The Day of the Covenant
'Abdu'l-Baha, (1844-1921), the beloved son of Baha'u'llah, God's Messenger for this era, played a unique role in not only the Baha'i Faith but in all of religious history.
He was born on May 23, 1844, on the very day the Bab, the Herald of the Baha’i Faith, proclaimed His mission to prepare the people for the coming of Baha’u’llah. Baha’is consider this day to be the beginning of a new age for humanity.
At age nine ‘Abdu’l-Baha was the first to recognize the spiritual transformation in His Father after Baha’u’llah received revelation from God. He became his Father’s steadfast aid and companion during many long years of hardship, banishment and exile from Their homeland in Persia (modern-day Iran).
In His will, Baha’u’llah appointed ‘Abdul-Baha to be the sole interpreter of His teachings and to lead the young Baha’i Faith after Him—a role ‘Abdul-Baha assumed at age 48. This transition in leadership, known as the Covenant, assured the unity of the Faith and spared it from the divisions and discord that affected other religions at times of succession.
‘Abdu’l-Baha was deeply spiritual, was devoted to God and had special insights into Baha’u’llah’s teachings. He was a living example of generosity, unconditional love for all and selfless service to others. He became the perfect role model of how to put the Baha’i teachings into practice. To those who knew and loved Him, he became “the Master.”
When early Baha’is wanted to celebrate ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s birthday, He told them that day was to be exclusively associated with the Declaration of the Bab. Instead, He asked them to remember November 26, to be observed as the day of the appointment of the “Center of the Covenant.”
‘Abdu’l-Baha worked tirelessly to spread His Father’s teachings of hope and universal peace in both word and deed. As the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant and the appointed interpreter of the Baha’i Revelation, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s writings form a part of Baha’i scripture.
When He passed away at the age of 77 on November 28, 1921, in Haifa, Israel (then Palestine), His funeral was attended by 10,000 mourners of numerous religious backgrounds. In spontaneous tributes to an admired personality, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was eulogized as One who led humanity to the “Way of Truth,” as a “pillar of peace” and the embodiment of “glory and greatness.”
