Final Paper by Munirih Creaser

Dear ....

It has been long since I have written to you!. You might have heard from others that, about nearly two years ago I suffered from cerebral aneurysm which caused third nerve palsy on right side of my face. I had to go to South Africa for a brain operation to clip the blood vessel ( you have to find the definition in dictionary, sorry to give you extra work ! ). As the result I had to stop work and stay home and wait for the slow recovery  ( not being young does not help! ). I still have complication of double vision which at time is very frustrating.

Now the most enjoyable and positive thing that during this period has happened to me, is that about three months ago, luckily through an email from a friend I came to know about an online study course on Kitab-i- Iqan. At first I was apprehensive to join in as I was not sure if I will be able to complete  the course, reading and writing does not go well with double vision! . Then I thought I will try and make an effort, even if I have to stop some where along the way, at least  I know that I have tried and am sure that with Baha'u'llah's help and assistance I will be able to follow and understand some of the mysteries unravelled by Him, in this the second most great book ( after Kitab-i- Aqdas ) revealed by Baha'u'llah, which has been  translated to English by Shoghi Effendi.

Specially, that I had lots of time on my hand, with children ( very grown up now ! ) being away from home. This course study was like a healing balm  for me . It cheered me up and helped me to keep my spirit high when I felt low and depressed. Because being at home waiting for recovery at times gets very depressing!.

Dearest I am going to write a very short personal introduction to the Kitab-i-Iqan for you in the hope that it will encourage you to try and start studying this Book, if you have not done it already.

I think the best and most appropriate way to start is to give Shoghi Effendi's forward introduction given, in the  English  translated copy of the Book.

" This is one more attempt to introduce to the West, in language however inadequate, this book of unsurpassed pre-eminence among the writings of the Author of the Baha'i Revelation. The hope is that it may assist others in their efforts to approach what must always be regarded as the unattainable goal-- a befitting rendering of Baha'ullah's matchless utterance."

As you most probably know the Kitab-i-Iqan was revelled by Baha'u'llah in reply to the Ba'b's uncle's( Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad ) questions, as yet he did not believe in The Bab's Dispensation. Although in appearance it is answer to his questions, but in reality it is the greatest book to answers any questions that any  honest and fair minded seeker with any religious background might have. It  gives insight to the inner meaning of all the mysteries in the Holy books and help the true seeker to find the Truth about all the past religions and the Ba'b's and Baha'u'llah's Dispensation. The Book contain over 250 pages which Baha'u'llah revealed in the span of two days and two nights.

To me this fact alone is the greatest sign and proof of Him being empowered and inspired by the Devine Knowledge. Otherwise it is impossible for any person to write such a powerful, informative epistle even  having years to do so. It is even more awesome when we know that Baha'u'llah did not enter any school, common in His time.

Imagine in the material world the so called devines, professors or researchers study for years, then spend another few more years doing research on a subject with lots of  human and material resources to help and assist them. Then after all of these , they manage to produce a paper or write a book on the subject, which quite often as it has been happening, after  some length of time it comes to light that they got it wrong!.

Kitab-i- Iqan is in two parts

In the first part        Baha'u' llah starts the book by assuring the seekers of Truth that " NO man shall attain the shores of the ocean of true understanding except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth..."

This was puzzling for me, because I was thinking why should a person be detached from all that is in heaven?, as to my understanding, things in heaven are all good. Or why should we be detached from a praise worthy thing such as love?.

The proverb  < love is blind > is good one to make us understand that, having love or strong feeling for something or someone, most of the time, makes the person to be prejudice and protective , and as the result it causes  him knowing or not knowing to close his heart and mind  to the truth while he is searching and investigating for it . I should think, quite a lot of people who opposed the new Manifestations of their time was due to their blind love for their own religion.

In  this part  Baha'u'llah interprets and explains the true and hidden  meaning of the prophesies and signs foretold and terms given in all the Holy books of the past Dispensations, terms such as  Cloud, Trumpet blast, Heaven,  Sun, Moon, Stars, oppression, among others for the coming of the New Manifestations. He proved the truth of Christianity to the Jews based on same prophesies and sayings, they themselves used as the reason and proof to  believe in Moses, and the Christian the truth of Muhammad again based on the same signs and arguments that help them to believe in Christ when He appeared.

He is telling the seekers in General and the Ba'b's uncle in particular that if  they really believe in their own religion  and using the prophesies and traditions from their Holy books and traditions as a point and argument to prove  the truth of their  religion to the followers of the previous religions, then they have no alternative except  either to accept the Bab's Dispensation or their faith and belief in their own religions and Holy books is false and baseless.  

Baha'u'llah in this part writes about the physical pain and suffering that all the Manifestations have gone through in the hands of the believers of the previous religions. Especially from the hands of the so called devines of each age. They , because of their selfish desire, and lust for power, leadership and material gains deprived themselves and their people and followers from recognizing, accepting and following the Suns of Truth, the new Manifestations of each age. "Leaders of religion, in every age, have hindered their people from attaining the shores of eternal salvation.......... Some for the lust of leadership, others through want of knowledge and understanding have been the cause of the deprivation of the people" para 15. 

 In His writing He asks the seeker  the reasons  for people's rejection and denials of the new Manifestation  and  also the cause  for their denials even after recognizing and accepting Him,

" .....nonfulfilment of the devine promise which led the seeker to reject that which they had accept.." para 8

and He gives the reason for  non fulfilment " .... The Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns."Para 8

The Second part Baha'u'llah starts with   " Verily He Who is the Day-star of Truth and Revealer of the Supreme Being holdeth, for all time, undisputed sovereignty over all that is in heaven and on earth, though no man be found on earth to obey Him. He verily is independent of all earthly dominion, though He be utterly destitute...."

In this part He explains that the reality the Manifestations of God are the Sovereign Lord, King of kings and They posses the real power, glory and majesty, even if in appearance in the eye of men they are devoid of material wealth and earthly power, ".... Are invariably endowed with an all-compelling power and invested with invincible sovereignty." para 103. He explains and makes it clear that the only way man can recognize and know God is by recognizing, knowing and following His Manifestations, because " The door of the knowledge of the Ancient of Days being thus closed in the face of all beings.." para 106. These Messengers of God, the Suns of Truth are the mirror image and true reflection of His attributes and the treasuries of  Devine Knowledge on earth " These Sanctified Mirrors, these Day- springs of ancient glory are one and all the Exponents on earth of Him Who is the central Orb of the universe, it's Essence and ultimate Purpose" para 106.

Baha'u'llah explains that as the Manifestations of God one and all  are the mirror image of God Himself, so there is no distinction in Their spiritual reality and Their inner essence " These Attributes of God are not and have never been vouchsafed specially unto certain Prophets, and withheld from others "  para 110

It is in this part that He gives blue print and instruction to a true seeker in the search of the path leading to the understanding of the Word of God revealed in each Dispensation and being able to enter the City of Certitude "...... cleanse and purify his heart...... from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge,... purge his breast ..... of  every defilement, sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay ..... , must never seek to exalt himself above anyone , must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and glory ...., should regard backbiting as grievous error .... should succour the dispossessed, ... should show kindness to animals, how much more unto his fellow man ..., should not wish for others that which he do not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil ......." para 213 & 214

By reading all these prerequisites, I realised that unless Baha'u'llah's Grace, Blessings and assistance shower on an individual, it is impossible to attain the City of Certitude or be able to unravel the mysteries hidden In the Word of God. And to be able to receive His Blessings and Assistance we need to pray sincerely and whole heartedly ask Him for it. " At the dawn of every day he should commune with God, and with all his soul persevere in the quest of his Beloved. "  para 214

Further on in the Book, Baha'u'llah proving the truth of the Ba'b and His dispensation by referring to the prophesies revealed in Quran and other Islamic Traditions. He explains, how the Ba'b had fulfilled them all and how He manifested Sovereignty, Majesty and real power over world and mankind.

My dearest, I am going to close my letter with the following soul stirring statement from Baha'u'llah, with the hope that with this single drop from the boundless ocean of the devine knowledge treasured in the Kitab-i-Iqan, I have managed to whet your appetite. 

"....... Amidst them all, We stand, life in hand, wholly resigned to His Will;  that perchance, through God's loving kindness and His grace, this revealed and manifest Letter may lay down His life as a sacrifice in the path of the Primal Point, the most exalted Word. "  para 279

With warmest love

Munirih