WTTL

I have been recently wondering where they might be. Considering that both Prophets were here on Earth not too long ago, I found it unusual that their contemporary family is not really discussed or acknowledged.

Are much of them still in Iran? Are most of them Bahai's? I say this because Muslims still keep track of Muhammad's descendants, and it's only been about a century since Baha'u'llah's passing and I have never heard anyone say anything about his living bloodline. I'd imagine most Bahai's would like to meet someone so closely related to either Baha'u'llah or The Bab.

lukasali

I don't believe the Bab had any children who survived (he had one son who died at 2, I believe). Baha'u'llah's descendants, outside of a select (and very important) few, were estranged from the Faith, to put it simply. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Faith, was the last living, faithful member of His family. It's a pretty sad story, actually.

arthra

There are quite a few descendents..of Baha'u'llagh.

See:

Bahá'u'lláh's family - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and

List of Descendants of Mirza Buzurg of Nur, the Father of Baha'u'llah

The descendants from the family of the Bab are called Afnan.. They re also numerous..

WTTL

Awesome, Arthra.

Thanks guys

Ameroux9

Arthra, there is more to it than what is stated above. With very few exceptions -- Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, a very few others -- all of Baha'u'llah's family were not just estranged from the Faith: they were Covenant-Breakers. This means that they did not accept the authority of Abdu'l-Baha and/or Shoghi Effendi. This means that they were, in fact, actively hostile to the Faith, and in some cases, started up false "sects" of their own.

Lukasali is correct: there are no direct descendants of the Bab. His only child died at the age of 2; his name was Ahmad. There are descendants of other members of the Bab's family, but few, if any of them, are Baha'is.

I hope this helps.

BruceDLimber

As I trust is evident from the earlier posts, the reason you don't hear about of Baha'u'llah's family members and descendants is because most of them became covenant-breakers.

The Bab's family, as mentioned, has had many descendants, known by the name Afnan ("branch").

Indeed, our delegate to the US national Baha'i convention this year was 'Ali Afnan! :-)

Bruce

aidan

What happend.what went on that had them declared as Covenant breakers?I have often wondered who and where Baha'u'llahs descendants are

aidan

I cant get my head around it,a large family all being guilty of covenant breaking

LordOfGoblins

Everyone has free-will even Baha'u'llahs family. Often they were not declared as such until the person came into authority who was of a later generation or of the same generation. In other words they felt they had authority over Shoghi Effendi etc or in the case of Abdul'Baha, that his brothers deserved authority as well.
But Mirza Mehdi and the greatest holy leaf were good. Basically the children from Baha'u'llahs first wife.
I recommend reading the priceless pearl.

cire perdue

There is discussion in the sources about how living with Baha'u'llah and seeing Him have a human presence and body 'caused people to lose the meaning of what He was/is. You have to remember that men have always obtained the presence of the Manifestations and still not seen Them. I am sure the rebellious saw what they wanted to see, just as any of us can do that.

On Pilgrimage you will see the better and younger photo of Baha'u'llah. You will see the archive of His physical existence on earth of things that "prove" he was here which is the purpose of an archive. Dichotomy is not the word I want to use, but there is the mystery of the Man Who Manifests God in His human body. Muhammad stressed more than any previous Manifestation that He was just a man.

However those Men have always been Manifestations though it was not known to Them until they were informed. Jesus by the dove, Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, and The Bab by dreaming of quaffing the blood of the Imam Husayn. This is a duel station that has haunted mankind. It is always said that family is the worst. This is a reality that we know of now very clearly. I know that there is a warm feeling after seeing the archives, a kind of special reassurance that means "He WAS here on earth." Go on Pilgrimage!

aidan

Unfortunately it requires money to go on pilgrimage and i have none,but i live in hope