The Five Year Plan 2001-2006 (Summary)/Achievements at the Bahá’í World Centre

The Five Year Plan 2001-2006 (Summary) by Bahá’í World Centre

Proofread once

[Page 107]

Preparation of New Volumes of Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

During the Five Year Plan the world was blessed with the publication of English translations of three significant compilations of Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, thereby fulfilling one of the goals of the Plan.

The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, published in 2002, is a compilation of major Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh that includes the Súriy-i-Haykal (Súrih of the Temple), in which Bahá’u’lláh addresses Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria, and Náşiri’d-Dín Sháh (Lawh-i-Sultán). It also includes for the first time in their entirety, other weighty Tablets: Súriy-i-Ra’ís, Lawḥ-i-Ra’ís, Lawh-i-Fu’ád, and Súriy-i-Mulúk (Súrih of the Kings).

Gems of Divine Mysteries, also published in 2002, is the translation of Javáhiru’l-Asrár, an Arabic Epistle written by Bahá’u’lláh during his years in Baghdad. This Tablet elucidates a number of important themes, in particular, the coming of different Messengers of God to the world.

The Tabernacle of Unity, published in 2006, contains Bahá’u’lláh’s responses to questions posed by Mánikchí Sáhib as well as other Writings. The first Tablet is addressed to a Zoroastrian and thus holds special significance for those with that heritage. The Tablet also epitomizes the universality of Bahá’u’lláh’s prophetic claim. Though portions of the Tablets in this compilation had been previously translated, this publication marks the first time that they are available in full.

Also during this Plan, volumes 5 and 6 of Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were published in Persian.

Ninth Election of the Universal House of Justice

Despite numerous months of preparation, the Ninth International Convention, scheduled to be held in 2003, could not take place owing to world events at that time. Commenting upon this disappointment in its message at Ridván 2003, the Universal House of Justice wrote, "When the Major Plan of God interferes with His Minor Plan, there should be no doubt that in due course a way will providentially be opened to an opportunity of stellar possibilities for advancing the interests of His glorious Cause."

Although the delegates for the election of the House of Justice could not gather in Haifa for the Convention, the ninth election of the Supreme Body was carried out successfully through absentee balloting, with 19 tellers coming from different parts of the globe to the Bahá’í World Centre to tally the votes. More than 96 per cent of the 1,602 eligible delegates took part in the election.

Further Development of the Institution of Huqúqu’lláh

Huqúqu’lláh, or the Right of God, first ordained by the Báb and then modified and elaborated by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas "to ensure that the General Treasury is strengthened in the future", has been applied gradually to [Page 108] the believers until it became universally applicable at Riḍván 1992.

While the institution of Ḥuqúqu’lláh, which administers this law, has always expanded commensurate with the number of believers subject to its provisions, its universal application brought about an unprecedented rapid expansion in the number of Deputies and Representatives as well as Regional and National Boards of Trustees, and in systematic efforts to educate the believers about the law’s significance. Thanks to the able and devoted oversight provided by the Chief Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh, Dr. ‘Alí-Muḥammad Varqá, this institution has become an important element of the spiritual lives of the believers throughout the world and augmented the much-needed material resources of the Faith.

Building upon the outstanding accomplishments of the Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh extending back to the lifetime of Bahá’u’lláh, the House of Justice announced the formation of the International Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh in its Riḍván 2005 message.

Fifty Years of Distinguished Service

DR. ‘ALÍ-MUḤAMMAD VARQÁ’S SERVICE to the institution of Ḥuqúqu’lláh is rooted in his illustrious Bahá’í lineage and began when he was still young. His eminent father, the Hand of the Cause of God Valíyu’lláh Varqá, was named Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh in 1938 by Shoghi Effendi. As a young man, Dr. Varqá assisted his father in this service. Upon the passing of Mr. Valíyu’lláh Varqá in 1955, the beloved Guardian appointed Dr. Varqá as Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh and a Hand of the Cause of God.

On 14 November 2005, the Universal House of Justice hosted a formal dinner in the House of the Master to honour Dr. Varqá for his 50 years of service to the institution of Ḥuqúqu’lláh. In a message written for that occasion, the House of Justice remarked:

Under your admirable stewardship the institution of Ḥuqúqu’lláh has developed from a phase when only Eastern believers were required to observe the mighty law on which it is founded to the current stage of worldwide observance. . . .

Our gratitude to you is beyond expression in words. Through your consecration to the performance of the duties assigned to you by Shoghi Effendi, you have made a contribution to the development of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh which will be remembered throughout the Dispensation, as the law of Ḥuqúqu’lláh exerts its beneficent influence on the growth and flourishing of a world civilization.

Dr. Varqá enjoys the tranquility of the Riḍván Garden. [Page 109]

IV: ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

We have decided that the time is propitious to bring into being an International Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh to guide and supervise the work of Regional and National Boards of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh throughout the world.

Inauguration of the Terraces Adorning the Shrine of the Báb

On the evening of 22 May 2001, more than 2,500 Bahá’ís representing 182 countries and over 600 guests gathered as night fell at the foot of Mount Carmel to mark the inauguration of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb—an achievement more than a century in the making.

Bahá’u’lláh Himself designated the spot where the sacred remains of the Báb should be laid to rest on Mount Carmel and charged His son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, with the task of raising a befitting mausoleum and transferring the remains to that hallowed spot. Overcoming innumerable obstacles and hardships, the Master placed the sacred remains in their

Public Celebration of Naw-Rúz in the Holy Land

HOLDING PUBLIC RECEPTIONS in Jerusalem and ‘Akká on the occasion of Naw-Rúz, a practice inaugurated in March 2001, became an essential element of the public relations work of the Bahá’í World Centre during the Five Year Plan.

The reception in Jerusalem builds upon the pattern of the "national day" receptions held annually by embassies and draws politicians, government officials, diplomats, academics, and professionals from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The lobby of the hotel where the event is held is decorated with plants and other garden elements in designs that evoke the atmosphere of the Bahá’í World Centre.

The programme includes musical performances by members of the World Centre staff, as well as brief remarks by the Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community and a distinguished guest speaker.

Displays inside the ballroom provide information about the activities and plans of the World Centre and the Bahá’í International Community.

The initial attendance of 200 had more than doubled to 430 by March 2006, as guests continued to respond to the warm and positive atmosphere that distinguished this event from others on the diplomatic calendar.

In contrast, the reception in the Old City of ‘Akká is of a more traditional character, recalling the days when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá hosted the notables of that city.

Bahá’í officials converse with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres at the Naw-Rúz celebration in Jerusalem.

Held in the downstairs hall of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, the gathering is attended by the mayor of ‘Akká, clergy from the Al-Jazzár Mosque and several Christian churches, and a variety of other local notables from the Jewish, Arab, and Druze communities, who sit in rows of chairs around the walls and share in simple refreshments. They take turns offering greetings and commenting on the symbolism of Naw-Rúz and its link with the vivifying season of spring and the renewal of hope. The participants now look forward to this annual event at which attendance has grown from 40 to more than 80 guests. [Page 110]

The Five Year Plan 2001-2006: Summary of Achievements and Learning

Bahá’ís from 182 countries ascend the Terraces leading to the Shrine of the Báb, final resting place on Naw-Rúz 1909.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá acknowledged that the Shrine was still incomplete, lacking an ornamental domed superstructure and surrounding formal gardens. He also envisioned 18 terraces leading to the Shrine, 9 above and 9 below. He foretold that in the future these terraces would serve as the pathway of the kings—the way by which future kings and rulers would ascend to pay homage and worship at the Shrine of the Báb. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself made a modest beginning to create the lower terraces, later developed further by Shoghi Effendi, who oversaw the construction of a simple, landscaped stairway rising up from Ben Gurion Avenue.

The sublime superstructure envisaged by the Master came into being through the Herculean efforts of the beloved Guardian and was completed in 1953, but he was unable to fulfil his Grandfather's desire to create magnificent terraces before his passing in 1957. So this monumental undertaking fell to the House of Justice. The final work spanned a decade and, as with the prior labours, also required sacrifice and devotion and the overcoming of countless obstacles. No wonder then that the Bahá’í world felt that it had much to celebrate when the Shrine of the Báb and its environs finally stood complete—the Queen of Carmel seated on God's Holy Mountain. In marking the occasion of the inauguration of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb, the House of Justice wrote:

The Shrine of the Báb... is... a monument to the triumph of love over hate. The gardens which surround that structure, in their rich variety of colours and plants, are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity. The light that shines from the central edifice is as a beacon of hope to the countless multitudes who yearn for a life that satisfies the soul as well as the body.²

Bahá’ís came from all over the world to express their gratitude to God for enabling them to be part of a great undertaking, not just the completion of the terraced gardens in honour of the Báb, but the greater enterprise of which the gardens are but a symbol—the unification of mankind. The Terraces stand as an emblem of the enduring commitment of the Bahá’ís to build a peaceful world. In its message on the evening of the opening of the Terraces, the House of Justice also addressed the people of Haifa and expressed this hope: "May [Page 111]

Bahá’í Pilgrims Come in Growing Numbers

O OCCASION FOR BAHÁ’ÍS is equal to the unique experience of pilgrimage. To pray at fragrances emanating from the Holy Places associated with the Central Figures of the Faith is a cherished desire of every believer. For many decades the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Land from all points of the globe had grown slowly, but this changed in 1999, the final year of the Four Year Plan, when the number of pilgrims in each group was raised from 100 to 150, and then again in 2003 from 150 to 200. These increases represented a dramatic upsurge in the space of only a few years. While at the outset of the Five Year Plan in 2001, generally about 2,000 pilgrims would come during a pilgrimage season, by the close of the Plan in 2006 that figure had risen to almost 5,000.

Committed to maintaining the quality and intimacy of the pilgrimage experience, the Bahá’í World Centre has learned how to manage the growing numbers through more systematic approaches to meeting the needs of pilgrims. For example, a Web site was established for prospective pilgrims to provide online applications and easily accessible information. With the pilgrims doubling in number, the new Pilgrim Reception Centre in Haifa and the Visitors’ Centre at Bahjí were welcome additions with facilities that could comfortably serve the increased number of these special visitors.

Pilgrimage was further enhanced through the addition to the programme of a visit to the first Western Pilgrim House at 4 Haparsim Street, Haifa. The completion of the restoration of the upper floor of the northwest tower of the citadel in ‘Akká where Bahá’u’lláh was kept prisoner, the restoration of the lower section of the House of ‘Údí Khammár, and the replication of the garden that existed during the Master’s time in the inner courtyard of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá made it possible for these historic and Holy Sites to be included in the pilgrimage programme.

During this same period, for the first time, non-Bahá’í family members or companions were permitted to participate in all aspects of the pilgrimage programme, a development which reflected the more inclusive approach that was becoming characteristic of Bahá’í communities worldwide.

In 2006, a DVD entitled "Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience" was released, which will motivate still more followers of Bahá’u’lláh to fulfil their desire to visit the Holy Places of their Faith. The deeply spiritual experience of pilgrimage is one that is ultimately felt in the home communities of the pilgrims, as they share with their fellow Bahá’ís a measure of the inspiration they have received and act on the new vision for service they have gained.

Pilgrims entering the Collins gate at Bahjí. [Page 112] Haifa achieve wide renown not just as a place of natural beauty but more especially as the city of peace."³

The focal point of the celebration was the inaugural evening concert in the entrance plaza at the lower end of the Terraces. It featured the reading of the message of the Universal House of Justice and symphonic works, which were commissioned for the occasion, by Bahá’í composers. This event was preceded by a reception at which 620 distinguished guests, including three government ministers, thirty-four heads of diplomatic missions, four supreme court justices, nine mayors, and six religious leaders were welcomed by the House of Justice, which appeared as a body and whose members were introduced individually.

The five-day programme included many other presentations, devotional observances, and artistic performances.

For the Bahá’í participants, perhaps the most moving moment of the festivities was the morning ascent of the lower Terraces by more than 2,500 country

Public Entrance and Visitors’ Centre at Bahjí

A SPACIOUS, ELEGANT FACILITY for visitors to Bahjí was completed and opened to Bahá’ís and special guests during the Five Year Plan. It was officially inaugurated on 27 November 2003 in a ceremony attended by the vice-prime minister of Israel and some 180 government officials and local dignitaries.

The original Bahá’í Pilgrim House at Bahjí, acquired and used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was no longer large enough for the growing number of pilgrims. The new Centre can accommodate hundreds of guests and includes a lounge, library, and tea room. It also contains an area with reception rooms and an exhibit dedicated to introducing the Faith to special visitors to the Bahá’í World Centre. The design of this modern building echoes the architectural characteristics of the Mansion of Bahjí without competing for the visitor's attention.

The new public entrance is located in the northeast corner of the site and features an arched gatehouse marking the start of a 400-meter pathway and visual axis leading to the Collins Gate and the Qiblih of the Bahá’í world, the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. The design of the gatehouse is reflected in the arched hedges that frame the formal gardens, connecting the gatehouse to the Visitors’ Centre and welcoming visitors, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í alike, to the Most Sacred Spot.

The new public entrance leading to the Collins gate. [Page 113] representatives, many of whom wore their traditional native dress. These events were shared with the peoples of the world through transmissions on a global satellite network and the World Wide Web, reaching millions of viewers in more than 70 countries.

Relations with the Government of Israel

The web of contractual relations with the governmental authorities of the Bahá’í World Centre's host country was rein- forced by signature of a protocol renewing the fiscal provisions of the 1987 Status Agreement for a further five-year period to April 2007; implementation of a provi- sion in the original agreement calling for appropriate treatment of Bahá’í dignitar- ies passing through Ben Gurion Airport; and signature of agreements with the municipalities of Haifa and ‘Akká provid- ing a partial exemption from municipal property taxes on office premises and staff accommodations, in addition to the full exemption applicable to Holy Places.

Protection, Conservation, and Development of the Bahá’í Holy Places

In January 2005, the Universal House of Justice approved the first stage of a series of undertakings that will involve signif- icant site improvements at Bahjí, the Mansion of Mazra’ih, and the Garden of Ridván, and eventually lead to the opening of the latter two sites to public visitation. A project office was established at the World Centre to manage these undertakings, collectively designated as the "Northern Development Projects".

Statutory town-planning schemes for Bahjí and the Ridván Garden were sub- mitted in 2005, while a similar scheme for Mazra’ih, submitted in 1996, was nearing final approval at the end of the period. Also in January 2005, the State of Israel formally submitted documentation to UNESCO nominating the Bahá’í Holy Places in Haifa and the Western Galilee for inscription on the World Heritage List, a form of recognition that will be of substantial assistance in the effort to protect and preserve these special sites well into the future.

During the 2001-2006 period, a number of restoration projects reached completion and others were undertaken:

Entrance to the recently restored Prison Cell in the ‘Akká citadel. [Page 114]

The Five Year Plan 2001-2006: Summary of Achievements and Learning

In 2003, the Prison Cell of Bahá’u’lláh in the ‘Akká citadel was reopened to pilgrims after being inaccessible to them for seven years. Not only the Cell itself but the upper floor of the north-west tower of the citadel was restored in cooperation with the Israeli government. This sacred area was the scene of the imprisonment of Bahá’u’lláh and His family for more than two years. One of the achievements of the project was the restoration of the skylight through which the 22-year-old son of Bahá’u’lláh, the Purest Branch, Mírzá Mihdí, fell in June 1870, resulting in his tragic death.

• The garden of the central courtyard of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, birthplace of Shoghi Effendi, was replanted and completed in 2003. The layout of the garden closely followed a photograph taken of it at the time ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was resident in the building.

• The lower level of the House of ‘Údí Khammár, adjoining the House of ‘Abbúd, Bahá’u’lláh’s residence where He penned His Most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, was opened for pilgrims for the first time in early 2006. This area includes the entrance foyer and

A Glimpse of Paradise—Public Visits to the Terraces

Shortly after the Five Year Plan began, the 19 Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb were opened for public tours for the first time. To preserve the sanctified atmosphere of the gardens, to ensure that visitors understood their purpose, and to see to the physical safety of those traversing the terrace steps, the Universal House of Justice approved a plan whereby visitors would reserve in advance a place on a guided tour in their language. Visitors telephone the reservations centre to book their tours. Upon their arrival, trained guides escort them in groups of 40 to 45 down half the length of the Terraces, either the upper Terraces or the terraced gardens below the Shrine of the Báb.

The tours are conducted by some 20 guides, many of whom are students at nearby universities and who are drawn from all segments of Israeli society: Jewish, Muslim, Christian Arab, and Druze. They briefly present the history of the Faith, how the Bahá’í World Centre came to be in Israel, some of the core beliefs and teachings of the Cause, and descriptions of the Bahá’í world community. The ethnic and religious backgrounds of the guides themselves set an uncommon example of unity in diversity for the general public.

Israeli youth serving as guides of the Terrace tours.

In their interaction with the other guides, they develop close friendships with people that they would generally not have associated with in their daily lives, which their Israeli supervisor has described as "really amazing". This supervisor also stated that the guides do not do the job for the money; they do it because they love it and, as they say, "it uplifts us". There are guides who have been part of the tours since they began.

Through a cooperative arrangement with a local non-governmental organization, the Beit Hagefen Arab Jewish Cultural Centre, the guides receive [Page 115]

ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

the room off the mezzanine, which the Master used as a reception room.

The restoration of Junayn Garden, a simple farmer's dwelling belonging to early believers that was frequented by Bahá’u’lláh, began in 2002 and was nearing completion as the Five Year Plan drew to a close. This Holy Place is located in Nahariyya, just north of Mazra’ih.

• A major restoration of the gardens immediately in front of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, that is, the Haram-i-Aqdas, began during the last year of the Plan.

Preliminary work was undertaken on two other significant projects during the closing days of the Plan—the structural reinforcement and restoration of the Shrine of the Báb and of the International Archives Building.

Presentations of the Message to the World's Religious Leaders

Parallel with the efforts of Bahá’í institutions around the world to disseminate the message addressed by the Universal House of Justice to the world's religious

A public tour of the Terraces in progress.

training on the presentation of the purpose and scope of activities at the Bahá’í World Centre and the history of the Faith and its teachings. The training also includes such elements as hospitality, answering difficult questions, and dealing with problems during the tour. The guides speak a variety of languages—Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, and French, among others—thus making it possible for visitors to hear the presentations in their own languages. They always allow time for questions, dispelling misunderstandings and misconceptions that the visitors may have.

Because of the drop in international tourism to Israel during the five years of the guided tours operation, the vast majority of the visitors have been residents of Israel with many being repeat visitors. Since the Terraces opened to the general public in June 2001, there have been more than 715,000 who participated in some 18,300 guided tours. In addition, there are those who enter the gardens on their own through one of three public entrances that are open all day to limited areas of the gardens. A sampling of comments from visitors:

• "The gardens were captivating and filled the soul."
• "The visit made a profound impression."
• "Thank you for the meaningful experience and for your sensitivity and contribution to the community."
• "The sites were outstanding in their beauty."

The number of visitors, including those on the guided tours, since June 2001, has altogether totalled almost three and a half million. Every week the current flow of visitors averages over 10,000, making the Bahá’í gardens in Haifa one of the most popular sites in Israel. [Page 116] leaders, the Secretariat of the Bahá’í International Community made formal presentations to the heads of the principal religious institutions in the Holy Land, including the following:

• The apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who also received and promised to transmit a second copy with a covering letter to His Holiness Pope John Paul II;
• The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbagh;
• The Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Irineos I;
• The Armenian Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian;
• The chief rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron;
• The mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, as well as the chief judge of the Shariah Appeals Court, the Honourable Ahmed Natur;
• Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the head of the Druze religious institution.

The message was also presented to the president and several ministers of the State of Israel, as well as a number of academic figures with an interest in the subject.

Academic Study of the Faith at Israeli Institutions of Higher Education

The Chair for Bahá’í Studies, established in 1999 by Israel's leading liberal arts university, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, flourished during the period under review. A full-length book of papers entitled Studies in Modern Religions and Religious Movements and the Bábí-Bahá’í Faiths, published in July 2004 by E. J. Brill, an internationally respected academic press, was followed a year later by a copiously annotated Hebrew translation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Tablet of Carmel, and the obligatory prayers, with a 160-page introductory presentation of the history and teachings of the Faith. The initial print run of this book sold out within a year and a second edition was being planned. Enrolment in courses offered by the Chair rose to over 100 undergraduates, while a graduate-level seminar catered to the needs of 12 to 15 scholars engaged in the study of the Writings of the Central Figures in the original Persian and Arabic and the preparation of analyses and translations.

Academic study of the Bahá’í Faith at the University of Haifa is a collaborative undertaking with the Bahá’í World Centre that was initiated at the request of the University. An annual lecture series in the Bahá’í Studies offered by Israeli and Bahá’í academics is now in its sixth year. The lectures examine the correlation of the Bahá’í teachings with current thought and cover such subjects as history, social teachings, and World Order. As part of this venture, in 2004 Bahá’ís participated in an international conference on "The Historiography of Religious Minorities in Nineteenth Century Middle East" sponsored by the Department of Middle Eastern History. Increasingly, Bahá’í content is included in the curriculum of a number of courses within the Faculty of Humanities, and students and several faculty members have undertaken substantive research projects on subjects related to the Faith.

Receiving Guests at the Bahá’í World Centre

Despite the unsettled security situation in Israel during the Five Year Plan, nearly 1,200 visits by special guests were hosted by the Bahá’í World Centre. Of particular note were visits by the presidents of Israel and the Marshall Islands, the president of the French Senate, a prominent United States senator, and a member of [Page 117]

IV: ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

the British House of Lords. In addition, there were visits by numerous diplomats, groups of parliamentarians, and other dignitaries from different countries, as well as by educational and academic groups, artists, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Many news agencies also sent reporters or film crews to the World Centre.