intellect. It was during this journey that ‘Abdul-Baha forged a deep and enduring friendship with Mohammad ‘Abduh, a renowned thinker in the Islamic world, further attesting to ‘Abdul-Baha’s scholarly eminence and intellectual gravitas. In 1892, ‘Abdul-Baha’s pivotal role commenced when he assumed leadership of the nascent Baha’i community, as stipulated in his father’s Will and Testament. This community was then grappling with severe persecution in its birthplace, Iran, akin to the contemporary challenges it faces. At that time, the Baha’i Faith appeared more akin to a small sect from the East rather than the global religion it has since evolved into, with its purpose and aims yet to be fully comprehended. Notably, Iran was undergoing a period of profound transIRUPDWLRQ ZLWK VLJQL¿FDQW LQWHUIHUHQFH IURP WKH %ULWLVK DQG Russian colonial powers, while the populace was growing disillusioned with widespread corruption and lawlessness under the Qajar dynasty. There was a palpable demand for the rule of law, civil rights, and political freedom, which ultimately culminated in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, spurred by widespread social protests and societal changes. Under ‘Abdul-Baha’s leadership, spanning three decades, the Baha’i community witnessed a remarkable expansion, with its membership multiplying several hundredfold. This growth was witnessed across diverse segments of Iranian soFLHW\ HQFRPSDVVLQJ JRYHUQPHQW DQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYH RI¿FLDOV clergy, businessmen, farmers, and villagers. Moreover, the appeal of the Baha’i Faith extended beyond traditional religious boundaries, attracting followers among the Zoroastrian and Jewish communities in Iran. Notably, the reach of the Baha’i Faith transcended its birthplace, as it gained followers in regions beyond Iran, spanning East and West, including the United States, Europe, India, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The encounter of the renowned Cambridge orientalist Edward G. Browne’s (1862-1926) with ‘Abdul-Baha in Akka left an indelible impression on him, as he documented in his writ-
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