Egypt: Response To The Mufti On The Baha'i Faith
There are four video segments of the television interview referred to in the last post. They are currently being translated and responses that will refute all the fabrications made up by the Mufti of Egypt will also be published. Meanwhile, until the transcripts and responses are ready for posting, for those who are eager to view the complete set, the four video clips can be seen at the following links:
Segment One
Segment Two
Segment Three
Segment Four
After viewing these segments, one will immediately realize that while the Mufti is attempting to present himself as a wise, knowledgeable and convincing authority on the Baha'i Faith, he proves without any doubt his complete ignorance and bias.
Response in Arabic can be viewed HERE.
Mark Twain once said: "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
I have not yet had enough time to listen to the full interview, yet I am appalled, by the logic or rather lack of in this supposedly learned 'man of the cloth'.
ReplyDeleteThe Mufti is saying that the Baha'i Faith is not a religion because it doesn't have clergy or a mechanism of interpretation like that of theological expounding in Islam (Fiqh), and his logic is that since Baha'is don't have a hierarchy of authority, they end up with a hodgepodge of different opinions and ideas (sort of an "everything goes" system) rather than a belief system. He forgets that this system of interpretation he is talking about, has no basis in the Qur'an (nor in other sacred books). On the contrary, the Qur'an has a verse (ayeh) which clearly forbids interpretation [75:16-19], where God reservs that right to Himself. The end result is that after 160 years since its inception, a researcher will find that there is only one Baha'i Faith, while the Mufti's "system of interpretation" has resulted in numerous sects often cursing each other and sometimes calling the rest "unbelievers". (For an example, another colleague of his from the Al-Azhar –sheikh Samak was saying on TV a couple of months ago, that Sunnis should not marry Shiites).
The other point which attracted my attention in the short segment I watched, was that contrary to what has been said on TV for decades now, about there being only three 'heavenly' religions, and in order to support his argument about why the Baha'i Faith is different from other "religions", he mentions the Buddhists having their "Book", and the Hindus and their "Book".. etc. so in essence he is admitting that there are religions other than the THREE (.. but, of course, not Baha'i).
As to whether the Baha'i Faith is a religion or not, there is a couple of pages written about that in Arabic that may be of interest to the Egyptian (and other Arabic speaking) readers at:
http://www.freewebs.com/bfacts/tr_ar.htm
Hissam
I had started posting a reply to what I think is an offensive ignorant interview. But then there was more. I don't know if I'm in for more of this nonesense.
ReplyDeleteHissam, thanks for these cogent comments.
ReplyDeleteSince I am on the outside, it is easy for me to try to think kindly of the Mufti. No doubt I would have a different opinion if I were within the threat of his enthusiastic followers.
It is a real shame that the leaders will disavow any intentions of violence while allowing their more ignorant less tolerant followers to express thier loyalty to him (or her?) by attacking the innocent.
2 of my students my adult English class are very surprised that such a tiny number of Bahais in Egypt can cause such turmoil. They want to know how this is possible?????
Thank you all for your comments. This is very helpful. Because of the importance of this dialogue, hopefully I'll use these comments in the main body of the posts on the blog in refuting the Mufti's so called "opinions."
ReplyDeleteYou as well as any others are encouraged to freely comment on these interviews. They will surely enrich the subject matter.
Egyptian Baha'i:
ReplyDeleteYou should not stop responding to the "nonsense" even though it could be a painful exercise....
EdoRiver:
The answer to your students is that, if not for the Baha'i Faith's authenticity as a major divinely-ordained world religion, "such turmoil" would not have occurred. The Islamic clergy perceives that its own power and influence are threatened--down to their core. This reaction is not surprising at all.