Thirteenth Reflection

As we noted, Baha’u’llah rejects the culture and politics of violation of human rights as a matter of principle without demonizing any particular group of people. His categorical condemnation of British colonialism in this tablet is not intended to demonize the British people or government, or glorify the Egyptians. He sees people and countries as characterized by contradictory attributes. He praises and encourages whatever that is praiseworthy and denounces whatever that is oppressive. His writings praise aspects of European societies while he criticizes their antisemitism, racism, materialism, militarism, and colonialism. Likewise, while he condemns British colonialism, he praises the parliamentary democracy of the Britain, its movement toward abolishing slave traffic, and its policy of religious tolerance. Other parts of the world can learn from these positive aspects while they should abhor its militarism and colonialism. However, condemnation of racism and colonialism is a logical product of the spiritual worldview of Baha’u’llah. Racism or colonialism are product of ignoring the spiritual reality of human beings and instead, reducing them to particular biological or other arbitrary social constructs like place of birth, gender, or the like. On the basis of this spiritual definition of identity all humans are sacred and beautiful reflections of divine attributes. Therefore, out of universal love for all human beings we must reject racism and colonialism, together with other forms of violation of human rights and nobility. For example, some of the Muslim clerics denounce British colonialism while they define the essence of justice as the future dominance of the Shi’i army led by the expected 12 th Imam who will kill of all people, including Sunni Muslims, who refuse to become a Shi’i Muslim. In other words, some are not opposed to colonialism itself. They are only opposed to being colonized by others, while dreaming of themselves colonizing other countries and other religious communities. What is common with traditional religious fanaticism and materialistic modernity is that both of them have forgotten the spiritual nature of human beings, and the nobility and beauty of all people. Baha’u’llah’s worldview represents true rejection of all kinds of oppression because of his spiritual view point. In the same tablet that he is condemning British invasion of Egypt he writes: Vast majority of wars in the world are waged out of mere corrupt desires, yet they are falsely attributed to religion, honor, and country. Religion and country bear witness to the falsehood of these people. Say! The world is but one country, and all are created by the same Word. Wherefore ye wage wars, and whom ye consider as enemy?