“Those who participate in such a campaign (teaching), whether in an organising capacity, or as workers to whose care the execution of the task itself has been committed, must, as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties… strive to obtain, from sources that are authoritative and unbiased, a sound knowledge of the history and tenets of Islam - the source and background of their Faith - and approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas a study of the Qur’an which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Babi and Bahá’í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God…”

“Shoghi Effendi hopes that your lectures will not only serve to deepen the knowledge of the believers in the doctrines and culture of Islam, but will set their hearts afire with the love of everything that vitally pertains to Mohammed and His Faith.”

“There is so much misunderstanding about Islam in the West in general that you have to dispel… Your chief task is to acquaint the friends with the pure teachings of the Prophet as recorded in the Qur’an, and then to point out how these teachings have, throughout succeeding ages, influenced nay guided the course of human development. In other words you have to show the position and significance of Islam in the history of civilization.

“The Bahá’í view on that subject is that the Dispensation of Mohammed, like all other Divine Dispensations, has been fore-ordained, and that as such forms an integral part of the Divine plan for the spiritual, moral and social, development of mankind.

“It is not an isolated religious phenomenon, but is closely and historically related to the Dispensation of Christ, and those of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. It was intended by God to succeed Christianity, and it was therefore the duty of the Christians to accept it as firmly as they had adhered to the religion of Christ.

“You should also cautiously emphasize the truth that due to the historical order of its appearance, and also because of the obviously more advanced character of its teachings, Islam constitutes a fuller revelation of God’s purpose for mankind. The so-called Christian civilization of which the Renaissance is one of the most striking manifestations is essentially Muslim in its origins and foundations.”

“When medieval Europe was plunged in darkest barbarism, the Arabs regenerated and transformed by the spirit released by the religion of Mohammed were busily engaged in establishing a civilization the like of which their contemporary Christians in Europe had never witnessed before. It was eventually through Arabs that civilization was introduced to the West. It was through them that the philosophy, science and culture which the old Greeks had developed found their way to Europe. The Arabs were the ablest translators, and linguists of their age, and it is thanks to them that the writings of such well-known thinkers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were made available to the Westerners.

“It is wholly unfair to attribute the efflorescence of European culture during the Renaissance period to the influence of Christianity. It was mainly the product of the forces released by the Muhammadan Dispensation. From the standpoint of institutionalism Islam far surpasses true Christianity as we know it in the Gospels. There are infinitely more laws and institutions in the Qur’an than in the Gospel. While the latter’s emphasis is mainly, not to say wholly, on individual and personal conduct, the Qur’an stresses the importance of society. This social emphasis acquires added importance and significance in the Bahá’í Revelation.

“When carefully and impartially compared, the Qur’an marks a definite advancement on the Gospel, from the standpoint of spiritual and humanitarian progress.

“The friends should uphold Islam as a revealed Religion in teaching the Cause but need not make, at present, any particular attempt to teach it solely and directly to non-Bahá’ís at this time. “The mission of the American Bahá’ís is, no doubt, to eventually establish the truth of Islam in the West. “The spirit of Islam, no doubt, was the living germ of modern Civilization; which derived its impetus from the Islamic culture in the Middle Ages, a culture that was the fruit of the Faith of Mohammed.”

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 30, 1941)

“The truth is that Western historians have for many centuries distorted the facts to suit their religious and ancestral prejudices. The Bahá’ís should try to study history anew, and to base all their investigations first and foremost on the written Scriptures of Islam and Christianity.”

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 27, 1936)

ISLAM REVISITED

    Now we come to Muhammad. Americans and Europeans have heard a number of stories about the Prophet which they have thought to be true, although the narrators were either ignorant or antagonistic: most of them were clergy; others were ignorant Muslims who repeated unfounded traditions about Muhammad which they ignorantly believed to be to His praise.

    Thus some benighted Muslims made His polygamy the pivot of their praises and held it to be a wonder, regarding it as a miracle; and European historians, for the most part, rely on the tales of these ignorant people.

For example, a foolish man said to a clergyman that the true proof of greatness is bravery and the shedding of blood, and that in one day on the field of battle a follower of Muhammad had cut off the heads of one hundred men! This misled the clergyman to infer that killing is considered the way to prove one's faith to Muhammad, while this is merely imaginary. The military expeditions of Muhammad, on the contrary, were always defensive actions: a proof of this is that during thirteen years, in Mecca, He and His followers endured the most violent persecutions. At this period they were the target for the arrows of hatred: some of His companions were killed and their property confiscated; others fled to foreign lands. Muhammad Himself, after the most extreme persecutions by the Qurayshites, who finally resolved to kill Him, fled to Medina in the middle of the night. Yet even then His enemies did not cease their persecutions, but pursued Him to Medina, and His disciples even to Abyssinia.

    These Arab tribes were in the lowest depths of savagery and barbarism, and in comparison with them the savages of Africa and wild Indians of America were as advanced as a Plato. The savages of America do not bury their children alive as these Arabs did their daughters, glorying in it as being an honorable thing to do[1]. Thus many of the men would threaten their wives, saying, "If a daughter is born to you, I will kill you." Even down to the present time the Arabs dread having daughters. Further, a man was permitted to take a thousand women, and most husbands had more than ten wives in their household. When these tribes made war, the one which was victorious would take the women and children of the vanquished tribe captive and treat them as slaves.

    When a man who had ten wives died, the sons of these women rushed at each other's mothers; and if one of the sons threw his mantle over the head of his father's wife and cried out, "This woman is my lawful property," at once the unfortunate woman became his prisoner and slave. He could do whatever he wished with her. He could kill her, imprison her in a well, or beat, curse and torture her until death released her. According to the Arab habits and customs, he was her master. It is evident that malignity, jealousy, hatred and enmity must have existed between the wives and children of a household, and it is, therefore, needless to enlarge upon the subject. Again, consider what was the

condition and life of these oppressed women! Moreover, the means by which these Arab tribes lived consisted in pillage and robbery, so that they were perpetually engaged in fighting and war, killing one another, plundering and devastating each other's property and capturing women and children, whom they would sell to strangers. How often it happened that the daughters and sons of a prince, who spent their day in comfort and luxury, found themselves, when night fell, reduced to shame, poverty and captivity. Yesterday they were princes, today they are captives; yesterday they were great ladies, today they are slaves.

    Muhammad received the Divine Revelation among these tribes, and after enduring thirteen years of persecution from them, He fled[2]. But this people did not cease to oppress; they united to exterminate Him and all His followers. It was under such circumstances that Muhammad was forced to take up arms. This is the truth: we are not bigoted and do not wish to defend Him, but we are just, and we say what is just. Look at it with justice. If Christ Himself had been placed in such circumstances among such tyrannical and barbarous tribes, and if for thirteen years He with His disciples had endured all these trials with patience, culminating in flight from His native land--if in spite of this these lawless tribes continued to pursue Him, to slaughter the men, to pillage their property, and to capture their women and children--what would have been Christ's conduct with regard to them? If this oppression had fallen only upon Himself, He would have forgiven them, and such an act of forgiveness would have been most praiseworthy; but if He had seen that these cruel and bloodthirsty murderers wished to kill, to pillage and to injure all these oppressed ones, and to take captive the women and children, it is certain that He would have protected them and would have resisted the tyrants. What objection, then, can be taken to Muhammad's action? Is it this, that He did not, with His followers, and their women and children, submit to these savage tribes? To free these tribes from their bloodthirstiness was the greatest kindness, and to coerce and restrain them was a true mercy. They were like a man holding in his hand a cup of poison, which, when about to drink, a friend breaks and thus saves him. If Christ had been placed in similar circumstances, it is certain that with a conquering power He would have delivered the men, women and children from the claws of these bloodthirsty wolves.

    Muhammad never fought against the Christians; on the contrary, He treated them kindly and gave them perfect freedom. A community of Christian people lived at Najran and were under His care and protection. Muhammad said, "If anyone infringes their rights, I Myself will be his enemy, and in the presence of God I will bring a charge against him." In the edicts which He promulgated it is clearly stated that the lives, properties and honor of the Christians and Jews are under the protection of God; and that if a Muhammadan married a Christian woman, the husband must not prevent her from going to church, nor oblige her to veil herself; and that if she died, he must place her remains in the care of the Christian clergy. Should the Christians desire to build a church, Islam ought to help them. In case of war between Islam and her enemies, the Christians should be exempted from the obligation of fighting, unless they desired of their own free will to do so in defense of Islam, because they were under its protection. But as a compensation for this immunity, they should pay yearly a small sum of money. In short, there are seven detailed edicts on these subjects, some copies of which are still extant at Jerusalem. This is an established fact and is not dependent on my affirmation. The edict of the second Caliph[3] still exists in the custody of the orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, and of this there is no doubt[4].

Nevertheless, after a certain time, and through the transgression of both the Muhammadans and the Christians, hatred and enmity arose between them. Beyond this fact, all the narrations of the Muslims, Christians and others are simply fabrications, which have their origin in fanaticism, or ignorance, or emanate from intense hostility.

For example, the Muslims say that Muhammad cleft the moon, and that it fell on the mountain of Mecca: they think that the moon is a small body which Muhammad divided into two parts and threw one part on this mountain, and the other part on another mountain.

    Such stories are pure fanaticism. Also the traditions which the clergy quote, and the incidents with which they find fault, are all exaggerated, if not entirely without foundation.

    Briefly, Muhammad appeared in the desert of Hijaz in the Arabian Peninsula, which was a desolate, sterile wilderness, sandy and uninhabited. Some parts, like Mecca and Medina, are extremely hot; the people are nomads with the manners and customs of the dwellers in the desert, and are entirely destitute of education and science. Muhammad Himself was illiterate, and the Qur'an was originally written upon the bladebones of sheep, or on palm leaves. These details indicate the condition of the people to whom Muhammad was sent. The first question which He put to them was, "Why do you not accept the Pentateuch and the Gospel, and why do you not believe in Christ and in Moses?" This saying presented difficulties to them, and they argued, "Our forefathers did not believe in the Pentateuch and the Gospel; tell us, why was this?" He answered, "They were misled; you ought to reject those who do not believe in the Pentateuch and the Gospel, even though they are your fathers and your ancestors."

    In such a country, and amidst such barbarous tribes, an illiterate Man produced a book in which, in a perfect and eloquent style, He explained the divine attributes and perfections, the prophethood of the Messengers of God, the divine laws, and some scientific facts.

    Thus, you know that before the observations of modern times--that is to say, during the first centuries and down to the fifteenth century of the Christian era--all the mathematicians of the world agreed that the earth was the center of the universe, and that the sun moved. The famous astronomer who was the protagonist of the new theory discovered the movement of the earth and the immobility of the sun[5]. Until his time all the astronomers and philosophers of the world followed the Ptolemaic system, and whoever said anything against it was considered ignorant. Though Pythagoras, and Plato during the latter part of his life, adopted the theory that the annual movement of the sun around the zodiac does not proceed from the sun, but rather from the movement of the earth around the sun, this theory had been entirely forgotten, and the Ptolemaic system was accepted by all mathematicians. But there are some verses revealed in the Qur'an contrary to the theory of the Ptolemaic system. One of them is "The sun moves in a fixed place," which shows the fixity of the sun, and its movement around an axis[6]. Again, in another verse, "And each star moves in its own heaven."[7] Thus is explained the movement of the sun, of the moon, of the earth, and of other bodies. When the Qur'an appeared, all the mathematicians ridiculed these statements and attributed the theory to ignorance. Even the doctors of Islam, when they saw that these verses were contrary to the accepted Ptolemaic system, were obliged to explain them away.

    It was not until after the fifteenth century of the Christian era, nearly nine hundred years after Muhammad, that a famous astronomer made new observations and important discoveries by the aid of the telescope, which he had invented.[8] The rotation of the earth, the fixity of the sun, and also its movement around an axis, were discovered. It became evident that the verses of the Qur'an agreed with existing facts, and that the Ptolemaic system was imaginary.

    In short, many Oriental peoples have been reared for thirteen centuries under the shadow of the religion of Muhammad. During the Middle Ages, while Europe was in the lowest depths of barbarism, the Arab peoples were superior to the other nations of the earth in learning, in the arts, mathematics, civilization, government and other sciences. The Enlightener and Educator of these Arab tribes, and the Founder of the civilization and perfections of humanity among these different races, was an illiterate Man, Muhammad. Was this illustrious Man a thorough Educator or not? A just judgment is necessary.

The Influence of Islam on the European Renaissance

“Observe the influence on material situations of that training which is inculcated by the true Educator. Here were tribes so benighted and untamed that during the period of the Jahiliyyih they would bury their seven-year-old daughters alive--an act which even an animal, let alone a human being, would hate and shrink from but which they in their extreme degradation considered the ultimate expression of honor and devotion to principle --and this darkened people, thanks to the manifest teachings of that great Personage, advanced to such a degree that after they conquered Egypt, Syria and its capital Damascus, Chaldea, Mesopotamia and Iran, they came to administer single-handedly whatever matters were of major importance in four main regions of the globe.

    The Arabs then excelled all the peoples of the world in science and the arts, in industry and invention, in philosophy, government and moral character. And truly, the rise of this brutish and despicable element, in such a short interval, to the supreme heights of human perfection, is the greatest demonstration of the rightfulness of the Lord Muhammad's Prophethood.

    In the early ages of Islam the peoples of Europe acquired the sciences and arts of civilization from Islam as practiced by the inhabitants of Andalusia. A careful and thorough investigation of the historical record will establish the fact that the major part of the civilization of Europe is derived from Islam; for all the writings of Muslim scholars and divines and philosophers were gradually collected in Europe and were with the most painstaking care weighed and debated at academic gatherings and in the centers of learning, after which their valued contents would be put to use. Today, numerous copies of the works of Muslim scholars which are not to be found in Islamic countries, are available in the libraries of Europe. Furthermore, the laws and principles current in all European countries are derived to a considerable degree and indeed virtually in their entirety from the works on jurisprudence and the legal decision of Muslim theologians. Were it not for the fear of unduly lengthening the present text, We would cite these borrowings one by one.

The beginnings of European civilization date from the seventh century of the Muslim era. The particulars were these: toward the end of the fifth century of the hegira, the Pope or Head of Christendom set up a great hue and cry over the fact that places sacred to the Christians, such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, had fallen under Muslim rule, and he stirred up the kings and the commoners of Europe to undertake what he considered a holy war. His impassioned outcry waxed so loud that all the countries of Europe responded, and crusading kings at the head of innumerable hosts passed over the Sea of Marmara and made their way to the continent of Asia. In those days the Fatimid caliphs ruled over Egypt and some countries of the West, and most of the time the kings of Syria, that is the Saljuqs, were subject to them as well. Briefly, the kings of the West with their unnumbered armies fell upon Syria and Egypt, and there was continuous warfare between the Syrian rulers and those of Europe for a period of two hundred and three years. Reinforcements were always coming in from Europe, and time and time again the Western rulers stormed and took over every castle in Syria, and as often, the kings of Islam delivered them out of their hands. Finally Saladin, in the year 693 A.H., drove the European kings and their armies out of Egypt and off the Syrian coast. Hopelessly beaten, they went back to Europe. In the course of these wars of the Crusades, millions of human beings perished. To sum up, from 490 A.H. until 693, kings, commanders and other European leaders continually came and went between Egypt, Syria and the West, and when in the end they all returned home, they introduced into Europe whatever they had observed over two hundred and odd years in Muslim countries as to government, social development and learning, colleges, schools and the refinements of living. The civilization of Europe dates from that time.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civiliation, page 89

We must “separate the God-given truths from the priest-prompted superstitions” when considering studying any religion.

The theme of tolerance in Islam

When talking with Christians, even the educated among them, one experiences again and again that however ready they may be to admit that their knowledge of Islam is poor, there is still one thing they are certain about: that Islam is an intolerant religion which was propagated with fire and sword by its fanatical followers.  This traditional assertion, that Islam was spread by the sword, has long been refuted by historical research.  Today not one single scholar supports this theory, which is based on complete ignorance of the factual circumstances and conditions of the Prophet’s epoch.  In reality Islam in its very essence has tolerance written on its brow.  Let us look at a few of the Quran’s own verses as to how one should spread the teachings of Islam and how the Muslims should behave towards people of other religions:

“Invite people to your Lord’s way with discretion and kindly instruction, and discuss things with them in the politest manner.” (16:125)

“Let there be no compulsion in religion.” (2:256)

“But if thy Lord hath willed, verily all who are in the earth would have believed together.  What! Wilt thou compel men to become believers?  None can believe but by the permission of God.” (10:99-100)

“Verily, they who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabeites, and the Christians – whoever of them believeth in God and in the last day, and doth what is right, on them shall come no fear, neither shall they be put to grief.” 5:73, very similar is 2:59

The people of the Book (dhimmi) – those in possession of scriptures – the Christians and the Jews – are placed under the protection of Islam and forbearance towards them was ordained by Muhammad:

“Whoever kills one of the Dhimmi will not inhale the fragrance of Paradise.” (Muhammad’s oral traditions : Godhizer, p.34)

“Whoever oppresses one of the Dhimmi and lays upon him burdens that are too heavy, to him will I myself appear as an accuser on the Day of Judgement.”

“Whoever does any wrong to a Jew or Christian will have me as accuser.” (The Life of Mahomet, p.331 by Emile Dermenghem)

In this way Muhammad taught his people, to whom he was also a supreme living example of gentleness and forbearance in the manner he treated every body, even his defeated opponents.  One western scholar writes:

“On the triumphal march to Mecca, leading an army of believers intoxicated by the consciousness of a power now irresistible, the Prophet was riding with bowed head in humble thankfulness for the grace Allah had granted to him, and whenever he was victorious he was able to show humane and magnanimous qualities.” (Gabrieli, quoted in ‘The Light shineth in darkness’ by Udo Shaefer, p.151)

Muhammad and war

Muhammad had allowed religious war when his community was being threatened by extermination by wild bloodthirsty Arabian tribes.  However all of the wars of the Prophet were defensive in nature.  After being bitterly persecuted for 13 years and driven into the desert and forced to flee from his homeland to Medina with his family and small band of followers, the barbaric enemies still would not leave them alone.  They surrounded his small band of followers intent on killing them all.  He finally had no option but to declare war, but with very strict conditions:

“And fight for the cause of God against those who fight against you: but commit not the injustice of attacking them first: God loveth not such injustice.  And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they have ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage… But if they desist, then verily God is Gracious, Merciful.  Fight therefore against them until there be no more civil discord, and the only worship be that of God: but if they desist, then let there be no hostility.” (Quran 2:186-9)

Now it is right to point out that after Muhammad’s death, the Arabs conquered Persia, Syria, Palestine and the whole of North Africa and southern Europe and established an empire in which Islam was the ruling religion.  But this historic event was not caused by the religious zeal and proselytism of the Muslims.  The rise of the Arabs in the seventh century was a national event comparable to the migration of nations, the migration to the south of the Germanic tribes in quest of land.  It is true that Islam was spread thereby, but not by a planned or even a forced conversion of the subdued peoples.  Scholars such as Hugo Winkler, Leone Caetani and C.H. Becker have convincingly proved that the motivating force underlying Islamic expansion was economic rather than religious.  They were driven out of Arabia by the bad climate leading to droughts and hunger.  But one thing is sure:  for the first time in their history, the Arabs had been freed from tribal feuds and the law of the jungle – survival of the fittest - and were united as a nation in Islam.  So they could undertake joint ventures, and by means of the enormous impulse of the new Divine Revelation, developed powers which enabled them to conquer a large part of the ancient world.  The western scholars state that it is superfluous to enter into the old “nursery tale according to which the Arabs forced their religion by the sword onto the Middle East” – the convenient weapon of Christian polemics, because “everywhere the subjected peoples enjoyed the free exercise of their religion, as long as they placed themselves politically under the supreme authority of the Arabic-Islamic state.  At any rate, there was nothing to be seen of an urge to convert.”  (Becker, Islamstudien, vol.1, p.6,7,69.  Quoted in Udo Schaeffer’s “The Light shineth in darkness”)

The other reason why the Muslims did not necessarily look for conversions was that the non-Muslims were to give 2.5% of their income as a poll tax to the Islamic state.  The Muslims were exempt from this, but had other taxes under Islamic law to pay.  The non-Muslims were also exempt from military service.  Their rights were entirely protected and they were equal in every other respect.  Thus in Egypt after 500 years of Islamic rule, the Muslims formed only 50% of the whole population.  The fact that the Christians of Syria and Egypt and those of the Coptic and Monophysite churches, joyfully welcomed the invasion of the Muslim conquerors is due to the century-long persecutions of these minority groups by the Orthodox Church, especially under the Emperor Heraclius, who had sent an army against Muhammad and had massacred the Jews during the former invasion of the city.  The same scene repeated itself during the crusades.  In 1099 when Jerusalem was taken, the crusaders caused a terrible slaughter among the native population during which Jews and Muslims were killed and burnt. 

“Holy War”

This has at least 3 meanings, but none of them justifies violence in the name of God.

The first is striving in the path of truth in order to find God, the second is struggling against the insistent lower self and against those who deny God, and the third is struggling in His service with one’s property and talents to promote the Cause of God.  Nowhere is the concept of violence mentioned in relation to Jihad.  In most authenticated translations, Jihad is translated as striving or struggling, and not war.  In fact this is the correct meaning of the word: to strive.

“We shall guide those who strive (Jihad) for Us along Our ways. God stands by those who act kindly” Quran 29:64

God-given truths = Religion = Light

Golden Rule = Justice

Non-violence

Rights of minorities upheld

Respect for followers of other religions

Persia at the time of Cyrus the Great

Islam in its golden age – e.g. Cordoba in Spain

Tolerance and social cohesion

“Religion is the greatest of all means for the establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful contentment of all that dwell therein.”Bahá'u'lláh

Priest-prompted superstitions = Fanaticism = Darkness

Crusades

September 11

Inquisition, Dark Ages – burning of women and scientists, 2/3 European population wiped out

Persecution of the Jews

Middle Eastern crises

Flat earth society

Holy war in the sense it is understood today to justify terrorism and suicide bombing

“Blessing” of world wars by religious leaders (ps both world wars were started by and fought by so-called “Christian” countries)

“Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction....”

Bahá’u’lláh
“Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue and the lights of fairness, of justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine.”

Bahá’u’lláh

Quran Surih 112: THE UNITY, ONENESS OF GOD,

Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.

“We recognize in the manifestation of each one of Them, whether outwardly or inwardly, the manifestation of none but God Himself, if ye be of those that comprehend. Every one of Them is a mirror of God, reflecting naught else but His Self, His Beauty, His Might and Glory, if ye will understand. All else besides them are to be regarded as mirrors capable of reflecting the glory of these Manifestations Who are themselves the Primary Mirrors of the Divine Being, if ye be not devoid of understanding.”

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings (pages 73-74)

“The Prophets of God should be regarded as physicians whose task is to foster the well-being of the world and its peoples, that, through the spirit of oneness, they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity. To none is given the right to question their words or disparage their conduct, for they are the only ones who can claim to have understood the patient and to have correctly diagnosed its ailments. No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained.”

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings (pages 79-80)

“The essence of belief in Divine unity consisteth in regarding Him Who is the Manifestation of God and Him Who is the invisible, the inaccessible, the unknowable Essence as one and the same. By this is meant that whatever pertaineth to the former, all His acts and doings, whatever He ordaineth or forbiddeth, should be considered, in all their aspects, and under all circumstances, and without any reservation, as identical with the Will of God Himself. This is the loftiest station to which a true believer in the unity of God can ever hope to attain. Blessed is the man that reacheth this station, and is of them that are steadfast in their belief.”

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings (p 166)

“Concerning the question of plurality of wives among the Muslims: This practice current in all Islamic countries does not conform with the explicit teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. For the Qur’an, while permitting the marriage of more than one wife, positively states that this is conditioned upon absolute justice. And since absolute justice is impossible to enforce, it follows, therefore, that polygamy cannot and should not be practised. The Qur’an, therefore, enjoins monogamy and not polygamy as has hitherto been understood.”

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, January 29, 1939)

a) Moral:

- haven to the outcast

- high status to women

- respect for the martyrs

- respect for slaves

b) Socio-political:

- unity between tribes

- unity between nations

- inter-religious unity

1. Khadijah: Aged 40 (16 years senior), twice widowed, only wife for 25 years until her passing, the mother of all of the Prophet’s children except one. The first Muslim
2. Widow of one of the believers, ugly, poor
3. Daughter of Abubakr, establishment of link between two major Arab tribes
4. Widowed daughter of Omar, establishment of link between two major Arab tribes
5. Widow of one of the martyrs. Was sick and old; died after a few months
6. Widow of one of the martyrs. Had many small children and was helpless
7. Divorcee of Zayd
8. Slave girl, daughter of one of the heads of tribes. Mohammed bought her and freed her. Resulted in the believers behaving with dignity towards slaves
9. Egyptian maid, present of the King of Egypt. Gave birth to Ibrahim, who died in infancy
10. Jewish slave, widowed. Mohammed freed her. Inter-religious marriage
11. Widow of one of the immigrant believers to Ethiopia
12. Widowed relative of Mohammed
13. Jewish slave. Inter-religious marriage

“Every discerning observer will recognize that in the Dispensation of the Qur’an both the Book and the Cause of Jesus were confirmed. As to the matter of names, Mohammed, Himself, declared: “I am Jesus.” He recognized the truth of the signs, prophecies, and words of Jesus, and testified that they were all of God. In this sense, neither the person of Jesus nor His writings hath differed from that of Mohammed and of His holy Book, inasmuch as both have championed the Cause of God, uttered His praise, and revealed His commandments. Thus it is that Jesus, Himself, declared: “I go away and come again unto you.” Consider the sun. Were it to say now, “I am the sun of yesterday,” it would speak the truth. And should it, bearing the sequence of time in mind, claim to be other than that sun, it still would speak the truth. In like manner, if it be said that all the days are but one and the same, it is correct and true. And if it be said, with respect to their particular names and designations, that they differ, that again is true. For though they are the same, yet one doth recognize in each a separate designation, a specific attribute, a particular character.”

“Conceive accordingly the distinction, variation, and unity characteristic of the various Manifestations of holiness, that thou mayest comprehend the allusions made by the creator of all names and attributes to the mysteries of distinction and unity, and discover the answer to thy question as to why that everlasting Beauty should have, at sundry times, called Himself by different names and titles.”

(Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Iqan, pages 20-22)

“Mohammed was distinguished by the beauty of His person, an outward gift which is seldom despised except by those to whom it has been refused. Before He spoke, the orator engaged on His side the affections of a public or private audience. They applauded His commanding presence, His majestic aspect, His piercing eye, His gracious smile, His flowing beard, His countenance that painted every sensation of the soul, and His gestures that enforced each expression of the tongue. His memory was capacious and retentive; His wit easy and social; His imagination sublime; His judgement clear, rapid, and decisive. He possessed the courage of both thought and action; and although His designs might gradually expand with His success, the first idea which He entertained of His divine mission bears the stamp of an original and superior genius…

The creed of Mohammed is free from suspicion or ambiguity, and the Qur’an is a glorious testimony to the unity of God. The Prophet of Mecca rejected the worship of idols and men, of stars and planets, on the rational principle that whatever rises must set, that whatever is born must die, that whatever is corruptible must decay and perish…

In all religions the life of the founder supplies the silence of his written revelation: the sayings of Mohammed were so many lessons of truth, his actions so many examples of virtue…

He breathed among the faithful a spirit of charity and friendship, recommended the practice of the social virtues, and checked by His laws and precepts the thirst of revenge and the oppression of widows and orphans. The hostile tribes were united in faith and obedience…”

(Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p.651-8)