Summary of the book
"THE herald of the truth"

INTRODUCTION

War, hate & prejudice are not the solution to keep the peace and unity of the world. The present political system is not able to serve all the people. Only human accomplishments do have the natural power to create peace, love and unity among all the nations and stand firmly against war, hate and prejudice.

We have written this book to help those broad minded, deeply committed people to search for the trace of the truth; those people who seek providential understanding through their reliance on Almighty God.

This book will also assist those who have already come to know the Bahá’í Faith, as it provides an analysis of the Bahá’í history and the Bahá’í way of life.

Our devotion to the Bahá’í Faith has given us strong desire to introduce the meaning of the Faith in a positive and compassionate manner, and to explain the history of this new, international religion. Readers will discover Bahá’u’lláh’s glorious messages of God for the unification of the world and the creation of a life based on love and unity two essential qualities that many people lack in the world today.

  The book contains four sections:                  

COMMENTARY SECTION

In the Commentary Section, we have provided readers with details of the legitimacy of the Bahá’í Faith. You will learn how the Bahá’í Way offers a genuine solution for many of the world’s problems: poverty, conflict and despair, and you will discover a simple and accessible way of understanding how we could change the hearts and minds of prejudiced, hate filled people, so that they can embrace the idea of love and unity among the people.

History shows how those without hope or prosperity can cause hate, protest and revolt, leading to war and misery. The majority of the world’s population suffers from unjust management and exploitation by the richer countries, and is deprived of prosperity and joy of life. This leads to hostile protest and conflicts. However, the Bahá’í Way gives an understanding of the dream life of peace and tranquillity; agitation and oppression can be replaced by dialogue and affection, heresy and harassment will fade to be replaced by cooperation and humanity.

Additionally, this section described many important political systems and social ways of life; how we could change these present political systems which are not able to provide security, prosperity and the joy of life to a united world, under legitimate government and support every human being to have equal opportunity rights and respect.

In this section, also, all the religions of the world have been introduced, and their teachings and manifestations are fully described. The following list in alphabetical order of those religions which have been written in our book are: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Mormons, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastranism.

HISTORY SECTION

In the History Section, we have provided details of how the Bahá’í Faith came to be, the histories of the spiritual personalities who gave us their messages, and how so many of their followers gave their lives for the new direction of human existence. You will see a clear picture of what happened during those dark days and will have an insight into the desperate living conditions in that part of the world at that time.

Only the divine and the wealthy classes had the right to a basic education; women had no authority, no rights and no respect, and the majority of children were deprived of their childhood, having to work instead of going to school. Nor was there a democratically elected ruler: the king governed autocratically, giving favour to his relatives and friends, and his word was always final.

From this degrading and depressive way of life, two of Islamic teaching's most inspired stars were revealed to the hearts and minds of the repressed, giving them glad tidings of the coming of “The Promised One” and preparing them to look forward to great change in their lives. The teachers gave assurance about new life in a world of peace, tranquillity and prosperity.

In the History Section, you will also read about the lives and activities of these spiritual stars of the East. Their wishes and their predictions became reality as in 1844, Primal Point (Báb) proclaimed his manifestation and his message from God for the unity of mankind, and moved the hearts of many people. They became an immovable force that spread the message to every person in the Persian Kingdom. The government, under the rule of the king, rejected and opposed the message and sent soldiers into every corner of the country to arrest and execute them. As a result of these barbaric acts, many innocent Bábís lost their lives and the Báb himself was martyred in 1850, when he was only 31 years old.

Báb’s announcement for the coming of Man Yuz-hiru’llah 'He whom God shall make manifest' became reality and, in April 1863, Bahá’u’lláh declared his manifestation in the garden of Ridván in Iraq. By order of the Ottoman government, he had been moved from Baghdad to Constantiple (now Istanbul), then Adrianople (now Idirne) and finally to Akka. His eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá became the 'Centre of Covenant and Interpreter of the Bahá’u’lláh’s Messages' after the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892; he travelled to Europe and USA to spread the Bahá’u’lláh’s message for the love and unification of the whole world under legitimate government.

Shoghi Effendi became the 'Guardian of the Faith' 

Following the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, Shoghi Effendi ( 1897 - 1957 ) carried out his spiritual service to the Bahá'í world until 1957, when he unexpectedly passed away in London  .  

                                                                   

Now the honourable members of the Bahá'í

House of Justice are actively  engage in expanding the faith. Further information is contained in the History Section of our book     " The herald of the truth".                               

In the History section,

also we have described the lives and challenges of some of the many outstanding believers who gave up their lives for the oneness and the unity of mankind. The following names are the few of those spiritual stars of God:

mulla AlÍ BastÁmi

Senior Letters of the Living; He was a determined speaker before the divines of Iraq for the new revelation. They tortured him for speaking the truth. He became a prisoner with hard labour and died in prison in the hands of the oppressors.

BÁbu'l-BÁb (MullÁ Husayn BushrÚ'Í)

He was the first believer who accepted the Báb's declaration in 1844. He went to every town and village in Persia to spread the messages. Finally, he was wounded by the government soldiers and martyred in January 1849.

Quddús (MullÁ Muhammad 'AlÍ BÁrfurÚshÍ)

A young man who joined the challenge in 1844 and became Báb's companion to go for pilgrimage. His activity was noticed by the government, then in  1849 he was arrested, tortured and martyred when he was only 27 years old.

Hujjat (MullÁ Muhammad 'AlÍ)

He was an outstanding divine in the Persian city of Zanján. He accepted Báb's proclamation and began to teach the faith. But in 1850, he was arrested and martyred by the government soldiers.

VahÍd(Siyyid YahyÁ DÁrÁbÍ)

An important divine of Persia and became an envoy from  the king to meet the Báb and investigate his claim. The communication went smoothly and he accepted the New Faith of God. He was arrested by the Persian government's soldiers. They tied him up at the back of the horse. It was in this tragic way that he was martyred.

Khal-A'zam (HÁjjÍ MÍrzÁ Siyyid 'AlÍ)

He was the beloved uncle of the Bab. He accepted Bab's faith and brought his message to the attention of many people in Persia. He was arrested by the government soldiers and was martyred for his belief.

Anis (MÍrzÁ Muhammad 'AlÍ-i-ZunÚzÍ)

A young believer who went to the crowd in the Persian city of Tabríz on the day when Báb was taken for execution. He put himself to the foot of Báb and asked desperately to be with him at these moments of his life. Báb accepted him affectionately and the government soldiers tied him with Báb for execution. On 9th July 1850, he was martyred along side with Báb. His spiritual desire was fulfilled and ascended to the paradise of God with his devoted God's messenger.

TÁhirih 'Qurratu'l-Ayn (FÁtimih BaraghÁnÍ)

An outstanding teacher and great poet. She was the first woman who joined the Báb and accepted his proclamation. She spread actively Báb's messages to many people. She was arrested for the preaching of the truth and was martyred in 1852.

HÁjjÍ SulaymÁn KhÁn

A devoted believer who actively involved in teaching the faith. He was finally arrested and martyred. His heroism had gone behind any belief, burning candles were on his pure body to rejoice his master.

BadÍ' (ÁqÁ Buzurg) The Pride of the Martyrs

He became a volunteer at the age of seventeen, to take

an important letter of Bahá'u'lláh to the king of Persia. The king ordered his arrest and torture in order to deny his faith. He stood firm against his oppressors. He never re-

canted his belief and finally martyred.             

SultÁnu'l-ShuhadÁ (MÍrzÁ Muhammad-HasÁn) and MahbÚbu'l-Shuhada (MÍrzÁ Muhammad-Husayn)

Two honourable brothers from the Persian city of Isfáhán. The clergy of the city gave 'Fatwa' for them to be executed if they do not recant their faith. These two brothers gave their strong messages to the clergy that they will never change their heart on their faith. Finally, on 17th March 1879, these two faithful believers were martyred in the hands of the oppressors.

          MÍrzÁ Muhammad-HasÁn & MÍrzÁ Muhammad-Husayn

JinÁb-i-VarqÁ (MÍrzÁ 'AlÍ Muhammad

An outstanding Bahá'í with exemplary knowledge in medicine, scienceand religion, also a great poet. He stood courageously during the trial hearing as a Bahá'í. He firmly embraced his religion of God. He was tortured but he never recanted his faith. Finally, in May 1896, he was martyred in the hands of the oppressors. 

RÚhu'llÁh; 12 year old son of JinÁb-i-VarqÁ

He was taken to prison. He was so young to be tortured. But against the human principle, he was tortured to recant his faith. He stood firmly and did not give up his belief. Finally, on the same day he was martyred with his father for his courageous standing.

Ustad 'AlÍ-Akbar-i-BannÁ

Before his martyrdom; he took a leading role to build the first Bahá'í House of Worship. In spring of 1903, he returned to his native land in thePersian city of Yazd. Tragic circumstances ended to his martyrdom for his strong devotion to the Bahá'í Faith.

Principles of the BahÁ’Í Faith Section

In the section for the Principles of the Bahá’í Faith, we have honoured by description and explanation of each of the principles by including the holy writings of Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The section contains the outstanding principles from the messages of Bahá’u’lláh concerning the unity of mankind and for receiving blessings and prosperity for a joyful and decent life.

BahÁ’Í Prayers and Meditations Section

The final section; Bahá’í Prayers and Meditations, is intended to assist readers in achieving spiritual satisfaction, enabling them to walk into the world of reality; a sensitive communication to enhance hope, health and happiness and evoke a wonderful feeling of beauty and joy of life.

We wish all the readers the commitment and determination to stand up for their integrity and to seek out their identity; to fulfil their obligations; to challenge and to accomplish.