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1868 – 1870
186- |
During this period Bahá'u'lláh revealed a number of Tablets to rulers including the Lawh-i-Ra'ís to `Alí Páshá, His second Tablet to Napoleon III and Tablets to Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria and Pope Pius IX. [BBD13]
The writings of Bahá'u'lláh during this period, as we survey the vast field which they embrace, seem to fall into three distinct categories. The first comprises those writings which constitute the sequel to the proclamation of His Mission in Adrianople. The second includes the laws and ordinances of His Dispensation, which, for the most part, have been recorded in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, His Most Holy Book. To the third must be assigned those Tablets which partly enunciate and partly reaffirm the fundamental tenets and principles underlying that Dispensation. [GPB205-206]
See Wikipedia for a synopsis of Law-i-Ra'ís..
The Súriy-i-Haykal (Súrih of the Temple) was also revealed in Adrianople, and later recast after His arrival in `Akká. In this version He incorporated His messages addressed to individual potentates -- Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria, and Násiri'd-Dín Sháh. Bahá'u'lláh instructed it to be written in the form of a pentacle, symbolizing the human temple. See the Introduction Summons of the Lord of Hosts pgi.
An Introduction to the Súratu'l-Haykal (Discourse of The Temple) by Mohamad Ghasem Bayat.
President Grant of the United States was in office when Bahá'u'lláh addressed a Tablet to the `Rulers of America and the Presidents of the Republics therein'. Copied below is a list of other heads of state of the Americas who were contemporary with Bahá'u'lláh in 1872-1873 as compiled by Bahá'í scholar Peter Terry.
[BFA1:80N]
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, president of Argentina; John A. Macdonald,
prime minister of Canada; Federico Errázuriz Zanartu, president of Chile;
Eustorgio Salgar and Manuel Murillo Toro, presidents of Colombia; Tomás
Guardia Gutiérrez, president of Costa Rica; Buenaventura Báez, president of
the Dominican Republic; Gabriel García Moreno, president of Ecuador; Justo
Rufino Barrios, president of Guatemala; Nissage Saget, president of Haiti;
Benito Juárez and Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, presidents of Mexico; José
Vicente Cuadra, president of Nicaragua; Francisco Solano López, president
of Paraguay; Manuel Pardo, president of Peru; Ulysses S. Grant, president of
the United States of America; Lorenzo Batlle y Grau and Tomás Gomensoro,
presidents of Uruguay; and Antonio Guzmán Blanco, president of Venezuela.
...some of the most celebrated passages of that Book (Kitáb-i-Aqdas) to the Chief Magistrates of the entire American continent, bidding them "bind with the hands of justice the broken," and "crush the oppressor" with the "rod of the commandments" of their Lord. Unlike the kings of the earth whom He had so boldly condemned in that same Book, unlike the European Sovereigns whom He had either rebuked, warned or denounced, such as the French Emperor, the most powerful monarch of his time, the Conqueror of that monarch, the Heir of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Caliph of Islám, the Rulers of America were not only spared the ominous and emphatic warnings which He uttered against the crowned heads of the world, but were called upon to bring their corrective and healing influence to bear upon the injustices perpetrated by the tyrannical and the ungodly. [MA91]
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`Alí Páshá; Napoleon III; Pope Pius IX; - Popes; - Christianity; Queen Victoria; Tsar Alexander II; Suriy-i-Haykal (Surih of the Temple); Lawh-i-Napulyun (Tablet to Napoleon III); Lawh-i-Pap (Tablet to Pope Pius IX); Lawh-i-Malikih (Tablet to Queen Victoria); Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rus (Tablet to Alexander II); President Grant; Lawh-i-Rais (Tablet to Sultan Ali Pasha); Suriy-i-Haykal (Surih of the Temple); - Tablets to kings and rulers; - Summons of the Lord of Hosts (book); * Bahaullah (chronology); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haykal and daira; Akka, Israel |
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1868 (In the year)
186- |
Hájí Mullá `Alí-i-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí (later Hand of the Cause Hájí Ákhúnd) was imprisoned in Tihrán as a Bahá'í on the order of Mullá `Alí Kání. This is the first of many imprisonments. [EB266]
He was imprisoned so often that `Abdu'l-Bahá later said of him that at the first sign of disturbances, he would `put on his turban, wrap himself in his `abá and sit waiting' to be arrested. [MF11] |
Hájí Ákhúnd (Mullá `Alí-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí); Mulla Ali Kani; - Hands of the Cause; Tehran, Iran; Iran |
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1868 Apr
186- |
Seven Bahá'ís in Constantinople were arrested and interrogated by a commission of inquiry whose mandate it was to verify the claims of Bahá'u'lláh and Mírzá Yahyá. [BKG250–2; GPB179; MF99–100 RB2:3289]
See RB2:329–32 for the conduct of the interrogations.
Among those arrested was Mishkín-Qalam, the calligrapher. He was particularly distraught because he is not allowed pen or paper. Eventually these were given to him. [BKG252] |
Mishkin-Qalam; - Calligraphy; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; Persecution, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; Turkey |
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1868 c. May
186- |
Bahá'u'lláh sent Nabíl-i-A`zam Zarandi to Cairo to enquire after Hájí Mírzá Haydar-`Alí. He was instructed by Bahá'u'lláh to appeal to the officials for the release of several Bahá'ís who had been imprisoned in Cairo at the instigation of their enemies. He was thrown into prison in Cairo for two months and then in the Alexandria jail for a few more months. While there he befriended a Christian cellmate, Fáris Effendi, who soon becomes a Bahá'í. [BKG248, 265–8; EB268; GPB178; "Nabil-e aʿzam Zarandi, Mollā Mohammad," by Vahid Rafati, Encyclopædia Iranica]
See BKG265–8 for an account of Nabíl's arrest and imprisonment.
Fáris Effendi was probably the first Christian to become a Bahá'í. [RB3:10]
- Lawh-i-Aqdas ("Most Holy Tablet," otherwise known as "The Tablet to the Christians" late 1870s?) is thought to have been addressed to Dr Fáris Effendi but this cannot be substantiated.
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Nabil-i-Azam; Hájí Mírzá Haydar-`Alí (Angel of Carmel); Faris Effendi; Imprisonments; - First believers by background; - Christianity; Conversion; Interfaith dialogue; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt |
First Christian to become a Bahá'í |
1868 c. 7 Jun
186- |
Nabíl had a dream in which Bahá'u'lláh appeared to him in his cell and assured him that he will have reason to rejoice within the next 81 days. [BKG267] |
Nabil-i-Azam; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt |
|
1868 c. Jul
186- |
Principal Bahá'ís in Baghdád were arrested by the Turkish authorities and exiled to Mosul and other places. [BBR265; BKG247; CH129–30; RB2:333]
RB2:333 indicates this took place towards the end of Bahá'u'lláh's stay in Adrianople.
About 70 people were exiled. [GPB178; RB2:334] Estimate given by Hájí Mirzá Haydar-;Alí is 80. (DOH12]
See BKG184 for an illustration of Mosul.
See BKG183 for a description of the city.
See RB2:334 for the hardships suffered by the exiles.
They remained in Mosul for some 20 years until Bahá'u'lláh advised the community to disband (1885-1886). Their hardship was lessened by generous contributions from the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs. A charity fund was established, the first fund of that kind in any Bahá'í community. [RB2:334–6] |
Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn (Beloved of Martyrs); King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Charity and relief work; Funds; Firsts, other; Persecution, Iraq; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Baghdad, Iraq; Mosul, Iraq; Iraq |
First charity fund |
1868 c. 21 Jul
186- |
Mírzá Abu'l-Qásim-i-Shírází was arrested in Egypt and money extorted from him. [BBR257–8; BKG243; GPB178] |
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Egypt |
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1868 26 Jul
186- |
Bahá'u'lláh's banishment to 'Akká
Sultán `Abdu'l-`Azíz, at the instigation of his Prime Minister, Ali Pasha, issued a firmán condemning Bahá'u'lláh to perpetual banishment. [BKG283–4; GPB179, 186; RB2:401–2]
See RB2:402 for a list of those included in the edict.
BKG261, GPB181 and RB2:403 indicate that it was not until the party reached Gallipoli that they were informed that their ultimate destination was `Akká.
BBD40 says that it was because of the disloyal Mírzá Yahyá's plotting against Bahá`u`lláh that the Turkish authorities condemned Him to perpetual imprisonment in `Akká. |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Sultán `Abdu'l-Azíz; Khurshid Páshá; Firmans; Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Exile (banishment); Edirne, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; Turkey; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq; Gallipoli, Turkey; Akka, Israel; Citadel (Akká barracks) |
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1868 Aug
186- |
One morning without warning Bahá'u'lláh's house was surrounded by soldiers. The inhabitants were rounded up and taken to government headquarters. They were told to make ready for their departure for Gallipoli. [BKG255; GPB179; RB2:403]
The party was given three days to prepare for the journey. It it had been rumoured that they were to be separated, Bahá'u'lláh to one place, 'Abdu'l-Bahá to another and the friends to still another place. [CH62]
One of the companions, Karilá'í Ja'far was so grieved by the threatened separation that he attempted to kill himself. He was prevented from do so but was too ill to travel. Bahá'u'lláh refused to leave until the Governor in Adrianople made a promise to care for him until he was well enough to travel. He joined the friends in 'Akká forty days after their arrival. [CH62, RoB1p97-98]
The Consuls of European powers offered assistance to Bahá'u'lláh and were prepared to ask the intervention of their governments. Bahá'u'lláh refused these offers. [BKG255, 257–8]
Western accounts of this incident suggest that Bahá`u`lláh asked for such assistance. [BBR187–91]
The next day the goods of the Bahá'ís were sold or auctioned for very low prices. [BKG255, 258]
Group and individual photographs were taken of the Bahá'í and Azalí exiles in Adrianople, including one of Bahá'u'lláh.
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey |
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1868 Aug
186- |
Mullá Muhammad-Ridá, Ridá'r-Rúh was poisoned in Yazd. [BW18:383] |
Mulla Muhammad-Rida (Ridar-Ruh); * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Yazd, Iran; Iran |
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1868 12 Aug
186- |
Bahá'u'lláh, His family and companions, escorted by a Turkish captain and a number of soldiers, set out for Gallipoli. The tablet, Súriy-i-Ra'is (The Epistle to the Chief) was revealed in Arabic in honour of Ḥájí Muḥammad Ismá'íl-i-Káshání, entitled Dhabíḥ (Sacrifice) and Anís (Companion) by Bahá'u'lláh, and addresses 'Álí Páshá, the Ottoman Prime Minister, referred to here as Ra'ís (Chief or Ruler). [BKG260; GPB180; RB2:409-417; BBS141; SLH141-149]
En route they passed through the villages of Uzún-Kuprí and Káshánih before reaching Gallipoli after 4 days. [The Bahá'í Faith 1844-1953: Information Statistical & Comparative p44]
N&N26 says the Lawh-i-Ra'ís (Tablet of Ra'ís) was revealed in Káshánih. This is incorrect; it should read the Súriy-i-Ra'ís. iiiii
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Suriy-i-Rais (Tablet to Sultan Ali Pasha); Lawh-i-Rais (Tablet to Sultan Ali Pasha); `Alí Páshá; Edirne, Turkey; Káshánih, Turkey; Gallipoli, Turkey; Turkey |
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1868 15 Aug
186- |
The Bahá'ís imprisoned in Constantinople arrived in Gallipoli to be exiled with Bahá'u'lláh's party. [BKG260] |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Gallipoli, Turkey; Turkey |
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1868 16 Aug
186- |
They arrived in Gallipoli on the fifth day. [BKG260]
GPB180 says it was a four-day journey. CH62 says it took three days of travel by cart and wagon.
They remained there for three nights. CH62 says they remained there for a week awaiting replies to telegrams that had been sent to Constantinople. [BKG263; GPB181]
BKG261 says they were there for `a few days'. |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Gallipoli, Turkey; Turkey |
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1868 21 Aug
186- |
Bahá'u'lláh and His companions left Gallipoli on an Austrian-Lloyd steamer. [BKG263; GPB182; RB2:411]
CH62 says it was a Turkish boat.
There were 72 exiles, 10 soldiers and 2 officers. The journey took 11 days. [CH63]
See BKG270 for map of the journey.
Towards sunset the same day the steamer touched on Madellí and stopped for a few hours. It continued on to Smyrna the same night where they stayed for two days and left at night. [BKG264; N&N22]
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Ships; Mishkin-Qalam; Mírzá Aliy-i-Sayyah-i-Maraghihi (Mulla Adi-Guzal); Aqa `Abdu'l-Ghaffar; Aqa Muhammad-Baqir (Qahvih-chiy-i Mahallati); Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Exile (banishment); Cyprus exiles; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Austrian Lloyd steam ships; Ships; Gallipoli, Turkey; Smyrna, Turkey; Famagusta, Cyprus; Turkey; Cyprus |
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1868 22 Aug
186- |
Soon after sunrise the ship arrived at Smyrna. [BKG264]
It stays for two days and left at night. [BKG264; GPB182; N&N22]
The illness of Mírzá Áqáy-i-Káshání (Jináb-i-Muníb) necessitated his removal to the hospital. He died before 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Mírzá Musá could return to the ship. 'Abdu'l-Bahá maked arrangements with the local funeral director. They held a simple funeral and burial took place in Izmír. [CH65, BKG264–5; GPB182]
This young and vibrant man had arrived in Baghdad before the exile and travelled with the party holding the bridle of the horse of Bahá'u'lláh the whole route, often with 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the other side. When the party reached Constantinople he was instructed to go on teaching trip to Persia and to Iraq, a long and an arduous tour. He rejoined the group in Adrianople just prior to the exile and he was in precarious condition but begged Bahá'u'lláh for permission to be included. It is reported in FAA21 that he died two or three days after the departure of the ship.
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Mírzá Aqay-i-Kashani; Smyrna, Turkey; Turkey |
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1863 - 1868
186- |
See Bibliography for the Tablets of Baha'u'llah: List of citations and resources for Tablets revealed 1863-1868 compiled by Jonah Winters.
See also Notes and Commentary on the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh:
Wilmette Institute study materials by Jonah Winters. |
* Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Istanbul, Turkey; Edirne, Turkey |
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1868 23 Aug
186- |
The steamer left Smyrna at night for Alexandria, which she reached on the morning two days later. [BKG265] |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Ships; Smyrna, Turkey; Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; Egypt |
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1868 26 - 27 Aug
186- |
The steamer carrying Bahá'u'lláh and His companions docked at Alexandria, early in the morning. [BKG267-2368; RB3:6]
The exiles changed ships, again onto an Austrian-Lloyd ship. [BKG265]
Several exiles went ashore to make purchases. One passed by the prison house where Nabil-i Aʿẓam had been detained. Nabíl, watching from the roof of his prison cell, recognized one of the companions of Bahá'u'lláh. [CH65, BKG265, 267; RB3:6]
Nabíl and Fáris Effendi, a Christian Syrian doctor who had been imprisoned for the non-payment of debt wrote and who had just recently become a Bahá'í, wrote letters to Bahá'u'lláh which were delivered by a Christian youth. The youth returned with a Tablet from Bahá'u'lláh and gifts from `Abdu'l-Bahá and Mírzá Mihdí. [BKG267–8; RB3:6–7]
It is believed that Faris Effendi was the first Christian to have embraced the Bahá'í Faith. Shortly after His arrival in Akka, Bahá'u'lláh wrote a tablet to Raḍa'r-Rúḥ, a believer from Mashad. In the tablet, Bahá'u'lláh told Raḍa'r-Rúḥ that, while waiting to set sail from the port in Alexandria, He was given a letter by a messenger, which was from a Christian physician known as Faris, who was imprisoned in Alexandria with Nabil-i-Azam. In this letter, Faris declared his belief in Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh expresses to Raḍa'r-Rúḥ how thrilled he was to receive this moving declaration from Faris. The Tablet to Rada'r-Rúh has been translated by Nosratollah Mohammadhosseini.
The ship bearing Bahá'u'lláh and the exiles left Alexandria for Port Said. [BKG268]
See the story in complete detail written by Christopher Buck serialized on Bahá'í Teachings. The first instalment is called The First Christian to Become a Baha'i.
The second is titled Baha'u'llah's Welcome to the First Christian Baha'i.
The third - The First Christian Baha'i, and His Letter to Baha'u'llah.
The fourth - Baha'u'llah Replies to the First Christian Baha'i—and to All Christians.
And the fifth and final instalment - Baha'u'llah's Most Holy Tablet—to the Christians.
After his release Nabil travelled to Cyprus and Beirut and then joined the Bahá'u'lláh's exiled community in Akka in late October of 1969. He spent the last two decades of his life in that area. ["Nabil-e aʿzam Zaranadi, Mollā Mohammad," by Vahid Rafati, Encyclopædia Iranica]
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Nabil-i-Azam; Gifts; Austrian Lloyd steam ships; Ships; Faris Effendi; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Alexandria, Egypt; Egypt |
The First Christian to Become a Baha’i |
1868 29 Aug
186- |
In the morning the ship arrived in Port Said. At nightfall it traveled on to Jaffa. [BKG268] |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Ships; Port Said, Egypt; Jaffa, Israel; Israel |
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1868 30 Aug
186- |
The ship arrived at Jaffa at sunset. At midnight the ship left for Haifa. [BKG168] |
* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Ships; Jaffa, Israel; Haifa, Israel; Israel |
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1868 31 Aug
186- |
The ship arrived in Haifa in the early morning. [BKG269; GPB182; RB3:11]
Bahá'u'lláh and His companions — 70 in all — disembarked and were taken ashore in sailing boats. [RB3:11]
One of the Bahá'ís, Áqá `Abdu'l-Ghaffár, one of the four companions of Bahá'u'lláh condemned to share the exile of Mírzá Yahyá, threw himself into the sea when he learned he was to be separated from Bahá'u'lláh. [BKG269; GPB182]
A few hours later Bahá'u'lláh's party was put aboard a sailing vessel and taken to `Akká. [RB3:12]
Mírzá Yahyá and the four Bahá'ís arrested at Constantinople, including Mishkín-Qalam, were sent on to Famagusta in Cyprus. [BKG268; GPB179]
See also The Cyprus Exiles
by Moojan Momen.
See photo of the sea gate by which the exiles entered the citadel.
See CH66 for Bahíyyih Khánum's account of the journey.
The exiles landed in `Akká and began a confinement in the citadel that was to last two years, two months and five days. [CH67, BBR205; BKG169; DH12; RB3:11]
Photo of the citadel.
See BKG277–9 for a list of the exiles. Two others joined them immediately after arrival. [BBR205]
See BR205–6 for `Abdu'l-Bahá's account of the journey of exile.
See RB32:2 and RB3:21 for prophecies regarding Bahá'u'lláh's exile to `Akká.
See DH17–24 for a history of `Akká before the arrival of Bahá'u'lláh.
See DH26–8 and GPB186–7 for a description of the exiles' walk to the prison.
See GPB186–7 for Bahá'u'lláh's description of the citadel and the conditions there on His arrival.
See BKG275–7 for Áqá Ridá's description of the citadel and the conditions there.
See DH30–1 for a description of the citadel building and the accommodation used by Bahá'u'lláh.
The first night the exiles were refused both food and drink. [GPB187]
Afterwards each prisoner was allocated three loaves of stale black bread as a daily food ration plus filthy water. [GBP187]
Within two days all fell ill with typhoid but for two, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and another man who was able to help Him nurse and care for the others. [CH234]
Three of the exiles died soon after arrival. Soon after their death, Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Lawh-i-Ra'ís, the second Tablet to `Alí Páshá. [BKG283; GPB187; RB3:20, 34]
See BKG317–21 and CH250–1 for the story of the Azalís who were confined to `Akká with the exiles.
See BBRSM69–70 for details on the system of communications used between the Holy Land and the Bahá'í communities.
At first the Governor was disinclined to relax the strict rules of the exiles but eventually allowed Mírzá Ja'far to go into town, accompanied by a soldier, to purchase food. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had sent Mírzá 'Abdu'l-Ahad ahead sometime before with instructions to open a shop. It was six months before the exiles could make contact with him. During this time a Greek, Dr. Petro, became a friend and, after having made investigations, assured the Governor that the exiles were not criminals. [CH67]
The King of Martyrs and his brother The Beloved of Martyrs were the first to make contact with the exiles by telegraph. They were able to provide much needed assistance. [CH67]
After the restrictions had been relaxed somewhat Shaykh Salmán was able to function as a courier carrying Tablets and letters to and from Persia. When he was arrested in Aleppo, carrying a most important supplication from a friend in Persia to Bahá'u'lláh, he swallowed the letter to avoid detection. [CH67-68]
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Mishkin-Qalam; Aqa `Abdu'l-Ghaffar; Mírzá Jafar; Citadel (Akká barracks); Prophecies; Cyprus exiles; Exile (banishment); Firsts, other; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Austrian Lloyd steam ships; Ships; Haifa, Israel; Famagusta, Cyprus; Akka, Israel; Israel; Cyprus |
First night in citadel in `Akká |
1868 (After summer)
186- |
The second Lawh-i-Salmán was revealed in Akka sometime shortly after the summer 1868, so known because in the Tablet Bahá'u'lláh mentions the exile of the believers from Baghdad to Mosul, which occurred in that summer. It was revealed for Shaykh Khánjar Hindiyani, named Shaykh Salmán by Bahá'u'lláh in honour of the loyal disciple of Muhammad whom that Prophet re-named as "Salmán.
Parts of this Tablet has been translated in Gleanings XXI, CXLVIII, and CLIV, and one paragraph was translated in Promised Day is Come 115-16.
[RoB2p281-290; Uplifting Words; Wilmette Institute notes on the Tablets of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh ] |
Shaykh Salman; Lawh-i-Salman II (Tablet to Salman II); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Akka, Israel |
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1868 3 Sep
186- |
The firmán of the Sultán `Abdu'l-`Azíz condemning Bahá'u'lláh to life imprisonment was read out in the Mosque of Al-Jazzár. [BKG284–5; GPB186; RB3:18]
See CH64, BKG283–4, 286; GBP186, RB2:402 and RB3:18 for the terms of the edict. They were labelled as malefactors, sowers of sedition, hardened criminals, enemies of the pure religion of God and of man. The faithful were commanded to shun these outcasts. All of those that did a disservice to the captives might flatter themselves that they "did service to God".
See RB3:18–19 for `Abdu'l-Bahá's response.
See BKG283–8, RB3:19-20 for conditions of life in the barracks.
The local authorities and the clerics did their part to stir up the populus against the exiles. See DH197 and CH239-242 for the story of a man who made an attempt on the life of Bahá'u'lláh.
From this time forward Bahá'u'lláh met only with His followers.
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* Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Firmans; Mosque of Al-Jazzar (Akká); Akka, Israel; Israel; Citadel (Akká barracks) |
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1868 5 Sep
186- |
The ship that had delivered the exiles to 'Akká carried on and Mírzá Yahyá arrived in Cyprus with his entire family but without a single disciple or even a servant. [BBR306]
Also exiled to Cyprus were four loyal Bahá'ís and they were:
Mishkín-Qalam (Áqá Hussain Isfahání)
Mirzá 'Alíy-i-Sayyáh-i-Maraghih'í (Mullá Ádí-Guzal)
Áqá 'Abdu'l-Ghaffár
Áqá Muḥammad-Báqir (Qahvih-chiy-i Mahallátí) (coffee-maker)
With their arrival Cyprus became the first island in the Mediterranean to receive the Faith.
See also GPB 182 and AB285, 523.
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Mishkin-Qalam; Mírzá Aliy-i-Sayyah-i-Maraghihi (Mulla Adi-Guzal); Aqa `Abdu'l-Ghaffar; Aqa Muhammad-Baqir (Qahvih-chiy-i Mahallati); Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Exile (banishment); Cyprus exiles; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Austrian Lloyd steam ships; Ships; Famagusta, Cyprus; Cyprus |
the first island in the Mediterranean to receive the Faith. |
1868 (End of summer)
186- |
Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Lawh-i-Ra'ís (Tablet to the Chief) to Alí Páshá to condemn him for his cruelty and inhuman treatment of His followers. [Lawh-i-Raís: Tablet Study Outline]
The Tablet has been published in Summons of the lord of Hosts p159-173
For a brief biography of 'Alí Pasha see BKG469.
See GPB208.
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* Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Lawh-i-Rais (Tablet to Sultan Ali Pasha); Akka, Israel |
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1868 c. Oct
186- |
Nabíl was released from prison in Egypt and departed for `Akká. [BKG290–1; RB3:57]
He visited Cyprus on the way. [BKG291]
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Nabil-i-Azam; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt; Akka, Israel; Cyprus |
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1868 30 Oct
186- |
Christoph Hoffman, founder of the Templers, and Georg David Hardegg, his principal lieutenant, landed in Haifa to gather the Children of God in Jerusalem in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Hardegg remained in Haifa to head the Tempelgesellschaft while Hoffman went to Jaffa in 1869 to found a school and a hospital there. [BBD224; BBR204, 2, 15–16; DH133, SBBH1p215-218]
The colony on Mount Carmel was composed of a few dozen Templer families from Württemberg (S. Germany) and they were joined by kindred families of German origin from southern Russia and by some who had emigrated to America and become citizens, mainly from New York state. [Tablet to Hardegg (Lawh-i-Hirtík): A Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh to the Templer Leader Georg David Hardegg by Stephen Lambden and Kamran Ekbal, A Tablet of Bahā'-Allāh to Georg David Hardegg, the Lawḥ-i Hartīk by Stephen Lambden]
DH139 and GPB277 say this was 1863.
See BBR215–18 for the relationship between Bahá'u'lláh and the Templers.
A tablet addressed to Georg David Hardegg, Lawh-i-Hirtik, contained the proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh as the Promised One and the return of the Father. He also was warned not to make the same errors of the Pharisees who neglected the validity of Christ's own claims.
Bahá'u'lláh stayed in the houses of the colony several times. [BBR234]
Palestine was a neglected outpost of the Ottoman Empire when the Templers first settled in Haifa. Other settlements were soon founded in Jaffa (1869), Sarona (1871) and Jerusalem (1873) and, a generation later Wilhelma (1902), Bethlehem (1906) and, but a splinter group in Waldheim (1907). From initially hard beginnings, these communities went on to build the foundations for success: farms, flourmills, workshops, factories, shops, banks, hotels, hospitals, schools and even roads. Haifa was the largest Templer settlement. To this day, its main road is said to be the most magnificent in Israel.
The Templers flourished in Palestine for nearly 80 years; they even survived the British occupation during World War I when many Templers were deported and interned in Egypt. Palestine was a British Mandated Territory from 1923 until 1948. Great Britain's entry into World War II signalled the end for the Templers in Palestine. The settlements of Wilhelma, Sarona, Betlehem and Waldheim were turned into internment camps, housing close to 2,000 people. In 1941, a large number of Templers (536) was deported to Australia along with 129 other German nationals. The last remaining Templers were expelled in 1948 when the State of Israel was established. [TSA website]
See BBR236–9 for articles written about the Bahá'ís by Templers.
See Der Herr ist Nahe: The Lord is Near: The Divine Mystery of the Transformation of Mt. Carmel by Harry Liedtke.
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Christoph Hoffman; Georg David Hardegg; Templer Society (German Templer colony); * Bahaullah (chronology); Lawh-i-Hirtik (Tablet to Hardegg); Interfaith dialogue; - Christianity; Prophecies; History (general); Haifa, Israel; Jaffa, Israel; Israel; Palestine |
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1868 end Oct
186- |
Nabíl entered `Akká in disguise but was recognized and after three days was expelled from the city. [BKG290–1; GPB188; RB3:57]
He spent the next four months wandering about Haifa, Mount Carmel and the Galilee waiting for another opportunity to enter `Akká. He lived for a time in the cave of Elijah on Mount Carmel. He would walk the 10 miles to the vantage point outside of the citadel where he might, on rare occasion, see the hand of Bahá'u'lláh waving from the small middle window.[BKG290–1; RB3:57, CH68]
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Nabil-i-Azam; Akka, Israel |
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Canada
