Martyrdom of the Báb
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
29 June 2017
7 Raḥmat 174 B.E.
All believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved friends,
In just over one week’s time, the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom will join with our fellow believers around the world to reflect upon the Martyrdom of His Holiness the Báb, “matchless in His meekness, imperturbable in His serenity, magnetic in His utterance…” [1] Bahá’u’lláh wrote of this tragic occasion:
At the mention of this blessed, this hallowed, this exalted and unapproachably wondrous Name, a Name in truth most wondrous, there arise within Me two conditions. I see My heart burning with the fire of grief over that which befell the Beauty of the All-Merciful at the hands of the people of the Qur’án. It is as though every limb of My body were being devoured by a consuming flame that, if left unchecked, would set ablaze the entire world. To this, God Himself beareth Me witness. Likewise I behold tears flowing from Mine eyes, and My limbs, and even the hairs of My head, at the calamities that were visited upon Him by the wicked, who slew God and recognized Him not, and who, boasting of allegiance to but one of His Names, suspended Him in the air and riddled His breast with the bullets of hatred.
(Days of Remembrance, p. 193)
As directed by Shoghi Effendi, and taking British Summer Time into account, the Martyrdom of the Báb should be commemorated, if feasible, at around 1pm on Sunday 9 July 2017. This will be the final Holy Day before the Twin Holy Birthdays (21-22 October 2017), which this year include the much-anticipated bicentennial anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. During this auspicious period, the Universal House of Justice has called upon the Bahá’ís of the world to “find creative ways to honour the Twin Manifestations Whose lives and sacred missions will be recalled on Their anniversaries.” [2]
The National Assembly hopes that, in honouring the Báb on the anniversary of His Martyrdom, we will be able to reflect deeply upon “what it means for humanity that these Two Luminaries rose successively above the horizon of the world.” [3] To convey the significance of Their advent to the widest possible cross-section of society is our mission in the months immediately ahead.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
[1] Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, page xiv
[2] Letter dated 18 May 2016 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies
[3] ibid.