“Bahāu’llāh’s first principle is the seeking of the truth. He says that man must seek the truth and set aside imitations.”
Ref: – Abdu’l-Bahā, Khaṭābāt (Tehran), vol. 2, p. 144.
Abdul Baha says that everyone should search for truth themselves without any influence of love and hatred, imitations. As imitations cause war and conflicts because of which unity among mankind is not possible. Hence to awaken ones insight it is necessary to keep away prejudice and search for truth.
Ref: – Abdu’l-Bahā, Khaṭābāt (Tehran), vol. 2, pp. 144–145.
According to `Abdul-Bahā, since every nation has its own set of imitations, and none of them ever heads towards a single truth. They will always be at war with each other. Instead, they should put these imitations aside and independently search for the truth so that all problems are solved.
Analysing the 1st principle of Bahā’u’llāh through 3 perspective:-
A) First Perspective :-
Is Seeking the Truth and Setting Aside Imitations an Innovation of Baha’ism?
That which is propagated in Baha’i teachings as seeking the truth— which the Baha’i’s pride themselves in having discovered—is in reality an innate principle that has come in the books of different religions and can clearly be seen in the works of different philosophers. Book of zorastrain, Bible, Quran all talks about this. It is clearly evident that this principle is not a new discovery or novel innovation of Baha’ism. Rather, all schools of thought and all of the Divine Religions call upon people to seek what is right, say what is right, and accept what is right.
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B) Second Perspective :-
Did the leaders of Baha’ism try to spread, seek, and accept the truth, or did they—and do they still—try to hide and deny it?
Baha’ullah claims that one’s reason and knowledge are invalid unless one becomes a Baha’i.
Ref:`Abd a l-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Mā’idiy-i āsimānī (Tehran: Mu’assisiyi Millī Maṭbū`āt Amrī, 129 Badī`), vol. 7, p. 160.
Baha’ullah also says that whoever denies his revelations completely lacks reason.
Ref : – Iqtidārāt wa chand lauḥ dīgar, page 168.
Bahā’u’llāh has similar teachings regarding knowledge and claims that those who do not become Baha’is are ignorant even if they possess all the knowledge on earth
Ref :- Bahā’u’llāh, Iqtidārāt wa chand lauḥ dīgar, page 111.
Do these statements from the founder of Baha’ism agree with the notion of accepting and seeking the truth? Do Baha’is tell the world that their leader believes that those who do not become Baha’is lack reason and are ignorant? It appears that reason is a tool that is only useful for reaching Baha’ism. Baha’is have been forbidden by Bahā’u’llāh from hearing any sort of criticism from the opponents of their creed; even if they are criticized using strong evidence and documents.
Although Baha’is preach the Investigation of Truth, their laws prevent direct interaction with those who they deem as inappropriate sources. Unauthorized materials, such as translations not yet approved by the UHJ, memoirs of people who have socialized with Baha’i figures, books that have not been authorized by the UHJ, pilgrims’ notes, and similar works are considered inappropriate for investigating the truth. Although Baha’is are allowed to read these books, any conclusion they reach using these sources is void and unacceptable if it is against the official UHJ stance.
Ref :- Helen Bassett Hornby, Lights of Guidance: A Bahā’ī Reference File, chap. XXXVIII, no. 1431.
The only authoritative sources for investigating the truth in Baha’ism are books or translations published and distributed by the UHJ .
Ref : – Helen Bassett Hornby, Lights of Guidance: A Bahā’ī Reference File, chap. XXXVIII, no. 1435.
C) Third Perspective:-
Is This Principle Correct from a Rational and Logical Perspective?
Seeking the truth and accepting what is right is an innate matter. This concept is a fundamental basis of the Shi’a Islamic belief which Bahā’u’llāh had firm belief in for years before he founded the Baha’i creed. A glance at the teachings of the Quran can reveal the origins of this so-called novel Baha’i principle. Despite the external appearance of rejecting imitation completely, Baha’is have many decrees and orders that they all must imitate and follow. For example, one can refer to the book of Aqdas—the most important book in the Baha’i creed—and the book ‘Ganjīniy-i ḥudūd wa aḥkām’ whose do’s and don’ts all Baha’is are obligated to submit to.
Is acting on the decrees and orders of the ‘Aqdas’ not considered imitation? Is it not an imitation when `Abdu’l-Bahā orders Baha’is to submit to the decisions made by the Universal House of Justice (UHJ)?.
Conclusion of all these three perspectives:
1) Is “Seeking the truth and setting aside imitations,” a new principle? In the books of the Zoroastrians, the Jews, the Christians, and Muslims, people are invited to seek and accept the truth and are forbidden from blind imitations. It is evident that this principle is not novel.
2) Did the leaders of Baha’ism act upon this principle? Bahā’u’llāh ordered his followers to blindly imitate him, the UHJ actively prevents the investigation of the truth by withholding or distorting Baha’i scripture, and Baha’i missionaries proselytize to groups that have no means of investigating the truth. It is obvious that Baha’is do not adhere to this principle.
3) Are these principles, reasonable and logical? Investigating the truth is reasonable but putting aside imitations is not always a good thing. For instance, referring to experts and specialists in a certain field and imitating them, is not problematic, but rather, it is confirmed by common sense and logic.