You are invited to join with us on Sunday, April 28, at 3:30 at the Friends (Quaker) Meeting House in Dayton (345 Wyoming St.) for a Festival of Ridván celebration.
Note: This page is in both English & Swahili. We will be singing Blessed is the Spot/ Heri Pahali (see below) in both Swahili and English. You may want to practice ahead. Unaweza kutaka kufanya mazoezi mbele. (tazama hapa chini)
For 12 days at the end of April and beginning of May, Baha’i communities around the world celebrate the most holy festival, Ridvan. In was during theses days in 1863, Baha’u’llah proclaimed that He was God’s Messenger for a new age, foretold in the world’s scriptures. He called the garden they were gathered in “Ridvan,” meaning “paradise. “Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness.” ~ Baha’u’llah
Kwa siku 12 mwishoni mwa Aprili na mwanzoni mwa Mei, jumuiya za Wabaha’i kote ulimwenguni husherehekea tamasha takatifu zaidi, Ridvan. Katika ilikuwa katika siku hizi mwaka 1863, Baha’u’llah alitangaza kwamba Yeye alikuwa Mjumbe wa Mungu kwa enzi mpya, iliyotabiriwa katika maandiko ya ulimwengu. Aliita bustani waliyokusanyika katika “Ridvan,” maana yake “paradiso. “Siku hii ni kubwa kweli! Madokezo yanayotolewa kwayo katika Maandiko Matakatifu yote kama Siku ya Mungu yanathibitisha ukuu wake.” ~ Baha’u’llah
When news of Baha’u’llah’s second exile reached the community, it caused immense sadness and chaos. The numerous visitors made it impossible to prepare for the journey, so Baha’u’llah moved into a tent set up in a garden across the Tigris river to allow His family to pack. On the ninth day, the flooding Tigris receded enough for Baha’u’llah’s family to cross the river and join him in the garden. This 9th day of the Festival of Ridvan, one of three Baha’i Holy Days during this period, is what we will celebrate on Sunday.
Wakati habari za uhamisho wa pili wa Baha’u’llah zilipoifikia jamii, zilisababisha huzuni na machafuko makubwa. Wageni wengi walifanya isiwezekane kujiandaa kwa ajili ya safari, kwa hiyo Baha’u’llah akahamia kwenye hema lililokuwa limejengwa kwenye bustani ng’ambo ya mto Tigri ili kuruhusu familia Yake kubeba mizigo. Katika siku ya tisa, mafuriko ya Tigris yalipungua vya kutosha kwa familia ya Baha’u’llah kuvuka mto na kuungana naye bustanini. Siku hii ya 9 ya Tamasha la Ridvan, mojawapo ya Siku Takatifu za Baha’i katika kipindi hiki, ndiyo tutakayoadhimisha Jumapili.
In the Garden of Ridvan in Baghdad on April 20/21, 1863 Baha’u’llah announced His Prophetic Message to His followers. He claimed to be the Messenger of God for this age of human maturity, the Bearer of a Divine Revelation that fulfills the promises made in earlier religions, and that will generate the spiritual nerves and sinews for the unification of the peoples of the world.
Rejoice with exceeding gladness, O people of Bahá, as ye call to remembrance the Day of supreme felicity... – Bahá’u’lláh. Allah’u’Abha! (God is Glorious!)
Katika bustani ya Ridvan huko Baghdad mnamo Aprili 20/21, 1863 Baha’u’llah alitangaza Ujumbe Wake wa Kinabii kwa wafuasi Wake. Alidai kuwa ni Mtume wa Mwenyezi Mungu kwa zama hizi za ukomavu wa mwanadamu, Mbeba Wahyi wa Mwenyezi Mungu unaotimiza ahadi zilizotolewa katika dini zilizotangulia, na ambao utazalisha mishipa ya kiroho na mishipa ya kuunganisha watu wa dunia.
Furahini kwa furaha kubwa, enyi watu wa Baha, mnapokumbuka Siku Kuu ya Furaha… – Bahá’u’lláh. Allah’u’Abha! (Mungu ni Mtukufu!)
Baha’u’llah called the Garden of Ridvan
“the Spot from which He shed upon the whole of creation the splendours of His Name, the All-Merciful”
Baha’u’llah aliita Bustani ya Ridvan
“Doa ambalo alimwaga juu ya viumbe vyote uzuri wa Jina Lake, Mwingi wa Rehema.”
Note: On Sunday we will be singing these Writings and prayers (see below) in both English & Swahili. We have provided links to the songs if you want to practice.
Song: Blessed is the Spot…where mention of God hath been made / Heri pahali…ambapo Jina la Mungu limetajwa
Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified. ~ Baha’u’llah
Heri pahali, na nyumba, na mahali, na mji, na moyo, na mlima, na kimbilio, na pango, na bonde, na chi, na bahari, na kisiwa, na shamba ambapo Jina la Mungu limetajwa, na Sifa Yake kutukuzwa. ~ Baha’u’llah
Baha’i Prayer for Unity: O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord. [song: bottom right]
Maombi ya Umoja wa Baha’i: Ee Mungu wangu! Ee Mungu wangu! Unganisha mioyo ya watumishi Wako, na uwafunulie kusudi Lako kuu. Waweze kufuata amri Zako na kudumu katika sheria Yako. Uwasaidie, Ee Mungu, katika jitihada yao, na uwajalie nguvu kukutumikia Wewe. Ee Mungu! Usiwaache peke yao, bali uongoze hatua zao kwa nuru ya maarifa Yako, na ufurahishe mioyo yao kwa upendo Wako. Hakika, Wewe ndiye Msaidizi na Bwana wao.
Prayer: Remover of Difficulties / Mtoaji wa Matatizo / Dissolvant de difficultés
Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding! ~ The Báb [English & Arabic version below]
French: Qui, hormis Dieu, dissipe les difficultés ? Dis : Loué soit Dieu ! Lui seul est Dieu ! Tous sont ses serviteurs et tous se soumettent à son commandement. ~ Báb