نشر فى موقع الرسمى للاخبار البهائية العالمية
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — As the open letter from the Baha’is of Egypt, calling for a national conversation about the future of their country, begins to generate widespread interest, similar discussions among Egyptians 100 years ago have been vividly brought to life in a new book.
In Abbas Effendi – recently released by Al-Kamel publishers in Beirut – University of Maryland Professor Suheil Bushrui explores in particular the contribution made by ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas Effendi, eldest son of Baha’u'llah. The book is available in a printed edition and also for download from the Baha’i Faith in Egypt blog.
It is the first time that ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s story has been told for a modern Arabic-speaking readership, largely unaware of His legacy to their society.
During His stay in Alexandria, between September 1910 and August 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Baha conversed with Egyptians from all walks of life about the fundamental principles required for the building of a peaceful and prosperous society.
A map of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s route taken 100 years ago, from the Holy Land to Egypt.
“I thought it was important to present ‘Abdu’l-Baha, not necessarily as a religious leader,” says Professor Bushrui, “but more as a great mind who was able to convey an understanding of the importance of religion at a time when materialistic civilization was prevailing in Europe and America, and the Muslim world was overcome with political and other ambitions.”

1Place Mohammed Ali, Alexandria, pictured in a postcard from the period that ‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed in the Egyptian city. Today the square is known as Midan Tahrir.
Professor Suheil Bushrui, author of “Abbas Effendi”, says that researching and writing the book was a profoundly moving and enlightening experience. “I have to… »
Enlarge (6 images)
“I have to say – even for me as a lifelong Baha’i – through the writing of this book I have come to be far more aware of the unique personality of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and His immense achievement in promoting cultural and religious dialogue between the worlds of the East and the West,” says Professor Bushrui.
The book has already garnered high praise from contemporary Arab thinkers, whose appreciation of ‘Abdu’l-Baha echoes that of their counterparts a century ago.
Internationally-recognized Middle East expert Edmund Ghareeb has described the book as “a pioneering and highly informative work.”
“Abbas Effendi is a superbly careful and informative piece of scholarship,” wrote Dr. Ghareeb, “which makes a major contribution to knowledge of the Middle East at a crucial period of its modern history, and adds considerably to our knowledge of this unique reformer…”

The admiration felt for ‘Abdu’l-Baha by Kahlil Gibran, the author of “The Prophet”, is also described in Professor Bushrui’s book. Gibran was deeply impressed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha and sketched his portrait, pictured, when they met in New York. Professor Bushrui – who is the founder and Director of the University of Maryland’s Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project – recounts how Gibran told friends that ‘Abdu’l-Baha provided the template for his portrayal of Christ in “Jesus, The Son of Man”.
تابع القراءة