mat

Hello
Just curious to find out if there is prophecy concerning Syria/ Arab spring in Bahai scriptures. tx

Greg Newing

Hi Mat,

There are mentions of Syria in the Baha'i Writings and certainly prophicies about the future of the Middle East and the world at large. However, I think you may find this interesting. Below is an exercpt from the Ridvan 2011 Message that was sent to the Baha'i community around the time of the uprisings in Egypt:

"Over the same period, cumulative instances of political upheaval and economic turmoil on various continents have shaken governments and peoples. Societies have been brought to the brink of revolution, and in notable cases over the edge. Leaders are finding that neither arms nor riches guarantee security. Where the aspirations of the people have gone unfulfilled, a store of indignation has accrued. We recall how pointedly Bahá’u’lláh admonished the rulers of the earth: "Your people are your treasures. Beware lest your rule violate the commandments of God, and ye deliver your wards to the hands of the robber." A word of caution: No matter how captivating the spectacle of the people's fervour for change, it must be remembered that there are interests which manipulate the course of events. And, so long as the remedy prescribed by the Divine Physician is not administered, the tribulations of this age will persist and deepen. An attentive observer of the times will readily recognize the accelerated disintegration, fitful but relentless, of a world order lamentably defective.

Yet, discernible too is its counterpart, the constructive process that the Guardian associated with "the nascent Faith of Bahá’u’lláh" and described as "the harbinger of the New World Order that Faith must erelong establish." Its indirect effects can be seen in the outpouring of feeling, especially from the young, that springs from a longing to contribute to societal development. It is a bounty accorded to the followers of the Ancient Beauty that this longing, which wells up inexorably from the human spirit in every land, is able to find such eloquent expression in the work the Bahá’í community is carrying out to build capacity for effective action amongst the diverse populations of the planet. Can any privilege compare with this?"

- The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 2011

arthra

"No matter how captivating the spectacle of the people's fervour for change, it must be remembered that there are interests which manipulate the course of events. And, so long as the remedy prescribed by the Divine Physician is not administered, the tribulations of this age will persist and deepen. An attentive observer of the times will readily recognize the accelerated disintegration, fitful but relentless, of a world order lamentably defective."

Quoted above...

Thanks for sharing that 2011 Ridvan Letter!

mat

Thanks for the quick note.

I read in the pilgrim notes who met the guardian that he said the muslims would be punished for their persecution of The Bab and Baha'u'llah, just as the jews were for their role in Jesus death.

I was thinking it was the punishment of God........

Iraq casualties were over 1 million alone. so sad. ......

what do you think?

arthra

It would probably be good Mat to cite your source for that pilgrim note...in any event we're told

1431. Any Narrative not Authenticated by a Text should not be Trusted

"Thou has written concerning the pilgrims and pilgrims' note. Any narrative that is not authenticated by a Text should not be trusted. Narratives, even if true, cause confusion. For the people of Baha, the Text, and only the Text, is authentic."

('Abdu'l-Bahá: from a previously untranslated tablet)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 437)

I don't know that we should say that it is a "punishment from God". But we are enjoined.... are we not to hoist the banner of the Most Great Peace:

Therefore, O ye companions of Abdul-Baha, display ye an effort, so that ye may make that region (America) the Paradise of ABHA, hoisting the banner of the Most Great Peace and spreading the teachings of the Beauty of ABHA; in order that the slumberous world become awakened, the unconscious become mindful, the universe become another universe, the human world become the realm of the Kingdom, earthly emotions become heavenly attractions, cruelty and oppression be changed into love and faithfulness, the clattering of the sword be transformed into the sweet melody of the pen and the discordant sound of war become the wonderful song of love and intelligence; in order that all the individuals of humanity embrace each other and live among themselves in perfect love and affinity.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 558

Yeshua

Hmm...

Well there is a reference to something similar to this in the Pilgrim Notes of Ruth Moffett:


"...The Jews have suffered for nearly 2,000 years because they persecuted
Jesus the Christ, for three years. How long do you think the Moslem will
suffer when they persecuted Bahá’u’lláh, the Glory of God, for fifty years.
They will scatter and be persecuted greatly....The decline of
Islám is beginning.

The Arabs suffered great defeat because they persecuted and did not respond to the call of Bahá’u’lláh, and millions of Arabs left Israel and one million Jews moved in. How will the Jews get the Land? The Arabs will make trouble and the Jews will drive them out and the country will be extended. The destiny of Israel is to become a Bahá’í state. They will support the International institutions of the Faith. World opinion is now Pro-Arab. It will later become Pro-Israel. The Jews have suffered long, their reward is now to become a Bahá’í state..."

-
"...Pilgrim's Notes by Ruhániyyih Ruth Moffet, taken during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. These are notes of conversations with Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.

"The following are notes of table conversation given by the beloved Guardian

in the presence of Ruhiyyih Khánum and the members of the International

Council who heard them all."

- Ruth Moffet..."



Here is a full online copy of the notes by this Ruth Moffett called "VISITING THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD":

http://bahaistudies.net/pilgrims/ruh...ahai_world.pdf


These are just Pilgrim Notes from an early Baha'i - so they are not authoritative.

I have no idea whether this woman is a reputable source or not. Her notes though do appear - at times - to take on a rather peculiar apocalyptic "tone".

Yeshua

Oh and I recall such a reference in another Pilgrim note by Clara Edge, which seems to be a record of the same or similar talk by Shoghi Effendi:

Clara Edge Pilgrim's Notes


"...At one time less than 1,000,000 Jews were surrounded by 40,000,000 Arabs, yet they kept their freedom in a bloodless revolution. 1,000,000 Arabs fled and 1,000,000 Jews moved in. The Jews suffered almost 2,000 years punishment for three years' persecution of the Christ, who was the Son of God. Therefore, the Moslem people will suffer much more than the Jews did. Baha'u'llah was the Father, Christ the Son. The persecution of Baha'u'llah lasted for over 50 years, therefore that will cause the Moslems to suffer far greater punishment than the Jews and in a very short period of time. The Moslems will be scattered with great suffering..."

- HAIFA NOTES
BY CLARA EDGE
May 16-25

1954


So a few people seem to think that he said something along the lines of the above.

mat

thanks guys for the great response.

i downloaded "Ocean" and there are numerous articles by various pilgrims. They took note their conversation with the beloved guardian. For example, our guardian said about catastrophe:


The cradle of Western Civilization (Europe) is declining and America is worried about it. America is greatly exposed to danger. The time of destruction can happen anytime. It will come fast and no one knows just when this can happen.'
Shoghi Effendi does not say what the nature of the catastrophe will be, but he says `it will be more disastrous then the fall of the roman empire.' Says he `has done everything to wake people up but they still sleep.'

`The catastrophe is inevitable and needs be to purge the world. It will be something the world has never seen and will effect every nation, country, class and creed. The world has high blood pressure and this will be the blood letting. Blood will run everywhere. It will purge the world and then cement the remnants together. The Administration is the embryo of the new World Order. The new World Order is the is the child and it will mature into the world civilization. There will be no decline in the future. It will be like a spiral, ever upwards. There may be moments that stop, but no decline. This is the Day that is not followed by night.'
`Once materialism is wiped away it will not return, but a more spiritual world will exist.'

`Regardless what the government does it cannot prevent the catastrophe. One million people in New York cannot be saved. It will come swift and sudden and whole cities will be leveled to the ground.'
`New York is named the City of the Covenant because it is the most corrupt city in the world. Therefore it needs the greatest transformation.'

`Persia is the cradle of the Faith, America the cradle of the Administration. America is named because it is the most corrupt nation. Baha'is are wasting their time in cities. They must go out into small towns. Cities will not respond until after destruction.'

`America and Persia must suffer.'
America is the most corrupt nation in the world and is contaminating the other nations, therefore it will suffer the worst.'

I asked if this was war, he said `yes, and other things too; the most fiery ordeal the world has ever known. The whole world will be like a convulsion. The flame will clean and also weld.'


These are just few....................................... if you want i will quote all of them.


The question now lies in authenticity. What is the wisdom though of the guardian saying this to the pilgrims. Just curious.

Again i got this from google search.

"Bahá'ís should also exercise extreme caution in regard to Bahá'í prophecies, avoiding speculation on their exact meaningin relation to these events and avoiding completely any reference to pilgrims' notes, which, as Shoghi Effendi reminds us, have absolutely no authority."

please shed light on these. tks.

mat