12th Day of Ridvan – May 2, 2024

History of 12th Day of Ridvan

It is during these 12 days known as Ridvan that Baha’u’llah first announced his new revelation to the world. Before the arrival of Baha’u’llah in Najibiyyih Garden, Ridvan’s story begins with a man who referred to himself as “the Bab” (translated, the Gate). He established his claim to be the Bab in 1844 A.D., and he predicted that a Messiah would be born in Shiraz at that time. When Baha’u’llah was in prison in Tehran, Iran, he had an epiphany: he was the Promised One, just as Bab had predicted.

He moved to Baghdad after his release from prison, where the Babi (followers of the Bab) movement had already established itself. While Baha’u’llah never made any explicit claims about his revelation, he began to amass a growing number of Babi devotees. As Baha’u’llah became more prominent and the Babi community grew, the government exiled him from Baghdad to Constantinople. Baha’u’llah stayed at the Najibiyyih Garden to meet visitors and give his family time to pack for the voyage once he had completed his packing.

Just 31 days after Naw-Ruz, Baha’u’llah and a small group of companions withdrew from Baghdad’s old city center to a garden across the Tigris River. His prophetic purpose was revealed in the Najibiyyih Garden, where he spoke to a few close friends and family members. The three other things Baha’u’llah said were that religious war was not permitted, that another manifestation from God would not happen again for 1,000 years and that the names of God were fully evident in all things during his lifetime. The Najibiyyih Garden was Baha’u’llah’s temporary residence for 11 days. When he arrived in Constantinople on the 12th day, he was greeted by his entire family.