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"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah
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House
of `Abbud |
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What is now known as the House of `Abbud in `Akka is
in two parts: the eastern part, which was the house of
`Udi Khammar and the western part, which was the house
of `Abbud himself.
The eastern section was so insufficient to the needs
of Bahá'u'lláh and His family that no less than
thirteen persons had to be accommodated in one of its
rooms.
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Baha'u'llah
had one room of the eastern section to Himself, and it was
there that He revealed His Book of Laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas
(circa 1873). During this period, the animosity and slander
against the Baha'is reached such a pitch that their children
were stoned on sight, while `Abbud himself, whose residence
was next to that of Bahá'u'lláh, was so influenced by what
he heard, that he re-inforced the partition that separated
the two dwellings.
At a later date, when the animosity of `Abbud towards the
Baha'is had been overcome, he learned that the wedding of
`Abdu'l-Baha was being delayed because of lack of
accommodation. He therefore provided a room, situated
between the two sections of the house, for the marriage of
`Abdu'l-Baha and Munirih Khanum. Subsequently, `Abbud turned
over the western part of the house to the Baha'is. Bahá'u'lláh
then gave His room in the eastern part of the house to
`Abdu'l-Baha, and occupied one of the rooms of the western
section, which pilgrims now visit.
Bahá'u'lláh stayed in both parts of this house and in
nearby houses for approximately seven years. During
the latter years of His life, He also occasionally visited
this house.
Excerpts
from Visiting Baha'i Holy Places, Baha'i World Centre
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