‘Akká

‘Akká
City in Israel
Aerial view of ‘Akká's Old City
Location of ‘Akká
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‘Akká, more commonly known as Acre or Akko, is a coastal city in Israel. It is notable in the Bahá’í Faith as Bahá’u’lláh and His family, including ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, were imprisoned in the city for an extended period. As such it is the site of many sites considered sacred by Bahá’ís.

History

Bahá’u’lláh's Residence in ‘Akká

Bahá’u’lláh and His household were exiled to the Holy Land from Adrianople by the Ottoman government in August 1868 arriving in ‘Akká at the close of that month, and the names of sixty-seven fellow exiles are known representing the establishment of a Bahá’í community.

The Bahá’ís were initially housed in the barracks of the fortress in the city as prisoners and experienced harsh conditions upon arriving, initially being forbidden from associating among themselves or with the local populace, however by 1869 the authorities of the city relaxed the conditions of imprisonment and the local populace came to have a positive opinion of the Bahá’í's.

During 1869 the Bahá’í community of Iran became aware Bahá’u’lláh had been exiled to ‘Akká and began travelling to the city on pilgrimage to His presence. Due to the conditions of imprisonment they were unable to meet with Bahá’u’lláh and instead would see Him. through the window to His cell in the barracks. On June 23, 1870, Bahá’u’lláh's son Mírzá Mihdí passed after falling through a skylight in the barracks and he reportedly requested that visiting Bahá’ís be able to meet with Bahá’u’lláh when Bahá’u’lláh asked what His dying wish was. In October 1870 Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’ís were transferred out of the barracks as the Ottoman's began using the fortress to house troops and they were transferred into the city itself.

After leaving the Fortress most of the Bahá’ís assumed residence in the caravanserai Khan-i-'Avamid, which went on to house visiting pilgrims, and some were able to establish their own households in the city. Bahá’u’lláh and His family assumed residence in the House of Malik in the western Fakhurah quarter of ‘Akká remaining there for three months then moving to the House of Mansur Khavvam and then the House of Rabi'ih residing in both for a period spanning four months.

Around May 1871 Bahá’u’lláh and His family were able to establish a more long-term residence leasing a house which belonged to ‘Údí Khammár, and after moving to the house Bahá’u’lláh went into seclusion and stopped meeting with the Bahá’ís. While Bahá’u’lláh had forbidden his followers from using violence or engaging in conflict with the followers of Mírzá Yaḥyá during His period of seclusion seven Bahá’ís decided to disobey Him and murdered Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání and two other Azali's who were residing in ‘Akká in January 1872. As a result of the murders Bahá’u’lláh was held in a caravenserai for questioning, however after reassuring the authorities that He condemned the murders He was allowed to return home.

At some point the Family of Bahá’u’lláh secured a house connected to the House of ‘Údí Khammár and in the early 1870's the Houses were connected internally establishing them as a single complex now known as the House of ‘Abbúd. Bahá’u’lláh's period in ‘Akká ended in 1877 when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá secured the property known as Mazra'ih in the countryside outside of the city with Bahá’u’lláh moving to the property.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká

‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His family remained in ‘Akká when Bahá’u’lláh moved His residence outside the city in order to remain close to the Bahá’í community and to allow Him to liaise with officials on the behalf of Bahá’u’lláh. After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's brother Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí attempted to usurp control of the community and as he had resided with Bahá’u’lláh in the Mansion of Bahjí with Bahá’u’lláh he assumed control of the building and the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh which was on its grounds while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remained in ‘Akká.

Throughout the 1890's westerners from Europe and the United States began to become Bahá’ís and began travelling to ‘Akká to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with early groups arriving in 1898. In the early 1900's Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí attempted to prejudice the Ottoman authorities against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which resulted in both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and ‘Alí being confined to remaining within the city of ‘Akká and for a brief period pilgrims were unable to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In July 1908 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was released from all forms of confinement in ‘Akká upon the Ottoman Monarchy being overthrown that year.

In 1909 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá moved His residence to Haifa upon being released from confinement in ‘Akká.