On Iran and Iraq, Something in Common: The Ridvan Story and the Explanatory Power of the Teachings of Baha'u'llah

"Looking north up the Tigris River - 16 May 2003 - Baghdad,"
Uploaded on February 24, 2007 by Chi Man on flickr
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Where is the focus of the world today? Certainly on Iraq, because of the terrible conflict and strife there. Also on Iran, for various reasons.
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What do Iran and Iraq have in common? Both countries figure prominently in the history of the Baha'i Faith.

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This is the Ridvan period. In their celebration of the three holy days within the 12-days of Ridvan, Baha'is share the story of Baha'u'llah's public announcement of His station, a story that took place ... where? On an island in the Tigris River in Baghdad.

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Baha'u'llah was born in Persia in the 19th Century in what is present-day Iran. It was there he declared His belief in the Bab, His predecessor. It is from there he was exiled to the land immediately to the west of Iran, present-day Iraq.

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Isn't it amazing that these places in the world, although not necessarily for good reason, are at center stage today, whereas a century and a half ago they held no such distinction. Western eyes, at least, were focused elsewhere then. Today we have television and cable news to bring us up close with visual images, often disturbing, from these countries.

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Before the hostage crisis of 1979-1981 most Westerners didn't know what a mullah was. For many it was watching Ted Koppel's Nightline on the news from Iran that provided an introduction to the term.

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Before the events of the past four years in Iraq most Westerners didn't know the difference between Sunni and Shi'a Islam. A few weeks ago there was a week-long series of stories on National Public Radio in which the historical events that led to the schism in Islam were explained in great detail, one of many efforts by news organizations today that attempt to provide background on the historical roots of the current conflict.

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On a more seemingly arcane note, a small number of those who follow world news closely may have picked up on the interest that the current leader of government in Iran has in a literal interpretation of religious traditions involving the "return" of a religious figure in Shi'a Islam that is analogous to the fervent belief among some religious and political leaders in the United States of the literal "second coming" of Jesus Christ.

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So literal interpretation of religion is common to Islam and Christiantity. So what? So where is all this discussion leading?

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It seems to me that the world is being prepared to be able to size up the message of Baha'u'llah with full knowledge of the historical context from which the community that bears His name emerged. What a shock it is, when the realization finally hits, that world events, past and present, really do fit together and make sense. For the increasing number of people who are studying Baha'u'llah's life and message and are learning about the Ridvan story, what happened on that island in the Tigris provides the key to understanding world events in a way that nothing else can. - gw

In April 1863, before leaving Baghdad, Bahá'u'lláh and His companions camped in a garden on the banks of the Tigris River. From 21 April to 2 May, Bahá'u'lláh shared with those Bábis in His company that He was the Promised One foretold by the Báb--foretold, indeed, in all the world's scriptures.

The garden became known as the Garden of Ridvan, which indicates "paradise" in Arabic. The anniversary of the twelve days spent there are celebrated in the Bahá'í world as the most joyous of holidays, known as the Ridvan Festival.

"Historical Introduction to Bahá'u'lláh" "Baha'is celebrate 'King of Festivals'""Festival of Ridvan marks beginning of Baha'i Faith"