(1984 Baha'i History Calendar)
October 31, 2015
October 30, 2015
'Abdu'l-Bahá visited Paris three times
'Abdu'l-Bahá visited
Paris three times. The first visit lasted nine weeks, 3 October through 2
December 1911; the second was 21 January through 30 March 1913; the third was
early May through 12 June 1913.
(Footnotes to a message dated August 1976 from
the Universal House of Justice to the ‘Friends assembled at the International
Teaching Conference in Paris’; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986’)
October 29, 2015
First attempts to teach the Faith in Alaska
As early as 1915,
however, we see a first wave of itinerant teachers and short-time settlers
directing their steps towards Alaska in an attempt to open it to the light of
Bahá'u'lláh. This was followed by a second wave of determined pioneers and
spiritual conquerors who, ever since the first Seven Year Plan, [1937-1944]
demonstrated their exemplary enthusiasm and caused "the breezes ... of the
love of God" to "Perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants" of
that "vast country."
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message
dated July 1976 addressed to the friends assembled at the International
Teaching Conference in Anchorage; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986’)
October 28, 2015
Martha Root – “the foremost Hand raised by Bahá'u'lláh since 'Abdu'l-Bahá's passing”; “the first, finest fruit which the Formative Age of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has as yet produced”; “that archetype of Bahá'í itinerant teachers”
Martha's unnumbered
admirers throughout Bahá'í world lament with me the earthly extinction of her
heroic life. Concourse on high acclaim her elevation to rightful position in
galaxy of Bahá'í immortals. Posterity will establish her as foremost Hand which
'Abdu'l-Bahá's will has raised up in first Bahá'í century. Present generation
of her fellow-believers recognize her to be the first, finest fruit which the
Formative Age of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has as yet produced. Advise hold
befitting memorial gathering in Temple to honor one whose acts shed
imperishable lustre on American Bahá'í community. Impelled share with National
Assembly expenses of erection of monument in symbolic spot,[1] the
meeting-place of East and West, to both of which she unsparingly dedicated the
full force of her mighty energies.
- Shoghi Effendi (Cablegram
October 3, 1939, ‘Messages to America’)
[1 Honolulu]
To Martha Root, that
archetype of Bahá'í itinerant teachers and the foremost Hand raised by
Bahá'u'lláh since 'Abdu'l-Bahá's passing, must be awarded, if her manifold
services and the supreme act of her life are to be correctly appraised, the
title of Leading Ambassadress of His Faith and Pride of Bahá'í teachers,
whether men or women, in both the East and the West.
- Shoghi Effendi (‘God
Passes By’)
October 26, 2015
April 1983: Fifth Baha'i International Convention
October 22, 2015
Baha’u’llah’s time in the Holy Land: August 1868 to May 1892
The journey of Bahá'u'lláh and His companions from Gallipoli
to Haifa took place between August 21 to 31, 1968, lasting 11 days.
- Bahá'u'lláh and His party were then transferred from the steamer carrying them to Haifa, to a sailing vessel, which arrived in 'Akká on the afternoon of August 31, 1868. The time they spent in Haifa was a few hours.
- Baha’u’llah spent 2 years, 2 months and 5 days in the Prison Barracks of Akka.
- From the Prison, Bahá'u'lláh was transferred directly to the House of Málik, thence to the Houses of Khavvám and Rabí'ih. This lasted 10 months.
- The final House in Baha’u’llah was transferred to was the House of 'Abbúd where He stayed for approximately 7 years. During that time He made occasional visits to the Garden of Ridvan.
- Baha’u’llah then moved to the Mansion of Mazra'ih and stayed there for about 2 years.
- The last 12 years of Baha’u’llah’s earthly life were spent in the Mansion of Bahjí.
- Towards the end of this period Bahá'u'lláh visited Haifa four times. His last visit to Haifa lasted three months.
(Adapted from compilation: ‘Holy Places at the Baha’i World
Centre’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)
October 20, 2015
April 2005: Creation of International Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh
New developments have, likewise, taken place at the World
Centre. We have decided that the time is propitious to bring into being an International
Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh to guide and supervise the work of Regional
and National Boards of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh throughout the world. It will
operate in close collaboration with the Chief Trustee, the Hand of the Cause of
God Dr. ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá, and will be able to benefit from his knowledge and
counsel in carrying out its duties. The three members now appointed to the
International Board of Trustees are Sally Foo, Ramin Khadem, and Grant
Kvalheim. Their term of office will be determined at a later date. The members
of the Board will not transfer their residence to the Holy Land but will
utilize the services of the Office of Huqúqu’lláh at the World Centre in performing
their functions.
- The Universal House of Justice (Ridván 2005 Message to the
Bahá’ís of the World)
October 15, 2015
April 1952: First Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kampala, Uganda
October 11, 2015
circa 1869: The first Bahá'í from the outside world to be able to meet Bahá'u'lláh in 'Akká
Hand of the Cause Mulla Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani, surnamed
Amin, Apostle of Baha'u'llah, the Trustee of Huququ'lláh
Mulla Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani, who is known as Haji Amin or
Amin-i-Ilahi (Trusted of God), was born in about the year AH 1232 (AD 21 November 1816 -- 10
November 1817) in Ardikan, a small town near Yazd. At seventeen years of age he
married into a family of Bábís of the town. He was persuaded to investigate the
new religion and eventually, shortly after the martyrdom of the Báb, he
declared his belief. When news of the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh came, he
accepted immediately and travelled throughout Iran meeting other Bábís and
teaching them of the advent of Bahá'u'lláh. After a time he became the
assistant of Haji Shah-Muhammad Manshadi, Aminu'l-Bayan, who was the Trustee of
the Huququ'lláh.[1] He would travel about the country, earning his living by
trading and also by acting as a writer for those who could not write. At the
same time he collected the Huququ'lláh and any letters that the believers
wished to forward to Bahá'u'lláh, and also distributed Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh
when these were received. He came to 'Akká while Bahá'u'lláh was still
imprisoned in the citadel and succeeded in establishing contact with the
exiles. He was the first Bahá'í from the outside world to be able to meet
Bahá'u'lláh in 'Akká (in the Public Baths). He returned to 'Akká on several further
occasions. When Haji Shah-Muhammad Manshadi was killed in 1880, Haji
Abu'l-Hasan was appointed Trustee (Amin) of the Huququ'lláh. In 1891 he was
imprisoned with Haji Akhund for three years in Tihran and Qazvin. In the time
of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he continued his travels, visiting 'Akká and Haifa on several
occasions. Towards the end of his life he resided in Tihran and Haji
Ghulam-Rida, Amin-i-Amin, was appointed his assistant. He died in 1928 and was
posthumously named a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi.
– Balyuzi (‘Eminent
Baha’is in the Time of Baha’u’llah’)
[1] The 'Right of God' -- a payment by believers instituted
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
October 4, 2015
July 2015: The Universal House of Justice transmits three new Tablets of Baha'u'llah (English) - Commemoration of Twin Birthdays
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE
OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
6 July 2015
Transmitted by email
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
This November will witness the first universal observance of
the Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh according to the Badí‘
calendar. In anticipation of this special occasion, the Universal House of
Justice is pleased to present you with three Tablets from the forthcoming
volume Days of Remembrance, a collection of Writings from the Supreme Pen
revealed specifically for, or which otherwise pertain to, nine Holy Days, to be
published in English translation. As it is expected that the book will only be
available after mid-2016, to assist the friends in their preparations for this
year’s historic commemoration of the Twin Birthdays the House of Justice has
asked that one Tablet concerning the Birth of the Báb and two concerning the
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh be sent to you in advance, so that arrangements can be
made for their translation into various languages. French, Russian, and Spanish
translations will be sent to the relevant National Spiritual Assemblies in due
course.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
Enclosure