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Here are 4 beautiful, inspiring stories of religious tolerance from Baha'i history, quoted from "Fire on the Mountain Top" by Gloria Faizi.

In the first story, a Zoroastrian is amazed to be treated kindly by a Muslim clergyman who had become a Baha'i.

In the second story, the kindness and teaching of a Baha'i removes a Zoroastrian's prejudice against Muhammad.

In the third story, a Jewish prisoner is surprised by the kindness shown him by fellow Baha'i prisoners.

In the fourth story, a Jewish physician is mystified by the forgiveness shown to him by a Baha'i.


The Wolf and the Lamb

Mulla' Abdu'l-Qani of Ardikan, who was a well-known and much respected priest before he became a Baha'i, was still clothed in the garments of the Muslim clergy when Ardishir, a young Zoroastrian, was taken to his house to hear about the new Faith.
The Zoroastrians of Persia, having suffered all forms of insults and indignations at the hands of the Muslims, especially dreaded meeting with any of the clergymen of Islam as this group never failed to poison the life of a Zoroastrian whenever they set eyes on one of them. Ardishir, therefore, had grave misgivings when he found his host to be dressed in the robes of the dreaded enemy. But he was soon to find out that this man was entirely different from any Muslim priest he had yet seen or heard of.
As soon as the young guest arrived at the threshold of his room, 'Abdu'l-Qani rose to his feet in respect and courteously offered him a seat beside himself. He then proceeded to pour out a glass of tea for him with his own hands. The young man was greatly astonished. He could not imagine that it could be possible for a Muslim priest to undergo such transformation even if he had become a Baha'i. Not only did the Muslims treat Zoroastrians with great contempt, but it was impossible for them to permit a Zoroastrian to drink out of a glass used in their own home. All Zoroastrians were considered as unclean and no Muslim would dream of using a receptacle defiled by them.
The greatest surprise came for Ardishir when, after he had finished drinking the tea, his host deliberately filled the same glass again, without pouring out what was left inside, and began to drink from it. Then, turning to the young Zoroastrian, he remarked: "You must have heard how, in the days of the advent of the Promised Lord, the lamb and the wolf will drink from the same stream and graze in the same meadow. Do you still doubt that we are living in that Day?"

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The following story has been recounted by another Zoroastrian who met 'Abdu'l-Qani:

When I was a young man I was a very staunch Zoroastrian. I faithfully believed in all the ideas that had been handed down to us by our forefathers and never questioned the truth of our beliefs. I felt quite certain that all other religions were false, but I particularly disliked Islam because of the way we were treated by its followers. They continually insulted us and confronted us with every form of malice. If a poor Zoroastrian who had brought fruit to sell in the market was seen to ride his donkey on the street, even a small Muslim child was permitted to hit him with stones and sticks, because it was considered an insult to Islam if a Zoroastrian or a Jew rode, instead of humbly walking past a Muslim. And if one of us was sitting on a doorstep, he was obliged to stand up in respect when a Muslim clergyman went by. Once, when an invalid Zoroastrian was riding on his donkey to go to a doctor, he happened to meet the priest of that district. Though unable to dismount, he saluted the clergyman with great reverence but instead of answering his greeting, the priest pulled him down from his mount and, using the reins of the donkey, gave the sick man a severe beating.
We could be identified by the clothes we were obliged to wear, and were looked upon as unclean heathens who should not be permitted to associate with the Muslim population. We were even forbidden to build houses that were better or higher than those of our Muslim neighbours.

Notwithstanding the treatment that was meted out to us, life was much easier for Zoroastrians and Jews than it was for those who were known as Babis. I was quite sure that these people did not believe in the Prophet Muhammad by the way they were persecuted by the Muslims, and I therefore had great sympathy for them. One day I saw a cobbler who belonged to this new Faith being killed on the street. He was attacked with stones, bricks, chopping knives and any other weapon people could get hold of as they rushed to the scene. The man's flesh was cut to pieces before my eyes, and his corpse was set on fire.

I later came to know a few of the Baha'is and, to my utter astonishment and great disappointment, found that they believed Muhammad was a Messenger of God! "How can you believe in a prophet whose followers treat you like this?" I asked one of them in amazement. "You cannot always judge a Prophet by what His followers do," the Baha'i told me. "But how can you say a man is a true prophet," I objected, "if those who profess his religion can behave in this way?" "What the Muslims are doing today," I was told, "only proves that they have completely forgotten the teachings of the Founder of their Faith, for if the truth of a Messenger of God depends on the behaviour of those who name themselves after Him, then we should disbelieve in all the past Prophets alike." I realized that there was truth in what he said, but nothing could reconcile me to Islam and its Founder.

Some time before this, I had read a book which I greatly admired as it was written against Muhammad and his religion. I had not dared to tell anyone about this book before, but I now felt that I could discuss it with my Baha'i friends. They were very patient with me, but always managed to refute the arguments given in the book and prove them to be entirely false. Though I would not be drawn to Islam, I found that I was attracted to the Baha'is themselves. "Never mind about Muhammad and his teachings," I said at last, "tell me something about the teachings of Baha'u'llah." I was given The Hidden Words to read. This little book captured my heart immediately and I began to read other Writings of Baha'u'llah. In time, I came to believe that the Author of these Writings must have truly been inspired by God. But while reading the Writings of Baha'u'llah, I one day came across a tribute He had paid to Muhammad as a divine Messenger and this was something I could not tolerate. "I have no difficulty in accepting Baha'u'llah as a Messenger of God," I told the Baha'is one day, "but I can never be convinced that Muhammad was a Prophet too." My prejudice against the Muslims was so intense that in the end I decided to go so far as to forsake Baha'u'llah and His Cause, rather than accept the Prophet of Islam. It was then that I came to meet Mulla 'Abdu'l-Qani. "Why do you find it so difficult to recognize Muhammad as a true Prophet?" He asked me, and there followed a long discussion. He told me that the teachings brought by the Messenger of God could be likened to the life-giving waters of a pure lake. But, as days go by, the clear water in the lake is polluted by those who make use of it. Some dip their buckets into it, others their hands, and yet others their soiled garments. In time, the water changes its colour and smell and loses its life-giving power. Indeed, to drink that water then becomes the cause of disease. "This is why," 'Abdu'l-Qani continued, "God sends a Messenger to purify His religion from time to time and make it a source of spiritual life to the world once more, after people have misused and corrupted it to suit their own desires." "But how can I be sure," I asked him, "that the teachings of Muhammad were good and profitable when he brought them?" "There is only one way of finding out," said 'Abdu'l-Qani. "You must forget your prejudice, lay aside all the ideas you find prevalent among the Muslims today, and read the teachings of Muhammad as given in the Qur'an." "I cannot read Arabic," I told him, "and the Qur'an has not been translated into Persian." "If you are sincere in your search after Truth, and wish to know what is written in the Qur'an," 'Abdu'l-Qani told me, "I am prepared to read it with you."

I began to study the Qur'an with Mulla 'Abdu'l-Qani every day. It took me two years to go through it, but by that time my heart was completely won over by the Prophet of Islam. I then had no further difficulty in becoming a Baha'i, much to the disappointment of my Muslim neighbours.

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Prison Life with Mullá Ridá

It was a strange sight. There, beside the pond in the prison yard, two men were busy helping the only Jewish prisoner in the place to take a bath. One man was pouring water over him, while the other, an elderly person, was scrubbing his back. Those who saw them wondered what sort of people these two men were, who cared to show kindness to a Jew. Even the Jew himself could not quite understand. Ever since he had been brought to this prison, he had been despised and shunned by his fellow-prisoners, and had received nothing but curses and blows from the jailers. Why should these two men, utter strangers to him, be concerned with his needs? The idea of helping the Jew to take a bath had come from Mulla Rida. He had noticed how the man was being treated by everyone else, and had said to his friend: "Do you realize how much more difficult life is for this poor Jew than for the rest of the prisoners here? No one associates with him; no one gives him anything. They all regard him as unclean and will not let him step into their bath. If you will give me a hand, we can at least help him have a good wash beside the pond in the yard outside."
So they helped the Jew take a bath, and gave him their spare clothes to wear.
At another time when Mulla Rida was imprisoned with a number of his fellow-believers in Tihran, they had only one spare shirt between them. This shirt was washed and handed round in turn.
One day, a young man who was guilty of theft was brought to the prison and chained beside Mulla Rida. Mulla Rida noticed that this young man had no shirt at all, so he asked for the spare one they had, to give to him. One of his friends said to Mulla Rida: "You put on the clean shirt and let the young man have the one you are wearing." "How can I do such a thing?" said Mulla Rida. "What we give away to another man is like a gift we make to Baha'u'llah. Do you expect me to give Him anything less than the best I have?

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The Jewish Physician

Hakim Aqa Jan† hurried along the narrow lanes of Hamadan to the house of Muhammad-Baqir who, carrying a lantern to light the way, ran on in front. Muhammad-Baqir's wife lay desperately ill, shaken with convulsions and crying out in pain. She had been suffering with fever when the Jewish physician, Hakim Aqa Jan, was called in to see her earlier that evening, and he had given her a few pills to take, saying that she would soon feel better. She had scarcely taken the pills, however, when her condition grew worse and she was seized with severe pains and convulsions.
Hurrying to her bedside now, Hakim Aqa Jan had one look at his patient and the blood drained out of his face. He immediately realized what had happened: instead of the quinine pills he intended to give her, he had handed out strychnine. Not only was the patient now in danger of losing her life, but so was he himself. Indeed, knowing the hatred which the Muslims bore towards his people, Hakim Aqa Jan wondered if the consequences of such a mistake on his part might not affect his family and the whole Jewish population of Hamadan. He trembled at the thought and scarcely heard the question Muhammad-Baqir was asking. The latter, sensing the state of the doctor's mind, asked the reason for his extreme anxiety. "I have made a mistake in giving the pills," confessed Hakim Aqa Jan. "Anyone can make a mistake," said Muhammad-Baqir. "You did not do this on purpose, and even if the patient should die, no one will blame you for it."
†Hakim means physician.

Hakim Aqa Jan could not believe his ears. Was it indeed a Muslim who spoke thus to him, a Jew? But there was no time to dwell on such mysteries when his patient needed all his attention. He rushed out of the house to the nearest drugshop and, having purchased some medicine with which he hoped he might be able to save her life, hurried back to sit with his patient through the night. After agonizing hours of suspense in which he did every possible thing within his power to save her, he was at last relieved to see that the danger had passed and that she would live.
During all this time, the gracious courtesy and the kindness with which he had been received in the home of Muhammad-Baqir greatly affected and somewhat puzzled the physician. He had had many dealings with Muslims before and was familiar with the way they treated Jews, especially under such unfavourable conditions. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered at the unusual behaviour of this household.
Later, he mustered enough courage to ask Muhammad-Baqir about his religious beliefs. "I belong to a new Faith," was Muhammad-Baqir's reply, "I am a Baha'i." Hakim Aqa Jan was immediately interested to know about this new Faith and, after a period of investigation, became an ardent follower himself. He was the first Jew to embrace the Cause in Hamadan, and although he did not live more than a few years after becoming a Baha'i, he was able to bring a great number of other Jews into the Faith before he passed away.

tonyfish58

Thanks bwb - These are great stories and it beats head pounding doctrine talk any day

If only people could look past the doctrine to the essence of faith, when you do the light is found in all religions

Thanks again & Cheers Tony

bwb

I agree with you completely. I feel the same way. Thanks for taking the time to give me a little positive feedback. The four stories are also posted in my bahaiforums.com blog, in case you want to share a link to them with anyone.

bahaiforums.com/blogs/bwb/52-4-beautiful-inspiring-stories-religious-tolerance-bahai-history-part-1-2.html

bahaiforums.com/blogs/bwb/53-4-beautiful-inspiring-stories-religious-tolerance-bahai-history-part-2-2.html

whine of astonsihment

Your selection of stories is indeed wonderful bwb (maybe you should turn some of them into videos:wink) and such a pleasant change of pace from some of the posts we've had to deal with, they are like the first breaths of fresh, clean, country air after emerging from the damp, musty and stale air of a basement.

There is a such a vast amount of truth, wisdom and beauty in the teachings and history of this faith that one doesn't even know where and what to look at first and no matter where or how early in life you begin, you know you will never finish the task, even if you live a very long life. It often feels like the more I try to absorb, the more aware I become of how little I know of what there still remains to learn.

One of the most beneficial effects of dialogue between the members of a group like this comes from exchanging the stories and passages that are most significant and meaningful to us. It's a little like going off in every and any direction on a wonderful treasure hunt and gathering together for 'show and tell' during the coffee breaks - I find that utterly delightful!:wub