. They
lived in bondage and serfdom under the Persian and Roman governments and
were scattered throughout the desert, engaged in continual strife and
bloodshed. When the light of Muhammad dawned, the darkness of ignorance
was dispelled from the deserts of Arabia. In a short period of time those
barbarous peoples attained a superlative degree of civilization which,
with Ba_gh_dad as its center, extended as far westward as Spain and
afterward influenced the greater part of Europe. What proof of Prophethood
could be greater than this, unless we close our eyes to justice and remain
obstinately opposed to reason?

Today the Christians are believers in Moses, accept Him as a Prophet of
God and praise Him most highly. The Muslims are, likewise, believers in
Moses, accept the validity of His Prophethood, at the same time believing
in Christ. Could it be said that the acceptance of Moses by the Christians
and Muslims has been harmful and detrimental to those people? On the
contrary, it has been beneficial to them, proving that they have been
fair-minded and just. What harm could result to the Jewish people, then,
if they in return should accept Christ and acknowledge the validity of the
Prophethood of Muhammad? By this acceptance and praiseworthy attitude the
enmity and hatred which have afflicted mankind so many centuries would be
dispelled, fanaticism and bloodshed pass away and the world be blessed by
unity and agreement. Christians and Muslims believe and admit that Moses
was the Interlocutor of God. Why do you not say that Christ was the Word
of God? Why do you not speak these few words that will do away with all
this difficulty? Then there will be no more hatred and fanaticism, no more
warfare and bloodshed in the Land of Promise. Then there will be peace
among you forever.

Verily, I now declare to you that Moses was the Interlocutor of God and a
most noteworthy Prophet, that Moses revealed the fundamental law of God
and founded the real ethical basis of the civilization and progress of
humanity. What harm is there in this? Have I lost anything by saying this
to you and believing it as a Baha'i? On the contrary, it benefits me; and
Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Movement, confirms me, saying, "You
have been fair and just in your judgment; you have impartially
investigated the truth and arrived at a true conclusion; you have
announced your belief in Moses, a Prophet of God, and accepted the Torah,
the Book of God.