Category: Baha’u’llah

Commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

shrine-of-bahaullahFriday, May 29, 2009 is a Holy Day for Bahá’ís. Early in the morning of May 29, 1892, Bahá’u’lláh passed away in Bahji, just north of Acre in what is today Israel. Bahá’u’lláh was laid to rest on this same property, and his gravesite constitutes the holiest place in the world for all Bahá’ís.

At time of His death, He was 74 years old and was still a prisoner of the Turkish government. He was exiled and imprisoned for His teachings of love and unity towards all mankind. In His own words He stated:

“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”

All over the world Bahá’ís will be gathering in the early hours of May 29th to say prayers to commemorate the Anniversary of His passing. Here in Arlington we will get together Thursday evening (May 28th) at 10 pm for fellowship, refreshments and to reflect on His life. We will be showing a selection of movies such as “The Promise of All Ages” – a documentary about the life of Bahá’u’lláh and “Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience” – a beautiful video meditation on the sacred experience of Bahá’í pilgrimage. We will continue with a devotional program of Holy Writings, Prayers and Sacred Songs starting at 3 am and culminating with the reading of the Tablet of Visitation at 4 am early Friday morning. If you are interested in joining us in Arlington please contact us.

May 28, 2009 | 0 comments View Post

From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

treeBe generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.

(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 284)

Jan 08, 2009 | 0 comments View Post

Baha’i Shrines Named World Heritage Sites

It’s official – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized two Baha’i Holy places in northern Israel as World Heritage Sites. These sacred sites of the Bahá’í Faith are the resting places of the founders of the religion, and join a list of internationally recognized sites like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and Stonehenge.

During a recent commemorative event held at Washington DC’s American University, Martin Peled-Flax, representing the Embassy of Israel at the event, expressed the appreciation of the Israeli government for what the Bahai’s have brought to Haifa, Israel’s third largest city. He said that Haifa had the potential to be just another industrial port city on the Mediterranean, with numerous warehouses, chemical plants and shipping docks. Instead, with the Baha’i Shrines and gardens located right in the middle of the city, it has been transformed into a metropolis of beauty, culture and spirituality.

The two shrines, one near the recognized heritage site of Old Acre on Israel’s northern coast and the other on Mount Carmel in Haifa, are the resting places of Baha’u'llah and the Bab, the founders of the Baha’i Faith.

Speakers at the American University commemorative event gave details of the significance of these sacred sites and their history. They showed how over the course of a century, the world center of the Baha’i Faith has evolved from a small prison cell where Baha’u'llah, the founder of the religion, was incarcerated, to now comprise hundreds of acres of beautified gardens attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world every year.

Nov 17, 2008 | 5 comments View Post

Commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

Shrine of Bahá’u’lláhEarly in the morning of May 29, 1892, Bahá’u’lláh passed away in Bahji, just north of Acre in what is today Israel. Bahá’u’lláh was laid to rest on this same property, which now is the holiest place in the world for all Bahá’ís.

He was 74 years old and was still a prisoner of the Turkish government. He was exiled and imprisoned for His teachings of love and unity towards all mankind. In His own words He stated:

“The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.”

In Israel hundreds will gather at 3:00am on May 29th at His burial site to commemorate the Anniversary of His passing. Elsewhere in the world Bahá’ís will also gather in the early hours of the morning to say prayers. If you are interested in joining us in Arlington please email the administrator.

May 28, 2008 | 1 comment View Post

Baha’i Community to Observe Festival of Ridvan

Located in Bahji

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.

Apr 07, 2008 | 0 comments View Post
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