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Abdu’l-Baha. Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah. In 1852 when he was eight years of age his father was imprisoned in the Siyah-Chal. After his fathers release he shared all the further exiles and places of imprisonment with his father.
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Abdu’l-Baha Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah. In 1852 when he was eight years of age his father was imprisoned in the Siyah-Chal. After his fathers release he shared all the further exiles and places of imprisonment with his father. When Baha’u’llah died in 1892 he left a will clearly stating that Abdu’l-Baha was to become the leader of the Baha’i community.
Abdu’l-Baha’s knowledge, and service to all the peoples of Palestine brought great respect for both him and the Bahá'í community. During 1908 there was a revolution within the Ottoman Empire carried out by a group known as the ‘Young Turks’, this change in government led to all the Baha’i prisoners in Akka being released. When Abdu’l-Baha was set free he was an old man.
By this time,1908, there were Baha’i communities in the Near and Far East, North Africa and a few small groups in Europe and America. In 1911 he set out on the first of his travels to Europe and America meeting and encouraging these new Baha’is.
Abdu'l-Baha spoke in churches, synagogues, mosques, universities and many other places. He came to Edinburgh in Scotland and spoke about the ‘Seven Candles of Unity’.
It was about five o’clock on the 6th of January 1913 when the train from London drew into Edinburgh. It was a very cold evening and a small group of people were waiting. The train drew to a stop and onto the platform stepped an elderly gentleman, Abdu’l-Baha had arrived in Edinburgh.
When Abdu’l-Baha was presenting the ideas and teachings of his father, Baha’u’llah, to the public he was always very gentle and considerate, his talks were always brief and full of praise. He often emphasised the common bond that we all share and focused on unity. He spoke to the hearts and minds of people.
During his stay in Edinburgh Abdu’l-Baha wrote and spoke about the unity of the human race the following are short extracts from a document that became known as The Seven Candles of Unity, “In past religious cycles, though harmony was established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of mankind could not be achieved.” “Continents remained widely divided, nay even among the peoples of one of the same continent association and interchanges of thought were well nigh impossible.”
Abdu’l-Baha continued......... “Consequently communication, understanding and unity amongst all the peoples and kindred's of the earth were unattainable.” “And now for everyone it is easy to travel to any land, and to associate and exchange views with its peoples.”
The Seven Candles of Unity Abdu’l-Baha explained that humanity has been involved not only in a process of biological and social evolution but also a spiritual evolution. He suggested that the Baha‘i Faith could offer suggestions on how to walk a spiritual path with practical feet.
The Seven Candles of Unity is a document written by Abdu’l-Baha that could lead to world peace. Looking at events that have already occurred since the Seven Candles was spoken about in Scotland just less than hundred years ago, there is no doubt that the candles are starting to burn and are casting their light across the world. Abdu’l-Baha used the word candle as a metaphor for real actions in that it would help to bring light to a dark world.
This is the United Nations building in New York where representatives of all the world’s countries meet together to examine world issues. The first candle that he spoke and wrote about was unity in the political realm.
This statue has been placed outside the UN building in New York. The following quote from the Bible was the inspiration for this statue. ‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore’ Isaiah 2:4
This is another piece of art work outside the United Nations building in New York.
The second candle is unity of thoughtin world undertakings. These images show only four attempts at unity of thought in world undertakings, there are many more.
The third candle is unity in freedom. Abdu’l-Baha was a prisoner for many years. He entered prison as a youth and left many years later as an old man. He was imprisoned along with his father because of his beliefs, which emphasised the universal brotherhood of the human race.
This is the Saint Mungo’s Museum in Glasgow it was built to reflect the changing religious traditions within Scotland.
The fifth candle is the unity of nations, which will encourage all the people of theworld to regard themselves as citizens of one common land.
The sixth candle is the unity of mankind. ‘The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens’ Baha’u’llah
The seventh candle is the unity of language.A choice will be made for a universal auxiliary language in which all peoples will be instructed and converse. This will be in addition to everyone’s mother tongue.
Abdu’l-Baha once said… Take no thought for yourselves or your lives, whether you eat or whether you are comfortable, whether you are well or ill, whether you are with friends or foes, whether you receive praise or blame; for all these things you must care not at all. Look at me and be as I am……… Behold a candle how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.
