The Babi and Baha'i Religion — Page 98
THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 98 congregation in Muslim mosques behind non-Bah a ’ i Imams 143. Although in Europe Abdul Bah a said that a man could be a Bah a ’ i , even though he may never have heard of Bah a ’ull a h, but Bah a ’ull a h’s own writings do not uphold this point of view. With Aqdas kept safely hidden, such vague and meaningless things could be said with impunity by his followers and advocates. But now, since we have managed to bring this important document full into the open, it is no longer possible for the Bah a ’ i s to take shelter behind such seemingly innocent and harmless platitudes. Whatever the precise nature of his claim, there is not the least possible shadow of doubt that, as he saw things, acceptance of his claim was a basic starting point in a man’s spiritual progress. Those who do not believe in him, Bah a ’ull a h dubs them down as Mushrik. He who rejects his claims is lost and gone astray 144. All other sharias except his own he pronounces as unfit for human guidance 145. All acts of devotion, all good deeds he has made dependent upon his own pleasure and approval 146. He has held that rejection of his 143 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Arabic, page 72. 144 Aqdas , 1. 145 Aqdas 291. 146 Aqdas 75 to 78.