The Babi and Baha'i Religion — Page 75
THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 75 In comparison with the principles laid down by Islam with the aim to abolish slavery, this aspect of the Bah a ’ i sharia appears to be altogether pointless. Islam ordains that slaves can be made only in case where they are caught fighting with arms in battle to interfere with the freedom of conscience of other people (The Qur’an 9:67). And then in regard to slaves made in such cases Islam has directed that some of this number are to be set free without any ransom at all, while from others ransom is to be insisted upon, the sum to be demanded depending on a number of factors. Out of these, not to be released without payment of a ransom, it is permissible, even praiseworthy, for any one to buy them and set them free. By laying down that for the Bah a ’ i s it is not per- mitted that they sell any salves, Bah a ’ull a h has in fact perpetuated the slavery of those who happen to be slaves, since no one can now buy them and set them free. Further, Bah a ’ull a h has nowhere said anything about the desirability of people setting their slaves free. 23. The Bah a ’ i sharia permits interest on loans. 24. Bah a ’ull a h has directed that a world language should be evolved, a new language, while Islamic point of view is that Arabic being the mother of all languages, and being the most virile and compre-