Liberty at Last

August 3, 2021
Liberty at Last

History of Master’s Life

Liberty at Last

Source: ‘Abdu’l-Baha: The Centre of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah | by H. M. Balyuzi

 In 1908, the Young Turk Revolution released all religious and political prisoners in the Ottoman Empire and, after decades of imprisonment and exile, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was free.

The very first act of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, on hearing that He was free, was to visit the Shrine of His Father. …No sooner was He free to visit Bahji [where the shrine was located] than He resumed the task which He had so diligently pursued in days past. 

View of the Shrine of the Bab from the road which later became Ben Gurion Avenue (1905-1910)

During the period immediately following the change of the Turkish regime, ‘Abdu’l-Baha continued His residence in ‘Akka. But after the entombment of the remains of the Bab [Naw-Ruz, 1909], He chose to live in Haifa, where a house was being built for Him. …The Shrine of the Bab was now a place of pilgrimage. 

[‘Abdu’l-Baha soon began] taking the first step to reach the world of the West and deliver, in person, the Message of His Father. … 

A letter written… dated August 29th [1910] read in part:

“Abdul-Baha has left this Holy Spot for the first time in forty-two years, and has gone to Egypt.”

‘Abdu’l-Baha soon after began His travels to Europe and North America: 

… For nearly one month Abdu’l-Baha remained in Port Said and the friends of God came from Cairo, in turn, to visit him. One day he called me to accompany him when taking a walk in the streets of the city. He said: “Do you realize now the meaning of my statement when I was telling the friends that there was a wisdom in my indisposition?” I answered, “Yes, I do remember very well.” He continued, “Well, the wisdom was that I must always move according to the requirements of the Cause. Whatever the Cause requires for its promulgation, I will not delay in its accomplishment for one moment! Now, the Cause did require that I travel to these parts, and had I divulged my intention at that time, many difficulties would have arisen.”

…[‘Abdu’l-Baha] spoke much of the work in America, to which he undoubtedly is giving considerable thought. He also spoke a good deal about the work that is going forward in different European centres as well as in London…

And when he left Port Said for His next destination:

…His personal triumph resounding in Egypt, ‘Abdu’l-Baha turned His attention to Europe. On August 11th 1911, He boarded S.S. Corsica bound for Marseilles.


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