Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places/House of ‘Abbúd
House of ‘Abbúd[edit]
What is now known as the House of ‘Abbúd in ‘Akká is in two parts: the eastern part, which was the house of ‘Údí Khammár, and the western part, which was the house of ‘Abbúd himself.
The eastern section was so insufficient to the needs of Bahá’u’lláh and His family that no less than thirteen persons had to be accommodated in one of its rooms.
Bahá’u’lláh had one room of the eastern section to Himself, and it was there that He revealed His Book of Laws, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (circa 1873). During the period of His stay in the House of ‘Údí Khammár, a group of Bahá’ís, defying Bahá’u’lláh’s specific command, murdered three Azalí Covenant-breakers who had been sent to ‘Akká with the exiles. The animosity and slander against the Bahá’ís after this incident reached such a pitch that their children were stoned on sight, while ‘Abbúd himself, whose residence was next door to that of Bahá’u’lláh, was so influenced by what he heard against his now suspected Neighbour, that he reinforced the partition that separated the two dwellings.
At a later date, when the animosity of ‘Abbúd towards the Bahá’ís had been overcome, he learned that the wedding of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was being delayed because of lack of accommodation. He therefore provided a room, situated between the two sections of the house, for the marriage of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Munírih Khánum. Subsequently, ‘Abbúd turned over the western part of the house to the Bahá’ís. Bahá’u’lláh then gave His room in the eastern part to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and occupied one of the rooms of the western section, which pilgrims now visit.
Bahá’u’lláh stayed in both parts of this house and in nearby houses for approximately seven years. During the latter years of His life, He also occasionally visited this house.
After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued to stay in that house, and it was while He was there that the rebellion of the arch-breaker of His Father’s Covenant began.
The Guardian refers to this house as “SCENE PROLONGED AFFLICTIONS SUSTAINED FOUNDER FAITH AS WELL AS SUPREME CRISIS SUFFERED BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ AT HANDS COVENANT-BREAKERS.” 26 (Shoghi Effendi)
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Kitáb-i-Aqdas[edit]
“Revealed soon after Bahá’u’lláh had been transferred to the house of ‘Údí Khammár (circa 1873), at a time when He was still encompassed by the tribulations that had afflicted Him, through the acts committed by His enemies and the professed adherents of His Faith, this Book, this treasury enshrining the priceless gems of His Revelation, stands out, by virtue of the principles it inculcates, the administrative institutions it ordains and the function with which it invests the appointed Successor of its Author, unique and incomparable among the world’s sacred Scriptures.” 27 (Shoghi Effendi)