Memorials of the Faithful Part 14

Mercies be upon A?im from the Kingdom of Divine compa.s.sion; G.o.d's glory be upon him, at nightfall and the rising of the sun.

MiRZa JA'FAR-I-YAZDi

This knight of the battlefield was one of the most learned of seekers after truth, well versed in many branches of knowledge. For a long time he was in the schools, specializing in the fundamentals of religion and religious jurisprudence, and making researches into philosophy and metaphysics, logic and history, the contemplative and the narrated sciences.(90) He began, however, to note that his fellows were arrogant and self-satisfied, and this repelled him. It was then that he heard the cry out of the Supreme Concourse, and without a moment's hesitation he raised up his voice and shouted, "Yea, verily!"; and he repeated the words, "O our Lord! We have heard the voice of one that called. He called us to the Faith-'Believe ye on your Lord'-and we have believed."(91)

When he saw the great tumult and the riots in Yazd, he left his homeland and went to Najaf, the n.o.ble city; here for safety's sake he mingled with the scholars of religion, becoming renowned among them for his own wide knowledge. Then, listening to the voice from Ba_gh_dad, he hastened there, and changed his mode of dress. That is, he put a layman's hat on his head, and went to work as a carpenter to earn his living. He traveled once to ?ihran, returned, and sheltered by the grace of Baha'u'llah was patient and content, rejoicing in his garb of poverty. In spite of his great learning he was humble, self-effacing, lowly. He kept silent at all times, and was a good companion to every sort of man.

On the journey from 'Iraq to Constantinople, Mirza Ja'far was one of Baha'u'llah's retinue, and in seeing to the needs of the friends, he was a partner to this servant. When we would come to a stopping-place the believers, exhausted by the long hours of travel, would rest or sleep.

Mirza Ja'far and I would go here and there to the surrounding villages to find oats, straw and other provisions for the caravan.(92) Since there was a famine in that area, it sometimes happened that we would be roaming from village to village from after the noon hour until half the night was gone.

As best we could, we could procure whatever was available, then return to the convoy.

Mirza Ja'far was patient and long-suffering, a faithful attendant at the Holy Threshold. He was a servant to all the friends, working day and night. A quiet man, sparing of speech, in all things relying entirely upon G.o.d. He continued to serve in Adrianople until the banishment to Akka was brought about and he too was made a prisoner. He was grateful for this, continually offering thanks, and saying, "Praise be to G.o.d! I am in the fully-laden Ark!"(93)

The Prison was a garden of roses to him, and his narrow cell a wide and fragrant place. At the time when we were in the barracks he fell dangerously ill and was confined to his bed. He suffered many complications, until finally the doctor gave him up and would visit him no more. Then the sick man breathed his last. Mirza aqa Jan ran to Baha'u'llah, with word of the death. Not only had the patient ceased to breathe, but his body was already going limp. His family were gathered about him, mourning him, shedding bitter tears. The Blessed Beauty said, "Go; chant the prayer of Ya _Sh_afi-O Thou, the Healer-and Mirza Ja'far will come alive. Very rapidly, he will be as well as ever." I reached his bedside. His body was cold and all the signs of death were present.

Slowly, he began to stir; soon he could move his limbs, and before an hour had pa.s.sed he lifted his head, sat up, and proceeded to laugh and tell jokes.

He lived for a long time after that, occupied as ever with serving the friends. This giving service was a point of pride with him: to all, he was a servant. He was always modest and humble, calling G.o.d to mind, and to the highest degree full of hope and faith. Finally, while in the Most Great Prison, he abandoned this earthly life and winged his way to the life beyond.

Greetings and praise be unto him; upon him be the glory of the All-Glorious, and the favoring glances of the Lord. His luminous grave is in Akka.

?USAYN-aQaY-I-TABRiZi

This man who was close to the Divine Threshold was the respected son of 'Ali-'Askar-i-Tabrizi. Full of yearning love, he came with his father from Tabriz to Adrianople, and by his own wish, went on with joy and hope to the Most Great Prison. From the day of his arrival at the fortress of Akka he took over the coffee service, and waited upon the friends. This accomplished man was so patient, so docile, that over a forty-year period, despite extreme difficulties (for day and night, friend and stranger alike thronged the doors), he attended upon each and every one who came, faithfully helping them all. During all that time ?usayn-aqa never offended a soul, nor did anyone, where he was concerned, utter a single complaint. This was truly a miracle, and no one else could have established such a record of service. He was always smiling, attentive as to the tasks committed to his care, known as a man to trust. In the Cause of G.o.d he was staunch, proud and true; in times of calamity he was patient and long-suffering.

After the ascension of Baha'u'llah the fires of tests leaped up and a whirlwind of violation battered the edifice down. This believer, in spite of a close tie of kinship, remained loyal, showing such strength and firmness that he manifested the words: "In the Cause of G.o.d, the blame of the blamer shall he not fear."(94) Not for a moment did he hesitate, nor waver in his faith, but he stood firm as a mountain, proud as an impregnable citadel, and rooted deep.

The Covenant-breakers took his mother away to their own place, where her daughter lived. They did everything they could think of to unsettle her faith. To an extent beyond belief, they lavished favors upon her, and plied her with kindnesses, hiding the fact that they had broken the Covenant. Finally, however, that respected handmaid of Baha'u'llah detected the odor of violation, whereupon she instantly quit the Mansion of Bahji and hurried back to Akka. "I am the handmaid of the Blessed Beauty," she said, "and loyal to His Covenant and Testament. Though my son-in-law were a prince of the realm, what would that profit me? I am not to be won over by kinship and displays of affection. I am not concerned with external tokens of friendliness from those who are the very embodiment of selfish desire. I stand by the Covenant, and I hold to the Testament." She would not consent to meet with the Covenant-breakers again; she freed herself completely from them, and turned her face to G.o.d.

As for ?usayn-aqa, never did he separate himself from 'Abdu'l-Baha. He had the utmost consideration for me and was my constant companion, and it followed that his pa.s.sing was a formidable blow. Even now, whenever he comes to mind I grieve, and mourn his loss. But G.o.d be praised that this man of G.o.d, in the days of the Blessed Beauty, remained at all times in close proximity to His House, and was the object of His good pleasure.

Time and again, Baha'u'llah was heard to comment that ?usayn-aqa had been created to perform this service.

After forty years of serving, he forsook this swiftly pa.s.sing world and soared away to the realms of G.o.d. Greetings and praise be unto him, and mercy from his bountiful Lord. May his grave be encircled with lights that stream from the exalted Companion. His resting-place is in Haifa.

?aJi 'ALi-'ASKAR-I-TABRiZi

The distinguished 'Ali-'Askar was a merchant from Tabriz. He was much respected in a_dh_irbayjan by all who knew him, and recognized for G.o.dliness and trustworthiness, for piety and strong faith. The people of Tabriz, one and all, acknowledged his excellence and praised his character and way of life, his qualities and talents. He was one of the earliest believers, and one of the most notable.

When the Trumpet first sounded, he fainted away, and at the second blast, he was awakened to new life.(95) He became a candle burning with the love of G.o.d, a goodly tree in the Abha gardens. He led all his household, his other kindred and his friends to the Faith, and successfully rendered many services; but the tyranny of the wicked brought him to an agonizing pa.s.s, and he was beset by new afflictions every day. Still, he did not slacken and was not dispirited; on the contrary, his faith, his cert.i.tude and self-sacrifice increased. Finally he could endure his homeland no more.

Accompanied by his family, he arrived in Adrianople, and here, in financial straits, but content, he spent his days, with dignity, patience, acquiescence, and offering thanks.

Then he took a little merchandise with him from Adrianople, and left for the city of Jum'ih-Bazar, to earn his livelihood. What he had with him was trifling, but still, it was carried off by thieves. When the Persian Consul learned of this he presented a doc.u.ment to the Government, naming an enormous sum as the value of the stolen goods. By chance the thieves were caught and proved to be in possession of considerable funds. It was decided to investigate the case. The Consul called in ?aji 'Ali-'Askar and told him: "These thieves are very rich. In my report to the Government, I wrote that the amount of the theft was great. Therefore you must attend the trial and testify conformably to what I wrote."

The ?aji replied: "Your Honor, _Kh_an, the stolen goods amounted to very little. How can I report something that is not true? When they question me, I will give the facts exactly as they are. I consider this my duty, and only this."

"?aji," said the Consul, "We have a golden opportunity here; you and I can both profit by it. Don't let such a once-in-a-lifetime chance slip through your hands."

The ?aji answered: "_Kh_an, how would I square it with G.o.d? Let me be. I shall tell the truth and nothing but the truth."

The Consul was beside himself. He began to threaten and belabor 'Ali-'Askar. "Do you want to make me out a liar?" he cried. "Do you want to make me a laughingstock? I will jail you; I will have you banished; there is no torment I will spare you. This very instant I will hand you over to the police, and I will tell them that you are an enemy of the state, and that you are to be manacled and taken to the Persian frontier."

The ?aji only smiled. "Jinab-i-_Kh_an," he said. "I have given up my life for the truth. I have nothing else. You are telling me to lie and bear false witness. Do with me as you please; I will not turn my back on what is right."

When the Consul saw that there was no way to make 'Ali-'Askar testify to a falsehood, he said: "It is better, then, for you to leave this place, so that I can inform the Government that the owner of the merchandise is no longer available and has gone away. Otherwise I shall be disgraced."

The ?aji returned to Adrianople, and spoke not a word as to his stolen goods, but the matter became public knowledge and caused considerable surprise.

That fine and rare old man was taken captive in Adrianople along with the rest, and he accompanied the Blessed Beauty to the Akka fortress, this prison-house of sorrows. With all his family, he was jailed in the path of G.o.d for a period of years; and he was always offering thanks, because the prison was a palace to him, and captivity a reason to rejoice. In all those years he was never known to express himself except in thankfulness and praise. The greater the tyranny of the oppressors, the happier he was.

Time and again Baha'u'llah was heard to speak of him with loving kindness, and He would say: "I am pleased with him." This man, who was spirit personified, remained constant, true, and joyful to the end. When some years had pa.s.sed, he exchanged this world of dust for the Kingdom that is undefiled, and he left powerful influences behind.

As a rule, he was the close companion of 'Abdu'l-Baha. One day, at the beginning of our time in the Prison, I hurried to the corner of the barracks where he lived-the cell that was his shabby nest. He was lying there, running a high fever, out of his head. On his right side lay his wife, shaking and trembling with chills. To his left was his daughter, Fatimih, burning up with typhus. Beyond them his son, ?usayn-aqa, was down with scarlet fever; he had forgotten how to speak Persian, and he kept crying out in Turkish, "My insides are on fire!" At the father's feet lay the other daughter, deep in her sickness, and along the side of the wall was his brother, Ma_sh_hadi Fa??a?, raving and delirious. In this condition, 'Ali-'Askar's lips were moving: he was returning thanks to G.o.d, and expressing joy.

Praise be to G.o.d! He died in the Most Great Prison, still patient and thankful, still with dignity and firm in his faith. He rose up to the retreats of the compa.s.sionate Lord. Upon him be the glory of the All-Glorious; to him be salutations and praise: upon him be mercy and forgiveness forever and ever.

aQa 'ALiY-I-QAZViNi

This eminent man had high ambitions and aims. He was to a supreme degree constant, loyal and firmly rooted in his faith, and he was among the earliest and greatest of the believers. At the very dawn of the new Day of Guidance he became enamored of the Bab and began to teach. From morning till dark he worked at his craft, and almost every night he entertained the friends at supper. Being host in this way to friends in the spirit, he guided many seekers to the Faith, attracting them with the melody of the love of G.o.d. He was amazingly constant, energetic, and persevering.

Then the perfume-laden air began to stir from over the gardens of the All-Glorious, and he caught fire from the newly kindled flame. His illusions and fancies were burned away and he arose to proclaim the Cause of Baha'u'llah. Every night there was a meeting, a gathering that rivaled the flowers in their beds. The verses were read, the prayers chanted, the good news of the greatest of Advents was shared. He spent most of his time in showing kindness to friend and stranger alike; he was a magnanimous being, with open hand and heart.

The day came when he set out for the Most Great Prison, and arrived with his family at the Akka fortress. He had been afflicted with many a hardship on his journey, but his longing to see Baha'u'llah was such that he found the calamities easy to endure; and so he measured off the miles, looking for a home in G.o.d's sheltering grace.

At first he had means; life was comfortable and pleasant. Later on, however, he was dest.i.tute and subjected to terrible ordeals. Most of the time his food was bread, nothing else; instead of tea, he drank from a running brook. Still, he remained happy and content. His great joy was to enter the presence of Baha'u'llah; reunion with his Beloved was bounty enough; his food was to look upon the beauty of the Manifestation; his wine, to be with Baha'u'llah. He was always smiling, always silent; but at the same time, his heart shouted, leapt and danced.

Often, he was in the company of 'Abdu'l-Baha. He was an excellent friend and comrade, happy, delightful; favored by Baha'u'llah, respected by the friends, shunning the world, trusting in G.o.d. There was no fickleness in him, his inner condition was always the same: stable, constant, firmly rooted as the hills.

Whenever I call him to mind, and remember that patience and serenity, that loyalty, that contentment, involuntarily I find myself asking G.o.d to shed His bounties upon aqa 'Ali. Misfortunes and calamities were forever descending on that estimable man. He was always ill, continually subjected to unnumbered physical afflictions. The reason was that when at home and serving the Faith in Qazvin, he was caught by the malevolent and they beat him so brutally over the head that the effects stayed with him till his dying hour. They abused and tormented him in many ways and thought it permissible to inflict every kind of cruelty upon him; yet his only crime was to have become a believer, and his only sin, to have loved G.o.d. As the poet has written, in lines that ill.u.s.trate the plight of aqa 'Ali:

By owls the royal falcon is beset.

They rend his wings, though he is free of sin.