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Question

1-What is bahai faith? Are they Muslims?2-I am a Muslim. Can I marry a woman of bahai faith?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Bahai is a movement that appeared in 1260 A.H. (about 150 years ago). It was founded by Mirza Ali Mohamed Rida Al Shirazi who was raised in some innovative movements. He first dealt in trade. At the age of 17, he resumed studying and occupied himself with Sufi and other misleading books. In 1259 A.H., he went to Baghdad and learned the ideas and opinions of Kazem Al Rashti. During that time, he met a Russian spy by the name of Kinazd Gorki who claimed to be Muslim and named himself Isa Al Nakrani. This Russian spy started spreading rumors that Mirza Ali was the Mahdi and the door to the divine truth and that he will appear after the death of Al Rashti. In fact, Gorki found that Mirza Ali was the right person to use in order to disunite Muslims.

On Thursday Jumadaa Al Akhir (6th month of Muslim year) 1260 Mirza declared that he was the "door that leads to reality" and that he was a prophet just like Moosa (Moses), ‘Eesa (Jesus) and Muhammad, may Allaah exalt their mention. He even claimed that he had a higher rank than these Prophets. Then Rashti's students believed in him.

Later, he was arrested in 1261 A.H. and he declared his repentance on the Mimbar (the place in the mosque where the Imam stands when delivering the Friday speech) of Al Wakil's mosque after having caused much destruction and turned many people from the right creed. Later, in 1266, however, Mirza Ali, now known as Al Bab (the door) claimed that he had incarnated bodily as “The Lordness” (the attribute of a god).

When the Muslim scholars discussed the issue with him, he again repented. But this time, they did not believe him as he was known to be coward and to run from confrontation. So, he was sentenced to death and killed. Among the most famous personalities of the Bahai movement is Qurrat Al Ain and her real name was Um Salma who was born in 1231 A.H. in Quzween and took her knowledge from Al Mulla Mohammed Saleh Al Quzweeni (a Shiite). Then she claimed that the Islamic Sharee’ah has been abrogated.

Here are some of the most important ideas and beliefs of Bahai movement:

1. They believe that Al Bab (the door) is the one who created everything with his word and that he is the principle from which all things stem.

2. They believe in reincarnation and transmigration of souls and that reward and punishment are only for souls but in an imaginary way.

3. They agree with the Christians and Jews who believe that Jesus was crucified.

4. They deny the Prophets' miracles as well as the reality of Angels and Jinn. They also deny the existence of Paradise and Hell.

5. They forbid Hijaab for women and make the temporary marriage lawful, and for them women and properties are for common use.

6. They claim that Al Bab religion nullifies the religion of Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

7. Their Qiblah (where they face when praying) is Al Bahja in Akka in Palestine, not Al Haram mosque.

We conclude from the above that this group has nothing to do with Islam. So, it is forbidden to marry a woman who follows this faith.

Allah knows best.

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