Resurrection
Scripture[edit]
- Some Answered Questions, Chapter 23
Letters[edit]
Compilations[edit]
The Day of Resurrection, of Judgement, and the Tomb[edit]
"… Concerning the meaning of 'Resurrection': Although this term is often used by Bahá’u’lláh in His Writings, as in the passage quoted in your letter, its meaning is figurative. The tomb mentioned is also allegorical, i.e., the tomb of unbelief. The Day of Resurrection, according to Bahá’í interpretation, is the Judgement Day, the Day when unbelievers will be called upon to give account of their actions, and whether the world has prevented them from acknowledging the new Revelation."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Dawn of a New Day, p. 79, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1593)
Resurrection of Christ[edit]
Bahá'ís Do Not Believe in a Bodily Resurrection After the Crucifixion[edit]
"We explain, therefore, the meaning of Christ’s resurrection in the following way: After the martyrdom of Christ, the Apostles were perplexed and dismayed. The reality of Christ, which consists in His teachings, His bounties, His perfections, and His spiritual power, was hidden and concealed for two or three days after His martyrdom, and had no outward appearance or manifestation—indeed, it was as though it were entirely lost. For those who truly believed were few in number, and even those few were perplexed and dismayed. The Cause of Christ was thus as a lifeless body. After three days the Apostles became firm and steadfast, arose to aid the Cause of Christ, resolved to promote the divine teachings and practise their Lord’s admonitions, and endeavoured to serve Him. Then did the reality of Christ become resplendent, His grace shine forth, His religion find new life, and His teachings and admonitions become manifest and visible. In other words, the Cause of Christ, which was like unto a lifeless body, was quickened to life and surrounded by the grace of the Holy Spirit."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, Chapter 23, par. 6)
"...We do not believe that there was a bodily resurrection after the Crucifixion of Christ, but that there was a time after His Ascension when His disciples perceived spiritually His true greatness and realized He was eternal in being. This is what has been reported symbolically in the New Testament and been misunderstood. His eating with His disciples after the resurrection is the same thing."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 9, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1648)
Bahá'ís should try to find a spiritual meaning to the resurrection of Christ and discard the physical interpretation[edit]
"Concerning the resurrection of Christ, he wishes to call your attention to the fact that in this as well as in practically all the so-called miraculous events recorded in the Gospel we should, as Bahá'ís, seek to find a spiritual meaning and to entirely discard the physical interpretation attached to them by many of the Christian sects. The resurrection of Christ was, indeed, not physical but essentially spiritual, and is symbolic of the truth that the reality of man is to be found not in his physical constitution, but in his soul. A careful perusal of the 'Iqan' and of the 'Some Answered Questions' makes this indubitably clear."
- (From a letter written to an individual believer on behalf of the Guardian, August 14, 1934, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1649)
In Islam[edit]
"From It (Earth) We Have Created You"[edit]
"Regarding the passage on page 231 of the 'Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh', the sentence beginning with the words 'From it(earth) have We created you', is a quotation from the Qur'án.…
"By 'second time' is meant the spiritual resurrection of man, that is to say, his acceptance of the Divine Manifestation. But Muslims have given this term a literal interpretation: the physical resurrection of man. Bahá’u’lláh is using this same interpretation current among Muslims to defeat their argument."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, May 8, 1936, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1591)
The Spiritual Resurrection of Man[edit]
"With regard to the Racine Assembly's request for an explanation of the passage on page 231 of the 'Gleanings' beginning with the words: 'From it (earth) have We created you…': this is a verse from the Qur'án… Bahá’u’lláh in quoting this passage seeks to refute the argument of the Muslims, who attach a purely literal interpretation to this verse of the Qur'án, and therefore consider it as implying bodily resurrection. To these Muslims He says, you who literally believe that the human body will return to dust and will be raised from it again, and therefore attach so much importance to this mortal world, how then can you wax so proud, and boast over things which are but perishable and consequently void of any true and lasting value."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the Racine Assembly, February 7, 1939: Bahá’í News, No. 124, April 1939, p. 6, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1592)
