A Question on Fourth Heaven

----- Original Message -----

From: "Farzin Aghdasi" <farzin.aghdasi@attbi.com

Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 3:58 PM

Subject: Reply to Nahid's questions

Dear Nahid,

I apologize that I was completely absorbed during the past few weeks and unable to answer your questions. I hope that I have not put you off. Here are some thoughts on your two remaining questions:

Question:

2.Page 89- ... of Jesus had disappeared from the sight .....and ascended unto the forth heaven ..... what is the story behind this? I heard that Hazrat Mohammad ascended to seventh heaven. what is the relationship of these stories?

Answer:

In ancient cosmology, the earth below and the heaven above, each had several layers. By one account heaven has 7 layers, with the first layer being close to the earth and the 7th one being close to God. Muhammad is reportedto have gone to the seventh heaven during his flight (Mi'raj) from Mecca to Jerusalem and onto heaven. The stone on which he stood in Jerusalem to make his flight is the foundation stone of the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, adjacent to the wailing wall. Jesus is said to have gone to the fourth heaven. Below the body of this email I will included some references on the subject of the 4th heaven.

Question:

3. Page 98- Gracious God! How could there be conceived any ..... is that refers to the birth of Jesus?

Answer:

I can not see this connection. From what little I understand, the passage deals with the fact that the infinite God and our finite minds can not have any direct relationship. And that is why it is necessary to have the Manifestations of God who act as intermediaries between us and God. Maybe what has confused the concept here is the word "conceived". This word here means simply "imagined", or thought, as "How could there be imagined any existing relationship or possible connection between His Word and they that are created of it."

Warmest love

Farzin

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Explanation of the Term "Fourth Heaven" in the Book of Certitude (Para 98 and 142)

The Universal House of Justice: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986, 547

...In answer to a question about Bahá'u'lláh's reference to the "fourth heaven" in the Kitáb-i-Íqán [Kitáb-i-Íqán page 89], the Guardian'ssecretary wrote on his behalf:

As to the ascent of Christ to the fourth heaven, as revealed in theglorious "Book of Íqán," he [the Guardian] stated that the "fourth heaven" is aterm used and a belief held by the early astronomers. The followers of theShí'í sect likewise held this belief. As the Kitáb-i-Íqán was revealed for the guidance of that sect, this term was used in conformity with the conceptsof its followers. (Translated from the Arabic, from an unpublished letter)

In studying such statements, however, we must have the humility to appreciate the limitations of our own knowledge and outlook, and strive always to understand the purpose of Bahá'u'lláh in making them, trying to look upon Him with His own eyes, as it were.

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Also, on the subject of resurrection Abdu'l-Baha wrote:

Verily the heaven into which the Messiah rose up was not this unendingsky, rather was His heaven the Kingdom of His beneficent Lord. Even as HeHimself hath said, 'I came down from heaven,'[John 6:38] and again, 'The Son ofMan is in heaven.'[John 3:13] Hence it is clear that His heaven is beyond all directional points; it encircleth all existence, and is raised up forthose who worship God. Beg and implore thy Lord to lift thee up into thatheaven, and give thee to eat of its food, in this age of majesty and might.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 168 )