Eulogies Delivered at the Funeral of Abdu'l-Baha by Jews, Christians and Muslims
Abdu'l-Baha ascended in the early morning hours of November 28, 1921, and His funeral was on Tuesday the 29th.
"As they slowly wended their way up Mount Carmel, the Vineyard of God, the casket appeared in the distance to be borne aloft by invisible hands, so high above the heads of the people was it carried. After two hours walking, they reached the garden of the Tomb of the Báb. Tenderly was the sacred coffin placed upon a plain table covered with a fair white linen cloth. As the vast concourse pressed round the Tabernacle of his body, waiting to be laid in its resting place, within the vault, next to that of the Báb, representatives of the various denominations, Moslems, Christians and Jews, all hearts being ablaze with fervent love of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, some on the impulse of the moment, others prepared, raised their voices in eulogy and regret, paying their last homage of farewell to their loved one. So united were they in their acclamation of him, as the wise educator and reconciler of the human race in this perplexed and sorrowful age, that there seemed to be nothing left for the Bahá'ís to say." (From "The Passing of Abdu'l-Baha" by Shoghi Effendi and Lady Blomfield)
Shoghi Effendi's full description of the passing of Abdu'l-Baha is found here.
The casket of Abdu'l-Baha surrounded by mourners, in the gardens above the Shrine of the Bab. The funeral procession had, perhaps, paused to wait for the arrival of more of the crowd of people still climbing Mount Carmel. Following this, Abdu'l-Baha's casket was brought to the entrance to the nearby Shrine, where the funeral orations were given. The circle of trees above the Shrine of the Bab is seen at the top right.
These are those eulogies, all but one of which was delivered in Arabic. They were published in the Arabic-language newspapers in the Holy Land, and the following translations were later published in "Star of the West". Please click on these small images for larger copies; then right-click and download the images; they should be readable on your computer.
Very timely.
ReplyDeleteSadly,even clicking on pages of the STAR OF THE WEST, I was still not able to read translations published there.
Please try right-clicking on the larger images, and download them to your computer. I tested this, and this results in the ability to read the downloaded images on one's computer.
ReplyDeleteThese eulogies are tremendous. Thank you for making us aware of them.
ReplyDeleteAs the funeral of subhi azal in cyprus
ReplyDeletethe funeral ofAbsulbaha and Bahaullah himself was, was a
Sunni Funeral (really funny)
In the Holy Land during the lifetime of both Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha, the Baha'i Faith was not yet recognized as an independent Faith with its own Prophet and Book and laws. All ceremonies had to be conducted in accordance with Muslim, Christian or Jewish law, and by clergy of those faiths. I recently learned that the first Baha'i funeral in the Holy Land was the funeral of Mirza Muhsin, who had been married to one of Abdu'l-Baha's daughters. He died during the ministry of Shoghi Effendi. Up to that point, Baha'i funerals were conducted in accordance with Muslim rites, as that was the most recent of the divine revelations. For Mirza Muhsin's funeral, Shoghi Effendi informed the Mufti of Akka -- the leading Muslim clergyman -- that he would not have any role in Mirza Muhsin's funeral, which was conducted at Bahji. At one point during the ceremony the mufti stood up, and Shoghi Effendi pointed at him and told him to sit down. But up to that point, Baha'is had no choice. There was no such thing as a civil funeral, and until the time when the British governed the Holy Land, the Baha'i Faith was not recognized as an independent Faith there. Recognition by the authorities is a gradual process. Likewise the establishment of Baha'i cemeteries in the Holy Land was a gradual process. There are now 4 of them available for burials: One in Haifa at the foot of Mount Carmel, close by the Jewish Cave of Elijah; one near the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee; one in Jerusalem; and one in Eilat. These were gradually established.
ReplyDelete"...the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant." Àbdu'l-Bahá
ReplyDelete