July 26, 2020

circa 1925: The Girls' School in Ishqabad Russia - One branch of the Baha'i activities

Former students of this school provided active service in 
the Baha'i community and some went to London to continue their studies. 
(Star of the West, [The Baha'i Magazine], vol. 16, no. 12, March 1926)

July 21, 2020

1985: “The time has come for the Baha'i community to become more involved in the life of the society around it…”

The time has come for the Baha'i community to become more involved in the life of the society around it, without in the least supporting any of the world's moribund and divisive concepts, or slackening its direct teaching efforts, but rather, by association, exerting its influence towards unity, demonstrating its ability to settle differences by consultation rather than by confrontation, violence or schism, and declaring its faith in the divine purpose of human existence. 
- The Universal House of Justice  (Ridvan 1985; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

July 16, 2020

1979-1985: The “emergence of the Faith from obscurity”

As we enter the final year of the Seven Year Plan, [1979-1986] confidence of victory and a growing sense of the opening of a new stage in the onward march of the Faith must arouse in every Baha'i heart feelings of gratitude and eager expectation. Victory in the Plan is now within sight, and at its completion the summation of its achievements may well astonish us all. But the great, the historic feature of this period is the emergence of the Faith from obscurity, promoted by the steadfast heroism of the renowned, the indefatigable, dearly loved Baha'i community of Baha'u'llah's and the Bab's native land. 
- The Universal House of Justice  (Ridvan 1985; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

July 11, 2020

1984-1985: New believers in India

In India alone, over 150,000 new believers have joined the Baha'i community… 
- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated 3 January 1985, to the followers of Baha'u'llah in every land; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

July 7, 2020

circa 1844: – A new believer in Mashhad, Persia, placed his home at the disposal of Mullá Husayn to teach the Faith – his home became known as Bábíyyih – First Bábí-Baháí Center

circa 1935: views of Bábíyyih
Mírzá Muhammad Báqir-i-Qá’iní, who, for the remaining years of his life, had established his residence in Mashhad, was the next to embrace the Message. The love of the Báb inflamed his soul with such a consuming passion, that no one could resist its force or could belittle its influence. His fearlessness, his unsparing energy, his unswerving loyalty, and the integrity of his life, all combined to make him the terror of his enemies and a source of inspiration to his friends. He placed his home at the disposal of Mullá Husayn, arranged for separate interviews between him and the ‘ulamás of Mashhad, and continued to endeavour, to the utmost of his power, to remove every obstacle that might impede the progress of the Faith. He was untiring in his efforts, undeviating in his purpose, and inexhaustible in his energy. He continued to labour indefatigably for his beloved Cause until the last hour of his life, when he fell a martyr at the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí. In his last days he was bidden by Quddús, after the tragic death of Mullá Husayn, to assume the leadership of the heroic defenders of that fort. He acquitted himself gloriously of his task. His home, situated in Bálá-Khiyabán, in the city of Mashhad, is up to the present time known by the name of Bábíyyih. Whoever enters it can never escape the accusation of being a Bábí. May his soul rest in peace! 
- Nabil  (‘The Dawn-Breakers’; translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)