One of the Baha’is claim is that although Sheikh Morteza Ansari was of the greatest scholars of Shia and contemporary to Hussein Ali Nouri, he never excommunicated him and didn’t criticize. Is there any statement in the history which is contrary to such claim? Is Baha’ism criticized by Sheikh Ansari/
Answer: In this regard, Mr. Muhammad Faker Meibodi and Mr. Rahman Zare’a have written an article entitled “The investigation of the role of scholar in confronting the issues of Babism and Baha’ism”, part of which has been presented as follows
Sheikh Ansari and Baha’ism
۱- Narrated by his pupil, Hajj Mirza Nasrullah Torab Dezfouli in the book “Loma’atul Bayan”, Sheikh Ansari was careful about Seyyed Kazem Rashti and didn’t consider him as merited to seize Imam’s (peace be upon him) property[1]; let alone Bab and Sobhi Azal! Hajj Mullah Ali Kani who was one of the influential jurisprudents of Tehran city in Neseruddin Shah’s period of time was one of the strict opponents of Bab, according to documents. His writing in this regard can be found in the book “the highest covenant” (one of the Baha’i sources written by Abdul Qasem Afnan).
Hajj Mullah Hadi Sabzevari who was also one of the pious and famous sages in Naseruddin Shah’s period of time has considered Sheikh Ahmad Ehsaee’s scientific rank as low in his autobiography in the part related to the time when he was educating in Isfahan city[2].
۲- Seyyed Ahmad Mousavi Madadi writes:
During Bab’s sedition when it is considered as the greatest social event, late Sheikh Ansari doesn’t react. I have orally heard he has considered this movement as a directed political game by the court[3].
۳- Those scholars who ruled the necessity for the murder of Babism and Baha’ism tribes and commanded Mirza Hussein to be excommunicated were mostly of the pupils of Sheikhism school.
۴- Mirza Hussein Ali was continually feigned to be Muslim. For this reason, he did considered himself to be the one whom God will manifest and tried not to perk himself to be out of Islam circle and he was performing Muslim rituals in Acre[4].
Shoqi has written that most Muslim participated in his funeral reciting the holy Quran and Haifa mufti made a speech, too[5]. At the bend of his life, Abdul Baha was showing to be bound over Muslim rituals, too. He was going to mosque for Friday prayer[6].
۵- Hussein Ali Nouri was hiding and rejecting his beliefs in the presence of Sheikh Morteza Ansari and has exonerated himself.
In his book, Sheikh Ansari has considered those who rejected the necessity for prayer, paying the fifth and the physical resurrection as infidel and unclean. Hussein Ali Nouri hasn’t stated his claims in the presence of Sheikh Ansari for the fear of being excommunicated; so he pretended to be oppressed and exculpated
[۱] Ansari, 1369, Vol. 3, pp. 109-110.
[۲] Rowhani, 1386.
[۳] Mousawi Madadi, 1371, p. 15.
[۴] Kasrawi, 1323, pp. 60-62.
[۵] Islamic great encyclopedia, 1381, Vol. 11, p. 118.
[۶] Mohtadi, 1344, pp. 151-230.
