Mírzá Muhammad `Alí
Encyclopedia
Mírzá Muhammad `Alí was one of the sons of Bahá'u'lláh
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
. He was born from his father's second wife, Fatimih Khanum, whom Bahá'u'lláh married in Tehran
in 1849, and she was later known as Mahd-i-'Ulya.
Muhammad `Alí received the title from his father of Ghusn-i-Akbar or the "Greater Branch".
In The Kitáb-i-‘Ahd (The Book of the Covenant), Bahá'u'lláh appointed `Abdu'l-Bahá
as his successor, with Muhammad `Ali subordinate to `Abdu'l-Bahá, explicitly noting both by their titles. As time passed, Muhammad `Alí claimed that `Abdu'l-Bahá was not sharing power. Muhammad `Alí insisted that he should instead be regarded as the leader of the Bahá'ís. The competition culminated in Muhammad `Alí accusing his older brother of conspiring against the Ottoman government
, which resulted in imprisonment and near death for `Abdu'l-Bahá and his family. Almost all Bahá'ís accepted `Abdu'l-Bahá as Bahá'u'lláh's successor.
The division caused by Muhammad `Alí was short-lived. At the time of `Abdu'l-Bahá's death, Shoghi Effendi
was appointed as the Guardian of the Faith by `Abdu'l-Bahá in his Will and Testament
, while Muhammad `Alí was reprimanded. He took the opportunity of `Abdu'l-Bahá's death to try to revive his claim to leadership, but his attempt to forcefully occupy the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
left him on the losing end of a legal battle that completely removed any rights he previously had to the property. He died in 1937 as an outcast from the worldwide Bahá'í community, and is regarded as the arch-breaker of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh
.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. He was born from his father's second wife, Fatimih Khanum, whom Bahá'u'lláh married in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1849, and she was later known as Mahd-i-'Ulya.
Muhammad `Alí received the title from his father of Ghusn-i-Akbar or the "Greater Branch".
In The Kitáb-i-‘Ahd (The Book of the Covenant), Bahá'u'lláh appointed `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
as his successor, with Muhammad `Ali subordinate to `Abdu'l-Bahá, explicitly noting both by their titles. As time passed, Muhammad `Alí claimed that `Abdu'l-Bahá was not sharing power. Muhammad `Alí insisted that he should instead be regarded as the leader of the Bahá'ís. The competition culminated in Muhammad `Alí accusing his older brother of conspiring against the Ottoman government
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, which resulted in imprisonment and near death for `Abdu'l-Bahá and his family. Almost all Bahá'ís accepted `Abdu'l-Bahá as Bahá'u'lláh's successor.
The division caused by Muhammad `Alí was short-lived. At the time of `Abdu'l-Bahá's death, Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
was appointed as the Guardian of the Faith by `Abdu'l-Bahá in his Will and Testament
Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
A seminal document, written in three stages by `Abdu'l-Bahá. Several sections were written under imminent threat of harm. The first section was probably written in 1906....
, while Muhammad `Alí was reprimanded. He took the opportunity of `Abdu'l-Bahá's death to try to revive his claim to leadership, but his attempt to forcefully occupy the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, located in Bahjí near Acre, Israel, is the most holy place for Bahá'ís and represents their Qiblih, or direction of prayer...
left him on the losing end of a legal battle that completely removed any rights he previously had to the property. He died in 1937 as an outcast from the worldwide Bahá'í community, and is regarded as the arch-breaker of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh
Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh
Covenant in the Bahá'í Faith refers to two separate binding agreements between God and man. A Covenant in the religious sense is a binding agreement made between God and man wherein a certain behaviour is required of man and in return God guarantees certain blessings...
.