O spiritual herald! Your letter arrived and surely by now my photograph has reached the blessed hands of that luminous beloved. There remains no further expectation.
Regarding the matter of the blessed crown, 'Abdu'l-Baha's utmost desire was that after the ascension of the Intended One (may my spirit be a sacrifice for the dust of His threshold), I would not have any photograph taken except on the day of sacrifice at the foot of the gallows or upon the gallows itself, in a state where the blessed crown would adorn my head - in such a state would the photograph be taken. But such blessing does not accompany everyone. This desire has not yet been fulfilled.
In Paris and London, numerous journalists and newspaper people insisted greatly on taking photographs, but this servant did not consent. One day four photography devices were ready at the door of the house to take a photograph the moment I emerged. That day this servant did not leave the house until dark night fell. The next day they were ready again. There was no choice except to cover my head with an aba and quickly enter the automobile from the house door.
Again it was not possible, for one day we were invited to the home of the maidservant of God, the attracted one Mrs. Cropper. With utmost precaution against photographs being taken, when I emerged from the automobile I entered the house with great speed, but there was a house opposite, and from that house they had positioned a camera lens facing the street from a room and took a poor photograph from behind. The next day it was printed in the newspapers, but in an unsuitable form. Therefore I was compelled to have a photograph taken by a skilled photographer so that inappropriate photographs would cease.
Despite this, I hope for and desire from the hidden favors of the Blessed Beauty (may my spirit be sacrificed for the dust of His sacred threshold) that I may have a photograph taken with a radiant crown like a lamp. Although I am not worthy to place upon my head a hat like that majestic crown, yet such is my desire. You pray that this desire may be fulfilled. Surely a complete photograph will be taken.
As for writing the travelogue and events of the journey, that is entrusted to the effort of Aqa Mirza Asadu'llah himself. And upon you be the Most Glorious Glory.
Photographs, remembrance, and reverence
photographs and recordings
Editorial introduction
A photograph can hold a beloved face close across oceans and years. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá understood that longing, yet His own travels show how heavy the camera could become: photographers waited at His door, a lens peered from a window across the street, and a poor image appeared in the morning papers. He went to a studio more than once for a friend’s sake, only to have the photographer break his promise, and finally sat for a skilled portrait so that unworthy ones would cease. A picture, He taught, is for remembrance and never for worship; homage paid to an image becomes idolatry. He asked that the likeness of Bahá’u’lláh be treated with reverence, and gently corrected a believer who had mistaken another man’s portrait for His. Plato feared that a painted figure seems alive yet cannot answer a question [1], and every image calls for honesty about what it shows. From here the way opens toward the arts, toward literature and drama, and toward the humanities, where memory and reverence meet the craft of representation.
Selected passages
O kind Khusraw! In Paris, for your sake I went to the photography studio twice. He took photos during an address and visitation, but the visitation was not completed. I went a third time but he broke his promise - despite having set an appointment, the photographer attended to others, so I departed.
One day suffering him to sit under the Lotus tree and another day placing Jesus over the cross!
At the very utmost the photographs are for remembrance and not for worship. If we keep a photograph just for memory's sake no harm is done but if we offer to it extraordinary homage it is pure idolatry.
It was for this very reason that I always refused to be photographed.
Thus if you desire protection from the powers of the world and earthly influences, place the Greatest Name in your dwelling, wear the ring of the Greatest Name, and keep Abdul Baha'is photograph in your home. Read my prayers always and thus see a wonderful effect, causing all superstitious powers and influences to vanish away.
Briefly: It is not permitted to hang the blessed photograph in rooms, however there is no harm in hanging the Greatest Name or "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha" or photographs of the Holy Shrine or photographs of places where Baha'u'llah resided.
In regard to the question thou askest about the picture of this oppressed one, saying that it was much spread in America: Know that this imprisoned one never had a picture taken except in youth, and that one also on account of the command and will of Baha'u'llah, I merely consented so as to obey His command. Therefore I do not like it to be greatly spread.
O thou who art enraptured by the wine of the Covenant! That which thou hadst written was duly perused, and likewise the photograph which thou hadst sent was carefully examined. This portrait is not that of the Blessed Beauty. The figure in the centre is Jenab-i-Kalim, that is, Aqa Mirza Musa; on his right standeth Haji Mirza Ahmad-i-Kashi, and on his left Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani; while standing above are Hadrat-i-Nabil and Jenab-i-Aqa Muhammad-Sadiq-i-Isfahani. This photograph was taken in Istanbul.
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What helps an image deepen remembrance without becoming a substitute for understanding the person or teachings it represents?
- How should affection for a figure be balanced with their expressed wishes about being photographed or having images distributed?
- What difference do accurate identification, date, setting, and provenance make to the way we receive a photograph?