An order of banishment arrived in Baghdad, and Bahá’u’lláh answered it by moving to a garden. For twelve days the garden of Najíb Páshá stood open to the whole city: governor, officers, divines and notables came by day and by night, and a man under sentence of exile received them with a sovereignty that left the people of Iraq, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, as witnesses. Within that hospitality, by hints and allusions, Bahá’u’lláh first made known that He was the One the Báb had promised; some of the friends grasped His meaning and others did not, and full understanding came later. Jesus reading Isaiah in the synagogue and declaring the words fulfilled in the hearing of those present poses the same question of how a proclamation asks its hearers to see their own moment [1]. The Riḍván declaration is told in the language of a renewed creation, gardens awakening, light spreading from East to West, old enemies made brothers, and it asks for a response in conduct as well as belief. To follow it further is to turn toward the person of Bahá’u’lláh, and then along the road of banishment to Constantinople and the life that awaited Him there.
It was an hour like unto this and on such a day that Baha'u'llah was bidding farewell to the friends in Bagdad, preparatory to his departure for the garden of Rizwan outside the town.
… For twelve days He was in this garden. The Door of Meeting was open to all the inhabitants of Bagdad. The Clergy, the theologians, the noblemen, the poets, the Pashas, the laity, all those who came were ushered into His Divine Presence and listened to His Words. No one was sent away, not one soul was excluded.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the women believers, spoken on 1915-Apr-21 -- ABU1779)
02
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 Ridvan.
In any event, it was by means of hints and allusions that Baha'u'llah first declared His mission during those twelve days. Certain among the friends grasped His intent, but others did not fully understand.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Declaration of Baha'u'llah, 1905 ca. -- AB00097)
03
Yet, although subject to banishment and exile, Baha'u'llah nevertheless moved with the utmost dominion to the garden of Najib Pasha, where for twelve days the Cause of God was exalted to such an extent that the Governor, Namiq Pasha; all the high-ranking officers of the army and the province; the country's religious dignitaries; and the nation's notables came by day and by night to attain His presence. All this, notwithstanding the fact that He was, to outward seeming, an exile! Yet the pervading influence of the Cause of God, the sublimity of His Word, and the diffusion of the divine fragrances were such that those few days were passed in intense joy and delight, and the Ridvan Festival was inaugurated.
When We were about to depart from Baghdad, We moved to the garden of Najib Pasha. We remained in that garden for twelve days, and each day a group from among the inhabitants of Baghdad would come to bid Us farewell.
(Bahá’u’lláh, words recollected by Mirza Habibu'llah Afnan, 1308-1309 [1891-1892] -- BHU0029)
05
O servant in attendance! For twelve years We associated and consorted with the people of Iraq with perfect love, harmony and favor. At the time of Our departure from the house and arrival in the garden which was named Ridvan, most of the officials and notables of the government and country were grieved to witness it, and some of the princes wept. In truth, a new resurrection arose....
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1308-08-27 ? [1891-Apr-7], to Muhammad Mustafa Baghdadi et al -- BH10938)
The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.
06
As the Ridvan Festival marked the beginning of the announcement of Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest, and as the Ancient Beauty, though banished and exiled, manifested and shone forth to all horizons with perfect joy, majesty and divine glory in Najib Pasha's garden outside [Baghdad], and all necks were bowed and all voices were humbled, therefore these days are most blessed.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Mirza Ali Ashraf Lahijani Andalib -- AB02737)
07
In that garden His blessed tent was raised, and in that very hour, to spite the enemies, the Festival of Ridvan was proclaimed. At such a time, during the Blessed Beauty's exile when the friends were in anguish, with supreme power in the afternoon of Ridvan, immediately upon arrival at the garden, the Festival of Ridvan was announced and the Cause was proclaimed. Outwardly, until that day there had been no mention of "Him Whom God shall make manifest" - on that day He made mention of it.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1916-Apr-29 -- ABU0351)
08
This was the ninth day that the Blessed Perfection leaving Bagdad, stayed in the garden of Najib Pasha before starting for Constantinople.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the resident friends, spoken on 1914-Apr-29 -- ABU1533)
09
When they wanted to move the Blessed Beauty from Baghdad, Namiq Pasha sent the order and official papers to His presence with the message that "Once before an order came and we wrote some excuses to the Sublime Porte. This is the second time these orders have come and there is no choice but to execute them." At that time the Blessed Beauty, may His glory be exalted, accepted and preparations for departure were made. Although He never liked pomp, nevertheless He said "In these days we must depart with utmost majesty." Therefore He went to the Pasha's garden and stayed for twelve days, arranging festivities and celebrating the Most Great Festival.
But Mirza Yahya was afraid and very unstable in temperament.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1916-Jan-10 -- ABU0642)
10
Abdul Baha: The title of Baha'u'llah was given by himself. The Blessed Beauty gave the name 'Baha'u'llah' to himself and He wrote it to his holiness The Supreme (The Bab).
… Abdul Baha: In Baghdad He proclaimed himself as the One whom God would manifest, but Baha'u'llah was known to the believers (before this time) as the manifestation of Huseyn.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr Chant, Fugeta, et al, spoken on 1919-Dec-26 -- ABU1012)
11
Then came this blessed verse: "This is naught but a Reminder to the worlds" - that is, the one asked about is but the Great Remembrance of God, and "ye shall surely know its tidings" means what He will inform and announce "after a time" - that is, after the year sixty-eight corresponding to the numerical value of "Hin" (time), for after year sixty-eight comes year sixty-nine, and this is the year of the manifestation of the Ancient Beauty, as the Most Glorious Beauty, exalted be He, hath said: "Then in the year nine ye shall attain unto all good."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Kazim Khan Munshi -- AB11685)
12
Say: O ye that have strayed and lost your way! The Divine Messenger, Who speaketh naught but the truth, hath announced unto you the coming of the Best-Beloved. Behold, He is now come.
The All-Compelling One hath appeared after the Qa'im and is seated upon the throne of the Bayan.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1306-02-12 [1888-Oct-18], to Hajar Khanum sister of Ruqiyyih Sultan -- BH08386)
14
He informed the world of the Most Great Manifestation and gave them glad tidings of this Name whereby every heedless and remote one hath lamented.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1298-12-24 [1881-Nov-17], to Muhammad 'Ali akh 'Ali qabl Akbar -- BH06305)
15
This is the Day wherein the ocean of divine knowledge hath surged before the faces of all religions, and the hidden and treasured Mystery hath been revealed, through which the Herald proclaimed: "He hath come, He at Whose mention Paradise and the Most Exalted Garden were attracted."
… Say: O peoples of the earth! The All-Bountiful hath come, riding upon the clouds, while from His right the Herald of Glory proclaimeth: "O people! This is He Who was promised to you in the Books of old, and this is He at Whose appearance the Books of the peoples bowed down in submission."
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1304 ? [1886-1887], to Aqa Muhammad Jafar -- BH04504)
16
Hearken, then, to the call of the heaven saying: "The Truth hath come with manifest sovereignty!" And hear from the air: "By God, the Glory hath come from God, the Mighty, the Loving!"
The sea hath testified to the Most Great Sea, and the sun to this Luminous Orb. The heaven hath borne witness to the Lord of Names, and the light to this Revelation whereby the horizon of the world hath been illumined.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297-05-11 [1880-Apr-21], to Mim Husayn -- BH05859)
18
Say: He hath come with the truth, and by Him the fruits have fallen from the trees, and the souls of the righteous were stirred, and the pillars of creation were shaken.
This is the day when the Ancient Beauty moved toward another mansion, despite those who denied the Day of Judgment - the Day in which the veils were rent asunder, the clouds were dispersed, and the lights of the Countenance appeared from this luminous horizon.
The Beloved calls out: "The Best-Beloved has come with clear sovereignty!" And the Spirit proclaims before His face: "That which was hidden in the heaven of your Lord's will, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, has been made manifest!"
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290-05 [1873-Jun], to Aqa Lur -- BH06425)
21
Baha'u'llah was a Persian personage descended from prominent lineage. During His early years a Youth Whose name was Ali-Muhammad appeared in Persia. He was entitled the Bab, which means door or gate.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Hotel Sacramento on 1912-Oct-25 -- ABU0040)
22
His Holiness Baha'Ullah appeared about sixty years ago in Persia, at a time when among the people of Persia there was strife and enmity unspeakable, to the extent that each considered the other religionists as outcasts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to Free Religious Association of Boston, Ford Hall, 1912-May-25 -- ABU0171)
23
At a time when the East was enveloped and thickly beset by the gloom and darkness of such prejudices, Baha'u'llah appeared like the sun upon the horizon.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Ritz Hotel in Budapest, 1913-Apr-09 -- ABU1661)
24
Nearly sixty years ago, at a time when the Orient was engaged in warfare, when there was enmity between the different religions, ... Baha'u'llah appeared.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to Outlook Tower society at Rainy Hall, New College, The Mound, on 8 Jan. 1913 -- ABU2365)
The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.
25
At a time when the darkness of ignorance had obscured the horizon of the East, at such a time Baha'u'llah appeared. His light in the East was like the light of the sun, illuminating the world of thought after it had been in utter darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Jul-24 in Haifa -- ABU1080)
26
In the journal write thus:
When the horizon of the East was covered with immense darkness; when dark clouds were predominate, and when all the heavenly stars were concealed to the eye. His Holiness, Baha'u'llah, like unto the sun, shone forth from the horizon of the East and with radiating splendor He illumined the Orient.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Dec-09, to Miss Mochizuki -- AB00481)
27
And when this intense darkness - meaning the traditions of ancestors - encompassed the world and the original light of divine religions completely disappeared, the true dawn broke and the Sun of Reality rose from the horizon of Iran, casting the ray of heavenly unity upon the human world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jun-07, to Mr Benerji -- AB00866)
28
At such a time as this Baha'u'llah dawned from the horizon of Persia. He reformed and renewed the fundamentals and realities of Christ's teachings.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the Baha'is at Parsons home in Washington, 1912-Apr-24 -- ABU0394)
29
At this time, Baha'u'llah, like the sun, rose from the eastern horizon and through the lights of truth promoted teachings whereby these conflicting, quarreling, hostile peoples entered beneath the tabernacle of the oneness of the world of humanity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Sep-30, to Davud, Yuhanna et al -- AB01419)
30
Now the light of Baha'u'llah has illumined East and West and set the world of creation in motion. Despite this, is it fitting for those who consider themselves believers in the Primal Point (may my spirit be sacrificed for Him) to remain veiled from this mighty Cause?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Karbala'i Muhammad Husayn Naraqi -- AB01676)
31
Praise be to God, a world-illumining ray made the universe the court of the Sun and bestowed a new spirit upon the world of the soul. The dark night of deprivation passed and the luminous morn of effulgence dawned. The Beloved of the horizons stepped gracefully into the garden court and became the Beauty of the assembly.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Mulla Dinyar -- AB02421)
32
O lions of the forest of divine unity! The Sun of the heaven of the Glorious Lord and the unique Light has risen from the horizon of the world with a world-illumining ray that brightened the infinite expanse of the material and spiritual realms and made the plane of contingency the envy of rose gardens and meadows.
Thus the star of prosperity grew dim and the sapling of hope and desire withered, until the radiant Sun shone forth from the East of Iran and its world-conquering rays reached from East to West and gave life to soul and spirit.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Gushtasb Ardishir et al -- AB04903)
34
O thou who hast succeeded in turning toward the Most Glorious Horizon!
By God the True One, all contingent being struts in robes of glory and boasts over the supreme realms throughout creation, for the Most Great Luminary, the Ancient Beauty, the Sun of Glory hath shone forth upon all regions and directions, and the earth is illumined by the light of its Lord.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or <, to Haji Muhammad Javad -- AB06518)
The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.
35
Tear the collar of patience and raise high the melody and song of the Greatest Glad-Tidings, saying: The divine morn has dawned! The Sun of Reality has shone forth! The divine springtime has arrived and the life-giving breeze of the Kingdom has wafted! The Most Exalted Beauty appeared and the Sun of the horizon of truth became manifest and evident! He made the world a paradise of Ridvan and made the earth the envy of heaven!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Jinab Fadil -- AB01952)
36
The Baha'u'llah stepped forth from his tent and explained the birth of a new cycle - that the horizons were flooded with new ideals - the antiquated laws were no longer valid - that a new revelation, a new light had come. He exhorted them to sacrifice themselves for it. From that moment the cause of Baha'u'llah leaped into a flaming torch.
O servant of the Lord! In the days when the Sun of the horizons dawned from the East of Iraq and illumined with its brilliant rays the daysprings of the world and the foreheads of nations, He issued a universal call to all the peoples of the contingent world and opened the doors of the supreme gift to the face of all on earth.
O ye friends of God! O ye manifestors of bounty and favors of the Beauty of Abha!
That illumined Orb (Baha'u'llah) hath risen from the horizon of sanctity and holiness to shed Its Rays upon the expanse of the universe and that mysterious Beloved hath rent asunder the veil of concealment and appeared in the Assemblage of Humanity so that the wooers of His heart-captivating Beauty attained to His meeting, and torrents of spiritual teachings have descended from His Holy Lips, that we may be enabled to hear with the ear of the spirit, walk in the Path of the Beloved; see His Attributes and Manners; behold His Character and Principles; drink the Cup of Bestowal, taste the sweetness of His Reality, obey His Religion and emulate His glorious Example.
O ye friends! His gentle nature was excellent and His sweet disposition sublime. He was in the utmost humility and submission, and perfect kindliness and praise. Worthy courtesy adorned His Being. He was a refuge for every affrighted one; an asylum for every discomfited one; a fountain for every thirsty one; a Highway of Salvation for every wandering one; a healing to every sick one, and a dressing for every wounded one. In brief, ye have undoubtedly heard and read His Holy Instructions. But alas! we have entirely neglected them and are pursuing our own desires, following our own opinions, seeking our own ideas, and chasing our own shadows! Is it not a shame to change His Rose Garden into a bramble patch? His Delectable Paradise into a ruined abode? To seek to eradicate His Foundation and completely destroy His structure? To forget the Divine Instructions and cast behind our backs the Commands of God; with our lips to speak of the waves of the tumultuous Ocean, while inwardly we are dying of thirst; and while claiming divine wealth of consciousness, we are so poverty-stricken in spirit as to be but illusive phantoms-blown about by every wind?
I declare by the Bounty of the Blessed Perfection that nothing will produce results save intense sincerity! Nothing will be productive of fruit save complete advancement toward God! Everything is condemned save severance and every idea is fruitless and unacceptable save supplication, communion, prayer and obedience! We must entirely collect our scattered thoughts, purify and sanctify the house of our existence from every attachment and make the palace of our hearts the nest and shelter of the Dove of Holiness. Then, and not till then will the significance of confirmation and assistance become evident and known, the power of the Kingdom become apparent, and the hosts of the Supreme Concourse run swiftly into the arena of heavenly conquest to gain victory over the East and West of the hearts, and make the North and South of the spirits of men the flowery regions of the Love of God!
Praise be to God! that the Province of Caucasia--Baku--is a glorious light in the Lamp of Oneness, a wonderful effulgence from the Sun of Beauty of the Divine Beloved. Its believers are sincere and its friends are the favored ones in the Threshold of Oneness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911-Jun or <, to Spiritual Assembly of Baku -- AB01100)