When Bahá’u’lláh founded the Bahá’í faith in the mid-19th century, it was an outgrowth of a movement related to his Islamic upbringing.
His faith, he claimed, was the prophetic proclamation and realization of another closely related religion of the time called Babism.
In Babism, it was said, there would be a messenger from God who would unite Islam, Christianity and all other major world religions.
The fulfillment of that prophecy, the Bahá’í faith, began in Persia, which is now known as Iran under the leadership of Bahá’u’lláh. In an exercise of socio-religious control, the predominant Islamist culture of the time tried tirelessly to eradicate the faith by exiling him to the prison city of Akka in 1868 – five years after he made his first claim to divine revelation from God.
In 1892, after nearly 25 years of imprisonment, Bahá’u’lláh died near Akka, but the legacy of his prophecy and spiritual guidance carried on and is practiced by millions of devout followers to the present day.
Eventually, Haifa, Israel, which sits across a bay from Akka, became the spiritual and administrative world center of those faithful to the religion.
One of those faithful is Wrangellite Kay Larson.
Larson, who is a long-time Bahá’í, took a pilgrimage to Haifa for three weeks in June and it is where she said a great spiritual experience occurred for her.
“It was a profound experience to visit the holy places in Israel,” Larson said. “I got a chance to see places where historical events took place as the faith was unfolding in the area.”
Larson added that while looking into the past of the Bahá’í faith was an important part of her journey, observing the current happenings in Haifa was also important to her.
“To see the current developments in the area, and to mix with other Bahá’í believers from around the world was very important to me,” she added.
Some of the most important places for those faithful to Bahá’í to visit during a pilgrimage include the Shrine of the Bab, the Sacred Gardens, and the tomb of Bahá’u’lláh.
Babism, which is the closest relative to the Bahá’í faith in terms of religious similarity, began in 1844 when Siyyid Ali Muhammad declared he was the “Bab,” or “Gateway to truth” for the religion. This act led to dissent within Islam and extensive persecution of “Babis” in the Middle East.
Followers of the Bahá’í faith see the Bab as an inspiration and forerunner to Bahá’u’lláh since his writings directly inspired the scriptural references of the future prophet and religious leader.
“The forerunner of the faith was the Bab, and I visited his shrine,” Larson added. “There is a beautiful mausoleum built over the tomb. I also visited the burial location of Bahá’u’lláh, which is called the Bahjí.”
The location known as Bahjí is considered by the religion’s faithful to be the holiest place on earth and a place where pilgrims can pay respect to their prophet and make a rededication of their lives to the faith.
“Aside from the Bahjí, there are gardens that are extensive and absolutely beautiful, extending from the seashore to the top of Mount Carmel,” she added. “In the center of the terraces and gardens is the Shrine of the Bab.”
Kay, along with her late husband Chuck, previously lived in Haifa and served in volunteer positions at the World Administrative Centre for the faith. It was during that time, Kay added, that Chuck was also able to take part in restoring stained glass windows in the Shrine of the Bab.
“When Chuck passed away in 2002, I wrote a book about his life as a special gift to the family,” Larson said. “The photo used for the cover of the book, titled ‘Ocean of Light,’ was taken as he sat reading in one of the many peaceful gardens that surround holy places that are associated with the history and current development of the religion.”
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