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The Festivals of the Twin Birthdays, the Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

Montreal, Quebec, November 1, 2016 — The celebrations of the twin birthdays of the Herald as well as the Founder of the Faith were held at the Montreal Bahá'í Centre attended by friends from many neighbourhoods.

The Festivals of the Twin Birthdays, the Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, as explained in a letter dated July 10, 2014 from the Universal House of Justice, have, in the East, been traditionally observed according to their correspondence to the first and second days of Muḥarram in the Islamic calendar.

“These two days are accounted as one in the sight of God”, affirms Bahá’u’lláh, nevertheless, the corresponding dates in Gregorian calendar do not follow the same pattern. Therefore, the Universal House of Justice, in conformity with their responsibilities, has decided that the two days will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz, as determined in advance by astronomical tables using Ṭihrán as the point of reference. This will result in the observance of the Twin Birthdays moving, year to year, within the months of Mashíyyat, ‘Ilm, and Qudrat of the Badí‘ (Bahá’í) calendar, or from mid-October to mid-November according to the Gregorian calendar.

"All Feasts have attained their consummation in the two Most Great Festivals, and in the two other Festivals that fall on the twin days." -- Bahá'u'lláh

The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh were born 197 and 199 years ago respectively, and their lives are remarkable in the field of religious history. During the six year period from the declaration of His religious mission until His execution by the Persian government in 1850, the Báb is estimated to have written religious texts totalling some half million verses, while during His religious ministry Baha'u'llah wrote texts totalling some 100 volumes. Even in their original Arabic and Persian, only a small portion of these texts have yet been published, with an even smaller fraction translated into English. These Writings embody the principles that the world needs at present time.

‘On the first day of Muharram 1309 [7 August 1891], the Blessed Perfection was celebrating the festival.

“This is the day on which Hadrat-i-Mubashshir [the Herald] set foot in this world and illumined it with His light. There is every reason for rejoicing….”

The next day, the second day of Muharram, was the day of the birth of the Master of Days and of the World of Being [Baha’u’llah]. In the morning, all of the pilgrims and residents were summoned to His blessed Presence. He spoke about the sublimity of His advent, the power of the Most Exalted Pen, the circumstances of His exile, and the arrival at the Most Great Prison. Then He spoke extensively about the aggression and transgressions on the part of the tyrants and divines. He said,

“Nasiri’d-Din Shah and ‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz both transgressed against Us and harmed the body of the Cause of God, but the tyranny of ‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz was by far the more severe, because he banished, without any reason, the Wronged One of the worlds to the Most Great Prison. But, Nasiri’d-Din Shah, because of the ill-advised action of the believers in the early days of the Cause, whenever he stroked his limbs and felt the pellets under his skin, would be roused in anger to commit these harsh deeds and adopt tyrannical measures against the believers, spilling the blood of innocent people. Notwithstanding all these injuries inflicted upon them by the Shah and the Government, the friends do not cease to demonstrate their Faith openly and do not observe caution. You cannot blame them, because two great festivals have been joined into one, auguring a brilliant future.”

Then thee Blessed Perfection spoke these two lines [which are by Hafiz]:[41-3]

These times more bitter than venom shall pass away,

And once again, times as sweet as sugar shall come this way.

He then gave us sweetmeats and we left His presence. *

 

*From Baha’u’llah, King of Glory by H.M. Balyuzi page 412

 

Bahá'í Center

 

177, av des Pins E
Montréal, QC H2W 1N9
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Phone: 514-849-0753

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Montreal Shrine

 

1548, av des Pins O, Montreal
Phone: 514-568-2104

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