S.C. Baha'is Celebrate the Gift of Bab

More than 100 Baha'i followers gathered at the Baha'i center in San Clemente on Sunday to celebrate the Declaration of Bab's 167th anniversary.

In 1844, the story goes, a scholar visited Shiraz, Iran, in search of the Promised One. There, he met Siyyad Ali Muhammed, a 25-year-old businessman who claimed the title.

The scholar was eager to spread the news, but was instructed to wait for more scholars to find Muhammed. Once a certain number tracked him down, then Muhammed would instruct them how to spread the faith.

After the quota was met, Muhammed told the scholars there would be no special positions for anyone in the new faith and said no clergy would be established.

At Sunday's celebration, presenter Travis Williams asked the congregation, "How many religions are there in the world? That's a trick question. Baha'is believe that there is one religion."

He compared world religions and said they, like time, have progressed over thousands of years. Baha'is believe all religions teach the same basic message.

"Baha'is believe that God sent teachers," said Williams. "Just like school, God has sent teachers to assist mankind."

Poupak Bayat added, "You're really not giving up your old religion. You're just continuing your spiritual journey. Humanity now knows that we need guidance from time to time and that God will never abandon us."

According to Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Siyyad Ali Muhammed, one of the fundamental principles of the faith is that science and religion should not clash. Religion without science leads to superstition and science without religion leads to materialism, he said. 

Bayat elaborated, "If science and religion are conflicting with each other then someone is doing something seriously wrong."

For more information, visit the San Clemente Baha'i Center's website or call 949-369-9278.