The eldest Son of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is a most unique figure in human history, and we can find no personage like Him in any previous religion. He recognized the divine station of His Father while still a child and shared in His exiles and sufferings. It was under ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s care and protection that  Bahá’u’lláh left the Bahá’́i community after His passing. We can never fully appreciate  what  an  immense bounty Bahá’u’lláh bestowed upon humanity by giving us not only His most sublime Revelation but also His Son, through Whose knowledge and wisdom, He said, the world would be guided and illumined. When we study the life and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we gain insight into the unique station  that  He  occupies in this Dispensation. Three aspects of this station are important for us to keep in mind: Abdu’l-Baha is the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant; the unerring Interpreter of Baha’u’llah’s words; and the perfect exemplar of His Father’s Teachings. Evenso, the mark of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s life was, of course, His servitude. The name Abdu’l-Baha means ‘the servant of Baha’, and this was the title He preferred over all others that were attributed to Him. The following words of Abdu’l-Baha are the expression of His ardent desire to serve:

“My  name  is  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.  My  qualification  is  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.  My  reality  is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion . . . No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.

November 2021 will mark the centenary of Abdu’l-Baha’s Ascension as well as the release of His Will and Testament – a document which continues to guide global efforts amongst individuals from every race, nation and creed to build capacity for service humanity within a common framework defined by such principles as the oneness of all peoples and inherent nobility of every individual. Also during this time efforts are being made to erect the shrine of Abdu’l-Baha in Haifa. As His final resting place, this site will be a place for people of all backgrounds to offer prayers and reflect on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the strength of the Covenant of which He was the Centre.

Baha’is around the globe have been encouraged to see this year as a period of special significance, which we should seek to observe and commemorate through meaningful acts of service to mankind. Baha’u’llah teaches that ‘the true worth of artists and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind.’ Through the Fakatamaio’eiki Project, IVI seeks to actively consider new ways that artists and crafts people can draw on the indigenous practices to contribute to human progress at this unique time in human history. The project maintains a focus on ngatu-making and  seeks to reinforce essential aspects of the process and aesthetic quality of this practice that align to and nurture capacities for meaningful service to others. The idea of being a servant In Tongan can be expressed as   “Ngaue Fakatamaio’eiki”  which literally translates to “In the way of the Lord, Heavenly Father”. As the title of the project, the term ‘Fakatamaio’eiki’ seeks to highlight a connection between the example of Abdul’-Baha’s life and the aims of the project through the central theme of sacrificial and selfless service.