Mírzá Ḍíyá’u’lláh

Mírzá Ḍíyá’u’lláh (August 15, 1864 - October 30, 1898) was a son of Bahá’u’lláh and His second wife Mahd-i-‘Ulya. After the Ascension of his Father he wavered between supporting both of his brothers ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí as leader of the Bahá’í Faith ultimately passing before the most egregious of ‘Alí's acts of opposition.

Biography

Ḍíyá’u’lláh was born on August 15, 1864, in the House of Amru'llah in Adrianople. When Bahá’u’lláh and His family were exiled to the Holy Land Bahá’u’lláh was eventually able to reside in the Mansion of Mazrih and then the Mansion of Bahji and Mahd-i-‘Ulya and her children, including Ḍíyá’u’lláh, lived with Him with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remaining in Akka to preserve unity due to tensions arising from Mahd-i-‘Ulya and Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí's feelings towards Him. At some point Ḍíyá’u’lláh married a daughter of Kázim-i-Samandar. They had no children.

After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892 Ḍíyá’u’lláh remained in the Mansion of Bahji with the other children of Mahd-i-‘Ulya and was easily manipulated by his brother Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí and supported his opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who had been appointed by Bahá’u’lláh as His successor. He assisted ‘Alí in the production of letters levelling accusations against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and misrepresenting Him which were distributed to the Bahá’í community in approximately 1896. Despite participating in opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's position he was not firm in his support of ‘Alí and would sometimes assist ‘Abdu’l-Bahá allowing him to serve as a link between the two brothers often bringing messages from ‘Alí and his supporters to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

On October 30, 1898, Ḍíyá’u’lláh passed away after suffering an illness before Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí undertook his more hostile actions against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited him on the last day of his life, and after his passing He stated that He had forgiven him. After his passing his wife's father, Kázim-i-Samandar, visited to attempt to reconcile with his daughter but he was attacked and beaten on the orders of ‘Alí and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advised Samandar not to pursue the matter.

Ḍíyá’u’lláh was buried in the Mansion of Bahji after his passing and in 1965 family members who had supported Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí requested that his remains be exhumed and the Universal House of Justice issued the following message regarding the exhumation:

ANNOUNCE BAHÁ’Í WORLD REMOVAL FROM IMMEDIATE PRECINCTS HOLY SHRINE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH REMAINS MÍRZÁ ḌÍYÁ’U’LLÁH YOUNGER BROTHER MÍRZÁ MUḤAMMAD-‘ALÍ HIS ACCOMPLICE IN EFFORTS SUBVERT FOUNDATIONS COVENANT GOD SOON AFTER ASCENSION BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. THIS FINAL STEP IN PROCESS PURIFICATION SACRED INTERNATIONAL ENDOWMENTS FAITH IN BAHJÍ FROM PAST CONTAMINATION WAS PROVIDENTIALLY UNDERTAKEN UPON REQUEST FAMILY OLD COVENANT-BREAKERS A PROCESS WHOSE INITIAL STAGE WAS FULFILLED BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ WHICH GATHERED MOMENTUM EARLY YEARS BELOVED GUARDIAN'S MINISTRY THROUGH EVACUATION MANSION ATTAINED CLIMAX THROUGH PURIFICATION ḤARAM-I-AQDAS AND NOW CONSUMMATED THROUGH CLEANSING INNER SANCTUARY MOST HALLOWED SHRINE QIBLIH BAHÁ’Í WORLD PRESAGING EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION BEFITTING MAUSOLEUM AS ANTICIPATED BELOVED SIGN GOD ON EARTH.