History of Master’s Life

Liberty at Last

Source: ‘Abdu’l-Baha: The Centre of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah | by H. M. Balyuzi

 In 1908, the Young Turk Revolution released all religious and political prisoners in the Ottoman Empire and, after decades of imprisonment and exile, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was free.

The very first act of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, on hearing that He was free, was to visit the Shrine of His Father. …No sooner was He free to visit Bahji [where the shrine was located] than He resumed the task which He had so diligently pursued in days past. 

During the period immediately following the change of the Turkish regime, ‘Abdu’l-Baha continued His residence in ‘Akka. But after the entombment of the remains of the Bab [Naw-Ruz, 1909], He chose to live in Haifa, where a house was being built for Him. …The Shrine of the Bab was now a place of pilgrimage. 

[‘Abdu’l-Baha soon began] taking the first step to reach the world of the West and deliver, in person, the Message of His Father. … 

A letter written… dated August 29th [1910] read in part:

“Abdul-Baha has left this Holy Spot for the first time in forty-two years, and has gone to Egypt.”

‘Abdu’l-Baha soon after began His travels to Europe and North America: 

… For nearly one month Abdu’l-Baha remained in Port Said and the friends of God came from Cairo, in turn, to visit him. One day he called me to accompany him when taking a walk in the streets of the city. He said: “Do you realize now the meaning of my statement when I was telling the friends that there was a wisdom in my indisposition?” I answered, “Yes, I do remember very well.” He continued, “Well, the wisdom was that I must always move according to the requirements of the Cause. Whatever the Cause requires for its promulgation, I will not delay in its accomplishment for one moment! Now, the Cause did require that I travel to these parts, and had I divulged my intention at that time, many difficulties would have arisen.”

…[‘Abdu’l-Baha] spoke much of the work in America, to which he undoubtedly is giving considerable thought. He also spoke a good deal about the work that is going forward in different European centres as well as in London…

And when he left Port Said for His next destination:

…His personal triumph resounding in Egypt, ‘Abdu’l-Baha turned His attention to Europe. On August 11th 1911, He boarded S.S. Corsica bound for Marseilles.