Tag: Bahai

Charity saved him from ill-feted Titanic voyage . . .

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá - who didn't take the ill-feted Titanic voyage.
In 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spent from April to December touring North America. He is shown here (at center) with Bahá’ís at Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1912. Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community.

There has been some epic storytelling over the past few weeks marking the one hundred years ago since the “unsinkable” Titanic sank into the North Atlantic, taking with her more than 1,500 lives.

Of all the stories, one of the most extraordinary is that of a 68-year-old Persian who was supposed to be on the ill-fated vessel but wasn’t – it turns out – actually there.

Abbas Effendi – known as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or “the Servant of God” – was feted by the press in both Europe and the U.S. as a philosopher, a peace apostle, even the return of Christ. His American admirers had sent him thousands of dollars for a ticket on the Titanic, and begged him to ride in the greatest of opulence.

His saving grace for that ill-feted journey was that he declined and gave the money to charity.

Is April 21 important to you?

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Ridvan Garden - meaning 'paradise' in Arabic.
Ridvan Garden - meaning 'paradise' in Arabic. Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community.

The Festival of Ridvan, celebrated from April 21 to May 2 1863, commemorates the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh resided in a garden called Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad.

At this time, He publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger – that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions. 

The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) are holy days when work is suspended. They mark the day of Bahá’u’lláh’s arrival in the garden, the arrival of His family and the group’s departure for Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) – where he was exiled.

Throughout Ridvan, Bahá’is gather for prayers and meditations and attend social gatherings. It is also during this time that elections take place for Bahá’i governing bodies.