In Baghdad We Ourselves would go and take a seat in the coffee-house
to meet the people - friends and acquaintances, strangers and inquirers alike.
We brought those who were remote near to the Faith, and led many a soul into
the fold of the Cause. Thus We served the Cause of God, gave victory to His
Word and exalted His Name. The Most Great Branch undertook the same task and served
in the same way, to a much greater degree, in Adrianople, and then to a far
greater extent and with greater efficacy, in 'Akka. The same hardships and
afflictions which were Ours in the early days befell Him. In Baghdad We were
not prisoners, and the Cause of God had not obtained even a fraction of the
fame which it has gained today. At that time the number of its opponents and
adversaries and ill-wishers was far less than today. In the Land of Mystery
[Adrianople] We used to meet with some and let them come into Our presence. But
in the Most Great Prison We do not meet the people who are not within the fold
of the Cause. We have closed the doors of social intercourse. It is the Master
Who has taken every trouble upon Himself. For Our sake, in order that We may
have ease and comfort, He faces the world and its peoples. For Us He has become
a mighty stronghold, a mighty armour. At first He rented the Mansion of Mazra'ih.
We were there for a while. Then he secured for Us this Mansion of Bahji. He has
arisen with all His power to serve the Faith, and confirmation crowns His effort.
This work so occupies His days and nights that He is perforce kept away from
Bahji for weeks. We consort with the Friends and reveal His [God's] Word. He,
the Master, is the target and bears all hardships.
- Baha’u’llah (Words of Baha’u’llah
recorded by Haji Mirza Haydar-Ali, quoted by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi in ‘’Abdu’l-Baha
- The Center of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah’)
