Tag: Bahá’u’lláh

In the Garden of Ridvan . . .

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Saturday (April 21) marks the start of the 12-day Festival of Ridvan for Bahá’is across the world. It’s a time of commemmoration for the time Bahá’u’lláh spent in the Garden of Ridvan before being exiled from Baghdad to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).

Bahá’u’lláh spent 40 years of his life in exile (he was originally sent from his native Tehran in Persia – present-day Iran – in 1853).

The Festival of Ridvan marks the anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s declaration in 1863 that He was a new messenger of God. He called Ridvan the “King of Festivals” and the “Festival of God,” among other names.

Bahá’is throughout the Thames Valley are gathering on April 21 for prayers and meditations at the start of the Festival of Ridvan. April 21 is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended.

Does a lack of obedience in children start here?

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WHY TEACHING CHILDREN IS IMPORTANT

A close look at the teachings of Baha’u’llah, in a Tablet (translated from the Persian) [14] could shed light on where disobedience in children may start.

 Baha’u’llah said: “That which is of paramount importance for the children, that which must precede all else, is to teach them the oneness of God and the laws of God.

“For lacking this, the fear of God cannot be inculcated, and lacking the fear of God an infinity of odious and abominable actions will spring up, and sentiments will be uttered that transgress all bounds. . .

“The parents must exert every effort to rear their offspring to be religious, for should the children not attain this greatest of adornments, they will not obey their parents, which in a certain sense means that they will not obey God.

“Indeed, such children will show no consideration to anyone, and will do exactly as they please.” 

Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, A Compilation on Baha’i Education (Haifa: Baha’i World Centre, August 1976) P. 3. Available from http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/BE/be-19.html