A pilgrim reports in 1920 how busy ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was replying to numerous letters from around the world

No one can comprehend how deeply ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who was laying the foundation of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, was immersed in the ocean of responsibilities and difficulties. He was so busy with His work that many nights He had no rest at all. From time to time He would bring the tiniest sample from his innumerable adversities to our attention.

Once He made us aware of His travail through a lesson. He had an enormous mailbox into which the mailman deposited all the letters that were received from abroad. A porter would then carry the mail to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s room. Included in the mail were many registered letters for which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s signature was required.

One day Mírzá Badí Bushrú’í brought all the registered letters to His presence and asked Him to sign every receipt one by one. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had His head bent on His hand and was signing them; there were so many letters and it took a long time. Suddenly ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stopped, lifted up His head, and with a loving smile and in a joking manner addressed Mírzá Badí‘, “O man, what do you want from me?” He looked at the pilgrims and said, “This man is like a Qájár sword.” Then He explained, “I remember that when I was a child in Tihrán they referred to a Qájár soldier as a ‘sword of Qájár.’”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá next showed a sample letter to the pilgrims. This particular letter comprised twenty pages in very small handwriting. He said, “Just look and ponder that the writers of these letters are too many. Find a person to reply to all these letters! It is thirty years that I have borne all this correspondence.” He added meekly, “It is no longer possible for me to undergo such hardship day and night. I beseech God that the answers to these letters be transmitted directly from the Abhá Kingdom into the writers’ hearts.”

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s sense of humor

When the Master completed His historic journey throughout the United States of America He sailed for England to arrive at Liverpool on December 13th, 1912 and in London three days later. Staying with Lady Blomfield as before, 'Abdu'l-Baha again received a constant stream of visitors at her house. The Hand of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi has reported this delightful incident that took place there:

“When 'Abdu'l-Baha sat down to dinner on Christmas Eve, He said, playfully, that He was not hungry, but He had to come to the dinner table because Lady Blomfield was very insistent; two despotic monarchs of the East had not been able to command Him and bend His will, but the ladies of America and Europe, because they were free, gave Him orders."

(Adapted from 'Some Eraly Baha'is of the West', by O. Z. Whitehead, and ‘Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant’, by Balyuzi)

The amazing interaction between the Báb and the leader of the escort sent by the governor of Fars to arrest the Báb

The leader of that escort, a member of the Núsayrí community, better known as the sect of ‘Alíyu’lláhí, related the following:

Having completed the third stage of our journey to Búshihr, we encountered, in the midst of the wilderness a youth who wore a green sash and a small turban after the manner of the siyyids who are in the trading profession. He was on horseback, and was followed by an Ethiopian servant who was in charge of his belongings. As we approached him, he saluted us and enquired as to our destination. I thought it best to conceal from him the truth, and replied that in this vicinity we had been commanded by the governor of Fárs to conduct a certain enquiry. He smilingly observed:

"The governor has sent you to arrest Me. Here am I; do with Me as you please. By coming out to meet you, I have curtailed the length of your march, and have made it easier for you to find Me."

I was startled by his remarks and marvelled at his candour and straightforwardness. I could not explain, however, his readiness to subject himself, of his own accord, to the severe discipline of government officials, and to risk thereby his own life and safety. I tried to ignore him, and was preparing to leave, when he approached me and said:

"I swear by the righteousness of Him who created man, distinguished him from among the rest of His creatures, and caused his heart to be made the seat of His sovereignty and knowledge, that all My life I have uttered no word but the truth, and had no other desire except the welfare and advancement of My fellow-men. I have disdained My own ease and have avoided being the cause of pain or sorrow to anyone. I know that you are seeking Me. I prefer to deliver Myself into your hands, rather than subject you and your companions to unnecessary annoyance for My sake."

Divine intervention in the twinkling of an eye - a believer experienced

Mulla Sadiq

In 1845 Mulla Sadiq, whom posthumously was appointed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha as a Hand of the Cause, together with Quddus were arrested in Shiraz as a result of a commotion that was stirred up in the city. This was caused by the implementation a slight change to the Muslim call to prayer that the Báb had asked Mulla Sadiq to make. [1] [2] They were both brought to the governor’s residence and subjected to his angry inquiry. [3] Becoming sorely displeased with Mulla Sadiq’s answers he ordered his attendants to inflict upon them a hideous and exceptionally cruel punishment. [4] Below is an eye witness account reported to Nabil by an individual, who wasn’t a believer at the time, concerning the 1000 lashes that Mulla Sadiq received. Nabil later corroborated this account with Mulla Sadiq:

An eye-witness of this revolting episode, an unbeliever residing in Shíráz, related to me the following: “I was present when Mullá Sádiq was being scourged. I watched his persecutors each in turn apply the lash to his bleeding shoulders, and continue the strokes until he became exhausted. No one believed that Mullá Sádiq, so advanced in age and so frail in body, could possibly survive fifty such savage strokes. We marvelled at his fortitude when we found that, although the number of the strokes of the scourge he had received had already exceeded nine hundred, his face still retained its original serenity and calm. A smile was upon his face, as he held his hand before his mouth. He seemed utterly indifferent to the blows that were being showered upon him. When he was being expelled from the city, I succeeded in approaching him, and asked him why he held his hand before his mouth. I expressed surprise at the smile upon his countenance. He emphatically replied: ‘The first seven strokes were severely painful; to the rest I seemed to have grown indifferent. I was wondering whether the strokes that followed were being actually applied to my own body. A feeling of joyous exultation had invaded my soul. I was trying to repress my feelings and to restrain my laughter. I can now realise how the almighty Deliverer is able, in the twinkling of an eye, to turn pain into ease, and sorrow into gladness. Immensely exalted is His power above and beyond the idle fancy of His mortal creatures.’” Mullá Sádiq, whom I met years after, confirmed every detail of this moving episode. 

- Nabil  (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

[1] The second person that Quddús met in Shriaz and the Báb’s assignment for him - Mullá Sádiq-i-Khurásání (appointed a Hand of the Cause posthumously by ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

[2] 1845: The whole city of Shiraz was aroused as a result of Mulla Sádiq carrying out his assignment from the Báb

[3] August 1845: The governor ordered the arrest of Quddus and Mulla Sádiq

[4] The “hideousness and the barbaric cruelty which characterised the torture inflicted upon Quddús and Mullá Sádiq” – “the first to be persecuted on Persian soil for the sake of their Faith”