The Story of Baha'u'llah: Promised One of All ReligionsAn easy-to-read introduction to the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith.Born to Persian nobility in the early nineteenth century, Baha'u'llah (1817-1892) seemed destined for a life of wealth and ease. Yet from an early age He showed little interest in courtly privileges, preferring to minister to the less fortunate of His native Tehran. Later, He cast aside all considerations of future material comfort by declaring His recognition of the Bab. The Bab was a young man from Shiraz who claimed to be a Messenger sent by God to transform the spiritual life of humanity and to prepare the way for One who would bring an even greater revelation. His support of the Bab resulted in the loss of virtually all His worldly possessions, imprisonment in Tehran's notorious Black Pit, and a series of increasingly harsh and remote exiles spanning forty years. The first exile was to Baghdad, where, in 1863, Baha'u'llah announced that He was that Promised One foretold by the Bab and, in fact, by all the world's religions.From Baghdad, Baha'u'llah was sent to Constantinople, then Adrianople, and finally to 'Akka, a remote outpost of the Ottoman Empire. Each exile was intended to strip Baha'u'llah of His influence and exterminate the young religion, yet each move had the opposite effect. Baha'u'llah teachings about the underlying unity of the world's religions and the inevitable emergence of a unified global civilization attracted thousands to investigate further. Today, the Baha'i Faith is the second most widespread of the world's religions, with a growing membership numbering some five million. |
Contents
Shaykh Mahmúds Secret Plan | 3 |
The Puppet Show and the Dream | 6 |
The Home of Love | 10 |
Father of the Poor and Mother of Consolation | 13 |
No Time to Lose | 17 |
The Quest | 23 |
Witnesses of the Dawn | 27 |
Noble Descendant of a Noble Father | 32 |
One Hundred and Ten Days | 172 |
The Sultans Command | 175 |
The Poisoned Cup | 178 |
The Most Great Separation | 182 |
He Who Feareth No One | 186 |
O Kings of the Earth | 190 |
Destination Unknown | 194 |
The Most Great Prison | 198 |
The Mujtahid and the Dervish | 36 |
Awake Awake | 40 |
The Scholar and the Governors | 44 |
The Open Mountain and the Grievous Mountain | 50 |
Rage and a Secret Rescue | 53 |
The Blast of the Trumpet | 57 |
The Sermon of Wrath and a Royal Command | 62 |
BandarGaz and the Black Standard | 64 |
Danger at Amul | 68 |
Courage at Tabarsí | 72 |
Embattled | 76 |
No Peace in the City of Tabríz | 80 |
A Promise Kept in Karbala | 86 |
A Plot against the Shah | 90 |
Prisoner | 94 |
The Black Pit | 96 |
Cruel Days | 100 |
The Mystery of God and His Treasure | 105 |
Banished | 110 |
Terrible Journey | 114 |
Baghdad | 121 |
Thousands of Oceans of Light | 124 |
The Dark Campaign | 128 |
Alone in the Wilderness | 131 |
The Nameless One | 135 |
A Joyful NawRúz | 140 |
Purity within Purity | 144 |
Unlocking the Doors of Heaven | 148 |
The Shaykh and the Assassin | 153 |
The Eldest Uncles Questions | 157 |
A Paradox Resolved | 163 |
The Garden of Paradise | 167 |
Seeking a Glimpse of the Lord | 201 |
For the Healing of All the World | 204 |
Into the Mouth of the Serpent | 209 |
The Greatest Gift | 213 |
The Whisperings of Satan | 218 |
The Keys of My Mercy | 222 |
The Governor and the Master of Acre | 226 |
Two Birds of the Nest of Thy Love | 229 |
The Hand of God | 234 |
Oasis | 238 |
The King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs | 242 |
Blessed Is the Place | 246 |
To Conquer the Cities of the Hearts | 250 |
The Master | 254 |
O Most Exalted Leaf | 258 |
These Fruitless Strifes These Ruinous Wars | 263 |
The King of Days | 267 |
The Holy Mountain and the Martyrs of Yazd | 273 |
A Pattern for the Future | 278 |
The Sun of Bahá Has Set | 284 |
An Excellent and Priceless Heritage | 287 |
A Brief Chronology of Events in the Life of Baháullah | 291 |
A Note about the Wives of Baháullah and Bahái Marriage | 293 |
Islam and Its Two Major Branches Shia and Sunni | 294 |
Millennial Christians | 296 |
Mírzá Yahyá | 300 |
Notes | 303 |
Glossary | 319 |
335 | |
341 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abdu'l-Bahá Acre answered asked Báb Báb's Bábís Baghdad Bahá'ís Bahá'u'lláh Bahíyyih Khánum began believers Black Book brother called carried Cause death divine earth Effendi exiles eyes face Faith father followers friends garden gates gave given Glory governor grand vizier hands hath heart holy hour human Husayn-'Alí Islam journey Khán Khánum King knew later leader learned leave letter light lived look Lord meaning meet Messenger Mírzá Yaḥyá mountain Muḥammad Mullá Husayn Muslim Navváb never night once passed peace Persia prayer prepared prison promised Prophet questions quoted received religion remained revealed sent shah Shaykh Siyyid soon soul spiritual tablet teachings Tehran thee things thou told took traveled truth turned verses walked women write wrote young