aAlso see Silsilah

Also see Token

Fictive Kinship, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictive_kinship

"Be ye loving fathers to the orphan" `Abdu'l-Baha

"… He that bringeth up his son or the son of another, it is as though he hath brought up a son of Mine;

upon him rest My Glory, My loving-kindness, My Mercy, that have compassed the world."(Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, K. 48, p. 37)

انّ الّذى ربّى ابنه او ابناً من الابنآء كانّه ربّى احد ابنآئى عليه بهآئى وعنايتى ورحمتى الّتى سبقت العالمين

adoption in Arabic and Islam is known as "kafala" it is not exactly equal to "adoption" in the west. More like foster parenting. Some have assumed that the ideal that inheritance is not automatic means the adopted child cannot inherit, that is not the case. In Islam a adopted child does not "automatically" inherit it is at the discretion of the Parent. Additionally, the purpose of making "adopted" children just "foster" children and not viewed as blood relatives is that of marriage laws, if a adopted child is weaned on the milk of an adoptive mother that child is considered of the blood of the adopted parent and thus cannot for instance marry a adoptive sister because they are considered blood relatives. A adoptive child not milk weaned by an adoptive mother is not subject to the stringent Islamic laws on marrying relatives. To become an adopted son of a father the father must testify that this is true and the son also testifies that this is true. Also, an acknowledged son only inherits from the acknowledged father not automaticsally from all the other relatives. Dr. Maneck argues from Islamic law that this is impossible but that understanding of Islamic law is erroneous, see Islamic scholar on such issues in Chapter 4 of this book:

The personal law of the Mahommedans: according to all the schools

By Syed Ameer Ali

http://books.google.com/books?id=yyYqAQAAIAAJ&lpg=PA55&ots=kRzdceuvQE&dq=%22inheritance%20by%20clientage%22&pg=PA167#v=onepage&q=adopted&f=false

Reductio Absurdum: `Ali was the Imam (Wali, Guardian) of the Shi'a Muslims, yet he was only adopted by Muhammad, does that disqualify him from Imamat (Guardianship)??? No, of course not, it's a historical fact that Shi'a Muslims hold him to be the 1st Imam. http://www.al-islam.org/restatement/7.htm

Sponsoring an Orphan in Islamic Tradition:

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“…And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allaah knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allaah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties. Truly, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”

[al-Baqarah 2:220]

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that sponsoring orphans is a means of being together with him in Paradise.

It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa’d said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan (كافل اليتيم) will be like this in Paradise” – and he gestured with his index and middle fingers, holding them slightly apart.

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4998) Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 63, Number 224.

4998 حدثنا عمرو بن زرارة أخبرنا عبد العزيز بن أبي حازم عن أبيه عن سهل

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنا وكافل اليتيم في الجنة هكذا وأشار بالسبابة والوسطى وفرج بينهما شيئا

http://hadith.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=192&TOCID=2937&BookID=24&PID=5097

Islamic Fictive Brotherhood:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_among_the_Sahaba

Temp and Permanent Stations:

see Qur'an 6:98 http://quran.com/6/98

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This section has notes on the adoption of Mason Remey by `Abdu'l-Baha', this is an area of ongoing research, for instance one question is was this adoption considered equal to making Mason a member of the Holy Family? Were others that received similar declarations of adoption, such as being called "my son" on the same level of Mason? Does the adoption terminology connote a real legal station in the Baha'i religion or merely a spiritual symbolic role of close affinity to each other?

Adoption of Mason Remey by Abdu'l-Baha:

Tablet to Mason Remey from Abdu'l-Baha referring to MR as AB's son (persian: pesar, پسر)

Note: the earliest public knowledge of adoption of Mason Remey by Abdu'l-Baha was in 1983 through the Thompson Diary publication, aside from honorific titles published in Star of the West in the early part of the 20th century, AB spoke of many people as his "daughter" or "son" so this would not automatically connote a sense of real fictive kinship, only Mason Remey's relationship can be viewed as a real and legal relationship. Mason sealed up most of this evidence in his archives, he instructed the curators of the archives not to open them until 1995, he archived the collection at several universities in 1940, 17 years before the passing of his "brother" Shoghi Effendi. I am not aware of any attempts by Mason to put forward his relationship with AB as proof of his claim to be the next Guardian, although the notes of the conclaves of the Hands were destroyed after each meeting it is impossible to know what was said in those meetings after Shoghi Effendis passing.

this is from the Diary of Howard C. Struven in the Remey Collection at Stanford University archives:

"…after supper we went to Abdul Bahas house & went into His presence with all of the other friends what He spoke about I don't know, He then excused the Persian friends & told us to remain & then Miss Steven came in to see Him, then Abdul Baha spoke to her about the greatness of the Cause, He asked Miss Steven if she had ever see an oriental father with an American son before & she said no, Abdul Baha was holding Mr. Remeys hand & said, I can feel something passing from his hand to mine I can feel it in my right hand even though it be free, I feel rheumatism & I feel rested. Love cannot be expressed in words, it is something beyond the 5 senses. It can only be felt." pg. 260 Copy 19 Vol. 23 Remey Archive at Stanford University (M0754, box 5 of 23)

event took place around 1910. Evidence was placed in sealed Archives by Mason Remey. Archives unsealed in 1995.

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The following passage is the full context to the `Abdu'l-Baha adoption declaration of Mason Remey in Mason's Journal from Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (1921).

The following day Will and I took leave of the Master. He called us to Him in that upper chamber of the German Hotel. Of the incident of the night before He spoke as follows:

"I could not see you last night on account of the accident. The Blessed Perfection protected me. We walked and it was very warm. My clothing became very damp and then it became cold. The wind was from the Sea. Baha'o'llah has always protected me."

The Master first said to me, "go to Germany for some days, then to Paris, and America.

"I want you to take the Glad Tidings of God from here to the German friends. Take with you to them a new spirit. The german friends are very pure, they are very spiritual. They have great capacity for spiritual development. The divine fragrances will refresh Germany. The reason that they are so pure and spiritual is the the abominable smell of violation has not reached that land. Had not this wind of violation blown over America the number of the friends by this time would have been over a million. but that retarded the speed of the Cause."

He was very serious indeed, as apropos of nothing at all in my mind He launched into a philippic against the violators who had spread such disaster in the Cause in America. Ifrahim Hkierellah [sic] and Fareed He mentioned by names, but none others did He mention. He said that the Cause had been blighted in America by violation. In America all of our troubles He said were due to violation; thus He discoursed for some time, finally exhorting the people to arise and to protect the Cause from such infection and those who spread it.

"In the day when Khierrella violated", said the Master, "several hundred souls turned away from the Cause."

I said, "Whenever I think of the violation in America I became distressed and disheartened." He said, "it is of no importance. These violations cannot achieve any results. They cannot attract nor hold any souls. They simply poison some souls and cause them to wither. But it is temporary. In a short time you will see no trace will be left of them. Observe the life of Ibrahim (Khierella), how he was, and how he is. They themselves and their damage to the Cause are like the foam of the surf to the sea-- ephemeral.

"I have adopted you as my son. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you. At present take a new spirit to the German friends, and through this cause a greater harmony. Then after Germany, go to France, England and America."

The Master asked about the number of the friends in Germany. I explained to Him that there had been 325 at one Feast in Esslingen, while I had been there, but now there were even more.

"You are under God's protection. If I am not with you in body, I am in Spirit. Convey my attachment to the friends. I pray for all."

Then He embraced us, kissing us both upon either cheek and upon our foreheads. We knelt to receive His Blessing and He placed His hands upon our heads as if drawing down a benediction from on High.

We left by the little boat which brought us. As she put out in the Lake we kept our eyes fastened on that little chamber on the top of the German Hotel until it was lost to sight. LIttle did I think that that was the last time I was to see my Master in this life!

pg. 128-130 Copy 19, Vol. 2 Stanford University Green Library Special Collections, Box 1 of 23, M0754 (call number)

Evidence was placed in sealed Archives by Mason Remey. Archives unsealed in 1995.

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1983 - Juliet Thompson Diary (ca. 1909) is published for first time (Kalimat Press, Los Angeles), which in it shows Abdu'l-Baha attempting to arrange the marriage of Mason Remey whom AB refers to "you are my real son". This corroborates from a Baha'i World Faith adherent the claims of the BUPC about Mason Remey. http://bahai-library.com/books/thompson/

Through Alice to Mason Remey: "Give My greatest love to Mr Remey and say: You are very dear to me. You are so dear that I think of you day and night. You are My real son. Therefore I have an idea for you. I hope it may come to pass." 8 July 1909 [one notes that the ideal was a marriage to Juliet, if the terminology does not connote a real relationship then why is AB acting as a concerned father?]

http://bahai-library.com/books/thompson/2.html

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1922 - Mason Remey receives token from Shoghi Effendi.

"Coagulated drops of Baha'u'llah's All-Sacred Blood and Ringlets of His Most Blessed Locks presented as my most precious possession to 'Abdu'l-Baha's 'dear son' Mr. Charles Mason Remey as a token of my Baha'i affection and brotherly love. Shoghi" March, 1922

Short Timeline on Mason Remey (MR) relationship to Abdu'l-Baha (AB):

Remey himself went on pilgrimage in February 1901 and met `Abdu’l-Bahá; he returned in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1914, and 1921 (1922 meets with Shoghi 1st time).

http://rsmd.net/research/remey-charles-mason

1899, Dec. 31st, Mason Remey becomes a Baha'i in France

1908, Mason Remey travels to Middle East, first meeting with AB in Holy land.

1910, travels around the world teaching Faith, spends time with Abdu'l-Baha in Akka. Spoken of as AB's son for first time by AB.

1913, AB tries to arrange the marriage of his son (MR). AB speaks of MR as his "real son".

1921, AB tells MR that he has adopted him and that he should live up to this "sonship". Last time MR sees AB.

1922, Shoghi gives MR the token of Baha'u'llahs Hair and Blood stating it is for AB's 'dear son', symbolizing kinship according to Doc.

1951, Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, appointed Mason Remey the executive of the International Baha'i Council. MR represents SE at state meetings with government of Israel.

1957, Shoghi Effendi dies, Persian Hands of the Cause of God, disband office of Guardianship, citing that no one could be appointed because there were no male descendants, Aghsan, in good standing from the holy family, Guardianship is now Bada'. When Mason claims to be the next Guardian he is kicked out of faith by Hands of the Cause, although they have no authority absent the guidance of a living Guardian, there is no evidence that any of the Hands knew of MR's relationship to AB or that MR ever brought forth arguments supporting his familial relationship with AB. Absent such knowledge and the pre-requisite that a Guardian must be of the family it was only logical for the Hands to base their judgements on what they believed to be the case that no family members could have been appointed, eventhough MR was appointed the Executive (ra'is) which only a Guardian could be.

The honorific title is no proof of kinship, for this same honorific title was used for many intimate Baha'is to Abdu'l-Baha for instance Mr. Saichiro Fujita was referred to as "spiritual youth" although I have not seen the persian of this tablet youth is probably the persian term "pesar" (son).

Possible Fictive Kin of `Abdu'l-Baha' (Children of the Kingdom):

Mason Remey, Fred Mortenson, Zia Baghdadi, Bahadur, George Lattimer, Emogene Hoagg, Fugita, Juliet Thompson, Frau Shwarz, Brittinghams, Parsons, Maxwells, Agnes Alexander, Alma Knoblach, Corinne True, others? Who else attended the 1910 conclave in Haifa with `Abdu'l-Baha'?

O leaf upon the Tree of Life! The Tree of Life, of which mention is made in the Bible, is Bahá’u’lláh, and the daughters of the Kingdom are the leaves upon that blessed Tree. Then thank thou God that thou hast become related to that Tree, and that thou art flourishing, tender and fresh.

The gates of the Kingdom are opened wide, and every favoured soul is seated at the banquet table of the Lord, receiving his portion of that heavenly feast. Praised be God, thou too art present at this table, taking thy share of the bountiful food of heaven. Thou art serving the Kingdom, and art well acquainted with the sweet savours of the Abhá Paradise.

Then strive thou with all thy might to guide the people, and eat thou of the bread that hath come down from heaven. For this is the meaning of Christ’s words: ‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven … he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.’ 1