The Baha'i centre in 'Ishqabad was founded in the days of
Baha'u'llah. Already during His lifetime preliminary steps had been adopted by
the friends of that community to build, in accordance with the provisions of
the Most Holy Book, a Mashriqu'l- Adhkar.
However, the project had to be postponed until 1902, at the
end of the first decade of the Ministry of 'Abdu'l-Baha, when He initiated its
construction, called on the friends in the East to offer their contributions
towards the fulfilment of this goal, and personally encouraged and directed its
development at every stage. The Bab's cousin, the venerable Haji Mirza
Muhammad-Taqi, the Vakilu'd- Dawlih, offered his total wealth towards this
meritorious enterprise, established his residence in that city, and personally
supervised its construction.
The laying of the cornerstone of this edifice at a ceremony
attended by the delegate of the Czar -- the Governor-general of Turkistan --
and the initial steps taken to raise this first House of Worship of the Baha'i
World, inspired the friends in America, who, in 1903, eager to demonstrate the
quality of their faith, petitioned 'Abdu'l-Baha for permission to erect the
first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the West.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a
message dated 25 August 1963 to the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i
World; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)
