‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The question of religious succession after a Messenger passes away has been crucial to all faiths. Failure to resolve this issue has inevitably led to conflict and the division of a faith into sects. The ambiguity surrounding the leadership of Christianity and Islam after the passing of Jesus and Muhammad for example, created rifts within both faiths that have proven impossible to resolve and resulted in deep discord.
To avoid the possibility of schism, Bahá’u'lláh provided clear guidance in His will and testament, conferring the authority of leadership after His passing in 1892 upon His eldest son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born on the same night that the Báb declared His Mission in 1844, he was a child when he was imprisoned with his father, and despite enduring great suffering for much of his life, he was gentle, courteous, generous and brave.
When Bahá’u'lláh passed away, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá became the Head of the Bahá’í Faith. His task was to protect the religion from its enemies and to help it grow. He wrote many letters to individuals and to Bahá’í communities explaining the religion and its teachings. In one of his tablets he says:-
“Be calm, be strong, be grateful and become like a lamp full of light, that their darkness of sorrows be annihilated. and the sun of everlasting joy arise from the dawning place of heart and soul, shining brightly”
In 1908 following his release from imprisonment, despite his advanced years and failing health, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá travelled to the West visiting cities in Europe including London, Edinburgh & Paris, and travelling extensively in North America before returning to the Holy Land via Europe and Egypt in 1913. On his travels he gave many talks at churches, synagogues, mosques, universities and charitable institutions, addressing and advising thousands of people from all walks of life. Beggars and housewives shared equality of his time with ambassadors and notables, including the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the poet Khalil Gibran, the suffragette leaser Emmeline Pankhurst and many others. During one of his talks in Paris he said:-
“Strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers. Turn towards God, and seek always to do that which is right and noble. Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the hopeless, shelter the destitute!”
Even during his final years of life in early 20th century Palestine, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remained a dedicated servant to the care and advancement of humanity. He was instrumental in establishing food reserves in the region during World War I, thereby averting a famine. These actions were later recognised by the British government which awarded him a knighthood in 1920
In 1921 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away and his funeral was attended by more than 10,000 Bahá’ís, Christians, Jews and Muslims gathered on Mount Carmel to mourn his passing. He was describe by one Jewish leader as a “living example of self-sacrifice”, by a Christian as on who led humanity to the “Way of Truth” and by a Muslim as a “pillar of peace”.
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