Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
Encyclopedia
The Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi
, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol. III (pp. 80–81).
These individuals played a vital role in the development of Bahá'u'lláh's Faith, consolidating its adherents and bringing its teachings around the world. To Bahá'ís, they filled a similar role as the sons of Jacob, the apostles of Jesus, Muhammad's companions
, or the Báb
's Letters of the Living
.
addresses the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada in the Tablets of the Divine Plan
with the phrase: "O ye Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh!" He goes on to encourage them to "strive ye with heart and soul so that ye may reach this lofty and exalted position".
He outlines certain conditions for this attainment, namely firmness in the Covenant of God, fellowship and love amongst the believers, and continually travelling to all parts of the continent, "nay, rather, to all parts of the world". http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/TDP/tdp-8.html
Shoghi Effendi referred to Martha Root
as "that unique and great-hearted apostle of Bahá'u'lláh", but she is not considered one of the nineteen Apostles designated as such by Shoghi Effendi. (Baha'i Administration, p. 112)
This picture of the Apostles was taken from Balyuzi's book on pg. 262. Individual photos can be seen on each respective biographical page, links to them are in the side box on the right-hand side of this page.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol. III (pp. 80–81).
These individuals played a vital role in the development of Bahá'u'lláh's Faith, consolidating its adherents and bringing its teachings around the world. To Bahá'ís, they filled a similar role as the sons of Jacob, the apostles of Jesus, Muhammad's companions
Sahaba
In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
, or the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
's Letters of the Living
Letters of the Living
The Letters of the Living was a title provided by the Báb to the first eighteen disciples of the Bábí Religion. In some understandings the Báb places himself at the head of this list...
.
Notability
Many of the stories of the Apostles are well known to Bahá'ís. Prominent among them are:- Badí‘Badí‘Badí‘ , was the title of Mírzá Áqá Buzurg-i-Nishapuri, also known by his title the Pride of Martyrs, was the son of `Abdu'l-Majid-i-Nishapuri, a follower of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh....
- The 17 year old who delivered Bahá'u'lláh's tablet to Nassiru'd-Din Shah and was subsequently killed. - Sultánu'sh-Shuhada' - The 'King of Martyrs' of Isfahan who was beheaded with his brother.
- Mírzá Abu'l-FadlMírzá Abu'l-Fadl' , or ' was the foremost Bahá'í scholar who helped spread the Bahá'í Faith in Egypt, Turkmenistan, and the United States. He is one of the few Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh who never actually met Bahá'u'lláh...
- The famous scholar who travelled as far as America and wrote several notable books about the Bahá'í Faith. - VarqáVarqáVarqá , born Mírzá `Alí-Muhammad , was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin...
- The father of Rúhu'lláh. The two were killed at the same time for their adherence. - Nabíl-i-AkbarNabíl-i-AkbarÁqá Muḥammad-i-Qá'iní also known as Fadil-i-Qa'ini surnamed Nabíl-i-Akbar , was a distinguished Bahá'í from the town of Qá'in...
- Famous teacher, and recipient of several tablets from Bahá'u'lláh. - Nabíl-i-A`zamNabíl-i-A`zamMullá Muḥammad-i-Zarandí , more commonly known as Nabíl-i-A`ẓam or Nabíl-i-Zarandí , was an eminent Bahá'í historian during the time of Bahá'u'lláh, and one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh...
- The author of the historical narrative called The Dawn-breakersThe Dawn-breakers (book)The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation or Nabíl's Narrative is a historical account of the early Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths penned by Nabíl-i-A`zam in 1887-8...
. - Mishkín-QalamMishkín-QalamMírzá Ḥusayn-i-Isfahání surnamed Mishkín-Qalam , was a prominent Bahá'í and one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh, as well as a famous calligrapher of 19th century Persia...
- Noteworthy calligrapher of his time and designer of the Greatest Name. - Zaynu'l-MuqarrabínZaynu'l-MuqarrabínMullá Zaynul-Ábidín was born in the month of Rajab 1233 AH in one of the villages of Najafábád Iran near Isfahán to a family of Muslim Clerics. He himself became a preacher at a mosque in Najafábád. In 1851, he became a Bábí , and began teaching his new found faith in his hometown. It soon became...
- Doctor of Islamic law. He is the one who submitted questions to Bahá'u'lláh regarding the Kitáb-i-AqdasKitáb-i-AqdasThe Kitáb-i-Aqdas is a central book of the Bahá'í Faith written by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion. The work was written in Arabic under the Arabic title , but it is commonly referred to by its Persian title, Kitáb-i-Aqdas , which was given to the work by Bahá'u'lláh himself...
, the Bahá'í book of laws, which have been published in an appendix to the book. - Kázim-i-SamandarKázim-i-SamandarShaykh Káẓim-i-Samandar known as Samandar was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was born to a prominent Bahá'í family of Qazvin of Bábí and Shaykhi background...
- The favourite Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh. He travelled teaching the faith in Persia, the Lawh-i-Fu'ád is addressed to him.
Tablets of the Divine Plan
`Abdu'l-Bahá`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
addresses the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada in the Tablets of the Divine Plan
Tablets of the Divine Plan
The Tablets of the Divine Plan collectively refers to 14 letters written between September 1916 and March 1917 by `Abdu'l-Bahá to Bahá'ís in the United States and Canada. Included in multiple books, the first five tablets were printed in America in Star of the West - Vol. VII, No. 10, September 8,...
with the phrase: "O ye Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh!" He goes on to encourage them to "strive ye with heart and soul so that ye may reach this lofty and exalted position".
He outlines certain conditions for this attainment, namely firmness in the Covenant of God, fellowship and love amongst the believers, and continually travelling to all parts of the continent, "nay, rather, to all parts of the world". http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/TDP/tdp-8.html
Shoghi Effendi referred to Martha Root
Martha Root
Martha Louise Root was a prominent traveling teacher of the Bahá'í Faith in the late 19th and early 20th century. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith called her "the foremost travel teacher in the first Bahá'í Century", and named her a Hand of the Cause posthumously...
as "that unique and great-hearted apostle of Bahá'u'lláh", but she is not considered one of the nineteen Apostles designated as such by Shoghi Effendi. (Baha'i Administration, p. 112)
Photographs
See also
- Hands of the CauseHands of the CauseThe Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith...
- Knights of Bahá'u'lláhKnights of Bahá'u'lláhThe title Knight of Bahá'u'lláh was given by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, to Bahá'ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade....
- Letters of the LivingLetters of the LivingThe Letters of the Living was a title provided by the Báb to the first eighteen disciples of the Bábí Religion. In some understandings the Báb places himself at the head of this list...
- Disciples of `Abdu'l-BaháDisciples of `Abdu'l-BaháShoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant':*Dr. John E. Esslemont*Thornton Chase*Howard MacNutt*Sarah Farmer*Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney*Lillian Kappes...