Author : Mohammad Hossein Rajabi (Davaani)

Publication : Contemporary History of Iran

Print publisher : Iranian Contemporary History Journal

Digital publisher : Isfahan Institute of Computer Research Center

Ayatollah Boroujerdi and Bahai’yan: –

After the fall of the Pahlavi dictatorship, it was expected that there would be a continuous opposition by the islamic scholars against the government officials. However, for various reasons such as the promises made by the ‘Shah’ to compensate for the past and the space given for the religious ceremonies, and organized anti-Islamic and deviant propaganda in society by the Tudeh Party, Kasravi, and the Baha’is who sought to weaken the religious beliefs of the community by taking advantage of the chaotic situation in the country, it took some time to gain the necessary strength. Therefore, initially, a significant part of the attention and efforts of the religious authorities were focussed on reclaiming occupied religious sites, reviving religious rituals, lifting the hijab ban, and combating the anti-Islamic propaganda of those groups, especially the Baha’is, which is the subject of our discussion. The infiltration of the Baha’is into the country’s administrative levels, which had begun during the constitutional era, continued during the reign of ‘Reza Shah’, and day by day, they became more influential in the country. This situation along with baha’i propaganda and anti-Islamic sentiments, caused distress and concern among islamic jurists and religious people. When Ayatollah Borujerdi returned from Najaf to Borujerd, where he was respected by the general public and the people of the western regions of the country, and was engaged in teaching, leading congregational prayers, and resolving religious matters, the Baha’is established their base of propaganda activities in Borujerd. According to the late ‘Allameh Dawaani’, they increased their activities in government offices, which prompted the islamic scholars to confront them. Initially, their attempt was to block the activities of the Bahia’s through legal means, as their activities were increasing day by day and had reached a point where they destroyed one of the city’s religious schools and built a high school for themselves. However, when religious leaders saw the government’s disregard and leniency in this regard, they independently took action and left the city in protest.

The news of their departure led to demonstrations and gatherings of people in the city and its surrounding areas. After observing these situations, the government felt threatened and tried to persuade them to return to the city. Soon, the gatherings and open meetings of the Baha’is were closed, and their people were removed from government offices and the scholars were brought back to the city with utmost respect. [1]

Ayatollah Borujerdi’s struggle against Baha’ism began. He took the Baha’is’ threat very seriously. Mr. Montazeri had correspondences with one of the Baha’i preachers and had answered their doubts. He said that Ayatollah Borujerdi saw the writings exchanged between him and that Baha’i preacher which shows how much vigilant he was in this regard![2]

Throughout the month of Ramadan that year, he went to the pulpit and gave speeches about Imam Zamana (AS), which he quoted from both, shia as well as sunni scholars and in that way, he refuted the arguments of the Baha’is.[3]

After arriving in Qum as well, he advised ‘Ayatullah Safi’ to write a book on Mahdi’sm which should be based on islamic narration and the hence the book ‘Muntakhab ul Asar’ came into existence because of this.[4]

According to Ayatollah Subhani, in the year 1331, Ayatullah Borujerdi sent a group of religious scholars from the seminary, such as Mr. Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ibrahim Amini, and Ahmad Shahroodi, to Isfahan in order to resist the Baha’i propaganda.[5]

After the suppression of political parties and organizations, the penetration of the Baha’is into government institutions expanded. Abdul Karim Ayaadi, a trusted physician and confidant of the ‘Shah’ from a prominent Baha’i family, was appointed as the personal and confidential physician of the Shah. General ‘Hossein Fardoust’, while providing valuable information about the extent of his influence and the power of the Baha’is in the court, government, and the Pahlavi army, referred him as the "real Sultan" without a crown and throne, claiming that he had more than eighty lucrative positions.[6]

In 1334, a letter was addressed to the Prime Minister, referring to the lack of progress in the implementation of the views about the Baha’is that was already pre-informed to the ‘Shah’ also, it was reminded that the letter to the Shah had request that if the existing laws were not responsive, the new necessary laws should be approved in the parliament so that the previous operation of the Bahia’s would not be repeated again.[7]

Based on what has been said, Ayatullah Falsafi decided to expose the political threat of the Baha’is in the country in his speeches which were broadcasted directly on the radio during the month of Ramadan 1334. He consulted with Ayatollah Borujerdi in this regard and, after his approval and order, conveyed the matter to the ‘Shah’, and got his approval. [8]

He then asked the preachers of Tehran to emphasize the danger of the Baha’is in government affairs in their speeches during the holy month of Ramadan and warn the people against them.[9]

Despite the threats from the government, he continued his strong attacks on the Baha’is in his provocating speeches from the beginning of the month of Ramadan itself.[10]

The increasing influence and power of the Baha’is in sensitive political, economic, and administrative positions in the country, and their horrible atrocities and oppressive crimes against muslims in other parts of the country and their collaboration with the government officials during those years had created such a deep and widespread hatred and disgust among the muslim people towards the Baha’is that after the provocating speeches broadcasted on the radio, the people suddenly roared and started a glorious demonstration against the Baha’is and tried hard to remove their roots and traces from the country forever.

The Shah’s government, which did not expect such a widespread reaction from the people, had to agree with them and before losing control, it took action and occupied the Baha’i centers before taking over by the people. In other words, the military and security forces, by occupying the ‘Haziratu’l-Quds’ and other Baha’i centers in the country, protected them against the destructive anger of the other people.

Ayatullah Falsafi decided that the ‘Shah’ should issue an order to close the ‘Haziratul Quds’ (Baha’i administrative center) after which military forces should occupy the premises. Initially, he presented this action as a religious matter and pretended to be determined to confront the Baha’is. As a result, the religious scholars thanked him and supported his action. [11]

Ayatullah ‘Meer Sayyed Mohammad Bahbahani’, thanked the ‘Shah’ for his decision to close ‘Haziratu’l-Quds’(Bahai administrative center) and, in another telegram, expressed his desire to Ayatollah Borujerdi that he considered that day as ‘Eid’ for the people. Ayatullah Borujerdi also sent a congratulatory telegram to the ‘Shah’, acknowledging his action in closing and confiscating the center in following words:

“Congratulations on your telegram message, which reflects the noble action in closing and confiscating the bahai centers, the areas that were solely dedicated to anti-Islamic propaganda, which of course was the cause for the disunity of the nation and was against the independence of the country and weaken the position of the government. Of course, not only the muslims of the world and Islamic scholars are happy but rather ‘Hazrat Wali-e-Asr’ (May our soul be sacrificed for him) is also pleased with this action. It can be said that safeguarding the holy religion of Islam and the monarchy of Iran is considered an essential duty of the monarchy. It is hoped that the Almighty God will protect the sacred religion of Islam and the sovereignty of Iran from the plots of enemies and disturbers and keep its blessed existence for the eternal muslims." [12]

Following that, five Tehran scholars met with the ‘Shah’ to express gratitude for his action in closing the premises.[13]

Ayatollah Boroujerdi also in his letters to ‘Ayatullah Falsafi’, while appreciating and thanking him for his speeches, emphasized on the continuation of the struggle and confrontation with the Baha’is in following words ": ..these were the precious services that you have offered for the sake of the holy religion of Islam and the Quran and also the important measures you have taken to safeguard the independence of the country and the preservation of the authority of the kingdom, army and all the people of the Iranian nation and the muslims of the world .You have exposed the hypocrisy of the political party called the Baha’i Faith who were engaged in their widespread malicious activities with their organized systems and were spending enormous amounts of money for their ignoble cause and were openly opposing the official religion of the country. They were trying desperately for their mission but you have exposed them and this action of yours have not only brought joy to general muslims of the world but has also caused the happiness of Imam Mahdi (ATFS)”. Further, he extensively counted the harm of the Baha’i party to the country’s independence and warned that the members of this party infiltrated many parts of the country, and it is necessary to throw them out of the departments, institutions and ministries of the government.[14]

During the same year, in addition to the daily radio broadcasts in the month of Ramadan, the Ayatullah Falsafi also described the views, programs, and expectations of Ayatollah Boroujerdi and other scholars through the newspaper ‘Kaihan’. He considered the Babi and Baha’i Faiths as a product of colonization and he added that the turmoil created by the Baha’is in recent years was already predicted in a tablet obtained from them and it is mentioned in that, Bahai’s would attain power in Iran by 1355 (solar calendar). According to them, these disturbances are the prelude and groundwork for their empowerment. He also mentioned the extensive efforts of Ayatollah Boroujerdi and Ayatollah Behbahani and the other religious people in the expulsion of the Baha’i sect from Iranian society and said that they were continuously struggling for this purpose with the government, and also with the parliament to eliminate their effects. These speeches of Ayatullah Falsafi attracted the attention of the people. After many consultations, the religious and government authorities came to the conclusion that the ‘Hazirat Al-Quds’(Bahai’s administrative center) should be destroyed, because if it remains, then the Baha’is would use it as a "holy place" for their propaganda and promotional activities. Therefore, erasing their traces and remains is also obligatory. Furthermore, Mr. ‘Alam’, the Minister of the country, stated that the government considers the fight against the Baha’i sect to be a matter of utmost importance, and last night, it was also discussed in the cabinet meeting. Many members of the parliament were ready to approve a bill to recognize the Baha’i sect as illegal as the people from different cities were requesting through telegraphs and letters to take immediate action and eradicate the remnants of the Bahai sect. [15]

However, despite the expectation of the scholars to pursue the issue and take practical measures in this regard, the government did not do anything after the month of Ramadan, and many members of the National Consultative Assembly proposed a bill declaring the illegality of the Baha’i Faith but it was also unsuccessful.[16]

Sometime later, even the ‘Hazirat’ul-Quds’(Bahai administrative center) and their other centers, under the pretext of the "complete study and investigation" were also returned to the Bahá’ís and their expulsion from government offices also failed. [17]

In those circumstances, Imam Khomeini was also among those who emphasized the continuation of the struggle against the Bahá’í Faith and the purification of government institutions from their influence, as he stressed in a meeting with Ayatollah Boroujerdi. [18]

Although Ayatollah Boroujerdi had reached the conclusion many years ago that the Pahlavi government had been infiltrated by the Bahá’ís and because of their dependency on foreign countries, there was a lack of courage to take necessary action against the Bahá’ís, and because of all these, he had become disappointed with the government. However, until the end of his life, the struggle against the Bahá’ís remained one of his main concerns. Therefore, at his command; the late Allama Dawaani was assigned to translate volume 13 of Bihar al-Anwar in 1959. Allama Dawaani described his meeting with Ayatollah Boroujerdi and said that he had emphasized on the translation of that book, which in turn shows that he paid a lot of attention to the fight against Bahá’í activities. Finally, the book was published in late Sha’ban 1380 AH named as ‘Mahdi e Ma’ood’ .Allama Dawaani presented a copy of his book to Mr. Mohammad Hassan (son of Ayatollah Boroujerdi) before the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Mr. Mohammad Hassan said to him that “When I gave my father the book of ‘Mahdi e Ma’ood’, he was so pleased that there seemed to be no bounds to his joy. He would often read the book and place it in his prayer niche behind him. He used to spend most of the nights of Ramadan engrossed in its study and would pray for you, saying, "It has been translated and published very well." [19]

Among the Shia religious authorities, Ayatollah Boroujerdi showed more sensitivity towards the Bahá’í Faith than others and continued his individual or collective struggle against it until the end of his blessed life.

Footnotes:

1.Ali Dawaani. "Mafakhir-e-Islam, Volume 12: Ayatollah Boroujerdi…" Tehran: Center for the Islamic Revolution Documents, 4th edition, revised and expanded, 1379 AH, p109, 110, and 112.

2."Hawzah Magazine”, No. 44: Ayatollah Boroujerdi," p. 231-235.

3. Ali Dawaani. "Mafakhir-e-Islam, Volume 12: Ayatollah Boroujerdi…" Tehran: Center for the Islamic Revolution Documents, 4th edition, revised and expanded, 1379 AH, pp. 109, 110, and 112.

4.Ali Haqiqatju, "Cheshmandaz-e-Iran," Khordad and Tir 1379, No. 5, p. 47, quoted from Ayatollah Subhani.

5.Ibid., p. 47.

6."Zohur va Soqut-e-Soltanat-e-Pahlavi, Vol. 1: Khaatirat-e-Erteshbod-e-Sabegh Hossein Ferdows," Tehran: Ettela’at Publications, 1369, p. 374-375.

7."Khaatiraat va Mobarazaat…", p. 189-190.

8.Mohammad Hussein Manzoor al-Ajdad, "Marja’iyyat dar Arseh Ejtema va Siyaasat," Tehran: Shiraaz Publications, 1379, p. 498-499.

9.Ibid., p. 190,191.

10.Ibid., pp. 192-196; "Goftugohay-e Man ba Shah (Khaatirat-e Mahramaane Asadollah Alam)," edited by Abdolreza Houshang Nehavandi, Tehran: Tarh-e Now, 3rd edition, summer 1371, p. 66-67.

11."Khaatiraat va Mobaarzaat…", p. 193-194.

12.Ibid.

13.Ibid.

14.Ibid, p. 195.

15.Ibid., p. 196-197.

16."They submitted a bill to the parliament to declare the Baha’i Faith illegal, so that members of the National consultative assembly can approve it and officially make it illegal, and individuals associated with them will be dismissed from government offices and their heinous activities would be stopped but the brigadier general ‘Fakhr Hakimi’, the chief of the national assembly took the issue and said, "The Baha’is’ matter and preventing their activities is a religious matter, and it is not the place of the parliament to discuss about it." A lot of noise and commotion ensued after that, questioning why that traitorous person took charge of this matter. As a result, the bill remained silent and the efforts to pass this bill were diminished. Ayatollah Faqid was extremely upset about the interruption in work. At that very moment, I wrote articles in the weekly critique magazine "Nidaaye Haq" and heavily criticized brigadier general ‘Fakhr Hakimi’. When I went to Ayatullah Falsafi’s house, he said, "I read your article, it was excellent." [Source: "Omar; Life and Memoirs," Tehran, Rahnamoun Publishing, 1382, p. 216]

[17] Allamah Davaani stated that the main reason for the failure of that action was the influence of the Bahá’ís and the political pressure exerted by the presidents of the United States and England , as well as the request of the Prime Minister of India from the Iranian government. [ibid, p. 215]

[18] "Describing you is beyond possible limits. Conversation with Master Jafar Sobhani", Kayhan Farhangi, 6th year, Khordad 1368, No. 3 p 2.

[19] Ali Davaani, "The Life of the Great Leader and Scholar of Shi’ism, Ayatollah Boroujerdi," Tehran: Second edition, with revised edition and additions, 1371, p. 358 ,356.

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