Abdu'l-Baha Invested as an Honorary Knight of the British Empire

Abdu'l-Baha receiving recognition as an Honorary Knight of the British Empire. Photograph courtesy of the Baha'i National Archives, Wilmette, Illinois, used with permission, copyright © 2010 National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. 

On that same April 27th of 1920, in the garden of the Military Governor of Haifa, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was invested with the insignia of the Knighthood of the British Empire. That knighthood was conferred on Him in recognition of His humanitarian work during the war for the relief of distress and famine. He accepted the honour as the gift of a 'just king' but never used the title.(Hasan Balyuzi, "Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant," p. 443)

This was honorary knighthood, not official K.B.E., as only British citizens were eligible for true Knighthood. This is why Abdu'l-Baha's name does not appear in the Official Gazette, where Knighthoods are made official by publication.

In attempting photo identification: The distinguished-looking man second from the left with the white beard may be a member of the Druze community.  At the table, behind Abdu'l-Baha, the man looking directly into the camera and holding the official document is a Baha'i, Mr. Badi Bushrui; over his left shoulder in the background is a man wearing a light garment and a white cap; it has been suggested that he is the mufti of Haifa, Sheikh Muhammad Murad. The man standing between the British officer and Mr. Bushrui has been identified as Mr. Wadi Bustani, a Christian who spoke at the funeral of Abdu'l-Baha; his eulogy is found in this article from Star of the West where he is identified as "the seventh speaker." 

At the far right, the second man is Harlan Ober, and the woman next to him is his wife, Grace Ober, holding a white piece of paper in her hand.  Two men to the left of Mr. Ober, with his left hand in his pocket and a cane in his right hand, appears to be Dr. Lutfullah Hakim, who was, 43 years later, elected to the Universal House of Justice.

If anyone can provide information about the man standing next to Abdu'l-Baha, with the ornate garment and ornamental sword, I am interested; as well as any other photo identifications.

The official background documentation in the British archives shows to a fuller extent the people who were honored by the British for various services to the people of the Holy Land. These included a number of Palestinians, apparently both Christians and Muslims. 

Another recipient of equal rank with the title received by Abdu'l-Baha was the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Monsignor Fillipo Camasei, who not long thereafter was appointed a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic church. Fourteen individuals, who appear by their names to include Muslims and Christians, received Class V, M.B.E. and one received Class IV, O.B.E. According to the Official Gazette the honorary title K.B.E. stands for Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. refers to Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and M.B.E. stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.