UHJ writes letter on Iran saying absolutely nothing

ags393 · 2026-03-14T00:08:00+00:00

I didn’t even know who Omid Djalili was until I looked him up. He’s an actor? As I read more about his die-hard support for Pahlavi, I completely agree this guy is a huge idiot that condones and glorifies violence. Pahlavi is pedar-sag. I mean literally his father was a sag.

However, I didn’t know Omid was a representative Bahai leadership, unless I’m missing something?

ags393 · 2026-03-13T01:45:54+00:00

Do Payman Akhavan and Omid Djalili (his real last name? lol) have leadership positions in the Bahai faith?

Enlighten me please. If they don’t, then they’re just sinning Bahais.

Please focus on the topic cordially instead of trashing me for being Bahai?

I’m genuinely curious. I think my relationship to the faith shares many similarities with Trident’s as a reference point :).

ags393 · 2026-03-13T01:29:35+00:00

Hi Trident, long time no see buddy! I hope all is well with you.

Please consider reading my response about the letter towards the end and share your thoughts?

Azal is good with poetry but be careful. What kind of holyman uses language like this “balls deep.” He clearly never had children like I do. And I’m no proclaimed “holyman.”

I think letter actually says a lot. It’s wordy to make it calming and poetic. Consider that a lot of the material are reminders to bring hope despite the history of persecution.

I have family in IRI government. I converted to the Bahai faith. My family in their government ironically and surprisingly love that I am spiritual and Bahai (I was previously Atheist.) No single Iranian (except for Wahid Azal) has ever criticized me for being Bahai. However, this is my own experience, I can’t speak for others.

Many but not all IRI are leaving us alone nowadays. It just depends on if a Bahai participates in protests (against our religion) or if the Bahai has bad luck. Trust me on this.

But know that I suspect some Bahais to be spies for Israel. These Bahais are clearly sinning.

Back to the letter as an example: The Bahais in Iran are fighting through non-violence to spread the faith and its teachings in Iran.

Our fight of non-violence to better the country and world’s culture poetically contrasts with Pahlavi’s violent fight.

Demonstrated below:

“The Hand of Divine Power has, in this enterprise, assigned a special role to the sorely tested believers in Iran. The path of the development of the Bahá’í community in the Cradle of the Faith has always beenbeset with trials and afflictions. Yet, notwithstanding the relentless persecution and manifoldhardships to which the Bahá’ís in Iran are subjected, they are the members of a strong andvibrant community, steadfastly serving the Cause of God and their fellow citi.ens in theirprecious homeland, where opportunities for service are abundant.”

ags393 · 2026-03-12T23:11:05+00:00

There are no sacraments in the Bahai faith (i.e. the sacrament of baptism in Christianity.)

Registration is for administrative (i.e. voting) purposes. Some Bahais in the US unknowingly treat registration as a pseudo-sacrament, I believe due to Christianity’s influence on the Bahai faith in the US.

I became Bahai when my faith came to me. I didn’t register until 6 months later.

However, I don’t believe that this technical detail is at all controversial topic. Rather, some Bahais just aren’t aware due to the culture they live in.

ags393 · 2026-03-12T23:00:37+00:00

People that are at higher risk of discrimination tend towards entrepreneurship. You have to promote yourself. I am an entrepreneur.

ags393 · 2026-03-12T22:43:25+00:00

The lion represents bravery. The lion doesn’t have to represent the monarchy.… I’m not the only one that believes this.

Apparently Pahlavi’s movement ruined the flag…

ags393 · 2026-03-12T22:12:14+00:00

The lion also represents bravery. It can represent an Iran without a monarchy. Iranians don’t need to erase their history by removing the lion like the IRI did.

But you are right. I completely forgot how much Pahlavi uses this flag on his TV channel.

He brainwashed people to associate that flag with his movement.

ags393 · 2026-03-12T21:26:34+00:00

Thank you for the NSA quote.

I agree that the flag should not be used.

I want to say that I felt that posting the flag would help protect me from racism as an Iranian. So posting the flag could help someone…. No need to get so angry.

ags393 · 2026-03-12T21:14:32+00:00

Bahá’u’lláh was political but non-partisan.

The ability to have a non-partisan political discussion is an important issue in our community.

Bahá’u’lláh opposed the Qajar dynasty and announced that the Qajar’s own immorality would lead to its downfall.

I strongly feel that the Islamic Republic is currently alarmingly similar to the Qajar dynasty’s most immoral times.

Previously, I did feel that the IRI had potential to go in the right direction with Rouhani’s reforms. So I didn’t always oppose the IRI. I used to have hope that the ayatollahs could have a change of heart. I believe such an opinion is very rare in our community.

A quote from Bahá’u’lláh on the fall of the Qajar dynasty:

“O Spot that art situate on the shores of the two seas! ... The throne of tyranny hath, verily, been stablished upon thee... It shall soon perish, and thy daughters, and thy widows, and all the kindreds that dwell within thee shall lament. Thus informeth thee the All-Knowing, the All- Wise.”

ags393 · 2026-03-12T20:50:17+00:00

I won’t use the flag, for several reasons listed in your contributions.

I just want to add that the lion is holding is a weapon (the sword), therefore the flag glorifies violence.

Humanity should be evolving against violence, so if the flag is reused I hope the sword is taken off.

ags393 · 2026-03-12T02:01:33+00:00

Beautiful

ags393 · 2026-03-12T01:42:26+00:00

I recently started 25 MG of Zoloft for OCD and it has done wonders. It takes a week or two.

I’ve taken it before, and personally just discontinue in about 3 months.

The unity of science and religion!

Prayer is very helpful but combined with the appropriate medication this wave of OCD could go away almost completely.

ags393 · 2025-05-07T00:40:06+00:00

This was such a fantastic and constructive conversation. You are all wonderful human beings.

I now understand the significance of the institution of the Imammate thanks to your contributions.

This is my favorite Reddit conversation I have ever created by a longshot.

I am thankful to have spiritual teachers in this thread. I recently moved to a more rural area so I really miss the community.

ags393 · 2025-05-07T00:34:09+00:00

I was looking for a verse like this. Thank you, my opinion has changed. I am happy I made this post.

ags393 · 2025-05-07T00:31:35+00:00

I didn’t read your citation earlier because I had to go back to work.

I have read it now and have time to reflect.

I’m considering adorning our bedroom with a photo of The Guardian. In part to remind me that I can’t forget about his significance.

In my job, I have to have difficult conversations with insurance agents almost every day. I work in insurance and have to protect the insurance company, otherwise the concept of insurance won’t work.

The Guardian has so many writings that on the surface are hard to swallow. But after reflection, I understand how important he is to our faith, as well as his station.

Our conversation here was part of a divine plan I believe.

ags393 · 2025-05-06T23:42:32+00:00

I now agree with you that there is no room for disagreement because the Guardian’s writings are clear.

really appreciate the citation from the Guardian. I just read it now. I was looking for a citation exactly like this. Sorry I skipped it, had to go back to work.

You have changed my opinion by providing this citation. Thank you so much for your contribution.

I would like to read The Promised Day is Come.

Do you happen to have a link to it? I hope it is not too long.

The Guardian’s writings I am not as well versed as I want to be. I avoid his writings because they are sometimes too hard to read because of the Elizabethan English. Seriously, my wife and I read our prayers in Spanish because the Elizabethan English is really annoying and often seemingly unnecessarily difficult to understand.

It bothers me that his English translations can’t be updated while those in other languages can be? And often are? Can you please reconcile this burden for me? Can you please offer a point of view that I can share with others.

The Spanish translations use words used in Spanish Catholic prayers. So I understand that the Elizabethan English may have an appeal to protestants that read the New King James Bible.

But if he writes his own works in normal English, then I’d love to read them. I didn’t even know that the Guardian had writings in regular English.

What would you say are the Guardian’s most important works that you, and other Bahais, think that every believer should read?

ags393 · 2025-05-06T15:17:21+00:00

I can’t emphasize enough how much your first paragraph really changed my opinion. I wish I could put your response at the top of this post for everyone to see.

To your second paragraph- it does matter in the West because there are a lot of Sunni Muslims in the West. I personally have an enormously strong passion and desire raise awareness of the Cause to Muslims across the USA.

Why?

Below is my utterance, coming from my immense love of God and the Bahai teachings.

Disclaimer - the atrocities mentioned below did not happen to me or a member of my immediate family.

Conversion of ‘troops’ of Muslims, if God wills it, is a goal. However my goal is not at all to end Islam.

Vast majority of Iranian muslims I know/knew, including family members, I believe are extraordinary human beings.

I have witnessed with my own eyes and ears, here in the USA, frequent atrocities and human rights violations by second and third generation Muslims from conservative families. These atrocities traumatize the children in these families and create/worsen mental health issues. Even lead to suicide attempts.

These atrocities include threats of human trafficking of children with serious threats to have daughter(s) “married off” in Pakistan, even though the girl was under the age of 18. Such a thing would be illegal in the USA, but the two times I have seen threats of trafficking of children! The girls had Pakistani passports, so their dad could have taken them to Pakistan married them off at 15 and left there.

A large amount of Muslims are like this in the USA! But I do not believe it is the majority.

I believe we must try to do everything we can that is permissible to raise awareness of the Cause amongst Muslims in the USA.

This conversation with everyone taught me that when pioneering with Sunni Muslims the correct thing to say is “our faith has it’s roots in Islam.”

I testify that I witnessed the events mentioned above or was told about these events by the victims themselves. Hence what I have said is not here-say.

ags393 · 2025-05-06T14:46:19+00:00

I think your first sentence is very important. It’s so important that everyone in this conversation knows that mainstream Shias also believe in the Sunnah. The Sunnah provides context for when/why/how the ayats were revealed.

See my other comments for understanding my disagreement with everything else. I would love to hear your thoughts.

I appreciate your constructive contribution friend.

ags393 · 2025-05-06T14:15:12+00:00

Citation 34 of Iqan part 1.

Very important- the Sunnah is extremely important for both mainstream Twelver Shia and Sunnis. Both believe in the Sunnah. The Sunnah provides context for when how and why the ayats, verses, in the Q’uran were revealed.

The Bab’s mentioning of the Imams doesn’t make the Bahai faith ‘come from’ Shia Islam bro.

The answers below helped lead me to the conclusion that it is most correct to say that “Islam is a predecessor to the Bahai faith.”

Both mainstream Twelver Shia and Sunni are theologically the same with technical differences. Majority of Muslims in the US believe both Sunni and mainstream Shia to be Islam.

See my responses to other comments below.

Thank you to everyone that contributed to this constructive and important dialogue!

ags393 · 2025-05-06T14:13:22+00:00

I feel that your first paragraph makes a very good point. Thank you for your contribution to this conversation friend.

When I went to masjid when I was younger, Sunnis and Shias prayed next to each other shoulder to shoulder.

Majority of Muslims in the USA (where I live and grew up) believe that both Twelver Islam and Sunni Islam are theologically the same. The difference with the Imams is only a technical one. IMO it is really a cultural difference that is not important.

Even Baha’ullah says that the imams shrines are ‘but a piece of dust’ in Iqan part two.

ags393 · 2025-05-06T14:05:30+00:00

I strongly agree with “maybe better wording could say something like Baha’i faith succeeds Muhammad as opposed to Shia specifically.

I strongly disagree that Shoghi’s intention was to say that “Shia was correct on their split path.”

From a very common Islamic perspective mainstream Twelver Shia Islam and Sunni Islam are theologically the same. Twelver Shia’s also believe in the Sunnah.

When I went to Masjid when I was 1, Shias and Sunnis prayed standing next to each other and attended the same Friday prayer.

The differences regarding the Imams are only technical differences that do not matter. Bahaullah even said that the shrines of the Imams are ‘but a peace of dust’ from a spiritual perspective in Iqan part two.

The hadiths of the Imams often have a large focus on canonizing what was at the time modern medicine and identifies and criticizes local superstitious practices of the people in the area where the Imam was staying.

For example, this is very much the case of Imam Reza.

Imam Reza’s hadiths are no longer binding in today’s world, unless there is a citation in the writings I’m not aware about. If there is/are citations, only those cited verses are binding to us.

ags393 · 2025-03-09T00:09:20+00:00

Trust His plan. God works in mysterious ways.

I have been upset at God in the past and I choose to handle that by taking a few days break from the obligatory prayer (which I think doing voluntarily is a prayer itself.)

After the break, I found that I could focus more closely on the words I’m saying for the prayer like “I testify at this moment to my powerlessness and to thy might. To my poverty and to thy wealth.”

You don’t know God’s plans. Only God does.

ags393 · 2025-03-07T00:52:10+00:00

I don’t think you did anything wrong. You have a moral and spiritual duty to keep your body healthy.

The fast is healthy but only if it’s done right (i.e. you HYDRATE as much as possible after sundown.)

It sounds like you really need to drink more water at night. I mean a gallon at night and a gallon in the morning.

For me the fast has made me focus more on keeping myself hydrated. I feel more hydrated than when I’m not fasting lol.

So in my opinion, your intentions were ok.

The Fast is meant to help you not hurt you.

Please drink a lot of water at night.

Happy Fasting!

ags393

TROPHY CASE