Embosomed in these lovely
and verdant surroundings stands in all its exquisite beauty the mausoleum of
the Báb, the shell designed to preserve and adorn the original structure raised
by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the tomb of the Martyr-Herald of our Faith. Within this
shell is enshrined that Pearl of Great Price, the holy of holies, those
chambers which constitute the tomb itself, and which were constructed by
‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Within the heart of this holy of holies is the tabernacle, the vault
wherein reposes the most holy casket. Within this vault rests the alabaster
sarcophagus in which is deposited that inestimable jewel, the Báb’s holy dust.
So precious is this dust that the very earth surrounding the edifice enshrining
this dust has been extolled by the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant, in one of
His Tablets in which He named the five doors belonging to the six chambers
which He originally erected after five of the believers associated with the
construction of the Shrine, as being endowed with such potency as to have
inspired Him in bestowing these names, whilst the tomb itself housing this dust
He acclaimed as the spot round which the Concourse on high circle in adoration.
(Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated March 29, 1951; ‘Citadel of Faith’)
