Chapter 10
This was a patient and long-enduring man, a native of Ka_sh_an. He was one of the very earliest believers. The down was not yet upon his cheek when he drank of the love of God, saw with his own eyes the heavenly table spread out before him, and received his faith and his portion of abounding grace.
In a little while he left his home and set out for the rose garden that was Ba_gh_dad, where he achieved the honor of entering the presence of Baha'u'llah. He spent some time in 'Iraq, and won a crown of endless favor: he would enter the presence of Baha'u'llah and many a time would accompany Him on foot to the Shrine of the Two Kazims; this was his great delight.
'Abdu'r-Rahman was among the prisoners exiled to Mosul, and later he fairly dragged himself to the fortress at Akka. Here he lived, blessed by Baha'u'llah. He carried on a small business, trifling, but he was content with it, happy and at peace. Thus, walking the path of righteousness, he lived to be eighty years old, at which time, serenely patient, he soared away to the Threshold of God. May the Lord enfold him there with His bounty and compassion, and clothe him in the garment of forgiveness. His luminous grave is in Akka.
MUHAMMAD-IBRAHIM-I-TABRIZI
This man, noble and high-minded, was the son of the respected 'Abdu'l-Fattah who was in the Akka prison. Learning that his father was a captive there, he came with all speed to the fortress so that he too might have a share of those dire afflictions. He was a man wise, understanding, in a tumult from drinking the wine of the love of God, but with a wonderful, basic serenity and calm.
He had inherited the nature of his father, and he exemplified the saying that the child is the secret essence of its sire. For this reason, over a long period, he found delight in the neighborhood of the Divine Presence, enjoying utter peace. Daytimes, he would carry on his trade, and at night he would come in all haste to the door of the house, to be with the friends. He was close to all those who were staunch and true; he was full of courage; he was grateful to God, abstemious and chaste, expectant of and relying on the bounty and grace of the Lord. He made his father's lamp to shine, brightened the household of 'Abdu'l-Fattah, and left descendants to remain behind him in this swiftly passing world.
He always did what he could to provide for the happiness of the believers; he always saw to their well-being. He was sagacious, grave, and steadfast. By God's grace, he stayed loyal to the end, and sound in faith. May God give him to drink from the cup of forgiveness; may he sip from the spring of God's bounty and good pleasure; may God raise him up to the heights of Divine bestowal. His sweet-scented tomb is in Akka.
MUHAMMAD-'ALIY-I-ARDIKANI
In the flower of tender youth, Muhammad-'Ali, the illumined, heard the cry of God, and lost his heart to heavenly grace. He entered the service of the Afnan, offshoot of the Holy Tree, and lived happy and content. This was how he came to the city of Akka, and was for quite a time present at the Sacred Threshold, winning a crown of lasting glory. The eye of Baha'u'llah's grace and favor was upon him. He served with a loyal heart. He had a happy nature, a comely face; he was a man believing, seeking, tested and tried.
During the days of Baha'u'llah, Muhammad-'Ali remained steadfast, and after the Supreme Affliction his heart did not fail him, for he had drunk the wine of the Covenant and his thoughts were fixed on the bounties of God. He moved to Haifa and lived, a firm believer, near the Haziratu'l-Quds by the Holy Shrine on Mount Carmel till his final breath, when death came and the carpet of his earthly life was rolled up and put away.
This man was a true servant of the Threshold, a good friend to the believers. All were pleased with him, finding him an excellent companion, gentle and mild. May God succor him in His exalted Kingdom, and give him a home in the Abha Realm, and send upon him abounding grace from the gardens of Heaven--the place of meeting, the place of the mystical contemplation of God. His amber-scented dust is in Haifa.
HAJI AQAY-I-TABRIZI
Early in his youth this spiritual man, who came from Tabriz, had sensed the mystic knowledge and drunk the heady wine of God, and he remained staunch as ever in the Faith during his years of helpless age.
He lived for a time in A_dh_irbayjan, enamored of the Lord. When he became widely known thereabouts as one bearing the name of God, the people ruined his life. His relatives and friends turned against him, finding a new excuse to hound him with every passing day. Finally he broke up his home, took his family and fled to Adrianople. He reached there during the close of the Adrianople period and was taken prisoner by the oppressors.
Along with us homeless wanderers, and under the protection of the Ancient Beauty, he came to the Most Great Prison and was a confidant and companion, sharing with us the calamities and tribulations, humble and long-enduring. Afterward, when the restrictions were somewhat relaxed, he engaged in trade, and through the bounty of Baha'u'llah was comfortable and at peace. But his body had become enfeebled from the earlier hardships, and all the suffering, and his faculties had deteriorated; so that ultimately he fell ill, beyond hope of a remedy; and not far from Baha'u'llah, and shadowed by His protection, he hastened away from this least of worlds to the high Heavens, from this dark place to the land of lights. May God immerse him in the waters of forgiveness; may He bring him into the gardens of Paradise, and there keep him safe forevermore. His pure dust rests in Akka.
QULAM-'ALIY-I-NAJJAR
This man, a carpenter and a master craftsman, came from Ka_sh_an. For faith and certitude, he was like a sword drawn from the scabbard. He was well known in his own city as a man righteous, true and worthy of trust. He was high-minded, abstemious and chaste. When he became a believer, his urgent longing to meet Baha'u'llah could not be stilled; full of joyous love, he went out of the Land of Kaf (Ka_sh_an) and traveled to 'Iraq, where he beheld the splendor of the rising Sun.
He was a mild man, patient, quiet, mostly keeping to himself. In Ba_gh_dad, he worked at his craft, was in touch with the friends, and sustained by the presence of Baha'u'llah. For some time he lived in utter happiness and peace. Then those who had been taken prisoner were sent away to Mosul, and he was among the victims and like them exposed to the wrath of the oppressors. He remained in captivity for quite a while and when freed came to Akka. Here too he was a friend to the prisoners and in the Fortress he continued to practice his skill. As usual he was inclined to solitude, apt to stay apart from friend and stranger alike, and much of the time lived by himself.
Then the supreme ordeal, the great desolation, came upon us. Qulam-'Ali took on the carpentry work of the Holy Tomb, exerting all his sure powers. To this day, the glass roof which is over the inner courtyard of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah remains as the product of his skill. He was a man crystal clear of heart. His face shone; his inner condition was constant; at no time was he changeable or unstable. He was staunch, loving, and true till his last breath.
After some years in this neighborhood, he rose upward to the neighborhood of the all-embracing mercy of God, and became a friend to those who dwell in the high Heavens. He had the honor of meeting Baha'u'llah in both worlds. This is the most precious bestowal, the costliest of all gifts. To him be salutations and praise. His bright grave is in Akka. Jinab-i-Munib, upon him be the Glory of the All-Glorious
His name was Mirza Aqa and he was spirit itself. He came from Ka_sh_an. In the days of the Bab, he was drawn to the sweet savors of God; it was then he caught fire. He was a fine youth, handsome, full of charm and grace. He was a calligrapher second to none, a poet, and he had as well a remarkable singing voice. He was wise and perceptive; staunch in the Faith of God; a flame of God's love, severed from all but God.
During the years when Baha'u'llah resided in 'Iraq, Jinab-i-Munib left Ka_sh_an and hastened to His presence. He went to live in a small and humble house, barely managed to subsist, and set about committing to writing the words of God. On his brow, the bestowals of the Manifestation were clear to see. In all this mortal world he had only one possession, his daughter; and even his daughter he had left behind in Persia, as he hurried away to 'Iraq.
At the time when, with all pomp and ceremony, Baha'u'llah and His retinue departed from Ba_gh_dad, Jinab-i-Munib accompanied the party on foot. The young man had been known in Persia for his easy and agreeable life and his love of pleasure; also for being somewhat soft and delicate, and used to having his own way. It is obvious what a person of this type endured, going on foot from Ba_gh_dad to Constantinople. Still, he gladly measured out the desert miles, and he spent his days and nights chanting prayers, communing with God and calling upon Him.
He was a close companion of mine on that journey. There were nights when we would walk, one to either side of the howdah of Baha'u'llah, and the joy we had defies description. Some of those nights he would sing poems; among them he would chant the odes of Hafiz, like the one that begins, "Come, let us scatter these roses, let us pour out this wine,"(84) and that other:
To our King though we bow the knee, We are kings of the morning star. No changeable colors have we-- Red lions, black dragons we are!
The Blessed Beauty, at the time of His departure from Constantinople, directed Jinab-i-Munib to return to Persia and promulgate the Faith. Accordingly he went back, and over a considerable period he rendered outstanding services, especially in Tihran. Then he came again, from Persia to Adrianople, and entered the presence of Baha'u'llah, enjoying the privilege of attending upon Him. At the time of the greatest catastrophe, that is, the exile to Akka, he was made a prisoner on this Pathway and traveled, by now feeble and ill, with the party of Baha'u'llah.
He had been stricken by a severe ailment and was pitifully weak. Still, he would not agree to remaining behind in Adrianople where he could receive treatment, because he wanted to sacrifice his life and fall at the feet of his Lord. We journeyed along till we reached the sea. He was now so feeble that it took three men to lift him and carry him onto the ship. Once he was on board, his condition grew so much worse that the captain insisted we put him off the ship, but because of our repeated pleas he waited till we reached Smyrna. In Smyrna, the captain addressed Colonel Umar Bayk, the government agent who accompanied us, and told him: "If you don't put him ashore, I will do it by force, because the ship will not accept passengers in this condition."
We were compelled, then, to take Jinab-i-Munib to the hospital at Smyrna. Weak as he was, unable to utter a word, he dragged himself to Baha'u'llah, lay down at His feet, and wept. On the countenance of Baha'u'llah as well, there was intense pain.
We carried Jinab-i-Munib to the hospital, but the functionaries allowed us not more than one hour's time. We laid him down on the bed; we laid his fair head on the pillow; we held him and kissed him many times. Then they forced us away. It is clear how we felt. Whenever I think of that moment, the tears come; my heart is heavy and I summon up the remembrance of what he was. A great man; infinitely wise, he was, steadfast, modest and grave; and there was no one like him for faith and certitude. In him the inner and outer perfections, the spiritual and physical, were joined together. That is why he could receive endless bounty and grace.
His grave is in Smyrna, but it is off by itself, and deserted. Whenever this can be done, the friends must search for it, and that neglected dust must be changed into a much-frequented shrine,(85) so that pilgrims who visit there may breathe in the sweet scent of his last resting-place.
MIRZA MUSTAFA NARAQI
Among that company of pure and goodly souls was Mirza Mustafa, a leading citizen of Naraq and one of the earliest believers. His face shone with the love of God. His mind was concerned with the anemones of mystic meanings, fair as meadows and beds of flowers.
It was in the days of the Bab that he first set his lips to the intoxicating cup of spiritual truth, and he had a strange tumult in his brain, a fierce yearning in his heart. In the path of God he threw down whatever he possessed; he gambled everything away, gave up his home, his kin, his physical well-being, his peace of mind. Like a fish on the sand, he struggled to reach the water of life. He came to 'Iraq, joined the friends of his soul, and entered the presence of Baha'u'llah. For some time he lived there, joyful and content, receiving endless bounty. Then he was sent back to Persia, where, to the utmost of his capacity, he served the Faith. He was a whole and accomplished man, staunch, firmly rooted as the hills; sound, and worthy of trust. To him, in all that turmoil and panic, the wild dogs howling were only buzzing flies; tests and trials rested his mind; when cast into the fire of afflictions that broke out, he proved to be shining gold.
On the day when the convoy of Baha'u'llah was leaving Constantinople for Adrianople, Mirza Mustafa arrived from Persia. There was no opportunity for him to reach Baha'u'llah except once; and he was thereupon directed to return to Persia. At such a moment he had the honor of being received.
When Mirza Mustafa reached A_dh_irbayjan, he began to spread the Faith. Day and night he remained in a state of prayer, and there in Tabriz he drank of a brimming cup. His fervor increased, his teaching raised a tumult. Then the eminent scholar, the renowned _Sh_ay_kh_ Ahmad-i-_Kh_urasani, came to A_dh_irbayjan and the two of them joined forces. The result was such overwhelming spiritual fire that they taught the Faith openly and publicly and the people of Tabriz rose up in wrath.
The farra_sh_es hunted them down, and caught Mirza Mustafa. But then the oppressors said, "Mirza Mustafa had two long locks of hair. This cannot be the right man." At once, Mirza Mustafa took off his hat and down fell the locks of hair. "Behold!" he told them. "I am the one." They arrested him then. They tortured him and _Sh_ay_kh_ Ahmad until finally, in Tabriz, those two great men drained the cup of death and, martyred, hastened away to the Supreme Horizon.
At the place where they were to be killed, Mirza Mustafa cried out: "Kill me first, kill me before _Sh_ay_kh_ Ahmad, that I may not see them shed his blood!"
Their greatness has been recorded for all time in the Writings of Baha'u'llah. They received many a Tablet from Him, and after their death He set down, with His exalted pen, the anguish they endured.
From youth till old age, this illustrious man, Mirza Mustafa, devoted his entire life to service on the pathway of God. Today he dwells in the all-glorious Realm, in the neighborhood of the ineffable mercy of God, and he rejoices with exceeding gladness, and he celebrates the praise of his Lord. Blessedness be his, and a goodly home.(86) To him be tidings of great joy, from the Lord of Lords. May God grant him an exalted station, in that high Company.
ZAYNU'L-MUQARRABIN
This distinguished man was one of the greatest of all the Bab's companions and all the loved ones of Baha'u'llah. When he lived under Islam, he was already famed for his purity and holiness of life. He was talented and highly accomplished in many directions. He was the leader and spiritual exemplar of the entire population of Najaf-Abad, and the eminent of that area showed him unbounded respect. When he spoke out, his was the deciding opinion; when he passed judgment, it took effect; for he was known to all as the standard, and the authority of last resort.
He had no sooner learned of the Bab's Declaration than he cried out from the depths of his heart, "O our Lord! we have indeed heard the voice of one that called. He called us to the Faith--'Believe ye on your Lord'--and we have believed."(87) He rid himself of all impeding veils; his doubts dispelled, he began to extol and glorify the Beauty promised from of old. In his own home, and at Isfahan, he became notorious for declaring far and wide that the advent of the long-desired One had come to pass. By the hypocrites, he was mocked, cursed and tormented. As for the people, "the mass, as a snake in the grass," who had worshiped him before, now rose up to do him harm. Every day brought on a fresh cruelty, a new torment from his oppressors. He endured it all, and went on teaching with great eloquence. He remained staunch, unmoved, as their wrath increased. In his hands he held out a full cup of Divine glad tidings, offering to all who came that heady draught of the knowledge of God. He was utterly without fear, knew nothing of danger, and swiftly followed the holy path of the Lord.
After the attempt on the _Sh_ah, however, there was no shelter anywhere; no evening, no morning, without intense affliction. And since his staying on in Najaf-Abad at such a time was a great danger to the believers, he left there and traveled to 'Iraq. It was during the period when the Blessed Beauty was in Kurdistan, when He had gone into seclusion and was living in the cave on Sar-Galu, that Jinab-i-Zayn arrived in Ba_gh_dad. But his hopes were dashed, his heart grieved, for all was silence: there was no word of the Cause of God, no name nor fame of it; there were no gatherings, no call was being raised. Yahya, terror stricken, had vanished into some dark hiding place. Torpid, flaccid, he had made himself invisible. Try as he might, Jinab-i-Zayn could find not one soul. He met on a single occasion with His Eminence Kalim. But it was a period when great caution was being exercised by the believers, and he went on to Karbila. He spent some time there, and occupied himself with copying out the Writings, after which he returned home to Najaf-Abad. Here the foul persecutions and attacks of his relentless enemies could hardly be endured.
But when the Trump had been sounded a second time,(88) he was restored to life. To the tidings of Baha'u'llah's advent his soul replied; to the drum beat, "Am I not your Lord?" his heart drummed back: "Yea, verily!"(89) Eloquently, he taught again, using both rational and historical proofs to establish that He Whom God Shall Manifest--the Promised One of the Bab--had indeed appeared. He was like refreshing waters to those who thirsted, and to seekers, a clear answer from the Concourse on high. In his writing and speaking, he was first among the righteous, in his elucidations and commentaries a mighty sign of God.
In Persia his life was in imminent peril; and since remaining at Najaf-Abad would have stirred up the agitators and brought on riots, he hastened away to Adrianople, seeking sanctuary with God, and crying out as he went, "Lord, Lord, here am I!" Wearing the lover's pilgrim dress, he reached the Mecca of his longing. For some time he tarried there, in the presence of Baha'u'llah, after which he was commanded to leave, with Jinab-i-Mirza Ja'far-i-Yazdi, and promulgate the Faith. He returned to Persia and began to teach most eloquently, so that the glad tidings of the Lord's advent resounded to the high heavens. In the company of Mirza Ja'far he traveled everywhere, through cities flourishing and ruined, spreading the good news that the Blessed Beauty was now manifest.
Once again, he returned to 'Iraq, where he was the center of every gathering, and rejoiced his hearers. At all times, he gave wise counsel; at all times he was consumed with the love of God.
When the believers were taken prisoner in 'Iraq and banished to Mosul, Jinab-i-Zayn became their chief. He remained for some time in Mosul, a consolation to the rest, working to solve their many problems. He would kindle love in people's hearts, and make them kind to one another. Later he asked for permission to attend upon Baha'u'llah; when this was granted he arrived at the Prison and had the honor of entering the presence of his Well-Beloved. He then busied himself with writing down the sacred verses, and encouraging the friends. He was love itself to the emigrants, and warmed the travelers' hearts. He never rested for a moment, and received new grace and bounty every day, meanwhile taking down the Baha'i Scriptures with faultless care.
From his early years till his last breath, this eminent man never failed in service to the Manifestation. After the ascension he was consumed with such grieving, such constant tears and anguish, that as the days passed by, he wasted away. He remained faithful to the Covenant, and was a close companion to this servant of the Light of the World, but he longed to rise out of this life, and awaited his departure from day to day. At last, serene and happy, rejoicing in the tidings of the Kingdom, he soared away to that mysterious land. There he was loosed from every sorrow, and in the gathering-place of splendors he was immersed in light.
Unto him be salutations and praise from the luminous Realm, and the glory of the All-Glorious from the Concourse on high, and great joy in that Kingdom which endures forever. May God provide him with an exalted station in the Abha Paradise.
AZIM-I-TAFRISHI
This man of God came from the district of Tafri_sh_. He was detached from the world, fearless, independent of kindred and stranger alike. He was one of the earliest believers, and belonged to the company of the faithful. It was in Persia that he won the honor of belief, and began to assist the friends; he was a servant to every believer, a trusted helper to every traveler. With Musay-i-Qumi, upon whom be the glory of God, he came to 'Iraq, received his portion of bounty from the Light of the World, and was honored with entering the presence of Baha'u'llah, attending upon Him and becoming the object of bestowals and grace.
After a time, Azim and Haji Mirza Musa went back to Persia, where he continued to render service to the friends, purely for God's sake. Without wage or stipend he served Mirza Nasru'llah of Tafri_sh_ for a number of years, his faith and certitude growing stronger with every passing day. Mirza Nasru'llah then left Persia for Adrianople, and in his company came Jinab-i-'Azim, and entered the presence of Baha'u'llah. He kept on serving with love and loyalty, purely for the sake of God; and when the convoy departed for Akka, Azim received the distinction of accompanying Baha'u'llah, and he entered the Most Great Prison.
In the prison he was chosen to serve the Household; he became the water carrier both within doors and on the outside. He undertook many hard tasks in the barracks. He had no rest at all, day or night. Azim--"the great, the magnificent"--was magnificent as to character. He was patient, long-suffering, forbearing, shunning the stain of this earth. And since he was the family water carrier, he had the honor of coming into Baha'u'llah's presence every day.
He was a good companion to all the friends, a consolation to their hearts; he brought happiness to all of them, the present and the absent as well. Many and many a time, Baha'u'llah was heard to express His approval of this man. He always maintained the same inner condition; he was constant, never subject to change. He was always happy-looking. He did not know the meaning of fatigue. He was never despondent. When anyone asked a service of him, he performed it at once. He was staunch and firm in his faith, a tree that grew in the scented garden of God's tenderness.