Quddus, The Last and Greatest of the Letters of the Living with Karen Webb

“Quddus” will be presented by Karen Webb, who recently wrote her thesis on this “Last Letter of the Living”, thereby completing her Master’s degree at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, in Minnesota.

Mullá Muḥammad ʻAlí-i-Bárfurúshi was born sometime between 1815 and 1822 in Mazandaran, the same province in which Baha’u’llah was born, a few years earlier. He became a follower of the Bab in 1844, and accompanied Him on pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. He was designated the “Last Letter of the Living” by the Bab.

“The Primal Point” will be presented by Peter Terry, who has spent much of the past forty years translating Books revealed by the Bab and writing about His theological ideas and those of Baha’u’llah, denoted “Him Whom God shall make manifest” in Bayan-i-Farsi. Peter Terry is an author, teacher and scholar, with eight published books, four book chapters, and over fifty papers available online. His principal areas of expertise are theology, religious scripture, history, education, and philosophy. For a number of years he taught online courses for the Wilmette Institute, and presented papers for the Irfan Colloquium and the Association for Baha'i Studies. Recently he has led a systematic reading of the Bayan-i-Farsi (Persian Explanation) of the Bab, and the Kitab-i-Iqan (Book of Certitude) of Baha’u’llah, zoomed by the Clearwater Baha’i community.

- 5:30-6:00 PM - Prayers for the Fast

- 6:30-7:30 PM - Dinner, orientation

- 7:30-8:30 PM - First Session – Karen Webb (7:30-8:00) and Peter Terry (8:00-8:30)

- 5:00 - 5:45 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 5:45 - 6:45 AM - Breakfast

- 7:00 - 8:00 AM - Reading & Group Study

- 8:00 - 12:00 AM Second Session with 15 minute break @ 10:00 – Peter Terry (8:00-10:00), Karen Webb (10:15-12:15)

- 12:15 - 2:00 PM - Lunch for those who are not fasting/Reading & Group Study

- 2:00 - 6:00 PM - Third Session with 15 minute break @ 4:00 Peter Terry (2:00-4:00), Karen Webb (4:15-6:00)

- 6:30-7:30 PM - Dinner

- 7:30 - 8:30 PM - Fellowship

- 5:00 - 5:45 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 5:45 - 6:45 AM - Breakfast

- 7:00 - 8:00 AM - Reading & Group Study

- 8:00 - 12:00 AM Second Session with 15 minute break @ 10:00 – Peter Terry (8:00-10:00), Karen Webb (10:15-12:15)

- 12:15 - 2:00 PM - Lunch for those who are not fasting/Reading & Group Study

- 2:00 - 6:00 PM - Third Session with 15 minute break @ 4:00 Peter Terry (2:00-4:00), Karen Webb (4:15-6:00)

- 6:30-7:30 PM - Dinner

- 7:30 - 8:30 PM - Fellowship

* Early Departure can be arranged after lunch or after dinner

- 5:00 - 5:45 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 5:45 - 6:45 AM - Breakfast

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Departure

Our winter and spring retreats at Desert Rose focus on the in-depth study of core spiritual literature and historical texts. Set in the serene desert environment of Arizona, we enjoy a perfect winter retreat environment. These programs provide a perfect opportunity for reflection, learning, and community engagement.

Attendees are required to register in advance, with fees covering all sessions, meals, and materials. Specific prerequisites for participation and a list of materials to be studied will be provided upon registration.

Registration includes accommodations in our dormitory. If you would prefer an apartment, these can be booked separately using the link . Apartments fill up quickly and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so book quickly.

If apartments are full and you prefer not to stay in the dormitory, here is a list of nearby hotels.

Alternatively, we have boondocking-style RV parking for guests and volunteers at $12/day. These have no power or hookups, just a water and dump station.

Transportation:

DRBI does not yet own a shuttle van but numerous shuttle and Uber options exist from the Phoenix airport only 45 minutes away.

Donations:

Support for our programs is greatly appreciated, and additional donations can be made to help us continue offering these enriching experiences.

Host or Publisher Desert Rose Baha'i Institute & Firm-Foundation Academy