Mírzá Badíʻu’lláh (1867 - 1950) was a son of Bahá’u’lláh. After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892 he supported his brother Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí's opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who had been appointed as their father's successor. He later reconciled with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and wrote a letter detailing ‘Alí's hostile actions but ultimately resumed his support for ‘Alí and worked against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and later Shoghi Effendi.
Biography[edit]
Badíʻu’lláh was born in Adrianople in 1867 to Bahá’u’lláh and His second wife Mahd-i-‘Ulya.[1] In 1868 he was exiled to 'Akka with his Father,[2] and in 1877 he moved to Mazra'ih with his father and in 1879 to the Mansion of Bahjí.[3]
In 1892 the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh took place with Badíʻu’lláh's elder half brother ‘Abdu’l-Bahá being appointed as His successor as Head of the Bahá’í Faith. Shortly after the Ascension Badíʻu’lláh's older full brother Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí suggested to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that Writings of Bahá’u’lláh be stored in Badíʻu’lláh's room temporarily,[4] and Badíʻu’lláh and his brothers seized the Writings inspecting them for any contents which could be used to justify opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[5] Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí's hostility to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was initially confined to the Holy Land but in 1896 his supporters distributed literature attacking ‘Abdu’l-Bahá across Iran calling for ‘Alí to be recognized as a leader of the community.[6]
As of the early 1900's Badíʻu’lláh had accumulated a significant financial debt, owing four hundred pounds to an American missionary,[7] and he decided to reconcile with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with his mother facilitating their reconciliation,[8] which took place between 1902 and 1903.[9] He composed a letter in February 1903,[9] detailing specific hostile actions taken by ‘Alí against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and received support from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who paid off his debts.[8] Throughout this period he secretly remained in contact with ‘Alí and after three months he resumed open support for ‘Alí informing him of what he had observed while supporting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[8]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to Badíʻu’lláh and his brief repentance in His Will and Testament which was shared following His Ascension in 1921:
"Gracious God! After Mírzá Badíʻu’lláh had declared in his own handwriting that this man (Muḥammad ‘Alí) had broken the Covenant and had proclaimed his falsification of the Holy Text, he realized that to return to the True Faith and pay allegiance to the Covenant and Testament would in no wise promote his selfish desires. He thus repented and regretted the thing he had done and attempted privily to gather in his printed confessions, plotted darkly with the Center of Sedition against me and informed him daily of all the happenings within my household. He has even taken a leading part in the mischievous deeds that have of late been committed. Praise be to God affairs recovered their former stability and the loved ones obtained partial peace. But ever since the day he entered again into our midst, he began afresh to sow the seeds of sore sedition."[10]
After the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Badíʻu’lláh maintained his opposition to His successor as Head of the Bahá’í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, up until passing in Israel in 1950.[11]
Publications[edit]
- 1907 - An Epistle to the Bahá'í World, translated by Aminu’llah Fareed.
References[edit]
- ↑ H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah: The King of Glory, George Ronald: Oxford, 1980, p 247
- ↑ H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah: The King of Glory, George Ronald: Oxford, 1980, p 277
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 232
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 238
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 239
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 178
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 243
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 241
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 244
- ↑ 'Abdu'l-Baha, The Will And Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, US Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1990 Reprint, p 21
- ↑ Mirza Badíʻu’lláh, An Epistle to the Bahá'í World, published online at BahaiLiraryOnline.com
