arthra
Baha'i
In a few days May 29th will mark the observance of the Holy Day of the anniversary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah:
The passing of Bahá'u'lláh - YouTube
The passing of Bahá'u'lláh - YouTube
May 29th Passing of Baha'u'llah
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arthra
Baha'i
Excerpted from a program by David Merrick on the Ascension of Baha'u'llah:
O Thou the King of creation and the Ruler of this world and the world to come! Both in Thy presence and in Thy absence Thou hast been the cause of the tranquillity of the hearts of men and the advancement of the nations. From the moment Thou didst mount Thy throne until Thy ascension to the Realms of Eternity, Thou wert at all times, at day and at night, each month and each year, the cause of the exaltation of mankind. No needy suppliant who had set his heart toward Thee was turned back from the door of Thy generosity without vouchsafing unto him supreme felicity and goodly gifts, and no sorrowful destitute was sent out of Thy All-glorious presence except that Thou didst bestow upon him blissful joy and ample hope. [Nabil, edited.]
'Akka Period
'Akka
After a life of exile from one city to the next, Bahá'u'lláh was finally abandoned to the walls of Akka , a prison city of Galilee in Israel, where the worst criminals were sent from all parts of the empire to end their days. So great was the stench and disease, it was said that if a bird flew over the city, it would die and fall to the ground.
The journey to Akka as prisoners was a terrible one. Bahá'u'lláh and His companions, family and children, all arrived extremely sick. Wading from the boats to the seashore, hordes of people gathered to fling scorn and insult into their faces, exclaiming that they were to be chained in dungeons or thrown into the sea.
They were led through the streets in a sea of remorseless mockery and contempt, and thrown into a stinking room, ankle-deep in mud, overpowering them with the vilest of odours. There was little water or food, and so foul, it was impossible to swallow.
So many were crowded together and the summer months so hot, almost everyone became dangerously ill. No doctor was allowed; no one knew where they were; no letters could come or go; all entry to the city was forbidden.
This situation continued for two years. Everyone gave the best of whatever they had, to Bahá'u'lláh. He always received this kindly, and returned it to them again, choosing to live just as they were living, and to sleep upon the infested floor.
One night, the Purest Branch was walking free from these conditions on the prison roof. He was engaged in meditation, and fell without looking through the small skylight to the stone floor below. As he lay there, Bahá'u'lláh offered him the choice between life and death. In his beautiful nature, he asked to be a sacrifice that would enable people to visit Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh permitted this, and in a short while, the prisoners were moved out to a more pleasant residence, to roam the city at large, and be visited; with Bahá'u'lláh to remain indoors.
The alchemy of Bahá'u'lláh's presence and the sacrificial love of Abdu'l-Bahá, everywhere transformed pitiless enemies into devoted friends. In due course, although no edict had set Him free, Bahá'u'lláh was moved to better accomodation and permitted the freedom of the city and its surroundings.
At the time of Bahá'u'lláh's ascension from this world, He was living at Bahji. His relatives were living very close by in 'Akka, and the entire city held both Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá in their hearts with incomparable honour.
The Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
O Thou the King of creation and the Ruler of this world and the world to come! Both in Thy presence and in Thy absence Thou hast been the cause of the tranquillity of the hearts of men and the advancement of the nations. From the moment Thou didst mount Thy throne until Thy ascension to the Realms of Eternity, Thou wert at all times, at day and at night, each month and each year, the cause of the exaltation of mankind. No needy suppliant who had set his heart toward Thee was turned back from the door of Thy generosity without vouchsafing unto him supreme felicity and goodly gifts, and no sorrowful destitute was sent out of Thy All-glorious presence except that Thou didst bestow upon him blissful joy and ample hope. [Nabil, edited.]
'Akka Period
'Akka
After a life of exile from one city to the next, Bahá'u'lláh was finally abandoned to the walls of Akka , a prison city of Galilee in Israel, where the worst criminals were sent from all parts of the empire to end their days. So great was the stench and disease, it was said that if a bird flew over the city, it would die and fall to the ground.
The journey to Akka as prisoners was a terrible one. Bahá'u'lláh and His companions, family and children, all arrived extremely sick. Wading from the boats to the seashore, hordes of people gathered to fling scorn and insult into their faces, exclaiming that they were to be chained in dungeons or thrown into the sea.
They were led through the streets in a sea of remorseless mockery and contempt, and thrown into a stinking room, ankle-deep in mud, overpowering them with the vilest of odours. There was little water or food, and so foul, it was impossible to swallow.
So many were crowded together and the summer months so hot, almost everyone became dangerously ill. No doctor was allowed; no one knew where they were; no letters could come or go; all entry to the city was forbidden.
This situation continued for two years. Everyone gave the best of whatever they had, to Bahá'u'lláh. He always received this kindly, and returned it to them again, choosing to live just as they were living, and to sleep upon the infested floor.
One night, the Purest Branch was walking free from these conditions on the prison roof. He was engaged in meditation, and fell without looking through the small skylight to the stone floor below. As he lay there, Bahá'u'lláh offered him the choice between life and death. In his beautiful nature, he asked to be a sacrifice that would enable people to visit Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh permitted this, and in a short while, the prisoners were moved out to a more pleasant residence, to roam the city at large, and be visited; with Bahá'u'lláh to remain indoors.
The alchemy of Bahá'u'lláh's presence and the sacrificial love of Abdu'l-Bahá, everywhere transformed pitiless enemies into devoted friends. In due course, although no edict had set Him free, Bahá'u'lláh was moved to better accomodation and permitted the freedom of the city and its surroundings.
At the time of Bahá'u'lláh's ascension from this world, He was living at Bahji. His relatives were living very close by in 'Akka, and the entire city held both Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá in their hearts with incomparable honour.
The Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
arthra
Baha'i
"Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people..."
Bahá'u'lláh spoke as a reminder to those around Him, these words from the Kitab-i-Aqdas:
Say: Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.
Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me will arise and serve Me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose.
Unity
As Bahá'u'lláh recited these verses to everyone, it became clear that He was soon to ascend from the world. Bahá'u'lláh then spoke of the importance of unity, love, and friendship, and urged everyone to avoid disunity, discord and schism. He vehemently counselled the friends to abstain from dissension and strife. Although His body was feeble, He voiced this with immense power, distinctly measuring out the words emphatically as He commanded them: to shun disharmony; to strive that no discord should arise amongst the friends; and to avoid contention.
The Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh spoke as a reminder to those around Him, these words from the Kitab-i-Aqdas:
Say: Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.
Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me will arise and serve Me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose.
Unity
As Bahá'u'lláh recited these verses to everyone, it became clear that He was soon to ascend from the world. Bahá'u'lláh then spoke of the importance of unity, love, and friendship, and urged everyone to avoid disunity, discord and schism. He vehemently counselled the friends to abstain from dissension and strife. Although His body was feeble, He voiced this with immense power, distinctly measuring out the words emphatically as He commanded them: to shun disharmony; to strive that no discord should arise amongst the friends; and to avoid contention.
The Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh