Source: bicentenary.bahai.org
By Ayatollah Abdul-Hamid Masumi Tehrani
Translation by Iran Press Watch
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Baha’is all over the world are commemorating and celebrating the Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah; the founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Baha’i Faith’s origins are in Iran, and the Iranian culture and civilization is apparent in the teachings of this Faith. However, this Faith and its followers – as has been the case with all other religions that have faced pressures and protests in the areas that they originated from – have been faced with discriminations and various hardships from the very beginning of its Manifestation, in the location of its birth. Unfortunately, after passing of more than a century, not only has this discrimination not stopped, but it has shamelessly multiplied in the recent years.
It is unfortunate that due to prejudices, and religious suspicion, the followers of this Faith and this ideology, that has embedded the Iranian culture in the fabric of its moral teachings, are faced with such hostility and discrimination, as well as individual and societal deprivation, in the cradle of its birth.
I offer my congratulations, on this Bicentenary Celebration of the Founder and Revealer of the Bahai Faith, to all followers of Baha’u’llah – especially my fellow compatriots. I am hopeful that this ideological disease, that has plagued our region for many years, which claims: “all those who don’t match my thinking and don’t share my religious ideology, should be destitute and deprived of all their individual and societal rights”; be elevated, with utmost urgency, in mindfulness and social awareness so that the worth and station of individuals can be identified by their humanity, so that the followers of all religions and Faiths, without any discrimination, enjoy the same dignity and respect, and live side by side in peace and harmony.
Iran – Tehran
12 October 2017
The imploring one, Abdul-Hamid Masumi Tehrani
October 24, 2017 6:42 pm
in my humble opinion, Ayatollah Abdul-Hamid Masumi Tehrani is a light and lover of justice.
October 28, 2017 6:48 am
Agree!
October 25, 2017 5:54 am
We must pray for this good man
June 26, 2020 11:57 am
Wholeheartedly
October 25, 2017 6:48 am
God bless him and his high mindedness, sense of justice and equality, he is truly a man of God!
October 25, 2017 8:24 am
Finally a rational compassionate response from a Muslim ! Now how about stop the rape murder and wholesale persecution of your Baha’i countrymen ?
November 18, 2017 9:37 pm
Robert, that is what he advocates. He, alone, cannot stop the persecution. However, he serves as yet another important Muslim cleric who has said it’s time to end persecution of Baha’is. Many Muslims have spoken out against such persecution.
October 25, 2017 10:14 am
Allah’u’Abha!
May the Friends of the East and West
be encouraged by the the Ayatollah’s
search for Justice for our Beloved
Coreligionists in Iran.
October 26, 2017 1:43 am
What courage it must have taken for Ayatollah to publicly issue this.
October 26, 2017 8:28 am
May His almighty bless this noble man of insight
October 26, 2017 8:29 am
Allah’u’abha
May His almighty bless this noble man of insight
October 26, 2017 11:51 pm
May the Almighty Allah bless this soul . May others have the courage to stand up for Justice as the Will of God wants.Shabas.
October 28, 2017 12:49 am
It takes courage to be a Bahai in Iran and even more courage to be a Muslim in Iran who stands up for the Bahai’s….God Bless him xxx
May 7, 2018 9:51 pm
Ayatollah Abdul-Hamid Masumi Tehrani deserves the title he wears (high-ranking among Shiite Muslims).
October 25, 2018 5:28 pm
His courage, conviction, and tenacity to push justice for the Baha’i’s, the largest religious minority in Iran, has surpass any expectation. He is a scholar above all in this dark prejudice that has engulfed that country!
November 5, 2018 3:53 am
My husband and I chose Baha’i as our Faith 53 years ago… in Nova Scotia. Baha’u’llah has taught us to love all of the Prophets of God.. and our heavenly love surrounds you too, Mr. TEHERANI for your principle of universality and your compassionate heart. Karin and Ian Ferguson,,in Canada.
November 5, 2018 4:02 am
Thanks to God for this gentle soul’s compassion
November 5, 2018 4:03 am
Four