Sep 24th, 2007
A dove of the Kingdom takes flight
God has created man in order that he may be a dove of the Kingdom, a heavenly candle, a recipient of eternal life. God has created man in order that he may be resuscitated through the breaths of the Holy Spirit and become the light of the world . . . How glorious the station of man who has partaken of the heavenly food and built the temple of his everlasting residence in the world of heaven! `Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í writings
It was raining here this morning and right in the middle of the country, not far from here, there were tornadoes. The violent winds ripped through towns and cities. Houses were damaged, a car was flung into the air and a large trampoline was lifted over a fence and into the road.
In contrast, in the Bahá’í cemetery in Haifa, they were laying to rest a remarkable man, a person of such gentleness, dignity and humility that even his name was a symbol of peace: Varqá, `Dove’.
If you had gone on pilgrimage to Haifa in recent years you would have seen him at the Pilgrim House or sitting in his office at the Seat of the House of Justice, working quietly with his door open so that he could greet you as you passed by and welcome you in.
Born in 1912 while his father Valíyu’lláh accompanied `Abdu’l-Bahá on His visit to America, he was given the name `Alí Muhammad by `Abdu’l-Bahá, who, seeing a photograph of the infant, wrote on the child’s arms `Yad-i-Mu’ayyad’ (Confirmed Hand) and named the infant after his martyred grandfather, Mírzá `Alí Muhammad Varqá.
In 1955 he was appointed by Shoghi Effendi one of the Hands of the Cause, special individuals given the particular task of protecting and promulgating the Bahá’í religion. Dr Varqá was also the Trustee of Huququ’llah, the Right of God.
With the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, no more Hands of the Cause could be appointed. One by one the Hands passed away until there was but one left, Dr Varqá.
I was lucky to be born in the time of the Hands of the Cause, to have met many of them, to have heard their stories of earlier times in the Faith of God and to have received their wisdom. In particular I was privileged to have been asked by Dr Varqá to be a deputy trustee of Huququ’llah and to have met with him on many occasions. His eyes were always warm and smiling, his voice gentle, his wisdom immense.
Now there are no more Hands of the Cause. That era has passed. We do not have them but we do have their legacy. In October 2004 Dr Varqá wrote a long letter to those gathered at the UK national festival in which he analysed the current world situation and called upon the Bahá’ís to respond to it:
While the well-wishers, philosophers, leaders of thought and government fail to present effective guidelines for humanity, Bahá’u'lláh gave the privilege to His followers to rise and guide human society with His vivifying teachings and principles . . . We have to arise with devotion and determination and step forward in the arena of teaching.
In bidding farewell not only to Dr Varqá but to the office of Hands of the Cause, let us `step forward’ as he asks and tell the world that Bahá’u'lláh has come for its salvation.
Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Hands of the Cause, Dr Varqa
Thank you, dear Wendi.
Your reflection on the passing of dear Hand of the Cause Varqa is beautiful and heart warming. Even his passing was so quiet and humble, that one could almost not realize what a huge event this turning point is. Now that all of the beloved Hands of the Cause are in the Abha Realm, we may even more call upon all of them and they can be even closer to all of us than they were when present physically in this world.
“steve”