Holy Days

An Account by ‘Abdu’l-Baha on Ridvan (The Declaration of Baha’u’llah)

Note: 1280 AH = 1863 CE

Source:”Twelve Table Talks given by ‘Abdu’l‑Baha in ‘Akka”

After coming to Baghdad from Persia, Baha’u’llah declared to a certain extent the nature of His mission in the ninth year after the appearance of the Bab…

The government of Persia was extremely hostile in those days, and all were seeking by every means to cause Him suffering and to bring Him to harm. At last the Persian government, having grown alarmed at His influence, said: “Baghdad is close to Persia and is a place of passage for the Persians. Thus, in order to put out this fire Baha’u’llah must be banished to a distant land.” The Persian government then petitioned the Ottoman government, and Baha’u’llah was as a result transferred with all due honour out of Baghdad.

Leaving the city, Baha’u’llah went to the garden of Najib Pasha and resided there for twelve days. During that time many people, both high and low, and even the Governor and a number of other officials, attained His blessed presence. These are the twelve days of Riḍvan.

In any event, it was by means of hints and allusions that Baha’u’llah first declared His mission during those twelve days.

Subsequently, the Persian government caused Baha’u’llah to be further banished to Adrianople. From there numerous Tablets were revealed day and night to the effect that “Since We have been expelled from our homeland and banished from Baghdad to a remote place, that the fire of the love of God might be quenched, the lamp of guidance extinguished, the banner of God hauled down, and the call of the True One silenced, We have therefore chosen to fully reveal the Cause, manifest the proof, raise the call, and hoist the banner of the Cause of God, that all may see that this persecution, enmity, banishment, and exile has only deepened the influence of the Word of God, that the fame of the Cause has been noised abroad, and that the tidings of the advent of the Kingdom of God have reached unto both East and West.” This universal declaration took place in the year 1280.