Declaration of the Bab: Baha’is mark anniversary of finding ‘the Gate’

May 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment

SUNSET THURSDAY, MAY 22: Millions of Baha’is the world over celebrate the start of the Baha’i faith—170 years ago—tonight, during the Festival of the Declaration of The Bab.

Just one hour after sunset on this day in 1844, a long and arduous journey came to an end: after years of searching, seekers had finally found “the gate,” or the Beloved who would usher in the Promised One. In a humble home in Shiraz, Persia, the revelation of the Bab took place. In coming years, the Bab would fulfill his mission “to prepare mankind for the advent of the Promised One,” attracting thousands of followers and building a thriving religion. Today, Baha’is refrain from work and school; this marks one of the four great festivals of the faith.

Siyyid Ali Muhammad defines the essence of early Baha’i history. Decades before the advent of Siyyid Ali, a man named Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsa’i began traveling through Persia, preaching of a Great Day to come that would see the arrival of the Qa’im, or Promised One. Students, clergy and leaders flocked to Shaykh Ahmad, and his favorite pupil—Siyyid Kazim-i-Rashti—continued preaching, despite growing opposition and hardship. (Learn more from Planet Baha’i.) Prior to his death, Siyyid Kazim encouraged his students to keep searching, despite a refusal to reveal the identity of the Qa’im. A pupil of Siyyid Kazim-i-Rashti, named Mulla Husayn, would finally unveil the identity of the Bab.

As Baha’is recall and retell the story: It was an unassuming evening when Mulla Husayn was wandering outside the gates of Shiraz, breaking from his journey a few hours before sunset. Suddenly, Husayn was greeted by a young man, in a manner that he related as “astonishing … the Youth … overwhelmed me with expressions of affection and loving-kindness.” Husayn was invited to the young man’s home, where the two drank tea and prepared for evening prayer. After sunset, the young man—named Siyyid Ali Muhammad—prodded Mulla Husayn to prepare questions, on the basis that he was the one Husayn was seeking. Siyyid Ali Muhammad answered each question with ageless wisdom, effortlessly passing each test that Husayn had prepared for the One he sought. From this day, Siyyid Ali Muhammad referred to himself as the Bab; Mulla Husayn became his first disciple. In the six years that followed, the Bab would teach many things, gather thousands of followers and foretell of the Promised One, for whom he was but a Herald. (Find details from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.) The Bab was executed by a firing squad in 1850.

IN THE NEWS:
DESTRUCTION OF BAHA’I CEMETERY IN SHIRAZ

The international Baha’i Community is expressing great concern for the recent start of excavation in a historically significant Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz, where approximately 950 Baha’is are buried. (Read an article here.) Though such acts against Baha’i cemeteries are not uncommon, the enormity of the site in Shiraz is creating international alarm. Members of other religions, such as this Shiite Muslim featured in a related news story, are also voicing concern in the morality of disturbing a major cemetery. Britain also expressed serious concern, according to this article in The Guardian, and international appeals are asking the President of Iran to halt the destruction.

Ridvan: Baha’is observe 12-day festival of Baha’u’llah’s prophethood

December 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

SUNSET SUNDAY, APRIL 20 and SUNSET MONDAY, APRIL 28 and SUNSET THURSDAY, MAY 1: The “Most Great Festival” has arrived for Baha’is worldwide, in a 12-day engagement known as Ridvan. So named for the Garden of Ridvan, outside of Baghdad, the Festival of Ridvan recognizes the 12 days that Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan, in 1863. After being exiled by the Ottoman Empire, Baha’u’llah resided in the Garden to accept visitors while his family packed in preparation for a move to Constantinople.

In the Garden of Ridvan, several key principles of the Baha’i faith were established through a series of announcements. (Learn more from the Baha’i Library Online.) In the years since Baha’u’llah’s stay in the Garden, the first, ninth and 12th days of the Festival of Ridvan have been regarded as especially holy.

Did you know? “Ridvan” means “Paradise” in Arabic.

The story of the Festival of Ridvan actually begins 20 years before Baha’u’llah ever resided in the Garden—and, more specifically, with another man, by the name of Siyyid Ali-Muhammad of Shiraz. In 1844 CE, Siyyid Ali-Muhammad announced that he was “The Bab,” or “The Gate,” who would make way for a Messianic figure to come: for “He whom God shall make manifest.” Nine years later, in 1853, a man called Baha’u’llah claimed his mission as the Promised One—the One foretold of by the Bab. (Wikipedia has details.) Ever increasing in popularity among the people—particularly the Babis, the followers of the Bab—Baha’u’llah’s power was feared by authorities, and he and his family were eventually exiled to Constantinople.

Prior to his departure for Constantinople, Baha’u’llah knew that crowds of Babis and visitors would flock to him—and so, to allow his family opportunity to pack for the trip, Baha’u’llah temporarily resided in the Najibiyyih garden. On the ninth day in the Garden of Ridvan, Baha’u’llah’s family joined him; on the 12th day, the entire family left the Garden, journeying toward Constantinople.

What, exactly, was announced in the Garden of Ridvan?
While departing from the “Most Great House” in Baghdad, Baha’u’llah compared his journey to the Garden of Ridvan as similar to Muhammad’s trip from Mecca to Medina. Once in the Garden, according to Baha’i tradition, Baha’u’llah declared to a small group that he was, indeed, “He whom God shall make manifest.” Furthermore, Baha’u’llah made three announcements: that permission for religious war was annulled; that there would not be another Manifestation of God for another 1,000 years; and that all names of God are manifest in all things. This time in the Garden provided a time of transition, when Babi followers would be renewed as members of the new Baha’i faith. During Ridvan today, elections take place for the local and national governing bodies.

IN THE NEWS:
NEW WEBSITE;
UN TO CONTINUE PROBE IN IRAN

A new website for the Baha’i Faith has recently been announced: the international governing body of the Baha’is, the Universal House of Justice, has launched a fresh interface: The new website can be viewed here.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to extend the mandate of its investigation into Iran, hoping to improve human rights for Baha’is in the country. United Nations Baha’i Representative Diane Ala’i states, “The vote today to extend the mandate of Ahmed Shaheed is a powerful signal that the world expects action—not just words—from President Rouhani and his government on human rights.” Read more details in this news story.

Nineteen Day Fast: Baha’is observe ‘Ala’ with prayer, introspection

March 01, 2014 by Leave a Comment

“Fasting is the cause of awakening in man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases.”
Abdu’l-Baha, son and successor of Baha’u’llah

SUNDOWN SATURDAY, MARCH 1: The month of Ala has begun, and for faithful Baha’is, that means one thing: fasting. For precisely 19 days, able Baha’is will conduct a sunrise-to-sunset fast, refraining from food and water for the sake of spiritual growth. During this period of intense prayer and self-reflection, Baha’is work to establish a closer relationship with God. Instituted by the Bab, the fast was later accepted by Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i faith. Baha’u’llah established the rules of the Nineteen-Day Fast in his book of laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas.

BEGINNING OF THE BAHA’I FAITH
AND THE NUMBER ‘19’

Before the Baha’i faith, there was the Babi faith, which was founded by the Bab. As part of the Babi faith, the Bab created the Badi calendar, made of 19 months of 19 days each; the last month, he declared, would be a month of fasting. (Wikipedia has details.) The continuation of this fasting month was, however, dependent upon the forthcoming Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest.

Did you know? Baha’i months and days of the week are named after the attributes of God. Ala translates into “Loftiness.”

In time, the Messianic figure of the Baha’i faith was realized in a man named Baha’u’llah. Baha’u’llah accepted both the calendar and the fasting month established by the Bab, with the exception of altered fasting rules and regulations. Today, the Baha’i Nineteen-Day Fast is obligatory for men and women between the ages of 15 and 70, who are in good health and who are not traveling (other restrictions apply, too. Learn more from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.)

The Nineteen-Day Fast concludes with the New Year, Naw-Ruz: the first day of spring.

Want more on this observance?

Day of the Covenant, Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha: Baha’is recall Servant of Baha

November 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”
Baha’u’llah

SUNSET MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 and SUNSET WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27: Baha’is worldwide commemorate two holy days this week, with the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha. Essentially, the two days have one element in common: Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah and the prime example of the way a devoted Baha’i should live. Before his death, Baha’u’llah—the founder of the Baha’i faith—announced to his followers that his son, Abdu’l-Baha, would be the center of his Covenant. When followers asked Abdu’l-Baha if they could celebrate his birthday, he instead gave them the Day of the Covenant as a time of celebration.

THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT: ABDU’L-BAHA

During his lifetime, Baha’u’llah created a covenant with a detailed set of instructions for the organization of the Baha’i faith. Following his passing, Baha’u’llah declared that another individual should be consulted by religious followers: his eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha. Literally “servant of Baha,” Abdu’l-Baha was deemed protector of the Covenant; he would protect the fledgling faith against schisms and sects, so that it would remain intact and unified. From 1892 until his death in 1921, Abdu’l-Baha visited several countries of the world, speaking Abdu’l-Baha to groups, organizations and persons of other faiths. (Baha’i.us has more.) He was the designated interpreter of Baha’u’llah’s writings, and the respected living example of his father’s teachings. Abdu’l-Baha spoke widely of cooperation and unity, and today, the Baha’i faith remains a singular body of faith.

ASCENSION OF ABDU’L-BAHA
RECALLS A GLOBAL FUNERAL

With the passing of Abdu’l-Baha in 1921, at age 77, the citizens of Haifa, Israel and the larger Baha’i community mourned openly. Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral on Mt. Carmel was attended by 10,000,  including Baha’is, Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druzes of various ethnicities. (Learn more from Bahai.org.) Of the funeral, the Governor of Jerusalem wrote: “I have never known a more united expression of regret and respect than was called forth by the utter simplicity of the ceremony.” Similarly, the British High Commissioner described: “A great throng had gathered together, sorrowing for His death, but rejoicing also for His life.” (Wikipedia has details.)

Note: Though these two holy days are celebrated by Baha’is, they are among the nine holidays during which work is suspended.

Birth of Baha’u’llah: Baha’is gather in community for a Messenger of unity

November 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“We desire the good of the world and the happiness of the nations, that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened … what harm is there in this?”
Baha’u’llah, in an 1890 interview with Edward Granville Browne of Cambridge University

SUNSET MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11: Baha’is today celebrate the founder of their faith, Baha’u’llah, who was born on this date in 1817. Baha’u’llah proclaimed messages of unity as he wrote to many world leaders in the late 19th century, such as Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and Pope Pius IX. Since that time, Baha’is point out, the contents of Baha’u’llah’s writings on human rights have been mirrored in United Nations talks, at rallies and by advocates worldwide in the ongoing human rights campaign to help Baha’is inside Iran. That’s the very nation where Baha’u’llah was born and yet for many years Baha’is have suffered persecution in Iran. (Check out a few short meditations from Baha’u’llah at the Baha’i Library’s collection of “The Hidden Words.”)

Baha’is worldwide are quickly approaching the 200th birth anniversary of Baha’u’llah, who was born in 1817 in Tehran, the capital of Persia (modern-day Iran). The son of a noble family, Mirza Husayn Ali—who would later take the name “Baha’u’llah”—spent a childhood in luxury, before facing exile and imprisonment. (Learn more about the life, teachings and writings of Baha’u’llah at Bahai.org.)

In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced that he was the bearer of a new revelation from God—one that would bring unity to the world’s people. Baha’u’llah and the early Babis strongly believed that God sent divine messengers to humanity at intervals of 500 to 1,000 years, and that Baha’u’llah was the most recent in a line that included Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Zoroaster and Krishna.  Today, millions of Baha’is across the globe agree with Baha’u’llah’s beliefs. (View a photographic narrative of his life at Bahaullah.org.)

‘TWIN BIRTHDAYS’ AND PRAYERFUL GATHERINGS

One of nine holy days of the Baha’i calendar, the Birth of Baha’u’llah is the latter half of the “Twin Birthdays”—the first of which, the Birth of the Bab, was observed in October. Few traditions exist for celebrating Baha’u’llah’s birthday, aside from prayers and community gatherings, although it should be noted that Baha’u’llah placed great importance on unity of the community. (Wikipedia has details.) Public gatherings will be held everywhere from Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington, D.C. to the gardens in Israel that are the final resting place of Baha’u’llah, to small villages and massive localities across the globe. (The Washington Post reported on the D.C. gathering.)

Birth of the Bab: Baha’is commemorate day for ‘the Gate’

October 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SUNSET SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19: Baha’i parties commence worldwide tonight and tomorrow, as the inclusive adherents celebrate the Birth of the Bab. Born on October 20, 1819, the Bab would eventually become the Herald of the Baha’i Faith; the one who would declare his mission as preparing people of the world for the Promised One (Baha’u’llah). Experts cite several similarities between the Bab and John the Baptist—the Christian who proclaimed the coming of Jesus—yet, in contrast, very little is known about the birth circumstances of the Bab.

On this date, 194 years ago, the Bab was born Siyyid Ali-Muhammad in Persia. The son of two descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, rumors circulated that the young Siyyid was wise beyond his years. Prayerful and meek, Siyyid gained respect from peers and elders alike. At the age of 24, Siyyid first announced the coming Messenger of God; the Promised One awaited for by multiple world religions, according to Baha’is. (Planet Bahai has details.) He changed his name to “Bab,” meaning “the Gate,” and made his life a mission for the Promised One. Six years following his first prophesy, the Bab was executed. The Shrine of the Bab now stands in Haifa, Israel, and attracts throngs of Baha’is on the birth anniversary of the Bab.

Baha’is not in Haifa today mark the Bab’s birthday with prayers, readings, music and social gatherings. (Bahai.us has more.) Baha’u’llah described the Bab this way: “the Herald of His Name and the Harbinger of His Great Revelation, which has caused … the splendor of His light to shine forth above the horizon of the world.”

IN THE NEWS:
BAHA’I LEADERSHIP IN TRANSITION

As the Baha’i faith is governed by elected officials, the Baha’i International Community recently announced the replacement of Secretary-General Dr. Albert Lincoln with Dr. Joshua Lincoln. Following 19 years of service to the Baha’i community, Dr. Albert received an Award of Merit from the City of Haifa in 2013. (Learn more from Bahai.org.) Dr. Joshua spent several years employed with the United Nations before coming to the Baha’i position, where he will be the senior officer on behalf of the Universal House of Justice in the conduct of external affairs. (Bahai.org has the story.)

Martyrdom of the Bab: Baha’is recall remarkable events of 1850

July 09, 2013 by Leave a Comment

TUESDAY, JULY 9: Baha’is lament the death of the Messenger of God at noon today, on the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab. By just 31 years of age, the Bab—whose name means “the gate”—had made his declaration as the forerunner of the Promised One and gathered tens of thousands of followers to the Babi religion. He also sparked fierce oppposition. Before a crowd in a public square in Persia (modern-day Iran), the Bab was put to death on this date in 1850.

In Persia in 1844, the Bab officially declared his mission as the one who would herald the arrival of a Promised One. Almost immediately, thousands flocked to the Bab and his proclamations spread like wildfire. Fearful of his influence, political and religious authorities sought a solution: the Bab would be arrested. At 31, the Bab’s execution was ordered. (Find details at the Baha’i Library.)

Today, Baha’is commemorate the Martyrdom of the Bab with programs and prayers at noon. It is one of nine holidays during which work and school are suspended. (For a meditation on the Martyrdom of the Bab, visit NYBahai.)

NEWS: BAHA’U’LLAH’S HOUSE DESTROYED

Though details remain unclear, the sacred house of Baha’u’llah in Baghdad—known as the Most Great House and a sacred site in the Baha’i faith—has recently been found demolished. (Read the announcement letter from the Baha’i Universal House of Justice.) Baha’u’llah is regarded as the Promised One in the Baha’i faith, and the Most Great House is where he resided for the majority of his exile from Iran. Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, commented, “This deplorable act has robbed people throughout the world of a priceless piece of their spiritual heritage.” (Read more here.)

NEWS: WORK CONTINUES ON CHILEAN HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Construction continues on the House of Worship in Santiago, Chile. A new video has been released for the project, made available in English and Spanish, that highlights the link between the project and the local community. Construction on the House of Worship began in 2010, and when finished, the House will be the only one of its kind to serve the South American continent. (Baha’i World News Service has the story.)

*Note: Although Baha’i days begin at sunset, the Martyrdom of the Bab is officially recognized at noon on July 9—the time of the Bab’s execution.