Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, passed away on 29 May, 1892. This holy day is commemorated by Baha’is all over the world and is known as ‘The Ascension of Baha’u’llah’. The final resting place of Baha’u’llah, the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, is located in Bahji (in present day Israel), and is the Point of Adoration to which Baha’is turn when reciting their Obligatory Prayer.
Every year, Baha’is around the world commemorate the Ascension of Baha’u’llah that occurred on May 29, 1892. Shoghi Effendi masterfully penned this description of what followed in the hours after dawn on that historic day:
The news of His ascension was instantly communicated to Sultan Abdu’l-Hamid in a telegram which began with the words “the Sun of Baha has set” and in which the monarch was advised of the intention of interring the sacred remains within the precincts of the Mansion, an arrangement to which he readily assented. Baha’u’llah was accordingly laid to rest in the northernmost room of the house which served as a dwelling-place for His son-in-law, the most northerly of the three houses lying to the west of, and adjacent to, the Mansion. His interment took place shortly after sunset, on the very day of His ascension.1
The gallery below features images taken by Negeen Sobhani from dusk to dawn of the Mansion of Bahji, the Shrine of Baha’u’llah and its surrounding gardens. Some of these majestic photographs are sweeping in the grandeur captured while others lovingly pay tribute to the smaller details of these sacred places. They are presented in no particular order other than out of love and humble devotion to the place Baha’is turn to daily in their Obligatory Prayers.
In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.
Man muss es gesehen haben; sonst kann man nicht glauben, dass es so was wunderschönes gibt. Die Schönheit dieser Bilder-sind nicht zu überbieten! Niemals! Unfassbar, dass es in dieser Welt-so etwas wunderbares gibt! Man kann es nicht genug ansehen. Shoghi Effendi war ein wunderbarer Hüter! Ihm verdanken wir sehr, sehr viel! Es gibt einfach keine Worte?
Negeen Sobhani is only selling a couple of the images that you see in this post here on her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/NegeenSobhani/items In her Etsy shop you’ll also find some beautiful photographs that she has taken of details of the Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa, Akka and Bahji.
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Beautiful photos!
Criselda R. Figuerres (May 5, 2017 at 12:51 AM)
Just so Beautiful pop
Nancy waiss (June 6, 2017 at 8:54 PM)
Man muss es gesehen haben; sonst kann man nicht glauben, dass es so was wunderschönes gibt. Die Schönheit dieser Bilder-sind nicht zu überbieten! Niemals! Unfassbar, dass es in dieser Welt-so etwas wunderbares gibt! Man kann es nicht genug ansehen. Shoghi Effendi war ein wunderbarer Hüter! Ihm verdanken wir sehr, sehr viel! Es gibt einfach keine Worte?
Margrit Rita Hurni (May 5, 2019 at 3:31 PM)
So beautiful and tranquil. I managed to go to this holy day once when I was serving at the World Center. It was magical.
Michelle Walch (May 5, 2019 at 11:33 PM)
So very beautiful! How does one get these photos? I would love to have them when saying prayers.
Ruth Bush (May 5, 2019 at 1:56 AM)
Hi Ruth,
Negeen Sobhani is only selling a couple of the images that you see in this post here on her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/NegeenSobhani/items In her Etsy shop you’ll also find some beautiful photographs that she has taken of details of the Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa, Akka and Bahji.
Thanks for asking!
– Sonjel
Sonjel Vreeland (May 5, 2019 at 11:11 PM)