The Martyrdom of the Báb
27 June 2020
5 Raḥmat 177 B.E.
GC-34945
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Dearly loved Friends,
In two weeks’ time, Bahá’ís around the world will join together to reflect upon the Martyrdom of His Holiness the Báb, that heartrending occasion 170 years ago when a Manifestation of God – the Forerunner to Bahá’u’lláh – was executed by firing squad in the city of Tabríz. Bahá’u’lláh writes of the sufferings of His Herald:
Would that the universe had never been called into existence! Would that the world had never been brought into being! Would that no Prophet had ever been raised up, no Messenger sent forth, and no Cause established amongst men! Would that the Name of God had never been manifested betwixt earth and heaven, and that no Books, Tablets, or Scriptures had ever been revealed! Would that the Ancient Beauty had never been made to dwell among these workers of iniquity, nor to suffer at the hands of those who openly disbelieved in God and who committed against Him that which none on earth had ever dared commit! By the one true God! Wert thou, O ‘Alí, to examine My limbs and members, My heart and vitals, thou wouldst discover the traces of those same bullets that struck that Temple of God. Alas, alas! Thus was the Revealer of verses prevented from revealing them, and this Ocean from surging, and this Tree from bearing fruit, and this Cloud from pouring down its rain, and this Sun from giving its light, and this Heaven from ascending on high. Yet, so hath it been irrevocably decreed in this Day.
Bahá’u’lláh, Days of Remembrance, p.193
The friends, individually and collectively, are warmly encouraged to consider how best to befittingly commemorate this Holy Day. Taking into account British Summer Time, the Martyrdom of the Báb should be observed if feasible at around 1pm on Thursday 9 July 2020. It is one of the Bahá’í Holy Days during which work should be suspended.
Although this year we will not be able to join together with other friends and family in the usual way, it is hoped that safe arrangements will be made everywhere to allow as many individuals as possible, including friends of the Faith, to reflect upon the significance of this Holy Day.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
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