Respect or preference to the Manifestations of God

Guidance for this Dispensation

Permissible to ask questions, but not to ask idle questions

"In the Bayán it had been forbidden you to ask Us questions. The Lord hath now relieved you of this prohibition, that ye may be free to ask what you need to ask, but not such idle questions as those on which the men of former times were wont to dwell. Fear God, and be ye of the righteous! Ask ye that which shall be of profit to you in the Cause of God and His dominion, for the portals of His tender compassion have been opened before all who dwell in heaven and on earth."

(Bahá'u'lláh, 'Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 126)

"The Báb forbade His followers to ask questions of Him Whom God will make manifest (Bahá'u'lláh), unless their questions were submitted in writing and pertained to subjects worthy of His lofty station. See Selections from the Writings of the Báb.

"Bahá'u'lláh removes this prohibition of the Báb. He invites the believers to ask such questions as they "need to ask", and He cautions them to refrain from posing "idle questions" of the kind which preoccupied "the men of former times"."

(Notes to the 'Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 146)

Notes

• Some references of apparent relevance within Selections from the Writings of the Báb include pp. 101, 164-166

Guidance from previous Dispensations

The prophet is nearer of kin to the faithful than they are to themselves

"Nearer of kin to the faithful is the Prophet, than they are to their own selves. His wives are their mothers."

(Qur'án, 33:6 (Rodwell's numbering))

They who have taken in the prophet shall be near of kin

"Verily, they who have believed and fled their homes and spent their substance for the cause of God, and they who have taken in the prophet and been helpful to him, shall be near of kin the one to the other."

(Qur'án, 8:73 (Rodwell's numbering))

Not to enter house of Prophet save by His leave, and after having eaten, disperse; not to engage in familiar talk; ask of Prophet's wives from behind a veil; not to trouble Prophet nor marry His wives after His passing

"O Believers! enter not into the houses of the Prophet, save by his leave, for a meal, without waiting his time. When ye are invited then enter, and when ye have eaten then disperse at once. And engage not in familiar talk, for this would cause the Prophet trouble, and he would be ashamed to bid you go; but God is not ashamed to say the truth. And when ye would ask any gift of his wives, ask it from behind a veil. Purer will this be for your hearts and for their hearts. And ye must not trouble the Apostle of God, nor marry his wives, after him, for ever. This would be a grave offence with God."

(Qur'án, 33:53 (Rodwell's numbering))

Possible reference to a violation of this command

"His [Mírzá Yahyá's] shamelessness and effrontery had waxed so great as to lead him to perpetrate himself, and permit Siyyid Muhammad to repeat after him, an act so odious that Bahá'u'lláh characterized it as "a most grievous betrayal," inflicting dishonor upon the Báb, and which "overwhelmed all lands with sorrow.""

(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 125)

See also

• Occasions for preference to Bahá'ís
• Occasions for preference to blood relatives
• Abrogation of offering priceless gifts to the Founder of the Faith

To-dos for this page

• Incorporate other items from Qur'an 33