| MOHAMMED REZA ISFAHANI, OCTOBER 2009 |
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The Bahai Viewpoint
Bahais claim that "since this reality (the Day of Judgement) was hidden in the words of the Quran and Muslims developed a curiosity to know more about it, they kept on asking about it. They were informed that they should not make haste in seeking its reality. Over time, We (Allah) will inform you about it in the Quran and will teach you about it. When the Quran is completed in its revelation then you keep on reciting it its (Day of Judgement) time comes. When it is the time for its advent, the responsibility of informing you and clarifying it will be Our (Allah’s) responsibility. We will inform you - implying that We will explain it for you; We will reveal the hidden reality. Bahais claim that this information and explanation was done through the book of "Bayan" revealed upon the Bab."
Our Response
At the outset, the questions referred to in the Quran about the Day of Judgement were not raised by Muslims but by the disbelievers. Which is why the word used in the Quran is "Insaan" (mankind).
This haste is not that of the Muslims, but of the disbelievers. Therefore, only the word "Insaan" (mankind) is used.
The response of Allah is not towards the Muslims but to mankind as a whole to the questions posed to the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh)
The Bab (or rather the people behind the Bab), extremely smartly, christened his book as "Bayan" so that wherever the word Bayan appears in the Quran, they could claim it as a prophecy for a new book to follow the Quran.
This reminds me of a joke. A person claimed to be a new prophet. The people rejected him saying that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had forwarned that "La Nabiyya Ba’di" (there will be no prophet after me). The person turned around and said that the tradition is a clear prophecy in my favour because my name is "La".
In the same manner, the Bab named his book as "Bayan". Incidentaly, the word Bayan appears thrice in the Quran - once in the Chapter of Rahman and all thanks to Allah, who clarified the true meaning of Bayan in the third instance -
"This is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear Allah!".هَذَا بَيَانٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
(Ref: Chapter of Ale’ Imran, verse 138)
The word Haaza (This) used in the verse refers to the Quran. An explanation to this verse is further provided in Tafseere’ Safi by Mulla Mohsin Faiz Kashani which is related to this topic.
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