“From ‘the Most Great Prison’ to the ‘Holy Land’: The Transformation of ‘Akká in Bahá’í Sacred Geography”

This study traces the profound transformation of the city of ‘Akká in Bahá’í perception, from its early depiction as “the Most Great Prison” and a place of desolation and exile to its reimagining as a holy city and spiritual center. Drawing on the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, the article examines how successive Bahá’í leaders reconceptualized ‘Akká through scriptural reinterpretation, theological discourse, and communal memory. Special attention is given to the appropriation of Islamic faḍáʾil traditions and the reapplication of biblical and Qur’ánic imagery to ‘Akká. By analyzing this symbolic and textual evolution, the article sheds light on the dynamic interplay between narrative, authority, and geography in the formation of Bahá’í sacred landscapes.