tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66036413945151813752024-03-18T12:11:36.605-07:00Baha'i StoriesStories gleaned from Baha’i literature ...To use the Search Feature on mobile devices: scroll down to the very bottom of the page, click on View Web Version. The search box will appear on the top right corner of the screen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-14448612061699071462023-01-18T04:22:00.000-08:002024-03-04T04:26:29.344-08:00Trying to get ‘Abdu’l-Baha a new coat<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">During His prison life in ‘Akka, ‘Abdu’l-Baha often gave His
bed to those who had none, and He always refused to own more than one coat.
“Why should I have two,” He said, “when there are so many who have none?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One day ‘Abdu’l-Baha was to entertain the Governor of ‘Akka.
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s wife felt that His old coat was hardly good enough for this
important visit. She wished very much that ‘Abdu’l-Baha might have a better
coat, but He never noticed what He wore, so long as it was clean. She wondered
what she should do.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally, she decided that she would have a new coat made for
Him, and on the morning of the visit she would put out the new one instead of
the old. She felt He would surely never notice the difference. So she ordered a
fine and rather expensive coat to be made by a tailor. And on the important day
she laid it where ‘Abdu’l-Baha would be sure to find it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But when ‘Abdu’l-Baha got ready to dress, He noticed right
away that something was wrong. So He went searching through the house. He
called, “Where is my coat? Where is my coat? Someone has left me a coat which
is not mine!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His wife then tried to explain what had happened, but
‘Abdu’l-Baha, Who always thought of others before He thought of Himself, said,
“But think of this! For the price of this coat you can buy five such as I
ordinarily use, and do you think I would spend so much money upon a coat which
only I shall wear? If you think I need a new one, very well, but send this one
back and for the same price have the tailor make me five such as I usually
wear. Then, you see, I shall not only have a new one for myself, but I </span>shall
also have four more to give away.” </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Adapted from ‘The Oriental Rose’, by Mary
Handford Ford; included in 'Stories about 'Abdu'l-Baha', by Gloria Faizi)</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-6701742484677681752022-11-17T11:52:00.000-08:002024-01-08T12:15:05.489-08:00“For three days and three nights no manner of food or drink was given to Bahá’u’lláh”<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“For three days and three nights,” Nabíl has recorded in his
chronicle, “no manner of food or drink was given to Bahá’u’lláh. Rest and sleep
were both impossible to Him. The place was infested with vermin, and the stench
of that gloomy abode was enough to crush the very spirits of those who were
condemned to suffer its horrors.” “Such was the intensity of His suffering that
the marks of that cruelty remained imprinted upon His body all the days of His
life.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Shoghi Effendi <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘The Promised Day Is Come’)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-43612306246793322972022-09-08T11:39:00.000-07:002024-01-08T12:15:19.201-08:00Eight-year-old ‘Abdu’l-Bha was allowed to see Baha’u’llah while in Siyah-Chal<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” writes Dr. J.E. Esslemont, “tells how one
day He was allowed to enter the prison-yard to see His beloved Father when He
came out for His daily exercise. Bahá’u’lláh was terribly altered, so ill He
could hardly walk. His hair and beard unkempt, His neck galled and swollen from
the pressure of a heavy steel collar, His body bent by the weight of His
chains.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Shoghi Effendi <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘The Promised Day Is Come’)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-53564506587031840012022-07-13T19:31:00.002-07:002022-12-24T19:37:58.756-08:00Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Karím’s marvellous spiritual experience<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTfgOWcr5E6xOr4qYxuxlO9l8eaXg1RZ9pMowWIWFP1FmtYW9yxZaVfl71dKg7wwKvR_wReje4UtVDjrz6YtQ1VzPx7797AdwE3YgAmrpevM9gwomMg37Z5nkXMrnR7zQdStgcXiSECpWNWBBY7wZHjCvmhcncrwMXmbYUkBHY7-835MseAfWy5hG/s100/ME-art-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="84" data-original-width="100" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTfgOWcr5E6xOr4qYxuxlO9l8eaXg1RZ9pMowWIWFP1FmtYW9yxZaVfl71dKg7wwKvR_wReje4UtVDjrz6YtQ1VzPx7797AdwE3YgAmrpevM9gwomMg37Z5nkXMrnR7zQdStgcXiSECpWNWBBY7wZHjCvmhcncrwMXmbYUkBHY7-835MseAfWy5hG/s1600/ME-art-01.jpg" width="100" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>During the time when the Báb was in Shiraz, one night in a
gathering with three of the believers, He turned suddenly to Mullá
‘Abdu’l-Karím and said:</i> “‘Abdu’l-Karím, are you seeking the Manifestation?”
“These words, uttered with calm and extreme gentleness, had a startling effect
upon him. He paled at this sudden interrogation and burst into tears. He threw
himself at the feet of the Báb in a state of profound agitation. The Báb took
him lovingly in His arms, kissed his forehead, and invited him to be seated by
His side. In a tone of tender affection, He succeeded in appeasing the tumult
of his heart.”</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As soon as they had returned home the two other believers
enquired of Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Karím the reason for the extreme agitation which had
suddenly seized him in their meeting with the Báb.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“’Hear me,’ he answered; ‘I will relate to you the tale of a
strange experience, a tale which I have shared with no one until now.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“When I attained the age of maturity, I felt, while I lived
in Qazvín, a profound yearning to unravel the mystery of God and to apprehend
the nature of His saints and prophets. Nothing short of the acquisition of
learning, I realized, could enable me to achieve my goal. I succeeded in
obtaining the consent of my father and uncles to the abandonment of my
business, and plunged immediately into study and research. I occupied a room in
one of the madrisihs [religious schools] of Qazvín, and concentrated my efforts
on the acquisition of every available branch of human learning. I often
discussed the knowledge which I acquired with my fellow-disciples, and sought
by this means to enrich my experience. At night, I would retire to my home,
and, in the seclusion of my library, would devote many an hour to undisturbed
study. I was so immersed in my labours that I grew indifferent to both sleep
and hunger. Within two years I had resolved to master the intricacies of Muslim
jurisprudence and theology. I was a faithful attendant at the lectures given by
Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Karím-i-Iravání, who, in those days, ranked as the most
outstanding divine of Qazvín. I greatly admired his vast erudition, his piety
and virtue. Every night during the period that I was his disciple, I devoted my
time to the writing of a treatise which I submitted to him and which he revised
with care and interest. He seemed to be greatly pleased with my progress, and
often extolled my high attainments. One day, in the presence of his assembled
disciples, he declared: ‘The learned and sagacious Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Karím has
qualified himself to expound authoritatively the sacred Scriptures of Islám. He
no longer needs to attend either my classes or those of my equals. I shall,
please God, celebrate his elevation to the rank of a mujtahid [an authoritative
interpreter of the religious law of Islam] on the morning of the coming Friday,
and will deliver his certificate to him after the congregational prayer.’<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No sooner had Mulla ‘Abdu’l-Karím-i-Iravání spoken these
words and departed than his disciples came forward and heartily congratulated
me on my accomplishments. I returned, greatly elated, to my home. Upon my
arrival I discovered that both my father and my elder uncle, Hájí Husayn-‘Alí,
both of whom were greatly esteemed throughout Qazvín, were preparing a feast in
my honour, with which they intended to celebrate the completion of my studies.
I requested them to postpone the invitation they had extended to the notables
of Qazvín until further notice from me. They gladly consented, believing that
in my eagerness for such a festival I would not unduly postpone it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That night I repaired to my library and, in the privacy of
my cell, pondered the following thoughts in my heart: Had you not fondly
imagined, I said to myself, that only the sanctified in spirit could ever hope
to attain the station of an authoritative expounder of the sacred Scriptures of
Islám? Was it not your belief that whoso attained this station would be immune
from error? Are you not already accounted among those who enjoy that rank? Has
not Qazvín’s most distinguished divine recognized and declared you to be such?
Be fair. Do you in your own heart regard yourself as having attained that state
of purity and sublime detachment which you, in days past, considered the requisites
for one who aspires to reach that exalted position? Think you yourself to be
free from every taint of selfish desire?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“As I sat musing, a feeling of my own unworthiness gradually
overpowered me. I recognized myself as still a victim of cares and perplexities,
of temptations and doubts. I was oppressed by such thoughts as to how I should
conduct my classes, how to lead my congregation in prayer, how to enforce the
laws and precepts of the Faith. I felt continually anxious as to how I should
discharge my duties, how to ensure the superiority of my achievements over
those who had preceded me. I was overcome with such a sense of humiliation that
I felt impelled to seek forgiveness from God. Your aim in acquiring all this
learning, I thought to myself, has been to unravel the mystery of God and to
attain the state of certitude. Be fair. Are you sure of your own interpretation
of the Qur’án? Are you certain that the laws which you promulgate reflect the
will of God? The consciousness of error suddenly dawned upon me. I realized for
the first time how the rust of learning had corroded my soul and had obscured
my vision. I lamented my past, and deplored the futility of my endeavours. I
knew that the people of my own rank were subject to the same afflictions. As soon
as they had acquired this so-called learning, they would claim to be the
exponents of the law of Islám and would arrogate to themselves the exclusive
privilege of pronouncing upon its doctrine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I remained absorbed in my thoughts until dawn. That night I
neither ate nor slept. At times I would commune with God:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“‘Thou seest me, O my Lord, and Thou beholdest my plight.
Thou knowest that I cherish no other desire except Thy holy will and pleasure.
I am lost in bewilderment at the thought of the multitude of sects into which
Thy holy Faith hath fallen. I am deeply perplexed when I behold the schisms
that have torn the religions of the past. Wilt Thou guide me in my
perplexities, and relieve me of my doubts? Whither am I to turn for consolation
and guidance?’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I wept so bitterly that night that I seemed to have lost
consciousness. There suddenly came to me the vision of a great gathering of
people, the expression of whose shining faces greatly impressed me. A noble
figure, attired in the garb of a siyyid, occupied a seat on the pulpit facing
the congregation. He was expounding the meaning of this sacred verse of the
Qur’án: ‘Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them.’ I was
fascinated by his face. I arose, advanced towards him, and was on the point of
throwing myself at his feet when that vision suddenly vanished. My heart was
flooded with light. My joy was indescribable.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I immediately decided to consult Hájí Alláh-Vardí, father
of Muhammad-Javád-i-Farhádí, a man known throughout Qazvín for his deep
spiritual insight. When I related to him my vision, he smiled and with
extraordinary precision described to me the distinguishing features of the
siyyid who had appeared to me. ‘That noble figure,’ he added, ‘was none other
than Hájí Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí, who is now in Karbilá and who may be seen
expounding every day to his disciples the sacred teachings of Islám. Those who
listen to his discourse are refreshed and edified by his utterance. I can never
describe the impression which his words exert upon his hearers.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I joyously arose and, expressing to him my feelings of
profound appreciation, retired to my home and started forthwith on my journey
to Karbilá. My old fellow-disciples came and entreated me either to call in
person on the learned Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Karím, who had expressed a desire to meet
me, or to allow him to come to my house. ‘I feel the impulse,’ I replied, ‘to
visit the shrine of the Imám Husayn at Karbilá. I have vowed to start
immediately on that pilgrimage. I cannot postpone my departure. I will, if
possible, visit him for a few moments when I start to leave the city. If I
cannot, I would beg him to excuse me and to pray in my behalf that I may be
guided on the straight path.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I confidentially acquainted my relatives with the nature of
my vision and its interpretation. I informed them of my projected visit to
Karbilá. My words to them that very day instilled the love of Siyyid Kázim in
their hearts. They felt greatly drawn to Hájí Alláh-Vardí [the person who
interpreted my vision], freely associated with him, and became his fervent
admirers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My brother, ‘Abdu’l-Hamíd [who later quaffed the cup of
martyrdom in Tihrán], accompanied me on my journey to Karbilá. There I met
Siyyid Kázim and was amazed to hear him discourse to his assembled disciples
under exactly the same circumstances as he had appeared to me in my vision. I
was astounded when I discovered, upon my arrival, that he was expounding the
meaning of the same verse which he, when he appeared to me, was explaining to
his disciples. As I sat and listened to him, I was greatly impressed by the
force of his argument and the profundity of his thoughts. He graciously
received me and showed me the utmost kindness. My brother and I both felt an
inner joy we had never before experienced. At the hour of dawn, we would hasten
to his home, and would accompany him on his visit to the shrine of the Imám
Husayn.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I spent the entire winter in close companionship with him.
During the whole of that period, I faithfully attended his classes. Every time
I listened to his speech, I heard him describe a particular aspect of the
manifestation of the promised Qá’im. This theme constituted the sole subject of
his discourses. Whichever verse or tradition he happened to be expounding, he
would invariably conclude his commentary on it with a particular reference to
the advent of the promised Revelation. ‘The promised One,’ he would openly and
repeatedly declare, lives in the midst of this people. The appointed time for
His appearance is fast approaching. Prepare the way for Him, and purify
yourselves so that you may recognize His beauty. Not until I depart from this
world will the day-star of His countenance be revealed. It behoves you after my
departure to arise and seek Him. You should not rest for one moment until you
find Him.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“After the celebration of Naw-Rúz, Siyyid Kázim bade me
depart from Karbilá. ‘Rest assured, O ‘Abdu’l-Karím,’ he told me as he bade me
farewell, ‘you are of those who, in the Day of His Revelation, will arise for
the triumph of His Cause. You will, I hope, remember me on that blessed Day.’ I
besought him to allow me to remain in Karbilá, pleading that my return to
Qazvín would arouse the enmity of the mullás of that city. ‘Let your trust be
wholly in God,’ was his reply. ‘Ignore entirely their machinations. Engage in
trade, and rest assured that their protestations will never succeed in harming
you.’ I followed his advice, and together with my brother set out for Qazvín.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Immediately upon my arrival, I undertook to carry out the
counsel of Siyyid Kázim. With the instructions he had given me, I was able to
silence every malicious opposer. I devoted my days to the transaction of my
business; at night I would regain my home and, in the quiet of my chamber,
would consecrate my time to meditation and prayer. With tearful eyes I would
commune with God and would beseech Him, saying: ‘Thou hast, by the mouth of
Thine inspired servant, promised that I shall attain unto Thy Day, and shall
behold Thy Revelation. Thou hast, through him, assured me that I shall be among
those who will arise for the triumph of Thy Cause. How long wilt Thou withhold
from me Thy promise? When will the hand of Thy loving-kindness unlock to me the
door of Thy grace, and confer upon me Thy everlasting bounty?’ Every night I
would renew this prayer and would continue in my supplications until the break
of day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“One night, on the eve of the day of Árafih, in the year
1255 A.H., [February 13, 1840] I was so wrapt in prayer that I seemed to have
fallen into a trance. There appeared before me a bird, white as the snow, which
hovered above my head and alighted upon the twig of a tree beside me. In
accents of indescribable sweetness, that bird voiced these words: ‘Are you
seeking the Manifestation, O ‘Abdu’l-Karím? Lo, the year ’60.’ Immediately
after, the bird flew away and vanished. The mystery of those words greatly
agitated me. The memory of the beauty of that vision lingered long in my mind.
I seemed to have tasted all the delights of Paradise. My joy was irrepressible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The mystic message of that bird had penetrated my soul and
was continually on my lips. I revolved it constantly in my mind. I shared it
with no one, fearing lest its sweetness forsake me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few years later, the Call from Shíráz reached my ears. The
day I heard it, I hastened to that city. On my way I met, in Ṭihrán, Mullá Muḥammad-i-Mu’allim,
who acquainted me with the nature of this Call, and informed me that those who
had acknowledged it had gathered in Karbilá and were awaiting the return of
their Leader from Ḥijáz. I immediately departed for that city. From Hamadán,
Mullá Javád-i-Baraghání, to my great distress, accompanied me to Karbilá, where
I was privileged to meet you as well as the rest of the believers. I continued
to treasure within my heart the strange message conveyed to me by that bird.
When I subsequently attained the presence of the Báb and heard from His lips
those same words, spoken in the same tone and language as I had heard them, I
realized their significance. I was so overwhelmed by their power and glory that
I instinctively fell at His feet and magnified His name.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Adapted from ‘The
Dawn-Breakers’, by Nabil, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-52562191553548612952022-04-06T17:55:00.001-07:002024-01-08T12:15:54.045-08:00An example of how ‘Abdu’l-Baha refused to be intimated or cheated<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other story surprised me - and enlightened me - very
much; I heard it more than once:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shoghi Effendi said that one day he was driving back from
Alexandria to Ramleh with the Master in a rented carriage, accompanied by a
Pasha who was going to the Master's house as His guest; when they arrived and
got out the Master asked the strapping big coachman how much He owed him the
man asked an exorbitant price; 'Abdu'l-Bahá refused to pay it, the man insisted
and became abusive to such an extent that he grasped the Master by the sash
around His waist and pulled Him roughly back and forth, insisting on this
price. Shoghi Effendi said this scene in front of the distinguished guest embarrassed
him terribly. he was too small to do anything himself to help the Master and
felt horrified and humiliated. No so 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Who remained perfectly calm
and refused to give in. When the man finally released his hold the Master paid
him exactly what He owed him, told him his conduct had forfeited the good tip
He had planned to give him, and walked off followed by Shoghi Effendi and the
Pasha!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is no doubt that such things left a lifelong imprint
on the Guardian's character, who never allowed himself to be browbeaten or
cheated, no matter whether or not this embarrassed or inconvenienced him, and
those who were working for him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Ruhiyyih Khanum <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (‘The Priceless Pearl’)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-38915426703830535912022-01-04T17:34:00.037-08:002022-07-24T17:56:46.297-07:00An example of how man is unable to prevent God from executing His will<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtRFGgG9Z1zmS-SgarwhrJhCfrgtPvKnTMZJ0puFv72udLTHf0JjZ29xy0311rJ7EwfpZ77I0kqQ5thzrJnD_7KbXWm2l-vBsjHYHpZ8LLK0APII55KrvmMHudkxJQJHX_3M32CmlHxzUcL2B3OzXs12-R8qDQh_xDCYpMfDXOklb2u7rho0KIQRm/s1024/Akka-19th%20century.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1024" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtRFGgG9Z1zmS-SgarwhrJhCfrgtPvKnTMZJ0puFv72udLTHf0JjZ29xy0311rJ7EwfpZ77I0kqQ5thzrJnD_7KbXWm2l-vBsjHYHpZ8LLK0APII55KrvmMHudkxJQJHX_3M32CmlHxzUcL2B3OzXs12-R8qDQh_xDCYpMfDXOklb2u7rho0KIQRm/s320/Akka-19th%20century.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the time that Bahá'u'lláh resided in the house of
'Abbud, His fellow exiles had fully settled down in the city of 'Akká, and most
of them were successful in their humble professions. During the governorship of
Ahmad Big Tawfiq, they enjoyed relative peace in their work.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But with the arrival of a new Governor, 'Abdu'r-Rahman
Pasha, the situation changed. For he proved to be one of the most hostile
Governors towards Bahá'u'lláh and His companions. He was very covetous and when
his designs to extract money from the company of exiles failed, he submitted an
inflammatory report to the authorities in Istanbul. He complained that instead
of imprisonment, all the Bahá'ís in 'Akká were free and working. The response
from the Sublime Porte -- the office of the Grand Vizir in Istanbul -- was that
the edict of the Sultan must be obeyed, that they were prisoners and had no
right to work.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Husayn-i-Ashchi, who was one of Bahá'u'lláh’s sincere
followers and would daily go to His house as a cook has given a detailed
account of this episode in his memoirs. The following is a summary of his
notes:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When 'Abdu'r-Rahman Pasha received the note from the Sublime
Porte condemning the exiles to imprisonment, it boosted his arrogance. He
decided to use it as a means of extracting some money for himself... Having
failed to do this, one evening he called on Shaykh 'Aliy-i-Miri, the Mufti <span style="font-size: x-small;">[1]</span>
of 'Akká who was an admirer of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and shared with him his plan of
arresting the Bahá'ís in the morning. His plan was to arrest them as they came
to open their shops and send them to prison. He also planned to restrict
'Abdu'l-Bahá's freedom of movement in the city. He solicited the support of the
Mufti in this plan...</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That same night the Mufti went to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, told him the
news and strongly urged the Master to bribe the Governor, as otherwise everyone
would be arrested in the morning. Disapproving the Mufti's solution, 'Abdu'l-Bahá
assured him that God was compassionate and merciful, and that He would leave
this matter in the hand of God. He advised him to go home and to rest assured
of the outcome.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was late and Bahá'u'lláh had just retired. Nevertheless,
'Abdu'l-Bahá went to Him and gave Him the news. Bahá'u'lláh ordered that the
believers be advised not to go to work in the morning. Everyone was informed
and they all assembled in the reception room of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the
morning...</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On that morning, on my way to the House of Baha’u’llah, I
noticed that the shop of Aqa Muhammad-Ibrahim, the coppersmith, was closed and
so were other shops belonging to the believers. I was very surprised and
wondered what had happened. I hastened to the house of Bahá'u'lláh where I
found all the shopkeepers assembled in the reception room. I was told the news
and went into the kitchen to work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was approximately two hours after sunrise when a man
pushed aside the curtain in front of the door with his walking stick. I looked
up and it was Iskandar Effendi, the head of the telegraph office. He was in
great haste but signs of joy could be detected in his appearance. He wanted to
see the Master who was upstairs at the time. I went up and found that He was in
the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. I told the Master that Iskandar Effendi had come
to see Him and he was in a happy mood. The Blessed Beauty smiled and said 'Go
downstairs, Aqa! <span style="font-size: x-small;">[2]</span> He has good news. No one can frustrate God in His
purpose.'</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Abdu'l-Bahá went to the reception room where He was shown a
telegram just received containing the order of dismissal of 'Abdu'r-Rahman
Pasha.[3] After a few minutes He went hurriedly upstairs. Halfway up, I asked
Him if he could tell me the news. He smiled and said in a loud voice, 'God has
struck a severe blow at the Pasha.' He then went to convey the news to
Bahá'u'lláh.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As to 'Abdu'r-Rahman Pasha, in the morning, accompanied by a
few soldiers, he went to arrest the believers at their shops and send them to
prison. To his surprise he found the shops were closed. At first he thought the
late opening was perhaps due to the month of Ramadan when people were going
late to work. Soon after, he went to the Police Station where he waited for the
shops to open up. During this time he was unaware of God's intervention...</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above telegram was addressed to Shaykh 'Aliy-i-Miri, the
Mufti of 'Akká, who communicated its content to the Pasha... The Mufti had been
truly astonished by this event. For it was late in the evening when the
Governor's scheme had come to light, and in the morning the telegram arrived.
He considered this incident to have been a miracle. He said to the Master, 'I
am almost on the verge of losing my mind over this episode. Please tell me,
what did Bahá'u'lláh say late that evening when you informed Him of the plot?'
'Abdu'l-Bahá responded by saying that the Blessed Beauty ordered the believers
not to open their shops in the morning and advised them to leave their affairs
in the hand of God. Bahá'u'lláh also declared that when a person leaves his
affairs to God, he ought not to take any other measures himself, otherwise he
could frustrate the plan of God.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a Tablet Bahá'u'lláh describes 'Abdu'r-Rahman Pasha as an
embodiment of Satan, one who ruled over God in 'Akká. He asserts that God
assisted him in his evil schemes for some time, until suddenly He took hold of
him with might and power. Admonishing the ousted Governor, Bahá'u'lláh states
that he was unable to prevent God from executing His will, and reminds him that
men greater than him did not succeed in frustrating His purpose. He also refers
to the fate of other hostile governors and officials who were either dismissed
or stricken with disease through the power of God. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Adapted from ‘The
Revelation of Baha'u'llah vol. 3’, by Adib Taherzadeh)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Notes</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[1] The religious leader of the city who usually wielded
greater influence and authority than a governor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[2] The Master, one of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's titles given to Him by
Bahá'u'lláh. He usually addressed 'Abdu'l-Bahá as Aqa.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[3] It was not unusual for a telegraph office to share such
news with people, as there were no other news media. The fact that 'Abdu'l-Bahá
received the news before the Governor shows the deep regard some officials had
for the Master.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-61392838393863864972021-10-18T09:37:00.023-07:002022-07-24T17:57:09.369-07:00A pilgrim reports in 1920 how busy ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was replying to numerous letters from around the world <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaJwE1-gxqOUhkrZCI9p4MvaPdT0_Oq6Mbv32kpXd8I8-rJffNu4Vha5fFaDipaLVrn1aZOl3e2dMeNbjJeM6dsZwY73BwH0NzoHKzc07MUvJNwgtjRlp2afuAK2iYSeG-GFnpvI6zFmunt6mdvBd3CymjDbBUwe3_YTK9y4AUAYKLi6KMyeuIzMuk=s1024" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaJwE1-gxqOUhkrZCI9p4MvaPdT0_Oq6Mbv32kpXd8I8-rJffNu4Vha5fFaDipaLVrn1aZOl3e2dMeNbjJeM6dsZwY73BwH0NzoHKzc07MUvJNwgtjRlp2afuAK2iYSeG-GFnpvI6zFmunt6mdvBd3CymjDbBUwe3_YTK9y4AUAYKLi6KMyeuIzMuk=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘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.”<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early one morning He called all the pilgrims to the room of
one of His daughters. There we saw a long bench piled with letters.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was sitting on folded legs replying to them, and He asked us to
sit down on the floor. We tried to imitate and sit like Him, but He was so
compassionate that He told us not to sit as He did because we could not bear
it, but rather to sit with crossed legs, and we did so.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Look at all these letters, on so many
different matters—and I must reply to every one of them.” For example, one of
the letters asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to explain how this world came into being.
Another asked Him to solve a difficult science problem, and yet another letter,
which He showed us, asked Him to kindly bless the writer’s business. Another
person wrote to Him that His confirmation and assistance were awaited. Another
requested ‘Abdu’l-Bahá interpret his dream. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá said to us, “I need
one month just to read these letters. When do you think I will be able to reply
to all of them?” Then He showed us another letter and said, “I received this
letter four months ago and I was able to read it only today.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘Abdu’l-Bahá repeated the theme and said that He had
shouldered various hardships for a period of thirty years but that it was not
possible to bear them any longer. He remarked, “If the friends would detach
themselves from the cares of this world and with sincere hearts arise to serve
the Cause of God, then all their problems, no matter how difficult, would be
eased.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My humble pen cannot write any further about the hardships
which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá faced, as He burned like a candle in the darkness of this
world. I saw Him on one occasion walking in the garden and talking to the
pilgrims on different subjects while simultaneously dictating replies to each
of the letters that had come. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Nuru’d-din Mumtazi <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘Memories of Nine Days’,
translated and edited by Ardeshir Khodadad Forudi and Sheridan A. Sims; ‘Baha’i
Library Online)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-72743299990741304052021-07-06T09:17:00.024-07:002022-03-12T09:40:40.740-08:00An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s sense of humor<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGI6MoCtUyfUrzIOeM2Y6JwaHx7Stj2_1oTL_PBkbr3JofJZba0SS--oLCgupHv0gSv5fMDEBP7LHH4QKZZ6vVtWwuLu7CrY5zSh6DBmee3dw3cIdMpCnM2qckt7AWM6moG7lMhBrDYwPBGOV06wpoAKk37KI-LCmHcwskwvygb8UGwX_BqggRaTcI=s100" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="100" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGI6MoCtUyfUrzIOeM2Y6JwaHx7Stj2_1oTL_PBkbr3JofJZba0SS--oLCgupHv0gSv5fMDEBP7LHH4QKZZ6vVtWwuLu7CrY5zSh6DBmee3dw3cIdMpCnM2qckt7AWM6moG7lMhBrDYwPBGOV06wpoAKk37KI-LCmHcwskwvygb8UGwX_BqggRaTcI" width="100" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">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:</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from 'Some Eraly Baha'is of the West', by O. Z. Whitehead, and ‘Abdu'l-Baha
- The Centre of the Covenant’, by Balyuzi)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-22127778519867936832021-04-15T08:38:00.027-07:002021-09-15T19:00:10.416-07:00The amazing interaction between the Báb and the leader of the escort sent by the governor of Fars to arrest the Báb<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCbXMXSIWKM4jOKgz2xd9S6u_0m21B9UsXpBo_737n6Hp4dKnkXC8Mq4_umSJpvwlGTAevb4z391RjTiHQDYdRieIb_yr47OtUe7DO6J-0LJrmy0zwXE0EnVedoBvwjKh4R7O4jg_amA/s793/a+group+of+Persian+horsemen-1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="793" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCbXMXSIWKM4jOKgz2xd9S6u_0m21B9UsXpBo_737n6Hp4dKnkXC8Mq4_umSJpvwlGTAevb4z391RjTiHQDYdRieIb_yr47OtUe7DO6J-0LJrmy0zwXE0EnVedoBvwjKh4R7O4jg_amA/s320/a+group+of+Persian+horsemen-1921.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The leader of that escort, a member of the Núsayrí
community, better known as the sect of ‘Alíyu’lláhí, related the following:</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"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."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"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."<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These words moved me profoundly. I instinctively dismounted
from my horse, and, kissing his stirrups, addressed him in these words:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"O light of the eyes of the Prophet of God! I adjure you, by
Him who has created you and endowed you with such loftiness and power, to grant
my request and to answer my prayer. I beseech you to escape from this place and
to flee from before the face of Husayn Khán, the ruthless and despicable
governor of this province. I dread his machinations against you; I rebel at the
idea of being made the instrument of his malignant designs against so innocent
and noble a descendant of the Prophet of God. My companions are all honourable
men. Their word is their bond. They will pledge themselves not to betray your
flight. I pray you, betake yourself to the city of Mashhad in Khurásán, and
avoid falling a victim to the brutality of this remorseless wolf."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To my earnest entreaty he gave this answer:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"May the Lord your God requite you for your magnanimity and
noble intention. No one knows the mystery of My Cause; no one can fathom its
secrets. Never will I turn My face away from the decree of God. He alone is My
sure Stronghold, My Stay and My Refuge. Until My last hour is at hand, none
dare assail Me, none can frustrate the plan of the Almighty. And when My hour
is come, how great will be My joy to quaff the cup of martyrdom in His name!
Here am I; deliver Me into the hands of your master. Be not afraid, for no one
will blame you."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bowed my consent and carried out his desire.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(‘The
Dawn-Breakers’ by Nabil, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-58006405455064751042021-01-06T10:57:00.006-08:002021-09-15T08:41:29.561-07:00Divine intervention in the twinkling of an eye - a believer experienced<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-voi2Rf7SI4xxrXtQGYETMt2Mq8415ewnvJCtD0IxDkPc4g5_P_lGYtYWNgfVHLVz2bsJHfdhdUhixRAtQZjRf4olgnhvslINmAvKxy_6kz6348ehIuzOCmqGTfmpkbggNgT7JD3B5Q/s300/Mull%25C3%25A1+S%25C3%25A1diq-i-Khur%25C3%25A1s%25C3%25A1n%25C3%25AD.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="241" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-voi2Rf7SI4xxrXtQGYETMt2Mq8415ewnvJCtD0IxDkPc4g5_P_lGYtYWNgfVHLVz2bsJHfdhdUhixRAtQZjRf4olgnhvslINmAvKxy_6kz6348ehIuzOCmqGTfmpkbggNgT7JD3B5Q/w176-h218/Mull%25C3%25A1+S%25C3%25A1diq-i-Khur%25C3%25A1s%25C3%25A1n%25C3%25AD.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mulla Sadiq</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">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. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[1] [2]</span> They were both brought to the governor’s
residence and subjected to his angry inquiry. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[3]</span> Becoming sorely displeased with
Mulla Sadiq’s answers he ordered his attendants to inflict upon them a hideous
and exceptionally cruel punishment. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[4]</span> 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:</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘The
Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[1] <a href="https://insightsfrom-the-dawn-breakers.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-second-person-that-quddus-met-in.html">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)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[2] <a href="https://insightsfrom-the-dawn-breakers.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-whole-city-of-shiraz-was-aroused-as.html">1845:
The whole city of Shiraz was aroused as a result of Mulla Sádiq carrying out
his assignment from the Báb</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[3] <a href="https://insightsfrom-the-dawn-breakers.blogspot.com/2021/03/august-1845-governor-ordered-arrest-of.html">August
1845: The governor ordered the arrest of Quddus and Mulla Sádiq</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">[4] <a href="https://insightsfrom-the-dawn-breakers.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-hideousness-and-barbaric-cruelty.html">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”</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-89176917021954580352020-11-05T09:31:00.010-08:002021-03-31T04:43:08.570-07:00An example of the Báb’s honesty and fairness in business dealings while in Búshihr<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6JxqtOZvHyvEUOErWs27XJCGhMltiEhD9Lj-u-FfLmLrbzSqoo7AbZahtVPVSEbqJauvjHYY2RsBlvtAZw9XIeWZFJBz9InDpMphZUk0o5e5R_ffgfj7tz8AKHPdLctBuC-NYPnC46I/s100/6639_5_Paintings-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6JxqtOZvHyvEUOErWs27XJCGhMltiEhD9Lj-u-FfLmLrbzSqoo7AbZahtVPVSEbqJauvjHYY2RsBlvtAZw9XIeWZFJBz9InDpMphZUk0o5e5R_ffgfj7tz8AKHPdLctBuC-NYPnC46I/s0/6639_5_Paintings-81.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A certain man confided to His <span style="font-size: x-small;">[the Báb’s]</span> care a trust,
requesting Him to dispose of it at a fixed price. When the Báb sent him the
value of that article, the man found that the sum which he had been offered
considerably exceeded the limit which he had fixed. He immediately wrote to the
Báb, requesting Him to explain the reason. The Báb replied: ‘What I have sent
you is entirely your due. There is not a single farthing in excess of what is
your right. There was a time when the trust you had delivered to Me had
attained this value. Failing to sell it at that price, I now feel it My duty to
offer you the whole of that sum.’ However much the Báb’s client entreated Him
to receive back the sum in excess, the Báb persisted in refusing.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Hájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá’í<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Quoted by Nabil, ‘The
Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-68839552190305422622020-09-03T19:27:00.003-07:002020-12-29T13:51:49.999-08:00An example of the operation of the Will of God<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBMlQCVApuZP6xcLPv9sZ5AROl8bGvdKMgL1BmuWmzq8nFRUDYOA5yANqK45sWaFqk_ypZd2fQHWkEh34qGykaBPF5JRHUdxFVtpA24VOV0syz_x6P3ZtUeK3U_bAeQdXDcQXa2RCSd0/s100/Horizon-jj.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="66" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBMlQCVApuZP6xcLPv9sZ5AROl8bGvdKMgL1BmuWmzq8nFRUDYOA5yANqK45sWaFqk_ypZd2fQHWkEh34qGykaBPF5JRHUdxFVtpA24VOV0syz_x6P3ZtUeK3U_bAeQdXDcQXa2RCSd0/s0/Horizon-jj.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One day, when the Báb had dismounted close to a well [on His
way to Mecca] in order to offer His morning prayer, a roving Bedouin suddenly
appeared on the horizon, drew near to Him, and, snatching the saddlebag that
had been lying on the ground beside Him, and which contained His writings and
papers, vanished into the unknown desert. His Ethiopian servant set out to
pursue him, but was prevented by his Master, who, as He was praying, motioned
to him with His hand to give up his pursuit. “Had I allowed you,” the Báb later
on affectionately assured him, “you would surely have overtaken and punished
him. But this was not to be. The papers and writings which that bag contained
are destined to reach, through the instrumentality of this Arab, such places as
we could never have succeeded in attaining. Grieve not, therefore, at his
action, for this was decreed by God, the Ordainer, the Almighty.” Many a time
afterwards did the Báb on similar occasions seek to comfort His friends by such
reflections. By words such as these He turned the bitterness of regret and of
resentment into radiant acquiescence in the Divine purpose and into joyous
submission to God’s will. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by
Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-89914624177650316132020-07-10T18:20:00.001-07:002020-10-31T19:29:24.647-07:00The story of ‘Abdu’l-Baha – Part 1: 1844-1908<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aQtc0wMp3nh4xHHqNKG3g_brwj-n_2oetKdcLr1VjqZRQ6uoM1i-IEax9QO2cBzMIC0ZLHilPmoRYnP_jRF_M8ya25R56ghrXn7WhZzb-MnYx_wEWVqxftymjmyx6oeB4mxcVrQ2QQ/s1600/Abdu%2527l-Baha+Adrianople-a-b-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="860" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aQtc0wMp3nh4xHHqNKG3g_brwj-n_2oetKdcLr1VjqZRQ6uoM1i-IEax9QO2cBzMIC0ZLHilPmoRYnP_jRF_M8ya25R56ghrXn7WhZzb-MnYx_wEWVqxftymjmyx6oeB4mxcVrQ2QQ/s200/Abdu%2527l-Baha+Adrianople-a-b-1.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The life of 'Abdu'l-Baha is very significant among the
lives of the past heavenly educators. If we study the history of the former
manifestations of God we realize that the first portion of their lives has been
free from anxiety and persecution, while the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha from the day
of His birth has been one of vicissitude, trial and painful ordeals.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Moreover, the enemies and foes of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, never ceased
to plan and scheme to persecute and bring about his exile and banishment, and
to annihilate His Revelation. And these people had more general power than the
enemies of the former prophets.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">One of the Divine Allegorical incidents was that
'Abdu'l-Baha was born in Teheran the same night upon which the Báb proclaimed
His Mission in Shiraz - that is, May 23rd, 1844. Baha'u'llah gave the name of
His father to 'Abdu'l-Baha. This name was Abbas but He always called Him Master
– “Aqa” - even when He was a little child.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">
</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The first few years of the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha were spent
amid the most tragic and dramatic events of the life of Baha'u'llah. He was the
center of the movement, every tragic event revolved around Him and His home was
the rendezvous of all the Baha'is. All the news and all that transpired in the
Cause was brought to Him. His home was well known as the headquarters of the
Movement and often groups of rowdies would throw stones and try to hurt the
inmates. When 'Abdu'l-Baha was a little child groups of urchins would surround
Him and try to stone Him. Even at the early age of eight or nine years
'Abdu'l-Baha had already witnessed the plotting of the enemies and had seen the
friends martyred and guillotined. Up to this age He had seen many headstones of
heroes and heroines who had gone to their death with radiant acquiescence.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Most of the time Baha’u’llah was absent from home traveling
in the interest of the Cause, and visiting the friends in prison. His property
was confiscated and both day and night His household was in danger, so there
was no opportunity for 'Abdu'l-Baha to go to school and learn the things which
other children have to learn.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Nevertheless, such deep and abiding attachment, such tender
regard, solicitude</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">and affection
existed and was evidenced between ‘Abdu'l-Baha and Baha’u’llah that even in
those early days some members felt deeply that 'Abdu’l-Baha would eventually
unfold, develop and explain the teachings of Baha'u'llah.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">While Baha’u’llah was going about or in prison, at a tender
age 'Abdu'l-Baha was the object of regard and reverence of His family; all
looked up to Him as the head of the family in spite of His youth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">At the age of nine the great exile began. The government
banished Baha’u’llah with His family in 1852 to the city of Baghdad. During a
long cold part of the journey 'Abdu'l-Baha was so thinly clad, His toes were
frozen twice and the effect was felt by Him all the days of His life. Often
when He was tired out during the hours of day or night His feet would itch and
ache.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During the twelve years of Baha’u’llah in Baghdad and
Sulaymaniyyih of Kurdistan and the cave of the Mount of Sar-galu where He went
into retirement for the purpose of uninterrupted communion with God,
'Abdu'l-Baha was the cause of happiness to His family as well as its hope.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In that period of time when ‘Abdu’l-Baha was between the age
of nine and twenty He associated with many theologians, mystical and
philosophical groups. He opened the treasures of His innate knowledge among
them, He entered into those deep subjects and elucidated them in such a clear
manner that they marveled at His unlimited fund of information and asked Him
from what source He had received it. He answered them in these symbolical
words: "I received them from my Father." Therefore, they titled Him -
"Eminent Wise Youth."</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The physical general appearance of 'Abdu'l-Baha was very
pleasing. His face and form were beautifully proportioned and He was considered
a very handsome youth. He radiated a heavenly spiritual power and carried
Himself with kingly dignity. As He walked along the streets people admired His
carriage and physique, He had such strength and power in His bearing. One of
the qualities of the character of 'Abdu'l-Baha even when He was a youth was His
great spiritual fortitude. He had innate poise and balance which no vicissitude
could destroy; no one had ever seen Him angry and He was never moved or swerved
by any outside influence. His physical endurance astonished everyone. He seemed
like a great ocean without a ripple on its surface.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Another characteristic of 'Abdu'l-Baha worthy of emulation
was His extreme generosity. In this loving kindness He gave freely of
everything He had. It is related that in the home of Baha'u'llah there was a
beautiful rug upon which He used to sit. One day a poor Arab brought a load of
wood to the house. He saw the rug and was very much attracted by its beauty. He
handled it caressingly and exclaimed: "Oh, how wonderful it must be to
have such a splendid rug to sit upon!" 'Abdu'l-Baha heard him and said:
"If you like the rug, take it." The man would not believe it was
really a gift but for fear he would lose it he put it over his shoulder and
began to run, looking back every few minutes to see if anyone was coming to
take it away from him. 'Abdu'l-Baha said, "Go on, no one is going to take
it away from you." ‘Abdu'l-Baha had a wonderful sense of humor.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When He was but a child He was taken to the mountains to see
his father's sheep. There were thousands of them; the shepherds gave Him a
feast. At the end of the day the chief shepherd came to 'Abdu'l-Baha and told
him He must make a present to the shepherds. 'Abdu'l-Baha said, "I have
nothing"- the man said, "But you must give something"- So
'Abdu'l-Baha said, "What</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">about the
sheep?" - and he gave them all the sheep. When Baha'u'llah heard this He
laughed and said, "We will have to protect ‘Abdu'l-Baha from Himself, some
day He will give Himself away."</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Another characteristic of 'Abdu'l-Baha was His sociability,
courtesy and politeness shown to all degrees of society. He associated with the
highest officials, and with people of all ranks, giving them His divine
knowledge and thereby</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">raising them to a
higher level of comprehension. Likewise, He went among the most lowly in the
same attitude.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In the East people spend years and years of their time
trying to perfect themselves in penmanship. It is considered an art of the
highest order and a man will spend twenty to fifty years teaching people this
calling. 'Abdu'l-Baha's penmanship was so beautiful and so perfectly in
accordance with all the sacred writings of the East that samples of His work
were used to copy from. His knowledge of the Arabian and Persian writing was so
great that it seemed a miracle to the people though He never studied in His
life.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">His range of vision was miraculous, and when talking to
Arabs they felt the utmost reverence for Him. With philosophers and learned men
He carried on conversation which astonished them. Without previous study on any
of these subjects He could understand and converse and raise the thought for
them to a much higher level than they themselves were able to reach.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When Baha’u’llah was sent forth to His second exile with His
family and followers for four months and had to travel through the most
inhospitable desert and villages in Mesopotamia, 'Abdu'l-Baha was constantly
protecting and helping Him.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During the exile of Baha’u’llah and His family for four
months in Constantinople and five years in Adrianople, the spiritual attraction
of 'Abdu’l-Baha in His association with many important people was manifested
more and more, and won them to Him in such a manner that they tried to remove
the difficulty of Baha'u'llah and help Him. For example, the Turkish Governor
of Adrianople became so intensely interested that he spent days and nights
listening to His conversations. When the order came for the next exile he was
unable to give it in person as he was too much affected by sorrow at parting
and was obliged to send the summons by letter.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When Baha’u’llah and a group of His followers were exiled to
Acre and were imprisoned in the barracks, as a result of the terrible climate
of the city and the loss of nourishing food, the very unhealthy water and
abominable conditions of the prison, they were all sick, and some of his
followers were relieved by death. Through these dire conditions 'Abdu'l-Baha
was untouched by disease and continually ministered to the needs of the
afflicted ones, giving them necessary remedies and cooking their food with his
own hands. Thus, through His protecting ministrations they all recovered.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">After these two years of the terrible imprisonment of
Baha'u'llah in which no one of His followers was permitted to enter that city
to visit Him, and the nine years following when Baha'u'llah was confined to one
little house in Acre, through the instrumentality of 'Abdu'l-Baha and His
association with eminent people Baha'u'llah was finally, at the end of eleven
long years of imprisonment and hardship, permitted to leave the dreadful city
of Acca and go to a large comfortable house called Qasr-i-Bahji which had
beautiful gardens that were brought into existence by the efforts of
'Abdu'l-Baha. In this beautiful place Baha'u'llah spent the rest of His days,
but 'Abdu'l-Baha remained in Acre with His family meeting everyone, attending
to the solution of problems, interviewing statesmen, governors, lawyers, etc.,
in regard to different cases. To Him all people came for the solution of their
difficulties.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">'Abdu'l-Baha protected the Cause from all objections and
opposition. Thus, Baha'u'llah was left free and unhampered to prepare His
message for the world and His followers were now able to visit Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">One day of each week of His extremely busy life 'Abdu'l-Baha
went to visit Baha’u’llah at Bahji. On these occasions He always walked,
thereby showing his attitude of humility towards His Father. But after
Baha'u'llah told Him that He must ride, He obeyed Him. He would leave the city
of Acre riding, but as soon as Qasr-i-Bahji came into view He would dismount and
walk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">On the other hand, upon the recognized days of
'Abdu'l-Baha's visits to Qas-i-Bahji, Baha'u'llah would watch for His coming
from a second story window, and as soon as He saw Him approaching, He would
call to His household saying, "The Master is coming, go and meet
Him!" No sooner would Father and Son meet than one would witness the
utmost humility of the Son and utmost love and devotion of the Father, making
the most dramatic picture conceivable. At these times no one was permitted to
enter during Their conversation, not even the family. No one could understand
this mystery between Son and Father. It makes one recall the words of the Bible
where it is declared, "The Father is in the Son and the Son is in the
Father." There has never been in the world a relationship so sweet and
perfect, with so much trust and confidence on both sides. In every way
'Abdu'l-Baha was the prototype of Baha'u'llah. They were the</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">same height, their voices were alike, and
their manner of discerning.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">These were enough to make clear that the glory of God was
shining in Him, and would continue to shine in Him after the ascension of His
Father. Yet Baha'u'llah wrote in almost all of His writings, clearly as well as
symbolically, of His station. In the "Tablet of Beirut" He calls Him
the "Mystery of God." Particularly, in the Most Holy Book He said
emphatically that the people must turn their faces towards 'Abdu'l-Baha who was
the Branch of the everlasting tree. He also declared that 'Abdu'l-Baha held the
keys which would open the Holy Tablets and Holy Books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Finally, He proclaimed the station of the Center of the
Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Baha, in the Tablet of the Covenant, which He sealed and gave
'Abdu'l-Baha. In nine days after the ascension of Baha'u'llah, in 1892, the
seal was broken by 'Abdu'l-Baha amid the group of Baha'i friends and it was
read by them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Thus 'Abdu'l-Baha ascended the throne of the Covenant of
Baha'u'llah and the glory of His Father began to shine through Him, to guide,
like a shepherd the children of men to the oneness of God and the brotherhood
of man.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Verily, it seemed that Baha'u'llah had not departed but His
sovereignty was still living in the garment of servitude. The pen of
'Abdu'l-Baha began to move for all the world, spreading the breath of life in
the utmost humility and kindness as did the pen of Baha'u'llah in the form of
lordship and command.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Now at this time 'Abdu'l-Baha, with His great executive
power, began to establish the Cause of God in the hearts of humanity. He sent
more teachers and workers to different parts of the globe, and a new life was
manifested among the friends. Thousands of epistles, perfect jewels of wisdom
and knowledge concerning the affairs of life and about religion and divine
philosophy, were revealed by Him to the world.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">All these activities increased the envy of the enemies of
the Cause. They had thought that at the passing of Baha’u’llah everything would
come to an end. Now, however, witnessing the renewed power and strength in
'Abdu'l-Baha they increased in activity and numbers, and a new group whose
jealousy had lain dormant in Baha'u'llah's lifetime now arose against
‘Abdu'l-Baha.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Those who merely met Him visiting the prisons, entertaining
the governor, officials and other guests, and who saw the increasing number of
pilgrims from different countries, would hardly suspect that enemies of the
Cause existed; for though their persecution continued day after day for years.
'Abdu'l-Baha tried to lead His enemies and those envious of Him with the utmost
kindness into the path of unity and service. But their envy was too great, and
they paid no heed to His advice, opposing Him more and more, till at last
'Abdu'l-Baha left Acre and His family and went alone to Tiberius and to
Elijah's cave in Mount Cannel, there to supplicate and commune with God.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Humanity always rejects its educators, choosing to follow
personal desires, even distorting religious teaching into an excuse for
disobedience, and those who are regarded as foremost in religious matters are
dominated by their pride to deny a Saviour. Nearness to God and His
Manifestation is a spiritual union, not a physical relationship. A spiritual
soul, however remotely situated from a Manifestation, can nevertheless be more
closely attached to that Manifestation than anyone related only by ties of
blood. The foremost followers of a religious teaching are like mirrors before a
sun, but as their light is reflected and not self-created, should they turn
from the sun their light will cease to shine. Thus, Baha'u'llah said, a
spiritual Educator is a divine balance, and the people of the world are weighed
by Him.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The efforts of 'Abdu'l-Baha's enemies were known only to
those few who were intimately close to Him. In spite of the fact that
'Abdu'l-Baha refrained for the time being from teaching the Cause of
Baha'u'llah on account of official prejudice against it, the people through His
counsel and guidance began to recognize His great station.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">'Abdu'l-Baha worked with such ease, assurance and poise that
He gave confidence to all who visited Him. The doors of His house were never
closed; they remained open from sunrise to sunset. All manner of people came to
Him to adjust their problems. Men and women poured constantly in and out of the
house, for 'Abdu'l-Baha was always ready to uplift and counsel the
downtrodden.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Different religious leaders and government officials came to
Him to present their questions. Even the Arab Bedouins and their sheiks had the
greatest devotion and respect for Him, journeying great distances to see Him.
They regarded Him as a holy patriarch and received from Him gifts, both
spiritual and material. Such was His influence that His simple word was
willingly obeyed by them when often governmental authority failed.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The fame of 'Abdu'l-Baha's generosity and love became such a
protection that frequently visitors traveling through the desert to Him were
not only free from Bedouin attacks, but were also accorded safe conduct.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">His simplicity of life forbade His personal use of the
costly gifts pressed upon Him by His friends in many countries, and He
preferred to pass on these offerings to people in need.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">A wonderful sight at
Acre was to be seen every Friday morning before the house of 'Abdu'l-Baha. From
early morning the square would be crowded with the poor, the aged, and
cripples, men, women and children. 'Abdu'l-Baha would come out with some of His
friends, and the people would crowd round Him, yet reverently, like children
round a father. He would move from one to another, speaking kindly advice</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">and comfort and putting· money into their
hands. He was especially kind to widows and their children.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It was indeed a miracle that a prisoner, persecuted and
faced with opposition from so many powerful authorities, could thus gain such
influence over all kinds of people with spiritual weapons only. As long as
'Abdu'l-Baha lived the people felt perfect confidence in the future, no matter
what happened. They felt He was a divine father to whom they could go at all
times, a master to whom they could turn at any moment. He continually
ministered to their sufferings, often choosing to go on His errands of love at
night.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">But all the time His enemies had been watching their
opportunity to vent their</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">jealousy.
They secretly sent many false reports to the Government in Constantinople, and
circulated forged letters purporting to have been issued by 'Abdu'l-Baha. Each
time the governor or other officials of the prison city were changed, they
would bribe them to unite with them in their opposition to 'Abdu'l-Baha. But
although disheartened by these continuous intrigues, 'Abdu'l-Baha's power rose
supreme above such hatred and won over those officials whom His enemies had
persuaded to oppose Him.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During this time of persecution, surrounded by spies and
enemies, 'Abdu'l-Baha accomplished the difficult task of having the remains of
the Báb brought from Persia to Haifa. He had constructed the shrine on Mount
Carmel which was to be the resting place of the body of the Báb. This edifice
was made the subject of a new attack. With the cooperation of a few of the
prison officials 'Abdu'l-Baha's opponents sent false information to the Government
that He was building a fortress on Mount Carmel and had so much influence with
surrounding and foreign powers that the Turkish Government would not be able to
withstand His power. This false report caused the Sultan such alarm that he
ordered 'Abdu'l-Baha to be either drowned or exiled to the heart of the African
desert.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">His friends, anxious for His safety, begged Him to leave
Acre; but saying that it was His duty to stay, He sent them away to different
places in Egypt, and disregarding all threats, remained with certain members of
His family in Acre.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When the Governmental Investigation Committee arrived in
Acre the enemies of 'Abdu'l-Baha associated with them to induce them to make a
false report. Accordingly, without visiting 'Abdu'l-Baha or finding out His
version, information was sent that the rumors were true. While these plots were
progressing and the atmosphere was tingling with suspicion, everyone was amazed
to see that 'Abdu'l-Baha was planting trees and building a house as though nothing
would happen.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">When the judge sent for 'Abdu'l-Baha to present Himself in
court the sorrow of the friends was unbearable. They feared He might be taken
away immediately and they would never see Him again. But 'Abdu'l-Baha reassured
them, saying that His greatest joy and happiness would be to be hanged there in
Haifa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Baha'u'llah had a wonderful felt cap or headdress which was
called a crown and this had been treasured by 'Abdu'l-Baha after the ascension
of the Blessed Perfection. Several times the friends had suggested that 'Abdu'l-Baha should wear this but He always replied, "There would be but
one occasion to wear it - if I were to be crucified." At this time He
asked the family to have the headdress ready.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When 'Abdu'l-Baha entered the court He found the charges and
false testimony prearranged. After admonishing His accusers for persecuting the
Cause of Truth as had always been done in former ages He said, "If you
desire to condemn me, I am ready and willing to sacrifice my life and will sign
any indictment you prepare, for it will bring me great happiness to be martyred
as were the promulgators of Truth before me."</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Just at this darkest hour, when events were most ominous for
'Abdu'l-Baha and the Cause, the whole situation changed with a miraculous
suddenness. The revolution of 1908, by the Young Turk Party, brought entire
freedom to Him who had been the world's Greatest Prisoner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span>- <a href="https://bahaiheoresheroines.blogspot.com/2010/10/jinab-i-fadil-1880-1957-mirza-asadullah.html" style="color: blue;">Jinab-i-Fadil</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Star of the West [The Baha’i Magazine],
vol. 15, no. 3, 1924)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-61472901070445610772020-05-18T10:21:00.001-07:002020-10-31T19:29:44.669-07:00‘Abdu’l-Baha’s surprising response to two believers trying to identify the most acceptable form of martyrdom – recalled by one of His secretaries<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNoM1UG9SjQva2vhiDPZFIz-CPqNnbLyznp9ZQUIX1xy_eahZILvWKehEEK3yGUzZkk4sFSHzNsc7ch-ZSQkbUilvzgFMgWXXlIBd-8NJxpuLJFsn4EhRQaU8x6D5SfLZ8mNfMUeVKk/s1600/4881_art-67.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="67" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNoM1UG9SjQva2vhiDPZFIz-CPqNnbLyznp9ZQUIX1xy_eahZILvWKehEEK3yGUzZkk4sFSHzNsc7ch-ZSQkbUilvzgFMgWXXlIBd-8NJxpuLJFsn4EhRQaU8x6D5SfLZ8mNfMUeVKk/s1600/4881_art-67.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Some thirty years ago when 'Abdu'l-Baha was surrounded by
His bitter enemies; when they were instigating the Turkish Government to
illtreat Him; when in His confined place of 'Akka He had a very small group of
true and faithful Baha'is, 'Abdu'l-Baha always expressed great joy and
happiness at the thought of being martyred like unto Jesus Christ and His
disciples, and like unto thousands of faithful followers of the blessed Báb and
Baha'u'llah.</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">In those days the doors were opened wide for the Oriental
friends to enter heaven.[1] All the true believers prayed to God and yearned to
be accepted for martyrdom. One day one of the pilgrims and I were discussing
the best way of being admitted to sacrifice. My friend, M. Fazlullah, said that
he preferred to be killed by Shamajeen like Suleiman Khan, who danced with joy
during that terrible torture. (Shamajeen means decorated, grafted with
candles.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">This is the way that Suleiman Khan was martyred. His body
was cut through in several places and burning candles were planted in the
wounds. In such a horrible state he was driven for several hours throughout the
city to show the people the fate of a distinguished and honorable man converted
to the new Faith. This was the way that the government, instigated by the
clergy, punished the believers, in order to terrify those who desired to know
about the new religion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Now my friend, M. Fazlullah, preferred this way of being
sacrificed in the Path of Baha'u'llah. But I did not choose this way. I
preferred to be put to death by cannon shot, for that was the best way of
propagating throughout the world the call to steadfastness. Several prominent
people have been martyred in that way. This was the way that I had chosen, and
I implored God to help me to attain to it. But I could not convince my friend
that mine was the best way. He stuck obstinately to his own way. The discussion
lasted a long time without being able to convince each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><br />
</span><a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">At last we left the pilgrims' room and went to the room of
'Abdu'l-Baha. In His simple courtyard room, we found Him standing among a dozen
of the faithful ones who were from the different oriental countries. They had
surrounded Him like unto a number of butterflies of various colors gathered
around a lighted candle. He was full of joy, uttering heavenly words, giving
divine exhortation. And the first words we heard Him say, as we arrived, in
continuation of His speech was: "In the Path of Baha'u'llah, the faithful
Baha'i</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">must become Shamajeen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">On hearing this my friend looked at me severely. I
understood what he meant by that look.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">But lo! What heard we after that? 'Abdu'l-Baha, without
paying any attention to our arrival, said: "Yes, the true believer is he
who wishes to be sacrificed with cannon shot for the sake of the Cause of
Baha’u’llah!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Hearing this, I did not fail to look at once at my friend,
and could not help smiling. I am sure he understood what I meant to say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">This was the end of our discussion. None of us has ever
proved worthy to attain to the zenith of such a desire. But the remembrance of
the heavenly power of 'Abdu'l-Baha to know our mind and to conciliate the
different thoughts of His disciples gives me such an eternal joy and spiritual
happiness that I mentioned this event once in Europe and am repeating it now in
order to sanctify His Name for ever and ever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">- Dr. Youness Afroukhteh <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(One of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s secretaries
between 1900 to 1909, told this story to some Baha’is in Germany; Star of the
West [The Baha’i Magazine], vol. 22, no. 9, December 1931)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">[1] So violent were the persecutions that thousands were
being put to death at this time.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-693487113765792282020-04-12T07:45:00.005-07:002021-03-14T14:57:14.062-07:00‘Abdu’l-Baha lived in the morgue of the barracks in Akka for two years<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIOxGkG9LlDsVoCwAzhj7xqQcPW_jT3qQp_ldFMvQnngfGFR6s4kEQjepAzoCno-4q59JbJRVTeBZka9J3C_EGtIS_Jf-1917-MswnWJtpMHeOtYVcOHn4Yij5SnLpQep3lnQcTp6cjU/s1600/North-west+building+of+prison+complex+Akka+1922-1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIOxGkG9LlDsVoCwAzhj7xqQcPW_jT3qQp_ldFMvQnngfGFR6s4kEQjepAzoCno-4q59JbJRVTeBZka9J3C_EGtIS_Jf-1917-MswnWJtpMHeOtYVcOHn4Yij5SnLpQep3lnQcTp6cjU/s320/North-west+building+of+prison+complex+Akka+1922-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">North-west building of prison complex <br />Akka 1922</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The dear friends in this city <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May
7, 1912] </span>engaged an apartment on the seventh floor of the Schenley Hotel and
were exceedingly happy about it, because it looked like that of the Plaza Hotel
in Chicago. Then during their private interviews, the friends, one by one asked
the same question: "Master! how do you like these rooms?" His reply
to all was also the same, "Khaili Khoob! Khaili Khoob!"meaning
"Very good! Very good!"</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">When all had left His presence happy and pleased, He turned
His smiling face toward this servant <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Dr. Zia Baghdadi]</span> and exclaimed:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">"The friends here are anxious to know if I like these
rooms! They do not know what we had to go through in the past. Imagine the
conditions and surroundings when we were exiled by the Turkish Government and
were imprisoned in the barracks of 'Akka; Baha'u'llah occupied one room; His
family and several other families were forced to occupy one room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">"Aside from the severe illness that was raging, and the death
of many among us prisoners - adults and children - on account of unsanitary
surroundings and starvation, I noticed that my own presence in that crowded
room was another source of torture to all of them. This was due to the fact
that parents and children were suppressing and restraining themselves by trying
to be quiet and polite in my presence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">"So, in order to give them freedom, I accepted the morgue of
the barracks, because that was the only room available, and I lived in it for
about two years. Now the kind friends here wish to know if I like these
magnificent rooms!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">(Star of the West [The Baha’i Magazine], vol. 19, no. 5, August 1928)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-81556510994150330642020-03-12T13:28:00.001-07:002020-12-29T14:03:47.912-08:001969: The story of Saskatoon…<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG9hFHuNnrQBl0cAC49_IoCvNu34bq4iGXoateHQNPoUODwyUOn2JdrjRAL6lbpnVhyYvil4lLQhHJU5bY19Ua2A1Vdtmm1fAtgXbuKVfJmkyswNNkxHKftiooKDuRKHXPRGbWw7PwOM/s1600/Saskatoon-currently-a.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="860" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG9hFHuNnrQBl0cAC49_IoCvNu34bq4iGXoateHQNPoUODwyUOn2JdrjRAL6lbpnVhyYvil4lLQhHJU5bY19Ua2A1Vdtmm1fAtgXbuKVfJmkyswNNkxHKftiooKDuRKHXPRGbWw7PwOM/s320/Saskatoon-currently-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Saskatoon, circa 2020</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">For some time now the believers across the country [Canada]
have heard the name “Saskatoon” appearing with increasing frequency. We hear of
something like 70-80 declarations, almost all of them youth, in less than two
years, of no “generation gap”, of new approaches and exciting happenings.
Anyone who visits the Saskatoon community cannot help but feel that something
momentous has taken place and is taking place there.</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">What is the Saskatoon story?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">For a year or so, it has been suggested that the News tell
the story of Saskatoon. Urgent pleas have gone out for an "on the spot”
account, but to no avail. Finally a wandering member of the Editorial Board [of
Canadian Baha’i News magazine] spent a delightful summer evening on the
spacious grounds of the Rogers [Don and Barbara] family just outside Saskatoon
at a Race Amity Youth Rally. Amid the ebbing and flowing of youth of all ages,
she managed to extract from Assembly members some of the history. The difficulty
of putting it into words soon became apparent. The growth of the community has
demanded all the energy and attention of the Assembly. Furthermore, it seems
almost impossible to describe adequately both the spiritual forces that are so
obviously present, and the feeling that is Saskatoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">For, more than anything else, it seems to this observer,
Saskatoon is a feeling, a feeling of community — not just any community, but a
community of purpose — the community of Baha’u’llah. One feels that here is a
dynamic community made up almost entirely of believers under thirty years of
age, a community in which everyone, no matter how conformist or non-conformist
he or she may appear to be, has a sense of belonging and acceptance. As it
becomes increasingly clear that today’s youth is crying out for the experience
of community, one to really believe in, Saskatoon takes on even greater
significance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><br />
</span><a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Even the casual visitor comes away with very strong
impressions — of deep unity and joy in being together, of vitality and growth,
of flexibility, of gentleness and strength. One member mentioned how they all
felt the strength of the community flowing through them, giving them support,
even when they were teaching alone. Another expressed the wonder of
experiencing such oneness and loving concern. Through it all, one feels an
intense awareness of divine purpose, of being under the care and guidance of
Bahá’u’lláh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">How did it all come about? Some may remember an
'advertisement' in the [Canadian Baha’i] News about two years ago for pioneers
to build up the lost Assembly in Saskatoon. Later, Hand of the Cause Mr. John
Robarts visited the believers there, and one gathers that something of a
scolding took place. Why were they not using their most important resource —
the power of prayer — to build up their assembly locally? Inspiring them with
accounts of the effects of using the Remover of Difficulties and the Long
Obligatory Prayer, he assured them that inquirers would knock on their doors
and that he felt Saskatoon had a great future. This meeting proved to have a
profound influence, not only on the community of five but also in bringing
about three declarations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Their prayers did bring results! As those original members
look back, certain events stand out as significant. The small group, united in
prayer, attended Baha'i gatherings together in Lloydminster, the Water-ton
Lakes and Fort Ou’Appelle. Together they heard Hand of the Cause Mr. Samandari
at the Qu’Appelle Institute speak of his belief that Saskatoon would be a
“spark”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">One of the newly enrolled believers was a member of a band;
all became Baha’is. On World Religion Day, three high school students came to a
meeting, stayed to a fireside and soon there were nine believers of high school
age. The excitement and momentum began to build, and more and more youth
declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. An interesting aspect was the diversity
of the new believers. They were not just from one segment of Saskatoon society,
thus the influence was felt in many circles. The latest surge of new
enrollments is from the university campus. There is now a strong Baha’i group,
including both faculty and students.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">As can be imagined, such an influx especially of youth has
brought many challenges to the Assembly. In that first year the mobility of the
believers caused so many vacancies on the Assembly, that there had to be a
by-election at almost every Feast. This had a great deepening effect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The Assembly feels that the present stage of the community
requires a harnessing of the forces at work. Pioneers are going out to other
areas:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">one couple left recently for Inuvik; another is making plans
to fill an overseas goal. A new and larger community center is being obtained
to be used not only for teaching, deepening and proclamation, but also for
educational and cross-cultural activities for both Baha’is and the general
public. In connection with the latter, to illustrate how the community feels
under the protection of Bahá'u’lláh, one member mentioned that the response of
non-Baha'is to this undertaking was such that they felt, as he expressed it,
“umbrella forces”, at work in the city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Let us not forget those hardy souls who established the
Assembly there in the first place when the ground was not so fertile as it is
now. Wherever they are, they must be delighted to hear the story of Saskatoon,
thus far — a vivid and exciting part of the spiritual process we are all
involved in. And like the stories of all the Baha’i communities the world over,
it is one that is "to be continued”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">(Canadian Baha’i News, no. 233,
September-October 1969)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-86703079740951042732020-02-20T15:19:00.001-08:002020-12-29T14:05:16.376-08:00How Baha’u’llah managed to evade Prime Minister’s persistent attempts to take possession of one of His properties through fraudulent means and evil designs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorKffRX4iBNSe41Genri3vVhAmb3QhJca4A2ENVp5DKbFOANGZIEP-LnHQCD4Idi6Aig1_8LJVWws7gsoLjT-99ilF48CretSd5ru4YxOPkE7-mqZKk3kNWWHQAO10iaQ056ohZMY0XU/s1600/villages-9.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="67" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorKffRX4iBNSe41Genri3vVhAmb3QhJca4A2ENVp5DKbFOANGZIEP-LnHQCD4Idi6Aig1_8LJVWws7gsoLjT-99ilF48CretSd5ru4YxOPkE7-mqZKk3kNWWHQAO10iaQ056ohZMY0XU/s1600/villages-9.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">One day, as he [Hájí Mírzá Aqásí, the Grand Vazír of
Muhammad Sháh] was passing through the village of Quch-Hisar, which belonged to
Bahá’u’lláh, he was so impressed by the charm and beauty of that place and the
abundance of its water that he conceived the idea of becoming its owner.
Bahá’u’lláh, whom he had summoned to effect the immediate purchase of that
village, observed:</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">“Had this property been exclusively mine own, I would
willingly have complied with your desire. This transitory life, with all its
sordid possessions, is worthy of no attachment in my eyes, how much less this
small and insignificant estate. As a number of other people, both rich and
poor, some of full age and some still minors, share with me the ownership of
this property, I would request you to refer this matter to them, and to seek
their consent.” Unsatisfied with this reply, Hájí Mírzá Aqásí sought, through
fraudulent means, to achieve his purpose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">So soon as Bahá’u’lláh was informed of his evil designs, He,
with the consent of all concerned, immediately transferred the title of the
property to the name of the sister of Muhammad Sháh, who had already repeatedly
expressed her desire to become its owner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The Hájí, furious at this transaction, ordered that the
estate should be forcibly seized, claiming that he already had purchased it
from its original possessor. The representatives of Hájí Mírzá Aqásí were
severely rebuked by the agents of the sister of the Sháh, and were requested to
inform their master of the determination of that lady to assert her rights. The
Hájí referred the case to Muhammad Sháh, and complained of the unjust treatment
to which he had been subjected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">That very night, the Sháh’s sister had acquainted him with
the nature of the transaction. “Many a time,” she said to her brother, “your
Imperial Majesty has graciously signified your desire that I should dispose of
the jewels with which I am wont to adorn myself in your presence, and with the
proceeds purchase some property. I have at last succeeded in fulfilling your
desire. Hájí Mírzá Aqásí, however, is now fully determined to seize it forcibly
from me.” The Sháh reassured his sister, and commanded the Hájí to forgo his
claim. The latter, in his despair, summoned Bahá’u’lláh to his presence and, by
every artifice, strove to discredit His name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">To the charges he brought against Him, Bahá’u’lláh
vigorously replied, and succeeded in establishing His innocence. In his
impotent rage, the Grand Vazír exclaimed: “What is the purpose of all this
feasting and banqueting in which you seem to delight? I, who am the Prime
Minister of the Sháhinsháh [King of Kings] of Persia, never receive the number
and variety of guests that crowd around your table every night. Why all this
extravagance and vanity? You surely must be meditating a plot against me.”
“Gracious God!” Bahá’u’lláh replied. “Is the man who, out of the abundance of
his heart, shares his bread with his fellow-men, to be accused of harbouring
criminal intentions?” Hájí Mírzá Aqásí was utterly confounded. He dared no
reply. Though supported by the combined ecclesiastical and civil powers of
Persia, he eventually found himself, in every contest he ventured against
Bahá’u’lláh, completely defeated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">('The Dawn-Breakers', translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-27562166451409204552020-01-08T07:32:00.000-08:002020-06-07T07:35:25.338-07:00Bahá’u’lláh’s father’s dream about Him when He was a child and the soothsayer’s amazing interpretation and prediction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFBkRyZHHoy99ouy7VruH0u-TwozP80rq1vY9v7ciyBHA9X3BV7wYoTqLsPOazW_4UQFxCOAO3WbK_1dTGOLpWgsqyLyHirf06uDeyp1SodMWDkyiux1V-xg-trAOBdnGKQC8WkVzm2o/s1600/0717_paintings-149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="67" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFBkRyZHHoy99ouy7VruH0u-TwozP80rq1vY9v7ciyBHA9X3BV7wYoTqLsPOazW_4UQFxCOAO3WbK_1dTGOLpWgsqyLyHirf06uDeyp1SodMWDkyiux1V-xg-trAOBdnGKQC8WkVzm2o/s1600/0717_paintings-149.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Bahá’u’lláh was still a child, the Vazír, His father,
dreamed a dream. Bahá’u’lláh appeared to him swimming in a vast, limitless
ocean. His body shone upon the waters with a radiance that illumined the sea.
Around His head, which could distinctly be seen above the waters, there
radiated, in all directions, His long, jet-black locks, floating in great
profusion above the waves. As he dreamed, a multitude of fishes gathered round
Him, each holding fast to the extremity of one hair. Fascinated by the
effulgence of His face, they followed Him in whatever direction He swam. Great
as was their number, and however firmly they clung to His locks, not one single
hair seemed to have been detached from His head, nor did the least injury
affect His person. Free and unrestrained, He moved above the waters and they
all followed Him.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Vazír, greatly impressed by this dream, summoned a
soothsayer, who had achieved fame in that region, and asked him to interpret it
for him. This man, as if inspired by a premonition of the future glory of
Bahá’u’lláh, declared: “The limitless ocean that you have seen in your dream, O
Vazír, is none other than the world of being. Single-handed and alone, your son
will achieve supreme ascendancy over it. Wherever He may please, He will
proceed unhindered. No one will resist His march, no one will hinder His
progress. The multitude of fishes signifies the turmoil which He will arouse
amidst the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Around Him will they gather, and
to Him will they cling. Assured of the unfailing protection of the Almighty,
this tumult will never harm His person, nor will His loneliness upon the sea of
life endanger His safety.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That soothsayer was subsequently taken to see Bahá’u’lláh.
He looked intently upon His face, and examined carefully His features. He was
charmed by His appearance, and extolled every trait of His countenance. Every
expression in that face revealed to his eyes a sign of His concealed glory. So
great was his admiration, and so profuse his praise of Bahá’u’lláh, that the
Vazír, from that day, became even more passionately devoted to his son. The
words spoken by that soothsayer served to fortify his hopes and confidence in Him.
Like Jacob, he desired only to ensure the welfare of his beloved Joseph, and to
surround Him with his loving protection. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Nabil ('The Dawn-Breakers, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-31474665653709871972019-12-20T07:19:00.000-08:002020-06-06T18:21:21.427-07:001844: A lonely youth’s encounter with Bahá’u’lláh by a roadside in Mazindaran and his amazing recognition of His station<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLa9c0FEF2rDMoZWnxnz8tuCpvywwxZhSka_fQoWeu6BlAOgFnUEDPhGzFq8vBoB2h-47-hHIUU2dNc7UUlZGnjLoL06RlVItuqZkqPzJpTscDt-aCCRy3ZWc3GW-LvUwZhSsUJiEjiN4/s1600/villages-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLa9c0FEF2rDMoZWnxnz8tuCpvywwxZhSka_fQoWeu6BlAOgFnUEDPhGzFq8vBoB2h-47-hHIUU2dNc7UUlZGnjLoL06RlVItuqZkqPzJpTscDt-aCCRy3ZWc3GW-LvUwZhSsUJiEjiN4/s1600/villages-6.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One day, in the course of one of His riding excursions into
the country, Bahá’u’lláh, accompanied by His companions, saw, seated by the
roadside, a lonely youth. His hair was dishevelled, and he wore the dress of a
dervish. By the side of a brook he had kindled a fire, and was cooking his food
and eating it. Approaching him, Bahá’u’lláh most lovingly enquired: “Tell Me,
dervish, what is it that you are doing?” “I am engaged in eating God,” he
bluntly replied. “I am cooking God and am burning Him.” The unaffected
simplicity of his manners and the candour of his reply pleased Bahá’u’lláh
extremely. He smiled at his remark and began to converse with him with
unrestrained tenderness and freedom. Within a short space of time, Bahá’u’lláh
had changed him completely. Enlightened as to the true nature of God, and with
a mind purged from the idle fancy of his own people, he immediately recognised
the Light which that loving Stranger had so unexpectedly brought him. That
dervish, whose name was Mustafá, became so enamoured with the teachings which
had been instilled into his mind that, leaving his cooking utensils behind, he
straightway arose and followed Bahá’u’lláh. On foot, behind His horse, and
inflamed with the fire of His love, he chanted merrily verses of a love-song
which he had composed on the spur of the moment and had dedicated to his
Beloved. “Thou art the Day-Star of guidance,” ran its glad refrain. “Thou art
the Light of Truth. Unveil Thyself to men, O Revealer of the Truth.” Although,
in later years, that poem obtained wide circulation among his people, and it
became known that a certain dervish, surnamed Majdhúb, and whose name was
Mustafá Big-i-Sanandají, had, without premeditation, composed it in praise of
his Beloved, none seemed to be aware to whom it actually referred, nor did
anyone suspect, at a time when Bahá’u’lláh was still veiled from the eyes of
men, that this dervish alone had recognised His station and discovered His
glory. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">('The Dawn-Breakers, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-25286035676719403242019-11-10T20:00:00.000-08:002020-05-22T07:20:28.796-07:00The story of how Mullá Husayn was able to discover Baha’u’llah in Tihran and have delivered to Him a scroll containing passages from the Writings of the Báb<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1r5Wow4sOCaoQFPSffN9Nv2COeVIorJ5jBSQf7H4j9n6Jr6j4cuFiCKj_xrcg1o4RbAzyi80vcgciWRmlDovTNCN2wJAUF0_LSF83iWIPPXK2CwtliYQhsMtJO-8ikpBmgMsZQIIpQc/s1600/Tehran+circa+1930s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1r5Wow4sOCaoQFPSffN9Nv2COeVIorJ5jBSQf7H4j9n6Jr6j4cuFiCKj_xrcg1o4RbAzyi80vcgciWRmlDovTNCN2wJAUF0_LSF83iWIPPXK2CwtliYQhsMtJO-8ikpBmgMsZQIIpQc/s320/Tehran+circa+1930s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tehran circa 1930s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mírzá Músá, Áqáy-i-Kalím, the brother of Bahá’u’lláh,
recounted to me </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">[Nabil]</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the following:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I have heard Mullá Muhammad-i-Mu’allim, a native of Núr, in
the province of Mázindarán, who was a fervent admirer of both Shaykh Ahmad and
Siyyid Kázim, relate this story:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘I was in those days recognised as one of the favoured
disciples of Hájí Mírzá Muhammad, and lived in the same school in which he
taught. My room adjoined his room, and we were closely associated together. On
the day that he was engaged in discussion with Mullá Husayn, I overheard their
conversation from beginning to end, and was deeply affected by the ardour, the
fluency, and learning of that youthful stranger. I was surprised at the evasive
answers, the arrogance, and contemptuous behaviour of Hájí Mírzá Muhammad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That day I felt strongly attracted by the charm of that
youth, and deeply resented the unseemly conduct of my teacher towards him. I
concealed my feelings, however, and pretended to ignore his discussions with
Mullá Husayn. I was seized with a passionate desire to meet the latter, and
ventured, at the hour of midnight, to visit him. He did not expect me, but I
knocked at his door, and found him awake seated beside his lamp. He received me
affectionately, and spoke to me with extreme courtesy and tenderness. I
unburdened my heart to him, and as I was addressing him, tears, which I could
not repress, flowed from my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I can now see,” he said, “the reason why I have chosen to
dwell in this place. Your teacher has contemptuously rejected this Message and
despised its Author. My hope is that his pupil may, unlike his master,
recognise its truth. What is your name, and which city is your home?” “My
name,” I replied, “is Mullá Muhammad, and my surname Mu’allim. My home is Núr,
in the province of Mázindarán.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Tell me,” further enquired Mullá Husayn, “is there to-day
among the family of the late Mírzá Buzurg-i-Núrí, who was so renowned for his
character, his charm, and artistic and intellectual attainments, anyone who has
proved himself capable of maintaining the high traditions of that illustrious
house?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Yea,” I replied, “among his sons now living, one has
distinguished Himself by the very traits which characterised His father. By His
virtuous life, His high attainments, His loving-kindness and liberality, He has
proved Himself a noble descendant of a noble father.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What is His occupation?” he asked me. “He cheers the
disconsolate and feeds the hungry,” I replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What of His rank and position?” “He has none,” I said,
“apart from befriending the poor and the stranger.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What is His name?” “Husayn-‘Alí.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“In which of the scripts of His father does He excel?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“His favourite script is shikastih-nasta’liq.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“How does He spend His time?” “He roams the woods and
delights in the beauties of the countryside.”</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What is His age?” “Eight and twenty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The eagerness with which Mullá Husayn questioned me, and the
sense of delight with which he welcomed every particular I gave him, greatly
surprised me. Turning to me, with his face beaming with satisfaction and joy,
he once more enquired: “I presume you often meet Him?” “I frequently visit His
home,” I replied. “Will you,” he said, “deliver into His hands a trust from
me?” “Most assuredly,” was my reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He then gave me a scroll wrapped in a piece of cloth, and
requested me to hand it to Him the next day at the hour of dawn. “Should He
deign to answer me,” he added, “will you be kind enough to acquaint me with His
reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I received the scroll from him and, at break of day, arose
to carry out his desire.’"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">('The Dawn-Breakers', translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-70953315597424685752019-10-17T16:05:00.000-07:002020-05-22T07:20:49.614-07:00How Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas recognized the Báb through Mullá Husayn in Isfahán<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZzLkVeiUT45JvaIS2cyi0Db9VhJzuj3ITqCUkDJns5Uhw_6sU18oQRka3_fG9NRgVx8bWhzhMQlyhxdOMPI6lV7YKE_10ufsYqfkxPiXgIhmPjuP8vG_78TUOvEWmP8n0eRnyRcvavM/s1600/Paintings-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZzLkVeiUT45JvaIS2cyi0Db9VhJzuj3ITqCUkDJns5Uhw_6sU18oQRka3_fG9NRgVx8bWhzhMQlyhxdOMPI6lV7YKE_10ufsYqfkxPiXgIhmPjuP8vG_78TUOvEWmP8n0eRnyRcvavM/s1600/Paintings-1-1.jpg" /></a><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas, was an outstanding believer who was
entitled Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq (The name of God, the Most Truthful) by
Baha’u’llah. He was appointed posthumously a Hand of the Cause by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from ‘Ministry of the Custodians’, and ‘The Revelation of Baha'u'llah,
vol. 4, by Adib Taherzadeh)</span> Here is the sweet story of how he recognized the
Báb:</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As soon as he [Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas] learned of the
arrival of Mullá Husayn in Isfáhán, he hastened to meet him. He gives the
following account of his first interview, which took place at night in the home
of Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alíy-i-Nahrí:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I asked Mullá Husayn to divulge the name of Him who claimed
to be the promised Manifestation. He replied: ‘To enquire about that name and
to divulge it are alike forbidden.’ ‘Would it, then, be possible,’ I asked,
‘for me, even as the Letters of the Living, to seek independently the grace of
the All-Merciful and, through prayer, to discover His identity?’ ‘The door of
His grace,’ he replied, ‘is never closed before the face of him who seeks to
find Him.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I immediately retired from his presence, and requested his
host to allow me the privacy of a room in his house where, alone and
undisturbed, I could commune with God. In the midst of my contemplation, I
suddenly remembered the face of a Youth whom I had often observed while in
Karbilá, standing in an attitude of prayer, with His face bathed in tears at
the entrance of the shrine of the Imám Husayn. That same countenance now
reappeared before my eyes. In my vision I seemed to behold that same face,
those same features, expressive of such joy as I could never describe. He
smiled as He gazed at me. I went towards Him, ready to throw myself at His
feet. I was bending towards the ground, when, lo! that radiant figure vanished
from before me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overpowered with joy and gladness, I ran out to meet Mullá
Husayn, who with transport received me and assured me that I had, at last,
attained the object of my desire. He bade me, however, repress my feelings.
‘Declare not your vision to anyone,’ he urged me; ‘the time for it has not yet
arrived. You have reaped the fruit of your patient waiting in Isfáhán. You
should now proceed to Kirmán, and there acquaint Hájí Mírzá Karím Khán with
this Message. From that place you should travel to Shíráz and endeavour to
rouse the people of that city from their heedlessness. I hope to join you in
Shíráz and share with you the blessings of a joyous reunion with our Beloved.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Nabil <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘The Dawn-Breakers’; translated and
edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-68312638556396674082019-09-23T19:18:00.000-07:002019-11-16T19:19:06.254-08:00The majesty of Baha'u'llah - by Adib Taherzadeh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUkjrdAjd3lk3fYCoQf3g2wWWEuXLWQ8rd7nj90kxIdvH-5O1i2ndgjr7_2og68s_upkBZP5XjMdUfMPm6rA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-41580166648435998512019-08-14T16:07:00.000-07:002020-02-02T11:11:40.434-08:00Being in love with the Blessed Beauty: “from the beginning of his life till the end”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXAQphmzpepvhh9XfjRFgheEyunXViKCY71sRLCIWfavzEcPgfuwUIzqZjdUR9iW3_J5P8UxSm3bM-cv-hjJgqKXab9YVQIM6WoNzDQ95B-I9I1ssTOQ5mJKKAUZWsI_MdvcbwTCHutM/s1600/Paintings-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXAQphmzpepvhh9XfjRFgheEyunXViKCY71sRLCIWfavzEcPgfuwUIzqZjdUR9iW3_J5P8UxSm3bM-cv-hjJgqKXab9YVQIM6WoNzDQ95B-I9I1ssTOQ5mJKKAUZWsI_MdvcbwTCHutM/s1600/Paintings-2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This honored man, Mírzá Mihdí, was from Káshán. In early
youth, under his father’s tutelage, he had studied sciences and arts, and had
become skilled in composing both prose and verse, as well as in producing
calligraphy in the style known as shikastih.1 He was singled out from his
fellows, head and shoulders above the rest. When still a child, he learned of
the Lord’s Advent, caught fire with love, and became one of those who “gave
their all to purchase Joseph.” He was chief of the yearning seekers, lord of
lovers; eloquently, he began to teach the Faith, and to prove the validity of
the Manifestation.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He made converts; and because he yearned after God, he
became a laughingstock in Káshán, disparaged by friend and stranger alike,
exposed to the taunts of his faithless companions. One of them said: “He has
lost his mind.” And another: “He is a public disgrace. Fortune has turned
against him. He is done for.” The bullies mocked him, and spared him nothing.
When life became untenable, and open war broke out, he left his homeland and
journeyed to Iraq, the focal center of the new Light, where he gained the
presence of all mankind’s Beloved.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He spent some time here, in the friends’ company, composing
verses that sang the praises of Bahá’u’lláh. Later he was given leave to return
home, and went back to live for a while in Káshán. But again, he was plagued by
yearning love, and could bear the separation no more. He returned, therefore,
to Baghdad, bringing with him his respected sister, the third consort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here he remained, under the bountiful protection of
Bahá’u’lláh, until the convoy left Iraq for Constantinople, at which time Mírzá
Mihdí was directed to remain behind and guard the Holy House. Restless,
consumed with longing, he stayed on. When the friends were banished from
Baghdad to Mosul, he was among the prisoners, a victim along with the others.
With the greatest hardship, he got to Mosul, and here fresh calamities awaited
him; he was ill almost all the time, he was an outcast, and destitute. Still he
endured it for a considerable period, was patient, retained his dignity, and
continually offered thanks. Finally he could bear the absence of Bahá’u’lláh no
longer. He sought permission, was granted leave to come, and set out for the
Most Great Prison.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because the way was long and hard, and he suffered cruelly
on the journey, when he finally reached the ‘Akká prison he was almost
helpless, and worn to the bone. It was during the time when the Blessed Beauty
was imprisoned within the citadel, at the center of the barracks. Despite the
terrible hardships, Mírzá Mihdí spent some days here, in great joy. To him, the
calamities were favors, the tribulations were Divine Providence, the
chastisement abounding grace; for he was enduring all this on the pathway of
God, and seeking to win His good pleasure. His illness worsened; from day to
day he failed; then at the last, under sheltering grace, he took his flight to
the inexhaustible mercy of the Lord.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This noble personage had been honored among men, but for
God’s love he lost both name and fame. He bore manifold misfortunes with never
a complaint. He was content with God’s decrees, and walked the ways of
resignation. The glance of Bahá’u’lláh’s favor was upon him; he was close to
the Divine Threshold. Thus, from the beginning of his life till the end, he
remained in one and the same inner state: immersed in an ocean of submission
and consent. “O my Lord, take me, take me!” he would cry, until at last he
soared away to the world that no man sees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">May God cause him to inhale the sweet scent of holiness in
the highest Paradise, and refresh him with the crystalline wine cup, tempered
at the camphor fountain. Unto him be salutations and praise. His fragrant tomb
is in ‘Akká. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- ‘Abdu’l-Baha <span style="font-size: x-small;">(From a talk; ‘Memorials of the Faithful’)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-51018502575301835962019-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:002020-02-02T11:19:05.718-08:00Being present when ‘Abdu’l-Baha revealed a Tablet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot85ZBQVklAlgyFHrgY8Tw4R4Ve4ByMfQUTnej34w79jxzKseNHxpwluHnVoPLHXPpMNKap1rf5Bz-hNwE-bvXiT9ordeVWiPR-3hRstSFZ_JYA9IZPTPJTzy7DVwDXH00CFZN1-SVDY/s1600/Paintings-3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot85ZBQVklAlgyFHrgY8Tw4R4Ve4ByMfQUTnej34w79jxzKseNHxpwluHnVoPLHXPpMNKap1rf5Bz-hNwE-bvXiT9ordeVWiPR-3hRstSFZ_JYA9IZPTPJTzy7DVwDXH00CFZN1-SVDY/s1600/Paintings-3-1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One night we were in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha along with
the rest of the pilgrims. While busy writing, the Centre of the Covenant was
also attending to all the incoming guests, both Baha'is and non-Baha'is. A few
hours after sunset, the non-Baha'is were granted permission to take their
leave, after which 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed the friends. Gradually, signs of
weariness began to appear in His blessed face; He dismissed everyone with the
words, "Go in God's care." When all stood up, the Muslim Shaykh
humbly put forward a request: "I beg that a Tablet may be revealed in the
honour of Shaykh Hadi so that I may carry it to him." (The late Aqa Shaykh
Hadi was the most erudite and highest-ranking Muslim divine in Iran. He had a
peculiar creed. Some suspected that he was secretly a Baha'i and some believed
him to be a Babi; in any case, he had a large and devoted following.)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Abdu'l-Baha replied, "I have written to him recently;
that should suffice."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But the Shaykh insisted, "I wish to be granted the
honour of carrying to him such a gift."</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘Abdu'l-Baha then consented, "Very well, I shall write
it."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we all began to leave the room, the Master said to Aqa
Mirza Nuru'd-Din, "I am very busy, but I do not want to put this off. I
may as well write it now, or I won't have another opportunity to do so. So come
and sit down and I will dictate a few words." Pen in hand, Aqa Mirza
Nuru'd-Din complied immediately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The melodious chant of the Master filled the air, as divine
verses in the Arabic tongue, indescribably eloquent and sublime, and with the
rapidity of copious rain, flowed from His lips. God be praised, the atmosphere
that dominated the hearts and the minds of those present is beyond description.
The awesome power of that long, eloquent Tablet so overwhelmed every faculty of
my being that neither pen nor tongue can describe it. As the poet says:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As in a dream, yet indescribable,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nor is the world ready to hear it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At last the Tablet was completed; at His command, "Go
in God's care," we left the room, unconscious of ourselves and of each
other and removed from this world as each of us sought our separate ways back
to the pilgrim house.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Darkness had enveloped the city, and I found myself walking
in a very dark, narrow alleyway. Suddenly and quite unexpectedly I heard the
voices of two men speaking Persian. One was saying, "It certainly was a
strange phenomenon. It affected me deeply.". The other agreed, "Yes,
the words were not His; yet He who spoke them spoke the truth."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They continued in this vein, to the effect that the words
had been revealed through divine inspiration from the unseen world. These were
the same two individuals who had asked to hand-carry Mirza Hadi's Tablet to
Tehran. That night at the dinner table they seemed intoxicated, as though they
had just awakened from a trance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next day, having received their instructions to depart, they
began their return journey utterly transformed, carrying with them Mirza Hadi's
Tablet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is thus clear that the magnetic attraction of the divine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">utterance enraptured not only the spirits of the believers,
but also stole the unyielding hearts of the non-believers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Dr. Youness
Afroukhteh <span style="font-size: x-small;">(‘Memories of Nine Years in ‘Akka)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603641394515181375.post-26785269867537090212019-05-13T01:30:00.000-07:002020-02-01T16:09:16.753-08:00circa 1841, Karbilá: a disciple of Siyyid Kázim describes what happened when the Báb made a quiet appearance at one of Siyyid Kázim’s gatherings<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFdOESHgUosfxRbqvKqaZhYVW4GWeMOzxzCPpaLDtJ0Svznjmu_W4-TEE1DawEK5_50xVvqjXMe86T9l7hrZFcDJvdiZ3rJWZ7b4sxwOqbxF4sHz5qtmtJ1DsM0p8hnIxgqgqS9Yw_XM/s1600/Karbila-1932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFdOESHgUosfxRbqvKqaZhYVW4GWeMOzxzCPpaLDtJ0Svznjmu_W4-TEE1DawEK5_50xVvqjXMe86T9l7hrZFcDJvdiZ3rJWZ7b4sxwOqbxF4sHz5qtmtJ1DsM0p8hnIxgqgqS9Yw_XM/s320/Karbila-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Karbila, 1932 <br />(Wikipedia)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Three days later, I saw that same Youth </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">[the Báb]</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> arrive and
take His seat in the midst of the company of the assembled disciples of Siyyid
Kázim. He sat close to the threshold, and with the same modesty and dignity of
bearing listened to the discourse of the Siyyid. As soon as his eyes fell upon
that Youth, the Siyyid discontinued his address and held his peace. Whereupon
one of his disciples begged him to resume the argument which he had left
unfinished. ‘What more shall I say?’ replied Siyyid Kázim, as he turned his
face toward the Báb. ‘Lo, the Truth is more manifest than the ray of light that
has fallen upon that lap!’ I immediately observed that the ray to which the
Siyyid referred had fallen upon the lap of that same Youth whom we had recently
visited.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘Why is it,’ that questioner enquired, ‘that you neither
reveal His name nor identify His person?’ To this the Siyyid replied by
pointing with his finger to his own throat, implying that were he to divulge
His name, they both would be put to death instantly. This added still further
to my perplexity. I had already heard my teacher observe that so great is the perversity
of this generation, that were he to point with his finger to the promised One
and say: ‘He indeed is the Beloved, the Desire of your hearts and mine,’ they
would still fail to recognise and acknowledge Him. I saw the Siyyid actually
point out with his finger the ray of light that had fallen on that lap, and yet
none among those who were present seemed to apprehend its meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I, for my part, was convinced that the Siyyid himself could
never be the promised One, but that a mystery inscrutable to us all, lay
concealed in that strange and attractive Youth. Several times I ventured to
approach Siyyid Kázim and seek from him an elucidation of this mystery. Every
time I approached him, I was overcome by a sense of awe which his personality
so powerfully inspired. Many a time I heard him remark: ‘O Shaykh Hasan,
rejoice that your name is Ḥasan [praiseworthy]; Ḥasan your beginning, and Hasan
your end. You have been privileged to attain to the day of Shaykh Ahmad, you
have been closely associated with me, and in the days to come yours shall be
the inestimable joy of beholding “what eye hath seen not, ear heard not, nor
any heart conceived.”’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunúzí <span style="font-size: x-small;">([A disciple of Siyyid Kázim],
quoted by Nabil; ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)</span></span></div>
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