Brief History of the Bah' Faith

compiled by Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Boise, Idaho. 1996-11-2

Bah!'" #istory ca$ be di%ided i$to se%e$ periods thus far. &he first three periods form the Apostolic or #eroic A'e. &he first epoch ce$tres arou$d the youthful a$d 'e$tle Bab (mea$i$' the )ate, also *$o+$ as the ,oreru$$er of the A$cie$t Beauty-, .hose brief tumultuous /i$istry prepared the +ay for the lo$'-a+aited comi$' of the promised /esse$'er of )od. &he seco$d epoch is ce$tered about the ma0estic, po+erful a$d a+e-i$spiri$' fi'ure of Bah!'u'll!h (mea$i$' the )lory of )od, also *$o+$ by the titles1 &he Blessed 2erfectio$, &he A$cie$t Beauty-, the 2romised 3$e of all reli'io$s. #a%i$' 'i%e$ up a life of e4treme +ealth a$d ease, #e promoted the /essa'e of the Bab, o$ly later to lear$ that #e #imself +as the 2romised 3$e foretold by the Bab a$d by the reli'io$s of the past. 5$duri$' 67 years of e4iles a$d impriso$me$ts, a$d u$der $early impossible circumsta$ces, surrou$ded by e$emies a$d their plots, lies a$d i$tri'ues, #e re%ealed )od's /essa'e for this 8ay. &he third epoch re%ol%es arou$d the mi$istry of 'Abdu'l-Bah! (mea$i$' ser%a$t of the )lory, i.e. of the )lory of )od- a$d eldest so$ of Bah!'u'll!h. Shari$' #is ,ather's e4iles a$d impriso$me$ts, 'Abdu'l-Bah! became the perfect e4ample of #is ,ather's &eachi$'s a$d today is *$o+$ as the 54emplar a$d I$terpreter of the Bah!'" ,aith, &he /ost )reat Bra$ch, &he /aster, a$d &he 9e$ter of Bah!'u'll!h's 9o%e$a$t.

&he last four periods comprise the ,ormati%e A'e. &he first epoch of the ,ormati%e A'e :+it$essed the birth a$d the primary sta'es i$ the erectio$ of the frame+or* of the Admi$istrati%e 3rder of the ,aith:. :&hat epoch +as characteri;ed by a t+ofold process aimi$' at the co$solidatio$ of the admi$istrati%e structure of the ,aith a$d the e4te$sio$ of the ra$'e of its i$stitutio$s.: --9itadel of ,aith, p. . &he seco$d epoch e4te$ded that t+ofold process, e4te$di$' the ra$'e of 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s 8i%i$e 2la$ a$d culmi$ati$' +ith the electio$ of the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. &he third epoch, characteri;ed by rapid 'ro+th, co$cluded +ith the be'i$$i$' of the ,aith's emer'e$ce from obscurity i$to the lar'er are$a of public $otice, fueled i$ $o small part by the persecutio$ of the Bah!'"'s i$ the la$d of It's birth. &he fourth >a$d prese$t? epoch be'a$ +ith the i$creased maturatio$ of the admi$istrati%e i$stitutio$s from the local spiritual assemblies up to a$d i$cludi$' the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice +hich is $o+ e$'a'ed i$ a %ast e4pa$sio$ of the .orld 9e$ter. &his epoch +ill also +it$ess the complete emer'e$ce of the ,aith from obscurity a$d %astly 'reater i$%ol%eme$t i$ the social a$d eco$omic de%elopme$t of the +orld.

&his brief 'uide pro%ides a chro$olo'ical %ie+ of the more si'$ifica$t e%e$ts i$ the history of the reli'io$. &he chro$olo'y has bee$ pieced to'ether from a broad array of historical sources +hich +ill o$e day be listed at the e$d.

Sho'hi 5ffe$di's system of tra$sliteratio$ is used throu'hout to most accurately display 2ersia$ a$d Arabic $ames. #&/L does $ot permit full accuracy i$ this re'ard, as it does $ot support all the $ecessary characters. #ere is a brief pro$u$ciatio$ 'uide to assist the reader1

Bah!'u'll!h is pro$ou$ced1 Ba >as i$ bac*? - ha+ - o >as i$ short? - la+. .here%er you see a, thi$* a as i$ arm. ' i$dicates a pause. /ir;a is pro$ou$ced1 /eer;a+. .he$e%er you see i, thi$* ee as i$ meet. Bah!'" +ould therefore be Ba - ha+ - >brief pause? - ee@ i$ this co$te4t the i mea$s of, as i$ follo+er of. Auddus is pro$ou$ced1 Bhodoos. .he$e%er you see u thi$* oo as i$ moo$. 8o$'t +orry too much about the A - it is a 'uttural sou$d that does$'t come $aturally to A$'lopho$es . <$less you ha%e heard Arabic or 2ersia$, 0ust treat it li*e a B.

,irst 5poch of the #eroic A'e1 1C66-1C D1 &he /i$istry of the Bab, the ,oreru$$er 12 Eo% 1C1F Birth of Bah!'u'll!h (/ir;a #usay$-'Ali- i$ &ihra$, to o$e of the +ealthiest families i$ 2ersia. Bah!'u'll!h, $e%er ha%i$' atte$ded school, is tau'ht calli'raphy, ridi$', classical poetry a$d a 'ood readi$' *$o+led'e of the Aur'a$ +hich +as customary for a $oblema$'s so$ at that time. 27 3ct 1C19 Birth of the Bab (Siyyid 'Ali-/uhammad- i$ Shira;, 2ersia pre-1C66 Bah!'u'll!h becomes *$o+$ as :&he ,ather of the 2oor: for #is 'e$erosity a$d care of the $eedy. #is father dies i$ 1CD9. Bah!'u'll!h +as as*ed to ta*e #is father's place i$ the 'o%er$me$t but Bah!'u'll!h refuses the positio$. 22 /ay 1C66 8eclaratio$ of the missio$ of the Bab i$ Shira; to /ulla #usay$ at 2 hours, 11 mi$utes after su$set >tech$ically, 2D /ay - $e+ day be'i$s after su$set?. 2D /ay 1C66 Birth of 'Abdu'l-Bah! ('Abbas 5ffe$di-, eldest so$ of Bah!'u'll!h soo$ after1 &he Bab i$structed /ulla #usay$ to 0our$ey throu'h 2ersia a$d IraG a$d deli%er a scroll to 3$e .ho is +orthy. &he reputatio$ of Bah!'u'll!h co$%i$ces him that #e is the i$te$ded recipie$t. Bah!'u'll!h reads the scroll a$d immediately becomes a follo+er of the Bab. 12 8ec 1C66 &he Bab, accompa$ied by #is foremost disciple Auddus, u$derta*es a pil'rima'e to /ecca a$d /edi$a +here #e performs #is first public declaratio$ of #is di%i$e missio$. /ar 1C6 &he Bab retur$s to Shira;. #is &eachi$'s cause commotio$ amo$' the populace, especially the cler'y. soo$ after1 &he Shah comma$ds the erudite Hahid to i$%esti'ate the Bab's claims. Hahid becomes a leadi$' disciple. #u00at, a$other di'$itary of the realm, also becomes a leadi$' disciple. &he a$4iety amo$' the cler'y i$creases.

Sep 1C66 &he Bab 0our$eys to Isfaha$, accorded ho$ours by the people. 8eath +arra$t issued by the local hi'h cler'y. &he Bab 0our$eys to Basha$ a$d &abri;, recei%es e$thusiastic receptio$ by the people. 2D Sep 1C66 &he Bab is arrested i$ Shira; at the house of #is u$cle. &he Shah, prompted by his top ad%isor, #a0i /ir;a AGasi, has the Bab i$carcerated at the fortress of /ah-*u i$ the mou$tai$s of Adhirbay0a$ for $i$e mo$ths. &he local populace, at first hostile, comes to re%ere #im. &he Bab re%eals o$e of #is 'reat +or*s, the Baya$. 1 Apr 1C6F Bah!'u'll!h se$ds a letter a$d 'ifts to the Bab i$ /ah-*u. 27 /ar 1C6C /ulla #usay$ arri%es at /ah-*u to see the Bab. 17 April 1C6C 8ue to the 'reat i$flue$ce #e +as ha%i$' +ith the people of the area, the Bab is tra$sferred to priso$ i$ 9hiri', a Burdish area hostile to 2ersia$s. #ere too ma$y leadi$' citi;e$s become follo+ers. &he Bab is arrai'$ed i$ &abri; +here #e ma*es a dramatic public declaratio$ of #is Statio$. #e is retur$ed to 9hiri'. =u$ 1C6C 9o$fere$ce of Badasht. 3r'a$i;ed, directed a$d hosted by Bah!'u'll!h a$d atte$ded by C1 of the Bab's leadi$' follo+ers, the Babi ,aith for the first time becomes u$derstood by It's follo+ers as a reli'io$ disti$ct from Islam. Bah!'u'll!h besto+s a $e+ $ame upo$ each participa$t a$d +ith $o co$tact, the Bab later co$firms a$d uses those same $ames ($ote1 the $e+ $ames are the o$es bei$' used i$ this accou$t-. &ahirih (the pure- pro$ou$ces the eGuality of +ome$ a$d publicly remo%es her %eil. Bah!'u'll!h reco$ciles the participa$ts follo+i$' this 'reat co$tro%ersy, facilitati$' their u$dersta$di$' of this $e+ reli'io$. 21 =ul 1C6C /ulla #usay$ hoists the Blac* Sta$dard a$d marches from /ashad +ith 272 fello+ disciples to assist Auddus i$ /a;i$dara$. 6 Sep 1C6C /uhammad Shah, i$te$di$' to order death of Bah!'u'll!h, dies, succeeded by 1Fyear old Easiri'd-8i$ Shah. #a0i /ir;a AGasi, chief a$ta'o$ist of the Bab (the A$tichrist of the Babi ,aith-, is e4pelled from the capital. 17 3ct 1C6C /ulla #usay$ a$d the 272 fello+ disciples are besie'ed at Shay*h &abarsi, e%e$tually surrou$ded by t+e$ty thousa$d soldiers. Eo% 1C6C Auddus arri%es at ,ort &abarsi after /ulla #usay$ secured his release from Sari. 8ec 1C6C Bah!'u'll!h impriso$ed a$d tortured i$ Amul. 17 /ay 1C69 &he sie'e at Shay*h &abarsi e$ds i$ betrayal +he$ a promise of :$o harm:, si'$ed o$ a Aur'a$, is bro*e$. &he Babis are tortured, mutilated a$d massacred. 16 /ay 1C69 /artyrdom of Auddus i$ Barfurush. soo$ after1 A force of 777 me$ be'i$ e4termi$atio$ of Babis, co$fiscati$' possessio$s, destroyi$' houses, 'ri;;ly tortures, mutilatio$s a$d e4ecutio$s - all i$spired by reli'ious

fa$aticism i$flamed by the cler'y. 1C77 Babis martyred i$ Ia$0a$ i$cludi$' me$, +ome$ a$d childre$. #u00at is martyred. &he famous Se%e$ /artyrs of &ihra$ are martyred. 29 =u$e 1C 7 Hahid is mutilated a$d *illed i$ Eayri;. 9 =ul 1C 7 Attempted e4ecutio$ of the Bab i$ &abri; by a firi$' sGuad of F 7 soldiers i$ fro$t of 27,777 +it$esses fails. &he Bab %a$ishes i$ the smo*e a$d is fou$d later completi$' #is fi$al i$structio$s to #is ama$ue$sis. &he leader of the first firi$' sGuad refuses to try a'ai$. A seco$d attempt is made usi$' a $e+ leader at $oo$, this time successfully. A 'ale force +i$d, earthGua*e, cholera a$d fami$e immediately follo+. 3$e third of the firi$' sGuad later die i$ a$ earthGua*e, the remai$der are e4ecuted for muti$y. &he bodies of the Bab a$d A$is are retrie%ed as directed by Bah!'u'll!h a$d ultimately i$terred at the Shri$e of the Bab o$ the slope of /t. 9armel, Israel. D7 Au' 1C 1 Bah!'u'll!h arri%es i$ Barbila, IraG - the start of a 17 mo$th pil'rima'e. 9o$ti$ues to spread the Bab's &eachi$'s. 1 Au' 1C 2 &+o cra;ed Babis attempt to *ill Easiri'd-8i$ Shah. &hey are e4ecuted o$ the spot. Eatio$+ide rei'$ of terror s+eeps 2ersia. A$yo$e suspected of bei$' Babi are *illed i$ u$spea*ably 'ruesome a$d i$huma$e ma$$ers. /a$y 5uropea$ diplomats +it$ess a$d record the e%e$ts. &he $omi$ee of the Bab, /ir;a Jahya, half-brother of Bah!'u'll!h, flees ($ote1 the Bab appoi$ted him as #is fi'urehead to deflect atte$tio$ a+ay from Bah!'u'll!h-. <po$ heari$' $e+s of the assassi$atio$ attempt, Bah!'u'll!h rides to the military post i$ Eiya%ara$. #e is arrested a$d marched i$ chai$s, bare headed a$d bare footed to the Siyah-9hal of &ihra$ (literally mea$i$' the Blac* 2it, it +as :a$ abomi$able pit that had o$ce ser%ed as a reser%oir of +ater for o$e of the public baths: of &ihra$-. #ere #e +as surrou$ded by crimi$als +ith #is feet i$ mi'hty stoc*s a$d $ec* +ei'hed do$e by a mi'hty chai$, a chai$ so i$famous that it had it's o+$ $ame. &ahirih is e4ecuted. #er last +ords1 :Jou ca$ *ill me as soo$ as you li*e, but you ca$$ot stop the ema$cipatio$ of +ome$:. Bah!'u'll!h is $o+ the sole sur%i%or from amo$' the leaders of the Babi ,aith. Eo o$e +ould si'$ #is death +arra$t out of fear that #is e4ecutio$ +ould spar* riots throu'hout 2ersia. I$stead, it +as hoped that he +ould die i$ this loathsome priso$. &his +as $ot to be.

Seco$d 5poch of the #eroic A'e1 1C D-1C921 &he /i$istry of Bah!'u'll!h Au' - Eo% 1C 2 I$ the Siyah-9hal, Bah!'u'll!h recei%es #is I$timatio$ that #e is the /esse$'er of )od for this 8ay. #e leads the priso$ers i$ so$' so loud that the Shah hears the si$'i$' from his palace. 3$e by o$e, most of the other Babis chai$ed +ith #im are e4ecuted. By $o+, a$ appro4imate total of 27,777 Babis had bee$ martyred. Bah!'u'll!h is poiso$ed, but sur%i%es. Bah!'u'll!h's family a$d Kussia$ /i$ister 2ri$ce 8ol'orou*i demo$strate the complete i$$oce$ce of Bah!'u'll!h i$ the matter of the assassi$atio$ attempt. Bah!'u'll!h is released after four mo$ths of impriso$me$t, carryi$' the deep mar*s of the chai$s throu'hout the remai$der of #is days. 'Abdu'l-Bah! reco'$i;es the full impact of the statio$ of #is ,ather. Bah!'u'll!h besto+s upo$ #is So$ the desi'$atio$ :/ystery of )od:.

12 =a$ 1C D Bah!'u'll!h is ba$ished, chooses Ba'hdad for #is place of e4ile. #is +ealth is co$fiscated a$d properties pilla'ed. #is you$'est so$ is left behi$d +ith relati%es because of the lac* of pro%isio$s a$d the harsh +i$ter tra%el. C Apr 1C D Bah!'u'll!h arri%es i$ Ba'hdad. /ir;a AGa =a$ is the first to reco'$i;e #im as the 2romised 3$e. Bah!'u'll!h achie%es 'reat fame because of the lo%e #e sho+s the people a$d because of the 'reat .riti$'s #e re%eals. #e is sho+$ %e$eratio$ by the populace. /ir;a Jahya, prodded by Siyyid /uhammad (the A$tichrist of the Bah!'" ,aith-, be'i$s to discredit Bah!'u'll!h out of 0ealousy. 17 Apr 1C 6 Bah!'u'll!h lea%es for the mou$tai$s of Burdista$ >Sulayma$iyyih? so that #e +ould $ot be a source of disu$ity amo$' the Babis. #ere he stays $early t+o years i$ isolatio$, e4cept for brief %isits to a local to+$ for pro%isio$s. Hilla'ers +ho ha%e co$tact +ith #im spread +ord of #im a$d are ma'$eti;ed +ith #is lo%e. /ea$+hile, u$der /ir;a Jahya's directio$, the Babi commu$ity de'e$erates. 3ut of desperatio$, 2 me$ claimed to be the 2romised 3$e foretold by the Bab. 'Abdu'l-Bah!, heartbro*e$ by #is ,ather's abse$ce, passes time by copyi$' a$d memori;i$' the Bab's .riti$'s. 19 /ar 1C 6 ,ame of a ma$ i$ the mou$tai$s of Burdista$, had reached Ba'hdad. Bah!'u'll!h's family reali;ed this ma$ is Bah!'u'll!h a$d pleads for #is retur$. #e does retur$ to Ba'hdad o$ this day a$d be'i$s to rebuild the Babi commu$ity. &he commu$ity 'ro+s i$ si;e a$d respect. 1C 6 Bah!'u'll!h re%eals &he Se%e$ Halleys. Later re%eals &he ,our Halleys. 1C C Bah!'u'll!h re%eals the #idde$ .ords. circa 1C67 Bah!'u'll!h applies for 3ttoma$ $atio$ality - obtai$s &ur*ish passports. Bah!'u'll!h's atte$da$t is co$%i$ced to murder #im as #e bathed, but struc* by a+e i$ #is prese$ce a$d remorse, he flees. Later, the same ma$ approaches Bah!'u'll!h +ith a pistol, but a'ai$, i$ #is prese$ce, drops the pistol a$d flees. ,amous meeti$' occurs bet+ee$ Bah!'u'll!h a$d cler'y of se%eral differe$t faiths, i$ +hich the cler'y co$cedes Bah!'u'll!h's *$o+led'e a$d +isdom. &hey as* #im to perform a miracle as a fi$al proof. Bah!'u'll!h a'rees, but says they must all a'ree to o$e miracle >for the 9ause of )od is $ot a sidesho+ +ith hourly miracles? a$d put i$ +riti$' that upo$ completio$ of the miracle, they must co$fess the truth of #is 9ause. &he cler'y could $ot a'ree o$ a miracle a$d drop the challe$'e. 'Abdu'l-Bah!, $o+ 1 , %isits the local mosGues a$d has dialo' +ith the lear$ed a$d #imself becomes famous for #is +isdom. circa 1C61-2 Bah!'u'll!h re%eals &he Boo* of 9ertitude >Bitab-i-IGa$?. 21 /ar 1C6D Bah!'u'll!h re%eals the &ablet of the #oly /ari$er, i$ +hich #e re%eals 'loomy predictio$s. 2rompted by the stirri$'s of the cler'y a$d the 2ersia$ 9o$sul )e$eral of Ba'hdad, Bah!'u'll!h +as i$%ited to Ista$bul o$ /arch 26th a$d 'i%e$ a sum of mo$ey for the 0our$ey by the )o%er$or of Ba'hdad. Bah!'u'll!h accepts the i$%itatio$ but 'i%es all the mo$ey to the poor.

22 April 1C6D 2ublic declaratio$ of the missio$ of Bah!'u'll!h i$ the )arde$ of Kid%a$ (mea$i$' 2aradise, the$ *$o+$ as the )arde$ of Ea0ibiyyih- i$ Ba'hdad o$ the shores of the &i'ris Ki%er, $i$etee$ years after the Bab's declaratio$, +hich fulfills the Bab's prophecy. D /ay 1C6D Bah!'u'll!h, 11 family members a$d 26 disciples depart for 9o$sta$ti$ople at $oo$. 8uri$' the 0our$ey, they are accorded e$thusiastic receptio$s +here%er they stopped, bei$' preceded by the 'o%er$me$t ca%alry, fla's flyi$' a$d drums beati$'. 1D Au' 1C6D Bah!'u'll!h departs by steamer from the port of Samsu$ to 9o$sta$ti$ople. 16 Au' 1C6D Arri%al i$ 9o$sta$ti$ople (the Sublime 2orte- at $oo$. &he house pro%ided +as too small. .ithi$ a mo$th they +ere relocated to lar'er Guarters. &he 2ersia$ 'o%er$me$t is e4tremely upset +ith the courteous$ess a$d *i$d$ess sho+$ by the Sulta$ to+ard Bah!'u'll!h, .ho +as recei%ed as a 'uest. ,i$ally the Sulta$ +as u$able to resist the political pressure a$d issues the edict of ba$ishme$t to the remote Adria$ople >moder$ day 5dir$e?. Bah!'u'll!h se$ds #is first of ma$y letters to the Bi$'s a$d rulers of the +orld, to Sulta$ 'Abdu'l-'A;i;. 12 8ec 1C6D Arri%al i$ Adria$ople (the La$d of /ystery- after a bitterly cold 12 day 0our$ey. #ere, Bah!'u'll!h publicly a$$ou$ces #is missio$, both to #is follo+ers a$d to the +orld i$ letters to the Bi$'s, rulers, reli'ious leaders a$d ma$*i$d i$ 'e$eral i$cludi$' elected officials. /ost Babis accept #im a$d become *$o+$ as Bah!'"s. Eote that Bah!'u'll!h's prese$ce i$ 9o$sta$ti$ople a$d Adria$ople +ere the first time i$ recorded +orld history that a /a$ifestatio$ of )od set foot o$ 5uropea$ soil. #ere, #is re%elatio$ rose to its ;e$ith@ #e is sho+$ 'reat respect by local officials, the diplomatic corps, a$d reli'ious commu$ities. Amo$' those addressed by Bah!'u'll!h at this time +ere1 Eapoleo$ III, the 9;ar, Auee$ Hictoria, the 2ope, the Sulta$ a$d the Shah. I$ most cases, Bah!'u'll!h declares #is /issio$ a$d ma*es dema$ds of the ruler a$d states the co$seGue$ces should #e be re0ected. All but Auee$ Hictoria re0ect #im, a$d all but Auee$ Hictoria succumb to defeat a$d humiliatio$, i$cludi$' 2ope 2ius IL.

1C66 Bah!'u'll!h is poiso$ed by #is half brother, AGay-i-Balim. #e +as seriously ill for a mo$th a$d +as left +ith a sha*i$' ha$d u$til the e$d of #is life. >&oday, you ca$ see the effects of the poiso$i$' i$ the pe$ma$ship of Bah!'u'll!h, preser%ed i$ the Bah!'" archi%es i$ #aifa.? /ir;a Jahya has the +ell poiso$ed +hich pro%ided +ater to Bah!'u'll!h's compa$io$s. 1C6 Les Keli'io$s et les 2hilosophies da$s l' Asie 9e$trale by the 9omte de )obi$eau is published, ma*i$' the .est a+are of the Bab. 'Abdu'l-Bah! becomes *$o+$ by all as :&he /aster:. some time later Bah!'u'll!h re%eals the &ablet of Ahmad for Ahmad-i-Ja;di, a reside$t of Ba'hdad, +ho tra%els throu'hout 2ersia co$firmi$' that Bah!'u'll!h is the 2romised 3$e of all a'es >part of the proof he 'a%e +as a +ritte$ stateme$t by the Bab :+hich declared that '#e .hom )od shall ma*e ma$ifest' +ould bear the $ame Bah!:?. 12 Au' 1C6C /ir;a Jahya (+ho had bee$ 'i%e$ the title Subh-i-A;al >/or$i$' of 5ter$ity? by the Bab?, respo$ded to Bah!'u'll!h's public claim by also claimi$' he +as a messe$'er of )od.

8ue to the plotti$',schemi$' a$d i$tri'ues by /ir;a Jahya >+ho +as the co$sta$t +illi$' tool of Siyyid /uhammad?, the Sulta$ ba$ishes Bah!'u'll!h a$d #is compa$io$s to 'A**a, +hile /ir;a Jahya a$d his party >the A;alis? are se$t to 9yprus. Bah!'u'll!h a$d 66 of #is follo+ers departs from Adria$ople, i$itially for )allipoli. Additio$ally, the 'o%er$me$t decided that four of the A;alis +ould accompa$y the Bah!'" 'roup a$d %ice %ersa. Siyyid /uhammad +as o$e of the four to accompa$y Bah!'u'll!h. &he lies a$d calum$ies by /ir;a Jahya a$d Siyyid /uhammad dama'ed the presti'e of the ,aith i$ the eyes of its +ester$ admirers such as 5. ). Bro+$e a$d A.L./. Eicolas >the ,re$ch 8iplomat a$d tra$slator of the 2ersia$ a$d Arabic Baya$s?. Jahya later died +ith $o follo+ers left to 'i%e him a burial as either a Babi or Bah!'". 21 Au' 1C6C Bah!'u'll!h departs from )allipoli by steamer for #aifa a$d the$ by sail to 'A**a. D1 Au' 1C6C Arri%al i$ 'A**a (the /ost )reat 2riso$, today *$o+$ as Acre-, a priso$ city for +hich it +as said at that time that should a bird fly o%er it, the bird +ould surely fall to the 'rou$d dead for its foul air. 8uri$' the first short +hile, almost all the priso$ers became ill +ith malaria, dyse$tery or other sic*$esses. 'Abdu'l-Bah! te$ded to all the sic* e%e$ thou'h he himself co$tracted a$ ill$ess. Bah!'u'll!h predicts that o$e day #e +ill pitch #is te$t o$ /t. 9armel. &hree succumbed to their ill$esses. 2 Sep 1C6C &he )o%er$or of 'A**a %isits the :desperate crimi$als: a$d is deeply impressed by 'Abdu'l-Bah!. #e is mo%ed to impro%e their co$ditio$s. A$other %isitor states that :such pure a$d sa$ctified souls had $e%er before bee$ see$ i$ 'A**a:. /ea$+hile, Siyyid /uhammad a$d AGa =a$ Bi', the source of all the lies to the authorities, co$%i$ced some 'uards to mo%e their Guarters to o%erloo* the la$d 'ate so that they could ide$tify a$yo$e +ho arri%ed if they +ere Bah!'" a$d thus +ar$i$' the 'uards, the pil'rims +ho had +al*ed for +ee*s +ould be tur$ed bac* +ithout e%e$ a 'limpse of Bah!'u'll!h throu'h #is cell +i$do+. 2D =u$ 1CF7 /ir;a /ihdi >the 2urest Bra$ch, Bah!'u'll!h's you$'est so$? falls throu'h a s*yli'ht i$ the priso$. Bah!'u'll!h offers to heal him but /ir;a /ihdi i$stead offers his life as a sacrifice so that those +ho desire may u$derta*e pil'rima'es. Bah!'u'll!h accepts a$d the 2urest Bra$ch dies at a'e 22. F7 years later, his body is e$tombed i$ the /o$ume$t )arde$s o$ /ou$t 9armel. 6 Eo% 1CF7 Kelease from priso$ barrac*s to house +ithi$ 'A**a >the house of '<di Bhammar?. &his house +as attached to the house of 'Abbud. &he partitio$ bet+ee$ them +as later remo%ed a$d became *$o+$ as simply the house of 'Abbud. 2D =a$ 1CF2 /urder of Siyyid /uhammad >the o$e +ho had co$sta$tly ma$ipulated /ir;a Jahya i$to his co+ardly acts?, AGa =a$ Bi' a$d a$other compa$io$ 9o%e$a$t-brea*er i$ 'A**a i$ retaliatio$ for their persecutio$s. Bah!'u'll!h had forbidde$ a$y act of retaliatio$, but se%e$ of #is torme$ted compa$io$s succumbed. A$ army of me$ desce$ded upo$ the Bah!'"s. &he se%e$ 'uilty me$ +ere co$fi$ed for se%eral years. &he remai$der +ere co$fi$ed for si4 mo$ths. &he distress caused to Bah!'u'll!h of this e%e$t +as immeasurable1 :&hat +hich ca$ ma*e /e ashamed is the co$duct of such of /y follo+ers as profess to lo%e /e:.

Au' - Sep 1CF2 /arria'e of 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d /u$irih Bha$um. ,our of their dau'hters sur%i%ed the lo$' impriso$me$t a$d disti$'uished themsel%es i$ their li%es dedicated to ser%ice. 1CFD A $e+ 'o%er$or of 'A**a is appoi$ted. &his o$e +as capti%ated by 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d sa+ throu'h the ploys of the a$ta'o$ists. #e as*ed Bah!'u'll!h +hat he could do of ser%ice1 Bah!'u'll!h reGuested that the aGueduct be restored to operatio$. Bah!'u'll!h re%eals the Bitab-iAGdas (the /ost #oly Boo*, the Boo* of La+s a$d 3rdi$a$ces of the Bah!'" ,aith-. I$ this Boo* is also fou$d ma$y more addresses to the rulers of the +orld a$d is the culmi$atio$ of #is formal declaratio$. &he Bah!'" commu$ity tra$sformed i$to a respected commu$ity a$d Bah!'"s +ere allo+ed to ope$ up shops. 1CF &he $e+ 'o%er$or is tra$sferred, e4presses his sorro+ at his separatio$ from Bah!'u'll!h a$d #is so$. =u$e 1CFF 8eparture from 'A**a for the /a$sio$ of /a;ra'ih a$d #is first %isits to the Kid%a$ )arde$. Sep 1CF9 3ccupatio$ of the /a$sio$ of Bah0i (=oy-. Bah!'u'll!h i$creasi$'ly dele'ates affairs of the Bah!'" commu$ity to+ard 'Abdu'l-Bah!, helpi$' the commu$ity to become 'radually accustomed to 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s role after Bah!'u'll!h's passi$'. 1CCD Hisit by Bah!'u'll!h to #aifa 1CC6 8eath of Bah!'u'll!h's +ife Ea%%ab i$ 'A**a April 1C97 5d+ard )ra$%ille Bro+$e of 9ambrid'e <$i%ersity, i$ter%ie+s Bah!'u'll!h a$d %isits +ith 'Abdu'l-Bah! at Bah0i. Spri$' 1C97 a$d summer 1C91 &+o more %isits by Bah!'u'll!h to #aifa@ re%elatio$ of the &ablet of 9armel@ Bah!'u'll!h's ide$tificatio$ of the site of the future Shri$e of the Bab. 1C91 Bah!'u'll!h's re%elatio$ of the 5pistle to the So$ of the .olf 1C92 Ke%elatio$ of the Bitab-i-'Ahd (the Boo* of the 9o%e$a$t-, the last &ablet re%ealed. 29 /ay 1C92 Asce$sio$ of Bah!'u'll!h at C hours after su$set >appro4imately. DA/? i$ Bah0i, 'A**a. F =u$ 1C92 <$seali$' a$d readi$' of Bah!'u'll!h's Bitab-i-'Ahd at Bah0i. 'Abdu'l-Bah! (:the 9e$tre of the 9o%e$a$t of Bah!'u'll!h:, :the /aster:, :the /ost /i'hty Bra$ch:, :the 54emplar:is appoi$ted as the i$terpreter of #is teachi$'s a$d the source of authority i$ all affairs of the faith.

&hird 5poch of the #eroic A'e1 1C92-19211 &he /i$istry of 'Abdu'l-Bah!

1C92-1C96 /ir;a /uhammad-'Ali (also a so$ of Bah!'u'll!h, desi'$ated &he )reater Bra$ch, seco$d i$ ra$* to 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d half-brother of 'Abdu'l-Bah!- u$derta*es co%ert campai'$ to discredit 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d assume leadership of the Bah!'" ,aith. 'Abdu'l-Bah! chooses to *eep sile$t a$d protect the commu$ity . 2D Sep 1C9D ,irst public me$tio$ of the Bah!'" ,aith i$ the .est. I$ a sessio$ of the .orld's 2arliame$t of Keli'io$s, the Ke%ere$d )eor'e A. ,ord, a Syria$ missio$ary, reads a paper tal*i$' about Bah!'u'll!h. ,eb 1C96 8r. Ibrahim )eor'e Bhayru'llah, ha%i$' arri%ed i$ Ee+ Jor* i$ 1C92, mo%es to 9hica'o a$d see*s out people i$terested i$ the Bah!'" /essa'e. 1C96 &hor$to$ 9hase becomes first America$ Bah!'". 'Abdu'l-Bah! co$fers upo$ him the title :Steadfast:. Louisa A. /oore becomes a Bah!'", 'i%e$ the title :Ba$$er:, i.e. Ba$$er of the 9ause, a$d is later desi'$ated by the )uardia$ as :the mother teacher of the .est:. She marries 5d+ard )etsi$'er a$d becomes Lua )etsi$'er. /rs. 2hoebe #earst, +ife of Se$ator )eor'e ,. #earst, +as tau'ht by Lua )etsi$'er duri$' o$e of /rs. )etsi$'er's e4te$si%e tra%els throu'hout America. 1 /ar 1C9F Sho'hi 5ffe$di, eldest 'ra$dso$ of 'Abdu'l-Bah!, is bor$ of 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s eldest dau'hter i$ the #ouse of Abdu'llah 2asha.. #e is desce$ded from Bah!'u'll!h o$ his mother's side a$d related to the Bab o$ his father's side. 1C9C 2hoebe #earst or'a$i;es historic pil'rima'e of 1 early America$ Bah!'"s to meet 'Abdu'l-Bah!. By $o+ there are hu$dreds of Bah!'"s i$ America. &he pil'rims arri%e i$ 'A**a 17 8ec 1C9C. &he hearts of the pil'rims are set abla;e by the lo%e of 'Abdu'l-Bah!, so much so that some belie%e 'Abdu'l-Bah! is the retur$ of =esus 9hrist. 'Abdu'l-Bah! corrects them, sayi$' that #e is the Ser%a$t of Bah!. Kobert &ur$er, the blac* butler of /rs. #earst, sho+$ 'reat *i$d$ess by 'Abdu'l-Bah!, later becomes the first blac* Bah!'" o$ the America$ co$ti$e$t. /ay 5llis Bolles is as*ed to teach the ,aith i$ 2aris. 8r. Bhayru'llah, also amo$' the pil'rims, sou'ht 'Abdu'lBah!'s e$dorseme$t of his prese$tatio$ of the Bah!'" ,aith. 'Abdu'l-Bah! corrects his misco$ceptio$s a$d ur'ed him to seriously study the Bah!'" .riti$'s. Bhayru'llah refuses. D1 =a$ 1C99 Kemai$s of the Bab fi$ally arri%e at /t. 9armel. 'Abdu'l-Bah! be'i$s co$structio$ of a befitti$' resti$'-place. 1C99 ,irst Bah!'" ce$tre i$ 5urope established i$ 2aris. 1977 8r. Bhayru'llah %iolates Bah!'u'll!h's 9o%e$a$t, establishes pact +ith /ir;a /uhammad-'Ali a$d +or*s a'ai$st 'Abdu'l-Bah!, tryi$' to sei;e co$trol of the ,aith i$ the .est. Almost $o$e of the America$ Bah!'"s follo+ his lead@ they remai$ faithful to 'Abdu'l-Bah!. Bhayru'llah +ould co$ti$ue spreadi$' his poiso$ for t+o decades, but u$successful, fi$ally retur$s to Syria. 1971 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d #is family, u$til this time free to %e$ture i$ the area, are o$ce a'ai$ co$fi$ed to the priso$ +alls of 'A**a as a co$seGue$ce of #is e$emies represe$tatio$ to the authorities that 'Abdu'l-Bah! +as co$structi$' a fort >i$ reality, the mausoleum? a$d buildi$' a$

army >i$ reality, 0ust %isiti$' pil'rims?. #e directs atte$tio$ to correspo$de$ce +hile i$ priso$ a$d %isits a$d assists the $eedy a$d the sic* of 'A**a. summer 1971 /ay 5llis Bolles teaches &homas Brea*+ell, first British Bah!'". 1972 /ay 5llis Bolles +eds .illiam Sutherla$d /a4+ell, desi'$er of the superstructure of the Shri$e of the Bab, becomes /ay /a4+ell. &hey establish their home i$ /o$treal, 9a$ada. F =u$ 197D 'Abdu'l-Bah! re%eals &ablet calli$' for the erectio$ of a &emple i$ America. 1976 ,irst commissio$ appoi$ted by the &ur*ish 'o%er$me$t i$%esti'ates the char'es le%eled a'ai$st 'Abdu'l-Bah!. &he Spa$ish 9o$sul offers #im safe passa'e to a$y forei'$ port, but 'Abdu'l-Bah! refuses, sayi$' #e must abide by +hate%er the ruli$'. 197F A seco$d commissio$, composed of four corrupt officials, fi$ally reaches a decisio$ a$d a$$ou$ces that the char'es a'ai$st 'Abdu'l-Bah! ha%e bee$ substa$tiated a$d that #e +as to be e4iled or e4ecuted. <po$ their retur$ to &ur*ey, the Jou$' &ur* Ke%olutio$ sei;es hold a$d the four commissio$ers flee. Apr 197C 2urchase of some la$d for the future #ouse of .orship i$ .ilmette, Illi$ois. 197C Some A$s+ered Auestio$s by Laura 9lifford Bar$ey published, based o$ her i$ter%ie+s of 'Abdu'l-Bah! e$compassi$' her four pil'rima'es. &he Jou$' &ur* Ke%olutio$ frees all priso$ers of the 3ttoma$ 5mpire, i$cludi$' 'Abdu'l-Bah! i$ September, .ho is fi$ally free to lea%e 2alesti$e. 'Abdu'l-Bah! drafts #is .ill a$d &estame$t, detaili$' the t+o pri$cipal i$stitutio$s of the ,aith >the )uardia$ship - the sole authority for the i$terpretatio$ of the Bah!'" teachi$'s, a$d the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice - the primary le'islati%e a$d admi$istrati%e authority of the Bah!'" commu$ity?. #e be'i$s to focus o$ buildi$' the i$ter$atio$al commu$ity a$d the establishme$t of spiritual assemblies i$ Eorth America a$d 2ersia, the foreru$$ers of the future local #ouses of =ustice. 2C Eo% 192C 9o$structio$ be'i$s o$ the first Bah!'" #ouse of .orship >'IshGabad, Kussia?. 27 /ar 1979 'Abdu'l-Bah! i$ters the remai$s of the Bab o$ the spot chose$ by Bah!'u'll!h years earlier. 1979 ,irst of the tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bah! published i$ the .est. 1917 &hou'h i$ %ery poor health due to his lo$' impriso$me$t, 'Abdu'l-Bah! 0our$eys to 5'ypt to spread the ,aith. 11 Au' 1911 'Abdu'l-Bah! sails for /arseille a$d later 0our$eys to Lo$do$ >September? a$d 2aris. I$ 8ecember, #e retur$s to 5'ypt. 11 Apr 1912 'Abdu'l-Bah! arri%es i$ Ee+ Jor* 9ity at the reGuest of the America$ Bah!'"s. Hisits ma$y cities i$cludi$' 9hica'o +here #e laid the cor$ersto$e for :the /other &emple of the .est:, 5liot /ai$e +here Sarah ,armer, fou$der of )ree$ Acre, later ope$ed her facility for Bah!'" trai$i$', a$d /o$treal +here #e +as the 'uest of .illiam a$d /ay /a4+ell, +hose

home later became the first 9a$adia$ Bah!'" ce$tre, a$d +hose dau'hter /ary +as to become the +ife of Sho'hi 5ffe$di. 8uri$' the $e4t 2D9 days, 'Abdu'l-Bah! spo*e at cou$tless churches, halls a$d homes o$ ma$y topics such as the basic pri$ciples of the ,aith, philosophical , moral a$d spiritual topics, a$d spo*e to church co$'re'atio$s, peace societies, trade u$io$s, u$i%ersity faculties, etc. &he tal*s are later published as :&he 2romul'atio$ of <$i%ersal 2eace:. 1 /ay 1912 'Abdu'l-Bah! lays the fou$datio$ sto$e for the first Bah!'" #ouse of .orship i$ the .est at .ilmette, Illi$ois. 19 3ct 1912 'Abdu'l-Bah! %isits the 'ra%e of &hor$to$ 9hase i$ I$'le+ood, 9alifor$ia. 29 =u$ 1912 'Abdu'l-Bah! hosts first <$ity ,east at the .ilhelm properties i$ .. 5$'le+ood, Ee+ =ersey. 8ec 1912 'Abdu'l-Bah! sails for 5$'la$d, %isits Li%erpool, Lo$do$, Bristol a$d 5di$bur'h. #e %isits 2aris, Stutt'art, Budapest a$d Hie$$a. /ay 191D 'Abdu'l-Bah! retur$s to 5'ypt. 8ec 191D 'Abdu'l-Bah! retur$s to #aifa. =uly 1916 By $o+, 'Abdu'l-Bah! has dismissed all the pil'rims from the #oly La$d. #e has predicted a 'reat +orld co$flict. Au'ust 1916 &he )reat .ar be'i$s a$d co$tact bet+ee$ 'Abdu'l-Bah! a$d the .est is cut off. 'Abdu'l-Bah! a'ai$ becomes a priso$er of the &ur*ish 'o%er$me$t as a result of the machi$atio$s of /ir;a /uhammad-'Ali a$d a'ai$ li%es u$der the co$sta$t threat of e4ecutio$. 1916-191F &ablets of the 8i%i$e 2la$, the ma$date for the 'lobal e4pa$sio$ of the ,aith, is se$t to America. 191C Sho'hi 5ffe$di recei%es Bachelor of Arts de'ree from the America$ <$i%ersity at Beirut. 2D Sep 191C 'A**a is liberated by British a$d I$dia$ ca%alry a$d 'Abdu'l-Bah! is a'ai$ freed. 1919 ,irst 9o$%e$tio$ of the 9o%e$a$t held i$ Ee+ Jor* 9ity. Later that year, Sho'hi 5ffe$di Kabba$i (Kabba$i mea$i$' :8i%i$e:, sur$ame 'i%e$ to him by 'Abdu'l-Bah!- +as acti$' as the /aster's secretary, tra$slator a$d ri'ht-ha$d ma$. Sho'hi becomes *$o+$ i$ :hi'h: circles. +i$ter 1919 =. 5. 5sslemo$t %isits for te$ +ee*s, a$d i$ 192F publishes Bah!'u'll!h a$d the Ee+ 5ra. 2F Apr 1927 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s huma$itaria$ ser%ices, ha%i$' sa%ed thousa$ds of people from fami$e i$ 2alesti$e after the .ar due to #is perso$al or'a$i;atio$ of e4te$si%e a'ricultural operatio$s $ear &iberias, results i$ British )o%er$me$t *$i'hthood. 26 Sep 1927 54ca%atio$ be'i$s for the fou$datio$ of the #ouse of .orship, .ilmette, Illi$ois.

1927 'Abdu'l-Bah! se$ds Sho'hi 5ffe$di to 34ford to perfect his e$'lish. Sho'hi 5ffe$di belie%es his lot i$ life to be that of a tra$slator a$d ser%a$t of 'Abdu'l-Bah!. 27 8ec 1927 9o$structio$ be'i$s o$ the #ouse of .orship i$ .ilmette, Illi$ois. 2C Eo% 1921 'Abdu'l-Bah! dies after a brief ill$ess at 1A/ i$ #aifa. 3%er te$ thousa$d people, i$cludi$' /uslim, Koma$ 9atholic, )ree* 3rthodo4, =e+ish a$d 8ru;e di'$itaries, the British #i'h 9ommissio$er a$d 'o%er$ors of =erusalem a$d 2hoe$icia atte$d. Ei$e spea*ers, promi$e$t represe$tati%es of the /uslim, 9hristia$ a$d =e+ish commu$ities, eulo'i;e #is pure a$d $oble life. By $o+ the Bah!'" commu$ity has spread throu'hout the /iddle 5ast, I$dia a$d Eorth America but most Bah!'"s still resided i$ 2ersia. 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s last i$structio$s are i$ a$ e$%elope addressed to Sho'hi 5ffe$di.

,irst 5poch of the ,ormati%e A'e1 1921 - 196F 29 8ec 1921 Sho'hi 5ffe$di arri%es i$ #aifa, accompa$ied by Lady Blomfeld a$d Kouha$'e;e. D =a$ 1922 .ill a$d &estame$t of 'Abdu'l-Bah! formally read. &he )uardia$ship is i$au'urated a$d Sho'hi 5ffe$di is appoi$ted the first )uardia$ of the Bah!'" ,aith1 the sole authoritati%e i$terpreter of the Bah!'" .riti$'s. As i$terpreter, the )uardia$ a$aly;ed +orld e%e$ts i$ the li'ht of Bah!'" Scriptures a$d se$t le$'thy letters to Bah!'" commu$ities throu'hout the +orld +ith his results. #e +as as*ed $umerous Guestio$s o$ a broad ra$'e of topics. #is a$s+ers comprise a si'$ifica$t portio$ of the i$terpretatio$ of the Bah!'" .riti$'s. Shu$$i$' a$y perso$al ac*$o+led'eme$t or praise, the )uardia$ forbid a$y commemoratio$ of e%e$ts associated +ith his life a$d fulfilled his role lar'ely outside of public %ie+@ a star* co$trast to the charismatic style of 'Abdu'l-Bah!. )e$erally spea*i$', the )uardia$ co$ce$trated o$1 the de%elopme$t of the Bah!'" .orld 9e$ter, the tra$slatio$ a$d i$terpretatio$ of Bah!'" &eachi$'s, the e4pa$sio$ of the admi$istrati%e order, a$d the impleme$tatio$ of the di%i$e pla$ of 'Abdu'l-Bah!. 1 8ec 1922 Sho'hi 5ffe$di retur$s to #oly La$d to resume duties as )uardia$. 16 ,eb 192D 8eclaratio$ of the first $ati%e #a+aiia$ Bah!'" o$ >/ae &ilto$ ,a$tom, /aui?. 12 /ar 192D Sho'hi 5ffe$di calls for the establishme$t of Loca a$d Eatio$al Bah!'" ,u$ds. 192D Eatio$al Spiritual Assemblies are formed i$ British Isles, )erma$y a$d I$dia. 1926 Eatio$al Spiritual Assembly is formed i$ 5'ypt. 192 Eatio$al Spiritual Assembly is formed i$ the <$ited States a$d 9a$ada >o$e mutual assembly at this time?. 1 Au' 192F Bah!'" Summer School ope$ed at )eyser%ille, 9alifor$ia. 16 ,eb 1929 .or* be'i$s o$ three additio$al chambers of the Shri$e of the Bab.

D /ar 1929 Lea'ue of Eatio$s 9ou$cil resolutio$ upholds the Bah!'" 9ommu$ity's claim to Bah!'u'll!h's house i$ Ba'hdad. 2F Eo% 1929 Kestoratio$ of the /a$sio$ at Bah0i be'i$s. 1 =ul 19D2 2assi$' of the )reatest #oly Leaf >Bahiyyih Bha$um?, Bah!'u'll!h's dau'hter, i$ #aifa. She +as the loyal stal+art supporter of the ,aith a$d pro%ided Sho'hi 5ffe$di +ith i$%aluable support after his appoi$tme$t as )uardia$. 19D6 Eatio$al Spiritual Assembly is formed i$ 2ersia a$d Australia. 17 /ay 19D6 &a4 e4emptio$ for Bah!'" properties o$ /t. 9armel a$$ou$ced. 21 Apr 19DF ,irst Se%e$-Jear 2la$ lau$ched. )oals1 to establish at least o$e local spiritual assembly i$ e%ery state of the <$ited States a$d e%ery pro%i$ce of 9a$ada@ to ma*e certai$ that at least o$e Bah!'" teacher +as residi$' i$ each Lati$ America$ republic@ to complete the e4terior desi'$ of the first Bah!'" house of +orship i$ Eorth America. &he pla$ +as successfully completed i$ 1966, the ce$te$ary of the Bab's declaratio$. 2 8ec 19D9 Kemai$s of 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s /other >Ea%%ab - &he /ost 54alted Leaf? a$d Brother >&he 2urest Bra$ch? i$terred to'ether o$ /t. 9armel. 21 Apr 1966 Seco$d Se%e$-Jear 2la$ lau$ched. &his pla$ focused o$ 5urope, +hich o$ly had $atio$al spiritual assemblies i$ )reat Britai$ a$d )erma$y. It also called for the formatio$ of local spiritual assemblies i$ Lati$ America a$d a %ast i$crease i$ assemblies i$ Eorth America. &he pla$ +as successfully completed i$ 19 D, the ce$te$ary of Bah!'u'll!h's I$timatio$. 1 8ec 1966 9ompletio$ of pla$s for erectio$ of arcade of the Shri$e of the Bab. Seco$d 5poch of the ,ormati%e A'e1 196F - 196D F /ar 196C Sho'hi 5ffe$di decides to comme$ce +or* o$ the Shri$e of the Bab superstructure. 196C 8isti$ct Eatio$al Spiritual Assembly of the Bah!'"s of 9a$ada formed. 1969 Special Act of 9a$adia$ 2arliame$t is the first official reco'$itio$ of the Bah!'" ,aith by a$y 'o%er$me$t . 9 =uly 19 7 9ompletio$ of the Arcade a$d 2arapet of the Shri$e of the Bab. 16 8ec 19 7 /a;ra'ih leased from Israeli authorities. 19 1 &he )uardia$ be'i$s appoi$ti$' #a$ds of the 9ause of )od >disti$'uished belie%ers +ho +ere assi'$ed tas*s to teach the ,aith a$d protect its i$stitutio$s?. Apr 19 D ,ormal dedicatio$ of the house of +orship at .ilmette, Illi$ois, desi'$ed by ,re$ch9a$adia$ architect =ea$-Louis Bour'eois.

21 Apr 19 D &e$ Jear .orld 9rusade lau$ched, to co$clude i$ 196D1 the ce$te$ary of Bah!'u'll!h's declaratio$ i$ the )arde$ of Kid%a$.&he 'oal +as to e4te$d the ,aith to 1D2 more cou$tries a$d the e4isti$' 127 cou$tries a$d territories +ere to be e4pa$ded. 3ct 19 D &he Shri$e of the Bab is completed. 6 Eo% 19 F &he )uardia$ dies i$ 5$'la$d of Asia$ flu +hile o$ a %isit to purchase fur$ishi$'s for the Bah!'" archi%es buildi$' o$ /t. 9armel. Althou'h pro%isio$s permitted successi%e )uardia$s, Sho'hi 5ffe$di had $ot appoi$ted o$e >$o li%i$' direct desce$da$ts of Bah!'u'll!h +ere faithful to #is 9o%e$a$t?. &he )uardia$ had i$dicated that at the completio$ of the 9rusade, co$ditio$s +ere ripe for the electio$ of the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. &he #a$ds of the 9ause of )od, collaborati$' +ith the $atio$al spiritual assemblies, +or*ed to complete the 'oals of the &e$ Jear .orld 9rusade. 1 ,eb 19 9 9ompletio$ of the Bah!'" #ome for the A'ed i$ .ilmette, Illi$ois. 1 =a$ 1961 8edicatio$ of the #ouse of .orship i$ Bampala, <'a$da. 16 Sep 1961 8edicatio$ of the #ouse of .orship i$ Syd$ey, Australia. &hird 5poch of the ,ormati%e A'e1 196D - 19C6 2C Apr 196D ,irst Bah!'" .orld 9o$'ress i$ Lo$do$, 5$'la$d. &he #a$ds of the 9ause of )od, i$ a$ u$precede$ted 'esture of re$u$ciatio$, disGualified themsel%es from eli'ibility for the electio$ of the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. &he $i$e members of the first <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice are elected by the members of the 6 e4isti$' $atio$al spiritual assemblies of the +orld. &he first membership i$cluded Bah!'"s of =e+ish, 9hristia$ a$d /uslim bac*'rou$ds a$d se%eral eth$ic ori'i$s.&he Bah!'" ,aith, ha%i$' +ithstood the attac*s of those +ho +ould destroy it, a$d those +ho +ould fra'me$t it i$to do;e$s of sects, emer'es as o$e u$ified ,aith +ith o$e sole li%i$' authority1 the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice@ truly the 8ay that shall $e%er be follo+ed by Ei'ht refere$ced i$ the Bible. D7 Apr 196D 2rese$tatio$ of the members of the first <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice@ readi$' of its first messa'e i$ Lo$do$, 5$'la$d. 21 Apr 1966 &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a Ei$e Jear 2la$ +hich +as to be completed i$ 19FD, the ce$te$ary of Bah!'u'll!h's re%elatio$ of the Bitab-i-AGdas. 26 Apr 1966 5lectio$ of the first Eatio$al Spiritual Assembly of the #a+aiia$ Isla$ds. 6 =ul 1966 8edicatio$ of the /other &emple of 5urope i$ La$'e$hai$, )erma$y. 19 ,eb 196C ,irst Kuli$' /o$arch to become a Bah!'" accepts the ,aith1 #is #i'h$ess /alietoa &a$umafili II - #ead of State of .ester$ Samoa. by April, 1969 &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice had appoi$ted 11 9o$ti$e$tal Board 9ou$sellors to ser%e the ,aith i$ roles of protectio$ a$d propa'atio$. 21 April 19F7 5le%e$ more $atio$al spiritual assemblies are formed, bri$'i$' the total to 96.

21 April 19F1 By $o+, 17,D67 Local Spiritual Assemblies e4ist,a$d Bah!'"s reside i$ 66,DD6 localities. 19 8ec 19F1 5rectio$ of 3belis* o$ /t. 9armel to mar* site of future /ashriGu'l-Adh*ar. 29 April 19F2 8edicatio$ of /other &emple of Lati$ America i$ 2a$ama. By $o+, the Spiritual Assembly of IraG has bee$ dissol%ed because of persecutio$ a'ai$st Bah!'"s i$ that la$d. 1 /ar 19FD /a;ra'ih is purchased. 21 Apr 19FD &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a ,i%eJear 2la$. =u$ 19FD A$$ou$ceme$t of the establishme$t of the I$ter$atio$al &eachi$' 9e$tre i$ #aifa. F ,eb 19F6 A$$ou$ceme$t of the desi'$ for the 2erma$e$t Seat of the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. 1D =uly 19F6 8edicatio$ of the =oh$ Bosch Bah!'" Summer School i$ Sa$ta 9ru;, 9alifor$ia. 16 =a$ 19F 2urchase of the house of 'Abdu'llah 2asha, 'Abdu'l-Bah!'s #oly #ouse i$ 'A**a a$d birthplace of Sho'hi 5ffe$di. 1F =u$ 19F A$$ou$ceme$t of be'i$$i$' of e4ca%atio$ for the Seat of the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. 12 Sep 19F6 #is #i'h$ess /alietoa &a$umafili II of .ester$ Samoa %isits Sho'hi 5ffe$di's 'ra%e i$ Lo$do$, 5$'la$d. 19FC Keli'ious fa$aticism i$ Ira$ spar*s the be'i$$i$' of persecutio$ a'ai$st the Bah!'"s of Ira$. 2F =a$ 19F9 ,ou$datio$ Sto$e 9eremo$y, site of future #ouse of .orship, .ester$ Samoa, +ith #is #i'h$ess /alietoa &a$umafili II. 21 Apr 19F9 &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a Se%e$Jear 2la$. D1 =a$ 19CD <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice occupies its 2erma$e$t Seat o$ /t. 9armel. 21 April 19CD I$ the last fi%e years, the #ouse of the Bab a$d the a$cestral home of Bah!'u'll!h i$ &a*ur +ere ra;ed a$d scores of Ira$ia$ Bah!'"s +ere e4ecuted1 their crime - bei$' Bah!'". Summer, 19CD Si4 you$' +ome$, a'ed 1C-2 +ere ha$'ed i$ Shira;. All +ere offered freedom if they +ould reca$t their ,aith. Eo$e accepted that offer. 9hildre$ are e4pelled from schools i$ Ira$ for bei$' Bah!'". 21 April 19C6 Ei$e $e+ Eatio$al Spiritual Assemblies are formed, bri$'i$' the $umber to 16D. &he Bah!'"s of Ira$ co$ti$ue to be persecuted. Some si4 hu$dred me$, +ome$ a$d childre$ are curre$tly i$ priso$. &he admi$istrati%e fu$ctio$s ha%e lo$' bee$ disba$ded there. 1 Sep 19C6 8edicatio$ of the #ouse of .orship i$ Apia, .ester$ Samoa.

3ct 19C &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice publishes :&he 2romise of .orld 2eace:. &his stateme$t o$ peace is formally prese$ted to %irtually all rulers, +hether i$di%iduals or parliame$ts, of the +orld a$d to the leadi$' thi$*ers of the +orld. 1F Eo% 19C <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice a$$ou$ces rei$terme$t of the remai$s of /ir;a /uhammad-Auli >faithful half-brother of Bah!'u'll!h? i$ $e+ Bah!'" cemetery loo*i$' to+ards the Aiblih of the ,aith >i.e. the resti$' place of Bah!'u'll!h?. ,ourth 5poch of the ,ormati%e A'e1 19C6 - 2rese$t 21 Apr 19C6 &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a Si4Jear 2la$. D Au' 19C6 #istoric %isit to Bah!'" .orld 9e$tre by Sir &homas 8a%is, 2rime /i$ister of the 9oo* Isla$ds for a co$sultatio$ +ith the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice o$ +orld peace. 26 8ec 19C6 8edicatio$ of the #ouse of .orship of the I$dia$ Subco$ti$e$t i$ Ee+ 8elhi, I$dia. 21 April 19CF By $o+, more tha$ 1 millio$ copies of :&he 2romise of .orld 2eace: had bee$ distributed. 277 Ira$ia$ Bah!'"s are still i$ priso$ i$ Ira$. D 3ct 19CF Bah!'" ,aith becomes si4th +orld reli'io$ to 0oi$ Eet+or* 3$ 9o$ser%atio$ a$d Keli'io$ of the .orld .ide ,u$d for Eature. Sep 19CC 3pe$i$' of the /a4+ell I$ter$atio$al Bah!'" School i$ British 9olumbia, 9a$ada. 21 April 1997 By $o+, t+o B$i'hts of Bah!'u'll!h had settled i$ Sa*hali$ Isla$d, the last remai$i$' territory $amed by Sho'hi 5ffe$di i$ his &e$ Jear )lobal 2la$. A t+o-year subsidiary teachi$' pla$ is i$troduced by the <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice. &he <$ited States #ouse of Keprese$tati%es u$a$imously adopted a resolutio$ calli$' for the ema$cipatio$ of the Ira$ia$ Bah!'" 9ommu$ity. 1C /arch 1992 .ord of the secret e4ecutio$ of /r. Bahma$ Sama$dari i$ Ira$ is made *$o+$. 21 April 1992 &he #oly Jear be'i$s, i$ commemoratio$ of the ce$te$ary of the passi$' of Bah!'u'll!h. &he ,aith is $o+ represe$ted i$ e%ery $atio$ o$ earth. La+ of #uGuGu'llah ta*es effect. Last *$o+$ e4ecutio$ of a Bah!'" i$ Ira$ too* place this mo$th. 22 Eo% 1992 Seco$d Bah!'" .orld 9o$'ress held i$ the 9ity of the 9o%e$a$t >Ee+ Jor* 9ity? atte$ded by D7,777 Bah!'"s. 21 /arch 199D &he /ost #oly Boo* >Bitab-i-AGdas? is published i$ 5$'lish for the first time. 21 Apr 199D &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a &hreeJear 2la$. /arch 199 .orld Summit for Social 8e%elopme$t i$ 9ope$ha'e$ i$%ol%i$' 2 7 Bah!'"s from more tha$ 67 cou$tries. :&he 2rosperity of #uma$*i$d:, produced by the Bah!'" I$ter$atio$al 9ommu$ity's 3ffice of 2ublic I$formatio$, +as distributed a$d discussed.

21 April 199 1F2 Eatio$al Spiritual Assemblies are e4iste$t. Sept 199 &he ,ourth .orld 9o$fere$ce o$ .ome$ +as held i$ Bei0i$', atte$ded by more tha$ 77 Bah!'"s a$d a$ official dele'atio$ from BI9. Also i$ 199 , the Bah!'" I$ter$atio$al 9ommu$ity's <$ited Eatio$s 3ffice produced a$d distributed a stateme$t, e$titled :&ur$i$' 2oi$t for All Eatio$s:, co$tai$i$' proposals for the de%elopme$t of the <$ited Eatio$s. 21 Apr 1996 &he <$i%ersal #ouse of =ustice lau$ches a ,ourJear 2la$. :&he structural frame+or* of the 9e$tre for the Study of the &e4ts a$d the 54te$sio$ to the I$ter$atio$al Archi%es Buildi$' has bee$ raised up a$d the +or* o$ these buildi$'s has ad%a$ced to+ards i$itiatio$ of the e4terior a$d i$terior fi$ishi$' +or*. &he erectio$ of the perma$e$t seat of the I$ter$atio$al &eachi$' 9e$tre, the third structure curre$tly bei$' built o$ the Arc, is pro'ressi$' rapidly. Se%e$ terraces belo+ the Shri$e of the Bab are $o+ completed, foresho+i$' the u$foldi$' sple$dour from the foot to the rid'e of )od's #oly /ou$tai$.:

&his is a +or* i$ pro'ress. /ore details o$ the de%elopme$t of the .orld 9e$ter +ill be added +he$ I ca$ do so. It is my hope that this chro$olo'y pro%ides you +ith a$ o%er%ie+ +hich +ill aid your u$dersta$di$' of the e4traordi$ary circumsta$ces i$ +hich the Bah!'" &eachi$'s ha%e bee$ re%ealed. &his is by $o mea$s a$ e4hausti%e +or*@ myriads of details ha%e bee$ left out for the sa*e of bre%ity. As a su''estio$, try %ie+i$' this chro$olo'y +he$ you pic* up o$e of Bah!'u'll!h's +or*s. Loo* at #is trials a$d tribulatio$s a$d peruse the +ords from &he 2e$ of )lory. #o+ else could such outpouri$'s of +isdom a$d lo%e ha%e ema$ated u$der such circumsta$ces from a$ u$educated /a$ e4cept throu'h the 2o+er of )odM &his is the first a$d foremost proof of the /a$ifestatio$ of )od1 #is Ke%elatio$.