Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Located in Bahji near Acre, Israel, the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is the most holy place for Bahá'ís and represents their Qiblih, or direction of prayer. It contains the remains of Bahá'u'lláh and is near the spot where he died in the Mansion of Bahji.

The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is composed of a central room that has a small garden at its centre, which has trees growing in it and there are layers of carpets around the walls.<ref>National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (January 1966). "Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh". Bahá’í News (418): p. 4. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.</ref><ref name="aesth">Viswanathan, G. M. (1994-07-24). Bahá'í Aesthetics of the Sacred. bahai-library.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.</ref> In the right hand corner of the central room there is a small room where Bahá'u'lláh's remains are laid to rest.<ref name="manvell">Manvell, Christ (1996-11). Visits to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and Meeting with the members of the Universal House of Justice. bahai-library.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.</ref>

The Shrine, after `Abdu'l-Bahá's death, was occupied by Mírzá Muhammad `Alí and his supporters, who forcibly took the keys to the Shrine in January 1922.<ref name="wilson">Wilson, Helen T. (2000-04). The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah: Its Continuing Place In History. bahai-library.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.</ref> The governor of Acre ordered the keys to be returned to the authorities and a guard was posted at the Shrine.<ref name="wilson" /> In early 1923 the keys were returned to Shoghi Effendi.<ref name="wilson" />