Memorials of the Faithful Part 4

Unto them both be salutations and praise; upon them be compa.s.sion and glory. May G.o.d give them a home in Paradise, under the Lote-Tree's shade.

May they be immersed in tiers of light, close beside their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Powerful.

PIDAR-JaN OF QAZViN

The late Pidar-Jan was among those believers who emigrated to Ba_gh_dad.

He was a G.o.dly old man, enamored of the Well-Beloved; in the garden of Divine love, he was like a rose full-blown. He arrived there, in Ba_gh_dad, and spent his days and nights communing with G.o.d and chanting prayers; and although he walked the earth, he traveled the heights of Heaven.

To obey the law of G.o.d, he took up a trade, for he had nothing. He would bundle a few pairs of socks under his arm and peddle them as he wandered through the streets and bazars, and thieves would rob him of his merchandise. Finally he was obliged to lay the socks across his outstretched palms as he went along. But he would get to chanting a prayer, and one day he was surprised to find that they had stolen the socks, laid out on his two hands, from before his eyes. His awareness of this world was clouded, for he journeyed through another. He dwelt in ecstasy; he was a man drunken, bedazzled.

For some time, that is how he lived in 'Iraq. Almost daily he was admitted to the presence of Baha'u'llah. His name was 'Abdu'llah but the friends bestowed on him the t.i.tle of Pidar-Jan-Father Dear-for he was a loving father to them all. At last, under the sheltering care of Baha'u'llah, he took flight to the "seat of truth, in the presence of the potent king."(24)

May G.o.d make fragrant his sepulcher with the outpouring rains of His mercy and cast upon him the eye of Divine compa.s.sion. Salutations be unto him, and praise.

SHAYKH ?aDIQ-I-YAZDi

Another of those who emigrated to Ba_gh_dad was _Sh_ay_kh_ ?adiq of Yazd, a man esteemed, and righteous as his name, ?adiq.(25) He was a towering palm in the groves of Heaven, a star flaming in the skies of the love of G.o.d.

It was during the 'Iraq period that he hastened to the presence of Baha'u'llah. His detachment from the things of this world and his attachment to the life of the spirit are indescribable. He was love embodied, tenderness personified. Day and night, he commemorated G.o.d.

Utterly unconscious of this world and all that is therein, he dwelt continually on G.o.d, remaining submerged in supplications and prayers. Most of the time, tears poured from his eyes. The Blessed Beauty singled him out for special favor, and whenever He turned His attention toward ?adiq, His loving-kindness was clear to see.

On a certain day they brought word that ?adiq was at the point of death. I went to his bedside and found him breathing his last. He was suffering from ileus, an abdominal pain and swelling. I hurried to Baha'u'llah and described his condition. "Go," He said. "Place your hand on the distended area and speak the words: 'O Thou the Healer!'"(26)

I went back. I saw that the affected part had swollen up to the size of an apple; it was hard as stone, in constant motion, twisting, and coiling about itself like a snake. I placed my hand upon it; I turned toward G.o.d and, humbly beseeching Him, I repeated the words, "O Thou the Healer!"

Instantly the sick man rose up. The ileus vanished; the swelling was carried off.

This personified spirit lived contentedly in 'Iraq until the day when Baha'u'llah's convoy wended its way out of Ba_gh_dad. As bidden, ?adiq remained behind in that city. But his longing beat so pa.s.sionately within him that after the arrival of Baha'u'llah at Mosul, he could endure the separation no more. Shoeless, hatless, he ran out alongside the courier going to Mosul; ran and ran until, on that barren plain, with mercy all about him, he fell to his rest.

May G.o.d give him to drink from "a wine cup tempered at the camphor fountain,"(27) and send down crystal waters on his grave; may G.o.d perfume his dust in that desert place with musk, and cause to descend there range on range of light.

SHaH-MU?AMMAD-AMiN

_Sh_ah-Mu?ammad, who had the t.i.tle of Amin, the Trusted One, was among the earliest of believers, and most deeply enamored. He had listened to the Divine summons in the flower of his youth, and set his face toward the Kingdom. He had ripped from his gaze the veils of idle suppositions and had won his heart's desire; neither the fancies current among the people nor the reproaches of which he was the target turned him back. Unshaken, he stood and faced a sea of troubles; staunch with the strength of the Advent day, he confronted those who tried to thwart him and block his path. The more they sought to instill doubts in his mind, the stronger he became; the more they tormented him, the more progress he made. He was a captive of the face of G.o.d, enslaved by the beauty of the All-Glorious; a flame of G.o.d's love, a jetting fountain of the knowledge of Him.

Love smoldered in his heart, so that he had no peace; and when he could bear the absence of the Beloved One no more, he left his native home, the province of Yazd. He found the desert sands like silk under his feet; light as the wind's breath, he pa.s.sed over the mountains and across the endless plains, until he stood at the door of his Love. He had freed himself from the snare of separation, and in 'Iraq, he entered the presence of Baha'u'llah.

Once he made his way into the home of the Darling of mankind, he was emptied of every thought, released from every concern, and became the recipient of boundless favor and grace. He pa.s.sed some days in 'Iraq and was directed to return to Persia. There he remained for a time, frequenting the believers; and his pure breathings stirred each one of them anew, so that each one yearned over the Faith, and became more restless, more impatient than before.

Later he arrived at the Most Great Prison with Mirza Abu'l-?asan, the second Amin. On this journey he met with severe hardships, for it was extremely difficult to find a way into the prison. Finally he was received by Baha'u'llah in the public baths. Mirza Abu'l-?asan was so overwhelmed at the majestic presence of his Lord that he shook, stumbled, and fell to the floor; his head was injured and the blood flowed out.

Amin, that is _Sh_ah-Mu?ammad, was honored with the t.i.tle of the Trusted One, and bounties were showered upon him. Full of eagerness and love, taking with him Tablets from Baha'u'llah, he hastened back to Persia, where, at all times worthy of trust, he labored for the Cause. His services were outstanding, and he was a consolation to the believers'

hearts. There was none to compare with him for energy, enthusiasm and zeal, and no man's services could equal his. He was a haven amidst the people, known everywhere for devotion to the Holy Threshold, widely acclaimed by the friends.

He never rested for a moment. Not one night did he spend on a bed of ease, never did he lay down his head on comfort's pillow. He was continuously in flight, soaring as the birds do, running like a deer, guesting in the desert of oneness, alone and swift. He brought joy to all the believers; to all, his coming was good news; to every seeker, he was a sign and token. He was enamored of G.o.d, a vagrant in the desert of G.o.d's love. Like the wind, he traveled over the face of the plains, and he was restive on the heights of the hills. He was in a different country every day, and in yet another land by nightfall. Never did he rest, never was he still. He was forever rising up to serve.

But then they took him prisoner in a_dh_irbayjan, in the town of Miyandu'ab. He fell a prey to some ruthless Kurds, a hostile band who asked no questions of the innocent, defenseless man. Believing that this stranger, like other foreigners, wished ill to the Kurdish people, and taking him for worthless, they killed him.

When news of his martyrdom reached the Prison, all the captives grieved, and they shed tears for him, resigned to G.o.d and undefended as he was in his last hour. Even on the countenance of Baha'u'llah, there were visible tokens of grief. A Tablet, infinitely tender, was revealed by the Supreme Pen, commemorating the man who died on that calamitous plain, and many other Tablets were sent down concerning him.

Today, under the shadowing mercy of G.o.d, he dwells in the bright Heavens.

He communes with the birds of holiness, and in the a.s.semblage of splendors he is immersed in light. The memory and praise of him shall remain, till the end of time, in the pages of books and on the tongues and lips of men.

Unto him be salutations and praise; upon him be the glory of the All-Glorious; upon him be the most great mercy of G.o.d.

MASHHADi FA??A?

Ma_sh_hadi Fa??a? was personified spirit. He was devotion itself. Brother to ?aji 'Ali-'Askar-of the same pure lineage-through the latter he came into the Faith. Like the twins, Castor and Pollux, the two kept together in one spot, and both were illumined with the light of belief.

In all things, the two were united as a pair; they shared the same cert.i.tude and faith, the same conscience, and made their way out of a_dh_irbayjan to Adrianople, emigrating at the same time. In every circ.u.mstance of their life, they lived as one individual; their disposition, their aims, their religion, character, behavior, faith, cert.i.tude, knowledge-all were one. Even in the Most Great Prison, they were constantly together.

Ma_sh_hadi Fa??a? possessed some merchandise; this was all he owned in the world. He had entrusted it to persons in Adrianople, and later on those unrighteous people did away with the goods. Thus, in the pathway of G.o.d, he lost whatever he possessed. He pa.s.sed his days, perfectly content, in the Most Great Prison. He was utter selflessness; from him, no one ever heard a syllable to indicate that he existed. He was always in a certain corner of the prison, silently meditating, occupied with the remembrance of G.o.d; at all times spiritually alert and mindful, in a state of supplication.

Then came the Supreme Affliction. He could not tolerate the anguish of parting with Baha'u'llah, and after Baha'u'llah's pa.s.sing, he died of grief. Blessed is he; again, blessed is he. Glad tidings to him; again, glad tidings to him. Upon him be the glory of the All-Glorious.

NABiL OF Qa'IN

This distinguished man, Mulla Mu?ammad-'Ali,(28) was one of those whose hearts were drawn to Baha'u'llah before the Declaration of the Bab; it was then that he drank the red wine of knowledge from the hands of the Cupbearer of grace. It happened that a prince, who was the son of Mir Asadu'llah _Kh_an, prince of Qa'in, was commanded to remain as a political hostage in ?ihran. He was young, far away from his loving father, and Mulla Mu?ammad-'Ali was his tutor and guardian. Since the youth was a stranger in ?ihran, the Blessed Beauty showed him special kindness. Many a night the young prince was Baha'u'llah's guest at the mansion, and Mulla Mu?ammad-'Ali would accompany him. This was prior to the Declaration of the Bab.

It was then that this chief of all trusted friends was captivated by Baha'u'llah, and wherever he went, spread loving praise of Him. After the way of Islam, he also related the great miracles which he had, with his own eyes, seen Baha'u'llah perform, and the marvels he had heard. He was in ecstasy, burning up with love. In that condition, he returned to Qa'in with the prince.

Later on that eminent scholar, aqa Mu?ammad of Qa'in (whose t.i.tle was Nabil-i-Akbar) was made a mujtahid, a doctor of religious law, by the late _Sh_ay_kh_ Murtada; he left, then, for Ba_gh_dad, became an ardent follower of Baha'u'llah, and hastened back to Persia. The leading divines and mujtahids were well aware of and acknowledged his vast scholarly accomplishments, the breadth of his learning, and his high rank. When he reached Qa'in, he began openly to spread the new Faith. The moment Mulla Mu?ammad-'Ali heard the name of the Blessed Beauty, he immediately accepted the Bab. "I had the honor," he said, "of meeting the Blessed Beauty in ?ihran. The instant I saw Him, I became His slave."

In his village of Sar-_Ch_ah, this gifted, high-minded man began to teach the Faith. He guided in his own family and saw to the others as well, bringing a great mult.i.tude under the law of the love of G.o.d, leading each one to the path of salvation.

Up to that time he had always been a close companion of Mir alam _Kh_an, the Governor of Qa'in, had rendered him important services, and had enjoyed the Governor's respect and trust. Now that shameless prince turned against him in a rage on account of his religion, seized his property and plundered it; for the Amir was terrified of Na?iri'd-Din _Sh_ah. He banished Nabil-i-Akbar and ruined Nabil of Qa'in. After throwing him in prison and torturing him, he drove him out as a homeless vagrant.