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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1867, descending sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1867 Between March 1866 and August 1868
186-
The Súratu'l-Haykal (Epistle of the Temple) was revealed during the years in Adrianople, and re-cast later in 'Akká in which messages addressed to individual potentates, Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria and Násiri'd-Dín Sháh were incorporated. It was not written for a particular individual; when asked about the matter Bahá'u'lláh said that he himself was both the addresser and addressee.

"Ranked as 'one of Bahá'u'lláh's most challenging works', The Surih of the Temple was composed... during the turbulent period which saw the formation of a schism within the rank and file of the Bábí community,. This eloquent and incisive Arabic epistle combines a mystical and proclamatory style to enunciate Bahá'u'lláh's Mission to those among the Báb's followers who had failed to recognize His Revelation. " [BBS132] [Tablet of the Temple (Suratu'l-Haykal) by John Balbridge]

  • The Tablet was published in its entirety in Summons of the Lord of Hosts by the World Centre in 2002.
  • See Wikipedia for a synopsis of this Tablet.
  • See The Body of God: A Reader's Guide to Bahá'u'lláh's Súrih of the Temple by John Hatcher and published by ABS 29 July 2022.
      See a review of the book by Tom Lysaght.
  • * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Suriy-i-Haykal (Surih of the Temple); Edirne, Turkey; Akka, Israel
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Súriy-Mulúk (Súrih of Kings). [BKG245; GPB171–2; RB2:301-336; BW19p584]
  • This is described by Shoghi Effendi as 'the most momentous Tablet revealed by Bahá'u'lláh', in which He, 'for the first time, directed His words collectively to the entire company of the monarchs of East and West'. [GPB171]
  • See GPB172–5 and RB2:301–325 for a description of the content of the Tablet.
  • Tablet to the Kings (Súratu'l-Mulúk): Tablet study outline by Jonah Winters.
  • See the Introduction to Summons of the Lord of Hosts piii.
  • See Wikipedia for a synopsis of the Tablets in the Summons of the Lord of Hosts.

    Chronological list of significant events related to Bahá'u'lláh's historic pronouncement in the Súriy-i-Múlúk

    • Fall of the French Monarchy (1870)
    • Virtual extinction of the Pope's Temporal Sovereignty (1870)
    • Assassination of Sultán 'Abdu'l-'Azíz (1876)
    • Assassination of Násiri'd-Dín Sháh (1896)
    • Overthrow of Sultán 'Abdu'l-Hamíd II (1909)
    • Fall of the Portuguese Monarchy (1910)
    • Fall of the Chinese Monarchy (1916)
    • Fall of the Russian Monarchy (1917)
    • Fall of the German Monarchy (1918)
    • Fall of the Austrian Monarchy (1918)
    • Fall of the Hungarian Monarchy (1918)
    • Fall of the Turkish Monarchy (1922)
    • Collapse of the Caliphate (1924)
    • Fall of the Qájár Dynasty (1925)
    • Fall of the Spanish Monarchy (1931)
    • Fall of the Albanian Monarchy (1938)
    • Fall of the Serbian Monarchy (1941)
    • Fall of the Italian Monarchy (1946)
    • Fall of the Bulgarian Monarchy (1946)
    • Fall of the Rumanian Monarchy (1947)
    [The Bahá'í Faith 1844-1952: Information Statistical & Comparative p41]
  • Suriy-i-Muluk (Surih to the Kings); Tablets to kings and rulers; History (general); Summons of the Lord of Hosts (book); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Bahaullah (chronology); - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    Nabíl-i-A'zam was dispatched to Iraq and Iran to inform the Bábís of the advent of Bahá'u'lláh. He was further instructed to perform the rites of pilgrimage on Bahá'u'lláh's behalf in the House of the Báb and the Most Great House in Baghdad. [BKG250; EB224; GPB176–7]
  • For details of his mission see EB224–7.
  • On hearing Nabíl's message, the wife of the Báb, Khadíjih Khánum, immediately recognized the station of Bahá'u'lláh. [EB225]
  • Nabil was the first Bahá'í to perform pilgrimage to the house of the Báb in Shiraz in fall 1866, in accordance with the rites prescribed in the Surat al-ḥajj revealed by Bahá'u'lláh. He also went to Baghdad and performed the pilgrimage to the House of Bahá'u'lláh in spring 1867, according to another sura, Surat al-damm written by Bahá'u'lláh for that purpose. Nabil's pilgrimage to those two houses marked the inception of pilgrimage laws ordained by Bahá'u'lláh later in his Kitāb-i-Aqdas. For the rites of these two pilgrimages performed by Nabíl see SA113–15. [GPB176-177, "Nabil-e aʿzam Zaranadi, Mollā Mohammad," by Vahid Rafati, Encyclopædia Iranica, DB434-435]
    • Lawh-i-Hajj (Tablet of Pilgrimage) (Note: there were numerous Tablets revealed with this same name. [BW19p584] (Leiden List shows 18 in total.)
  • Nabil-i-Azam; Pilgrims; Pilgrimage; First pilgrims; Khadijih Khanum; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Shíráz, Iran; Iran; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq The first pilgrimage to the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    In this period the extent of the Faith was enlarged with expansion in the Caucasus, the establishment of the first Egyptian centre and the establishment of the Faith in Syria. [GPB176]
  • While Nabil was in Khorasan in spring 1866, at his suggestion, the greeting Alláh-u-Abhá (God is the most Glorious) was adopted by the followers of Bahá'u'lláh, replacing the old salutation of Allāho Akbar (God is the Greatest), which was common among the Bábis. This was a significant action that gave group identity to the Bahá'ís and was a sign of their independence from the Bábís and the Azális, a Bábí faction that considered Mírzá Yaḥyā Ṣobḥ-e Azál as the legitimate successor to the Báb. The greeting Alláh-u-Abhá superseded the Islamic salutation and was simultaneously adopted in Persia and Adrianople. [BKG250; GPB176, "Nabil-e aʿzam Zaranadi, Mollā Mohammad," by Vahid Rafati, Encyclopædia Iranica,]
  • The phrase 'the people of the Bayán', which now denotes the followers of Mírzá Yahyá, was discarded and is replaced by the term 'the people of Bahá'. [BKG250; GBP176]
  • Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Nabil-i-Azam; People of the Bayan; People of Bahá; Allah-u-Abha; Greatest Name; Most Great Separation; Caucasus; Egypt; Syria; Khurásán, Iran; Iran; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    Persecutions began anew in Ádharbáyján, Zanján, Níshápúr and Tihrán. [GPB178] Persecution, Adharbayjan; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Azerbaijan; Zanjan, Iran; Nishapur, Iran; Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1867 Sep
    186-
    Thinking that He will not accept, Mírzá Yahyá, prodded on by Mír Muhammad, challenged Bahá'u'lláh to a public confrontation in the mosque of Sultán Salím. In the end, it was Mírzá Yahyá who did not appear. [BKG239–41; GPB168–9; RB2:291–300, SDH22]
  • The incident gained Bahá'u'lláh respect in the eyes of the people. [RB2:289]
  • See [RB2:304] for a picture of the mosque.
  • Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Mir Muhammad; * Bahaullah (chronology); Mosques; Bahá'u'lláh, Challenges (confrontations); Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Badí', the Munájátháy-i-Síyám (Prayers for Fasting), the first Tablet to Napoleon III, the Lawh-i-Sultán written to Násiri'd-Dín Sháh, and the Súriy-i-Ra'ís. [BKG245; GBP172]
  • The Súriy-i-Ra'ís was published in the Summons of the Lord of Hosts. See Wikipedia for a synopsis of this Tablet.
  • See RB2:370–82 for details of the Kitáb-i-Badí'.
  • Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Súriy-i-Ghusn (Tablet of the Branch) in which 'Abdu'l-Bahá's future station was foreshadowed. [BBD218; BKG250; GPB177; GWB39]
  • See RB2:338–9 for a description of the Tablet.
  • It was probably about this time that the first Lawh-i-Salmán was revealed for Shaykh Salmán. [RoB2p281-290; Uplifting Words ]
  • * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Bahaullah (chronology); Tablets to kings and rulers; Kitáb-i-Badi (Wondrous Book); Munajathay-i-Siyam (Prayers for Fasting); Prayer; Lawh-i-Napulyun (Tablet to Napoleon III); Napoleon III; Lawh-i-Sultan (Tablet to Nasirid-Din Shah); Nasirid-Din Sháh; Suriy-i-Rais (Tablet to Sultan Ali Pasha); `Alí Páshá; Suriy-i-Ghusn (Tablet of the Branch); * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Firsts, other; * Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shaykh Salman; Lawh-i-Salman I; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey First time Bahá'u'lláh directs His words collectively to entire company of monarchs of East and West; first Egyptian centre established; first pilgrimages to residence of Bahá'u'lláh
    1867 Sep
    186-
    "The Most Great Idol" was cast out of the community.

    Mírzá Yahyá's henceman, Siyyíd Muhammad, convinced Yahyá to challenge Bahá'u'lláh to to face-to-face encounter in the mosque of Sultán Salím in a distant part of the city, believing that Bahá'u'lláh would not show. Bahá'u'lláh immediately set out to walk to the appointed mosque. Upon learning this Mírzá Yahyá postponed the interview for a day or two. Bahá'u'llah returned to His home and revealed a Tablet to be delivered to Siyyíd Muhammad when he produced a sealed note stating that should Mírzá Yahyá fail to appear at the trysting-place, he would produce a document refuting Yahyá's claims. Neither were forthcoming and the Tablet to Siyyid Muhammad remained undelivered.

    Prior to this the community had been divided however this incident firmly established His ascendency. The Covenant of the Báb had prevailed [GPB168-170]

  • A period of prodigious activity ensued. Bahá'u'lláh later stated in the Lawh-i-Siraj, "In those days the equivalent of all that hath been sent down aforetime unto the Prophets hath been revealed." [GPB171]
  • See The Azali-Bahai Crisis of September, 1867 by Juan Cole.
  • * Bahaullah (chronology); Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Siyyid Muhammad; Covenant-breaking; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Sep - Aug 1868
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh addressed a Tablet to to Mullá-'Alí Akbar-i-Sháhmírzádí and Jamál-i-Burújirdí in Tehran to transfer the casket containing the remains of the Báb from the Imám-Zádih Ma'súm to a safer hiding place so they temporarily concealed it within a wall of the Masjid-i-Máshá'u'lláh outside of the gates of the city of Tehran. After the hiding place was detected the casket was smuggled into the city and deposited in the house of Mírzá Hasan-i-Vazír, a believer and son-in-law of Hájí Mírzá Siyyid 'Alíy-i-Tafríshí, the Majdu'l-Ashráf. [GPB177; ISC-1963p32] Báb, Burial of; Báb, Remains of; Hájí Ákhúnd (Mullá `Alí-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí); Jamal-i-Burujirdi; Imam-Zadih Masum; Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1867 c. Aug
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh refused to draw the allowance granted Him by the Ottoman government. [RB2:327]
  • Mírzá Yahyá had twice petitioned the government to convince it that he ought to be the recipient of the allowance. [RB2:327]
  • Bahá'u'lláh sold some of His belongings to provide the necessities for Himself and His dependents. [RB2:327]
  • * Bahaullah (chronology); Ottoman government; Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 c. Jun (or later)
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh rented the house of 'Izzat Áqá where He and His family lived until their departure from Adrianople. [BKG239; GPB168; ALM39]

      "The remaining months in the house of Izzat Aqa constituted the most fecund period in the whole course of the ministry of Bahá'u'lláh. Tablets and verses flowed continuously from his pen and His tongue." [ALM42]
  • See BKG241 for a description of this house.
  • Picture.
  • Bahá'u'lláh, Houses of; * Bahaullah (chronology); House of Izzat Aqa; Houses; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Apr
    186-
    The appeal by 53 Bahá'ís "in Baghdád" addressed to the United States Congress arrived at the American Consulate in Beirut. [BBR265, Petition from the Persian Reformers]
  • Also see An 1867 Petition from Bahá'ís in Shushtar, Iran, to the U.S. Congress translated by Manuchehr Derakhshani and Nesreen Akhtarkhavari.
  • Petitions; United States government; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Baghdad, Iraq; Shushtar, Iran
    1867 c. Mar
    186-
    Bahá'u'lláh moved back to the now empty house of Amru'lláh. [GPB168]
  • He stayed for about three months. [GPB168]
  • BKG239 says that within six months of Bahá'u'lláh's return to the house the owner sold it.
  • * Bahaullah (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Houses of; House of Amrullah; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
    1867 Jan or Feb
    186-
    Mírzá Muhammad-'Alí, a Bahá'í physician, was executed in Zanján. [BBR253; BKG238; BW18:383]

    Áqá Najaf-'Alíy-i-Zanjání, a disciple of Hujjat, was executed in Tihrán. [BBR254; BW18:383]

    Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Zanjan, Iran; Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1867 11 Jan
    186-
    Three Bahá'ís were executed in Tabríz. Their arrest was precipitated by conflict and rivalry between the Azalís and the Bahá'ís. [BBR252–3; BKG237–8; BW18:382–3; RB2:61]
  • BW18:382 says this was 8 January.
  • Azali Bábís; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Tabríz, Iran; Iran
    1867 (In the year)
    186-
    Birth of Mírzá Badí'u'lláh, fourth son of Bahá'u'lláh and Mahd-i'Ulyá in Adrianople. [BKG247] Mírzá Badiullah; Bahá'u'lláh, Family of; Mahd-i-Ulya (Fatimih Khanum); Births and deaths; Edirne, Turkey; Turkey
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