TheApostles of Baháʼu'lláh were nineteen prominent followers ofBaháʼu'lláh, the founder of theBaháʼí Faith.[1] The apostles were designated as such byShoghi Effendi, head of the religion in the earlier half of the 20th century, and the list was included inThe Baháʼí World, Vol. III (pp. 80–81).[2]
These individuals played a vital role in the development of the Baháʼí Faith, consolidating its adherents and bringing its teachings around the world. To Baháʼís, they filled a similar role as thesons of Jacob, theapostles of Jesus,Muhammad's companions, or the Báb'sLetters of the Living.
Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl - The scholar who travelled as far as America and wrote several notable books about the Baháʼí Faith.
Varqá - a.k.a. Mírzá ʻAlí Muhammad, the father of Rúhu'lláh. The two were killed at the same time for their adherence.
Mírzá Mahmúd - a.k.a. Maḥmúd-i-Furúg͟hí, he was a well known teacher of the Baháʼí Faith, often dedicating himself to the welfare of the youth.
Hají Ákhúnd - a.k.a. Mullá ʻAlí-Akbar S͟hahmírzádí, he was given the task of transferring the remains of theBáb from various secret locations to ʻAkká. He was responsible for much of the Baháʼí activity in Iran until his death.
Vakílu'd-Dawlih - a.k.a. Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí, a cousin of the Báb and the chief builder of the firstBaháʼí House of Worship in Ishqábád which was initiated by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in or about 1902.
Ibn-i-Abhar - a.k.a. Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí, he traveled and taught about the religion in countries and regions of Iran, Caucasus, Turkmenistan and India.
Kázim-i-Samandar - a.k.a. Shaykh Kázim, the favourite Apostle of Baháʼu'lláh. He travelled teaching the religion in Persia, theLawh-i-Fu'ád is addressed to him.[4]: 88 [5]: 176–177
Mishkín-Qalam - a.k.a. Mirza Husayn, noteworthy calligrapher of his time and designer of theGreatest Name.
Adíb - a.k.a. Mirza Hasan, after the passing of Baháʼu'lláh, he became instrumental in dealing with the activities of Covenant-breakers in Iran. Chairman of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Iran. He travelled to India and Burma to help spread the Baháʼí Faith in those areas.
Shaykh Muhammad-'Alí - Nephew of Nabíl-i-Akbar. Traveled to India and later Haifa and taught about the Baháʼí Faith. He was later sent toIshqábád byAbdu'l-Bahá to take care of the education of children there. Along with other followers he helped in completing the unfinished writings of Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl.
Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín - a.k.a. Mullá Zaynul-ʻÁbidín, doctor of Islamic law. He submitted questions to Baháʼu'lláh regarding theKitáb-i-Aqdas, the Baháʼí book of laws, which have been published in an appendix to the book.
Ibn-i-Asdaq - a.k.a. Mírzá ʻAlí-Muḥammad-i-K͟hurásání, was addressed by Baháʼu'lláh as Shahíd Ibn-i-Shahíd (Martyr, son of the Martyr). He was the son of Mullá Sádiq, a martyr of the Bábí movement. Along with Ahmad Yazdani, brought theTablet to The Hague from ʻAbdu'l-Bahá to theCentral Organisation for Durable Peace in The Hague.
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá addresses the Baháʼís of the United States and Canada in theTablets of the Divine Plan with the phrase: "O ye Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh!" He goes on to encourage them to "strive ye with heart and soul so that ye may reach this lofty and exalted position".
He outlines certain conditions for this attainment, namely firmness in the Covenant of God, fellowship and love amongst the believers, and continually travelling to all parts of the continent, "nay, rather, to all parts of the world".[6]
Shoghi Effendi referred toMartha Root as "that unique and great-hearted apostle of Baháʼu'lláh", but she is not considered one of the nineteen Apostles designated as such by Shoghi Effendi. (Baha'i Administration, p. 112)
^Bahá'u'lláh (2002).The Summons of the Lord of Hosts. Bahá'í World Centre. p. 272.The Lawḥ-i-Fu'ád was addressed to Shaykh Káẓim-i-Samandar of Qazvín, one of the apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. Its subject, the former Ottoman statesman Fu'ád Páshá, died in France in 1869. The letter names Káf and Ẓá refer to the K and Ẓ of Káẓim.
Adamson, Hugh (2007). "Apostles of Baha'u'llah".Historical Dictionary of the Baha'i Faith. Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements, No. 71 (Second ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 27, 525.ISBN978-0-8108-5096-5.
