The Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

On Wednesday, November 26 and Friday, November 28, Baha’is commemorate the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Baha’u'llah appointed His eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, as the protector of the Covenant of Baha’u'llah. The Covenant has helped maintain unity and prevent schism within the Baha’i Faith.

The Covenant of Baha’u'llah is unique in religious history and provided clear instructions of the organization of the Faith after the passing of Baha’u'llah.

`Abdu'l-Bahá (1844-1921)

Portrait of `Abdu'l-Bahá.

From earliest childhood,`Abbas Effendi, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh , shared His father's sufferings and banishments. He took as His title `Abdu'l-Bahá, the "servant of Baha." Bahá'u'lláh appointed Him the one authorized interpreter of the Bahá'í teachings and as Head of the Faith after His own passing. In`Abdu'l-Bahá was seen a perfect example of the Bahá'í way of life.

While `Abdu'l-Bahá was still a prisoner of the Ottomans the first Bahá'í pilgrims from the western world arrived in Acre in 1898. After His release in 1908, `Abdu'l-Bahá set out on a series of journeys which, in 1911-1913, took Him to Europe and America. There He proclaimed Bahá'u'lláh's message of unity and social justice to church congregations, peace societies, the members of trade unions, university faculties, journalists, government officials, and many public audiences.

`Abdu'l-Bahá passed away in 1921, having consolidated the foundations of the Bahá'í Faith and greatly expanded its reach. The northern rooms of the Shrine of the Báb, where He is interred, are a place of pilgrimage for Bahá'ís visiting Haifa, Israel where the World Centre of their Faith is located.