4 Ways to create a Religion of Hypocrites

Rahmatu'llah Muhajir - Pioneer of Fraud Practices in Baha'i Faith

Rehmatullah Muhajir

 This short treatise is an analysis of Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir’s rise in the Baha’i Faith and the means adopted by him to give prominence to the Baha’i Faith. In the end, I have also attempted to present the many present day unfortunate situations having source in the means adopted by him.

I presume that the readers are fairly aware of the Baha’i Faith and its founder and contributors. One such personality, given a heroic status, is Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir. Much is stated about his pioneering efforts at Mentawai Island from 1953-1957, from where onwards he got the greater than life status in the Baha’i Faith. Let us closely analyze his efforts in this period:

a. Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir went to the Islands as a physician appointed by the Government of Indonesia. He was on the pay-rolls of the Government. However, Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir tried to use this opportunity to influence few inhabitants and introduce the Baha’i Faith.

b. Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir cleverly projected his efforts as service to humanity externally and within the Faith as service for the Cause. The fact was, he wanted to get prominence in the Baha’i Faith and saw himself as a contestant for future engagement in managing the affairs. The Government of Indonesia was paying for all this!

c. If service to humanity was his goal, why did he return to the Holy Land immediately on passing away of the Guardian? The answer is very clear – to occupy a position in the Faith.

d. If Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir had converted several thousand natives of Mentawai Island, where are they presently after almost three generations? Today Christianity, Islam and native belief – in that order – are the prominent beliefs. There is no trace of Baha’i Faith in the island.

e. The Mentawai Island has seen several devastating earthquakes and Tsunamis in past 60 years. While many world nations and communities have been seen supporting rescue and rehabilitation efforts, the humanity loving Baha’i Faith, was never to be seen. What happened to service of humanity, a salient principle of the Faith? Or was Mentawai a failed case for the Faith?

From the above it is clear that Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir spent a paid holiday in the beautiful Mentawai Island for four years along with gaining prominence in Faith.

Another of Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir’s so called success in spreading the Baha’i Faith is his contribution to the Indian Baha’i Community. Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir was in India, in early 60’s had attained sufficient position to avoid staying in third world India. He used to frequent often and is credited to have been instrumental in growing the community numbers from 850 in 1961 to 1000000 in 1979, the year of his death. He is also credited to have established the Rabbani School and Faizi Institute. Now let us analyze Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir’s Indian sojourns:

a. Both the Institutes were established by seeking government grants projecting the humanitarian vision of the Baha’i Faith. Both the institutes became notorious later as Baha’i propagation centers and were/are under continuous surveillance by the Indian intelligence agencies.

b. Both the institutes became a ground for collecting funds from wealthy Baha’i communities across India and the world. The only beneficiaries were Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir’s family members.

c. Needless to say such Institutes don’t survive in the long run. Both are under verge of closure and would be most likely taken over by the government or other non-Baha’i trusts.

d. Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir, after his Mentawai success, became a master at inflating numbers. He taught this art to the Indian Baha’i Community. That is why we find mind boggling numbers of assemblies in this period (stated around 10000 LSA’s in India) and huge surge in community members. Official Government census from 70’s to present day say differently. Present community strength in India is less than 5000 (Exact 4572, census 2011). Where is the huge community that Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir is credited with?

e. Present day Baha’i Administration is facing embarrassment in public and facing anxious moments under scrutiny by intelligence agencies to justify the inflated numbers. Loyalty and integrity of the Baha’i Faith members is under question. All this is the legacy of Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir.

f. Mohajer family members, who have inherited unscrupulous habits from their uncle are keeping the same tradition alive in India through Payman Mohajer. The Mohajer’s have been a big liability in India for past 50 years.

Payman Mohajer

g. It is well known that during 60’s he had strained relations with his ever-supporting wife. He preferred company of younger ladies. There are several old-timers to vouch for this, although official history conveniently overlooks this while creating a saintly image of Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir.

To conclude, Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir was a publicity seeking, shrewd manipulator. True to his Persian blood. His so-called service to the Baha’i Faith is only to promote himself. He has cleverly mis-appropriated Baha’i funds to build assets and settle his family. He has seen the Baha’i Faith as a family business to be passed on from generation to generation. He has successfully, in that regard created the Muhajir brand for reaping benefits in decades to come. Unfortunately, several sincere Baha’is are hardly remembered, while fraudsters as Dr Rehmatullah Muhajir are immortalized.

Regretfully yours,
A concerned Baha’i

Source : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/talk.religion.bahai/9N3d8imjsdg

Race, Immorality and Money in the American Baha’i Community: Impeaching the Los Angeles Spiritual Assembly

By Juan R. I. Cole

This article analyses the dissolution of the Baha’i local assembly of Los Angeles in 1986–88 by the National Assembly. Official explanations for this move focused on lapses in morality and administrative discipline, but local interviewees, as well as some official pronouncements, suggest that the conflict had two roots: the globalisation of the community and resultant ethnic conflict among whites, African–Americans and newly immigrant Iranians; and national/local conflicts over power and money. Low-information elections, the unaccountability of elected officials, censorship and difficulties in acknowledging social conflict were the causes of these episodes in the Baha’i religion.

(C) 2000 Academic Press

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Universal House of Justice is worried about the Internet !

THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT

22 February 2016

Transmitted by email

The National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha’is of ...

Dear Baha’i Friends,

As you know, although the primary responsibility for coordinating the defence of the Baha’i community from the misrepresentations of its detractors and the attacks of its assailants lies with the institutions of the Faith, the individual believer can contribute to this field of endeavour. However, such individual contributions are best made after consultation with the institutions and the receipt of necessary guidance.

The advent of the Internet and the subsequent proliferation of websites, blogs, social media, and messaging systems create both new opportunities for defending the Faith and new challenges. Instances have arisen in which the intemperate language used on the Internet by individuals in defence of the Faith, and unwise comments made by them, have been seized on by the authorities in Iran to justify the repressive measures they are exerting against the Baha’i community. The Universal House of Justice has asked us to share with you its concern about this matter and to direct your attention to the need to assist those particular friends in your country who are active on the Internet in this field to be mindful of the high standards that the Teachings call on us to uphold in our use of language.

To assist you in this matter, we have enclosed a compilation, “Defence of the Faith and the Use of Language”, in both English and Persian, prepared at the Baha’i World Centre at the request of the House of Justice. It is hoped that through the careful study of the compilation those involved in the defence of the Faith will find ways to frame their remarks in a manner befitting the nobility of the Cause for which the dearly loved friends in Iran are sacrificing so much. 

 

Dearly loved sacrificing friends of Iran !!!!!?

With loving Baha’i greetings, Department of the Secretariat

Enclosures

cc: International Teaching Centre Baha’i International Community, United Nations Office,

New York and Geneva Baha’i International Community Brussels Office Baha’i Internet Agency Offices of External Affairs of Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States

December 15 is the birthday of Esperanto creator L. L. Zamenhof

August, 1928: Section of the Baha'i Esperanto Conference in Antwerp, Belgium
Section of the Baha'i Esperanto Conference, part of the Twentieth Universal Congress of Esperanto, in Antwerp, Belgium, taken just before the first session. In the front row seated, Miss Lydja Zamenhof in white, who served as honorary President of the Conference, and representatives from England, Persia, Germany, Holland, United States and other countries.

 1932: The Esperantists of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan, welcome Agnes Alexander
Photograph taken at the welcome meeting by the Esperantists of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan to Miss Agnes Alexander, August 3, 1922. Front row, from left, is Tadashi Watanabe, the promoter of the meeting, and third from left is the Mayor. (Star of the West, November 1932, vol. 23, no. 8)

J.E. Esselmont's book Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era quotes 'Abdu’l-Bahá in the chapter entitled Universal Language:

At an Esperanto banquet given in Paris in February 1913, 'Abdu’l-Bahá said:—
Today one of the chief causes of the differences in Europe is the diversity of languages. We say this man is a German, the other is an Italian, then we meet an Englishman and then again a Frenchman. Although they belong to the same race, yet language is the greatest barrier between them. Were a universal auxiliary language in operation they would all be considered as one.

His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh wrote about this international language more than forty years ago. He says that as long as an international language is not adopted, complete union between the various sections of the world will be unrealized, for we observe that misunderstandings keep people from mutual association, and these misunderstandings will not be dispelled except through an international auxiliary language.

Generally speaking, the whole people of the Orient are not fully informed of events in the West, neither can the Westerners put themselves in sympathetic touch with the Easterners; their thoughts are enclosed in a casket—the international language will be the master key to open it. Were we in possession of a universal language, the Western books could easily be translated into that language, and the Eastern peoples be informed of their contents. In the same way the books of the East could be translated into that language for the benefit of the people in the West. The greatest means of progress towards the union of East and West will be a common language. It will make the whole world one home and become the strongest impulse for human advancement. It will upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity. It will make the earth one universal commonwealth. It will be the cause of love between the children of men. It will cause good fellowship between the various races.

Now, praise be to God that Dr. Zamenhof has invented the Esperanto language. It has all the potential qualities of becoming the international means of communication. All of us must be grateful and thankful to him for this noble effort; for in this way he has served his fellowmen well. With untiring effort and self-sacrifice on the part of its devotees Esperanto will become universal. Therefore every one of us must study this language and spread it as far as possible so that day by day it may receive a broader recognition, be accepted by all nations and governments of the world, and become a part of the curriculum in all the public schools. I hope that Esperanto will be adopted as the language of all the future international conferences and congresses, so that all people need acquire only two languages—one their own tongue and the other the international language. Then perfect union will be established between all the people of the world. Consider how difficult it is today to communicate with various nations. If one studies fifty languages one may yet travel through a country and not know the language. Therefore I hope that you will make the utmost effort, so that this language of Esperanto may be widely spread.

In the past, Bahá'ís were more active in learning and encouraging the learning of Esperanto, and the links between Esperanto and the Bahá'í Faith are numerous. Ehsan Yarshater, the ex-Bahá'í founder and editor of Encyclopedia Iranica, notes how as a child in Iran he learned and taught Esperanto and that when his mother was visiting Haifa he wrote her a letter in Persian as well as Esperanto. L.L. Zamenhof's daughter, Lidia Zamenhof was a convert to the Bahá'í Faith. 

Due to the failure of Esperanto to gain significant traction, however, 'Abdu’l-Bahá's statements have been backtracked, such that Shoghi Effendi said

Regarding the subject of Esperanto; it should be made clear to the believers that while the teaching of that language has been repeatedly encouraged by 'Abdu’l-Bahá, there is no reference either from Him or from Bahá’u’lláh that can make us believe that it will necessarily develop into the international auxiliary language of the future. Bahá’u’lláh has specified in His Writings that such a language will either have to be chosen from one of the existing languages, or an entirely new one should be created to serve as a medium of exchange between the nations and peoples of the world. Pending this final choice, the Bahá’ís are advised to study Esperanto only in consideration of the fact that the learning of this language can considerably facilitate intercommunication between individuals, groups and Assemblies throughout the Bahá’í world in the present stage of the evolution of the Faith.

Baha'i view of Christianity

Christmas celebrations in Haifa

As regards the celebration of the Christian Holiday by the believers; it is surely preferable and even highly advisable that the friends should in their relation to each other discontinue observing such holidays as Christmas and New Years, and to have their festival gatherings of this nature instead during the Intercalary Days and Naw-Rúz….

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/DG/dg-98.htm

We must not imitate the missionaries in our chanting and singing, but make it something new. We must not imitate under any circumstances the Christians.

http://bahai-library.com/alexander_notes_presence_shoghieffendi

Muslim faith has declined in Turkey (we found that out) and we also visited the Holy Spot in Istanbul. The Jews in Haifa are not as strict about their Sabbath as they were in 1938. Christian Faith in Russia and Europe being wrapped up and a new one replaced. Shoghi Effendi told us that Russia has set up a new Catholic Church (true one) but they only doing it to undermine the people.

http://bahai-library.com/pilgrims_notes_anonymous_1953#

The enemies in Palestine are the Muslims, Christians, Mohammed Ali's party. It is only the beginning of the opposition of the church. This opposition will gradually increase and spread to the Church of England and afterwards will affect the Catholic religion and will bring the downfall of the Pope.

http://bahai-library.com/alexander_notes_presence_shoghieffendi

'Abdu'l-Bahá said that that the site of the manger in Bethlehem is the only authentic Christian site in Palestine.

http://bahai-library.com/alexander_notes_presence_shoghieffendi

There are two reasons for visiting Jerusalem. First to see the Holy places, and second to contrast them to those in Haifa and Bahji. Jerusalem will be the last stronghold of Christianity.

http://bahai-library.com/alexander_notes_presence_shoghieffendi

Sen McGlinn : UHJ & ITC causing more confusion, and even disunity.

Here is the latest (September 2016) update from Sen McGlinn, on his blog :

It appears that an explanation for my disenrollment has recently been issued : “efforts, spanning over twenty-five years, to promote erroneous and misleading perspectives on the Baha’i teachings.” (NSA of New Zealand, June 17, 2016) This is positive in one sense, since the assertion that I was claiming some authority for my views has been dropped. I never claimed any authority, and state specifically that my views are simply my views. However what my “erroneous perspectives” are has apparently not been specified. Bahais may ask themselves whether their own perspectives might include something erroneous and misleading. Many Bahais have found some part of my research useful, some have claimed that my views are erroneous, but they diverge among themselves as to the topic and where my error lies. Probably there is no stance that I have outlined in my writing that is not held by at least one member of the House of Justice or the International Teaching Centre. So whether my error is left unspecified, or an attempt is made to reach agreement among the leaders of the community to specify what is an error, the result of this approach can only be more confusion, and even disunity.

On August 6 this year, in response to one of the friends who objected to my explanation of the Seven Candles of Unity and wanted it removed from my blog, I wrote to the Universal House of Justice asking “whether there is anything on my Bahai Studies blog that you would prefer me to remove?” If there are erroneous perspectives that warrant my exclusion from the membership rolls, this query will both reveal what they are, and solve the problem: I will remove them.

I have in the past (1997, 2007 and 2010) invited the Universal House of Justice and the International Teaching Centre to request explanations from me if they have any specific concerns. They have not responded, which suggests that my “erroneous and misleading perspectives” are not really a question of concern for those institutions — or that they found they could not reach agreement among themselves as to what was a question of concern. If an individual member of these institutions feels strongly that my perspective on some point is erroneous, he can write a paper or make a recorded presentation on the topic, and drop me an email to draw my attention to it.

Source, comments and suggestions to Sen : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/talk.religion.bahai/_jg7UxQa9ww

Video : How Baha'is follow their leaders in deceiving?

Abdu’l-Baha insults the followers of all beliefs in the name of humor

 

When Baha'is preach their beliefs, the audience are lectured about the “Oneness of Humanity” and are told that Baha'is treat people of all faiths with respect and courtesy. Unfortunately, when one delves into Baha’i scripture, many instances are seen where the founders of Baha’ism in no manner respected the followers of other religions.

In a previous article, we showed how Baha’u’llah would refer to his deniers as animals, donkeys, pigs and bastards. In the current article we will show a number of instances where Abdu’l-Baha insults Muslims, Christians, Jews, covenant-breakers, and atheists in the name of humor and cracking jokes.

Atheists

In one instances, Abdu’l-Baha compares atheist philosophers with cows and then, when a lady refers to a herd of cattle as a crowd of philosophers, laughs so much that he tires himself:

“After delivering the message of God and explaining the divine teachings, the Master spoke humorously about the philosophers.They say that had there been a spiritual world they would have sensed it. But, as a matter of fact, inability to sense a thing is not a proof of the nonexistence of that thing. If inability to sense constitutes proof of perfection, the cow must be the greatest philosopher, for she does not realize anything beyond the animal world.

This amusing statement that the cow is the greatest of all philosophers caused everyone to laugh. After the meeting, some men and women invited Him to go for a ride in their automobile. While driving, a herd of cows passed in front of the automobile and, becoming frightened, began to run about every which way. The ladies in the car cried out, `Oh Master, see the crowd of philosophers. How frightened they are running away from us.' `Abdu'l-Bahá laughed so heartily that He tired Himself. As the Americans like such jests, it became an oft- repeated remark.” (Abdu'l-Bahá and Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani, Mahmúd's Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling 'Abdu'l-Baha's Journey to America, chap. 6)

Followers of Abrahamic religions

It has been narrated that Abdu’l-Baha enjoyed making fun of the followers of the Abrahamic religions by mentioning the following story:

“There was once a Muslim, a Christian and a Jew who were rowing across the sea in a small boat. The weather turned nasty and the waves grew mountainous. The Muslim began praying fervently. “Allah,” he intoned, “drown this infidel of a Christian.” About that same time, the Christian began supplicating God. “O Father,” he said, “cast this Muslim down to the bottom of the sea.” During all this, the Jew remained silent. The Muslim and the Christian demanded to know why he wasn’t praying. “I am praying,” the Jew replied, “I’m asking the Lord to answer both your prayers.”” (http://bahai-library.com/ballenger_master_humorist)

Another attitude that Abdu’l-Baha had was to make fun of a Christian man who had an ugly wife and the manner that they copulated. This is what Khalil Shahidi narrates in his memoirs:

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá used to say, “I asked him, ‘What do you do with her?’ And he responded, ‘I turn off the light.’” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would then smile.” (Khali Shahidi, Translated by Ahang Rabbani, A lifetime With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí p. 79)

He would also insult Muslims by portraying them to western visitors as being people who regarded madmen as sacred and their speech being the utterance of God:

“For instance, this was a story which he (Abdul Baha) told me, to illustrate the superstition and ignorance of the Moslem officials. It should be first explained that the Mohammedan regards the madman as a sacred person and the utterances of the insane as the utterances of Allah; and also that the dog throughout the East is nothing but a despised pariah.

"I was one day visiting the Mutessarif of Akka, a Kurd, when a madman entered the garden in which we were seated. His demeanour was wild, and his shirt blew open and displayed a bare chest. All rose to their feet as soon as they perceived his insane condition, and the Mutessarif gave the madman the seat of honour. In a moment a dog strayed in through the gate which the madman had left open, and barked at the company. Then said the Mutessarif to the madman, with great respect, ' Tell us, pray, Effendi, what the dog is saying.' The madman replied, ' I don't know.' 'Surely your Excellency understands the language of dogs?' 'I don't know,' repeated the madman. 'But I am certain that if your Excellency wished you could translate for us what the dog said.'

"Then the madman turned and said to the Mutessarif, maliciously, 'Who told you that I could speak Kurdish? '"” (E. S. Stevens, Abbas Effendi: His personality, work, and followers, Fortnightly Review, Volume 95, pages 1067-1084, Chapman and Hall, 1911)

Covenant Breakers

He would also mock covenant breakers and display them as stupid people by frequently narrating this disturbing story and heartily laughing:

“This egotistical man had two dimwitted and unintelligent sons: Husayn and Hasan. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used to relate to this effect, “When speaking with Me, Siyyid Mihdí would greatly extol and praise Hasan’s astuteness, saying that the lad was most intelligent. There was a herd of goats at Bahjí. [While playing,] each of the Bahá’í kids was holding the udder of one of the goats, imbibing their milk. However, he [Hasan] was holding a male goat, imbibing it, and saying, ‘This is salty.’” When telling this story He would laugh heartily.” (Khali Shahidi, Translated by Ahang Rabbani, A lifetime With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí p. 72)

Source : http://www.bahaibahai.com/eng/index.php/articles?id=99