Holy Days
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
13 November 2017
11 Qudrat 174 B.E.
All believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
In a few days’ time, the Bahá’í world will be commemorating the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
These two Holy Days, associated with the beloved Master, afford us the opportunity to reflect upon the life and station of the Centre of the Covenant, Who worked so tirelessly to promote and protect the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Day of the Covenant begins at sunset on Friday 24 November, and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l Bahá should be commemorated on Monday 27 November at 1am. While there is no obligation to abstain from work on these Holy Days, the friends are encouraged to gather to recall the life of our perfect exemplar.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself wrote of the Covenant:
In accordance with the explicit text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas Bahá’u’lláh hath made the Centre of the Covenant the Interpreter of His Word – a Covenant so firm and mighty that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like.
(Cited in Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh)
As we reflect upon the influence the example of the Master has upon our lives and service today, may we be inspired by His words:
My name is ‘Abdu’l Bahá. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l Bahá. My reality is ‘Abdu’l Bahá. My praise is ‘Abdu’l Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion… No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.
(Cited in Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh)
We hope that during these days you will all feel a special connection with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Centre of the Covenant, the Interpreter of Bahá’u’lláh’s Word.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary