Lawh-i-Ard-i-Bá and its relation to the Station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
First presented at the Irfan Colloquia Session #40
Bosch Bahá'í School: California, USA
May 23–26, 2002
(see list of papers from #40)
Lawh-i-Ard-i-Bá was revealed in Akká in 1879 in honor of 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the wake of the 'opening of the doors of the Prison city'. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had traveled to Beirut — referred to as Ard-i-Bá (Land of Bá), 'Bá' being the letter 'B' in the Arabic alphabet. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's travel to Beirut helped spread abroad the prestige of the Faith as well as the fame of its 'most distinguished member'.
The tablet begins with Praise of God for blessing Beirut with the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Within that He proclaims some of the titles of 'Abdu'l-Bahá such as "Him round whom all names revolve" and "His ancient and immutable Mystery". The tablet takes a personal turn when the Blessed Beauty reflects the sorrow that the Prison city feels while another land 'rejoiceth'. It is interesting to note that this is the first time since Bahá'u'lláh's sojourn to Sulaymáníyyih that the father and son had been separated.
Bahá'u'lláh then refers to the opening of the gates of the Prison City, Akká, as fulfillment of God's promise. This is probably a reference to a promise Bahá'u'lláh made in 1870 to the Purest Branch, Mírzá Mihdí, a younger brother of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, at the time of Mírzá Mihdí's martyrdom.
In the next segment of the tablet, Bahá'u'lláh with exquisite expressions blesses material/physical objects that become associated with sensing or manifesting the greatness of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He blesses the eye, the ear, and the heart that have been affected by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, as well as the pen and the scroll that exclaim His praise. At the end of the tablet Bahá'u'lláh once again demonstrates his personal feelings by asking God for the 'honor of meeting him soon.'
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