The logical inconsistencies of the Bahá'í doctrine of the unity of religions

While Bahá'í theology seemingly appears sound in respect to its concept of God, its unity of religions doctrine is contradictory. This doctrine teaches that God has revealed one universal religion, but God progressively reveals more information to prophets as humanity grows. Different religions begin to sprout, branch out, and differ due to peripheral differences, understandings, and interpretations of the original religion [1]. This is somewhat similar to Islāmic belief in the sense that the Qurʾān teaches that Islām is the original religion, but different laws may have been revealed to different messengers that were suitable to their respective times. Islām teaches that what Mūsā (Moses) عليه السلام and the early Israelites practiced was the equivalent of Islām, even if others call their religion Judaism, and what ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام and his followers practiced was also the equivalent of Islām, even if others call their religion Christianity. However, the earlier religious texts of the Jews and Christians were corrupted. Thus, in the Islāmic paradigm, Allāh revealed the final holy book, the Qurʾān, to the final prophet, Muḥammad ﷺ. The Qurʾān states that it will be preserved (Qurʾān 15:9).

What is problematic with the Bahá’í understanding is that it claims that prophets did come after Muḥammad ﷺ. The Qurʾān emphatically stresses that there will be no new prophet to come after Muḥammad ﷺ (Qurʾān 33:40). The Bahá’í faith recognizes Muḥammad ﷺ as a true prophet of God. If Muḥammad ﷺ was a true prophet, and the Qurʾān is preserved and claims that nubūwwah (prophethood) has ended with Muḥammad ﷺ, then the Bahá’í faith must be false. The only way for the Bahá’í faith to be consistent is to either reject that Muḥammad ﷺ was a true prophet or to claim that the Qurʾān has been corrupted. The former cannot be done because Bahá’u’lláh accepted that Muḥammad ﷺ was a true prophet. As for the latter, if Bahá’ís reject the preservation of the Qurʾān, Muslims can facilely demonstrate that it has been preserved. Furthermore, the Bahá’í faith actually recognizes that the Qurʾān has been preserved. In fact, Shoghi Effendi, who was the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh, mentioned that the Qurʾān was wholly authentic.

As to the question raised by the Racine Assembly in connection with Bahá'u'lláh's statement in the 'Gleanings' concerning the sacrifice of Ishmael: Although this statement does not agree with that made in the Bible, Genesis 22:9, the friends should unhesitatingly, and for reasons that are only too obvious, give precedence to the sayings of Bahá'u'lláh which, it should be pointed out, are fully corroborated by the Qurʾān, which book is more authentic than the Bible including both the New and the Old Testaments. The Bible is not wholly authentic, and in this respect is not to be compared with the Qurʾān, and should be wholly subordinated to the authentic writings of Bahá'u'lláh [2].

Perhaps the Bahá'ís can say that Muslims have misunderstood the Qurʾān when it mentions that Muḥammad ﷺ is the final prophet. They can point to the belief within Islām that Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام will return to earth, but how can ʿĪsā عليه السلام return if Muḥammad ﷺ is the final prophet? This is the same argument that the Aḥmadīyyah community makes [3]. The response is that ʿĪsā عليه السلام is already a prophet; he is not a new prophet, so his return to earth does not contradict the fact that prophethood has ended with Muḥammad ﷺ. Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned in numerous Aḥādīth that he is the final prophet, and he interpreted this literally. In one report, he mentions that the prophets are like bricks that make up a beautiful home, but the house is missing one corner brick. Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ mentioned that he is the final brick and then mentioned that likewise, he is the final prophet (Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī 3535). Will Bahá'ís claim that Prophet Muḥammad misinterpreted the Qurʾān? Additionally, whenever the Ṣaḥābah (companions) of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ encountered new claimants to prophethood, they immediately waged war against them and their followers. This demonstrates that Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ and the Ṣaḥābah believed in the finality of prophethood (khatm an-nubūwwah).

Weak and failed prophecies of the Bahá'í religion

Bahá’ís claim that Bahá’u’lláh made prophecies that were fulfilled, but these predictions could have easily been made by others. For instance, Bahá’u’lláh warned the people of Constantinople of the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

O people of Constantinople! Lo, from your midst We hear the baleful hooting of the owl. Hath the drunkenness of passion laid hold upon you, or is it that ye are sunk in heedlessness? O Spot that art situate on the shores of the two seas! The throne of tyranny hath, verily, been established upon thee, and the flame of hatred hath been kindled within thy bosom… We behold in thee the foolish ruling over the wise, and darkness vaunting itself against the light. Thou art indeed filled with manifest pride. Hath thine outward splendour made thee vainglorious? By Him Who is the Lord of mankind! 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 (Kitáb-i-Aqdas 89).

The book that mentions this prophecy was completed in 1873 CE, and the Ottoman Empire fell in 1922 CE. The khilāfah (caliphate), which became more of a symbolic institution instead of an authority with real power, was abolished in 1924 CE. While this may seem like an amazing prophecy, it is quite lackluster. The Ottoman Empire was called the sick man of Europe many years before Bahá’u’lláh made his prediction, indicating its decline [4]. Bahá’u’lláh also wrote a letter to Napoleon III informing him that his power would cease if he does not embrace the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought. Then wilt thou know how thou hast plainly erred. Commotions shall seize all the people in that land, unless thou arisest to help this Cause, and followest Him Who is the Spirit of God in this, the Straight Path. Hath thy pomp made thee proud? By My Life! It shall not endure; nay, it shall soon pass away… (Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh p. 20-1).

The following year, Napoleon III lost a battle to Prussia and was captured. He was later exiled to England, and a revolution occurred in Paris, known as the Paris Commune in 1871 CE. This prophecy is also unconvincing, as Prussia was attempting to form a united Germany, and Napoleon III did not desire to have a unified Germany right next to France's borders [5]. Napoleon III sought allies to stand against Prussia but did not succeed in acquiring them. In 1866 CE, Prussia had a population of 22 million and was able to mobilize an army of 700,000 men, while France had a population of 26 million and could only muster an army of 385,000 men, 100,000 of whom were in Algeria, Mexico, and Rome [6]. "The Prussian army, combined with the armies of other German states, would be a formidable enemy. Napoleon III ordered a rapid expansion of his armed forces and this greatly added to tensions with Prussia. We can see that years before Bahá’u’lláh made his prediction, France was on a collision course for war, with a very real prospect of defeat at the hands of its enemy. Finally, with regards to his prediction that 'commotions shall seize all the people in that land,' which implies that there would be civil unrest in France, this is by no means remarkable as civil unrest goes hand in hand with political instability. When dictators like Napoleon III are deposed, it results in a vacuum and it's not uncommon for power struggles to take place. These are often violent affairs, this is especially the case throughout France's turbulent history." [7]

Bahá’u’lláh’s so-called fulfilled prophecies lack persuasive power. Furthermore, his son and successor, `Abdu’l-Bahá, made clearly false prophecies. `Abdu’l-Bahá prophesied that his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, would go on to lead the faith and that Shoghi’s firstborn will succeed Shoghi.

O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Aghsán (Branches), the Afnán (Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi… as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God and after him will succeed the firstborn of his lineal descendants [8].

Shoghi Effendi led the faith as prophesied but died in 1957 CE without leaving behind any lineal descendants. The adherents of the faith eventually formed the Universal House of Justice (UHJ) in 1963 CE, which serves as the governing body that directs Bahá’í affairs. Another failed prophecy of `Abdu’l-Bahá is that he prophesied a worldwide transformation in 1957 CE for the better and that universal peace and a universal language will be established.

Universal peace will be firmly established, a universal language promoted. Misunderstandings will pass away. The Baha’i Cause will be promulgated in all parts and the oneness of mankind established. It will be most glorious [9]!

No such universal peace nor a universal language was established in 1957 CE. In 1957 CE, the world was on the brink of nuclear war during the Cold War. Today, conflicts such as the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the violence between Gaza and Israel, continue to cause widespread suffering and a large number of casualties. There is also a fear that the conflicts in the world today could bring about World War III, which could possibly be fought with nuclear weapons. Due to the failed prophecies of the Bahá’í faith, as well as its contradictory affirmation of accepting the Qurʾān while also believing in a prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ, the Bahá’í faith cannot be true.

[1] Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-86251-6.
[2] From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, July 28, 1936: Bahá'í News, No. 103, p. 1, October 1936.
[3] The Aḥmadīyyah community believes that Mīrzā Ghulām Aḥmad was a new prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ; they claim to be Muslims but are in fact kuffār (disbelievers).
[4] Badem, Candan. The Ottoman Crimean War (1853 – 1856), p. 68.
[5] Taylor, A.J.P. The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848–1918, p. 347.
[6] Séguin, Philippe. Louis Napoléon le Grand, p. 387.
[7] https://mpom.wpengine.com/2018/05/24/false-prophets-series-part-3-bahaullah-and-abdul-baha/.
[8] `Abdu’l-Bahá. The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, part one.
[9] Esslemont, J.E. Baha’u’llah and the New Era, Chapter XIV.