Center of the Covenant
Baha'u'llah indicated in many ways the 'Abdu'l-Baha was to direct the Cause after His own ascension. Many years before His death He declared this in a veiled manner in His Kitab-i-Aqdas. He referred to 'Abdu'l-Baha on many occasions as "The Center of My Covenant," "The Most Great Branch," "The Branch from the Ancient Root." He habitually spoke of Him as "The Master" and required all His family to treat Him with marked deference; and in His Will and Testament He left explicit instructions that all should turn to Him and obey Him (40:2)

After the death of the "Blessed Beauty" (as Baha'u'llah was generally called by His family and believers) 'Abdu'l-Baha assumed the position which His father had clearly indicated for Him as head of the Cause and authoritative Interpreter of the teachings, but this was resented by certain of His relatives and others, who became as bitterly opposed to 'Abdu'l-Baha as Subh-i-Azal had been to Baha'u'llah. They tried to stir up dissensions among the believers, and, failing in that, proceeded to make various false charges against 'Abdu'l-Baha to the Turkish Government (40:3)

In accordance with instructions received from His father, 'Abdu'l-Baha was erecting a building on the side of Mount Carmel, above Haifa, which was intended to be the permanent resting- place of the remains of the Bab, and also to contain a number of rooms for meetings and services. They represented to the authorities that this building was intended as a fort, and that 'Abdu'l-Baha and His followers meant to entrench themselves there, defy the Government, and endeavor to gain possession of the neighboring region of Syria (40:4)

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