Abdu'l-Baha, Son of Baha'u'llah

The Day of the Covenant commemorates Baha’u'llah’s appointment of His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, as the protector of the Covenant of Baha’u'llah, which was established to ensure the unity of the Baha’i Faith. The Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha marks the anniversary of his death in 1921.

As protector of the Covenant, Abdu’l-Baha, (sometimes referred as the Center of the Covenant), was charged with safeguarding and protecting the Faith against differences and schisms, making it impossible for anyone to create a new sect or faction of belief.

The Covenant of Baha’u'llah is unique in religious history: No other world religion’s sacred scriptures provide such explicit instructions for the organization of the community of believers after the founder’s passing. The Baha’i Faith is thus the first religion in history that has survived its critical first century with its unity firmly established —and ultimately with a blueprint for a divinely ordered global civilization to bring unity to the world.

After the death of Baha’u'llah in 1892, Abdu’l-Baha carried forth his father’s mission until he died in 1921 at age 77. Abdu’l-Baha was known as an ambassador of peace, a champion of justice and the leading exponent of the new religion.

Shrine of the Bab

During visits to Europe in 1911 and the United States and Canada in 1912, he was greeted with respect and acclaim by believers and non-believers. In city after city, he was invited to speak at churches and synagogues, and before distinguished groups and organizations. The net effect was to establish the Baha’i Faith as a major new force for social reform and religious renewal.

Affirming that “Love is the most great law” and that the “supreme need of humanity is cooperation and reciprocity among all its peoples”, Abdu’l-Baha reached out to leaders and the public indeed, to every soul who crossed his path.

Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral on Mt. Carmel was attended by 10,000 mourners from all persuasions and denominations. He is buried in a vault on the north side of the Shrine of the Bab.

Tehran

On 12 November, Baha’is around the globe will celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Baha’u'llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.

Gatherings are held in thousands of localities – in homes, at public facilities, at local and national Baha’i centers, and at Baha’i Houses of Worship.

Baha’is invite their friends and the public to join them in offering prayers and celebrating with special programs, artistic performances, and refreshments.

Entrance to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah

The date is one of nine holy days during the year when Baha’is suspend work.

Baha’u'llah was born in 1817 into a noble family in Tehran, the capital of Persia.

In 1853, He was exiled from His native land to Baghdad, where in 1863 He announced that He was the bearer of a new revelation from God that would bring unity to the peoples of the world. He was later exiled to Acre, in present-day Israel, where He passed away in 1892.

On Oct. 20, Baha’is observe this Holy Day by abstaining from work. There are no prescribed ceremonies, but gatherings usually involve prayers, devotional readings, music and fellowship. (Baha’i days begin at sunset so celebrations may begin the evening of Oct 19.)

On May 23, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia, the Bab announced the impending appearance of the Messenger of God awaited by all the peoples of the world. Following this announcement, the Bab was persecuted by members of the dominant Muslim clergy in what is now Iran. The Bab was arrested, beaten and imprisoned, and, on July 9, 1850, was executed in the public square of the city of Tabriz. Some 20,000 of His followers perished in a series of massacres throughout Persia.

Today, visitors at the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel, can visit the Shrine of the Bab, a majestic, gold-domed building where His earthly remains are entombed. To view more photos of the Baha’i Shrines and gardens in Haifa and Akko, please visit The Baha’i Gardens.

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