Explanation of Angels

Dear Nahid,

You had asked:

> 1. Page 79- when Hazrat Sadiq talks about fellow-Shi'ihs behind the Throne which indicate that no true Shi'ihs exist! to whom he refers?

Answer:

In this part of the Book, Baha'u'llah is explaining the meaning of Angels. Recall that on page 24 Baha'u'llah quoted from the Gospel of Mathew24:29-31, and one sentence there was "And he shall send his angels with a

great sound of the trumpet." Now fifty pages later the discussion has reached this sentence.

In both Christian and Islamic traditions much has been written about angels, their functions, levels and categories. In one sense much of this material is pure vain imaginings. There are arch angels, guardian angels, Cherubim, etc. A few angels are famous: Michael, Israel (the angel of death), Israfil (Seraph, the one who will blast the trumpet in the day of resurrection), Gabriel (the bearer of the revelation from God to Muhammad), and Lucifer who disobeyed God and became Satan. The symbolic interpretations given in the Baha'i writings make it possible to speak of these angels without degenerating into superstitious beliefs. Here in page 79 of the Iqan Baha'u'llah defines what is meant by angels. He says "By angels is meant those who... have consumed... all human traits and limitations, and have clothed themselves with the attributes of the most exalted Beings and of the Cherubim"

Now to prove His point from scriptures He quotes from the sixth Imam, Imam Sadiq. Remember how earlier on in the Book, Baha'u'llah invited the reader (in page 4) to "Refer ye, to verify this truth, to that which hath been recorded in every sacred Book." The lesson here for us is that when Baha'u'llah is teaching someone, He first provides an explanation and appeals to reason. Then immediately He backs this up by bringing a reference from the holy book in which the seeker already believes. This way the reason is reinforced and the seeker is assured that he is not betraying his previous faith.

So what did Imam Sadiq say about angels? When he was giving an eulogy about Cherubim (which are one group of very favored angels) he said "There stand a company of our fellow-Shi'ihs behind the Throne". This means that the angels (even the Cherubim) are not extra-terrestrial beings, but ordinary human beings (our fellow Shi'ihs) who are pure in heart and pure in action. As Baha'u'llah has said they have "consumed... all human traits" of self and passion, and "clothed themselves with the attributes of the most exalted."

Now that the discussion has reached this stage. Baha'u'llah makes another observation. This observation is essentially separate from the main flow of the argument, and it has to do with the state of the people, and the necessity of a divine educator for them. He comments that one way of understanding the saying of the Imam is to recognize that there are in fact no true Shi'ihs, i.e. no truly faithful believers. It is a little like saying that "these days a good friend is like a round square". The implication is that since there are no round squares, it means that these days there are no good friends. We can say that those Muslims who were truly faithful to the teachings of Islam accepted the new Faith and became Babis, while the rest failed the ultimate test and spiritually perished. In a tribute to Imam Sadiq and at the same time a condemnation of the Shi'ih community of the time, Baha'u'llah approves of the assessment of the Imam and says "Such is the testimony of Sadiq". And then Baha'u'llah says "And now consider, how unfair and numerous are those who, although they themselves have failed to inhale the fragrance of belief, have condemned as infidels those by whose word belief itself is recognized and established."

Warmest love

Farzin