IBRAHIM KHAYRU鱈LAH ANSWERS THREE QUESTIONS

 

In 1901, we find lbrahim Khayru'llah defending his position against the American followers of 'Abbas Efendi In two tracts entitled respectively Facts for Baha'ist痴 (Chicago, 1901), and The Three Questions (undated, but published subsequently April, 1901). The former is prefaced by the following " Statement of the House of Justice of the Society of Baha段st痴 to all the followers of Baha置llah":

"The time has come to publish some of the numerous facts which have been obtained through a very careful and strict investigation concerning the differences existing between the eldest son of Baha置llah (i.e. 'Abbas Efendi, Abdul-Baha) and his younger brothers.

"For the sake of Truth and Justice we urge every believer to read carefully the contents of this pamphlet, and judge for himself which of the: two parties is following the teachings of the Father and obeying His Commandment.

"It is intended gradually to publish the many facts in our possession, and they are open at any time to those who wish to investigate them."

"The Three Questions" answered by Khayru'llah in his second pamphlet are as follows :

(1) ''Why have some followers of Baha置llah and yourself rejected 'Abbas Efendi, the Greatest Branch, and his teachings ?

(2) "Did you receive the instructions you gave in America from Baha'ullah in person, or from 'Abdul Karim of Cairo, Egypt ?

(3) "Why did you not denounce 'Abbas Efendi upon your return from 'Akka?

 

From the answer to the second question it appears (p. 23) that 'Abdul-Karim of Tihran by whom Khayru'llah was converted to the Baha'i faith, and who, as we have seen, visited America in the summer 1900, told Khayru'llah, in the presence of some believers,. that if he returned to Abbas Efendi he was right and all he taught was right; but if not he was wrong, and all be taught was wrong. "Besides this," says Khayru'llah, "he promised me plenty of money, and when I refused he renounced me and all that I taught, and prohibited the believers from reading or buying my work Beha置値lah."

From the answer to the third question We learn that it was not until nearly seven months after Khayru'llah's return to America that he definitely repudiated 'Abbas Efendi and espoused the cause of Muhammad 'Ali and the younger brothers. This event must have taken place in the year 1899.

'Abbas Efendi, as soon as Khayru'llah's defection laws known, seems to have taken vigorous steps to destroy his supremacy and influence in America. 'Abdul-Karim was sent to America for this purpose in 1900. At the At the end of the same year, as we have seen, another ardent partisan of 'Abbas Efendi, to wit Hajji Mirza Hasan of Khurasan was in America, not only remonstrating with, but threatening Khayru'llah. A little later Mirza Asadu値lah , a vehement partisan of 'Abbas Efendi, founded the "House of Spirituality" in Chicago. About the end of 1901 or beginning of 1902 his son, Mirza. Farid Amin, a lad of about twenty, who had graduated with honours in English, succeeded and aided his father as the recognized translator into English of the Baha'i writings in Arabic and Persian.

Early in 1902 we find two more prominent Baha'is both adherents of Abbas Efendi, to wit the learned and indefatigable Mirza Abu'l-Fazl of Gulpayagan (whose propagandist activities were also displayed at 'lshqabad, or Askabad in Russian Turkistan and in Egypt) and the amiable old Hajji Niyaz of Kirman (with whom I was acquainted in Cairo in the early part of 1903) carrying on an active propaganda, in America. The former, unless he paid two visits to America, must have remained there nearly three years, for he sailed thence for 'Akka with nine American pilgrims, including Mr. Howard Mac Nutt (formerly associated with Khayru'llah in the publication of his book Beha置llah) in December, 1904.

 

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