A brief look at Baabism and Baha’ism

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) wrote a brief description of Baabism and Baha’ism, which we will quote here. He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

This is a brief description of Baabism and Baha’ism. 

In their view, the word al-Baab (lit. “the Door”) refers to an ignorant Iranian individual who claimed to be a Sufi. His name was ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Shiraazi. He claimed that he was the door to Baha’-Allaah Mirza Husayn ‘Ali, and that he was the messenger to whom revelation came from Baha’. 

The Baabis are named after him. Every time he was put under pressure and asked to repent, he repented from Baabism and claimed to be a Ja’fari, one of the Ithna-‘Ashari Shi’ah. 

The Baabis held a conference one year in the desert of Dasht to announce their views and proclaim glad tidings of the awaited imam whom they claimed had appeared. 

The Baabis are not all the same in their beliefs and view of the Baab, as is stated on p. 97 of the book al-Baha’iyyah Tareekhuha wa ‘Aqeedatuha wa Sillatuha bi’l-Baatiniyyah wa’l-Suhyooniyyah (Baha’ism, its History and Beliefs and its Connection with Esotericism and Zionism), by the head of the Ansaar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah organization in Egypt, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Wakeel (may Allaah have mercy on him). 

In their conference there were two groups of Baabis, one of which was led by al-Bashroo’i and al-Quddoos, and the other by al-Baha’ and Qurrat al-‘Ayn, as it says on p. 98 of this book. Their gatherings were also of two types, one just for the imams (leaders) of Baabism and another for the common folk. The topic of discussion in gatherings of the leaders was Baabism’s abrogation of Islamic sharee’ah. Their ultimate view was that the Baab was greater and higher in status than all the Messengers, and that what was revealed to him of religion was more complete and more perfect than any previous revelation or religion. 

As it says in pp. 99-100 of the book mentioned, Qurrat al-‘Ayn delivered a reprehensible speech in this conference when al-Bashroo’i and al-Quddoos were not present. Al-Baha’ was also absent, claiming that he was ill. He was worried about the consequences of her speech and waited to see the reaction of the delegates and whether they would reject her ideas or not. In her speech she clearly stated that the religion of Muhammad was completely abrogated by the new religion (Baha’ism) which had come to the ummah via the Baab, even though only a little of it had come so far and they were now in an interval. The ruling of Islamic sharee’ah no longer applied and it was permissible for the people – indeed prescribed for them – to share their wealth and women. 

Al-Wakeel said that this was what was clearly stated by the Baha’i historian in his book al-Kawaakib al-Durriyyah (p. 180, 210). And she clearly stated in her speech that she did not believe in the resurrection. 

This Qurrat al-‘Ayn was a strong proponent of their views. She issued a fatwa before she got in touch with al-Baha’, then when she got in touch with al-Baha’ she submitted to him and attributed the fatwa to him. 

The Baabis carried out an armed terrorist movement in which they shed a great deal of blood and killed hundreds of people.  The Iranian state opposed them and recruited troops to put an end to them, and they achieved that; they killed Baab al-Baab al-Bashroo’i and his companion al-Qudoos in 1265 AH, as stated in the book mentioned – the book of al-Wakeel – then the Shia’h scholars issued a fatwa stating that the Baab was a kaafir and an apostate, and deserved to be executed. The government ordered that he be executed and he was killed in front of the people; before that he was imprisoned in the citadel. 

The Shi’ah scholars debated with him several times, and he was exposed and his ignorance and confusion were clearly demonstrated. Among the cleverest questions that were put to him was when he was asked about the defects in Islamic sharee’ah and about the perfection of that which he had brought, and he could not offer any answer, rather he could not even say a word. He was asked to deliver a speech and he delivered a worthless speech that did not deserve to be listened to. Hence the scholars ruled that he was a kaafir and should be executed, and he was executed. 

Note: We stated above that the Baab in whom the Baha’is believe was the harbinger of al-Baha’ and he is the one who received revelation and conveyed it. So he is like a messenger for al-Baha’. The Baabis believe in al-Baab, who is ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Shiraazi, the ignorant Sufi who claimed that he was the most perfect human vessel in which the divine reality manifested itself, and that he was the one who created everything by his word. See p. 117. They also quoted him as saying: “On the day of Nooh, I was Nooh; on the day of Ibraaheem, I was Ibraaheem; on the day of Moosa, I was Moosa; on the day of ‘Eesa, I was ‘Eesa; on the day of Muhammad, I was Muhammad; and on the day of ‘Ali, I was ‘Ali … on the day when Allaah causes someone to prevail, I will be the one whom Allaah causes to prevail. I am the last one after whom there will be no one else and I am the first one before whom there was no one else. I am the manifestation of Allaah’s proof against the worlds.” 

How ridiculous are these words that no wise person would utter. (Shar’at al-Baab, p. 119). 

The Baab abolished the five daily prayers, Jumu’ah prayer and prayer in congregation, except in the case of the funeral prayer. He stated that purification from janaabah was not obligatory, and that the qiblah was the house in which he was born in Shiraaz, or the place where he was imprisoned, or the houses in which he and his followers lived. These are the places to which his followers were required to go on pilgrimage. 

With regard to fasting, it was to be observed from sunrise to sunset, for one Baabi month which lasts for nineteen days. As for zakaah, it was one-fifth of one's property, to be taken at the end of the year and handed over to the Baabi council. There are other ridiculous rulings which you can see on p. 120 of al-Wakeel’s book. 

Baha’ism 

As for al-Baha’, who is known as Baha’ al-Deen, he was Mirza Husayn ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Mirza ‘Abbaas Bazrak al-Maazandrani al-Noori al-Iraani. He was born in Tehran in 1233 AH and he was involved in Sufism all his life. He took his myths and stories from his Shaykhs. Then he moved to Baghdad from Tehran as a visitor or in exile, then he moved frequently from Baghdad to other places, then he moved to ‘Akka for political reasons and ulterior motives, and because of the many disputes between his Baabi followers and the followers of his brother, Yahya ibn ‘Ali ibn Mirza. After all of that and after many developments, al-Baha’ made the following claims (see p. 143 of al-Wakeel’s book). At first al-Baha’ claimed that he was the successor (khaleefah) of the Baab, or the last successor of al-qaa’im (i.e., the hidden Imam); then he claimed that he was the qaa’im himself. Then he claimed to be a Prophet, then he claimed to be divine and that the divine reality only existed in its most perfect form when embodied in him. 

Death of al-Baha’ 

When he was in the prime of his strength and his call was at its strongest, Allaah caused him to develop a fever, from which he died when he was believing in his false claims and ridiculous myths. He died in Dhu’l-Qa’dah 1309 AH. See p. 144 of the essay and footnotes of Abu’l-Fadaa’il. Abu’l-Fadaa’il was one of the propagators of the false sect of al-Baha’. 

Al-Baha’s methods of propagating his views 

He was a Sufi who relied on allusions, symbols and jargon. See p. 147 of al-Wakeel’s book. 

His books 

The most famous of them are al-Ayqaan and al-Aqdas. He wrote the former in Baghdad; it deals with proving that the Baab was the Mahdi and al-qaa’im. It refers to the claims of al-Baha’. He wrote this book in response to questions about the Baab. In this book al-Baha’ acknowledged that he was sinning by writing this book. How strange are the actions and evil deeds of this criminal. Glory be to Allaah, how great He is: He insisted that these criminals and liars should fail in their words and deeds. To Allaah be praise for the clarity of the truth and the failure of falsehood. See p. 150 of al-Wakeel’s book. 

Baha’is hatred towards Muslims 

Al-Mirza did not hate any community as much as he hated the ummah of the Final Messenger. It is sufficient for you to know that he accused the earlier and later generations of not having understood anything of the Qur’aan, and he said: “One thousand, two hundred and eight years have passed since the Qur’aan appeared and all these riffraff recite it every morning and until now they have not understood a single letter of its meaning.” Then al-Baha’ says:  “The one who does not drink from our sealed nectar, the seal of which we have broken with our name al-qayyoom has not grasped the light of Tawheed, and he does not know the meaning of the Books of Allaah, and he is one of the mushrikeen.” 

Note: 

In this summary about the Baabis and Baha’is, I have not seen any words that you cannot find in the book of al-Wakeel.  It should be noted that some of it comes from the book of Dr Muhammad Mahdi Khaan al-Irani al- Tabreezi, who lived in Egypt, which is called Miftaah Baab al-Abwaab. Some of it was taken from articles written by Muhibb al-Deen al-Khateeb about Baabism and Baha’ism, and some of it is my own words. And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (7/407-412). 

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) also issued another fatwa stating that the Baha’is are kaafirs. He was asked about the views of Baha’-Allaah who claimed to be a Prophet, and also claimed that Allaah was incarnated in him. Is it permissible for the Muslims to bury these kaafirs in the Muslim graveyards? 

He replied: 

If the beliefs of the Baha’is are as you say, then undoubtedly they are kaafirs and it is not permissible to bury them in the Muslim graveyards, because anyone who claims to be a Prophet after our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is a liar and a disbeliever according to the texts of sharee’ah and the consensus of the Muslims, and because this is disbelief in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):  

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets”

[al-Ahzaab 33:40] 

And because there are mutawaatir reports from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stating that he is the Seal of the Prophets and there is no Prophet after him. Similarly the one who claims that Allaah is incarnated in him or in any other creature is a kaafir according to the consensus of the Muslims, because Allaah, may He be glorified, is not incarnated in any of His creatures; rather He is greater and mightier than that. Whoever believes that is a kaafir according to the consensus of the Muslims, and he is denying the verses and ahaadeeth that say that Allaah is above the Throne, and He is above all His creation. He, may He be glorified, is the Most High, the Great and there is none like unto Him or comparable to Him. He described Himself to His slaves as follows (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Indeed, your Lord is Allaah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawa) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty)”

[al-A’raaf 7:54] 

End quote. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (13/169).

The Baabis and Baha’is are not Muslims

Baabism and Baha’ism are a movement that originated from a Shi’ah sect called the Shaykhiyyah in 1260 AH/ 1844 CE, under the protection of Russian, Jewish and English colonialism, with the aim of corrupting Islamic belief and dividing the Muslims and diverting them from their basic aims. 

Origins and leading figures:

1 –Baabism was founded by al-Mirza ‘Ali Muhammad Rida al-Shiraazi who learned Shi’ah and Sufi knowledge from childhood. In 1260 AH/1844 CE al-Shiraazi announced that he was the door (al-baab) which led to divine truth. He was encouraged in that by one of the Russian spies. 

Then after that he claimed to be a messenger like Moosa, ‘Eesa and Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon them all), and he even claimed to be better than them. 

In 1266 AH he claimed that the divine was incarnated in him, and he was sentenced to death. 

2 – Qurrat al-‘Ayn. She was a very eloquent woman who joined al-Shiraazi in learning the Shaykhi branch of Shi’i knowledge. She was permissive and immoral, and her husband divorced her and her children disowned her. 

She held a conference with the Baabi leaders in Dasht, Iran, in which she announced the annulment of Islamic sharee’ah. She was executed in 1268 AH/1852 CE. 

Baha’ism

Before al-Shiraazi was killed, he appointed al-Mirza Yahya ‘Ali, who was known as Sabh Azl, as his successor, but this was contested by his brother Husayn al-Baha’. After conflicts between them in which each of them tried to kill the other, Sabh Azl was expelled to Cyprus, where he died in 1912 CE. 

Husayn al-Baha’ was expelled to ‘Akka (Acre) in Palestine, where he was killed by some of his brother’s followers in 1892 CE and was buried there.  

Beliefs, ideas and rituals of the Baha’is:

1 – Belief that Allaah is incarnated in some of His creation, and that Allaah was incarnated in al-Baab and al-Baha’. 

2 – Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. 

3 – Belief that all religions are valid, and that the Torah and Gospel have not been altered. They believe that all religion must be united in one, which is Baha’ism. 

4 – The Baha’is believe that the book al-Aqdas which was written by al-Baha’ Husayn abrogates all the divinely revealed books, including the Holy Qur’aan. 

5 – They believe that Buddha, Confucius, Brahman, Zaradasht and other sages of India, China and Persia were Prophets. 

6 – They believe – like the Jews and the Christians – that the Messiah was crucified. 

7 – They do not believe in the miracles of the Prophets or in the angels and jinn, and they do not believe in Paradise and Hell.  

8 – They forbid their women to wear hijab, and they regard mut’ah (temporary marriage) as permissible, and they promote the sharing of women and wealth. It is very clear that this is a religion that strives to destroy moral values and spread permissiveness and immorality.  

9 – They say that the religion of the Baab abrogates the sharee’ah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

10 – They interpret the Day of Resurrection as referring to the appearance of al-Baha’. Their direction of prayer is the Bahjah in ‘Akka in Palestine, where the grave of al-Baha’ is located, instead of al-Masjid al-Haraam. 

11 – They pray three times a day, and each prayer has three rak’ahs, morning, noon and evening. They do wudoo’ with rose water, and if there is none available they regard it as sufficient to say the Basmalah (Bismillaah il-At-har il-At-har – in the name of Allaah, the Most Pure, the Most Pure) five times. 

12 – They do not regard it as permissible to pray in congregation except when offering the funeral prayer for the deceased. This makes clear the extent of their efforts to divide the Muslims, as they forbid prayer in congregation. 

13 – The Baha’is regard the number nineteen as sacred, and they have nineteen months in their year, each month having nineteen days. 

14 – The Baha’is fast during one of the Baha’i months, which is called al-‘Ala, which lasts from 2-21 March. This is the last of the Baha’i months. During this month they refrain from eating from sunrise until sunset. Their fasting month is followed by the festival of Nawrooz (Persian New Year). 

15 – The Baha’is regard jihad and the carrying of weapons and waging war against kaafir enemies as haraam, in service to the interests of the colonialists, as we shall see below. 

This confirms what is said about them, that they are a movement that was created by the colonialists, and they are still supporting it up till now. 

16 – They do not believe that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the final Prophet; they claim that the Revelation continued after his death. 

17 – They regard pilgrimage to Makkah as invalid, so they go on pilgrimage to the place where al-Baha’ is buried in Akka, in Palestine. 

18 – They do not believe in doing ghusl from janaabah or purification from impure things, because they believe that whoever believes in Baha’ism is pure. 

19 – Instead of zakaah they have a kind of tax at a rate of 19% of one’s capital, to be paid once. 

These are the Baha’is, and these are some of their beliefs, a mixture of some monotheistic beliefs and idolatrous ideas which al-Baha’ mixed in a strange way and called it revelation and a holy book. What is wrong with the minds of those who followed him? 

The relationship of Baabism and Baha’ism to the colonialists, Jews and Christians

1 – It was a Russian spy who encouraged al-Shiraazi to claim that he was the Baab. 

2 – al-Baha’ took part in the attempt to assassinate King Naasir al-Deen, the Shah of Iran, but the attempt failed and the plotters were discovered. Al-Baha’ fled to the Russian embassy which granted him full protection, and did not hand him over to the Iranian authorities until they had been given a promise that he would not be executed.  

3 – When al-Baha’ fled to ‘Akka in 1285 AH/1868 CE, he was warmly welcomed by the Jews who took care of him. From that date, ‘Akka became a centre of Baha’ism and became a holy place for them. 

4 – They were supported by some of the Christians. In one of the Arab states where there is a Baha’i presence, there is the head of the movement and his lawyer, who are both Christians. 

5 – Reports indicate that the Israeli ambassador in one of the Arab countries visited one of their strongholds and met their leaders, and urged them to join in some political activities by forming a group or party and putting up candidates for parliament and getting involved in other political activities so as to affect the decision making process. They also promised to make it easy for them to visit Israel and perform pilgrimage to the grave of al-Baha’. 

6 – This group has a number of representatives in the offices and organizations belonging to the United Nations, where there are nearly seven people.  

After learning all this, you should not be surprised to find out that the Baha’is regard jihad against the enemy as haraam, and they say that the Muslims must submit to colonialism and occupation, and that in his books al-Baha’ supported the Zionist migration to Palestine.  

Spread and influence of Baha’is,

The greatest number of Baha’is are found in Iran, and there are a few in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. They also have a presence in Egypt and a few followers in Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa and Pakistan. They also have a presence in some western countries and cities, such as London, Vienna, Frankfurt and Sydney. Their largest place of worship is in Chicago. 

The ruling on them and the scholars’ fatwas concerning them 

From the above, it is clear that Baabism and Baha’ism are among the misguided sects that are beyond the pale of Islam. 

A number of fatwas have been issued by Muslim scholars stating that they are kaafirs and that they are beyond the pale of Islam, and that we must beware of them. 

Shaykh Saleem al-Bashri, the Shaykh of al-Azhar, issued a fatwa in 1910 CE stating that the Baha’is are kaafirs. 

A ruling was issued on 30/6/1946 CE by the Shar’i courts in Egypt stating that a woman whose husband embraces Baha’ism is divorced and must be separated from him because he is an apostate from Islam. 

In 1947 CE the Fatwa Committee in al-Azhar issued a fatwa stating that the one who embraces Baha’ism is an apostate. 

This was in addition to a fatwa issued in 1939 CE by the Egyptian Daar al-Ifta’ stating that the Baha’i is an apostate. 

There is another fatwa issued by the Egyptian Daar al-Ifta’ in 1968 CE, in which it says: Whoever embraces the Baha’i religion is an apostate from the religion of Islam, and the ruling on the apostate in Islam is that he should be asked to repent and Islam should be presented to him, and his doubts should be discussed if he has any. If he repents, all well and good, otherwise he should be executed according to sharee’ah. End quote from Fataawa Daar al-Ifta’ (6/2138). 

In 2003 CE, the Islamic Research Council in al-Azhar issued a fatwa in which it says: The Baha’i school of thought and its ilk are a lethal intellectual epidemic which the state must to its utmost to eradicate. 

Shaykh Ibraaheem al-Fayyoomi, the head of the Islamic Research Committee, confirmed that the Baha’is are a sect that is beyond the pale of Islam and that has rebelled against Islam, and it is one of the most dangerous forces that are opposed to Islam. It developed under the care of the Zionist colonialists and is still supported by the enemies of Islam. The Baha’is have a project called “the political project against the Muslim ummah.” Their primary aim is to strike against Islam and create political and spiritual instability in Muslim societies. They also reject many verses of the Qur’aan because they believe that the Muslims have distorted them. They also reject Hajj and want to destroy the Ka’bah and distribute its rubble throughout the world. 

The former Shaykh of al-Azhar, Jaad al-Haqq (may Allaah have mercy on him) issued a fatwa stating that the Baha’is are kaafirs and apostates from Islam, which was approved by the Islamic Research Committee. In it he said: Baabism or Baha’ism is a system of thought mixed with philosophy and various religions, and there is nothing new in it that the Muslim ummah needs to set its affairs straight and unite it, rather it is clear that it (Baha’ism) is working in the interests of the Zionists and colonialists, and it is akin to ideas and ways that have been inflicted on the Muslim ummah as an act of war against Islam in the name of religion. End quote. 

And Allaah knows best.