The Life of Bahá’u’lláh
Ruhi Grade 4--Lesson 5
Akka--The Most Great Prison
Gather all people beneath the shadow of Thy bounty and cause them to unite in harmony, so that they may become as the rays of one sun, as the waves of one ocean, and as the fruit of one tree. May they drink from the same fountain. May they be refreshed by the same breeze. May they receive illumination from the same source of light. Thou art the Giver, the Merciful, the Omnipotent.
~Abdu’l-Bahá
“Glorified art Thou, O God of all names and Creator of the heavens! I render Thee thanks that Thou hast made known unto Thy servants this Day whereon the river that is life indeed hath flowed forth from the fingers of Thy bounty, and the springtime of Thy revelation and Thy presence hath appeared through Thy manifestation unto all who are in Thy heaven and all who are on Thy earth.”
–Baha’u’llah
“O my Lord! O my Lord! This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving.” –Abdu’l-Baha
“O my Lord! O my Lord! This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving.” –Abdu’l-Baha
“O my Lord! O my Lord! This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving.” –Abdu’l-Baha
Bahá’u’lláh suffered a great deal to deliver His teachings to humanity.
All Manifestations of God have suffered in the hands of leaders concerned only with their own wealth and power.
Baha’u’llah also suffered greatly. He lived a life of imprisonment and exile.
Lies were told about Him. His teachings were ignored and rejected. His loyal followers were persecuted.
But He persisted because He knew His teachings would help conquer ignorance.He showed kindness even to His worst enemies.
For 40 years he gave guidance to humanity.
Our hearts too should not waver when we face difficulty and when people oppose the Faith.
“Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote prison. And be thou so steadfast in My love that thy heart shall not waver, even if the swords of the enemies rain blows upon thee and all the heavens and the earth arise against thee.”
–Baha’u’llah
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Leaders of Persia and the Ottoman Empire thought that they would succeed in putting an end to Baha’u’llah’s growing influence among the people. But you know, of course, that through the heroic efforts of outstanding believers like Ahmad, the number of Baha’u’llah’s followers was steadily increasing.
Story
Leaders of Persia and the Ottoman Empire thought that they would succeed in putting an end to Baha’u’llah’s growing influence among the people. But you know, of course, that through the heroic efforts of outstanding believers like Ahmad, the number of Baha’u’llah’s followers was steadily increasing.
Story
The authorities decided to exile Him once again, this time to the fortress of Akka, a desolate prison-city in which, they were sure, the new Faith would soon die.
The inhabitants of Akka were told that the new arrivals were not mere criminals, but enemies of God’s religion. The Sultan had given orders for them to be kept in strict confinement. His orders had been read publicly in the mosque, and it was understood by all that these Persians had been condemned to life imprisonment and that association with them was strictly forbidden.
“And if anyone ask them: “For what crime were they imprisoned?”, they would answer and say: “They, verily, sought to supplant the Faith with a new religion!” . . . If this be My crime, then Muhammad, the Apostle of God, committed it before Me, and before Him He Who was the Spirit of God [Jesus Christ], and yet earlier He Who conversed with God [Moses]. And if My sin be this, that I have exalted the Word of God and revealed His Cause, then indeed am I the greatest of sinners! Such a sin I will not barter for the kingdoms of earth and heaven.” – Baha’u’llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, pp. 140-141.
Mirza Mihdi was one of Baha’u’llah’s sons. He had a beautiful character, and all the friends were attracted to his noble spirit. By the time he and his family reached Akka, he served his Father as a scribe, writing and copying the Tablets He ceaselessly revealed.
It was while Baha’u’llah and His family were imprisoned in Akka that Mirza Mihdi died. He was walking on the roof while praying and fell through an open skylight.
“Know thou that upon Our arrival at this Spot, We chose to designate it as the ‘Most Great Prison’. Though previously subjected in another land to chains and fetters, We yet refused to call it by that name. Say: Ponder thereon, O ye endued with understanding.”
~Baha’u’llah
Song
Facts