sarawakbahai.org

It is the duty of Baha’is to tell their friends about the Baha’i teachings. This must, however, be done in a spirit of friendliness and kindliness. Baha’u'llah has stated: ‘Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Baha, for God hath prescribed unto everyone the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds.’ Fanaticism is forbidden. Baha’u'llah states: ‘Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench.’ If people do not want to hear about the teachings, we should leave them alone.

The Baha’i teachings have spread throughout Sarawak by the selfless services of inspired individuals who have sacrificed time and money to carry out Baha’u'llah’s command to ‘teach ye the Cause of God.’ Expansion of the Baha’i community is the result of the sacrificial efforts of individual believers and also as a consequence of organised teaching campaigns by the relevant Baha’i administrative body.

The Baha’i community of Sarawak has been privileged to receive many distinguished Baha’is from overseas. Among them have been Mr. Jalal Khazeh, Hand of the Cause of God: Mr. David Hofman, Mr. and Mrs. Hushmand Fatheazam, and Dr. and Mrs. Farzam Arbab, members of the Universal House of Justice;

Mr. Hartmut and Ursula Grossman and Dr. Jawaheri, members of the International Teaching Centre; the late Mr. Hasan Sabri, from Office of Social and Economic Development; Mr. Yan Kee Leong, Mr. Leong Tat Chee, Dr. Chellie and Mrs. Shanta Sundram, numerous members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in Asia and Australasia; members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of neighbouring
countries and Germany and the Pacific and distinguished Baha’is from many countries around the world; Mary Power of Baha’i International Community, Mrs. Mona Griezer, Dr. Bijan Ghaznavi and many others.

The Sarawak Bahai community has reached thus far: approximately fifty thousand Baha’is in hundreds of localities and groups, organised under roughly 100 local spiritual assemblies; comprising almost entirely of local believers; embracing all races in the State except Malays; supported by their own manpower; relying on thir own material resources; united in their efforts and goals. In the cities and towns of Sarawak, the Baha’i community is comprised mainly of Chinese and native believers. In the rural areas, the communities are almost entirely native believers. Ibans constitute the largest segment of the Sarawak Baha’i community, but there are also Bidayuhs, Kenyahs, Melanaus, Salakaus, Indians and Penans.

Baha’is have embarked on a new enterprise to systematically train the entire community to better understand the Word of God and to further their involvement in the life of the community and of society at large. It is our hope that all Baha’is, young and old, men and women, literate and illiterate will undergo systematic training to enable them to understand the Baha’i Holy Writings and to take part in the plans of God for this age. Many communities have already set out along this path.

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