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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1873, sorted by events, ascending

date event tags firsts
1873 8 Mar
187-
Marriage of `Abdu'l-Bahá to Munírih Khánum in the House of `Abbúd.
  • DH45 says the marriage took place in late August or September 1872.
  • See CH87–90, SES25-26, DH45–6 and RB2:208–9 for details of the wedding.
  • For the story of Munírih Khánum's life see RB2:204–9.
  • She was the daughter of Mírzá Muhammad-`Alíy-i-Nahrí by his second wife. [BBD165; GPB130; RB2:204]
  • See BBD 166, BKG340–1, DB208–9 and RB2:203–4 for the story of her conception.
  • See BKG344, MA112–13 and RB2:206–7 for the story of her first marriage.
  • The marriage resulted in nine children, five of whom died in childhood: Husayn Effendi (died 1887, aged two), Mihdí (died aged two-and-a-half), Túbá, Fu'ádiyyih and Rúhangíz. Four daughters grew to adulthood. The oldest of these was Díyá'iyyih, who married Mírzá Hádí Shírází in 1895. Shoghi Effendi was their eldest child. The second daughter, Túbá Khánum, married Mírzá Muhsin Afnán. The third daughter of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Rúhá, married Mírzá Jalál, the son of Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan, the King of Martyrs. The fourth daughter, Munavvar, married Mírzá Ahmad. [ABMM]
* `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Family of; Munirih Khanum; Weddings; Mírzá Muhammad-`Alíy-i-Nahrí; Diyaiyyih Khanum; Mírzá Hadi Shirazi; Tuba Khanum; Mírzá Muhsin Afnan; Ruha Khanum; Mírzá Jalal; Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Munavvar Khanum; Mírzá Ahmad; Genealogy; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Akka, Israel; Biography
1873 or 1874
187-
Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom) was written by Bahá'u'lláh in 'Akká and addressed to Mulla Muhammad-'Alí (Nabíl-i-Qa'iní), a former mujtahid in the Ithna 'Ashari sect of Shi'i Islam and a distinguished Bahá'í scholar and teacher. In this Tablet, Bahá'u'lláh elaborated His teachings on many themes, including the origins and development of "hikmat-i-iláhí" (divine philosophy), discussing a number of philosophers, including the Father of Philosophy (Idris/Hermes), Balinus (Apollonius of Tyana), Empedocles, Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Pliny. As well He explained the influence of the Word of God and the cause and origin of creation and of nature.
  • Ethel Rosenberg questioned 'Abdu'l-Bahá about the fact that Bahá'u'lláh's account of the Greek philosophers differed from historical documents. He answered in a lengthy letter which was translated into Persian and given wide distribution. It became known as the Rosenberg Tablet. [EJR78-81; A Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Explaining Three Verses in the Lawh-i-Hikmat by Abdu'l-Bahá translated by the Bahá'í World Centre.]
  • A copy of the Tablet of Wisdom with numbered paragraphs is available here.
  • See Rizal, Revelation and Revolution: Rizal's Letter to the Women of Malolos and Baha'u'llah's letter to Nabil Akbar Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom) by Stephen Ramo.
  • Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom); * Philosophy; - Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Ethel Rosenberg; Akka, Israel
    1873 (In the year)
    187-
    Ahmad Big Tawfíq (Ahmad Bey) became Mutasarrif of `Akká. [BBD12, 20; BBR487; DH126–9; GPB192]
  • His governorship lasted two years. [BKG337]
  • This `sagacious and humane governor' met `Abdu'l-Bahá and was greatly impressed by Him. The governor perused some of the writings, which also impressed him. [BKG334; GPB191]
  • In response to a request for permission to render Bahá'u'lláh some service, the suggestion was made to him to restore the disused aqueduct built to bring water into `Akká, a suggestion which he immediately arose to carry out'. [DH52; GBP192]
  • See DH126–9 for history of the aqueduct.
  • See BKG333–4 for information on Ahmad Big Tawfíq.
  • Ahmad Big Tawfiq (Ahmad Bey); - Mutasarrifs; - Governors; Akka, Israel
    1873 Late in the year
    187-
    Bahá'u'lláh acquired the house of `Abbúd. It is joined to the house of `Údí Khammár to make one residence and Bahá'u'lláh moved to the side of the house previously occupied by `Abbúd. [BBD106, 109; BKG319; DH51]
  • He lived here for four years. [BBD106, 109; BKG319; DH51]
  • See BBD1 for information on Ilyás `Abbúd.
  • Ilyas Abbud; House of Abbud (Akká); Bahá'u'lláh, Houses of; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Akka, Israel
    1873 Early part
    187-
    Bahá'u'lláh completed the revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in the southeast corner room of the house of `Údí Khammár. [BBD132; BKG351; DH46; GPB213; RB3:275; SA248; BBS145]
  • See A Description of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Shoghi Effendi.
  • There is evidence to suggest that at least some of the work was written earlier as confirmed by the book's reference to the fall of Napoleon III in 1870 and there is further evidence to suggest that parts of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas were revealed as early as 1868. [SA16–17, 248]
  • For the significance of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas see BKG351–3, BW15:87–91, GPB213–15 and RB3:275–399.
  • For analyses of its significance, content and application, see RB3:275–399 and SA248–52.
  • Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; Laws; House of Udi Khammar (Akká); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Bahaullah (chronology); Dating of Writings; - Tablets to kings and rulers; Napoleon III; - Gradual implementation of laws; Akka, Israel
    1873 1 Mar
    187-
    Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Tablet of the Vision, "Lawh-i-Rú'yá" in Arabic. See the Provisional Translation by Stephan Lambden. Lawh-i-Ruya (Tablet of the Vision); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Maid of Heaven; Akka, Israel
    1873 7 Jun
    187-
    Birth of Amelia Engelder Collins, Hand of the Cause, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. - Hands of the Cause; Amelia Collins; - Births and deaths; Pittsburgh, PA; Pennsylvania, USA; United States (USA)
    1873 12 Apr
    187-
    Birth of Hippolyte Dreyfus, the first French Bahá'í, in Paris. Named by Shoghi Effendi a Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Births and deaths; Paris, France; France First French Bahá'í
    1873 - 1892
    187-
    During this period Bahá'u'lláh's Writings pertained to the establishment of the new world order. * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Akka, Israel
    1873 (In the year)
    187-
    Ibn-i-Abhar was arrested in Tihrán and imprisoned for 14 months and 15 days. [BW18:383] Ibn-i-Abhar (Mulla Muhammad Taqi); Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1873 c. Mar
    187-
    Ilyás `Abbúd offers to provide a room in his house for `Abdu'l-Bahá and Munírih Khánum after their marriage. He furnished a room, opened a doorway into it through the dividing wall and presented it to Bahá'u'lláh for `Abdu'l-Bahá's use. [BKG348; DH45] Ilyas Abbud; House of Abbud (Akká); * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Munirih Khanum
    1873 (Latter part of the year)
    187-
    The existence of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was made known to the Bahá'ís. [SA248] Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Bahaullah (chronology); Akka, Israel
    1873 (In the year)
    187-
    The Law of the Huqúqu'lláh that had first been ordained by the Báb in 1848 in the Persian Bayán (chapter 19 of unit 5), was reiterated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, verses 227-233 and in the Questions and Answers.
  • At first Bahá'u'lláh declined to accept the Huqúq from the believers stating that the funds were not needed. [Huqúqu'lláh: The Right of God p9]
  • When Bahá'u'lláh revealed The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, He ordered it not to be released for a while. The reason for this He states in a Tablet was because it contained the law of Ḥuqúq, and He worried that the friends may not obey it, or even worse, may come to the wrong conclusions. The very thought that some people, in their immaturity, might possibly assume that the Ḥuqúq was intended for Bahá'u'lláh's personal use was extremely painful to Him. [Huqúqu'lláh The Right of God Study Guide by Firaydoun Javaheri 2015 p8]
  • "After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas had been revealed in response to the pleas of the friends, Bahá'u'lláh withheld it from publication for some time and even then, when a number of devoted Bahá'ís, having learned of the law, endeavored to offer the Ḥuqúqu'lláh, the payment was not accepted. The Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh show His acute consciousness of the way in which material wealth has been permitted to degrade religion in the past, and He preferred the Faith to sacrifice all material benefits rather than to soil to the slightest degree its dignity and purity. Herein is a lesson for all Bahá'í institutions for all time." [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1987]
  • Huququllah, Basic timeline; Huqúqu'lláh; Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Questions and answers; - Gradual implementation of laws
    1873 (In the year)
    187-
    The revelation of the obligatory prayers.

    "Many of the laws of the Báb...are carefully designed in a way that testifies that the advent of Him Whom God shall make manifest was impending....The Báb never revealed the words of the (obligatory) prayer itself, thus making the implementation of this law dependent on the arrival of the Promised One." [GH366]

    The original Bahá'í obligatory prayer, mentioned in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, involved nine cycles of movement starting with a bow (rak`ah) and was to be said morning, noon, and afternoon. It probably called for three rak`ahs at each time. Bahá'u'lláh revealed the text but did not release it in order to avoid provoking conflict with Muslims. (This prayer was one of the documents in the cases taken by `Abdu'l-Bahá's brothers shortly after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh.) Some time later, after the writing of the Kitab-i-Aqdas but before that of its supplement Questions and Answers, Bahá'u'lláh wrote a second set of obligatory prayers which are in use today. Three alternative forms were provided: a very short prayer to be said between noon and sunset; a somewhat longer prayer to be said in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening; and a long prayer to be said once during twenty-four hours. [Prayer and Worship by John Walbridge]

  • See Entering into Obligatory Prayer: Introduction and Commentary by Ismael Velasco.
  • See as well the message from the Universal House of Justice message of 28 November 2000 with commentary from Ismael Vlasco, Peter Terry and Michael Sours.
  • Obligatory prayer; Prayer; Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Questions and answers; Laws
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