I Blog Poetry and Prose

Soundtrack of Your Life Challenge: Day 25 - 'Abdu'l-Baha

Fiḍál (Grace), 19 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Artist: Dominique Sylvester
Title: 'Abdu'l-Baha

Lyrics1

CHORUS
My name is Abdul-Baha my qualification is Abdul-Baha
My reality is Abdul-Baha, My praise is Abdul-Baha
VERSE
Thraldom to the blessed perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem
And servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion
CHORUS
My name is Abdul-Baha my qualification is Abdul-Baha
My reality is Abdul-Baha , My praise is Abdul-Baha
VERSE
No name, no title mention no commendation hath I nor will ever have except Abdul-Baha
CHORUS
My name is Abdul-Baha my qualification is Abdul-Baha
My reality is Abdul-Baha, My praise is Abdul-Baha
VERSE
This is my longing this is my greatest yearning, this is my eternal life
This is my everlasting glory
CHORUS
My name is Abdul-Baha my qualification is Abdul-Baha
My reality is Abdul-Baha, My praise is Abdul-Baha

'Abdu'l-Baha, which means Servant of the Glory, the son of Baha'u'llah and the Perfect Exemplar of Baha'u'llah's teachings. In His will Baha'u'llah named 'Abdu'l-Baha as the head of the faith, and the person Baha'is should turn to after the death of Baha'u'llah. 'Abdu'l-Baha was born on May 22, 1844--the same evening as the Bab declared His mission--and died on November 28, 1921.2

In 1911 and 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha traveled to the west. He visited France, England, the United States, and Canada. During his travels he gave public talks and demonstrated in his actions the teachings of Baha'u'llah,3 Writing about everything 'Abdu'l-Baha did during his journey to the west is a subject that would take several blog entries.

At Ridvan 2019, the Universal House of Justice--the world governing body of the Baha'i Faith--announce that construction would begin on the Shrine of the 'Abdu'l-Baha. In January of this year, the Baha'i World News Service printed the article A momentous endeavor begins: Groundwork being laid for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha  . The Shrine will be located at the Baha'i World Centre on Mount Carmel in Israel. When this shrine is completed, 'Abdu'l-Baha's body will be moved from its present location, in the Shrine of the Bab, to its new location in the Shrine of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

Joyful news
'Abdu'l-Baha's shrine
is now under construction,
as humanity moves toward world peace.

Footnotes
1  https://www.bahaiblog.net/2018/11/abdul-baha-by-dominique-sylvester/#more-34647
2  https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/life-abdul-baha
3  ibid.