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Abdu'l-Baha

by Kian from San Diego

'Abdu'l-Baha: A Hero from the Beginning
Young 'Abdu'l-Baha (http://info.bahai.org/abdulbaha-center-of-covenant.html)
Young 'Abdu'l-Baha (http://info.bahai.org/abdulbaha-center-of-covenant.html)

From the beginning 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Ab-dul-baha) suffered with his father and the other Bábis (Bob-ees). The prosecution of him and the others in his religion carried on like painful saddle ride. Even today, the prosecutions from the corrupt Islamic leaders go on. When the imprisonment of his father took place, he stayed with his father through his father's extending exile while being only eight. Being so young and filled with so much loyalty showed a hero from the start. On May 23, 1844 in Iran, Abbas Effendi (A-bas, Ee-fend-ee) was born and ended up having lived a life full of great deeds and pure actions. He was bestowed the title 'Abdu'l-Bahá, meaning the servant of god in Arabic and many more. When his father declared himself a manifestation of God (like Jesus or Moses), he helped found the religion, now commonly known as the Baha'i faith. He spent almost all his life teaching the faith and showing the right way to live, leading by example. He persevered through the obstacles life threw at him, and showed kindness to all he came across. Even though many tried to stop him or make him go against his teachings he did not waver and even showed his enemies the utmost kindness. He displayed the embodiment of love and perseverance and who we should all strive to be, gaining him another title "the perfect one"

'Abdu'l-Baha as an older man (http://www.tacomabahai.org/2009/11/27/the-ascension-of-abdul-baha/)
'Abdu'l-Baha as an older man (http://www.tacomabahai.org/2009/11/27/the-ascension-of-abdul-baha/)

To start off 'Abdu'l-Bahá’s heroic nature showed in his everyday love and kindness. His kindness in his lifestyle was shown when he shared his food with the needy: "Abdul-Baha limited his diet to two meals per day and shared his food and belongings with the needy" ("Abdul-Baha"). 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not have many possessions and still shared and gave away his belongings. This shows he would sacrifice his own happiness for others. To limit your meals to only two a day takes more devotion and sacrifice than a going on those weight watcher diets. For a person to give up part of a necessity for another person, shows the deepest love for another person. Because many religious leaders feared him, he was wrongly imprisoned many times. During one of his imprisonments he once again showed his love for others. "In Acre, when nearly the entire group of Baha'is there became ill with typhoid fever, malaria and dysentery, `Abdu'l-Baha washed, nursed and fed the patients, taking no rest for himself. Finally, exhausted, He took ill Himself, suffering in critical condition for nearly a month" ("'Abdu'l-Bahá: the Center of the Covenant."). To be wrongfully put into a prison with sick people might cause a normal man to get angry and stay to himself, but not 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He helped others even through his poor treatment. He loved his fellowman so much, that he sacrificed his own health for their wellbeing. A hero is someone who has love and kindness for all. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was that hero showing kindness and love in the most pure forms during harsh conditions.

'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris (http://europeanbahai.wordpress.com/)
'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris (http://europeanbahai.wordpress.com/)

'Abdu'l-Bahá embodied not only kindness and love but also perseverance A hero must be persevering; sticking with their beliefs and ideals no matter how hard people try to force you to change. Throughout his life people tried to stop 'Abdu'l-Bahá because they feared they would loose their power. Yet he continued and survived while his persecution continued. He followed his teachings and spread the faith. "Despite being in prison he was able, by correspondence, to continue to spread the message of the Bahá'ís throughout Asia, Europe and America. In the early 20th century, there was much persecution of believers in Akka and Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged many to leave. He himself chose to remain and await his destiny and said that he would not run away from his enemies" ("'Abdu'l-Baha"). Just imagine trying to spread your ideas to all of the different countries. Now imagine doing that while being in prison or prosecuted. That was what 'Abdu'l-Bahá did to show he will keep going and not give up. In a city where people hated you and your friends takes courage and among other things, the unwavering ability to stand firm in your beliefs, to stay. In the early 1900's power struggles ripped apart the Middle East. Many Islamic governments feared 'Abdu'l-Bahá's influence, so they continued to attack and barrage his name. "Hostile agents jailed him at a Turkish prison, where he continued to receive representatives of all faiths and races...Despite his personal plight and the danger to his family, he spread faith, cheer, and hope to the hopeless. Risking execution by the sultan, Abdul-Baha refused to plead his innocence before a corrupt investigating committee or to attempt escape by an Italian ship that his sympathizers arranged for him in the harbor" ("Abdul-Baha"). He ignored the dangers he faced and continued to teach. An act which took perseverance to continue. He continued to do the right thing, no matter what others wanted him to do. By staying with his beliefs, he took on threats to his life. A simple lie could save his life, but he stood firm; an act many would not follow through with. Sticking by his beliefs and people, 'Abdu'l-Bahá showed perseverance, a trait all heroes need. Perseverance is the ability to keep going, even when you have to walk through quicksand to get there.

The constant battering by those in power made obstacles for him since the beginning yet in the end he became a person we all look up to. Like his outstanding kindness and perseverance. To give up your life helping others like the wrongfully imprisoned people, or to keep going when it is so hard, shows that deep down and even on the surface he is a hero. His unwavering ability to stand firm in his beliefs and kindness to those around him made him an inspiration to us all. He showed we can become great and looked up to by just doing the right thing. We can all be heroes if we just follow our hearts and do what is right.

 (http://www.farstretchingriver.com/en/)
(http://www.farstretchingriver.com/en/)

Works Cited

"Abdul-Baha." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

Balyuzi, H. M. 'Abdu'l-Baha. Great Britain : The Chaucer Press, 1971. 560. Print.

"’Abd'ul-Baha." BBC Religions . BBC, 280909. Web. 14 Dec 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/abdulbaha. shtml.

"’Abdu'l-Bahá: the Center of the Covenant." Baha'i Topics . The Bahá'í International Community., 2010. Web. 14 Dec 2010. http://info.bahai.org/abdulbaha-center-of-covenant.html.

"`Abdu'l-Baha: The Master." Uplifting Words . Uplifting Words , 22032010. Web. 15 Dec 2010. http://www.upliftingwords.org/AbdulBaha.htm.

Page created on 5/31/2011 10:30:45 AM

Last edited 5/31/2011 10:30:45 AM

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Baha'i Reference Library - The Works of my Hero
Baha'i Topics - The Life of My Hero
Bahaikapedia - Information on My Hero, (Reliable: from the Universal House of Justice)