The (unattributed) extracts below are from Bahá'í Studies Bulletin 6:2-3 (Feb 1992).
MEMORANDUM
To:
Date:
From: |
The
Universal House of Justice
25 September 1988
The Research Department |
QUESTIONS FROM MR. TED A. COPE
With reference to the questions contained in the letter dated 28 August 1988
from Mr. Ted A. Cope, the Research Department offers the following comment.
Function of the Research Department
In a letter written on its behalf regarding the function of the Research
Department, the Universal House of Justice states:
Among
the functions assigned to the Research Department at the World Centre is that
of preparing statements at the request of the House of Justice. We are to
point out that the statement appearing in the current Bahá'i World
Centre Manual in connection with the duties of this Department includes the
following: "...To prepare commentaries on various subjects
related to the Faith, as requested by the Universal House of
Justice."
These commentaries are sent to believers, where
applicable, as separate statements, such as those on the Fourth Epoch of the
Formative Age, or on Bahá'íi scholarship, or as memoranda which
are enclosures to letters written on behalf of the House of
Justice....
To preclude any possibility of their
being confused with letters written by the House of Justice, or on its behalf,
it is important that such commentaries be distinctly identified. It is also
vital that the believers understand clearly that these Research Department
statements should be regarded as representing no more than the views of the
members of that Department. While such views are very useful as an aid to
resolving perplexities or gaining an enhanced understanding of the
Bahá'i teachings, they should never be taken to be in the same category
as the elucidations and clarifications provided by the House of Justice in the
exercise of its assigned functions....
(16 August 1987 to an
individual believer)
The House of Justice has thus made the status of the Research
Department's
statements, such as that previously provided to Mr. Cope, very clear: the
contents are the considered views of the departmental staff, provided as "an
aid to resolving perplexities or gaining an enhanced understanding". Such
statements, however, cannot have the identical weight as the elucidations given
by the Universal House of Justice.
Memorandum to the Universal House of Justice
|
25
September 1988 |
Questions
from Mr. Ted A. Cope |
Page
2
|
Translation of terms used by `Abdu'l-Bahá'
Mr. Cope inquires whether the term translated as "the world of exemplars" on
page 295 of "Bahá'í Scriptures: Selections from the Utterances of Bahá'u'lláh
and Abdul Baha", ed. H. Holley (New York: Brentano's, 1923), and on page 109 of
"Foundations of World Unity" (Wilmette: Bahá'i Publishing Trust, 1979),
is " `álam al-mi
thal".
Unfortunately, the Research Department has not yet located the original text
of the talk by 'Abdu'l-Bahá from which this phrase is taken, and
therefore cannot specify which term the Master actually used. The English text
of this talk, which was given to the Theosophical Society in New York City on 4
December 1912, first appeared in "Star of the West" vol. 7, no. 8 (1 August
1916), pp. 69-71, 74-76, with the following note: "Taken stenographically by
Miss Esther Foster from the interpretation of Ish'te'al Ebn-Kalanter." The
English text was published again in "Bahai Scriptures", and in "The
Promulgation of Universal Peace. Discourses by Abdul Baha Abbas During His
Visit to the United States in 1912", vol. 2 (Chicago: Bahá'i Publishing
Committee, 1925), pp. 458-64, with the entry: "Notes by Esther Foster". The
text from "Promulgation of Universal Peace" was apparently reproduced in
"Foundations of World Unity".
The paragraph containing the phrase "world of exemplars" as published in
"The Promulgation of Universal Peace" differs slightly from both the version
published in " Star of the West" and that in "Bahai Scriptures". We have no
information as to why changes were made to the text.
A copy of a Tablet in Persian revealed by Bahá'u'lláh which
comments on the phrase "álam al-mi
thál " is enclosed for
Mr. Cope's interest. We suggest that he seek the assistance of Persian-speaking
friends in ascertaining its contents. In this connection, Mr. Cope may also
wish to consult the article "álam" in volume one of "The Encyclopaedia
of Islam", new ed. (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1960), pages 349-52; specific reference
to the " `álam al-mi
thal" is made on pages 350-51.
The original text of the Master's talk given on 12 May 1912 at the Unity
Church in Montclair, New Jersey was also not located; we therefore do not know
which term was translated as "barrier". The English text of His talk was
published in "The Promulgation of Universal Peace", vol. 1, pp. 109-12.
A copy of a Tablet of `Abdu'l-Bahá in Persian which alludes to a
Qur'ánic verse using the term "barza
kh" is enclosed. A similar
reference is made in the prayer for marriage revealed by the Master, and
published in "Bahá'i Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by
Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and `Abdu'l-Bahá" (Wilmette:
Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1985), pp. 105-6. Mr. Cope may also wish
to refer to the article "barza
kh" in "The Encyclopaedia of Islam", vol.
1, pp. 1071-72.
Enclosures 2
Memorandum to the Universal House of Justice |
25
September 1988 |
Questions
from Mr. Ted A. Cope |
Page
3 |
ENCLOSURE 1: AN EXTRACT FROM A TABLET OF BAHA'U'LLAH TO VARQA' THE MARTYR
CONTAINING MATERIAL ON THE 'ALAM AL-MITHAL.
(click for full-size image)
Memorandum to the Universal House of Justice |
25
September 1988 |
Questions
from Mr. Ted A. Cope |
Page
4 |
ENCLOSURE 2a: A PERSIAN TABLET OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA CONTAINING REFERENCE TO A
QUR'ANIC USE OF THE WORD BARZAKH.
(click for full-size image)
Memorandum to the Universal House of Justice |
25
September 1988 |
Questions
from Mr. Ted A. Cope |
Page
5 |
ENCLOSURE 2b: TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE TABLET OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA TO MIRZA QABIL OF
ASADIH (IRAN)
(click for full-size image)