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Featured in: Study Circles & Study Materials
A study circle is a small group that meets to study the course materials from the Ruhi Institute. This collection contains resources related to study circles, as well as resources to assist anyone with deepening their understanding of the Baha’i Writings.
On December 17th, 1919, in the aftermath of World War I, Abdu’l-Baha wrote to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague. Abdu’l-Baha wrote a second Tablet to them in July 1920. Because of its substantial length, you might hear the first Tablet referred to as “The Tablet to The Hague” but you’ll also find both Tablets called “The Tablets to the Hague”. These two Tablets were recently published online for the first time on the Baha’i Reference Library (you can read them here), and in this article, we offer some introductory thoughts on the Tablet that was written 100 years ago, about its context and its significance.
Ahmad Yazdani and Hand of the Cause Ali Muhammad Ibn-i-Asdaq, who both lived in Tehran at the time, took great interest in the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague, since the oneness of mankind and unity are governing principles of the Baha’i Faith. They brought this organization to the attention of Abdu’l-Baha, and Ahmad, along with several other Baha’is, wrote to the organization about the principles of the Baha’i Faith in 1915 when the world was engulfed in global war. The organization replied, sending a letter for Abdu’l-Baha via Ahmad, but at that time the Holy Land was cut off from the rest of the world.
With the end of World War I, in December of 1919, Abdu’l-Baha received the letter and penned a reply, known as the Tablet to The Hague or the Tablet of Peace. Ahmad Yazdani and Ali Muhammad Ibn-i-Asdaq were summoned to Haifa and asked to travel to The Hague and deliver the response in person as a special and history-making delegation. Their voyage involved a lot more than simply delivering a letter and the second Tablet to the Hague is a continuation of this correspondence.
In terms of its content, the first Tablet to The Hague includes Abdu’l-Baha’s analysis of the attainment of international peace within the context of the need for wider political, economic, and cultural change. In an article describing newly translated Writings recently published online, the Baha’i World News Service explained:
When Abdu’l-Baha wrote the two letters, the Paris Peace Conference was bringing together world leaders to discuss the terms of peace following the end of World War I. The conference led to the establishment of the League of Nations. While praising the League’s aims, Abdu’l-Baha was candid in explaining that it was too restricted to realize peace. He explained that peace would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah. In the first message, Abdu’l-Baha also identifies many important Baha’i principles, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, the equality of women and men, that religion must be the cause of love, and others. 1
Some of the other principles addressed include:
The Baha’i World News Service also explains:
In the second Tablet, Abdu’l-Baha returns to the idea of the importance of religious faith to the establishment of peace, explaining that His ‘desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.’ 1
This second tablet was quoted at the conclusion of the recent letter of the Universal House of Justice on world peace (dated 18 January 2019 and which can be read here, and listened to here), which to me, highlights and emphasizes its continual relevance. The House of Justice finished its letter quoting Abdu’l-Baha’s second Tablet to the Hague further and with these stirring words of its own:
[Abdu’l-Baha] observed that for peace to be realized in the world, it was not adequate that people should be informed about the horrors of war.
“Today the benefits of universal peace are recognized amongst the people, and likewise the harmful effects of war are clear and manifest to all. But in this matter, knowledge alone is far from sufficient: A power of implementation is needed to establish it throughout the world.”
‘It is our firm belief”, He continued, “that the power of implementation in this great endeavour is the penetrating influence of the Word of God and the confirmations of the Holy Spirit.”
Certainly then, none who are conscious of the condition of the world can refrain from giving their utmost to this endeavour and seeking those confirmations—confirmations for which we too earnestly supplicate at the Sacred Threshold on your behalf. Beloved friends: The devoted efforts that you and your like-minded collaborators are making to build communities founded on spiritual principles, to apply those principles for the betterment of your societies, and to offer the insights arising—these are the surest ways you can hasten the fulfilment of the promise of world peace. 2
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Hi Sonjel: It delighted me to share your article on the largest Bahai facebook page and also on my own page.Human development is a slow process but I read yesterday that the Bahá’í Faith is the fastest growing religion in the world, as a percentage of its base, so it has immense potential. There is only one human grouping which is growing faster and they call that the “nones” which consists of people who do not see enough potential in any religion to attract their membership. My bet is it is from that group that many Bahá’ís came from, including me, although it did not have a name when I joined about 50 years ago. Today I read the following on the Bahá’í Blog which I immediately thought would interest those who ask how the Bahá’ís are helping to bring peace to the world. (Web address)
Bill Hyman (December 12, 2019 at 4:38 AM)
Thank you so much for sharing this article, Bill. We really appreciate your support and encouragement.
Sonjel Vreeland (December 12, 2019 at 11:02 PM)
Dear Sonjel,
It might be strange to receive this comment almost four years after you published this wonderful post. The reason I came to it is to confirm that the name Ahmad Yazdani is correct and not Ahmad Yazdi, Abdu’l-Baha’s son-in-law who resided in Port Said, Egypt at the time. I am tasked by the NSA of Egypt with compiling the history of the Faith in Egypt from 1864 to 2014 (a century and a half). As I have been collecting information on the notable early Baha’i Mr. Mahmoud Nushughati, from his granddaughter, She mentioned that he knew Dutch and was the honorary consul of the Netherlands in Port Said. He was taught the Faith shortly after the round of the Twentieth Century at the hands of Persian pioneers who were merchants at the city. Due to his deep faith and diligence, Abdu’l-Baha, and later Shoghi Effendi, relied on him in facilitating the passage of Western pilgrims to the Holy Land and back. When Abdu’l-Baha summoned Ahmad Yazdani and Ibn Asdaq to travel to the Hague as you mentioned, it was Mr. Nushughati who hosted them in transit in Port Said until he secured their visas. Due to a delay in this process, he had to book them a place in the cabin of a steamer’s crew rather than in regular passenger cabins that were already booked. More on Mr. Nushughati: He was the father-in-law of Mr. Hussein Bicar who was appointed by the Universal House of Justice in 1981 as the Baha’i Community’s “Point of Reference” in the absence of its administration. Mr. Bicar is one of Egypt’s most famous painters of modern time. Another son-in-law of Mr. Nushughati was Mr. Gila Michael Bahta, considered to be the first to embrace the Faith in Ethiopia. He was appointed to the Board of Counsellors in Africa (1983 – 1998), and is the one who escorted Amatu’l-Baha for her historic meeting with Emperor Hailaselasse in 1970’s. Certainly a part of your story will appear in my compilation of Egypt’s history in connection with their passage through Port Said and the outcome of their mission. Love and kindest regards from Entebbe, Uganda, where I am residing since 1997. Gamal
Gamal Hassan (June 6, 2023 at 7:23 AM)
Thank you so much for this!
Sonjel Vreeland (June 6, 2023 at 10:11 AM)