The Covenant of Baha'u'llah
by Adib Taherzadeh
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chapter 9 | start page | single page | chapter 11 |  |
Chapter 10
The Appointment of Abdu'l-Bahá
Innumerable are the occasions on which Bahá'u'lláh has extolled the station of Abdu'l-Bahá and praised His outstanding qualities. But at no time during His Ministry did Bahá'u'lláh disclose to His followers the position of Abdu'l-Bahá as His Successor and the Centre of His Covenant. He kept this a well-guarded secret, and to no one did He intimate that Abdu'l-Bahá would be ministering the affairs of the Cause after Him. The only two references in His Writings on the question of successorship may be found in the Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book). In these passages He alludes in language meaningful, profound and eloquent to the One who will become the Centre of the Cause after Him, but does not explicitly mention His name; only indicates that He has issued from Him."When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root." [10-1]
"When the Mystic Dove will have winged its flight from its Sanctuary of Praise and sought its far-off goal, its hidden habitation, refer ye whatsoever ye understand not in the Book to Him Who hath branched from this mighty Stock." [10-2]
It is known that Ali-Muhammad Varqa, the renowned Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh, asked Him about the identity of the person alluded to in the above verses. In a Tablet [10-3] addressed to Varqa, Bahá'u'lláh indicated that the intended person was the Most Great Branch, and after Him the Greater Branch. But this disclosure was not shared with the Bahá'à community.
These words were revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas nineteen years before the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh. During these years, no one who read these passages had any doubt as to the identity of the one 'Whom God had purposed, Who had branched from this Ancient Root'. It was obvious to all, especially to every member of Bahá'u'lláh's family, that this was a reference to Abdu'l-Bahá and no one else.
The only document which explicitly announced Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh and the One to Whom all must turn after His Ascension was the Kitab-i-'Ahdi (The Book of My Covenant) which was published among the believers only after His passing. This historic document was probably written at least one year before the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, for it is alluded to in the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf as the 'Crimson Book'. Bahá'u'lláh kept His Will and Testament secret, retained it in His own possession and did not share its contents with anyone during His lifetime. But there is evidence to suggest that He had intimated its contents to Abdu'l-Bahá.
Bahá'u'lláh entrusted the Kitab-i-'Ahd to Abdu'l-Bahá during His last illness before His Ascension and informed the members of His family a few days before He departed from this world that in a document entrusted by Him to Abdu'l-Bahá, He had commended them all to His care. The first time the Kitab-i-'Ahd was read aloud in the presence of a number of friends was on the ninth day after the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, and soon afterwards its text was released to the believers.
Since it is so essential to the study of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, the text of the Kitab-i-'Ahd is given here.
"Although the Realm of Glory hath none of the vanities of the world, yet within the treasury of trust and resignation we have bequeathed to Our heirs an excellent and priceless heritage. Earthly treasures We have not bequeathed, nor have We added such cares as they entail. By God! In earthly riches fear is hidden and peril is concealed. Consider ye and call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'an: 'Woe betide every slanderer and defamer, him that layeth up riches and counteth them.'[1] Fleeting are the riches of the world; all that perisheth and changeth is not, and hath never been, worthy of attention, except to a recognized measure.
[1 Qur'an 104:1-2.]
"The aim of this Wronged One in sustaining woes and tribulations, in revealing the Holy Verses and in demonstrating proofs hath been naught but to quench the flame of hate and enmity, that the horizon of the hearts of men may be illumined with the light of concord and attain real peace and tranquillity. From the dawning-place of the divine Tablet the day-star of this utterance shineth resplendent, and it behoveth everyone to fix his gaze upon it: We exhort you, O peoples of the world, to observe that which will elevate your station. Hold fast to the fear of God and firmly adhere to what is right. Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men. Lofty is the station of man! Not long ago this exalted Word streamed forth from the treasury of Our Pen of Glory: Great and blessed is this Day — the Day in which all that lay latent in man hath been and will be made manifest. Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth even as a firmament; its sun and moon are his sight and hearing, and his shining and resplendent character its stars. His is the loftiest station, and his influence educateth the world of being.
"Every receptive soul who hath in this Day inhaled the fragrance of His garment and hath, with a pure heart, set his face towards the all-glorious Horizon is reckoned among the people of Baha in the Crimson Book. Grasp ye, in My Name, the chalice of My loving-kindness, drink then your fill in My glorious and wondrous remembrance.
"O ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissension. In the eyes of men of insight and the beholders of the Most Sublime Vision, whatsoever are the effective means for safeguarding and promoting the happiness and welfare of the children of men hath already been revealed by the Pen of Glory. But the foolish ones of the earth, being nurtured in evil passions and desires, have remained heedless of the consummate wisdom of Him Who is, in truth, the All-Wise, while their words and deeds are prompted by idle fancies and vain imaginings.
"O ye the loved ones and the trustees of God! Kings are the manifestation of the power, and the daysprings of the might and riches, of God. Pray ye on their behalf. He hath invested them with the rulership of the earth and hath singled out the hearts of men as His Own domain.
"Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden in His Book. This is a decree of God in this Most Great Revelation. It is divinely preserved from annulment and is invested by Him with the splendour of His confirmation. Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
"It is incumbent upon everyone to aid those daysprings of authority and sources of command who are adorned with the ornament of equity and justice. Blessed are the rulers and the learned among the people of Baha. They are My trustees among My servants and the manifestations of My commandments amidst My people. Upon them rest My glory, My blessings and My grace which have pervaded the world of being. In this connection the utterances revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas are such that from the horizon of their words the light of divine grace shineth luminous and resplendent.
"O ye My Branches! A mighty force, a consummate power lieth concealed in the world of being. Fix your gaze upon it and upon its unifying influence, and not upon the differences which appear from it.
"The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsan, the Afnan and My kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: 'When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred Verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [Abdu'l-Bahá]. Thus have We graciously revealed unto you our potent Will, and I am verily the Gracious, the All-Powerful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch [Muhammad-'Ali] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch [Abdu'l-Bahá]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have chosen 'the Greater' after 'the Most Great', as decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All Informed.
"It is enjoined upon everyone to manifest love towards the Aghsan, but God hath not granted them any right to the property of others.
O ye My Aghsan, My Afnan and My Kindred! We exhort you to fear God, to perform praiseworthy deeds and to do that which is meet and seemly and serveth to exalt your station. Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest commander that can render the Cause of God victorious, and the hosts which best befit this commander have ever been and are an upright character and pure and goodly deeds.
"Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope that the people of Baha may be guided by the blessed words: 'Say: all things are of God.' This exalted utterance is like unto water for quenching the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts and breasts of men. By this single utterance contending peoples and kindreds will attain the light of true unity. Verily He speaketh the truth and leadeth the way. He is the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the Gracious.
"It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the Aghsan, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word exalted. This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded in the Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnan and the kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nations and to strive for the betterment of the world.
"That which is conducive to the regeneration of the world and the salvation of the peoples and kindreds of the earth hath been sent down from the heaven of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. Give ye a hearing ear to the counsels of the Pen of Glory. Better is this for you than all that is on the earth. Unto this beareth witness My glorious and wondrous Book." [10-4]
Those who are unfamiliar with the history and origins of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, or who have a superficial understanding of His Faith, may find it strange that whereas Bahá'u'lláh explained every subject to His followers and clarified every question which they raised, He did not specifically name His successor during His lifetime. It is customary, and indeed essential, for a monarch to nominate his heir to the throne. In this way his subjects will have every opportunity to become familiar with their future head of state and orientate themselves towards him. What were the reasons that prevented Bahá'u'lláh from doing that? Could He not have announced to the entire Bahá'à community the appointment of Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre of His Covenant during His own days? Looking at it purely from a human point of view, it appears that had Bahá'u'lláh made such an appointment during His lifetime, all the differences which arose after His Ascension could have been avoided. He, as the Manifestation of God, had the wisdom and authority to settle every misunderstanding, to suppress any opposition, to establish the position of Abdu'l-Bahá in the minds and hearts of the believers on a firm foundation, and to ensure the loyal support of all the members of His family towards His successor.
But Bahá'u'lláh did none of these things. He did not disclose the identity of the person who was to succeed Him, but kept it a well-guarded secret that had to be divulged only after His passing. As we shall see later, Abdu'l-Bahá also did the same thing in relation to His successor. He did not reveal the identity of Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Cause of God during His own lifetime. That also was a well-guarded secret which was disclosed only when His Will and Testament was read. It is true that Abdu'l-Bahá intimated to one or two individuals the identity of His successor, but the generality of the Bahá'à community remained unaware of this.
That the identity of the Centre of the Covenant was kept secret and revealed only after the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh constitutes one of the most important features of the Covenant. A deeper understanding of this Covenant depends upon the individual appreciating the manifold wisdoms hidden in this act of Bahá'u'lláh. Not until one grasps the purpose and significance of such secrecy in the appointment of the successor, be he Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, or the Universal House of Justice, will the believer be able to acquire a true comprehension of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh in all its aspects.
Although such an understanding must come about primarily through the believer himself meditating upon the Holy Writings, studying the history of the Covenant, its genesis, and its workings, and praying that his heart may become the recipient of divine knowledge, yet the following explanation may throw some light on this important subject.
The main function of the Manifestation of God is to reveal the teachings of God for the age in which He appears. In so doing, He is ready to explain to His followers the meaning and purpose of His Revelation and to solve any difficult questions for them. Both in His association with the believers and in His Tablets, Bahá'u'lláh was always ready to explain the significances which were enshrined in His Writings. Many of His Tablets were revealed in response to the various questions which were asked by His followers and, at times, by others. These questions ranged from weighty religious and spiritual matters to unimportant minor problems which affected the lives and activities of the friends. To all these questions Bahá'u'lláh responded by expounding His teachings, interpreting the Scriptures of the past, clarifying many of their abstruse passages and statements, revealing the mysteries surrounding some of His profound utterances, delineating the features of His New World Order, giving details of the application of His laws and ordinances, and explaining, in simple terms, the verities of His Faith to those who requested further elucidation.
However, on one subject Bahá'u'lláh remained silent: designating the person who was to succeed Him. There are many wisdoms in this. Let us return yet again to the analogy of the teacher. It is the teacher's duty to impart knowledge to his pupils and help them in their work, and he is always ready to explain the various subjects to his pupils and answer their questions. But on one occasion he must remain silent and refrain from helping them or answering their questions: namely, on the examination day. On that day the students are left on their own and will have to find the answers by themselves. Only those who pass the examinations are elevated to a higher class, and those who fail are not.
The history of the Faith demonstrates that the Covenant has always provided great tests for the believers. The Bab gave the glad-tidings of the coming of 'Him Whom God shall make manifest' but did not reveal specifically His identity. Bahá'u'lláh kept the appointment of Abdu'l-Bahá a secret, and so the Kitab-i-'Ahd became, in the terms of the above analogy, the examination paper for the believers. The winds of tests began to blow immediately once the contents of that historic document were published. As we shall see later, the community of the Most Great Name was engulfed in a tempest of unprecedented severity. Many souls who were unfaithful and ambitious broke the Covenant and arose with all their might to wrest the leadership of the Cause from the hand of Abdu'l-Bahá, persisting in their ignoble activities for years until, by their own deeds, they brought about their own extinction.
These tests[1] associated with so mighty an institution as the Covenant are inevitable and constitute an inseparable feature of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh for all time. Similar tests appeared when the contents of the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá were made public. Some ambitious people, among them most of the members of Abdu'l-Bahá's own family, who sought leadership and proved to be insincere in their faith, broke the Covenant and rose up against Shoghi Effendi. Here again, the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá became an examination paper for the believers.
[1 For a fuller discussion of tests in this life see The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 3. See also below pp. 364-5.]
After the passing of Shoghi Effendi, too, the winds of tests blew and some misguided and egotistical personalities broke away and were cast out of the community of the Most Great Name. This time the non-existence of a will and testament by Shoghi Effendi became the examination paper.
The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh will continue to provide the testing ground for the followers of Bahá'u'lláh. Those few who may succumb to the dictates of their own selfish desires and arise in opposition to the divinely-ordained institutions of the Faith will cut themselves off the tree of the Cause of God and will wither and perish in time. Indeed, one of the distinguishing features of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh is that although many of its outstanding followers rebelled against the Covenant and tried with all their might to undermine its foundations, they did not succeed in creating schisms and breaking the unity of the community.
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chapter 9 | start page | single page | chapter 11 | |
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