The Ascension of Abdu�l Baha, Baha�u�llah�s oldest son is the day of commemorating the death of the second leader of the Baha�i Faith. Abdu�l Baha died on November 28, 1921. He was 77 years old at that time. On this holyday, Baha�is all over the world remembers the life of Abdu�l Baha and tries to re-dedicate themselves to the Baha�i doctrine.
Life of Abdu�l Baha
One event that made a strong impact on Abdu�l Baha was the imprisonment of His Father. His family was reduced to poverty and He was attacked by the other children on the streets.
Abdu�l Baha married in 1873 and had nine children. Only four of His daughters managed to survive the infancy.
Three closely-related distinctions bestowed upon Him by Baha�u�llah were:
- He was the appointed successor of Baha�u�llah and also the �center� of Baha�u�llah�s Covenant with His followers.
- He also had the honor of being the authorized interpreter of His Father�s Writings.
- Being the perfect exemplar of His Father�s teachings He was emulated by all the Baha�is.
Though, Abdu�l Baha was not a Prophet in His own right, His writings form an integral part of the Baha�I Holy Writings. The Baha�is revere Him as the �Master�. Two of the Holy Days commemorated by the Baha�is celebrate the life of the Abdu�l Baha. Though, these are not days in which the Baha�is are required to refrain from work.
He spent years in exile with His father and had remained imprisoned for the greater part of His life. He led the Baha�i Community during His lifetime and also made some historic travels through North America and Europe in an effort to spread His Father�s teachings. He was also knighted by Queen Victoria for His humanitarian services in Palestine at the time of the World War I.
Ascension Of Abdu�l Baha
Abdu�l Baha died on November 20th, 1920. After Baha�u�llah�s death, the Will and Testament of Baha�u�llah stated that Abdu�l Baha�s half brother, Mirza Muhammad Ali should be the leader of the Faith. Thus, while most of the Baha�is followed Abdu�l Baha, a handful went on to follow Mirza Muhammad Ali.
Abdu�l Baha is buried in the front room of the shrine where the Bab is also buried in Mount Carmel. Though there are plans to build a shrine for Abdu�l Baha. His Will and Testament states His grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani as the selected Guardian of the Baha�i Faith. The Ascension of Abdu�l Baha is a celebration of the rising of Abdu�l Baha�s spirit to the heavenly dwelling for the Baha�is.