Celebrating the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
7 November 2014
4 Qudrat 171 B.E.
To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
In a few days, scores of gatherings will take place across the country to celebrate the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, Whom Shoghi Effendi described as:
…the Judge, the Lawgiver and Redeemer of all mankind, as the Organizer of the entire planet, as the Unifier of the children of men, as the Inaugurator of the long-awaited millennium, as the Originator of a new ‘Universal Cycle,’ as the Establisher of the Most Great Peace, as the Fountain of the Most Great Justice, as the Proclaimer of the coming of age of the entire human race, as the Creator of a new World Order, and as the Inspirer and Founder of a world civilisation.
The Abhá Beauty’s injunction to suspend work on this and other Holy Days is a wondrous gift, as it gives the friends everywhere the opportunity to concentrate their thoughts, with joy, prayerfulness and gratitude, on His Purpose for humanity and the divine love that ceaselessly showers upon us all. Approaching the upcoming Holy Day in this spirit will, we are sure, attract manifold blessings.
As you look to marking this blessed day, we would encourage you to find ways of giving creative expression to the manner in which you befittingly commemorate it. In this, you will no doubt find the following passage recorded from a talk of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be a wonderful source of inspiration:
Briefly, every nation has a day known as a holiday which they celebrate with joy. In the sacred Laws of God, in every cycle and dispensation, there are blessed feasts, holidays and workless days. On such days all kinds of occupations, commerce, industry, agriculture etc., are not allowed. Every work is unlawful. All must enjoy a good time, gather together, hold general meetings, become as one assembly, so that the national oneness, unity and harmony may become personified in all eyes. As it is a blessed day it should not be neglected or without results by making it a day limited to the fruits of mere pleasure. During such blessed days institutions should be founded that may be of permanent benefit and value to the people…
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. IX, No. 1, pp. 8-9)
We are pleased to enclose a brief document on the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh which may be of use to you in explaining the Holy Day to friends and contacts.
The National Assembly wishes you all an uplifting and spiritually edifying Holy Day!
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
National Spiritual Assembly
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
Download a PDF of the National Assembly’s letter
Download the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh document
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