Facsimile of Letter from Shoghi Effendi concerning his temporary absence from the Holy Land

Facsimile of Letter from Shoghi Effendi, written by his own hand, and Envelope (above) addressed to the Star of the West

Photograph of the original letter written by Shoghi, Effenili and, translation of same, sent to the Star of the West by his honor Mirza Hadi Shirazi, the noble father of Shoghi, Effendi, through Dr. Zia M. Baghdadi.

“He Is God!

This servant, after that grievous event and great calamity -- the ascension of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the Abha Kingdom -- has been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the troubles (created) by the enemies of the Cause of God that I consider my presence here, at such a time and in such an atmosphere, is not in accordance with the fulfillment of my important and sacred duties.

For this reason, unable to do otherwise, I have left for a time the affairs of the Cause, both at home and abroad, under the supervision of the Holy Family and the headship of the Greatest Holy Leaf -- may my soul be a sacrifice to her – until, by the Grace of God, having gained health, strength, self-confidence and spiritual energy, and having taken into my hands, in accordance with my aim and desire, entirely and regularly the work of service, I shall attain to my utmost spiritual hope and aspiration.

The servant of His Threshold,

(signed) SHOGHI.”
(April 1922)
(Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 4, May 17, 1922)

The robes of Bahá’u’lláh

Three of the robes worn by Bahá’u’lláh displayed in the Bahá'í International Archives

'Abdu'l-Baha's Giveh (light cotton summer shoes)

'Abdu'l-Baha's Giveh (light cotton summer shoes)

Shoghi Effendi's registration form for the Syrian Protestant College

Shoghi Effendi's registration form for the Syrian Protestant College

Facsimile of the handwriting in English of Shoghi Effendi

Facsimile of the handwriting in English of Shoghi Effendi

Facsimile of handwriting of the Greatest Holy Leaf

Facsimile of Bahiyyih Khanum's handwriting

Translation:

O Leaf of Paradise!

Loose your tongue at all times in gratitude for the blessings of the Beloved of the Worlds, for you are always mentioned in His Glorious and Sanctified Presence, and you are ever in the hearts of His maidservants. The pen is unable to describe the depths of our longing, nor can the tongue recount the love concealed within our hearts. Should you look into the mirror of your own heart, which is free from the defilements of this world of dust, you would clearly see the truth of what has been set forth.

From the time of your departure no day passes without mention being made of your name. Please God you may in your days and nights hold fast to the sure handle of detachment, and be occupied in the remembrance of God, the Wondrous, the All-Glorious.

There is no blessing greater than attainment unto His Holy Presence. Thank God you attained this bounty.

May the spiritually-minded son, Mirza Badi'u'llah, God willing, be always safe in the stronghold of God's care and protection. (Bahiyyih Khanum, ‘Bahiyyih Khanum The Greatest Holy Leaf’, p. 93)

Baha'u'llah's Tablet to Bahiyyih Khanum, the Greatest Holy Leaf

Photograph of Baha'u'llah's Tablet, in His Own handwriting, to Bahiyyih Khanum. The text of this Tablet is carved and gilded around the pediment of her monument.

Translation:

He is the Eternal! This is My testimony for her who hath heard My voice and drawn nigh unto Me. Verily, she is a leaf that hath sprung from this preexistent Root. She hath revealed herself in My name and tasted of the sweet savours of My holy, My wondrous pleasure. At one time We gave her to drink from My honeyed Mouth, at another caused her to partake of My mighty, My luminous Kawthar. Upon her rest the glory of My name and the fragrance of My shining robe. ( Baha’u’llah, Bahiyyih Khanum, The Greatest Holy Leaf, p. 2)

A Prayer of Baha'u'llah in His Own Handwriting

A prayer by Baha'u'llah in His own handwriting

One sheet of "Revelation Writing' by Mirza Aqa Jan

One sheet of "Revelation Writing' by Mirza Aqa Jan, Baha'u'llah's secretary (reduced from the original size of 35x22 cm). Baha'u'llah would dictate so rapidly that in order to keep up, His secretary developed a special shorthand script.

Illumined Tablet of Baha'u'llah in 'Abdu'l-Baha's handwriting

Illumined Tablet of Baha'u'llah in 'Abdu'l-Baha's handwriting

A Tablet to the friends in America in 'Abdu'l-Baha's handwriting

Facsimile of Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha, in His handwriting, to the friends in America, concerning Dr. Zia Baghdadi, his wife and her sister, 1920

Items belonging to the Guardian

Precious souvenirs of Shoghi Effendi

Robes of Baha'u'llah

Robes of Baha'u'llah

The Bab's Tablet to the Eighteenth Letter of the Living -- Quddus

Facsimile of the Bab's Tablet to the Eighteenth Letter of the Living

One of the first handwritings of Shoghi Effendi in English

Facsimile of Shoghi Effendi's handwriting in 1919

The attached Tablet was published in the Star of the West

magazine, Vol. 10, No. 2, April 1919

Illumined Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Handwriting

An illumined Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha in His handwriting

Baha'u'llah's Tablet of the Holy Mariner in the Handwriting of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Tablet of the Holy Mariner: Revealed by Baha'u'llah in Arabic, in the handwriting of 'Abdu'l-Baha

A Relic of 'Abdu'l-Baha

The Char-a-Banc of 'Abdu'l-Baha in Holy Land

Tablet from Baha'u'llah concerning the Purest Branch

Tablet revealed by Baha'u'llah at the time when the Purest Branch was being prepared for the grave in His presence

Shoghi Effendi's Handwriting in Persian

Facsimile of the handwriting in Persian of Shoghi Effendi: A few of the "Hidden Words"

Relics of Baha'u'llah

Relics of Baha'u'llah

Articles belonging to Baha'u'llah, including locks of hair and tajes.

Tablet of Baha'u'llah in His Handwriting

Tablet of Baha'u'llah in His own handwriting

Relics of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Relics of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Prayer beads, turban, caps worn under turban, comb, shoes, and other articles

belonging to 'Abdu'l-Baha

Sacred Objects of Historical Interest

Plaster from Mah-ku where the Bab was imprisoned, a cannon ball from the fortress of Shaykh Tabarsi, and the sword of Mulla Husayn

Some Relics of the Bab

Illumined Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha

An illumined Tablet in the handwriting of 'Abdu'l-Baha

The Marriage Certificate of Baha'u'llah -- 1835

The Marriage Certificate of Baha'u'llah 1251 A.H. (1835 A.D.)

An illumined Tablet in the handwriting of Baha'u'llah

An illumined Tablet in the handwriting of Baha'u'llah

"When I contemplate, O my God, the relationship that bindeth me to Thee, I am moved to proclaime to all created things 'verily I am God!'; and when I consider my own self, lo I find it coarser than clay!"

A Tablet of Baha'u'llah addressed to 'Abdu'l-Baha

A Tablet of Baha'u'llah addressed to 'Abdu'l-Baha

(Translation of part of this Tablet appears in 'The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah', page 43, paragraph beginning with "O Thou Who art the apple of Mine eye!")

The First Page of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in the Handwriting of 'Abdu'l-Baha

The first page of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in the handwriting of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Relics of Baha'u'llah

In the center is a taj with white turban in position, on upper shelf a dervish's taj and Kashkul (mendicant's bowl) used by Baha'u'llah. Pen cases, slippers and other things used by Him are also shown.

A Signet Ring of the Bab

A signet ring of the Bab bearing the inscription: 'Praise be unto Him; there is no God but Him. This is a Path revealed by His behest, and shall pass thereon.'

Some Relics of Baha'u'llah

Taj of Baha'u'llah in His room at Bahji

Some relics of Baha'u'llah, including His pen and pencase

Baha'u'llah's Shawl and Comb

Baha'u'llah's Shawl and Comb

A Tablet in Baha'u'llah's own hand after He was poisoned by His half-brother

The first page of the Suri-i-Amr in Baha'u'llah's own hand, revealed soon after the attempt on His life.

The Seals of Baha'u'llah

The Seals of Baha'u'llah displayed in an ornamental Persian design

Two of Baha'u'llah's Seals

Illumined Seal of Baha'u'llah

Illumined Seal of Baha'u'llah

The Bab's Tablet to the First Letter of the Living -- Mulla Husayn

Facsimile of the Bab's Tablet to the First Letter of the Living

The Bab's Childhood Calligraphic Exercise

Calligraphic exercise of the Bab written before

He was ten years old

Prayer-beads

Baha'u'llah's Prayer-beads and Ring (right), the Bab's Prayer-beads and Ring (left), Baha'u'llah's Pen-case and Tea-glass

Some Relics of the Bab

The Bab's letter to His wife

The first letter of the Bab to His wife, sent from Bushihr before His departure as a pilgrim to Mecca