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A United Nations committee meeting has determined that two Bahá’í shrines in Israel possess “outstanding universal value” and should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of humanity.

The decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee means that the two most sacred sites for Bahá’ís – the resting places of the founders of their religion – join a list of internationally recognized sites like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and Stonehenge.

Like Baha’is around the world, members of the Arlington Baha’i community are celebrating the news. Baha’is visit the shrines as part of pilgrimage to Haifa and Acre.

The World Heritage List also includes places of global religious significance like the Vatican, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the remains of the recently destroyed Bamiyan Buddhist statues in Afghanistan.

The Bahá’í shrines are the first sites connected with a religious tradition born in modern times to be added to the list, which is maintained by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The Baha’i Holy place - the Shrine of the Bab - on Mount Carmel in Haifa was used in a respectful manner as Israelis observed the 60th year of the State of Israel this week. Blue light beams swept over Mount Carmel, and as one Baha’i observer noted, appeared to be as sentinels behind the Shrine. Normal lighting of the Shrine was reduced during the occasion.

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo credit to provide for this dramatic image.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to Washington, D.C., in 1912 and spoke these words to an interracial group gathered at Howard University on April 23rd of that year:

“I am very happy to see you and thank God that this meeting is composed of people of both races and that both are gathered in perfect love and harmony. I hope this becomes the example of universal harmony and love until no title remains except that of humanity. Such a title demonstrates the perfection of the human world and is the cause of eternal glory and human happiness. I pray that you be with one another in utmost harmony and love and strive to enable each other to live in comfort.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Eldest Son of Bahá’u’lláh) in 1911 and 1912 traveled to Europe and the United States to share his father’s message of a word embracing faith dedicated to the unification of all mankind. It was during this time that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to Howard University. He spoke about the equality of women and men, the oneness of religion and the need to reject every form of prejudice. An important message that is no less timely now 96 years later.

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Arlington Baha’is will join Baha’is around the world later this month for the Festival of Ridvan.

The annual Baha’i festival commemorates the 12 days (April 21-May 2, 1863) when Baha’u’llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith, resided in a garden called Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad, Iraq. At this time He publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days when work is suspended.

Children are a community’s most precious treasure. The Baha’i community of Arlington offers regular classes to help children develop spiritual and moral qualities such as love, unity, respect, trustworthiness, truthfulness and the oneness of mankind. The classes promote the oneness and equality of all people and the unity of all religions, as presented in the Baha’i faith.

Baha’u’llah has written:

“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”

These classes aim to build a strong framework that will allow these spiritual and moral qualities to shine forth. These classes are open to everyone and are free of charge.

For more information please contact Childrensclass@arlingtonbahai.org.

Private prayer is a daily obligation for all baha’is, but many baha’is also gather in their homes and communities to engage in collective worship. Prayer causes a deeper connection between ourselves and God, allows us to contemplate and more deeply appreciate our lives. Baha’is believe that prayer is “conversation with God.”

Participants are also welcome to bring their own prayer books and offer prayers from other faith traditions. There are no prescribed rituals and each devotional meeting will look a little different. Readings are often selected from the Baha’i writings as well as from other scriptures. Many times the meetings are theme based, offering prayers of healing, prayers of joy and thanksgiving or prayers for peace.

We do not accept monetary contributions from non-members, but rather wish to open our homes and hearts to join with our neighbors in prayer. For more information please contact devotions@arlingtonbahai.org.

“Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb.
Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.”
~ Baha’u’llah