The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh - Bahá'í Holy Day

In the early hours of 29th May Bahá’ís around the world commemorate the passing of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith.

Although still a prisoner, during the last years of His life Bahá’u’lláh lived in the mansion of Bahji outside the walls of the prison city of Akka. It was here that He passed away in the early hours of 29th May 1892.



Nine months before His passing Bahá'u'lláh spoke of His desire to leave this world and it became increasingly clear that the time of His passing was nearing.

On the evening of May 8th 1892 Bahá'u'lláh developed a slight fever which, though it worsened the following day, then seemed to improve. He continued to meet friends and visitors but it was plain that He was not well.

Six days before Bahá'u'lláh passed away He called His followers assembled at Bahji to His bedside where He spoke gently and affectionately to them for the last time.

"I am well pleased with you all" He said "Ye have rendered many services, and been very assiduous in your labours. Ye have come here every morning and every evening. May God assist you to remain united. May He aid you to exalt the Cause of the Lord of being."

The fever returned, stronger than before, and Bahá'u'lláh's condition steadily worsened. Then at the hour of dawn on May 29th 1892 his spirit passed out of this world.

The news of Bahá’u’lláh's passing was telegraphed to the Sultan and the opening words of the message read "the sun of Bahá has set". A room was chosen close to the mansion and just before sunset on the very day of His passing Bahá’u’lláh’s body was laid to rest. His resting place is the most holy spot in the world for Bahá’ís and the place to which Bahá’ís turn towards in prayer and visit on pilgrimage.

Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 139


Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 137

Service to humanity is service to God

That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 248


Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 176


Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over, and the fame and riches, the comforts, the joys provided by this rubbish-heap, the world, will be gone without a trace. Summon ye, then, the people to God, and invite humanity to follow the example of the Company on high. Be ye loving fathers to the orphan, and a refuge to the helpless, and a treasury for the poor, and a cure for the ailing. Be ye the helpers of every victim of oppression, the patrons of the disadvantaged. Think ye at all times of rendering some service to every member of the human race. Pay ye no heed to aversion and rejection, to disdain, hostility, injustice: act ye in the opposite way. Be ye sincerely kind, not in appearance only. Let each one of God's loved ones centre his attention on this: to be the Lord's mercy to man; to be the Lord's grace. Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men. In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind: for love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 2


Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants of the Abhá Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will one day bejewel the crown of abiding glory.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 133


With reference to Bahá'u'lláh's command concerning the engagement of the believers in some sort of profession: the Teachings are most emphatic on this matter, particularly the statement in the Aqdas to this effect which makes it quite clear that idle people who lack the desire to work can have no place in the new World Order. As a corollary of this principle, Bahá'u'lláh further states that mendicity should not only be discouraged but entirely wiped out from the face of society. It is the duty of those who are in charge of the organization of society to give every individual the opportunity of acquiring the necessary talent in some kind of profession, and also the means of utilizing such a talent, both for its own sake and for the sake of earning the means of his livelihood. Every individual, no matter how handicapped and limited he may be, is under the obligation of engaging in some work or profession, for work, especially when performed in the spirit of service, is according to Bahá'u'lláh a form of worship. It has not only a utilitarian purpose, but has a value in itself, because it draws us nearer to God, and enables us to better grasp His purpose for us in this world. It is obvious, therefore, that the inheritance of wealth cannot make anyone immune from daily work.

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas , (Notes) p. 192


They that are the chosen ones of God should at all times and under all conditions dedicate themselves assiduously to the service of His Cause.

Bahá’u'lláh, in Fire and Light, a compilation, p. 12

Service to humanity is service to God.

'Abdu'l Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 8

Teaching the children

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. . . .

...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.

Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Education, a compilation of the Universal House of Justice


...Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.

Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 68

The Bahá'í Writings speak of three kinds of education: material, human, and spiritual. Material education concerns the improvement of physical well-being, which encompasses better nutrition and hygiene, better family health, and a greater capacity to earn and provide food, shelter, and clothing. Human education concerns civilization and progress in those activities which are essential to humankind, as distinct from the animal world, such as knowledge of commerce, sciences, and arts and an understanding of institutions and policy. Spiritual or moral education develops values and shapes character; it largely determines to what end an individual will use whatever knowledge he or she acquires. Bahá'ís see all three kinds of education as important.

The failure to educate the human spirit and the neglect of character development have contributed to a number of seemingly intractable social problems. As Bahá'ís are determined to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization, the worldwide Bahá'í community is systematically opening children's classes to provide for the spiritual education of all children.

Concepts that are taught in children's classes (often through use of arts such as song, drama, and visual arts) include the nobility of the human soul, the equality of women and men, love for all races of humanity, unity in diversity, love for God and His Messengers, love for one's parents, and service to humanity.

New Bahá'í portal

Map of Bahá'í blogs from the Bahainine website.


From the Bahainine website:

The map you see on bahainine.com right now is only one small part of our overall project soon to be www.bahaitop9.com. The larger goal is a site where the newest and best Baha'i generated content - like blogs, podcasts, flickr pictures, and youtube videos - are dynamically collected and updated in a single portal.

It's so amazing to read blogs about Feast in Tanzania, see video of junior youth in Malaysia and pictures of study circles in El Salvador - and eventually this website will be a simple portal to see it all!

Take a look here.

International Reading Room

For those around the world and those who don't speak English, the Planet Bahá'í web site offers a selection of materials on the Bahá'í Faith in other languages and pertaining to countries around the world in their International Reading Room. You'll also find resources to help you learn about different countries.

This reading room is continually being updated so you may want to bookmark it and return periodically to see what is new.