Free Baha'is of Canada

New Book Launched – Beyond The Narrative

Embark on a journey of discovery with “Beyond The Narrative: A Deep Dive into the Will & Testament of Abdu’l Baha.” This meticulously crafted exploration delves into the heart of the Baha’i faith, unraveling the intricate tapestry of its foundational text. Through linguistic and visual analysis, historical insights, and expert commentary, this book unveils the truth behind one of the most pivotal documents in Baha’i history. Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of religious inheritance, uncovering the profound significance of Abdul Baha’s legacy and its enduring relevance in today’s world. Download your copy now and prepare to be captivated by the timeless wisdom contained within these pages.

Download : Beyond The Narrative

Huququ’llah Controversy: Free Baha’i Perspectives

Does the Free Baha’i community believe in Huququ’llah? I’ve read Free Baha’is talking against Huququ’llah and I also agree with you all upto certain extend. My point is why is Huququ’llah even required when Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha emphasized the voluntary nature of contribution.

Answer:

Hi,
Allah’u’Abha!

The Free Baha’i community acknowledges the principle of Huququ’llah as outlined by Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha, but we hold a unique viewpoint on its application. Baha’u’llah did indeed emphasize the voluntary nature of contributions in the Baha’i Faith, and this is a fundamental principle we uphold.

However, we have concerns about how Huququ’llah is administered by the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). Our interpretation is rooted in the teachings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha, which suggest that Huququ’llah is meant for the well-being of individuals, especially the poor and needy.

Here are some relevant quotes from the Writings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha:

Baha’u’llah stated, ‘The Lord, the Most High, hath ordained that the duty of Huququ’llah be laid upon the wealthy among His servants, and its recompense fixed at nineteen percent of their surplus wealth.’ (Kitab-i-Aqdas, Verse 89)

‘When the husband or wife dieth, it devolveth upon the other to pay unto the Lord, as the one hath paid, the whole Huququ’llah which had remained unpaid, together with the interest due thereon.’ (Kitab-i-Aqdas, Verse 91)

‘He that payeth the Huququ’llah at the fixed time, God shall bring him into the most great Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.’ (Baha’u’llah)

From these quotes, it is clear that Huququ’llah is intended for the betterment of the community, particularly those in need. However, we believe that the administration of Huququ’llah by the UHJ has strayed from this original purpose.

In our view, the Huququ’llah funds should be disbursed directly at the individual level to assist the poor and needy, in alignment with Baha’u’llah’s intent. Regrettably, the UHJ has not been transparent about the allocation of Huququ’llah funds and does not provide a detailed annual account. This lack of transparency and accountability has led to concerns within our community about the misuse of Huququ’llah money.

In conclusion, while we acknowledge the significance of Huququ’llah as a Baha’i principle, we emphasize that its application should be in accordance with the teachings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha, with funds disbursed directly to individuals in need to fulfill the original intent of this noble concept.

Hope that answers your question.

Regards,
Team Free Baha’is

Reference : The Caravan, Volume 7, Edition 5

Poor charitable performance of the NSA of Canada!

Since 2006, Charity Intelligence Canada (Ci) has been providing information about charities that accept donations from the public. It provides high-quality evidence-based research to help us guide our charity-giving decisions.

Charity Intelligence’s analysis goes beyond plain subjectivity or narrow financial analysis to dig deeper to arrive at those charities that either perform the best or the worst. This helps the common Canadian and other donors make an informed selection of the most impactful charity while donating their funds.

Through rigorous and independent research, Charity Intelligence aims to assist Canada’s dynamic charitable sector in being more transparent, accountable, and focused on results.

Its latest report on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada, Charity Intelligence, shows the NSA in poor light in the matter of the collection and usage of its charitable funds. In fact, it has been graded a poor LOW in its demonstrated impact per dollar of funds received. (F-Grade) https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/991-national-spiritual-assembly-of-the-baha-is-of-canada

This report highlights the following shameful facts about the NSA’s charitable funding:

The National Spiritual Assembly holds $83.2 million in excess of unutilized funding, which can cover 16.6 years of its current charitable expenses and costs. That is, its spending on acts of charity is so low that if it receives no donations for the next 16.6 years, it can carry on its present paltry charitable expenses.
Another important fact highlighted is the fact that in 2021, for a mere $5 million of spending on national and international charities, it bore an administrative cost of $1.411 million, which is a whopping 28% (just for identifying and transferring every dollar of its charity funds, it spends $0.28). As compared to this poor fund management by NSA Canada

Another charity, “LifeWater Canada,” which incidentally got a 5-star rating from Charity Intelligence, spent only $0.003 for every dollar it spent on its charitable activities.

Continuing the comparison with “LifeWater Canada,” which managed to spend $3255 million in 2022 with only one full-time support staff, NSA Canada spent a mere $5 million in 2021 by employing 24 full-time staff! So much for its efficient management. https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/889-lifewater-canada

Conclusion:

At a time when humanity in third-world countries is suffering from severe economic crises, the rich NSA of Canada is hoarding its funds and not utilising them pro-actively. This speaks volumes about NSA Canada’s commitment to the principles of the Bahai Faith.
NSA Canada has failed the UHJ and the Bahai faith, which prides itself on efficient and effective management, by utterly failing in the financial management of its human resources, funds, and expenses.
It seems that NSA Canada has just converted the entire NSA to offer easy and idle employment to its cahoots friends and relatives to live in luxury by denying thousands of the deprived and needy in society.

Suggestion:

The sincere Bahais and general donors are hereby cautioned against donating their hard-earned earnings to NSA Canada, as these donations will remain unutilized and rather be used to pay the salaries of idle workers in NSA Canada.

Growth of the Free Baha’is

Dear Baha’i faithful;

Allah’u’Abha,

As we present our 8 Caravan magazine, we wish to issue a vote of thanks to all the blessed souls for joining and helping the Caravan of Baha’u’llah, it is the best form of motivation for us to receive emails filled with love and blessings from across the globe. With the grace and blessings of our Master this Message of love and oneness of Mankind is now reaching all corners of world, we have received amazing news from friends in Canada and Singapore, who have informed that they have sent 2000 and 5000 copies respectively of the last caravan issue to interested Baha’i friends worldwide who have requested to be part of this Caravan of Baha’u’llah. One of the friends from Australia has started a study program in which friends gather and read “Tablets of Baha’u’llah” which is highly effective in imbibing spirituality. We would encourage friends to follow / start such study programs in their respective homes.Last Month we have conducted the First ever Global Baha’i Get-together Webinar, where Baha’is from 8 countries got connected with each other, However due to limited resources we could not handle the massive response. We sincerely apologize to those who could not get a chance to get connected to the online conference. At this Conference Baha’i friends have suggested to put efforts in increasing the publication of books focused on the teachings of Baha’u’llah. For this, very shortly, A Free Baha’i Publishing Trust will be established. One of our beloved friend is also writing a book “An Analysis of Will and Testament of Abdul Baha” and another has submitted the idea of writing a book on Shoghi Effendi, Ideas which were appreciated by all friends in attendance. Most friends have complained and narrated their ordeal about the tyranny of Baha’i administration which was very sad to hear. We have asked them to focus on teachings of Baha’u’llah and to leave this crumbling administration aside, as the Master has taught us :He has not appointed any officers in the faith, and hence we do not believe in any such administration. We take inspiration from the Master’s example on teaching where at an old age he travelled to the USA and Europe to spread teaching of love and peace, while on the other hand is Shoghi Effendi who usurped power by forging the Will of the Master, and subsequently making the faith into an organization sans spirituality.

Warmest Baha’i regards,

Free Baha’i team.

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Click here to read such articles and many more from THE CARAVAN magazine.

The Oppressed Family of Baha’u’llah

One of the fundamental principle of the Baha’i faith is the Unity of Mankind and love for brotherhood irrespective of any race, where the entire humanity is under the same roof of unity as is mentioned in one of the several quotes of Baha’u’llah:

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens”

(The Kitab-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book)

However, after the sad demise of Abdul Baha, this fundamental of Faith was disobeyed. To know how this happened, read THE CARAVAN MAGAZINE here.

A tragic decline of Faith under the “Universal House of Justice”

For long the Free Baha’is have foretold the faithful about the dangers of deviating from the true teachings of Baha’u’llah and Abdul Baha, and how such deviations can only cause a decline in the spirituality of the faithful along with an abysmal lack of interest in it. By tutoring the faithful to stick to the Ruhi curriculum one cannot expect the faithful to maintain the spirituality which flows naturally in the divine words of the Master. This system of Administration along with its misplaced priorities has made the faithful greedy of positions and commissioning. A Baha’i today does not aspire closeness to Baha’u’llah but rather aspires to be part of the administration and to be given positions therein and to be made members of various boards here and there. All of this lack of interest has taken a huge toll on the spirituality of the Baha’is. This lack of spirituality, nay, The death of spirituality in manifested by the abysmally small number of Pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. I Would like to refer to the article published in “The Jerusalem Post” on 26 of December 2018 , which while stating that the total number of visitors to the state of Israel was about 4 million there were only about 0.1% of them who were Baha’i. Which when translated to actual figures means that only about 4000 visitors to the State of Israel were Baha’i. Also considering the fact that this year saw the convention to elect members of the “UHJ” we can safely assume that around 2000 of those 4000 visitors came for the said convention. That leaves only2000 Pilgrims for the entire year of 2018 to have visited the Holy Shrines. This figure when compared to the global population of the Bahais shows that a disappointingly low percentage of the “Faithful” would have made the pilgrimage this year. First the faithful were turned away from the holy texts and now the administration is turning the Faithful away from the holy land too. It is sad to see the spirituality and the Faith get erased from the hearts of the faithful in such a disgraceful manner and makes one wonder : WHAT REAL PURPOSE IS THE ADMINISTRATION SERVING ???

To read many such interesting articles, read THE CARAVAN MAGAZINE here

The Caravan Magazine: V.2 Edition.4

The teachings of Baha’u’llah and the Master was always freedom from the clan conception of life. Therefore, the appointment of a successor in the face of Shoghi Effendi, endowed with all the powers of a pope, means a reversal of all they taught during their lifetime. They always emphasised Independent Investigation of Truth, although after Shoghi Effendi came to power all the Baha’i principles were never acted upon and people were forced to follow what they were ordered to, and the freedom was taken away. The Will of the Master was force-fed on the Baha’is. Those who tried to investigate and question the Will were declared faithless. This made the Baha’is of that time accept what was not an established fact.

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Read the full magazine here.