The Life of Bahá’u’lláh
Ruhi Grade 4--Lesson 2 Baghdad Years
“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.”
–Bahá’u’lláh
“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.”
–Bahá’u’lláh
Bahá’u’lláh is the “Sun of Truth”.
-What does it mean that people are “lost in a sleep of negligence”?
-Who is the “Sun of Truth”?
-When the Sun of Truth appears, what happens to those who have inner eyes to see?
-What happens to those whose inner eyes are closed?
-What will happen to the world as more and more people accept Bahá’u’lláh?
“The peoples of the world are fast asleep. Were they to wake from their slumber, they would hasten with eagerness unto God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
–Bahá’u’lláh
I have found Bahá’u’lláh
Songs
Yes I Believe You
In January 1853 Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from Persia to Baghdad with about 70 companions including his family.
It took about 3 months walking over the mountains in the winter to make the journey.
The Babi community was discouraged and disunited during the first year in Baghdad. Mirza Yahya’s jealousy of Bahá’u’lláh caused suffering and confusion.
“We betook Ourselves to the wilderness, and there, separated and alone, led for two years a life of complete solitude. ...Many a night We had no food for sustenance, and many a day Our body found no rest. By Him Who hath My being between His hands! Notwithstanding these showers of afflictions and unceasing calamities, Our soul was wrapt in blissful joy, and Our whole being evinced an ineffable gladness.” Bahá’u’lláh
While in the wilderness, Baha’u’llah comes upon a young student who is unhappy because he is having difficulty finishing his calligraphy homework. Baha’u’llah writes a sample for him to copy. When the little boy showed the sample to his teacher everyone was astounded. This event and other interactions he has with the townspeople cause His fame to spread abroad. His family in Baghdad hear of a Man of extraordinary wisdom living in this area of Kurdistan and know it must be Baha’u’llah. They send a messenger to beg Him to return.
Watch from 19:00 to 25:22
“Many a night, no less than ten persons subsisted on no more than a pennyworth of dates. No one knew to whom actually belonged the shoes, the cloaks, or the robes that were to be found in their houses. Whoever went to the bazaar could claim that the shoes upon his feet were his own, and each one who entered the presence of Bahá’u’lláh could affirm that the cloak and robe he then wore belonged to him. Their own names they had forgotten, their hearts were emptied of aught else except adoration for their Beloved…O, for the joy of those days, and the gladness and wonder of those hours!” (From Nabil’s Narrative)
“As Bahá’u’lláh’s fame and popularity grew, some religious leaders in Baghdad became jealous and felt threatened. They challenged Bahá’u’lláh to perform a miracle to convince them of His extraordinary powers. Bahá’u’lláh accepted their challenge! But on one condition...
What year was Bahá’u’lláh exiled from Persia (Iran)?
1853
How long did the difficult journey from Tehran to Baghdad take?
About 3 months
When did Bahá’u’lláh leave Baghdad for Kurdistan?
April 1854
How many years did Bahá’u’lláh spend in Baghdad?
10 years including 2 years in the mountains of Sulaymaniyyih
During the time that Bahá’u’lláh spent in Baghdad, the Babi community was revived through His love and wisdom and the power of His Words.
Drama Challenge
Act out the story of the young student showing his penmanship to his teacher.
Have a family member record a short video and post it to our class Flipgrid by visiting https://flipgrid.com/5cd52d3b and entering the password RuhiGrade4
Art Challenge
Draw a picture of a person waking to the dawn of a new day.
Take a picture and post it to our class Flipgrid by visiting https://flipgrid.com/5cd52d3b and entering the password RuhiGrade4
Early Riser Challenge
Wake up at dawn one time this week and say Dawn Prayers with your family.
Take a picture of your family prayer time or something that you notice during family prayer time and post it to our class Flipgrid by visiting https://flipgrid.com/5cd52d3b and entering the password RuhiGrade4. If you like you can also write a few words about the experience of waking up early to say prayers.
Hope to see you next week!
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