Memorials of the Faithful Part 8

Although to outward eyes he never drained the cup of meeting, never gazed upon the beauty of Baha'u'llah, still he achieved the very spirit of spiritual communion; he is accounted as one of those who attained the Presence, and for him the reward of those who reached that Presence is fixed and ordained. He was a stainless soul, faithful, devoted and true.

He never drew a breath except in righteousness, and his single desire was to worship his Lord. He walked the ways of love; he was known to all for steadfast loyalty and pure intent. May G.o.d fill up reunion's cup for him in a fair country, make him to enter the everlasting Kingdom, and console his eyes with beholding the lights of that mysterious Realm.

?aJi MULLa MIHDiY-I-YAZDi

Yet another who left his homeland was Mulla Mihdi of Yazd. Although to all appearances this excellent man was not of the learned cla.s.s, he was an expert in the field of Muslim sacred traditions and an eloquent interpreter of orally transmitted texts. Persevering in his devotions, known for holy practices and nightly communings and vigils, his heart was illumined, and he was spiritual of mind and soul. He spent most of his time repeating communes, performing the obligatory prayers, confessing his failings and supplicating the Lord. He was one of those who penetrate mysteries, and was a confidant of the righteous. As a teacher of the Faith he was never at a loss for words, forgetting, as he taught, all restraint, pouring forth one upon another sacred traditions and texts.

When news of him spread around the town and he was everywhere charged, by prince and pauper alike, with bearing this new name, he freely declared his adherence and on this account was publicly disgraced. Then the evil 'ulamas of Yazd rose up, issuing a decree that he must die. Since the mujtahid, Mulla Baqir of Ardikan, refused to confirm the sentence of those dark divines, Mulla Mihdi lived on, but was forced to leave his native home. With his two sons, one the great martyr-to-be, Jinab-i-Varqa, and the other Jinab-i-?usayn, he set out for the country of his Well-Beloved.

In every town and village along the way, he ably spread the Faith, adducing clear arguments and proofs, quoting from and interpreting the sacred traditions and evident signs.(49) He did not rest for a moment; everywhere he shed abroad the attar of the love of G.o.d, and diffused the sweet breathings of holiness. And he inspired the friends, making them eager to teach others in their turn, and to excel in knowledge.

He was an eminent soul, with his heart fixed on the beauty of G.o.d. From the day he was first created and came into this world, he single-mindedly devoted all his efforts to acquiring grace for the day he should be born into the next.(50) His heart was illumined, his mind spiritual, his soul aspiring, his destination Heaven. He was imprisoned along his way; and as he crossed the deserts and climbed and descended the mountain slopes he endured terrible, uncounted hardships. But the light of faith shone from his brow and in his breast the longing was aflame, and thus he joyously, gladly pa.s.sed over the frontiers until at last he came to Beirut. In that city, ill, restive, his patience gone, he spent some days. His yearning grew, and his agitation was such that weak and sick as he was, he could wait no more.

He set out on foot for the house of Baha'u'llah. Because he lacked proper shoes for the journey, his feet were bruised and torn; his sickness worsened; he could hardly move, but still he went on; somehow he reached the village of Mazra'ih and here, close by the Mansion, he died. His heart found his Well-Beloved One, when he could bear the separation no more. Let lovers be warned by his story; let them know how he gambled away his life in his yearning after the Light of the World. May G.o.d give him to drink of a br.i.m.m.i.n.g cup in the everlasting gardens; in the Supreme a.s.semblage, may G.o.d shed upon his face rays of light. Upon him be the glory of the Lord.

His sanctified tomb is in Mazra'ih, beside Akka. His Eminence Kalim (Mirza Musa)

Jinab-i-Mirza Musa was the true brother of Baha'u'llah, and from earliest childhood he was reared in the sheltering embrace of the Most Great Name.

He drank in the love of G.o.d with his mother's milk; when yet a suckling, he showed an extraordinary attachment to the Blessed Beauty. At all times he was the object of Divine grace, favor and loving-kindness. After their distinguished father died, Mirza Musa was brought up by Baha'u'llah, growing to maturity in the haven of His care. Day by day, the youth's servitude and devotion increased. In all things, he lived according to the commandments, and he was entirely severed from any thoughts of this world.

Like a bright lamp, he shone out in that Household. He wished neither rank nor office, and had no worldly aims at all. His one supreme desire was to serve Baha'u'llah, and for this reason he was never separated from his Brother's presence. No matter what torments the others inflicted, his loyalty equaled the cruelty of the rest, for he had drunk the wine of unadulterated love.

Then the voice was heard, crying out of _Sh_iraz, and from a single utterance of Baha'u'llah's his heart was filled with light, and from a single gust that blew over the gardens of faith, he caught the fragrance.

At once, he began to serve the friends. He had an extraordinary attachment to me, and was at all times concerned for my well-being. In ?ihran he occupied himself day and night with propagating the Faith and gradually became well known to everyone; habitually he spent his time in the company of blessed souls.

Baha'u'llah then left ?ihran, journeying to 'Iraq, and of His brothers the two who were in His company were aqay-i-Kalim(51) and Mirza Mu?ammad-Quli.

They turned their faces away from Persia and the Persians, and closed their eyes to comfort and peace; in the Beloved's path they chose with all their hearts to bear whatever calamity should be their lot.

Thus they arrived in 'Iraq. During the days when Baha'u'llah had vanished from sight, that is, when He was on the journey to Kurdistan, aqay-i-Kalim lived on the edge of an abyss; his life was constantly in danger, and each day that pa.s.sed was worse than the one before; still, he bore it all, and knew no fear. When at last the Blessed Beauty returned out of Kurdistan, aqay-i-Kalim resumed his post by the Holy Threshold, rendering every service within his power. For this he became known far and wide. At the time when Baha'u'llah left Ba_gh_dad for Constantinople, aqay-i-Kalim was with Him and continued to serve along the way, as he did on the further journey from Constantinople to Adrianople.

It was during the sojourn in this latter city that he detected from Mirza Ya?ya the odor of rebellion. Day and night he tried to make him mend his ways, but all to no avail. On the contrary, it was astonishing how, like a deadly poison, the temptings and satanic suggestions of Siyyid Mu?ammad worked on Mirza Ya?ya, so that aqay-i-Kalim finally abandoned hope. Even then he never ceased trying, thinking that somehow, perhaps, he could still the tempest and rescue Mirza Ya?ya from the gulf. His heart was worn away with despair and grief. He tried everything he knew. At last he had to admit the truth of these words of Sana'i:

If to the fool my lore you'd bring, Or think my secrets can be told To him who is not wise- Then to the deaf go harp and sing, Or stand before the blind and hold A mirror to his eyes.

When all hope was gone, he ended the relationship, saying: "O my brother, if others are in doubt as to this affair, you and I both know the truth.

Have you forgotten the loving-kindness of Baha'u'llah, and how He trained us both? What care He took with your lessons and your penmanship; how constantly He saw to your spelling and your composition, and encouraged you to practice the different calligraphic styles; He even guided your copy with His own blessed fingers. Who does not know how He showered favors on you, how He brought you up in the haven of His embrace. Is this your thanks for all His tenderness-that you plot with Siyyid Mu?ammad and desert the shelter of Baha'u'llah? Is this your loyalty? Is this the right return for all His love?" The words had no effect whatever; on the contrary, with each pa.s.sing day, Mirza Ya?ya disclosed a greater measure of his concealed intent. Then at the end, the final rupture took place.

From Adrianople, aqay-i-Kalim went on with the convoy of Baha'u'llah, to the fortress of Akka. His name was specifically listed in the Sul?an's decree, and he was condemned to perpetual banishment.(52) He devoted all his time in the Most Great Prison to serving Baha'u'llah, and had the honor of being continually in his Brother's presence, also keeping company with the believers; until at last he left this world of dust and hastened to the holy world above, dying with lowliness and contrition, as he supplicated his Lord.

It happened that during the Ba_gh_dad period, the well-known il_kh_ani, son of Musa _Kh_an-i-Qazvini, received through Siyyid Javad-i-Tabataba'i an audience with Baha'u'llah. Siyyid Javad on that occasion made a plea in the il_kh_ani's behalf, saying: "This il_kh_ani, 'Ali-Quli _Kh_an, although a sinner and a lifelong creature of his pa.s.sions, has now repented. He stands before You with regret as to his former ways, and from this day forward he will not so much as draw a breath that might be contrary to Your good pleasure. I beg of You, accept his repentance; make him the object of Your grace and favor."

Baha'u'llah replied: "Because he has chosen you as intercessor, I will hide away his sins, and I will take steps to bring him comfort and peace of mind."

The il_kh_ani had been a man of unlimited wealth, but he had wasted it all on the desires of the flesh. He was now dest.i.tute, to such a point that he did not even dare to step outside his house, because of the creditors waiting there to fall upon him. Baha'u'llah directed him to go to Umar Pa_sh_a, the Governor of Damascus, and obtain from him a letter of recommendation to Constantinople. The il_kh_ani complied, and he received every a.s.sistance from the Governor of Ba_gh_dad. After utter despair, he began to hope again, and left for Constantinople. When he arrived at Diyarbakr(53) he penned a letter on behalf of two Armenian merchants.

"These two are about to leave for Ba_gh_dad," his letter said. "They have shown me every courtesy, and have also asked me for an introduction. I had no refuge or shelter except Your bounty; thus I beg of You to show them favor." The superscription, that is, the address he had written on the envelope was: "To His Eminence Baha'u'llah, Leader of the Babis." The merchants presented this letter to Baha'u'llah at the head of the bridge, and when He inquired about it their reply was: "In Diyarbakr, the il_kh_ani gave us particulars as to this Cause." Then they accompanied Him to His house.

When the Blessed Beauty entered the family apartments, aqay-i-Kalim was there to meet Him. Baha'u'llah cried out, "Kalim, Kalim! The fame of the Cause of G.o.d has reached as far as Diyarbakr!" And He was smiling, jubilant.

Mirza Musa was indeed a true brother to the Blessed Beauty; this is why he remained steadfast, under all conditions, to the very end. Unto him be praise and salutations, and the breath of life, and glory; upon him be mercy and grace.

?aJi MU?AMMAD KHaN

Another of those who left their homes and came to settle in the neighborhood of Baha'u'llah was ?aji Mu?ammad _Kh_an. This distinguished man, a native of Sistan, was a Balu_ch_. When he was very young, he caught fire and became a mystic-an arif, or adept. As a wandering dervish, completely selfless, he went out from his home and, following the dervish rule, traveled about in search of his mur_sh_id, his perfect leader. For he yearned, as the Qalandar dervishes would say, to discover that "priest of the Magi," or spiritual guide.

Far and wide, he carried on his search. He would speak to everyone he met.

But what he longed for was the sweet scent of the love of G.o.d, and this he was unable to detect in anyone, whether Gnostic or philosopher, or member of the _Sh_ay_kh_i sect. All he could see in the dervishes was their tufted beards, and their palms-up religion of beggary. They were "dervish"-poor in all save G.o.d-in name only; all they cared about, it seemed to him, was whatever came to hand. Nor did he find illumination among the Illuminati; he heard nothing from them but idle argument. He observed that their grandiloquence was not eloquence and that their subtleties were but windy figures of speech. Truth was not there; the core of inner meaning was absent. For true philosophy is that which produces rewards of excellence, and among these learned men there was no such fruit to be found; at the peak of their accomplishment, they became the slaves of vice, led an unconcerned life and were given over to personal characteristics that were deserving of blame. To him, of all that const.i.tutes the high, distinguishing quality of humankind, they were devoid.

As for the _Sh_ay_kh_i group, their essence was gone, only the dregs remained; the kernel of them had vanished, leaving the sh.e.l.l behind; most of their dialectics was lumber and superfluities by now.

Thus at the very moment when he heard the call from the Kingdom of G.o.d, he shouted, "Yea, verily!" and he was off like the desert wind. He traveled over vast distances, arrived at the Most Great Prison and attained the presence of Baha'u'llah. When his eyes fell upon that bright Countenance he was instantly enslaved. He returned to Persia so that he could meet with those people who professed to be following the Path, those friends of other days who were seeking out the Truth, and deal with them as his loyalty and duty required.

Both going and returning, the ?aji betook himself to each one of his friends, foregathered with them, and let each one hear the new song from Heaven. He reached his homeland and set his family's affairs in order, providing for all, seeing to the security, happiness and comfort of each one. After that he bade them all goodby. To his relatives, his wife, children, kin, he said: "Do not look for me again; do not wait for my return."

He took up a staff and wandered away; over the mountains he went, across the plains, seeking and finding the mystics, his friends. On his first journey, he went to the late Mirza Yusuf _Kh_an (Mustawfiyu'l-Mamalik), in ?ihran. When he had said his say, Yusuf _Kh_an expressed a wish, and declared that should it be fulfilled, he would believe; the wish was to be given a son. Should such a bounty become his, Yusuf _Kh_an would be won over. The ?aji reported this to Baha'u'llah, and received a firm promise in reply. Accordingly, when the ?aji met with Yusuf _Kh_an on his second journey, he found him with a child in his arms. "Mirza," the ?aji cried, "praise be to G.o.d! Your test has demonstrated the Truth. You snared your bird of joy." "Yes," answered Yusuf _Kh_an, "the proof is clear. I am convinced. This year, when you go to Baha'u'llah, say that I implore His grace and favor for this child, so that it may be kept safe in the sheltering care of G.o.d."

?aji Mu?ammad then went to the blissful future martyr, the King of Martyrs, and asked him to intercede, so that he, the ?aji, might be allowed to keep watch at the doorway of Baha'u'llah. The King of Martyrs sent in this request by letter, after which ?aji _Kh_an duly arrived at the Most Great Prison and made his home in the neighborhood of his loving Friend. He enjoyed this honor for a long time, and later, in the Mazra'ih garden as well, he was very frequently in Baha'u'llah's presence. After the Beloved had ascended, ?aji _Kh_an remained faithful to the Covenant and Testament, shunning the hypocrites. At last, when this servant was absent on the journeys to Europe and America, the ?aji made his way to the travelers' hospice at the Haziratu'l-Quds; and here, beside the Shrine of the Bab, he took his flight to the world above.

May G.o.d refresh his spirit with the musk-scented air of the Abha Paradise, and the sweet savors of holiness that blow from the highest Heaven. Unto him be greetings and praise. His bright tomb is in Haifa.

aQa MU?AMMAD-IBRaHiM AMiR

Mu?ammad-Ibrahim Amir came from Nayriz. He was a blessed person; he was like a cup filled with the red wine of faith. At the time when he was first made captive by the tender Loved One, he was in the flower of his youth. Then he fell a prey to the oppressors, and following the upheaval in Nayriz and all the suffering, his persecutors laid hold of him. Three farra_sh_es pinned his arms and tied his hands behind him; but the Amir by main strength burst his bonds, s.n.a.t.c.hed a dagger from a farra_sh_'s belt, saved himself and ran away to 'Iraq. There he engaged in writing down the sacred verses and later won the honor of serving at the Holy Threshold.

Constant and steadfast, he remained on duty day and night. During the journey from Ba_gh_dad to Constantinople, from there to Adrianople, and from there to the Most Great Prison, he was always at hand to serve. He married the handmaid of G.o.d, Habibih, who also served at the Threshold, and his daughter Badi'ih became the helpmeet of the late ?usayn-aqa Qahvih-_ch_i.

Thus the Amir was steadfast in service throughout his life; but after the ascension of Baha'u'llah his health steadily declined, and at last he left this world of dust behind him and hastened away to the unsullied world above. May G.o.d illumine the place where he rests with rays from the all-highest Realm. Unto him be salutations and praise. His bright shrine is in Akka.

MiRZa MIHDiY-I-KaSHaNi

This honored man, Mirza Mihdi, was from Ka_sh_an. 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 _sh_ikastih.(54) 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.

He made converts; and because he yearned after G.o.d, he became a laughingstock in Ka_sh_an, 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.