The Garden of Ridván (literally garden of paradise) or Najibiyyih Garden[1] was a wooded garden in what is now Baghdad's Rusafa District, on the banks of the Tigris river. It is notable as the location where Baháʼu'lláh, founder of the Baháʼí Faith, stayed for twelve days from April 21 to May 2, 1863, after the Ottoman Empire exiled him from Baghdad and before commencing his journey to Constantinople. During his stay in this garden, Baháʼu'lláh announced to his followers that he was the messianic figure of He whom God shall make manifest, whose coming had been foretold by the Báb. These events are celebrated annually during the Festival of Ridván.[1]
Baghdad in the 1850s. The garden is located at the left of this map, above the Tigris River.
The garden was located in a large agricultural area immediately north of the walls of the city of Baghdad, about 450 metres (1,480 ft) from the city's northern Mu'azzam gate. Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in what is now the Bab al-Mu'azzam neighbourhood of Baghdad's Rusafa District, it was directly opposite the district in which Baháʼu'lláh lived during his stay in the city, on the river's western bank.[1][2]
A ground plan drawn in the 1850s by officers of the Indian Navy(pictured) shows the garden immediately adjacent to the city's citadel, with four avenues meeting at a circular area in the centre. A structure, possibly the garden palace, is located at the edge of the garden near the riverbank.[3] The garden was described as a wooded garden[1] having four "flower-bordered avenues" lined with roses,[4] which were collected by gardeners during Baháʼu'lláh's stay and piled in the center of his tent to be offered to visitors. "So great would be the heap," the chronicler Nabíl-i-Aʻzam relates, "that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it."[4]Nightingales were said to sing loudly in the garden, which, together with the fragrance of the roses, "created an atmosphere of beauty and enchantment".[nb 1][2] By the side of the river, upstream from Najib Pasha's palace, was an open space in the garden where one of Baháʼu'lláh's companions raised a tent for him, around which a small village of tents was later raised for the rest of his family.[1]
In travelling to Constantinople, Baháʼu'lláh's caravan would take a road that would bring them by the garden, thus it was a logical choice for them stop there in order to assemble and to receive visitors. Access to the garden from the opposite riverbank was possible by way of a ferry across the Tigris, as in Baháʼu'lláh's case, or by "floating bridge",[1] as in the case of the governor and other friends who followed.[1][2]
HistoryEdit
Muhammad Najib Pasha.
The Najibiyyih Garden, as it was first known, was named for Muhammad Najib Pasha, the wāli (governor) of Baghdad from 1842 to 1847, who built the garden and an attached palace in what was originally an agricultural area outside the city.[5] Although Najib Pasha died in May 1851, the garden was presumably in the hands of his heirs when it was used by Baháʼu'lláh, during the period of April–May 1863.[1]
Despite its importance to the Baháʼí community, the garden was never owned by the Baháʼís. It was purchased by the government in 1870, and was used as a guest house for Nasruddin-Shah—who was responsible for Baháʼu'lláh's imprisonment and exile[4]—when he visited Iraq in 1870. The park was further developed during the governorship of Midhat Pasha (1869–1872), who leveled the road leading to the garden and built another road, approximately 400–500 meters in length.[5] The garden was cleared during the early twentieth century, to make way for the Royal Hospital.[nb 2]Baghdad Medical City, a large complex of teaching hospitals, now stands in its place.[1]
Baháʼu'lláh, after being imprisoned in Persia for his involvement with the Bábí community, was exiled to Baghdad by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, arriving in the spring of 1853. Over the next decade in Baghdad, his influence grew to the point where the Persian government feared he might use it to threaten their sovereignty from abroad. In response, the Persian ambassador in Constantinople demanded Baháʼu'lláh be banished from Baghdad, to which the Ottoman government eventually acceded.[1]
Baháʼu'lláh entered the Najibiyyih Garden on April 22, 1863, in order to receive visitors and allow his family to prepare for his upcoming trip to Constantinople. He crossed the Tigris in a small boat accompanied by his sons ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Mírzá Mihdí and Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí, his secretary Mirza Aqa Jan and some others.[2] After their arrival in the garden, Baháʼu'lláh announced his mission and station for the first time to a small group of family and friends. For the next eleven days Baháʼu'lláh received visitors including the governor of Baghdad. Baháʼu'lláh's family was not able to join him until April 30, the ninth day, since the river had risen and made travel to the garden difficult. On the twelfth day of their stay in the garden, Baháʼu'lláh and his family left the garden and started on their travel to Constantinople.[1][2]
It was Baháʼu'lláh who gave the garden the name of Ridván ("paradise") during his stay, and the name was thereafter applied to the twelve-day Festival of Ridván—known as the "King of Festivals"[6]—celebrated annually by Baháʼís between 21 April and 2 May.[1] Certain days of this festival are tied to major events that took place during the period of Baháʼu'lláh's stay in the garden: the first day celebrates his arrival in the garden; the ninth day, the arrival of his family; and the twelfth day, his caravan's departure towards Constantinople. These three days are major Baháʼí holy days, on which work must be suspended.[2][6]
^The love of the nightingale for the rose is a common theme in Persian literature, particularly in mystic poetry, where the nightingale's yearning is used as a metaphor for the soul's yearning for God. (. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22.) One night during his stay in the Garden of Ridván, Baháʼu'lláh is recorded as having spoken the following words: "Consider these nightingales. So great is their love for these roses, that sleepless from dusk till dawn, they warble their melodies and commune with burning passion with the object of their adoration. How then can those who claim to be afire with the rose-like beauty of the Beloved choose to sleep?" (Taherzadeh, Adib (1976). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 1. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 259. ISBN0-85398-270-8.)
^A produced by the Public Works Department of the City of Baghdad shows the Royal Hospital on the site where the garden was once located. (National Archives of the United Kingdom)
References
^ abcdefghijklWalbridge, John (2005). "Ridvan". Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN0-85398-406-9.
^ abcdefTaherzadeh, Adib (1976). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 1. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 259. ISBN0-85398-270-8.
garden, ridván, baghdad, other, uses, garden, ridván, disambiguation, garden, ridván, literally, garden, paradise, najibiyyih, garden, wooded, garden, what, baghdad, rusafa, district, banks, tigris, river, notable, location, where, baháʼu, lláh, founder, baháʼ. For other uses see Garden of Ridvan disambiguation The Garden of Ridvan literally garden of paradise or Najibiyyih Garden 1 was a wooded garden in what is now Baghdad s Rusafa District on the banks of the Tigris river It is notable as the location where Bahaʼu llah founder of the Bahaʼi Faith stayed for twelve days from April 21 to May 2 1863 after the Ottoman Empire exiled him from Baghdad and before commencing his journey to Constantinople During his stay in this garden Bahaʼu llah announced to his followers that he was the messianic figure of He whom God shall make manifest whose coming had been foretold by the Bab These events are celebrated annually during the Festival of Ridvan 1 Garden of Ridvan Baghdad Contents 1 Location and appearance 2 History 2 1 Ridvan 3 See also 4 Notes and references 5 Further readingLocation and appearance Edit nbsp Baghdad in the 1850s The garden is located at the left of this map above the Tigris River The garden was located in a large agricultural area immediately north of the walls of the city of Baghdad about 450 metres 1 480 ft from the city s northern Mu azzam gate Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in what is now the Bab al Mu azzam neighbourhood of Baghdad s Rusafa District it was directly opposite the district in which Bahaʼu llah lived during his stay in the city on the river s western bank 1 2 A ground plan drawn in the 1850s by officers of the Indian Navy pictured shows the garden immediately adjacent to the city s citadel with four avenues meeting at a circular area in the centre A structure possibly the garden palace is located at the edge of the garden near the riverbank 3 The garden was described as a wooded garden 1 having four flower bordered avenues lined with roses 4 which were collected by gardeners during Bahaʼu llah s stay and piled in the center of his tent to be offered to visitors So great would be the heap the chronicler Nabil i Aʻzam relates that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence they would be unable to see each other across it 4 Nightingales were said to sing loudly in the garden which together with the fragrance of the roses created an atmosphere of beauty and enchantment nb 1 2 By the side of the river upstream from Najib Pasha s palace was an open space in the garden where one of Bahaʼu llah s companions raised a tent for him around which a small village of tents was later raised for the rest of his family 1 In travelling to Constantinople Bahaʼu llah s caravan would take a road that would bring them by the garden thus it was a logical choice for them stop there in order to assemble and to receive visitors Access to the garden from the opposite riverbank was possible by way of a ferry across the Tigris as in Bahaʼu llah s case or by floating bridge 1 as in the case of the governor and other friends who followed 1 2 History Edit nbsp Muhammad Najib Pasha The Najibiyyih Garden as it was first known was named for Muhammad Najib Pasha the wali governor of Baghdad from 1842 to 1847 who built the garden and an attached palace in what was originally an agricultural area outside the city 5 Although Najib Pasha died in May 1851 the garden was presumably in the hands of his heirs when it was used by Bahaʼu llah during the period of April May 1863 1 Despite its importance to the Bahaʼi community the garden was never owned by the Bahaʼis It was purchased by the government in 1870 and was used as a guest house for Nasruddin Shah who was responsible for Bahaʼu llah s imprisonment and exile 4 when he visited Iraq in 1870 The park was further developed during the governorship of Midhat Pasha 1869 1872 who leveled the road leading to the garden and built another road approximately 400 500 meters in length 5 The garden was cleared during the early twentieth century to make way for the Royal Hospital nb 2 Baghdad Medical City a large complex of teaching hospitals now stands in its place 1 Ridvan Edit Main article Ridvan Bahaʼu llah after being imprisoned in Persia for his involvement with the Babi community was exiled to Baghdad by Naser al Din Shah Qajar arriving in the spring of 1853 Over the next decade in Baghdad his influence grew to the point where the Persian government feared he might use it to threaten their sovereignty from abroad In response the Persian ambassador in Constantinople demanded Bahaʼu llah be banished from Baghdad to which the Ottoman government eventually acceded 1 Bahaʼu llah entered the Najibiyyih Garden on April 22 1863 in order to receive visitors and allow his family to prepare for his upcoming trip to Constantinople He crossed the Tigris in a small boat accompanied by his sons ʻAbdu l Baha Mirza Mihdi and Mirza Muhammad ʻAli his secretary Mirza Aqa Jan and some others 2 After their arrival in the garden Bahaʼu llah announced his mission and station for the first time to a small group of family and friends For the next eleven days Bahaʼu llah received visitors including the governor of Baghdad Bahaʼu llah s family was not able to join him until April 30 the ninth day since the river had risen and made travel to the garden difficult On the twelfth day of their stay in the garden Bahaʼu llah and his family left the garden and started on their travel to Constantinople 1 2 It was Bahaʼu llah who gave the garden the name of Ridvan paradise during his stay and the name was thereafter applied to the twelve day Festival of Ridvan known as the King of Festivals 6 celebrated annually by Bahaʼis between 21 April and 2 May 1 Certain days of this festival are tied to major events that took place during the period of Bahaʼu llah s stay in the garden the first day celebrates his arrival in the garden the ninth day the arrival of his family and the twelfth day his caravan s departure towards Constantinople These three days are major Bahaʼi holy days on which work must be suspended 2 6 See also EditGarden of Ridvan Akka Bahaʼi gardensNotes and references EditNotes The love of the nightingale for the rose is a common theme in Persian literature particularly in mystic poetry where the nightingale s yearning is used as a metaphor for the soul s yearning for God The Rose and nightingale in Persian literature Archived from the original on 2008 01 22 One night during his stay in the Garden of Ridvan Bahaʼu llah is recorded as having spoken the following words Consider these nightingales So great is their love for these roses that sleepless from dusk till dawn they warble their melodies and commune with burning passion with the object of their adoration How then can those who claim to be afire with the rose like beauty of the Beloved choose to sleep Taherzadeh Adib 1976 The Revelation of Bahaʼu llah Volume 1 Oxford UK George Ronald p 259 ISBN 0 85398 270 8 A 1928 map produced by the Public Works Department of the City of Baghdad shows the Royal Hospital on the site where the garden was once located National Archives of the United Kingdom References a b c d e f g h i j k l Walbridge John 2005 Ridvan Sacred Acts Sacred Space Sacred Time Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 406 9 a b c d e f Taherzadeh Adib 1976 The Revelation of Bahaʼu llah Volume 1 Oxford UK George Ronald p 259 ISBN 0 85398 270 8 Henry Creswicke Rawlinson Baghdad Encyclopaedia Britannica 10th ed 1902 a b c Effendi Shoghi 1944 God Passes By Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 87743 020 9 a b Ottoman centralization and modernization in the province of Baghdad 1831 1872 Archived 2011 05 14 at the Wayback Machine Ebubekir Ceylan 2006 a b Universal House of Justice 1992 Notes The Kitab i Aqdas Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust pp 213 225 ISBN 0 85398 999 0 Smith P 1999 A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahaʼi Faith Oxford UK Oneworld Publications ISBN 1 85168 184 1 Further reading EditMerrick David 2009 04 20 The Story of Ridvan PDF Holy Day Stories Retrieved 2011 04 23 33 20 42 N 44 22 43 E 33 34500 N 44 37861 E 33 34500 44 37861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Garden of Ridvan Baghdad amp oldid 1019027481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
