CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 87 - 17 ’Ilm 160 BE - 1 November 2003 CE

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Talk on “The Spirituality of Islam”

The Bahá’í Society of the University of Ulster (Coleraine Campus) arranged a talk on The Spirituality in Islam by Mr Wali, a surgeon, from south India who has worked for many years at the hospital in Coleraine.

An audience of twenty people enjoyed his talk. It was especially valuable for the Baha'is in the audience, in view of Shoghi Effendi's instructions given us in The Advent of Divine Justice: “Those who participate in (teaching campaigns) ---must--as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties--strive to obtain (from unbiased sources) a sound knowledge of the history and tenets of Islam -the source and background of their Faith. (they must also) approach reverently and with a mind purged from pre-conceived ideas, the study of the Quar'án, an absolutely authenticated repository of the Word of God.”

The speaker said that while every religion is based on spirituality, each has its own concept of God and way to approach Him. We approach the same God from different directions. Ultimately the heart and the soul are the same in all religions. When dealing with the heart and soul there is no problem of language barrier. God gave us wisdom and understanding so that we may approach and develop a close relationship with Him. Once this close relationship is achieved we become radiant. The Qur.án (Al Baquarah, verse 186) says “I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on me - let him also listen to My Call and believe that he may walk in the right way”.

“A Muslim develops a relationship with God through a direct link, not through intermediaries. Everyone has equal access to God. Why do Muslims do what they do? It is due to a deep and sincere universal love of God. To love God, you must love your fellow man. Spirituality means living only for God.”


LONDONDERRY

The Book Four Study Group Takúr based in Derry made an approach to the Junction, a recently-established local resource centre, as part of their social project, asking if they were interested in taking some Bahá'í material on social and community issues. After looking at what was offered the Junction responded positively and ended up taking twenty-six separate Bahá'í statements and stance papers, some generated by the LSA, others from the National Assembly or the Bahá'í International Community.


“DEEPENINGS IN DERRY”

There were two meetings in the “Deepenings in Derry” series during October, held in the Bahá'í Centre in Londonderry.

On 3 September Dr Nooshin Proudman spoke on the life and mission of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá. She gave an inspiring account of His early life, and of the way this had been shaped by the sufferings of His whole family. He was exiled from His home at an early age, never to se it again, and would not be a free person again for many years, despite which He worked for an served the new Revelation and when elderly undertook extensive travels to spread the news of Bahá'u'lláh’s life and teaching.

On 17 October Colin Palin gave a most impressive series of computer presentations on the theme of “Electronic Arts and Devotional Diversity” to show how a multi-media approach can enhance our deepenings and devotionals. Not everyone has access to the technology but when it is there it can be used in a wide range of situations and is an important aspect of “the Arts”.


SNIPPETS

Anne Munro had almost a full page of the North-West Telegraph on 1 October to tell people about the Faith, as part of a larger feature on minorities in the area.

Newtownards is the latest Bahá’í community in Northern Ireland to establish a local website, congratulations.

 

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