https://youtube/watch?v=hAIMNRhM5Sw `Abdu’l-Bahá, born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Baháulláh, the founder of the Baháí Faith. In 1892, `Abdul-Bahá was appointed in his fathers will to be his successor and head of the Baháí Faith. `Abdul-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm. At the age of eight his father was imprisoned and the familys possessions were looted, leaving them in virtual poverty. Along with his father, `Abdul-Bahá was exiled to Baghdad where the family lived for nine years. During his youth he was faithful to his father and was regarded as an outstanding member of the Bahá’í exile community. As a teenager he was his father’s amanuensis and was regularly seen debating theological issues with the learned men of the area. In 1863 Baháulláh was again exiled to Constantinople. During the 1860s the family was banished from Constantinople to Adrianople, and then finally to the penal-colony of Acre, Palestine. With his fathers death in 1892, and his appointment as head of the Bahá’í faith, there was much opposition to him, including virtually all his family members. Notwithstanding this, practically all of the worldwide Bahá’í community accepted his leadership. In 1908, at the age of 64 and after forty years imprisonment, `Abdu’l-Bahá was freed by the Young Turks and he and his family began to live in relative safety. His journeys to the West, and his Tablets of the Divine Plan spread the Baháí message beyond its middle-eastern roots, and his Will and Testament laid the foundation for the current Baháí administrative order. Many of his writings, prayers and letters are extant, and his discourses with the Western Baháís emphasize the growth of the faith by the late 1890s. `Abdul-Bahás given name was `Abbás, but he preferred the title of `Abdul-Bahá (servant of the glory of God). He is commonly referred to in Baháí texts as The Master, and received the title of KBE after his personal storage of grain was used to relieve famine in Palestine following World War I, but never used the title.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:56:05 +0000