My name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My reality is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion . .. No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
On Saturday, 27 November 2021, millions of Bahá’ís in communities across the world will commemorate the hundredth anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.
The Universal House of Justice calls for “…a year for profound reflection on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the strength of the Covenant of which He was the Centre, as the community prepares to commemorate the centenary of His Ascension. The observance of this anniversary will undoubtedly prompt individuals and communities alike to contemplate the significance of that infinitely poignant moment when He Who was the Mystery of God departed from this world. His passing took from the Bahá’ís of that era a Figure Who was the object of their ardent love and loyalty; to the faithful of this age, He remains without parallel: a perfect embodiment in word and deed of all that His Father taught, the One through Whom the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh was “proclaimed, championed and vindicated”. We are conscious that the coming year will also mark a century since His Will and Testament—that “momentous”, “historic”, “immortal” Document—“called into being, outlined the features and set in motion the processes” of the Administrative Order, “the very pattern of that divine civilization which the almighty Law of Bahá’u’lláh is designed to establish upon earth”. This “unique” and “divinely-conceived” Order, this “mighty administrative structure”, had been fashioned by its Architect to perpetuate the Covenant and channel the spiritual powers of the Cause.”
The Universal House of Justice – Letter of 25 November 2020
Learn more about the extraordinary Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Stories of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá
 |
Painting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá On the night before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in New York in 1912, he wrote, “On My arrival in America Miss Juliet Thompson shall paint a wonderful portrait of Me.” Juliet was an accomplished painter, but she felt “surprise and dismay, fear, joy and gratitude all mixed together.” |
 |
Knighting of Sir ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás The British government was impressed with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s heroic actions during the war. On April 27, 1920, leaders gathered in Haifa to honor him. They sent a magnificent car for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but he chose to ride in a simple wagon to the ceremony. There, at age 75, so near the city whose citizens had once rejected him, he was named Sir ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás, Knight of the British Empire. |
 |
‘I did not come to Paris to conform’: `Abdu’l-Bahá’s Response to Racism While ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was living in a Paris hotel, among those who often came to see Him was a poor, black man. He was not a Bahá’í, but he loved ‘Abdu’l-Bahá very much. |
 |
How ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Steered Through Storms Of Hardship One dark night, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá paced up and down the long front hallway of the reception room, relaxing and easing the stresses of a busy day, He asked me the following question. ‘Do you know how I administer this Faith?’ Then He said, ‘I pull the sails of the ship firmly and fasten the ropes tight. |
 |
100 years ago, historic journeys transformed a fledgling faith “He was sixty-six years old,” the Universal House of Justice has written in a special message, dated 29 August, to mark the centenary, “an exile since childhood, with no formal schooling, a prisoner for forty years, in failing health, and unfamiliar with Western customs and languages. Yet He arose, without thought of comfort, undeterred by the risks involved…” |
 |
The Man Who Turned His Back On `Abdu’l-Bahá In ‘Akka there lived a man who so hated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that he would turn his back when he met Him, fearing lest he lost his hatred. One day they met in such a narrow street that the enemy was forced to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá face to face. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tapped the man upon the shoulder and said, ‘Wait a few moments until I speak. However great may be your hatred of Me it can never be as strong as My love for you.’ The man was startled, awakened, and made to feel the unconquerable power of love. |
 |
“Following the Example of `Abdu’l-Bahá” – A Talk by Tom Price A talk given by Tom Price called Following the Example of `Abdu’l-Bahá. |
 |
`Abdu’l-Bahá in Egypt – Bahá’í Blog Interviews Payam Rowhani In this Bahá’í Blog interview, Naysan Naraqi speaks with Payam Rowhani, about `Abdu’l-Bahá’s time in Egypt. After being a prisoner and in exile for 58 years, when `Abdu’l-Bahá was finally released, He traveled to Egypt, Europe, and North America to share the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. Many of us hear a lot about Abdu’l-Baha’s travels to Europe and North America, however what about His time in Egypt? Naysan chats with his dear friend and fellow community member, Payam Rowhani about `Abdu’l-Bahá’s time in Egypt. |
 |
The Equality of Women and Men – By `Abdu’l-Bahá (In Persian with English subtitles) “And among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is the equality of women and men. The world of humanity has two wings—one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to the world of men in the acquisition of virtues and perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they Save ought to be.” – `Abdu’l-Bahá |
 |
Beautifully presented short stories about ʻAbdu’l-Bahá for the young and young at heart Here’s a collection of Brilliant Star stories and activities to help you share the love of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with your friends, family, and community this year. |
Service project in honour of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá
A couple of months ago, the Sector 3 youth and junior youth were involved in a service project in honour of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.
Resources
 |
Children’s Class Resource (3-12 years old) This resource has been collated for children in Bahá’í Education Classes to be used in schools or the neighbourhood classes or in a family setting. The resource has five sections as outlined below:
|
ProfoundReflections.pdf (4.27MB)
He is, and should for all time be regarded, first and foremost, as the Center and Pivot of Bahá’u’lláh’s peerless and all-enfolding Covenant, His most exalted handiwork, the stainless Mirror of His light, the perfect Exemplar of His teachings, the unerring Interpreter of His Word, the embodiment of every Bahá’í ideal, the incarnation of every Bahá’í virtue, the Most Mighty Branch sprung from the Ancient Root, the Limb of the Law of God, the Being “round Whom all names revolve,” the Mainspring of the Oneness of Humanity, the Ensign of the Most Great Peace, the Moon of the Central Orb of this most holy Dispensation—styles and titles that are implicit and find their truest, their highest and fairest expression in the magic name ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He is, above and beyond these appellations, the “Mystery of God”—an expression by which Bahá’u’lláh Himself has chosen to designate Him, and which, while it does not by any means justify us to assign to Him the station of Prophethood, indicates how in the person of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the incompatible characteristics of a human nature and superhuman knowledge and perfection have been blended and are completely harmonized.
Shoghi Effendi – The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh