Baha'u'llah Archives - Page 3 of 3

“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 19^th 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 200^th 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.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29: As a relatively new world faith, followers of the Baha’i religion mark a religious milestone from 1892—the Ascension of Baha’u’llah. From a life that began in nobility, Baha’u’llah turned down luxury and earned a reputation for charity. Tragically, Baha’u’llah was imprisoned several times, banished and tortured for his beliefs. (Read more at Baha’i.us.)

In stark contrast to that suffering, Baha’u’llah lived out his final years in serenity in a mansion outside of Acre in Israel. (Planet Baha’i has details.) In this mansion, Baha’u’llah passed away from illness at age 75. The small stone house adjacent to the mansion, where Baha’u’llah is buried, remains the holiest place on earth for Baha’is.

One year prior to his death, Baha’u’llah began preparations by naming his oldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, as his successor. The year passed and, at approximately 3 a.m. on May 29, Baha’u’llah died. For a week following his death, mourners from all walks of life gathered with Baha’u’llah’s family to lament his death: “rich and poor, Shi’ahs, Sunnis, Christians, Jews and Druzes, as well as poets, ulamas and government officials …” (as written by Shoghi Effendi).

Note: Baha’is days begin at sunset; work and school are suspended the day of May 29.