Caught Red Handed: How Ahang Rabbani Exposed the Censoring and Information Control Method in Bahai Publications

Caught Red Handed: How Ahang Rabbani Exposed the Censoring and Information Control Method in Bahai Publications

Created on Monday, 16 February 2015 20:41

UPDATE: Ahang Rabbani had made a number of distortions in the translation of the current work to hide nasty things that Abdu'l-Baha had said. This has been documented here.

Dr. Ahang Rabbani, the celebrated and prominent Bahai scholar and translator, passed away in 2013 leaving behind a wealth of Bahai related works and translations. These works are mostly the memoirs of trusted Bahai eyewitnesses who have narrated their memories and their observations during their stays with Bahaullah and Abdul-Baha.

The ninth volume of his work titled: A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd (available on bahai-library.org) is the translation of a handwritten manuscript by Khalil Shahidi who Dr Rabbani describes as a trusted resident believer of Akk and a longtime custodian of the House of Abbd.

What makes this translation special, is that unlike the other memoirs translated by Dr. Rabbani, the current work is the translation of a handwritten manuscript in its original form that was not modified by the Bahai publishing committee. The translation exposes a number of shocking memories about the Bahai creed. What is more important is that Dr. Rabbani has inadvertently exposed the Bahai technique for information control and censoring of Bahai texts.

Before any Bahai book gets the green light for official publication, it must be approved by the Bahai publication committee. The Bahai publishing committee of Iran, had appointed an editor to the work and the editor had marked a number of sections of the memoirs for editing and separation, but the revised version of the work was never officially published. The sections marked for revision, amount to more than one third of the memoirs. This is what Dr. Rabbani writes in the Foreword of his translation of the book:

In 1965, Bad Mansr, a nephew of the narrator, was asked to devote some time taking dictations as Shahd spoke his recollections. It appears that this was not only requested by the family, but also eagerly encouraged by Irans Bah Publishing Committee, which then took steps to prepare the manuscript for publication. The Committee appointed an editor (typically a learned member of its body) to edit and extract those passages suitable for immediate publication. The Persian original text seems to have been lightly edited and sections identified towards this objective. The editor notes (appended as page 257 of narrative): The lines that have been drawn through these memoirs for division and correction were done so by Lajnih Mujaljalih Nashr Nafahat [The Committee for Diffusion of Divine Fragrances] and for this reason, this servant thought best that it remain intact, and a clean copy was not reproduced. This was written for [the readers] information. [Signature unreadable] (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 8)

The original Farsi manuscript had been marked to separate/remove/edit inappropriate sections. These sections were marked using lines (rough boxes). Fortunately, after an extensive search we found the original manuscript with the lines that were drawn to remove the problematic matters. In this article, we will present some of the subjects which are in many cases disturbing that were meant to be removed, edited, or censored in the publication of the work, but were inadvertently exposed and translated by Ahang Rabbani.

1- Abdul-Baha speaks with a deceased persons soul and invites him to lunch

This story is mentioned on page 7 of the Farsi manuscript:

This is Dr Rabbanis translation of the selected section:

One day, Abdul-Bah had invited the friends of God to lunch in the pilgrim house of Bahj, situated next to the blessed Shrine [of Bahullh]. When He was welcoming the friends to sit for the meal and serving each one, suddenly He said, Ustd Abl-Qsim, Bismillh. Welcome. He then paused for a short while. It was certain that everything stood evident before His Holiness and He was beholding the spirits that were present and observant. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 15)

Ustd Abl-Qsim is the name of a deceased Bahai who had passed away a few days earlier. Bismillh is usually uttered when a meal is served to instruct the guests to start eating. Basically, what is happening here is Abdul-Baha speaking with the soul of a deceased Bahai and then inviting him to eat lunch with them. This doesnt conform to the Bahai beliefs about the Spirit and the soul which are now residing in the Abha Kingdom which is purely spiritual and eating makes no sense in.

Furthermore, Abdul-Baha is shown to have superhuman powers. In the Farsi manuscript, all sections that speak about Abdul-Baha performing miracles, having superhuman knowledge, and superhuman powers have been marked for modification. For instance pages 44-47 of the Farsi manuscript have suffered a similar fate:

Three stories have been mentioned here:

a- Abdul-Bahas knowledge encompasses the universe

When he found himself perplexed and remorseful in this situation, it became evident to him that Abdul-Bahs knowledge was not bounded, nor specified [to certain matters], nay, it encompassed the whole of universe and creation and nothing remained concealed from Him, nor will it ever remain so. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, pp. 32-33)

b- Abdul-Baha had superhuman strength

With the utmost compassion and mercy, Abdul-Bah, that manifestation of kindness and grace, gently lifted him up, so that later, [the Shaykh] had reported, Despite my large body, I was like a tender bird in His blessed hands! (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 33)

c- Some sort of miracle performed by Abdul-Baha

At one time, locust attack had enveloped the region to the point that not a shred of greenery could be found. Shaykh Mahmd Arrb owned a large olive grove outside the city of Akk. He came to the blessed presence [of Abdul-Bah] and stated, I want to go and see the condition of the orchard. [Abdul-Bah] replied, Your olive trees are safe from the locusts. There is no need to go. However, after two or three days, as he was anxious [about the trees], he mounted his horse intending to inspect his grove. However, as he rode, he observed that a thick cloud of locust, like a resolute army, followed him. When he came close to the grove, he saw that the trees were verdant and green, but about to be attacked by the locusts and to be destroyed. He instantly grew repentant and remorseful of having acted contrary to His blessed advice and will, and quickly turned his steed around. As he turned back, the locusts also followed, and as such, his trees remained intact. This incident greatly increased his faith and certitude. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 33)

The life of Abdul-Baha and his actions clearly contradict these claims made by trustworthy Bahais who had lived with him. In fact, Abdul-Bahas knowledge was in many cases inferior to established sciences of his own days. The Universal House of Justice simply suppresses and censors these statements and contradictions in a bid to promote its own version of the affairs and hide these extraordinary claims from anyone trying to Independently Investigate the Truth.

Another similar story purported to show Abdul-Bahas superhuman knowledge has been marked on page 48 of the Farsi manuscript:

This is the translation:

He instructed the aforementioned q Siyyid Abl-Qsim Khursn to go wait on the road so that upon arrival he would invite [Arrb] to His presence. Khall Arrb was deeply astonished that without being outwardly aware of his journey or plans, Abdul-Bah had summoned him to His presence in this manner. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 34)

2- Abdul-Baha calls Jews an ugly sight:

Another marked incident is on pages 25-27 of the Farsi manuscript:

This is the translation of the sections marked with lines around them:

One day in Akk, he related for this servant: One of the eminent Jewish leaders [rabbis] had attained the sanctified presence of Abdul-Bah in Bahj, and His blessed utterances were soaring in regard to the truth of Jesus and the Messenger of God [Muhammad]. Out of his intense prejudice, that religious leader recited a poem that he had in memory:

This with a bell peals out the chimes,

that lifts his voice from a towered height.

Each one proclaims his faith is true:

I wish I knew which one was right!

By This with a bell peals out the chimes, and that lifts his voice from a towered height, he meant the religions of Jesus and Muhammad. Through this poem, he wanted to convey that both were false [Prophets]. Abdul-Bah immediately responded back with the lines,

This faith is true, that a delight!

and yet the mob, an ugly sight,

Protested it with all their might!

I wish I knew which one was right!

However, while He was saying, and yet the mob, an ugly sight, He was pointing to him with His blessed hand, meaning, You are that ugly sight who denies these two Dispensations. Naturally, the man lost his composure and was irritated. However, once more [Abdul-Bah] dealt with him softly and with kindness, until he recovered. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, pp. 23-24)

You in the sentence You are that ugly sight has been used in the plural form in the Farsi manuscript (shoma-h) which means Abdul-Baha was referring to followers of Judaism as an ugly sight not only the Jew he was conversing with. It wouldnt be very pleasant if people, especially the government of Israel, knew Abdul-Baha had called Jews an ugly sight, would it? There is another section where Abdul-Baha claims the Jews of Tiberius look like monkeys. Ahang Rababni has distorted the translation of this section and completely removed the word monkey. This subject amongst a number of other such distortions have been treated in another article.

3- The name of a very prominent Bahai who was excommunicated

Two instances both from page 30 of the Farsi manuscript:

This is the translation of both sections:

I saw that Subh was also sitting on the right side of the Master and a chair was empty on His left. [Abdul-Baha] said, Sit. So, I sat on the chair to His left. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 26)

Then He turned His blessed Visage to Subh and said (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 26)

So why would these two passages need to be modified? Because they refer to a certain person by the name of Subh. What is problematic about this person? Dr Rabbani explains on footnote number 25:

Faydullh Muhtad, known as Subh, a son of q Muhammad-Husayn, was related to Bahullhs third wife, Gawhar Khnum. He was a secretary of Abdul-Bah for some ten years and later sided with Abdul-Husayn yat, known as vrih, and opposed Shoghi Effendi.

Subh was Abdul-Bahas secretary for ten years but decided that the Bahai beliefs were wrong and became a Shia Muslim and later wrote a number of books in which he exposed what he had witnessed through the years he was a Bahai and a trusted scribe to Abdul-Baha. His case is similar to that of the other person that Ahang Referred to in the aforementioned quote: Abdul-Husayn yat, known as vrih. vrih was a prominent Bahai who was excommunicated for his oppositions to what he believed were not right. He too died a Shia Muslim.

Now why would Bahais want to delete Subhs name from the memoirs? Because there seems to be a standard Bahai practice to keep the adherents of this creed in the dark about those that have left Bahaism. They delete their names from their books and remove any reference to them, apparently, in a bid to reduce further interest in those people and the reason they left the Bahai creed (probably in conformance with the principle of Independent Investigation of the Truth!). They are mocked and taunted and greatly insulted by Bahai leaders. Shoghi respectfully allows himself to call them haters of the Light, sufferers from a spiritual leprosy. Another instance of this inappropriate behavior can be found in Esslemonts Bahaullah and the New Era in which all references to vrih have been removed:

Another case of suppression involves John E. Esslemont's use of materials by the former Bah' historian Abdu'l-Husayn Ayati, named Avarih or Wanderer by Abdu'l-Bah. Avarih was also a "Hand of the Cause" who was commissioned by Abdu'l-Bah to write a history of the Bah' Faith in Persian, which was published in 1923 and 1924. After completing a missionary journey to Europe, Avarih lost faith in the Cause and was subsequently declared a Covenant-breaker by Shoghi Effendi. (48) Covenant-breakers are those who have accepted Bah'u'llh as a Manifestation of God, but have later apostatized and opposed Bah'u'llh, his successors, or Bah' institutions. Faithful members are instructed to shun entirely those who have rebelled against the Cause of God and, although not explicitly commanded, the reading of material written by Covenant-breakers is discouraged as well. (49) In the original edition of Bah'u'llh and the New Era, Esslemont expressed his gratitude to Avarih for his assistance in the preparation of the book and referred to him as "the learned Persian historian of the Bah' movement." (50) In later editions, this acknowledgement has been removed from the preface without any notation. (51) Avarih was quoted five times in the original edition to shed additional light on certain events. Two of these quotations were dropped completely from the text of the 1980 edition, but the other three were retained entirely. However, in one note, Avarih's name has disappeared and there is no reference to any source. (52) In another he is quoted, but his name has been substituted by the words "On this point a historian remarks." (53) And finally, Esslemont included an account of the marriage of Abdu'l-Bah which was "kindly supplied to the writer by Janab-i-Avarih," but the 1980 edition refers only to "a Persian historian of the Bah' Faith." (Vance Salisbury, A Critical Examination of 20th-Century Baha'i Literature)

In fact the name of Subhi has been marked for modification wherever it has been mentioned in other sections of the book such as:

This was only a sample of his deeds and behaviors. The rest can be ascertained by the same pattern. In short, in consideration that, like him, Subh also secretly associated with the ill-wishing Covenant-breakers and carried out oppositions, Abdul-Bah was deeply disappointed with him. He had even imitated His blessed signature [of Abdul-Bah]. At the time [lunch hour] when Abdul-Bah was severely rebuking him, he seemed dead, as if his soul had left his body. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 27)

Some time later, he [Subh] was dismissed and sent to Iran [by Abdul-Bah]. In Tehran he joined the enemies of the Cause, and his end was naught but manifest loss. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 28)

4-Abdul-Baha claiming a dead persons soul didnt know where to go

Two sections on pages 32-33 of the Farsi manuscript:

The first part refers to the death of a covenant-breaker whose soul was wandering about for three days and nights:

After his death, Abdul-Bah remarked, For three days and nights, his soul was suspended between earth and heaven and did not know where to go. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 27)

This sentence simply defies logic for it is not up to the soul to decide where to go after death. The second section refers to Subhi (see no. 3) the prominent Bahai who was excommunicated.

5- A fairly long section encompassing numerous subjects

It starts from the bottom of page 35 (bottom left corner of previous image) and continues to page 41. These are the images of the Farsi manuscript:

These are the subjects that have been marked:

a- Abdul-Baha claiming that a day will come when the people of Iran will all sleep one night and miraculously wake up the next day being transformed into Bahais:

One night there was a gathering in the blessed House of Akk, and the friends of God were in the presence of Him round Whom all the names revolve [Abdul-Bah]. He remarked, A day will come when the people of Iran will go to bed as Muslims and wake in the morning all Bahs! His blessed purpose [of Abdul-Bah] was that Iran [unreadable] would enter beneath [the banner] of the Cause of God. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 29)

Unfulfilled prophecies that will never occur. Pretty obvious why this needs to be censored. The people of Iran will never all wake up in the morning some day transmuted into Bahais although Bahais will argue that this will definitely happen but the time has not come yet.

b- An unfulfilled prophecy about the world becoming the divine paradise and people entering the Bahai creed in troops 100 years after the proclamation of Bahaullah

"During the days of the Guardian of the Cause of God, an [annual]gathering was organized in the shadow of the Shrine of the Exalted Oneto commemorate the ascension of Abdul-Bah, and many friends fromdifferent regions would be in attendance and beholding the blessedcountenance [of the Guardian]. The blessed utterances [of ShoghiEffendi] were:

When a century that has passed from the Manifestation ofthe Primal Point [the Bb], the world will become spiritual,and people will embrace and associate with the divinereligion. However, a century after the Appearance ofBahullh, the world will become the divine paradise, andthe promise in the sacred Quran, Will enter the Cause ofGod by troops, will stand fulfilled." (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 29)

Bahais wouldnt want the world and their followers to know that major prophecies in their religion with exact dates turned out to be false.

c- Iran greatly advancing in the future

One day a group of the friends of God was in the presence of the Guardian of the Cause of God in the pilgrim house of the Shrine of the Exalted One. He spoke words to this effect: Iran, particularly Tehran, will also greatly advance from the point of view of economics, commerce, agriculture and industry. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, pp. 29-30)

Nothing unpredictable about this prophecy, because sooner or later most countries will experience such changes. But if Abdul-Baha was referring to a time in the near future, well Iran is still far behind many countries in the topics Abdul-Baha claims that Iran will greatly advance in, and this prophecy has also failed miserably.

d- Islam will be abased, the Muslims will be humiliated, the Jews will be exalted, and then the Muslims will quickly become Bahais and be freed from humiliation

In consideration that the Jews who had come from abroad to the Holy Land, and who would come with the utmost courtesy, reverence, cleanliness and refinement on a visit to the Shrines of Bahullh and the Exalted One, the Guardian of the Cause of God would remark on such occasions: They are very luminous, even though we have not spoken with them [about the Faith]. If we were to discuss the Cause, there would be upheaval between the two factions of the Jews and the Arabs. However, the time for it will come. They are presently engaged in organizing their affairs. Later they will arise in service to the Cause. Now is the beginning of exaltation of the Jews and the beginning of the abasement of Islam. Truly thy Lord will decide between them on the day of resurrection concerning that in which they differed. His blessed purpose in quoting this sacred verse that has been revealed in the Quran was to explain that the abasement of the Jews was decreed to last until the Day of Resurrection, namely, until the Day of the Manifestation of the promised Qm. Therefore, that abasement had now ended. He would add, The Muslims will be humiliated far more than the Jews. But their punishment is quick and then their abasement will turn into glory. His blessed point was that, unlike the Jews, their disgrace would not last long as they will quickly enter the Cause of God so they would be freed from humiliation. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 30)

This section needs no further explanations and it is pretty obvious why it has been marked for modification.

e- Abdul-Baha humorously telling a Christian priest that he would be circumcised and the narrator claiming that Abdul-Bahas jests are serious

There was a Christian priest in Akk who regularly attained the presence of Abdul-Bah. One day other Christians asked him, What benefit have you gained from visiting Abbs Effendi so frequently? He replied, Soon I will baptize Abbs Effendi! When this news reached His [Abdul-Bahs] blessed ears, He replied, Very well. We will see whether he baptizes us or we circumcise him. It was not long thereafter that the priest fell ill. No matter what the doctors tried, it had no effect, and indeed he grew worse. Eventually it was decided that a team of doctors would consult on his condition. Those doctors decided to examine him and consulted on his situation and when they completed their examination, they prescribed that no remedy except circumcision would cure him. After they decided conclusively on this, they carried out the surgery. Abdul-Bah may my life be a sacrifice unto His will would smile and say, I made that comment in humor. Subsequently, whenever that priest would come before Him, he was most embarrassed and would keep his head low. It became clear from this incident that the Manifestations of Truth do not jest with anyone, since their humor is also serious. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, pp. 30-31)

So why is such an incident censored? Because Abdul-Baha had been posing as a Muslim for years in Haifa (this can be inferred from Abdul-Bahas statement about telling the priest that he would be circumcised which is a Muslim ritual- when the priest claims he would Baptize Abdul-Baha-i.e. convert him to Christianity). This is a fact that is usually hidden by Bahais. Furthermore, many of Abdul-Bahas problematic statements are simply dismissed by Bahais on the basis of being jests and humor. These arguments are nullified by a close companion of Abdul-Baha claiming: the Manifestations of Truth do not jest with anyone, since their humor is also serious.

6- Abdul-Baha uttering some words then falsely claiming they are verses from the Quran to silence a critic

Bottom left section of page 41 of the Farsi manuscript (see previous image):

This time, Abdul-Bah added, O Shaykh Mahmd, have you not read the Quran, Honor thy guests though they be infidels? As soon as the Shaykh heard this verse, his anger subsided. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, pp. 31-32)

Abdul-Baha uttered a sentence then attributed it to the Quran to silence that Shaykh. No, the Bahai authorities do not want you to know that Abdul-Baha had a habit of forging verses and then claiming they existed in the Quran (other instances in his writings and have been documented elsewhere). This is a habit that he inherited from his father Bahaullah who distorted and forged verses of the Quran and Shia Muslim narrations in the Book of Iqan to persuade people to become Bahais (Babis).

7- Abdul-Baha smoking cigarettes

The first three paragraphs of the section titled Tobacco where it is stated that Bahaullah had forbidden the use of Tobacco in the first section and in the second section it is mentioned that Abdul-Baha would smoke cigarettes that were given to him by pilgrims (to please them!) has also been marked:

According to what this servant has heard from those that beheld the Countenance of the Lord [i.e. Bahullh], one day during the time of the Blessed Perfection may His mention be supreme a group of the believers in God gathered in the Ridvn Garden. Suddenly, they learned of the arrival of the Blessed Beauty. At that time, one of them was smoking a waterpipe. Immediately, he concealed it in the tall and thick bushes. Upon arrival, the Temple of the Truth that all-knower of hidden and visible had proceeded directly to the spot where the waterpipe was hidden, and stated, This is why God has forbidden its use.

During the blessed days of Abdul-Bah, when different visitors would arrived in His sanctified presence, some would present Him with cigarettes. In order to please them, the blessed Temple would accept them. One day, He remarked to the Greatest Holy Leaf, Khnum, they insist on giving cigarettes to us. My chest has developed aches. I am in pain. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 112)

These sections can be found on pages 214-215 of the Farsi manuscript:

Since there are too many sections that have been marked for modification, we will only mention the most important sections from the remainder of the book along with the page number in Ahang Rabbanis translation:

8- All incidents that speak about Abdul-Baha slapping people he had problems with in the face

These actions have previously been documented in an article here and have all been marked for editing/modification.

9- Abdul-Bahas attorney praising Abdul-Bahas authority as being higher than those of the great prophets of the past:

Not Moses, not Christ and not Muhammad! He meant that none of these Manifestations wielded the scepter of authority as His blessed Person did! (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 37)

10- Nearly all references to Abdul-Bahas half-brother, Mrz Muhammad-Al, and other covenant breakers

Abdul-Bahas half-brother, Mrz Muhammad-Al, was appointed by Bahaullah to succeed him after Abdul-Baha but was labeled a covenant breaker by Abdul-Baha and named the arch-Covenant-breaker. Most sections in the memoirs that refer to him and other covenant breakers, were marked for modification/deletion but on the contrary sections that speak about covenant-breakers repenting and embracing Bahaism again have not been marked, e.g:

The Covenant-breakers who sincerely would return [to the Faith], and attain the sanctified presence of Abdul-Bah, prostrate themselves at His feet, kissing them, and cry and beg for forgiveness and pardon, Abdul-Bah would say to them, The past is past, and envelop them in His kindness and mercy. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 53)

11- Sections that state Abdul-Baha had been posing as a Muslim and would publicly practice Islam in Akka have also been marked for editing/separation

On pages 41-43 of the translation there are sections that clearly state Abdul-Baha had been posing as a Muslim in Akka and had been publicly practicing Islam and Islamic forms of worship. There is another section that states Shoghi had taught about Bahaism in the holy land (a grave sin in Bahaism)! Another section on diets in which two problematic statements are uttered by Abdul-Baha have also been marked:

One time Abdul-Bah said, A person does not become corpulent because of excessive eating.

His Holiness the Exalted One has said that if a person spends two-thirds of his money on sweets, he has not spent excessively. From this statement it can be understood that man needs sweets more than humectants or other food items.

12- The first paragraph on the section titled The Sea of the Cause (p.44) where it is stated Bahaism will refuse to accept any filth when it starts surging forth is also marked.

13- Everything from the beginning of page 46 to the end of the first section on pages 52 that speak about:

The Greatest Holy Leaf performing miracles and predicting the sex of children inside the womb, Abdul-Baha miraculously curing sick people including an instance where he uses his saliva to cure a mans eye, Abdul-Baha ridiculing and making fun of Mirza Yahya Subhi-i Azal and calling him a hairy bear. Sections about Mishkin Qalam, Bahaullahs scribe narrating how he incited people to destroy Mirza Yahyas private writings from inside his house. Another two wrong problematic sentences in which Abdul-Baha claims natural life is 120 years:

Abdul-Bah would say, Natural life is one-hundred twenty years. It can be longer, but not shorter.

The late q Mrz q Khn Qim-Maqm upon him rest Gods mercy and His paradise used to say that when he was in the presence of Abdul-Bah, He had remarked, A person may live for one-hundred and fifty-five years, but not for one hour longer.

And finally some strange guidelines on eating tea and sugar cubes.

14- Abdul-Baha using his influence on the government to force villagers to pay back their debts with interest

On pp. 53-54 there is a section titled Abdul-Bahs Influence where he uses a government agent to force villagers to pay back debts with interest to a Bahai and another section where he threatens a Bahai woman that he would arrange for his husband to acquire another wife if she doesnt change her attitude towards the husband.

15- Another section on p. 54 whose purpose is to show Abdul-Baha had superhuman knowledge

I mentioned my fathers name. His Holiness then named my grandfather, my great grandfather and generation after generation before them with such details and exposition that I was most astonished and astounded.

16- Abdul-Baha ridiculing and making fun of the son of one of the covenant breakers for sucking a goats penis:

This egotistical man had two dimwitted and unintelligent sons: Husayn and Hasan. Abdul-Bah used to relate to this effect, When speaking with Me, Siyyid Mihd would greatly extol and praise Hasans astuteness, saying that the lad was most intelligent. There was a herd of goats at Bahj. [While playing,] each of the Bah kids was holding the udder of one of the goats, imbibing their milk. However, he [Hasan] was holding a male goat, imbibing it, and saying, This is salty. When telling this story He would laugh heartily. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 72)

Apparently, Abdul-Baha had a pretty un-nice sense of humor. The original Farsi word that Ahang has translated to imbibe is mi makid which means was/were sucking (what a sight: A group of Bahai children sucking goats udders!) Narrating and heartily laughing at such inappropriate incidences (that is if the incidence really happened and was not something made up by Abdul-Baha to degrade the covenant breakers) is in no way appropriate for someone with the rank that Bahais claim Abdul-Baha had.

17- People with twisted moustaches are sullen

Sections from pages from the second section of page 78 to the first section on p. 81 including the section where Abdul-Baha refers to people with twisted moustaches as sullen: Whoever twists his mustache is sullen and another instance of the not-so-nice humor of Abdul-Baha regarding a Christian mans sexual relations with his ugly wife: Abdul-Bah used to say, I asked him, What do you do with her? And he responded, I turn off the light. Abdul-Bah would then smile.

18- The worst of the Bahais are better than the best non-Bahais

Another instance of the Oneness of Humanity in the Bahai belief system:

Abdul-Bah said, The least of the friends is better than the fairest of the nonbelievers. Moreover, He used to say, The worst of the friends is better than the best of the nonbelievers. (Ahang Rabbani, A Lifetime with Abdul-Bah: Reminiscences of Khall Shahd, p. 81)

19- Abdul-Baha laughing when he hears about a Bahai telling a Christian to worship a donkey instead of the Cross

This story is on page 86 where a Bahai tries to teach Bahaism to a priest in the Holy Land (a grave sin in Bahaism) and then tells the priest to worship a donkey instead of the cross. Abdul-Baha laughs when he hears this and tells the Bahai not to say these things again.

20- The sections about the cure for diarrhea and the other guidelines on disease on p. 92.

21- Sections on p. 94 where Abdul-Baha states that he believes in witchcraft.

22- Most of the section titled warning against claims on page 99 including the section where Charles Mason Remy is labeled as crazy.

23- All the section titled The Hands of the Cause that starts on page 101 in which some extraordinary claims are made about these people.

24- P. 109 in which the greatest Holy Leaf is mentioned speaking with dead spirits

At the time of her ascension, she was looking heavenwards saying, Very well. Wait, I am coming. It was evident that from the world above that the spirits of the Concourse on High, impatiently and with great fervor, were anticipating the arrival of the pure and sanctified soul of that remnant of God and trust of Bah, which propelled her to speak such words of assurance to them.

25- Footnote 131 in which Dr. Rabbani says A small paragraph pertaining to the private life of Abdul-Bah is left untranslated.

The Farsi section speaks about Abdul-Baha consuming castor oil for his constipations.

26- Section on page 120 titled dreams and benefit of grapes have also been marked.

27- All the section titled A Contemporary Violator of the Covenant starting on page 121 is marked

This section speaks about a splinter sect in Bahaism. This has probably been marked for modification/removal since it speaks about sects that have been created in Bahaism. Bahais usually deny such sects exist or shrug them off and claim that this is one of the positive points of the Bahai creed. Contrary to these claims there are many splinter factions and sects existed and have existed in the Bahai history.

28- Ruhiyyih Khnum is compared to the Virgin Mary!

The last paragraph on p. 123 where Ruhiyyih is compared with the Virgin Mary: In beauty, splendor, perfection and dignity, Ruhiyyih Khnum was like the Virgin Mary.

So far this is the only manuscript of Bahai memoirs that we have obtained that has been distributed in its uncensored form. Only God knows what Bahais have deleted from the multiple volumes of memoirs printed after they were approved by the Bahai publishing committee. No wonder the descriptions of non-Bahai sources about Bahaullah and Abdul-Baha vastly differ with how Bahais portray them. Who knows what else Bahais have removed from the works they have published since their original scripture is kept locked up in the Bahai Archives in Israel (there are other known sections that Bahais have removed from their published books such as the Tablet of the Maiden (Lauh Houri) where Bahaullah states he exposed one of the breasts of the Holy spirit that he saw in the form of a Maiden after he was attracted to her; and also multiple documents here: https://bahaidistortion.wordpress.com ).

This Bahai attitude of distortion and deletion, is an old method used since the days most Bahais were still Babis and were in the transition phase of establishing Bahaism. As Professor E. G. Browne correctly observed: the more the Bah' doctrine spreads, especially outside of Persia, and most of all in Europe and America, the more the true history and nature of the original Babi movement is obscured and distorted!

http://www.avazedohol.com/eng/index.php/component/content/article/11-articles/89-caught-red-handed-how-ahang-rabbani-exposed-the-censoring-and-information-control-method-in-baha-i-publications