"We spend our lives trying to unlock the mystery of the
universe,
but there
was a Turkish prisoner, Bahá'u'lláh, in Akka,
Palestine, who had the key. . .
Bahá'u'lláh's teachings now present us with
the highest and purest form of religious teaching. . .
Very profound, I know of no other so profound."
Leo Tolstoy — 1908
(The Bahá'i World, vol. 13, p. 818 also
Tolstoy and the Bahá'i Faith, p. 40)
http://bahai-library.com/published.uhj/statement.bahaullah/
(The above link is a brief historical introduction to
Bahá’u’lláh's life, produced by the Universal House of
Justice.)
For more printer-friendly formats click here>> http://www.avalon.net/~lael/bahaullah.htm
and here>> 
The
Prison,
in Akka (Akko or Acre), Israel.
In the late 1860s, Baha'i pilgrims walked hundreds of kilometers from
Persia through treacherous deserts to this ancient Mediterranean city
in what is now northern Israel.
Their goal was to visit Baha'u'llah, the Founder of their Faith, Who
was being held in a prison citadel after His banishment to Acre by the
Ottoman authorities.
For more of this story, see http://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=336
"The face of Him on Whom I gazed, I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow.... No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain."
The famed Cambridge orientalist was the only Westerner to meet Bahá'u'lláh and leave a detailed account.)
" ...Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile.... We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.... Is not this that which Christ foretold?... Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.... These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind...."
" . . the Promised One of all the world's peoples hath now been made manifest. For each and every people, and every religion, await a Promised One, and Baha'u'llah is that One Who is awaited by all; and therefore the Cause of Baha'u'llah will bring about the oneness of mankind, and the tabernacle of unity will be upraised on the heights of the world, and the banners of the universality of all humankind will be unfurled on the peaks of the earth."
The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh
(Proclamations from His Writings)
"Verily I say, this is
the
Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the
Promised
One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His
countenance
hath been lifted up upon men. It behoveth every man to blot out
the
trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze,
with
an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs
of
His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.
Great indeed is this
Day!
The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God
attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every
Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the
divers
kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain
it."
(Gleanings, Page: 10-11)
"The Revelation which, from time
immemorial,
hath been acclaimed as the Purpose and Promise of all the Prophets of
God,
and the most cherished Desire of His Messengers, hath now, by virtue of
the pervasive Will of the Almighty and at His irresistible bidding,
been
revealed unto men. The advent of such a Revelation hath been
heralded
in all the sacred Scriptures. Behold how, notwithstanding such an
announcement, mankind hath strayed from its path and shut out itself
from
its glory.
Say: O ye lovers of the One true
God!
Strive, that ye may truly recognize and know Him, and observe
befittingly
His precepts. This is a Revelation, under which, if a man shed
for
its sake one drop of blood, myriads of oceans will be his
recompense.
Take heed, O friends, that ye forfeit not so inestimable a benefit, or
disregard its transcendent station. Consider the multitude of lives
that
have been, and are still being, sacrificed in a world deluded by a mere
phantom which the vain imaginations of its peoples have
conceived.
Render thanks unto God, inasmuch as ye have attained unto your heart's
Desire, and been united to Him Who is the Promise of all nations.
Guard ye, with the aid of the one true God - exalted be His glory - the
integrity of the station which ye have attained, and cleave to that
which
shall promote His Cause. He, verily, enjoineth on you what is
right
and conducive to the exaltation of man's station. Glorified be
the
All-Merciful, the Revealer of this wondrous Tablet.
This is the Day in which God's most excellent
favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty
grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent
upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and,
with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of
His
care and loving-kindness. It behoveth them to cleave to whatsoever
will,
in this Day, be conducive to the exaltation of their stations, and to
the
promotion of their best interests.... Soon will the
present-day
order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy
Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen.
This is the Day whereon the Ocean of God's
mercy hath been manifested unto men, the Day in which the Day Star of
His
loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them, the Day in which the
clouds of His bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of
mankind.
Now is the time to cheer and refresh the down-cast through the
invigorating
breeze of love and fellowship, and the living waters of friendliness
and
charity."
. . . This is the Day which the Pen of the Most High hath glorified in all the holy Scriptures. There is no verse in them that doth not declare the glory of His holy Name, and no Book that doth not testify unto the loftiness of this most exalted theme. Were We to make mention of all that hath been revealed in these heavenly Books and holy Scriptures concerning this Revelation, this Tablet would assume impossible dimensions. It is incumbent in this Day, upon every man to place his whole trust in the manifold bounties of God, and arise to disseminate, with the utmost wisdom, the verities of His Cause. Then, and only then, will the whole earth be enveloped with the morning light of His Revelation." (Gleanings, Pages: 12-14)
"O kings of the earth!
He
Who is the sovereign Lord of all is come. The kingdom is God's, the
omnipotent
Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Worship none but God, and, with radiant
hearts, lift up your faces unto your Lord, the Lord of all names. This
is a Revelation to which whatever ye possess can never be compared,
could
ye but know it."
"Followers of the Gospel," Baha'u'llah
addressing the whole of Christendom exclaims, "behold the gates of
heaven
are flung open. He that had ascended unto it is now come. Give
ear
to His voice calling aloud over land and sea, announcing to all mankind
the advent of this Revelation - a Revelation through the agency of
which
the Tongue of Grandeur is now proclaiming: `Lo, the sacred Pledge
hath been fulfilled, for He, the Promised One, is come!'" "The voice of
the Son of Man is calling aloud from the sacred vale: `Here am I, here
am I, O God my God!' ... whilst from the Burning Bush breaketh forth
the
cry: `Lo, the Desire of the world is made manifest in His
transcendent
glory!'
The Father hath come. That which ye were
promised in the Kingdom of God is fulfilled. This
is the Word which the Son veiled when He said to those around Him that
at that time they could not bear it... Verily
the Spirit of Truth is come to guide you unto all truth... He
is the One Who glorified the Son and exalted His Cause..." "The
Comforter
Whose advent all the scriptures have promised is now come that He may
reveal
unto you all knowledge and wisdom. Seek Him over the entire
surface
of the earth, haply ye may find Him." (taken
from World
Order of Baha'u'llah, Pages: 104-105)
(For the full text from which this is taken, see Baha'u'llah's "Tablet
to the Christians.")
"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!" (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, Pages: 99-100)
"He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of Majesty and Power.
A praise which is exalted above every mention
or description beseemeth the Adored One, the Possessor of all things
visible
and invisible, Who hath enabled the Primal Point to reveal countless
Books
and Epistles and Who, through the potency of His sublime Word, hath
called
into being the entire creation, whether of the former or more recent
generations.
Moreover He hath in every age and cycle, in conformity with His
transcendent
wisdom, sent forth a divine Messenger to revive the dispirited and
despondent
souls with the living waters of His utterance, One Who is indeed the
Expounder,
the true Interpreter, inasmuch as man is unable to comprehend that
which
hath streamed forth from the Pen of Glory and is recorded in His
heavenly
Books. Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one
to
exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them. Therefore
He hath sent forth His Messengers, His Prophets and chosen ones that
they
might acquaint the people with the divine purpose underlying the
revelation
of Books and the raising up of Messengers, and that everyone may become
aware of the trust of God which is latent in the reality of every
soul."
(Baha'u'llah: Tablets of Baha'u'llah, Page: 161)
"He who is the Unconditioned is come, in the clouds of light, that He may quicken all created things with the breezes of His Name, the Most Merciful, and unify the world, and gather all men around this Table which hath been sent down from heaven." (Baha'u'llah: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Page: 46)
"Hear Me, ye mortal birds! In the
Rose
Garden of changeless splendor a Flower hath begun to bloom, compared to
which every other flower is but a thorn, and before the brightness of
Whose
glory the very essence of beauty must pale and wither. Arise,
therefore,
and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eagerness
of
your souls, the full fervor of your will, and the concentrated efforts
of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence,
and
endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible Flower, to
breathe
the sweet savors of holiness, and to obtain a portion of this perfume
of
celestial glory. Whoso followeth this counsel will break his
chains
asunder, will taste the abandonment of enraptured love, will attain
unto
his heart's desire, and will surrender his soul into the hands of his
Beloved.
Bursting through his cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit,
wing
his flight to his holy and everlasting nest.
Night hath succeeded day, and day hath
succeeded
night, and the hours and moments of your lives have come and gone, and
yet none of you hath, for one instant, consented to detach himself from
that which perisheth. Bestir yourselves, that the brief moments
that
are still yours may not be dissipated and lost. Even as the swiftness
of
lightning your days shall pass, and your bodies shall be laid to rest
beneath
a canopy of dust. What can ye then achieve? How can ye
atone
for your past failure?
The everlasting Candle shineth in its naked
glory. Behold how it hath consumed every mortal veil. O ye
moth-like
lovers of His light! Brave every danger, and consecrate your
souls
to its consuming flame. O ye that thirst after Him! Strip
yourselves
of every earthly affection, and hasten to embrace your Beloved. With a
zest that none can equal make haste to attain unto Him. The
Flower,
thus far hidden from the sight of men, is unveiled to your eyes.
In the open radiance of His glory He standeth before you. His
voice
summoneth all the holy and sanctified beings to come and be united with
Him. Happy is he that turneth thereunto; well is it with him that
hath attained, and gazed on the light of so wondrous a countenance."
Baha'i gardens in Haifa,
near Akka,
Israel
"The Almighty ... hath transformed this Prison-House into the Most
Exalted
Paradise, the Heaven of Heavens."
(Bahá'u'lláh quoted by Shoghi
Effendi
in God Passes By, Page: 196)
"Great is thy blessedness, O Akka, in that God hath made thee the dayspring of His Most Sweet Voice, and the dawn of His most mighty signs. (Baha'u'llah: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Page: 79)
* "In 1891 Professor E. G. Browne of Cambridge University, England, wrote a book detailing his visit to Akka. This was followed by a second volume in which he quoted extracts from Baha'u'llah's Epistles to the kings and rulers." (`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, Page: 398)
To read the actual texts of these Epistles to the kings and rulers, see Proclamations of Baha'u'llah.
Here is a link to some
Biblically-oriented proofs to support Baha'u'llah's claim to have the
Divine authority to bring a new Revelation, and to interpret and
fulfill the Revelations of the past: PROOFS
(in PowerPoint
format)
"You hold in your organization the key that will settle
all
of our difficulties, real and imaginary."
(George Washington Carver, speaking of the Bahá'í
religious community:)
To view some of Baha'u'llah's
Writings (click on the following):
The
Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah ("This that which hath descended
from the realm of glory... revealed unto the Prophets of old...
clothed
in the garment of brevity....")
The
Seven Valleys (A mystical description of the journey or stages in
the
development of the soul in its approach to God.)
The
Book of Certitude (demonstrates the truth of this Faith, explaining,
in plain language, the metaphors and symbolism used to "seal"
or hide the meanings in the prophesies and Holy Books of the past.)
See an index
containing references to some of Baha'u'llah's writings.
Selections from Baha'i Writings and the Bible explaining the "station"
of the Manifestation
of God.
Comparative explanations of the
"Station" of Christ in the Bible and the Baha'i Writings. Also an
explanation
of a Prophecy of Christ (John 16:12-13), which some Christians miss
as a reference to the "Second Coming," but is identified
by Baha'u'llah as a significant reference to Himself, as a
fulfillment
of Christ's "return." The divergent
statements of Christ regarding his human and divine conditions are
also explained in the Baha'i Writings.
Greg Kagira-Watson's message for Christians
and an Open
Letter to a Christian TV evangelist.
Additional commentary
and links to Baha'u'llah's teachings on various subjects.
The "Return" spoken of by the Prophets.
Christian
& Biblical prophesy and Messianic
expectation pointing to Baha'u'llah.
Millennial
Zeal in anticipation of the Promised One.
The Promise of World Peace.
Tributes from political leaders, royalty
and leaders of thought.
Baha'i
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and a
"virtual" tour. Other photos of the Baha'i
World Center in Israel.
View
of the Mediteranean
Sea wall near the Most Great Prison with a description of the
Prison.
NEW views of the Prison: This holy place has been restored and is
open again to pilgrims. ACRE, Israel -- In the late 1860s, Baha'i
pilgrims walked hundreds of kilometers from Persia through treacherous
deserts to this ancient Mediterranean city in what is now northern
Israel. Their goal was to visit Baha'u'llah, the Founder of their
Faith, Who was being held in a prison citadel after His banishment to
Acre by the Ottoman authorities. For more of this story, see http://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=336
For slide shows accompanying the story see
http://news.bahai.org/slideshows/prison/history.html
and http://news.bahai.org/slideshows/prison/restored.html
What is the Bahá'í Faith? (Introductory web
site explains)
The
world's second-most widespread religion (statistics)
The
Baha'i Houses of Worship-- "Dawning Place of the Mention of God."
Modern-day persecutions of the Baha'is in Iran:
(1) General
links <click here and here> General
links
(2) Teenage
girls executed for teaching children's classes
(3)1984U.N.
Human Rights Commission condemns persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
(4)
Amnesty International - Report - Baha'i still facing death
sentence
for religious belief in 1998.
(5) The
Mahrami Case - The facts More
links on this case.
(6) July
21st,
1998: Bahá'í Executed in Iran. Voice of America
editorial
(7) Press release from
U.S. Spiritual Assembly, U.S. Senate, etc. linked
here. (<< link outdated)
(8)
University of Washington student escapes persecution in Iran.
(9)
"Revolution brings persecution for minority religions" -- report in the
University of Washington newpaper.
(10) September
1998, the Iranian government's Ministry of Information authorized
its
agents to raid over 500 Baha'i homes and to seize information and
equipment used in the Open
University or Institute for Higher Learning, which was formed by the
Baha'is
of Iran to take the place of the education they are denied due to their
religious affiliation. Teachers arrested.
(11) History of persecutions
(between 1921 & 1999) Also: Some US Congressional and UN
resolutions to help protect the Baha'is in Iran.
(12) Another
execution in 1998.
2004:
Baha'is decry continual
destruction of Baha'i holy places as cultural
cleansing in Iran.
Also: http://ppt.homestead.com/DestroyedHoly.ppt
Links
to other web sites:
http://www.bahaiprayers.org/bahailinkspage.htm
* link
to Zoroastrian religion (for readers not familiar with it)
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