will also say: “How can we know that the Jews and the Christians speak the truth, and that the Brahmans tell a lie? For both are generally admitted traditions, which are collected in books, and may be supposed to be true or false.” The same may be said of other religions: if one is true, all are true; if one is accepted, all must be accepted. Therefore, miracles are not a proof. For if they are proofs for those who are present, they fail as proofs to those who are absent.

“But in the day of the Manifestation the people with insight see that all the conditions of the Manifestation are miracles, for They are superior to all others, and this alone is an absolute miracle. Recollect that Christ, solitary and alone, without a helper or protector, without armies and legions, and under the greatest oppression, uplifted the standard of God before all the people of the world, and withstood them, and finally conquered all, although outwardly He was crucified. Now this is a veritable miracle which can never be denied. There is no need of any other proof of the truth of Christ.

“The outward miracles have no importance for the people of Reality. If a blind man receives sight, for example, he will finally again become sightless, for he will die and be deprived of all his senses and powers. Therefore, causing the blind man to see is comparatively of little importance, for this faculty of sight will at last disappear. If the body of a dead person be resuscitated, of what use is it since the body will die again? But it is important to give perception and eternal life—that is, the spiritual and divine life. For this physical life is not immortal, and its existence is equivalent to nonexistence. So it is that Christ said to one of His disciples: “Let the dead bury their dead;” for “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”[1]http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-22.html#fn1#fn1

“Observe: those who in appearance were physically alive, Christ considered dead; for life is the eternal life, and existence is the real existence. Wherever in the Holy Books they speak of raising the dead, the meaning is that the dead were blessed by eternal life; where it is said that the blind received sight, the signification is that he obtained the true perception; where it is said a deaf man received hearing, the meaning is that he acquired spiritual and heavenly hearing. This is ascertained from the text of the Gospel where Christ said: “These are like those of whom Isaiah said, They have eyes and see not, they have ears and hear not; and I healed them.”[2]

“The meaning is not that the Manifestations are unable to perform miracles, for They have all power. But for Them inner sight, spiritual healing and eternal life are the valuable and important things. Consequently, whenever it is recorded in the Holy Books that such a one was blind and recovered his sight, the meaning is that he was inwardly blind, and that he obtained spiritual vision, or that he was ignorant and became wise, or that he was negligent and became heedful, or that he was worldly and became heavenly.

“As this inner sight, hearing, life and healing are eternal, they are of importance. What, comparatively, is the importance, the value and the worth of this animal life with its powers? In a few days it will cease like fleeting thoughts. For example, if one relights an extinguished lamp, it will again become extinguished; but the light of the sun is always luminous. This is of importance. “
—Some Answered Questions, pp. 100-102

[1] Matthew 8:22; John 3:6.

[2] Cf. Matthew 13:14 and John 12:40-41.



Best!

Bruce