Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí (1854 - 1937) (Persian: میرزا محمد علي) was a son of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. His Father granted him the title Ghusn-i-Akbar meaning the Greater Branch. He is regarded as the Arch-Breaker of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh as after the passing of his Father he was an opponent of his brother, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who their father had appointed as His successor as leader of the Bahá’í Faith.
Biography[edit]
During the lifetime of Bahá’u’lláh[edit]
‘Alí was born in Baghdad in 1854 shortly after Bahá’u’lláh had been exiled to the city. His mother was Mahd-i-‘Ulya His Fathers second wife.[1] In his youth he developed a mastery of calligraphy and he was given the responsibility of transcribing some of his Fathers Tablets, however while the family was exiled in Adrianople he composed a series of Arabic verses which he claimed had been revealed to him by God and had them distributed to the Persian Bahá’í community alluding to him being a partner of his father in Divine Revelation.[2] His claims resulted in considerable controversy in the Bahá’í community of Qazvin and he was chastised by Bahá’u’lláh Who revealed the Lawh-i-Khalíl in which He clarified that ‘Alí was not able to receive Divine Revelation.[3]
When the family had been exiled to the Holy Land and was residing in Akka Bahá’u’lláh sent ‘Alí to India with instructions to have a compilation of His writings, entitled Kitab-i-Mubin, printed and he was able to have it printed by the Nasiri printing firm which was owned by members of the Báb's family. ‘Alí altered some of the text of the book in order to remove references to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[4] When Bahá’u’lláh moved His residence to the Mansion of Mazra'ih and later the Mansion of Bahji ‘Alí, his mother, and his siblings lived in the Mansions with Him while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remained in Akka in order to preserve unity due to tensions between them.[5]
In the Kitáb-i-‘Ahd Bahá’u’lláh appointed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor as Head of the Bahá’í Faith and also wrote the following regarding ‘Alí, designating him as successor to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
"Verily God hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch [Muḥammad ‘Alí] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch [‘Abdu’l‑Bahá]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have chosen “the Greater” after “the Most Great,” as decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed."[6]
Opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá[edit]
Shortly before the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh on May 29, 1892, Bahá’u’lláh entrusted ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá with some documents which were placed in two cases and also with two of His Seals. After the Ascension ‘Alí suggested to ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá that the cases be stored in the room of his brother, Badi'u'llah, so they would not become wet as they washed Bahá’u’lláh's Body for burial and some days afterwards ‘Alí and his brothers opened the cases to search the documents for materials which would allow them to oppose ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá. They also stole the Seals of Bahá’u’lláh.[7] Majdu’d-Din had encouraged ‘Alí to attempt to usurp leadership over the community and assisted him in gaining access to some of the Papers of Bahá’u’lláh entrusted to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[8][9]
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá initially attempted to conceal ‘Alí's rebellion, which was pursued covertly, and did not publicly denounce him,[10] instead negotiating with ‘Alí and advising that he would be able to lead the community after Him. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá required that all correspondence leaving the Holy Land be submitted to Him before being sent abroad to ensure news of ‘Alí's dissent did not cause division in the community however by approximately 1896 the division became more widely known.[11] During this period ‘Alí secured the support of the majority of Bahá’u’lláh's family and would meet with Bahá’ís living in and visiting the Holy Land to present himself as a potential leader of the community.[12]
In approximately 1896 ‘Alí's supporters began distributing literature in Persia which levelled accusations against ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and claimed that ‘Alí was being deprived of sharing the station of Centre of the Covenant which prompted ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá to begin explaining the Covenant in Tablets and how his brother was violating it.[13] Between 1897 and 1898 ‘Alí's supporters began gathering materials which they felt they could use to criticize and misrepresent ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá.[14] ‘Alí established a relationship with Ibrahim George Kheiralla when he visited the Holy Land from America on pilgrimage in 1897 and Kheiralla ultimately supported ‘Alí while also attempting to claim leadership over the Bahá’ís of the West,[15] and ‘Alí sent his son Shu’á’u’lláh to America to assist Kheiralla.[16]
Despite their opposition to Him ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá continued to provide funds and supplies to ‘Alí and his supporters at the Mansion of Bahji for the upkeep of the household,[17] however ‘Alí publicly accused Him of withholding provisions publicly denouncing Him to public officials in the Holy Land.[18] ‘Alí also filed an unsuccessful court case against ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá accusing him of exalting Bahá’u’lláh beyond His claims, depriving him of his inheritance, and having him shunned by the community.[19]
In 1901 ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá was undertaking the construction of the inner Shrine of the Báb and ‘Alí advised the Governor of Syria that ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá was constructing a fortress for the purposes of starting a rebellion which did result in ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá being confined to Akka however the authorities also confined ‘Alí and his supporters to Akka.[20] While attempting to secure his release ‘Alí forged a Tablet in order to present Bahá’u’lláh as a Sunni Muslim to the authorities.[21] In 1904 a new Governor was stationed in Akka and ‘Alí launched a campaign of opposition which developed into an official indictment against ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá with a Commission of Enquiry being sent from the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire to investigate Him however ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá convinced the Commission that He was not a threat,[22] and from 1905 to 1906 ‘Alí did not undertake any hostile actions against Him.[23]
In 1907 ‘Alí submitted additional claims that ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá was plotting a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, that he was opposed to Sunni Islam, and claimed that the Western pilgrims visiting Him were military advisers. This resulted in a second Commission of Enquiry being sent to investigate the situation.[24] As a result of intimidation of witnesses the Commission ruled in 1908 that ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá should be exiled from the Holy Land however the Young Turks revolution took place that year and all political prisoners, including ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, were freed and the change in the political structure of the Ottoman Empire prevented ‘Alí and his supporters from utilizing the government against ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá.[25]
In 1915, during WWI, Jamal Pasha the Commander of the 4th Army Corps of the Ottomans came into power in Syria and ‘Alí and his associates denigrated ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá to him prompting Pasha to organize a meeting with ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá however he was soon convinced ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá was not a threat.[26]
Ministry of the Guardian[edit]
On November 28, 1921, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá passed away and in His Will and Testament He announced that ‘Alí was not His successor:
"In short, O ye beloved of the Lord! The Center of Sedition, Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí, in accordance with the decisive words of God and by reason of his boundless transgression, hath grievously fallen and been cut off from the Holy Tree. Verily, we wronged them not, but they have wronged themselves!"[27]
Instead he appointed his eldest grandson Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith and head of the community:
"O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Aghṣán (Branches), the Afnán (Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi—the youthful branch branched from the two hallowed and sacred Lote-Trees and the fruit grown from the union of the two offshoots of the Tree of Holiness,—as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghṣán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God . . ."[28]
Immediately following the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá ‘Alí filed a legal case for inheritance of His estate citing Islamic law and also tried to assert his claim as ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá's successor appealing to the Mufti of Akka who declined to support him as he felt the Bahá’í Faith was incompatible with Shariah law. On January 30, 1922, he had a large group of his supporters lead by his brother, Badi'u'llah, accost the caretaker of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and seize the keys. The Governor of Akka ordered that the keys be returned but took no further action leaving ‘Alí in control of the Shrine and the Mansion of Bahji which he used as his personal residence.[29]
As of 1929 the Mansion of Bahji had fallen into a state of significant disrepair and ‘Alí requested that Shoghi Effendi repair the building vacating the premises to allow for renovations to take place. During the course of renovations Shoghi Effendi invited the British High Commissioner to inspect the premises and the Commissioner ruled that it was a holy site and pilgrimage site granting Shoghi Effendi legal rights over the premises and preventing ‘Alí from resuming residence.[30] In 1931 Shoghi Effendi began efforts to secure ownership of the land surrounding the Mansion which belonged to the supporters of ‘Alí which were not successful until 1952.[31]
In 1937 ‘Alí passed away. Shoghi Effendi sent the following cable after his passing:
HAND OMNIPOTENCE REMOVED ARCHBREAKER BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S COVENANT. HIS HOPES SHATTERED HIS PLOTTINGS FRUSTRATED SOCIETY HIS FELLOW CONSPIRATORS EXTINGUISHED. GOD’S TRIUMPHANT FAITH FORGES ON ITS UNITY UNIMPAIRED ITS PURITY UNSULLIED ITS STABILITY UNSHAKEN. SUCH DEATH CALLS FOR NEITHER EXULTATION NOR RECRIMINATION BUT EVOKES OVERWHELMING PITY SO TRAGIC DOWNFALL UNPARALLELED IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY.[32]
References[edit]
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 125
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 126
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 127
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 130
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 136
- ↑ Kitáb-i-‘Ahd (Book of the Covenant)
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 149-50
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha: The Centre of the Covenant, George Ronald: Oxford 1971', p 54
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 152
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 151
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 170
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 176-77
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 178
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 216
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 247
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha: The Centre of the Covenant, George Ronald: Oxford 1971', p 86
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 179
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 193
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 198-99
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 227-28
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 229
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 232-33
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 234
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 234-35
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 237
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha: The Centre of the Covenant, George Ronald: Oxford 1971', p 412-13
- ↑ Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
- ↑ Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
- ↑ Rúḥíyyih Khánum, The Priceless Pearl, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1969, pp 53-54
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 329
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, pp 330
- ↑ 18 December 1937 Cable from Shoghi Effendi
