Covenant of Baha’u’llah

The Master

The Baha’i Faith began with the mission entrusted by God to two Divine Messengers—the Bab and Baha’u’llah. Today, the distinctive unity of the Faith They founded stems from explicit instructions given by Baha’u’llah that have assured the continuity of guidance following His passing. This line of succession, referred to as the Covenant, went from Baha’u’llah to His Son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha—the Centre of the Covenant.

Source: The Covenant of Baha’u’llah 

Adib Taherzadeh captured some recollections of Mirza Mahmud-i-Kashani, a trusted follower of Baha’u’llah from the days of Baghdad and accompanied Him into exile to Adrianople and Akka.

“…The word Aqa (The Master) was a designation given to Abdu’l-Baha. I recall that one day when Baha’u’llah was in the Garden of Vashshash which was a delightful place situated outside Baghdad, which He occasionally used to visit, someone referred to certain individuals as the Aqa [a common noun in the Persian language used as a title before a name similar to ‘Mr’ in English,used on its own as a proper noun it signifies the exalted position of a person]. On hearing this Baha’u’llah was heard to say with a commanding voice: ‘Who is the Aqa? There is only one Aqa, and He is the Most Great Branch.’

“One evening we were informed that the Beloved of the World [Baha’u’llah] intended to visit the Garden of Junaynih [a garden situated in the north of Akka, near the Mansion of Mazra’ih] and had directed that all the pilgrims and resident Baha’is accompany Him in the morning. That night we could not sleep because we were so excited … that we should have the bounty of being in His holy presence for several hours the next day. At the hour of dawn we faced His blessed room and engaged in prayers and devotions. Before sunrise we all assembled outside the gate of the Mansion. It took about one hour until His Blessed Person came downstairs and mounted a white donkey… All the believers followed Him on foot to the garden. One of the local believers, Haji Khavar, was a tall man. He walked alongside Baha’u’llah and held an umbrella over His head as a protection against the heat of the sun. The air was refreshing as we arrived in the garden… His Blessed Person was extremely happy that day and each one of the friends received his share of the bounties from His presence. We had lunch in the garden, then we assembled together and attained His presence.

“It was at that time that Abdu’l-Baha arrived from Akka. The Blessed Beauty said, ‘The Master is coming, hasten to attend Him’… On those days Baha’u’llah used to sow the seeds of loyalty and servitude toward ‘Him Whom God hath purposed’ [Abdu’l-Baha] in the hearts of the believers and explained the lofty station and hidden reality of the Master to all.

Attended by everyone, Abdu’l-Baha came with great humility into the presence of the Blessed Beauty. Then the Tongue of Grandeur uttered words to this effect, ‘From morning until now this garden was not pleasant, but now with the presence of the Master it has become truly most delightful.’ Then, turning to the Master, He remarked, ‘You should have come in the morning.’ Abdu’l-Baha responded, ‘The Governor of Akka and some residents had requested to meet with Me. Therefore I had to receive and entertain them.’ Baha’u’llah, with a smiling face, said, ‘The Master is our shield. Everybody here lives in the utmost comfort and peace. Association with the outside people such as these is very, very difficult. It is the Master who stands up to everything, and prepares the means of comfort for all the friends. May God protect Him from the evil of the envious and the hostile.'”