Mehran AziziMehran Azizi
LAWḤ-I-KARMIL (Tablet of Carmel)
Bahá’u’lláh
ALL glory be to this Day, the Day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards His holy seat. Thereupon the voices of all created things, and beyond them those of the Concourse on High, were heard calling aloud: ‘Haste thee, O Carmel, for lo, the light of the countenance of God, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Names and Fashioner of the heavens, hath been lifted upon thee.’
Seized with transports of joy, and raising high her voice, she thus exclaimed: ‘May my life be a sacrifice to Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me, hast bestowed upon me Thy bounty, and hast directed towards me Thy steps. Separation from Thee, O Thou Source of everlasting life, hath well nigh consumed me, and my remoteness from Thy presence hath burned away my soul. All praise be to Thee for having enabled me to hearken to Thy call, for having honoured me with Thy footsteps, and for having quickened my soul through the vitalizing fragrance of Thy Day and the shrilling voice of Thy Pen, a voice Thou didst ordain as Thy trumpet-call amidst Thy people. And when the hour at which Thy resistless Faith was to be made manifest did strike, Thou didst breathe a breath of Thy spirit into Thy Pen, and lo, the entire creation shook to its very foundations, unveiling to mankind 4 such mysteries as lay hidden within the treasuries of Him Who is the Possessor of all created things.’
No sooner had her voice reached that most exalted Spot than We made reply: ‘Render thanks unto thy Lord, O Carmel. The fire of thy separation from Me was fast consuming thee, when the ocean of My presence surged before thy face, cheering thine eyes and those of all creation, and filling with delight all things visible and invisible. Rejoice, for God hath in this Day established upon thee His throne, hath made thee the dawning-place of His signs and the dayspring of the evidences of His Revelation. Well is it with him that circleth around thee, that proclaimeth the revelation of thy glory, and recounteth that which the bounty of the Lord thy God hath showered upon thee. Seize thou the Chalice of Immortality in the name of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, and give thanks unto Him, inasmuch as He, in token of His mercy unto thee, hath turned thy sorrow into gladness, and transmuted thy grief into blissful joy. He, verily, loveth the spot which hath been made the seat of His throne, which His footsteps have trodden, which hath been honoured by His presence, from which He raised His call, and upon which He shed His tears.
‘Call out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompassing splendour is revealed. Beware lest thou hesitate or halt. Hasten forth and circumambulate the City of God that hath descended from heaven, the celestial Kaaba round which have circled in adoration the favoured of God, the pure in heart, and the company of the most exalted angels. Oh, how I long to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth, and to carry to each one of its cities, the glad-tidings 5 of this Revelation—a Revelation to which the heart of Sinai hath been attracted, and in whose name the Burning Bush is calling: “Unto God, the Lord of Lords, belong the kingdoms of earth and heaven.” Verily this is the Day in which both land and sea rejoice at this announcement, the Day for which have been laid up those things which God, through a bounty beyond the ken of mortal mind or heart, hath destined for revelation. Ere long will God sail His Ark upon thee, and will manifest the people of Bahá who have been mentioned in the Book of Names.’....
Yuri SavranskyYuri Savransky
Peaceful atmosphere. There are terraces with gardens and fountains, Shrine of the Bab, Archive and Management building. The archive reminded me the library from the Myst game. There are three gates. Upper level, mid-level, lower-lever. They arranged guided tours in English and Russian. Visitor should be dressed properly prior to entering. It's possible to buy something to cover shoulders and legs nearby for 14$. Guided tours begin from upper lever (Sderot ha-Nasi) and end at Mid-level. Shrine of the Bab is accessible till noon. Pay attention there are to gates at the upper-level. One for entering observation point (right hand) and another one for tours (left hand). They are 100 m away from each others. You can get to mid (ha Tsiyonut) and upper (ha Nassi) levels by bus number136 from German colony. Bab was the first prophet of Bahai faith. Born and killed in Persia (Iran). He was a merchant and claimed a new direction of faith (unity and equality) and predicted a new more significant and influential prophet coming after him. Later this prophet ordered to bring Bab's remains and bury them in Shrine of the Bab so that he can see it from his residence in Acco. The building of the Shrine and gardens was crowdfunded by bahai followers.
Mustaque AhmedMustaque Ahmed
The Bahá'í Gardens, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, are a remarkable and iconic terraced garden complex located on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. These gardens are a significant pilgrimage site for followers of the Bahá'í Faith and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bahá'í Gardens consist of two sections: the upper section, which includes the Bahá'í World Centre buildings, and the lower section, which is open to the public and offers stunning views of the surrounding area and the Mediterranean Sea. The gardens are meticulously landscaped with intricate designs, vibrant flowers, and neatly trimmed hedges.
The focal point of the gardens is the Shrine of the Báb, a gold-domed structure that houses the remains of the Bahá'í Faith's founder, the Báb. The Shrine stands as a symbol of spiritual significance and beauty within the garden complex.
Visitors are welcome to explore the lower gardens and enjoy their serene atmosphere. Guided tours are often available, providing insights into the Bahá'í Faith, the garden's design, and its cultural and spiritual significance.
P. SalimP. Salim
BAHAI GARDENS (HANGING GARDENS OF HAIFA) – ISRAEL : -
Lies on the slope of Mount Carmel, in the backdrop of Mediterranean sea near Bay of Haifa - Extends one km from base to top - Main gate lies on top - Covers 200,000 square metres – Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba – Construction started in 1987 - Opened to public in June 2001 – A UNESCO World Heritage Site – Owned and run by the people of Bahai faith (promulgated by Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi (Prophet Bab), continued by Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri (Baha’u’llah) and furthered by his son Abdul-Baha) – Regarded as the world’s fourth and latest monotheistic religion - Comprises of 7 million people - Prophet Bab’s shrine lies in the centre of the garden under a gold- capped dome – The garden comprises of 19 terraces of flowers, waterworks and small sculptures, and nine concentric circles each filled with flowers, small trees, small sculptures, water fountains and pools – Most enchanting spot.
Jack BuzzMusicZoneJack BuzzMusicZone
Haifa is a very pretty city, having both mountains (or high hills) and the sea, kind of like Rio de Janeiro or Cape Town, but way smaller (and way safer).
Inside this beautiful environment there´s the Baha´i Centre with its nice gardens and original architecture. The gardens are very vertical, built on a very steep surface, so it's highly recommended being prepared to go up the 19 gardens that are connected through a lot of stairs. Keep in mind that the weather plays a big role, with very hot days basically from April till the end of October. Are you ready then for the adventure??!
Half way there´s the Shrine of the Báb, a beautiful dome where the believers go to pray. From here you can already admire a stunning view over the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
I assume by now you made it all the way to the very top from where you get an even more breathless view, over the city and the whole gardens.
Absolutely worth a visit!
Ready to plan your trip to Haifa?
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