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Differences between islam and the bahai faith
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Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith are in perfect harmony with the Teachings of Islam and other divinely ordained religions, but they address the condition of humanity in this era. Some of the distinguishing features between the two religions are as follows: 1. are open to the people of all religions and sacred verses of all religions can be recited in it, but no sermons may be delivered, and no ritualistic ceremonies practiced. Baha'i sites of pilgrimage in Acca and Haifa are also open to non-Baha'is In the Holy Quran, Allah says: O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise. But as per a hadith, Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H allowed Christians to pray in the Mosque of the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H.(Ibn Hisham, I, 575-577) 2. The Baha'i faith teaches oneness of humanity and consorting with the people of other religions with the spirit of love. Their most holy book states: “Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God” The Holy Quran restricts friendship with Jews, Christians and unbelievers. The Holy Quran states: 'O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.' However Quran (60:9) states that Muslims are allowed to make non-Muslims who don't fight with them as allies. 3. There is a concept of Jizya (A tax imposed on non-Muslims) in Islam. There is no concept of Jizya in the Baha'i Faith. Islamic ahadith states that Jesus will come again, and at that time will (among other things) abolish jizya. Baha'is may see this difference as fulfillment of this prophesy. 4. Slavery and slave trading have been prohibited in the Bahá’í faith. The Quran (the holy book) and the hadith (the sayings of Muhammad P.B.U.H) see slavery as an exceptional condition that can be entered into under certain limited circumstances. 5. The Baha'i Faith allows sex only between a man and his wife, while Islam allows sex with ones wives and those whom their right hands possess (Slaves/ captives of war). 6. Priesthood and use of pulpits is prohibited in the Bahá'í Faith. Sermons are delivered by Muslim clergy on pulpits. 7. A command which is particularly a feature of the Bahá'í religion is "abstaining from crediting verbal traditions.". Ahadith (verbal traditions) form an integral part of Islamic jurisprudence 8. In Islam there is a concept of Jihad which includes the concept of holy war against the infidels. 9. In the Baha'i Faith it is unlawful to become engaged to a girl before she reaches the age of maturity (15) and the minimum age of marriage for both parties is 15 years i.e. the age of maturity. In countries where the law prescribes a higher age Baha'is are supposed to obey the law of the land. Islam allows engagement and marriage at a younger age as can be seen in the following Hadeeth: Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 65 Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that 'Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death). 10. Marriage with unbelievers is permitted, for both men and women, in the Baha'i faith. but Muslim women is not allowed to marry non Muslim men. In Islamic law, if a non-Muslim woman is married to a non-Muslim, and she converts to Islam, the marriage is suspended until her husband converts to Islam.
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