Month: May 2012

May 29 marks the anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith. The day is one of nine holy days in the Baha’i calendar when Baha’is suspend work and school.

Baha’u’llah died after a brief illness in 1892 in the mansion of Bahji outside Akko (also known as Akka or Acre), in what is now northern Israel. After spending most of His life in exile, He was able to live his later years at Bahji in relative tranquility. He was buried in a small stone house adjacent to the mansion. This Shrine is the holiest place on earth for Baha’is, the place toward which they turn in prayer each day.

Six days before His death, Baha’u’llah gathered his followers and family members and delivered what would be His last address to them:

“I am well pleased with you all. Ye have rendered many services, and been very assiduous in your labors. Ye have come here every morning and every evening. May God assist you to remain united. May He aid you to exalt the Cause of the Lord of being.”

For a week after Baha’u’llah’s death, writes Shoghi Effendi, “a vast number of mourners, rich and poor alike, tarried to grieve with the bereaved family. . . Notables, among whom were numbered Shí’ahs, Sunnis, Christians, Jews and Druzes, as well as poets, ulamas and government officials, all joined in lamenting the loss. . .”

About a year prior to His passing, Baha’u’llah revealed His Will and Testament, which named His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, as His successor and constitutes the Covenant of Baha’u’llah.

Baha’u’llah’s ministry came to an end in 1892. He left to humanity a priceless legacy of spiritual and social teachings, which He claimed would lead humanity to true and abiding peace. He endured decades of suffering to accomplish this mission. As he says In His own words:

“The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish.

He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!”

Baha’u’llah died approximately eight hours after sunset on 29 May, 1892. Baha’i communities around the world typically commemorate his passing at 3:00 a.m. standard time.

Want to know more? Contact the Baha’i Community of Arlington, Virginia.

El 29 de mayo se conmemora el aniversario de la ascensión de Bahá’u’lláh, el fundador de la Fe Bahá’í. Este dia es uno de los nueve días sagrados en el calendario bahá’í, cuando los Bahá’ís suspenden el trabajo y la escuela.

Bahá’u’lláh falleció tras una corta enfermedad en 1892 en la mansión de Bahjí a las fueras de Akko (también conocida como Acre o Akka), cerca de Haifa, Israel. Después de pasar la mayor parte de su vida en el exilio, él fue capaz de vivir sus últimos años en Bahji en relativa paz . Fue sepultado en un santuario de piedra adyacente a la mansión. Este santuario es el lugar más sagrado sobre el planeta para todos Bahá’ís.

Apenas unos días antes de su muerte, Bahá’u’lláh reunió a sus familiares y seguidores para ofrecer lo que sería su último discurso ante ellos:

“Estoy muy complacido con todos vosotros. Habéis prestado muchos servicios, y han sido muy asiduos en sus labores. Habéis venido aquí cada mañana y cada tarde. Que Dios os ayude a permanecer unidos. Que Él os ayude a exaltar la Causa del Señor .”

Durante una semana después de la muerte de Bahá’u’lláh, Shoghi Effendi escribe: “un vasto numero de dolientes, ricos y pobres por igual, permanecieron alli para llorar con la acongojada familia. . . Notables, entre los que fueron contados shiitas, sunitas, cristianos, judíos y drusos, así como los poetas, los ulemas y funcionarios del gobierno, todos se unieron a lamentar la pérdida. . “.

Alrededor de un año antes de su fallecimiento, Bahá’u’lláh reveló Su Voluntad y Testamento, que nombró a su hijo mayor, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, como su sucesor y que constituye la Alianza de Bahá’u’lláh.

El Ministerio de Bahá’u’lláh llegó a su fin en 1892. Él dejó a la humanidad un legado invaluable de enseñanzas sociales y espirituales, que afirmó que conduciran a la humanidad a la duradera y verdadera paz. Él soportó décadas de sufrimiento para llevar a cabo esta misión. Como dice en sus propias palabras:

“La Antigua Belleza ha consentido ser encadenada para que la humanidad puede ser liberada de su cautiverio, y ha aceptado ser prisionera de esta Fortaleza para que todo el mundo puede alcanzar la verdadera libertad. Él ha bebido hasta los pozos de la copa del dolor, para que todos los pueblos de la tierra alcancen felicidad perdurable y sean colmados de alegría. Se trata de la misericordia de tu Señor, el Compasivo, el Misericordioso. Hemos aceptado ser humillados, oh creyentes en la Unidad de Dios, para que seáis enaltecidos y hemos sufrido múltiples tribulaciones para que podáis prosperar y florecer. El que ha venido a rehacer todo el mundo, Observad, cómo ellos que se han asociados con Dios, lo han forzado a habitar en la más desolada de las ciudades! ”

Bahá’u’lláh abandono este mundo aproximadamente ocho horas después de la puesta de sol del 29 de mayo de 1892. Las comunidades bahá’ís de todo el mundo suelen conmemorar su ascensión a las 3:00 am hora estándar.

¿Quieres saber más? Contacte la Comunidad Bahá’í de Arlington, Virginia.

On the evening of May 22, Baha’is throughout the world will begin to commemorate the Declaration of the Báb, which took place in the Persian city of Shiraz in 1844. Bahá’ís celebrate through prayers and programs where the story of His declaration may be retold. Since the Bahá’í day lasts from sunset to sunset, celebrations are usually held after sunset on May 22 or during the day on May 23. May 23 is one of nine days in the Bahá’í calendar when Bahá’ís suspend work or school.

The Declaration of the Báb, was destined to usher in the age of justice, unity and peace promised in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and all the other world religions. Baha’u’llah, one of the Bab’s leading advocates, announced in April 1863 that He was the Divine Messenger the Báb had promised.

In some respects, the Báb’s role can be compared to John the Baptist in the founding of Christianity. The Báb was Bahá’u’lláh’s herald: His primary mission was to prepare the way for Bahá’u’lláh’s coming. Accordingly, the founding of the Bábi Faith is viewed by Baha’is as synonymous with the founding of the Bahá’í Faith. The Báb’s announcement in the middle of the 19th century came at a time when many Christians were expecting the return of Christ based on their reading of Biblical prophecy. Simultaneously, half way around the world, in the Middle East, many followers of Islam were also expecting their Promised One to appear.

Learn more about the Báb, His mission, and what it means to the Baha’i Faith by contacting the Baha’i Community of Arlington, VA.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, Baha’is in and around the District of Columbia, in a gigantic effort in line with Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of unity, collaborated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the United States of America.

While many people know that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited Washington, D.C., he also graced Arlington Cemetery with his presence. Click here to find out more.

Want to know more about the Bahá’u’lláh, the Baha’i Faith, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? The Baha’is of Arlington would love to hear from you as well.