Abdu’l-Baha and the holy days that honor him
This weekend, two Baha’i observances will take place. First, the Day of the Covenant on November 25th, and the Ascension (or passing) of Abdu’l-Baha on the 27th.
These two commemorations are in many ways a linked pair: The Day of the Covenant honors Baha’u’llah‘s appointment of Abdu’l-Baha as His successor and the sole interpreter of Baha’u’llah’s writings, and two days later those who turn towards Abdu’l-Baha’s life and example mark his passing from this world. The Day of the Covenant originated in the desire of some early Baha’is to celebrate Abdu’l-Baha’s birthday, which coincides with the Declaration of the Bab. Yes, on the night of May 23, 1844, as the Bab declared His mission to Mulla Husayn, Baha’u’llah and His wife Navvab were welcoming their first child, Abbas. Abdu’l-Baha, or “servant of the Glory,” was the title Abbas chose for himself.
My name is Abdu’l-Baha, my identity is Abdu’l-Baha, my qualification is Abdu’l-Baha, my reality is ‘Abdu’l-Baha, my praise is Abdu’l-Baha. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection [Baha’u’llah] is my glorious and refulgent diadem; and servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion. —Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha
Abdu’l-Baha never wanted to draw attention to himself on his birthday. Like every other day of his life, he spent it serving the poor and showing kindness to all. Indeed, as he granted the Baha’is a way to honor him, still oriented it toward Baha’u’llah and His Covenant with them. The Covenant is a vast topic worthy of a lifetime of meditation and exploration, but this definition is a good starting point:
A Covenant in the religious sense is a binding agreement between God and man, whereby God requires of man certain behaviour in return for which He guarantees certain blessings, or whereby He gives man certain bounties in return for which He takes from those who accept them an undertaking to behave in a certain way. There is, for example, the Greater Covenant which every Manifestation of God makes with His followers, promising that in the fullness of time a new Manifestation will be sent, and taking from them the undertaking to accept Him when this occurs. There is also the Lesser Covenant that a Manifestation of God makes with His followers that they will accept His appointed successor after Him. If they do so, the Faith can remain united and pure. If not, the Faith becomes divided and its force spent. It is a Covenant of this kind that Baha’u’llah made with His followers regarding Abdu’l-Baha and that Abdu’l-Baha perpetuated through the Administrative Order… — From a letter written by The Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 23 March 1975
In this way Abdu’l-Baha deflected his own importance and drew attention to Baha’u’llah’s authority. This absolute humility and consecration to serving others characterized everything he did. For this reason, people of Haifa and Akka, Palestine, no matter their religion, social class, or background, deeply loved Abdu’l-Baha. His funeral on November 28, 1921 drew close to 10,000 people.
“A great throng had gathered together,” the British High Commissioner wrote, “sorrowing for His death, but rejoicing also for His life.”
Yúsuf al-Khatib, a well-known Muslim orator of the time, led the funeral tributes with a eulogy that began,
O concourse of Arabians and Persians! Whom are ye bewailing? Is it he who but yesterday was great in his life and is today in his death greater still? Shed no tears for the one that hath departed to the world of Eternity, but weep over the passing of Virtue and Wisdom, of Knowledge and Generosity. Lament for yourselves, for yours is the loss, whilst he, your lost one, is but a revered Wayfarer, stepping from your mortal world into the everlasting Home. Weep one hour for the sake of him who, for well nigh eighty years, hath wept for you! Look to your right, look to your left, look East and look West and behold, what glory and greatness have vanished! What a pillar of peace hath crumbled! What eloquent lips are hushed! Alas! In this tribulation there is no heart but aches with anguish, no eye but is filled with tears. Woe unto the poor, for lo! goodness hath departed from them, woe unto the orphans, for their loving father is no more with them!
Baha’is gather late in the evening of November 27 to early in the morning of November 28 to commemorate this passing. Most of these are simple gatherings in people’s homes to share stories of Abdu’l-Baha’s life and read the Tablet of Visitation of Abdu’l-Baha. This passionate supplication has a special place in the hearts of many Baha’is. It opens,
He is the All-Glorious!
O God, my God! Lowly and tearful, I raise my suppliant hands to Thee and cover my face in the dust of that Threshold of Thine, exalted above the knowledge of the learned, and the praise of all that glorify Thee. Graciously look upon Thy servant, humble and lowly at Thy door, with the glances of the eye of Thy mercy, and immerse him in the Ocean of Thine eternal grace.*
For information on local commemorations of the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha, please contact us.
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