One of the exceptions of proselytizing Bahaism organization is in the occupied lands (Israel) which has created important question in researchers’ minds in this field.
The following text is the universal house of justice answer concerning the prohibition of proselytizing Bahaism in Israel and out of there:
“The universal house of justice has received your e-mail message dated June 29, 1995 A.D. and has asked us to answer back.
You have asked: “How is the policy of the lack of teaching Israelis in circumstances where we are in touch with an Israeli via Internet public massage gap?”
The universal house of justice hasn’t asked the companions to avoid being in touch with Israelis. When you find out that you are in touch with an Israeli person through public message gap, you must feel the freedom of action in preserving friendly relationships, but don’t teach religion to him/her. You must refer to him/her to the office of Baha’i universal center in Haifa if he/she is personally interested in expanding religion and is searching for more information.
To be aware, we should note that Israeli people access the real information about religion, date and its public principles. The books related to religion are available in the libraries across Israel and the Israelis are asked to visit the nearby sacred places visited by pilgrims and gardens. Anyway, the Baha’is don’t train religion in Israel regulating the policy followed severely since the Excellency Bahaullah’s period of time.
Also, religion isn’t taught to Israelis living out of Israel who are going to return to Israel. When the Israelis ask about religion, they answered in a way which is specially used to give real information without excitement and more willing.
With kind Baha’i hello-Secretariat department
That is, is a Baha’i person allowed to proselytize an Israeli or not?
The universal house of justice answer is really obvious. However, the most important and remarkable note in the answer is that the universal house of justice has claimed for the policy of prohibition of proselytizing in Israel has been legitimized since Bahaullah’s period of time.
Also, Ali Nakhjawani in Akuto Baha’i studies center, Italy has stressed on this issue giving a speech. His speech has been published in a book called “listening and speaking” by the national assembly of the Baha’is of Italy. Ali Nakhjawani’s speech texts are as follows on page 23 of the book “listening and speaking”:
“Let me mention a short tale this regard. In my first to the united states of America in 1969 A.D., I participated at Green Acre Summer school in Maine state. The audience asked me to speak about proselytizing issue and the universal center and etc.
I said we are busy serving in the holiest land and are deprived of proselytizing gift, but you are living in free lands of the world. You must praise the right to have such grace. This is a gift of which we are deprived in the aimed land.
When his speech finished, an American lady old and weak lady came to me and said: Nakhjawani, why did you say you were deprived of proselytizing gift living in the holiest land? I mentioned that this prohibition refers to the Blessed Beauty’s period of time. It was so during the Excellency Abdul Baha’s days. s, too. Additionally, the Excellency the guardian of the faith prohibited, too. Now, the universal house of justice is performing it, too. The truth is that we don’t proselytize in the holiest land.
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