World War I

On Ordibehesht, 1295 S.H. and exactly one year after Ottoman Emperor’s entrance into the war against Mottafeqin forces and in the midst of the war, Sykes-picot Agreement which was a secret treaty was signed between the Great Britain and France with assent from the Russia Empire in order for some parts of the Ottoman Empire lands to be divided.

Several months after the secret agreement, the people of Russian revolted on Bahman, 1295 S.H. and turned the 304-year-old czar government upside down. So, the Bulshevic party gained power headed by Vladimir Lenin and formed the Soviet Union. After the revolution, Russia exited the war based on Lenin’s policy.

On Aban, 1297 S.H., two weeks before ending the war, the Ottoman forces sent a plea concerning ceasefire to the British Fleet Commander in Aegean Sea acknowledging failure. Following that event, the Great Britain and the Ottoman signed a treaty without announcing France, in Mudros city, Greece, A day after the treaty, the war between Mottafeqin and the Ottoman government ended.

According to Sykes-Picot treaty the control of some regions such as the southern lands of Occupied Palestine, Jordan, the central and southern regions of Mesopotamia including Baqdad, Basreh, to the Persian Gulf in addition to Heyfa port and Acca was assigned to the Great Britain and France also controlled the southeastern part of Turkey and the Northern parts of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

At the same time with the presence of the British forces in Palestine, this land encountered with famine. Because the Baha’is had lost their mere credit (Czar government) due to Bulshevic Revolution in Russia, the followers of the Baha’ism cult donated all their wheat and provision to the British soldiers. This measure caused the British forces to win in the war.

At this time, Jamal Pasha, the General commander of the Ottoman forces decided to kill Abdul Baha and his companions due to his assistants to the British army and planned to destroy the Baha’i centers in Acca and Heyfa because he discovered the role of the followers of the cult and its leader in the fulfillment of the plans.

Shoqi Rabbani, the Baha’i leader writes in the book Qarne-Badi’a, page 620:

“The bloodthirsty Jamal Pasha and the enemy of God’s faith suspected the divine faith extremely due to the superstitions of the spiteful opposed him seriously and was firm to destroy and vanish God’s word. Even, he expressed: When I get through removing the external enemies, I will crucify Abdul Baha in public and will vanish the Blessed Garden away.”

Ahmad Jamal Pasha, the Commander of the Ottoman Forces

Pages 620 & 621 of the book Qarn-e-Badi’a by Shoqi Effendi

The third leader of the Baha’is writes on page 623:

“When the British disciples became aware of the extreme dangers against the Blessed existence, they immediately decided to meet his security. Lord Curzon and other members of the British Cabinet became aware of the dangerous situation.”

Arthur James Balfour, the British prime minister

Page 623 of the book Qarne Badi’a by Shoqi Effendi

So, the British government supported the Baha’is leader seriously to revenge his helps with the British troops. In a telegraph, Lord Balfour, the then British minister of foreign affairs ordered General Alenbi, the commander of British army to save Abdul Baha and his family and friends.

General Alenbi, the commander of the British army

Pages 623 & 624 of the book Qarn-e-Badi’a by Shoqi Effendi

The second leader of Baha’ism cult, the Excellency Abdul Baha wrote a letter to George V, the British king on Azar, 25, 1297 S.H. to thank him and pray in a tablet.

Makatib by Abdul Baha, Vol. 3, p. 347

6 months after the sincere prayer of Abdul Baha for the British king, the British governmental officials in Palestine asked the British government on Tir 1298 S.H. to bestow Abdul Baha the knighthood medal and the sir one to thank his honest services

Qarn-e-Badi’a by Shoqi Effendi, p. 624

Qarn-e-Badi’a by Shoqi Effendi, p. 625