171: QUR'aN--STUDY OF (CONCERNING SCHOOL PROGRAM)

"With regard to the school's program (Louhelen) for the next summer; the Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur'an, as the knowledge of this sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand and intelligently read, the writings of Baha'u'llah. Although there are very few persons among Western Baha'is who are capable of handling such a course in a scholarly way, the mere lack of such competent teachers should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures of Islam. In this way, there will gradually appear some distinguished Baha'is who will be so well versed in the teachings of Islam as to be able to guide the believers in their study of that religion."

172: QUR'AN, SURIHS OF THE

"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the Surihs of the Qur'an, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet. The believers can not possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Surihs after the first or even second or third reading. They have to study them again and again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries and explanatory notes as found, for instance, in the admirable translation made by SALE, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it. For the present, the Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the Book according to subjects, and note verse by verse and also in the light of the Bab, Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha's interpretation which throw such floods of light on the whole of the Qur'an."

173: RELIGIOUS a.s.sOCIATIONS, NON-BAHa'i

"Concerning membership in non-Baha'i religious a.s.sociations, the Guardian wishes to re-emphasize the general principle already laid down in his communications to your a.s.sembly and also to the individual believers that no Baha'i who wishes to be a whole hearted and sincere upholder of the distinguishing principles of the Cause can accept full membership in any non-Baha'i ecclesiastical organization. For such an act would necessarily imply only a partial acceptance of the Teachings and Laws of the Faith, and an incomplete recognition of its independent status, and would thus be tantamount to an act of disloyalty to the verities it enshrines. For it is only too obvious that in most of its fundamental a.s.sumptions the Cause of Baha'u'llah is completely at variance with outworn creeds, ceremonies, and inst.i.tutions. To be a Baha'i and at the same time accept membership in another religious body is simply an act of contradiction that no sincere and logically-minded person can possibly accept. To follow Baha'u'llah does not mean accepting some of His teachings and rejecting the rest.

Allegiance to His Cause must be uncompromising and whole-hearted. During the days of the Master the Cause was still in a stage that made such an open and sharp disa.s.sociation between it and other religious organizations, and particularly the Muslim Faith not only inadvisable but practically impossible to establish. But since His pa.s.sing, events throughout the Baha'i World and particularly in Egypt where the Muslim religious courts have formally testified to the independent character of the Faith, have developed to a point that have made such an a.s.sertion of the independence of the Cause not only highly desirable but absolutely essential."

174: RESURRECTION (EXPLAINS THE Pa.s.sAGE ON PAGE 231 OF THE GLEANINGS)

"'From it (the earth) have We created you', etc., this is a verse from the Qur'an and the quotation mark has been wrongly omitted from the text and should be added after 'time'. Baha'u'llah in quoting this pa.s.sage seeks to refute the argument of the Muslims, who attach a purely literal interpretation to this verse of the Qur'an, and therefore consider it as implying bodily resurrection. To these Muslims, He says, that you who literally believe that the human body will return to dust and will be raised from it again, and therefore attach so much importance to this mortal world, how then can you wax so proud, and boast over things which are but perishable and consequently void of any true and lasting value."

175: RINGSTONES AND BURIAL STONES

"In regard to the use of ringstones and burial stones, the Guardian leaves this matter at present entirely to the discretion of the believers, and has no objection if your a.s.sembly provides facilities for their purchase by the friends. When the Kitab-i-Aqdas is published the necessary instructions will be given regarding this matter."

176: SUMMER SCHOOLS, BAHa'i (IMPORTANCE OF)

"He fervently hopes that through the earnest and sustained efforts of your committee these annual gatherings will acquire increasing importance in the eyes of the public, and will const.i.tute an effective medium for the dissemination of the Teachings. He feels that in your next summer meetings continued emphasis should be laid upon the teaching of the Administration, especially in its relation to the outside world, so as to impress the non-Baha'i attendants at the school with the nature, character, and world-significance of the World Order of Baha'u'llah."

177: SUMMER SCHOOLS, BAHa'i (PURPOSE OF)

"The basic purpose of all Baha'i Summer Schools, whether in East or West, is to give the believers the opportunity to acquaint themselves, not only by mere study but through whole-hearted and active collaboration in various Baha'i activities with the essentials of the administration and in this way enable them to become efficient and able promoters of the Cause.

The teaching of the Administration is therefore, an indispensable feature of every Baha'i Summer School and its special significance can be better understood if we realize the great need of every believer today for a more adequate understanding of the social principles and laws of the Faith."

"How wonderful it would be if all the friends could arrange to spend at least a few days in one of these summer schools and take an active part in their development. These centers could attract many souls if properly arranged and made interesting; those non-Baha'is who visit them will then have some time to get into the spirit of the place and make a study of the Cause... We constantly receive letters from people who became Baha'i by visiting one of these centers and obtaining the Message there."

178: SERVICE TO HUMANITY

"He feels that, although your desire to partake actively of the dangers and miseries afflicting so many millions of people today, is natural, and a n.o.ble impulse, there can be no comparison between the value of Baha'i work and any other form of service to humanity.

"If the Baha'is could evaluate their work properly they would see that whereas other forms of relief work are superficial in character, alleviating the sufferings and ills of men for a short time at best, the work they are doing is to lay the foundation of a new Spiritual Order in the world founded on the Word of G.o.d, operating according to the Laws He has laid down for this age. No one else can do this work except those who have fully realized the meaning of the Message of Baha'u'llah, where as almost any courageous, sincere person can engage in relief work, etc.

"The believers are building a refuge for mankind. This is their supreme, sacred task and they should devote every moment they can to this task."

179: SEVEN LIGHTS OF UNITY

"The seven lights of Unity will not necessarily come in the order given. A product of the second may well be universal culture."

180: SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE FAITH (A SINGLE DIVINE AND WORLD-EMBRACING SYSTEM)

"Concerning the idea of the Baha'i World Order and the proper emphasis which should be laid on the social aspect of the Faith; the Guardian feels the necessity for all teachers to stress the fact that the World Order of Baha'u'llah can, under no circ.u.mstances, be divorced from the spiritual principles and teachings of the Cause; that the social laws and inst.i.tutions of the Faith are inseparably bound up and closely interwoven with the moral and spiritual principles enunciated by Baha'u'llah, Who, Himself, indeed, has time and again emphasized the underlying oneness and the ident.i.ty of purpose of all His spiritual, doctrinal, and social teachings. The Friends, while emphasizing both of these aspects, should, in particular, point out that they const.i.tute parts of one and the same plan, and elements of a single, divine and world-embracing system."