Saudi Arabia
 Saudi Arabia |
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|---|---|---|
| Location of Saudi Arabia
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| National Assembly | N/A | |
| Statistics: | ||
| Total Population | ||
| - | UN 2021[1] | 35,950,396 |
| Bahá'í pop. | ||
| - | Bahá'í source | |
| - | Non-Bahá'í source | 6,517 |
| History: Firsts |
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| - | Pioneers | 1940, Ardeshir Akhtarkhavari |
 Related media
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| Categories: Saudi Arabia • People | ||
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a nation which encompasses the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. Its official language is Arabic and the predominant religion is Islam.
The region has been inhabited since prehistory. In the early 7th Century Muhammad established the religion of Islam and united the various tribes in the area and after His passing several Caliphate dynasties ruled the area. The region was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire throughout the Middle Ages up until the First World War when the Empire was disbanded and the region was united by the House of Saud throughout the 1920's with the Kingdom being established in 1932.
The Bahá’í Faith was first present in Saudi Arabia in the 1940's and a small community was established.
History[edit]
The Báb went on pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina with Quddús in late 1844, the same year He declared His mission and established the Bábí Faith.[2] During His pilgrimage He revealed a Tablet proclaiming Himself to the Sherif of Mecca however the Sherif did not respond to it.[3]
The first Bahá’í to pioneer to Saudi Arabia during the Ministry of Shoghi Effendi was Ardeshir Akhtarkhavari who moved to the country in 1940.[4] He was later joined at his pioneer post by his wife, Rouhangiz, and daughter Soroor.[5]
Qudratu’lláh Ázamíkháh pioneered to Saudi Arabia in 1952,[6] as did Qudratu’lláh Bidárdil in 1953. Bidárdil first settled in Ad Dammam for seven months then moved to Hafuf where a Local Spiritual Assembly was established after a short time. In 1954 he moved to Medina where he helped Ázamíkháh establish a Local Spiritual Assembly in 1955. The same year Bidárdil married with his wedding being the first Bahá’í marriage in the country.[7]
In 1957 a National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula was established which had jurisdiction over Saudi Arabia and as of 1963 there was a Local Spiritual Assembly in Riyadh and Bahá’í Groups functioning in an additional five localities.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ↑ Nabil-i-Zarandi, The Dawn-Breakers, US Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1932, p 130
- ↑ Nabil-i-Zarandi, The Dawn-Breakers, US Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1932, p 138
- ↑ The American Baha'i, Feb 1985, p 18
- ↑ The American Baha'i, Jan 1985, p 8
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 519. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 232
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 955. View as PDF.
