Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

The Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá is the location in Israel wherein the remains of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, one of the central figures of the Baháʼí Faith, are interred. Since his death in 1921, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's remains have been located in one of the rooms of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Israel.[1]

On April 20, 2019, the Universal House of Justice announced that the time for the construction of a permanent Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had come, and provided initial details:

"That time has come. The Baháʼí world is being summoned to build the edifice which will forever embosom those sacred remains. It is to be constructed in the vicinity of the Riḍván Garden, on land consecrated by the footsteps of the Blessed Beauty [that is, Baháʼu'lláh]; the Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá will thus lie on the crescent traced between the Holy Shrines in ʻAkká and Haifa. Work on the architectural plans is advancing, and more information will be shared in the coming months."[2]

On May 7, 2019, the Universal House of Justice announced Hossein Amanat as the architect of the future Shrine.[3][1]

On September 19, 2019, the Universal House of Justice released the design concept for the Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Baha.[4] The Universal House of Justice stated that the structure envisaged in the design seeks “to honor ʻAbdu'l-Baha's unique position” and “to reflect at once His lofty station and His humility.”[4]

The house of May Maxwell, in Montreal, Canada, is the only place associated with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá to be officially designated a shrine. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá stayed there during his visits to the West. In a June 1953 letter, Shoghi Effendi wrote that the house “should be viewed in the nature of a national Shrine, because of its association with the beloved Master, during His visit to Montreal.”[5] The Maxwell residence is located at 1548 Pine Avenue West, Montreal.

The Schweizer House in Stuttgart (Friesenstr. 26) has a similar significance and purpose in Europe.