Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Shrine of Baha'u'llah

On 29 May 1892 – 119 years ago – Bahá'u'lláh (Founder of the Bahá’í Faith) passed away at His home outside Acre.

Baha’is around the world each year commemorate the date with special devotional programs, many turning in the direction of His burial site as they pray. To Baha’is it is the most sacred spot on earth.

The Shrine of Baha’u’llah is adjacent to the home where He lived His final years. To the end He was a prisoner of the Turkish Empire, even after authorities allowed Him to live outside the walls of the prison city of Acre.

His passing in 1892 followed nearly 40 years of exile from His native Iran, first in Baghdad and later in Turkey before His incarceration in Acre in 1868.Baha’is accept Baha’u’llah as the Manifestation of God for this age, the latest in a line a divine prophets that includes Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, and others.

The Ascension of Baha’u’llah is one of nine holy days during the year on which Baha’is suspend work.

Baha'u'llah died approximately eight hours after sunset on 29 May, 1892. Baha'i communities around the world typically commemorate His passing at 3:00 a.m. standard time. If a night-time observance fits in your schedule, please come and join us:

Beaverton Baha’i Center
Sunday, May 29 at 3:45 am - 6:00 am
5355 SW Murray Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005503-801-5022

"Jináb-i-Mírzá Ismá'íl, a believer present in that last audience with Bahá'u'lláh, has recorded: 'Tears flowed from my eyes and I was overcome with feelings of grief and sorrow after hearing these words. At this moment the Blessed Perfection bade me come close to Him, and I obeyed. Using a handkerchief which was in His hand, Bahá'u'lláh wiped the tears from my cheeks. As He did so, the words of Isaiah [25:8], "and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces . . .", involuntarily came to my mind.'"'

Alí-Akbar Furútan, Stories of Bahá'u'lláh, p 109

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Adapted with permission from the Bahá'í World News Service.