Thirteenth Reflection

law, advocates of equal rights of all people and constitutional form of government, are systematically engaged in a culture of racism, religious bigotry, and coercive policies against a minority. Finding traditional form of discrimination and hatred against the Jews in mediaeval Europe or 19 th century Iran was not unexpected. But for nations who claim to be the defenders of the liberty and rights of all people such culture and policy is nothing but pure hypocrisy. In fact, Baha’u’llah approves many aspects of European culture and politics, but he also notes the immaturity, the double standard, and the limited extension of many such trends. Democracy is praiseworthy but it must include women, all people regardless of their class position, religion, ethnicity and background. Liberty is praiseworthy but for all beings and not just one group of people. Baha’u’llah’s criticism of antisemitism of European governments is a discourse that simultaneously condemns two very important form of prejudice. Antisemitism is both a racial prejudice and a religious prejudice. The motives for such hatred has often been mixed. The words of Baha’u’llah, therefore, is a condemnation of all kinds of racism and religious oppression wherever it is found in the world. 2. Critique of Colonialism The second statement of Baha’u’llah written on September 20, 1882 discusses the bombardment and destruction of the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria: “ Verily that which was built in 1000 years or more is destroyed. Verily the deeds of Alexander who built Alexandria, and was thus named after him, have come to naught.” The rest of the tablet condemns the invader and laments the occupation of a great country, meaning Egypt, by the enemy, namely the British colonialism. The date of the tablet is important. In reaction to Urabi revolt in Egypt, the British navy bombarded the city of Alexandria in July of 1882, and defeated Urabi’s army on September 13, 1892. This is the beginning date of the formal control of Egypt by the British army which continued until 1952. Tablet of Baha’u’llah is written one month after the bombardment, and exactly one week after the occupation of Egypt. It is important to note that Baha’u’llah has written several such tablets during those times. These tablets have not been studied because they have yet to be published or translated. This tablet rejects colonialism as such, and the British colonialism in particular. Without naming the British state, Baha’u’llah defines the invasion of Egypt in these terms: The powerful ones show no compassion to the weak. For example, were one person [British sovereign] to rule all over the earth, with only one village remaining outside of his dominion, he would conspire, day and night, to seize that village as well. Would that this enthusiasm and zeal would turn to other endeavors! Baha’u’llah expresses his grief and sorrow for such event, and at the end of the tablet he asks the Baha’is to pray for the victory of Egyptians. It is noteworthy to note that Baha’u’llah himself and the Baha’is were at that same time the target of extreme forms of brutality and oppression by Muslims in Iran and even in Ottoman empire. Yet, Baha’u’llah becomes encompassed with grief because the Muslims have been wronged by a European government. What was important for Baha’u’llah was the nobility and dignity of all human beings. That is why he is defending in that same year both the Jewish and Muslim people who have suffered persecution. 3. Spiritual Consciousness and its Negation of Colonialism and Racism