A brief history of Bahá'u'lláh
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A BRIEF HISTORY
OF
BEHA'U'LLAH
THE FOUNDER OF BEHAI RELIGION
By
M. J. GAZVINI
Akka, Palestine
January, 1914
Copyright applied for
1914
[Stamp:] NOV 27 1914
(C) CL A387690
PREFACE
In the name of the Everlasting God.
Glory be to Him, Praise be to His Word, and gratitude be to His Kingdom; for through His wisdom I was guided whereunto I have attained salvation, deliverance, and life in His eternal kingdom. I beg of Him to help me to serve
His Sacred Law, to grant me steadfastness,.and to give me strength to work in accord with His commands, that I may serve mankind whereof myself and my brethren shall gain the good in this, and in the world to come. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Helper, the Inspirer, the Sustainer. The Author.
"Unto us a child was born; unto us a Son was given; and the government was upon His Shoulders; His Name was called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
Beha U'llah, the Manifestation of the Everlasting Father, was born in the city of Teheran, the Capital of Persia, on Moharram 2nd, 1233 A.H. i.e., November 12th, 1817, A. D. His name was Mirza Huseyn All, afterwards Beha U'llah (the Glory of God). He was a prince by birth and the son of the famous Mirza Abbas, who was titled Mirza Buzurg, from the district of Nur in the state of Mazenderan, Persia.
When Beha U'llah was twenty-seven years old, His Holiness, the fore-runner, whose name was Mirza All Mohammed and afterwards "The Bab" (the gate), and "Noktet Ul-oula" (the first point), manifested Himself, and declared that he was El Haim, and the Promised Mahdy, whose appearance was expected by the Islam. This took place in
1260 A. H. i.e., 1844 A. D. And as the author of the history called A "Traveler's Narrative", has written the details regarding the birth and the manifestation of His Holiness, the fore-runner and the events which took place in His Day, and as they were translated into English and published by the Honorable Prof. Edward G. Brown, of the University of Cambridge, England, there is no necessity to repeat what was written therein.
When Our Great Lord Beha U'llah reached the thirty second year of His age, l made a trip to the place called Badasht, in Mazenderan, where He met the Honorable Haji Mohamnied Ali El Mazenderani, who was titled Jenab-i-Hoddus, and her Holiness Hurrat'l-Ayn, and some other friends. At the age of thirty-three He went to the tomb of Sheykh Tabarsi at Mazenderan, where the Doctors of the Mohammedan Sheiats with their followers persecuted Him, and imprisoned Him at the village Amul and robbed Him of His money. At the age of thirty-five, while He was in the gardens of Shemiran in the suburbs of the City of Teheran, the historic event of attempting to take the life of the Shah of Persia took place as follows: One of the Babis whose name was Sadick, thought that he would revenge himself on the Shah, for the death of the Fore-runner who had been executed by being crucified, without consulting anyone of the wise Babis. So he met the Shah, Nasir-el-deen on the twenty-eighth of Shawal 1268 A. H. i.e., May 17, 1852 A. D., while his Majesty was traveling on horseback with his friends, and shot him with birdshot, which, however, did not seriously injure him. These actions which were done without reasoning or forethought of the consequences, brought a great deal of trouble to this sect. The Government arrested many of them and sentenced them to death, and the result was that different people of Persia tortured them to death by different methods of torments. Consequently a persecution befell <7> our Great Master Beha U'llah while He was staying at the said gardens.
By the order of the Government, He was surrounded by gendarms, and was driven barefooted in the middle of the hot summer to Teheran where he was imprisoned for four months, chained with iron chains on hands and feet. Many days during His !mpiisonment he was without food. He slept on the earthen floor of the prison. The said prison was well known to be dirty and the worst of its kind. Its air and water were foul and the rays of the sun never entered into it. There He remained until the Ambassador of the Russian Government interceded in His behalf and for His protection. When it was proved after.strict investigation that our Great Lord was entirely innocent regarding that event and that He never had anything to do with it, and His innocence was established. He was freed from the prison through the endeavors of the said Ambassador, whereupon it was decided under the conditions and persecutions to exile Him to the City of Bagdad (the Court of Peace). Then Beha U'llah left Teheran with His family guarded throughout the way by a guard sent by the Shah of Persia and another guard sent by the Russian Embassy until they reached the City of Bagdad, which is the Capital of Iracki Arabi. This took place when He was thirty-seven years old, Moharram I, 1269 A. H. i.e., October 14, 1853 A. D. A short time after His arrival there, Mirza Yehya, titled Ezel, followed Him. Because of severe and bloody persecutions, the people of this sect were almost annihilated in the land of Persia. Many of them wete killed by different methods of torture and subjected to the most severe torments. Their properties confiscated, and robbed of their money. Even their wives and children were taken captives, and thus many of them were obliged to leave the country or hide themselves in some unknown corner. At that time our Lord Beha U'llah rose up at <8> Bagdad to proprogate the Word of God and spread its lights with such diligence which could not be excelled. This caused the diffusion of the Word in such wise that the followers of this new sect became more numerous in different countries than ever before. This development kindled the fire of envy in the heart of Mirza Yahya and his comrades. A year after in order to extinguish the fire of envy from the hearts of those people, our great Lord, Beha U'llah left Bagdad and went secretly, accompanied by one of His servants, whose name was Golam Huseyn, to Hurdestan. This occurred in the year 1271 A. H. i.e., 1854 A. D. The said servant was killed by highwaymen while traveling from one place to another on special errands. Thus our Great Lord, Beho U'llah remained alone in those wild plains and mountains, where He spent many days and nights without food, and none of His followers knew His whereabouts until a special time which will be mentioned by Beha UJ'llah in a Tablet revealed by Him to His sister-in-law, Mariam, titled the Red Leaf. I will hereby mention, as a commemoration, some of its texts:
"0 Mariam, My oppressions are so great whereby the sufferings of My first name (Hosseyn Ben Ali) were affaced from the Tablet (history) of the world. 0 Mariam, We left the land of Teheran after the great affliction of El-Abha, and came to Iracki Ariabi, by the command of the oppressor of Persia. After We escaped the chains of the enemies, we fell into the malice of the friends, and God knoweth what befell Me thereof. Then I sought solitude alone and single, and destitute of home and relatives, separated from the spirit and what is related to it; wandering in the deserts of providence. I left under such painful conditions whereby the friends wept bitterly by My absense and everything shed bloody tears for My sufferings. I became the friend of the birds of the wilderness and the companion of the beasts of the fields. I abandoned this <9> transient world like unto the heavenly lightening, and for about two years I have hidden Myself from everybody but God, and closed My eyes on everything else besides Him. Then, the WiIl of God reminded some pious servants to seek the Canaanite page, and thus they began to search for Him, carrying with them a large package of supplications from several countries and many people until they found a sign of this One Who hath no sign, in a cave on a mountain.
Verily, He is the Guide of all things to the Right Path.
The condition of this sect began to be changed after the departure of Our Lord Beha U'llah to His solitude. For their enthusiasm began to cool, and they became inactive. His absence for two years was about to scatter the believers and caused the Name of the First Point (the Bab) to be nearly forgotten, and the light of the cause to be veiled. But the brother of our Lord Beha U'llah, Aga Mirza Mousa (Moses) who was given the title of "The Speaker" With God, and his father-in-law. Sheik Sultan of the inhabitants of Irack, with Mirza Aga Jan, who was titled the "Servant of God", and some others, started to seek and search for the whereabouts of Beha U'llah. After many endeavors by inquiring from travelers and other sources, they were guided to the presence of our Lord, for they were informed that He was in the mountains of Soleymaniah, Hurdistan. Sheik Sultan was sent to His presence with many supplications from the friends of different countries, whereof our Lord accepted their solicitations. His return to Bagdad, His supplications, and prayers, greatly improved this sect and wonderfully spread the Word of God, because He worked with all His might in educating these people and in improving their characteristics and morals by both His Tongue and Pen. This had a great effect and promulgated His cause in all directions, <10> and even those who were scattered in different countries hastened to His preIence.
One of the great events which occurred while our Lord lived in Bagdad was the self-sacrifice of one of the friends, whose name was Aga Seyed Ismoil, from Zoura, Isfahan. This Seyed left his native country and came to Bagdad, and a few days after he was honored by being in the presence of our Lord, then his condition began to be changed, for he was deeply attached to our Lord, and at the same time displayed such an enthusiasm as cannot be imagined. One night he was in the presence of our Lord, in the Court, outside of the house whereon our Lord ordered Him to be seated beside Him. Then our Lord asked for a document, and a lamp, and began to read, while the servant was standing and holding the lamp before His Sacred Face. A few minutes lapsed, and lo, a wonderful change and great disturbance befell the said Seyed. Then the Lord looked at him and commanded him to be at ease, then rose up and entered the house. Seyed left the place and went to the house of Agha Mohammed Riza Isfahani, titled EI-Arcedh, where he was living. The love of Seyed Smail, his fondness and attraction for his Master were on the increase from day to day. On one occasion our Lord was invited to the house of Agha Mohammed Riza; they placed before him fruits and different kinds of sweets, that He might partake of them and divide them amongst those who were present. When He called Seyed Smail to receive his portion, the said Seyed said to Him, "I beg of thee a spiritual food". Seyed Ismail, without letting anybody know, determined to give his life for his Master. One morning he came to the house of our Lord and swept the yard and brushed the court, which was about 40 feet, with his turban. At the same time he rubbed his face upon the ground of the two places. At noon he went outside of Bagdad on the way which leads to the place called Hazameyn, when <11> he reached the shore of the river he performed ablution, then, laid on his back, facing the city of Bagdad where his Master was, and cut his throat with a razor which fell on his chest, and thus his sanctified soul departed. When the local Government knew about it, they sent men who carried the corpse of the Martyr to the City Hall, where the officials gazed at the remains and wept. The guards of the local government, who saw how the said Seyed killed himself informed the government of the details. This took place about the year 1274 A. H. i.e., 1857 A. D.
The consul General of the British Government at Bagdad had a friendly interview with our Master and offered Him British citizenship and protection, but the Lord with thanks declined to accept. Then the Consul said, "if you dislike to live in a British land, you can go to India which is in reality an Oriental Mohammedan country, and wherever you like to live you will be treated with the greatest respect and regards." But our Lord had chosen to live in Turkey. The people of understanding can realize the wisdom of this, if they ponder over the events which took place afterwards.
In those days one of the uncles of His Holiness, the Bab, whose name was Haji Mirza Seyed Mohammed from Shiraz, came to Harbala and Najaf. When he reached Hazemeyn, which is an hour's distance from Bagdad, our Lord sent one of his respected and trusted friends, whose name was Hadje Seyed Jawed Thebalai, and invited the said uncle to come to Bagdad, who cordially accepted the invitation. When he attained the honor of meeting our Lord Beha U'llah, he asked some questions in regard to the appearance of the promised Mahdy, whom the Islams
were expecting. Thereupon our Lord answered his questions in the form of a book entitled "The Ickan". When the uncle of the Bab studied it and understood its contents, <12> he confessed the truth of this cause and returned to his country.
The rapid growth of this sect created the hatred of the learned Sheiks, who were living at Harbala and Najaf. Amongst them was Sheik Abdul-Huseyn Tehrani, who was sent on the part of the Sha, Nasire-e-Deen, to build those sacred shrines. The said Sheik agreed with the other Doctors who were there to hold a meeting at Hazemeyn, whereby they were to urge and order the Masses to rise up against this sect.
Thereupon he sent an invitation to the Doctors to meet at an appointed place. Among those who were invited was the great Sheik, Morteza El-Ansari, who was one of the most famous Doctors because of being pious, learned, virtuous, religious and just. When they met, the said Sheik Abdul-Huseyn declared his object in calling them to the meeting and he asked the Sheik, Morteza El-Ansari to issue a sentence condemning this sect. But Sheik Morteza did not agree to do so, and said that he did not know yet the teachings of the Babis, and therefore could not issue a sentence against them. Then he rose up and left the meeting and went back to Najaf. On his arrival there, he wrote to our Lord Beha U'llah regarding that meeting and declared his love for Him. He also apologized by saying, "Had I known the object of the Doctors, I would not have gone to their meeting, and I beg for Thee protection and victory."
When Sheik Abdul-Huseyn and the other Doctors found they had failed, they changed their policy, and appointed Mulla Hassan, one of their number, because of his eloquence and power of logic, and sent him to meet our Master and to test Him, imagining that Beha would be overcome by his eloquence. On his arrival at Bagdad he found our Lord at the house of Mirza Hassan Hhan, one of the nobles of Persia, and asked permission to meet Him. <13>
When he was ushered before Him, he was awed by the dignified and majestic presence of our Lord, and did not dare to his mission wherefore he was sent. He said that he came to ask for elucidation and evidences regarding this cause. Our Glorified Lord answered, "Since our coming to Irack, We have been expecting to hold a meeting with the Doctors and to answer them in regards the Sacred Religion of the Babists, that the Truth may prevail." Then He quoted from the Scriptures and proved with clear argument that the Bab was the promised Mahdy. At the close of His elucidation, the said Mulia Hassan said "that the knowledge of our Master, His Wisdom, His eloquene and His logic, were facts which could not be disputed. Yet the learned Doctors would not be satisfied by scientific proofs but they will insist upon having a heavenly sign and a miraculous feat." Beha U'llah said to him: "Thou hast said the truth, go to the learned doctors and tell them to agree upon one thought and one miracle under certain stipulations, and God, Glory be to Him, will perform that miracle as a full evidence for His creatures." Mulla Hassan showed perfect satisfaction, thanked our Lord and returned back to the learned Doctors and informed them regarding the answer of Beha. A considerable time passed and no word was heard from them. At last Mulla Hassan wrote to our Master that the learned people did not agree on any point and had dispersed. Mulla Hassan himself returned back to Persia and mentioned this event wherever he went, and acknowledged the defeat of the learned Doctors.
Sheik Abdul Huseyn with his usual cunning began after this failure, to arouse Mirza Buzurg Khan Gazvini, the Persian Consul General at Bagdad, against our Master, Beha U'llah, and made him write to the Shah of Persia, Nasir-el-Deen to the Ministers, and to the Nobles of Persia, regarding the threatening growth of the Babists at Bagdad, <14> of their influence and their power. Besides this, he aroused the lower class of people who were living at Bagdad, to take the !ife of our Master, Beha U'llah.
Our master showed indifference to their threat, because He frequented the place where the nobles and the learned people met. Many times He walked alone, unaccompanied by His servants, who generally followed Him later. The indifference which He displayed regarding the endeavors of his enemies to take His life caused great astonishment to all the people of Bagdad.
The author of this book had the honor to be, in those days, among those who came to visit Our Lord, and after a stay of four months, was permitted to return back to his native country, Persia.
The incessant intrigues of Sheik Abdul Huseyn, and the counsul General of Persia and the bigoted Doctors, with the officials, induced Huseyn Kahn, the Ambassador of Persia, at Constantinople, to petition His Majesty, the Sultan Abdul-Aziz to Our Lord, Beha U'llah, to a far distant pIace because the City of Bagdad is on the border of the Persian Empire, and a place of meeting for all the Sheiet's pilgrims. Thereupon the Port issued an order of removing Beha U'llah from Bagdad to Constantinople. The Governor of Bagdad, whose name was Namick Pasha, and who became later the Prime Minister of Turkey, carried the said order of removal to our Lord, Beha U'llah and thus it was decided for Him to leave Bagdad when He was 47 years old. His stay at Bagdad had lasted over eleven years, and in the year 1279 A. H. in the first day of the month, Zil-Hada i.e., after thirty-one days had passed from the Neyrouz, in the second day of the second month from the Spring, which is called by the Persians, Ordy Behesht, in the month of April, 1863 A. D. in the afternoon our Lord left Bagdad from that part called "Old Bagdad", wherein His house was located, which was <15> called the "Greatest House", and went to the Garden of Najeeb Pasha, which was called "Rizvan" (Paradise).
This garden was located on the part of the city called the "New Bagdad". He crossed the river and entered the said garden, wherein He stayed twelve days, which are called the twelve days of Rizvan. Many of the inhabitants of Bagdad, among them Sonite's Doctors, officials and prominent citizens, visited Him at that garden. Every day crowds and crowds came to see Him there, declaring their love for Him and bidding Him farewell. They all returned back to their home sorrowful because of His separation from them. During those twelve days, Beha U'llah manifested Himself as the Appearance of the Glory of God, which He declared in the Tablets, then revealed. This Manifestation is considered the Second Manifestation, and its details can be found in many volumes which were written in regard to this cause.
At noon on the 12th day (Zil Kadah 13, 1279 A. H. i.e., May 1, 1863 A. D.) our Lord, Beha U'llah, left the said garden, with His three branches, and the rest of the family. There were also in His company, His brother Agha Mirza Mousa, and the "Servant of God", and Mirza Mohammed Ckulli, and many other friends who were chosen to serve Him. That day was a noted one, for weeping and wailing was heard from all sides, and all those who were present were sad at losing Him.
But He, while on horseback, began to advise and admonish them; and commanded them to be dignified and patient. He comforted them by thrilling utterances, which touched their innermost hearts. He stopped for a week at a place called Fureijat, which is two hours distance from the City of Bagdad, whereunto the believers daily came to visit Him, and then returned back. He commanded them to observe toleration, dignity, high principles and pure morals. At the end of the week He left for <16> Constantinople by the way of Kaskout, Mousel and Diar Bakre, After a hard journey of four months, He passed through the City of Samsoon, located on the shore of the Black Sea. Here He revealed a Tablet, entitled "The Tablet of Houdaj", wherein He mentioned some impending events, and hence, He and those who were with Him, embarked for Constantinople.
On His arrival in Constantinople He and those who accompanied Him were all conveyed to the house appointed for the visitors of Government, in the carriages which were lent by the Turkish Government for His reception. A few days after He and His followers were removed to a large house, cilled the House of Waisy Pasha, as the former place was not large enough for them.
The Master of Ceremonies, who was appointed by the Government to look after them, was Shemsi Bey. Our Lord remained in Constantinople for four months wherein He did not visit any of the Ministers, nor any great men or officials of the Government. Therefore Kemal Pasha, a prominent man of the Empire, reminded our Lord Beha U'llah, of the etiquette of the Government, saying that every personage who visits the Government i.e., everyone who is received as a visitor of the Government, is supposed to go on the second or third day to visit the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and declare to them hls demands and arms and if necessary ask for an interview with His Majesty, the Sultan.
Our Master answered and said: "We understand those customs, but as We do not need nor demand anything, and as Our dependence is upon God only, We do not want to trouble them. The Government asked us to come, We obeyed and came, to prove to them that We have no other purpose but the good of the Government and that of the nation." The saId Pasha was hushed, and no one else mentioned this subject again to Him. <17>
The Persian Ambassador at Constantinople who was always watching an opportunity to intrigue with the men of the Turkish Empire against this sect, found the above mentioned conversation of Beha and Kemal Pasha, a good chance for the purpose. So he persuaded the Turkish officials that the words of Beha U'llah were the result of His haughtiness and pride, and not His dependence on God which He claimed. As the relation between the said Ambassador and the two famous ministers, Fouad Pasha and Ali Pasha, were very friendly at that time, he used all his efforts with both of them and with some others, whereby he succeeded in changing their belief in this sect, and thus prejudiced them against it. Consequently the Turkish Government issued an order that our Lord, Beha U'lIah and those who were with Him should be banished to the City of Adrianople, which is called by this sect, "The land of Mystery", and which was the Capital of the Empire before Constantinople was taken.
Our Lord Beha U'lIah and His followers left Constantinople, in carriages for Adrianople. They arrived there in the month of Rajab 1280 A. H. i.e., 1863 A. D. At first. they lived in an inn, then, our Lord moved to a house called "The House of Moradiah", and hence a few days after, to another house named "The house of Amrullah".
The nobles of the city, the officials, and the learned people therein, all came and visited our Master and showed their great respect for Him, but all those who accompanied Him, lived in different houses.
The reason of giving the leadership of the Babi Sect to Mirza Yahya, who was half-brother to our Lordm Beha U'llah, was as follows: When our Lord was imprisoned in Persia, His great reputation and influence in connection with the new doctrines, were well known all over the country, therefore the eyes of the ministers and the nobles of the Persian nation, were widely opened to observe all <18> His actions and movements. Consequently, one of the prominent persons of this new sect, whose name was Malla Abdul Harim Gazvini, known as "Mirza Ahmad", came with the brother of our Master, Agha Mirza Mousa, and petitioned our Lord, informing Him that the learned people and Doctors all over Persia, bitterly hated Him and that their bigotry was great against Him. Also the Grand Vizir, (Prime Minister) Mirza Tecki Khan, had a great enmity towards Him, and as he enjoyed an unlimited influence in this despotic government, consequently, the life of our Lord was in great danger. Therefore, something must be done to turn the attention of these people to someone else. Whereupon it was decided to choose Mirza Yahya as a leader, for no stranger should be appointed to such a position. Then our Lord, Beha U'lIah, wrote an epistle to His Holiness, the Bab, to this effect. His Holiness, the Bab, agreed to do so. Therefore, our Lord, Beha U'llah began to teach and educate Mirza Yahya to fit him for this position, and to circulate his name among the people as the leader.
The uprising of our Lord in spreading the Word of God at Irack, and the great renown He gained all over the country, incited the jealousy of His half-brother, Mirza Yahya, who then assumed secretly hostile attitude toward him. While in Persia, as well as during the stay of our Lord, Beha U'llah, at Bagdad, Mirza Yahya had hidden himself from all believers. At Bagdad he lived alone with his family, but he frequented the house of our Lord almost daily until the order was received for banishing our Lord to Constantinople. Our Lord at that time commanded Mirza Yahya to go back to Persia with the writings of the Fore-runner, where He wished these writings to be copied and published. But Mirza Yahya left these writings of the Bab at the house of our Lord after His departure; then went to Mousel with one of the believers,<19> who was named Zahir, an Arab, which place they reached before the arrival of our Lord thereat. Here Mirza Yahya disguised himself and changed his name to Mirza Ali and as the people there did not know him personally, they took him for a guest. However, on reaching Constantinople, the followers of our Lord recognized Mirza Yahya and discovered his action, and being with him all the time, they began to gradually see that he was not what they expected him to be, and when they reached Adrianople, he lived in a house apart from them all. Our Lord sent to him and to his family all the necessary expenses and shared with him all presents received from Persia, although at that time they were in great need and hard circumstances. When the Government appointed salaries for our Lord and those who were with Him in exile, He gave Mirza Yahya and his family more than their portion. Yet the envy of Mirza Yahya did not wane, but was daily on the increase. In 1280 A. H. i.e., 1863 A. D., our Lord revealed the "Tablet of Command", wherein He gave the good tidings of the Appearance of Him whom God shall manifest, who was promised in the Bayan. The said Tablet, which was written by the Sacred pen, was given to the "Servant of God", to deliver to Mirza Yahya, that he might read it and know its contents.
Mirza Yahya did not show any objection regarding the said Sacred Tablet, but the fire of hatred kindled more in his heart than ever before, and thus the rebellion which was predicted in the Sacred Tablets appeared, and the days entitled "The Days of Hardship" came to pass, and thus the dissension took place. Whereupon our Lord, with the branches, the wives and the servants separated themselves from among the others and lived in another house. For a long while our Lord prevented the friends from meeting Him or coming into His presence. <20>
Of the important events which took place before the dissension was the occasion on which Mirza Yahya tried to poison our Lord, Beha U'llah. This occured as follows:
One day, according to the customs of the people of Persia, Mirza Yahya invited our Lord to his house to drink tea with Him. Before the arrival of our Lord thereto, Mirza Yahya prepared special cups for Him. When our Lord drank the tea out of one of these cups, He immediately felt severe pains in His bowels. At once they sent for a doctor, who was a friend. When the doctor saw the great danger, he begged of our Lord that the effect of the poison might come to him, and that our Lord might he cured. It happened as if his request was answered, for a short time after, he became very sick and was laid down on his death bed, whereby his sanctified soul departed from this transient world to the Eternal One. The name of the said doctor was Choupan. The sickness of our Lord because of this poisoning was very long, but the cure took place for it was ordained that the Appearance of the One who was promised in all the Scriptures, may be fulfilled.
One of the chief reasons which brought this great dissension to a climax, was when Mirza Yahya, while taking his bath in a public bath house, tried to beguile Mohammed Ali Isphahani, the barber who was shaving him, to take the life of our Lord, Beha U'IIah. He told the said barber to cut the throat of our Lord while shaviing Him in the public bath house. Although the barber related in detail these facts to some private persons, yet, this event quickly became known to all believers, whereby a great disturbance and commotion took place amidst them. But our Lord commanded all to he patient, and to have toleration and kindness. He removed into another hotise wherein He lived alone with the members of His household.
Seyed Mohammed Isphahani, who was not allowed to come into the presence of our Lord because of his misdoings, <21> found it to be a good opportunity to unite with Mirza Yahya. He therefore did so and both of them began to intrigue among the believers as well as among the officials of the Government, notwithstanding that our Lord had treated them both with perfect politeness and kindness. On one day, Mirza Yahya encouraged by the said Seyed Mohammed, sent his wife to the city hall where she accused our Lord, Beha U'llah of not giving them their salaries which the Government appointed to them, saying: "He prevented us from eating bread and drinking water." By thus Mirza Yahya caused this great humiliation and shame to the Cause of God. Although he at that time was enjoying all benefits and receiving all the means of a luxurious and easy life. He did this with the view of placing our Lord in a false light. Moreover both of them wrote to Persia, attributing to our Lord the wrong doings which they themselves had done, and striving with all their powers to invent all kinds of untruths.
On the 26th of Rabi-Thani, 1284 A. H. i.e., August 26, 1867 A.D., in the forenoon aPersian named Meer Mohammed Sheerazi, came into the presence of our Lord and declared that he was sent by, to appoint with our Lord a time and place of meeting, to discuss the present question, in order that the Truth may be distinguished from the falsity, and that all the people may know who is in the right. Beha U'llah, at once, without taking His usual nap at noon, went out of His home and told the said Meer Mohammed: "Go and say to Mirza Yahya to come to the Mosque of Sultan Saleem, where he wiii find us ready to discuss the subject in question." From the time in which Beha U'llah left His home, until He arrived at the said Mosque, He uttered verses with a loud voice, through the ways and streets where He passed in such wise that all those who heard the said thrilling texts were confounded. A while after He reached the Mosque, the <22> said Meer Mohammed came in, and apologized saying that Mirza Yahya could not be present on that day, and asked the appointment for another day, stipulating that a written promise, signed and sealed by both parties should be given, wherein it would be stated that the party which will not be present on that day would be in the wrong.
Accordingly, our Lord, Beha U'llah, wrote a Tablet and sealed it with His own noble seal, and gave it to one of the believers named Mirza Mohammed El-Zerandi, titled Jenabe Nabeel (His Excellency, the Noble) and he was the well known poet, who threw himself into the sea and was drowned a few days after the departure of our Lord, for he did not wish to live after Him. In the said Tablet it was stated that the meeting shall be held at the Mosque of Sultan Salim. The author was, in those days present when our Lord commanded Jenabe Nabeel to take with him the Sacred Tablet to one of the followers of Mirza Yahya, named Hassan Agha, and deliver the said Tablet on condition that they will give him a document written and sealed by Mirza Yahya, in accordance with the aforesaid stipulation. Otherwise, he must not deliver the Sacred Tablet to him. Days passed, and they did not bring any written document from Mirza Yahya, nor appeared at the appointed place of meeting. It is a fact that darkness and light cannot meet.
The said Seyed Mohammed Isfahani left, after this great dissension, for Constantinople, to accuse our Lord. There he united with a man, named Agha Jan, who was known by the name Kay Kolah. They both used all means of intrigues, falsehoods and untruths in accusing our Master. The Ambassador of Persia, the aforesaid Mirza Hassan Khan, found it a good opportunity to attain his ends against our Lord, by intriguing against Him to the Ministers of the Turkish Government. He did so, and dsturbed the minds of the men of the Government, <23> and made them understand that many of the people of Adrianople had aiready become followers of Beha U'IIah.
In brief, he agitated the Ministers by these falsehoods, and consequently the Sultan Abdul Aziz Kahn issued an order to banish our Lord and three other persons with Him to the city of Akka. This was accomplished by the endeavors of the said Persian Ambassador, and the Prime Minister, Ali Pasha, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fowaad Pasha. The three persons who were banished with our Lord were Agha Mirza Mousa, His brother, and Mirza Mohammed Ckuli, who later joined the controversy and Derweest Sedk-Ali Gazvini, who was one of the servants of our Lord Beha U'llah.
One morning early, the Turkish soldiers suddenly besieged the house of our Lord, and placed guards at both the outside and inside
gates, thus preventing anybody from coming out or going into the house. The followers who were not inside of the house were arrested and taken to the Police Station. At Constantinople also, they arrested seven of the followers of Beha U'lIah and put them in prison. A week after this event, our Lord Beha U'IIah left Adrianopte. But before leaving, He was daily visited by the different Counsels of the Foreign Governments, and by heads of different Spiritual creeds. They all declared their love and affection for Him, and endeavored to stop the execution of the order of banishment in some way or by some means; because they considered that the said order was not based on any moral or political reason. Thereupon they united together and asked our Lord to write a document, which they could use as the means of helping Him, in order that the execution of the order of banishment may be canceled. Our Lord refused to do so. At that time, the author for more than a year had the honor to be
there living in His neighborhood.
Khorshid Pasha, the Governor of Adrianople, did not <24>
Beha
from
• They quickly borhood, whose n were guarding at cerning the said ernment and the
sent for a surgeon, 'ing ame was Mohammed. The the gate informed the Gov tragedy I The officials sent said. doctor, found, after an
felt ere ,and
d the leave
all
em
going to be rkish Govern- and also the entenced to be what He said, insisted byall Him, but must One of the fol time, cut his our The room fear Haji cut
ow,
in the neigh- soldiers who ernment con- by the Gpv exan
wrote to said order, this sect had no avail, as
the as- no the
Approve of the order of banishment He Ministers at Constantinople to change the suring them that all what was said against foundation at all. But his., efforts were to Ministers insisted on executing the order,
'Being on very friendly terms with our Lord, lie embarrassed in detivering the said order to Him. Th fore, he pretended that he was absent from the city sent his subordinate to take his place, who delivere order 'tO cur Lord, whereupon it was decided to .Adrianople. . . Our Lord followers
U'lIah, therefore, tried to prevent
His leaving with Him, saying to th
' Me to travel alone, because what is fall Me is a Mystery." The object of the Tu went was to drown Him on the journey, three above mentioned persons, who were s exiled with Him.. The friends, on hearing began to cry, weep and wail bitterly, and means, that they would not separate from accompany OUT Lord wherever He went. Iowers named Haji Jafer Tabrizi, at that throat in an outside
room in the court of the House of Lord, at 8 o'clock in the evening, with his own hand author with many persons, was sitting in another close by, at that time. When they suddenly heard a ful scream, at once they rose tip and found the said Jafer seated at the window. The razor by which he his throat had fallen' on the ground outside the wind and the blood was streaming from his throat.
lit•
25
that the artery had not been cut, so they bandaged his throat with a handkerchief, and when the officials of the Government asked him why he had done this, his answer was, "Because our Lord prevented us from traveling with Him, and I prefer very much more to part with my life than to separte from my Master." Also he added, "If I am healed and find myself separated from Him, I will cut my throat another time." The said Haji Jafer and his brother, Karhalal Tecki, remained there by the permission of our Master, the former to be doctored, and when healed, to follow our Master, with his brother to the place of
• exile, the City of Akka.
After a stay of abput five years, our Lord, Behi U'llah, left Adriaflople on the 20th of Rabi Thani 1285 A. H. i.e., August 5, 1868 A. ID., with the Branches, the relatives, and the friends, guarded by an appointed company of Turkish soldiers and their lieutenant, Hassan Effendi. They trav eled in carriages as far as Galipoli. The Mohainmedans, as well as the Christians, gathered in crowds at the gate of our Lord on the day of His departure, and when He started with His followers to leave, most of those crowds
and wept, bitterly, and, especially the. Christians. :After font days they reached Galipoli.
Our Lord Beha U'llah, began tO utter a" sacred Tablet entitled "The Tablet of the Ra'is", at the time when the soldiers besieged the house. He finished it, when He reached Gaworkeni, four hours distant from Galipoli He predicted in the said Tablet, many impending events, Many of these events have occured since the Tablet was revealed, and some of them are expected to be fulfilled in the future. I
On their arrival at Galipoli they were taken to a house which was prepared for, them by the Turkish Government. Then the lieutenant, Hassan Effendi, delivered them' to care of Omar Eftendi, the Major, who Was appointed by
26
the Turkish Government to guard them. The lieutenant, Hassan Effendi, before leaving, asked permission to come into the presence of our Lord and bid Hin farewell, where upon he entered and sat down with perfect politeness and modesty. Our Lord told him what was revealed in the Tablet of Ra'is regarding the predictions, that Adrianople and the surrovpding country shall pass from the hands of the Turkish Empire, whereof conditions shall be changed. Calamities shalt befall the people, and their wailings shall be raised, and corruption shall take place in the Empire, because of the oppression they have wrought against Us without reason. On hearing this, Hassan Effendi, wept because he was thrilled to the innermost by what our Lord uttered, and many times, during the conversation, he re peated "If God Wishes". Our Lord ordered him to keep all these things in secret until the time of their fulfillment.
A few years, after the arrival of our Lord, Beha U'llah, at Akka, the Prime Minister, A Lasha, was diimissed, and Fowad Pasha, the Foreign Minister, died. Likewise, Sultan Abdul Aziz, was dethroned and afterwards the Russo Turkish War took place. Dis calamities which were also predicted by Tablet of Ra'is and the loss of Adrianople Government,
the pecond day after their arrival at Galipoli, Oma'r Effendi, sent word to our Lord, that he
the was
by the Turkish
Government
to send only
four
to Akka, and the rest must be sent to Constanti This was a sad day, wherein the excitement which ce cannot be imagined. For the waiting, crying and
of relatives and followers, were beyond descrip Thereupon our Lord, Beha U'llah, sent on the next
or Omar Effendi and said to him: "If you will cut people into pieces, they will not separate from Us." Said Major wired to the Supreme Port, informing
the Turkish
murdered, and turbancE and our Lord in the by
On
Major,
ordered
persons
nople.
took pla sighing
were fulfilled.
tion.
dayf
those
The
27
them to this effect, whereupon he received an order to exile them all to Akka. After spending a few days at Galipoli, at the end of the month Rabi Thani, our Lord, and those who were with Him, the Branches, the relatives and the followers, numbering seventy persons in all, embarked the Austrian Steamer Lloyd for Akka by the way of .Smyrna and Alexandria.
One of the prominent followers, Mirza Agha Kashi, titled "Jenabe Munir", had been sick for some time. When the steamer arrived at the port of Smyrna, his condition became much worse, whereupon our Lord ordered some of the followers, accompanied by some policemen, to re move him to the hospital at Smyrna. He was taken there in the forenoon, and in the afternoon of the same day, the Greatest Branch, Abbas Effendi, the author, and two other believers visited him at the said hospital, and found him nearing the end. The guards who accompanied us, urged us to return back to the steamer as soon as possible, as she would sail in a short time, and consequently we were obliged to leave him in that condition, We were afterwards informed that he died soon after we left him, and that he was buried in the Mohammedan Cemetery on the eve of that day the steamer sailed to Alexandria, whereat we were removed to another steamer of the same company.
The aforesaid Janabe Nabiel was in those days in prison in Alexandria, because of intrigues which shall be men tioned later on. He converted a Christian person named Fans, who was a very intellectual and modest man. When the steamer reached the port of Alexandria, the said Fans sent a supplication to our Lord, Beha U'llah with a special messenger, wherein he asked many questions. Our Lord revealed, in answer to his questions, a wonderful Tablet and sent it with the said messenger to him. On the eve
28
of that day, the steamer sailed by the way of Port Said and Jaffa, for Haifa.
The cause of the sufferings of Jenabe Nabiel was that in 1284 A. H. i.e., 1867 A. D., he left Adrianople with the permission of our Lord, Beha U'llah, for Egypt. But be fore he reached Egypt, Haji Mirza IHiossein Shirazi with several of the believers, were severely persecuted by the Consul General of Persia Mirza Ahrned Khan, who turned over those believers to the local Government of Egypt. It happened Jenabe Nabiel came there at that time, and at once they arrested him and sent him to Alexandria to be imprisoned there. A few weeks alter his imprisonment, tile Egyptian Government banished him out of the land of Egypt.
The sufferings which befell the believers in Egypt were as follows: Haji Mirza Heyder A Isfahani and Haji Mirza Hossein Shirazi visited our Lord in Adrianople in 1283
A. H. i.e., 1866 A. D. Hence they left by the permission of our Lord, for Egypt, and lived at Mansouriah, and there they made many converts to this new faith. One of these converts was Haji Abut Hasim Shirazi, who was amongst the most important Persian merchants there. The said Abul Kasim lVft for Adrianople and visited our Lord, Beha U'llah; but after lie returned back to Egypt, a great dis turbance and excitement took place among the Persian merchants there. Some of them went to the Persian Con sul General, Mirza Ahmad Khan, who was from Kiva and complained against the Babis, and informed him regard ing their great growth there. Thereupon, the said Consul General of Persia invited the two above mentioned 1-lajis, and some others with them of the Behais, to his own horr in order to deceive them. They took their supper with him, and at the close of the evening, he arrested them and imprisoned them in his own home. On the same night, he went to their homes and took from there all the Sacred
29
Utterances of Beha UIlah that he could lay hands on and Other valuable documents. On the following morning, he accused them to His Highnessflsmail Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt . Consequently a meeting of the Ministers of Egypt and the Mohammedai Doctors was held whereby they investigated the said Utterances and documents, and issued. a sentence of banishment for life, against the said believers, without asking them a question. At night a company of mounted soldiers came to the house of the said Consul General, and took those believers to a place
the
of
ntil
sal ity.
irza
with All
on the shore of the Nile and imprisoned them in an under
ground cell which was used for murderers. The place is
called Femil Behre.
About a month later, they sent said prisoners with
a company of soldiers to the City Khorthrn. It took
them six months to travel by land u they reached Khar
turn, where the inhabitants of the d city came out to
view these pnsoners out of curos They were seven
prisoners in all, namely, Haji M Heyder, All Isfa
haul, who afterwards was united the controversy,
Haji Mirza Huseyn Shirazi, Hail Kermani, Huseyn
Kashani, Abdul Wahhah Zangani, Agha Mohammed
Hashim, and Haji Ahul Kasirn Isfahani. They remained
there about nine years, during which time our Lord, Beha
U'llah sent two of the believers to visit them and comfort
theni. After that time they were freed through the Power
of Goá and His providence by the famous Gordon Pasha,
who was the Governor of Sudan. Haji Mirza Heyder All,
and Haji Mirn Hoseyn left for Akka by the way of Mecca
in 1290 A. H. i.e., 1873 A. D., and were honored by a visit
to our Lord, and ushered to His Presence. Alter several
months had passed, both of them went to Persia The
rest of the prisoners remained at Soudan, and some of
them died there,
• 30
T he first martyrdom which befell the believers after the Manifestation of our Great Lord, Beha U'I occured in Fabreez, Persia. Sheik Ahmad, Mirza All Nacki, and Seyed Mohammed Korasani came together to Fabreez on their way to .Adrianople. There they were arrested by the Government. The author, Mirza Mostafa Naracki, and some other believers were also then arrested. At that time the present Shah of Persia, Muzaffer El deen, was the Gov ernor of AzerbaUan. He was in those days the Crown Prince of pers and had with him his Vizier, Mirza Kha hramañ. Both of them wired to His Majesty, Nasir-El deen Shah, and to A IChan, the Commander-in-chief of the army, regarding the arrest of these people. In the course of a month they received an order to put to death Mirza Mostafa, Sheik Ahmad and Mirza All Nacki. On the 2nd of the month Ramazan 1283 A. H., i.e., january 8, 1867 A. D., they took the above mentioned three persons to a square called Heft Kachal, in the City of Tabriz, and beheaded them, whereon some of the natives burnt their bodies after death. The author and the other believers were freed after being robbed of their money and valu able•i.
The news of $ event spread over all the land of Per sia and caused many calamities and sufferings to befall the followers of Beha. Mirza Mohammed Ali Zenjani El Ha- keen was arrested at Zenjan and imprisoned there. After a few days he was beheaded at night in the prison, a tub being used whereinto his blood was poured. Also Agha Najaf All Zenjani, who accompanied our Master from Bag- dad to Adrianopte, and then returned back to Persia by the permission of our Lord in 1283 A. H. i.e., 1867 A. D., was arrested by the Government as soon as he entered the City of Tahreen. He was robbed of all the Sacred Writing he had in his possession, and then 'freed. But he followed them and tried to get back from them the Sacred Writ-
3t
ings. They arrested him again, whereupon they beheaded him, according to the sentence issued against him by Mulla All Kandi, after they had tortured and tormented him by all kinds and methods used by savages. His body was so mutilated by the severe tortuies he endured, that he was unable to put on any of his :clothes save a long Arabian shirt,
Agha Seyed Ashraf and Abu Basëer Zenjani were both arrested at their city Zenjan, and sentenced to death. But as the said Seyed was one of the famous nobles of the Hashmites, the officials did not wIsh his sent to be carried out. They sent his mother to the prison to advise him, in order that he may pity her, and so denounce the new faith, proving his innocence, so that they can save him. When his mother met him §he said: "Oh my son! Today is the day of steadfastness and faithfulness; if you do not sacrifice your life for the Cause of God, but return back from the field of martyrdom safe, I will never forgive you and my nursing you would be a failure." When the of ficials heard this, they and the learned doctors sentenced both of them to death. They were both beheaded by the order of the Government in the presence of crowdi of people in 1287 A. H. i.e., 1870 A. D.
On the 1st and the 2nd of the month Moharram, 1285
A. H. i.e., 1868 A. D., the believers at Bagdad gathered to gether and went to the garden of Mirza Mousa El-Jama he and Omen Bey, to celebrate the birthdays of our Lord, Beha U'llah, and that of the flab. The Sheites at Bagdad imagined that this new sect met at that garden as a dem onstration against their faith. Because the Sheites con sidered the month of Muharram a month of lamentation as His Excellency, El-Husseyn, titled the "Lord of Martyrs", who was the grandson of the prophet Mohammed, had been killed in this month at Karbala with most of his fam ily, by the army sent by the Calijoh of Beni Omeiah.
32
Therefore, they accused the followers of Beha U'llah to the afore-mentioned Sheik Abdul 1-luseyn Teherani, and to Mirth Euzurg Kahn, the Persia Consul at Dagdad; where üpon the learned doctors sentenced the people of this new sect to death, with the consent of the said Persian Consul.
Then the lowest class of the Sheites at Bagdad rose up against the believers and wherever they met any of them, ott roads or in streets, they used violence, endeavoring to take their lives, One niorning a believer, named Abdul Rasoul from Kashan, while carrying a bag made of hide, filled with wattr, té the garden of our Lord, Beha U'llah, from the River Tigres, was attacked by the Sheites, who stabbed him with a dagger, inflicting a severe wound whereby his bowels came out. He did not let go of the water, but placing his hands on his stomach to support his bowels, walked on until he entered the house of Our Lord, where he put the water bag on the ground and then drop ped dead,
After this tragedy took place the believers at Bagdad ;WI±ed to our Lord, Beha U'llah, the details, He answered them by wire from Adrianople, "Hold fast to serene pa tience". When the Governor of Bagdad discovered the uprising of the Shietes against this sect, he sent for them and ordered them to be confined in the City Hall, to pro tect them from their persecutors, and wired to the Supreme Port the details of the above mentioned tragedy, The answer of the Supreme Port was, to exile the people of this new sect to Mousel, in order that this disturbance may be quelled. The said Governor exiled them, guarded by Turk ish soldiers to the appointed place. It happened that our Lord at the same time was exiled from Adrianople to Akka.
In 1301 A. H. i.e., 1883 A. D. the virtuous and learned Doctor, Mulla A Jan, from Mazendran, and nine others were arrested and imprisoned at Teheran. A few days
33
later, Mul Mi Jan was put to death, and one of the nine,:
Ousta Nour U'llah, died in the prison, whilst the others were freed.
In the year 1295 A. H. i.e.; 1878 A. D., Mulla Kazini, and Seyed Sadeick, from Isfanhan, were both arrested. Mullah Kazim was sentenced to death and beheaded by the order of the GovernOr of Jsfanhañ, Masoud Mirza, the brother of His Majesty, the Shah of Persia. After his death his corpse was trodden upon by the hoofs of the horses. Seyed Sadick was tormented and severely tortured before the masses of the people and finally drivem out of the city. At this time, a great disturbance took place at Rasht, where they imprisoned many of the believers, and among them was Haji Naseèr El Gazvini, who died in prison as he was a very old man and physically weak, and therefore not able to stand the tortures. After his death the people ill-treated his corpse by barbarous methods. They took out his eyes and cut off his nose and then stoned his body. A short time passed, then the following event took place at Isfanhan: The Sheik Jomah of Isfahan, Meer Mohammed Huseyn united with the learned Sheik Bakir in a conspiracy to injure the two brothers, Mirza Mohammed Hassan and Mirza Mohammed Hosseyn, who were among the believers of Isfahan, and of the nobles of that place, possessing a great name and of high standing among the people.
The said Meer Mohammed had a great hatred against them for personal reasons, so he agreed with the said Sheik Bakir and he Governor of Isfahan, to kill both of them and to take possession of their wealth and property. Ac cordingly they were arrested and imprisoned, and a few days after, they were both beheaded in accordance with the sentence of death issued against them by Sheik Jomah and Sheik Bakir. Their possessions were plundered, and
34
even the trees and the flowers in the garden of their home were taken.
In 1306 A. H i.e., 1888 A. D., Mirza Ashraf from Abadah, was arrested and hung in Isfahan through the sentence of death passed upon him by Sheik Jomah and Sheik Bakir. Afterwards his body was stoned by the people.
year 1296 A. H. i.e., 1878 A. D., Heji Abdul Majid Khorasani, from Neishabour, was taken and im prisoned in Mashad, the éapital of the State of Khorasan. He was the father of Jenabe Badi, the young man who carried the epistle of our Lord to His Majesty, the Shah of Persia, Nashir-El-deen. They tried all means to in duce him to reject this faith, that he might be saved, hut he refused and attained martyrdom by sacrificing his life là the cause of his Lord.
At Shin; Mirza Agha, Mirza Rafi and Abdul Nabi
Abad. Four of them were sentenced by Sheik Bakir and suffered martyrdom. Also Sheik Bakir killed the above mentioned Mulla Ibrahim by his own hand in the court room. Seyeda Bibi ..wássent to Teheran where she was hung in her priéon.
Another of• those who attained martyrdom for the Cause of God, was Mirza Backir Shirazi, who was killed at Kérman. A while after, in the year 1308 A H. i.e., 1891
Dq the event of Yazed took place as follows: Eight of
•thé gathered together at the house of Abdul
In the
Kheyat were imprisoned, and killed by being suffocated according 'to the sentence of death issued against them by Sheik H-u Zálim, 'and the consent of the Governor. They suffocated them by stuffing handkerchiefs into their mouths, at the same time they spread the false report that 'they had killed each other in prison. Mulla Ibrahim, Molla Mohammed Ali, Rahmat tJ'llah, Mohammed A Noushad and Seyeda Bibi were all taken and imprisoned at Sultan
35
the house, and one of the believers other seven were arrested and taken days after, the Governor sent for hid and some other learned doctors the seven prisoners brought to the questioned them, in the presence regard to their faith. On their con said Sheik Hassan with the other tence condemning them to them infidels and sent them they were ordered to come Governor, who demanded from
All Asghar, the Master otherwise
answered:
thority cv is at your Governor should he also order them in a were led, drummer
they beheaded Mullah Mahdy. med Bakir was also killed. house of Sheik Hassan E sever the head of Mulla All looked towards the crowd of
revealed by Beha
Sheik Hassan El-Myth Sheites, and had house where he said Doctors in their belief, the s, issued a sen they considered rison. Later on, presence of the
Rahiin, where
Some tto
they chanted the verses
of
the
U'ilah.
and wen of to cer it .'
the tinbelievers discovered Governor Jalal-El-Deen M
Zulus Sultan, entitled Jalal this effect. The Governor to go there with some sold vas found what was going
the meeting irza, the son U-Doulah, and informed him immediately ordered an offi iers and arrest them. When to take place, the owner of but the Afew
hid
to
themselves, the prison
son he
of the co
of the
fessing
Doctor
death, because
back to the p
again to the
one of them, named Agha of Mirza Abdul Kasim, to curse his will be put to death. But Agha A I Be aware that you have no an (soul), though my temple (body)
o with it whatever you like." The er, and commanded that Agha All the order was obeyed at once. He others be put to death, each one of
"0 Governor er my reality disposal to d raged in aug hanged, and ed that the
different guarded b until they
part
ya cam
of the compan e near
city yof thet
• Then
soldiers elegraph
the prisoners headed by a office. Here
The son of Agha Moham When they arrived at the
-Mytahid, and were about to Sebzewari from his body, he people and said to them "0
36
Imam
land of Tuff, before he was help me? But I say: Is to see me?" Immediately near the gate, Mehreez, Bakir. Then they led the and Mohammed Hassan to the executioner was prepa eldest Brother, the younger of him to kill him before refused his request, and ing this, the Deputy of strong and courageous and ordered the execut take his heart out and did as he was ordered, the other side of the squ body. The said young
anyone having keen sight as beheaded. On arriving
to cut the young man and it to him. The executioner afterwards took the body to nd severed the head from the was 21 years old and newly of people poured petfoleum on rs and burnt them, and then and carry their burnt remains in the desert of Salsabeel. Af the
re
in— was Also Ibra night,
Lord, earner
people!
Husey,
titled the
Lord of Martyrs, at the
killed said: Is there
anyone
to
here hew they two asq ring one his
killed Agha brothers Agha uare before an to sever the hurried to him brother. The
Mo
A inn, head and exe eldest one. exclaimed man po
beh the
hammed Asghar and as of the begged cutioner On see ''\Vhat a ssesses
eaded the Governor
this
young
heart ioner bring and area man
married. The lower the bodies of these forced sorn Jews to and throw
class
marty
come
in a ditch
e them
terwards the Governor, Jalah El-Deem, ordered that city should be illuminated and that the people should joice and enjoy all kinds of amusements because the fidels had been slain. Later, Ousta Jawad Naddaf murdered and his body found cast outside the city. Jalal El-Dowlet arrested one of the believers, Mulla him, and took him out of the city on a moon-light where with his guards they chopped him into pieces.
Let us now return to the narrative regarding our whom we left with His family and servants on the st
at the Port of
Alexandria,
on their
way to Jaffa and
Haifa.
On the
12th
of
the
month
Jamadi
Oula
1285 A.
H.
i.e.,
August
30,
1868
A.
D., an
hour
after
sunrise,
the
said
37
steamer anchored at the Port of Haifa. Then Omar Ef fendi, the Major, the officer of the guards, who accom panied our Lord and His followers, landed and informed the officials of the Government at Haifa, regarding the arrival of our Lord and those who were with Him. He then returned back to the steamer and informed our Lord that He and His followers should land at the city of Haifa. The family of our Lord, including the branches, and rela tives; were all carried by small boats from the steamer to the land. Then our Lord followed them. Four of the be lievers were sentenced to be banished to Cyprus. They were arrested at Constantinople and brought to Galipoli with the said Omar Effendi, the Major. They were as follows: Mirza All, known as the Traveler, Mirza I-{useyn, titled Meshkin Kalani, famous for his beautiful writing, and Agha Mohammed Bakir, whose employment was to cook the coffee for our Lord, and Agha Abdul Ghaffar, known as Abdullah. When the Major, Omer Effendi, stopped these four in the steamer in drder to banish them to Cy press, the said Abdul Ghaffar finding himself about to be separated from his Lord, determined to sacrifice his life, and threw himself from the steamer into the sea, exclaim ing "0 Beha! 0 Beha !" At that time, our Lord was still in the small boat which carried Him from the steamer to land at Haifa. Some sailors, on seeing the said Abdul Ghaffar trying to drown himself, swam out and brought him safely to the steamer.
At the noon of the above mentioned day, our Lord, Eeha TJ'llah, landed at Haifa, and thus the prophecies and the promises of the Scriptures, in regard to His coming to Haifa and Mount Carmel, were fulfilled. But Mirza Yahya was sent to Famagusta in Cypress.
A sailing boat was appointed by the Government to convey our Lord and those who were with him, from Haifa to the city of Akka, as in those days there was no
38
road for carriages between the two said cities. They reached there in the afternoon of the said day. When our Lord, Beha U'llah and His followers entered Akka, He was then 52 years old. Many of the inhabitants of Akka, out of curiosity, came to the port to gaze at these exiles. As the Barrack was not yet occupied by any soldiers, it was appointed by the Government to be the place of resi dence of our Lord and those who were with Him, Here they were lodged, the gate locked, and a company of so diers was appointed to guard them. On the first night there was no water to drink, as the waters which were in the fountain of the said barracks were foul and unfit for drinking purposes. Also the exiles had no food until the next morning, when the Government appointed three large rolls of bread to each exile. As the appointed bread was not of good quality, the believers were obliged to exchange the three for two rolls of better quality from the market. The restrictions laid upon them were very severe in every thing. Ten of the soldiers were always on guard at the gate. When some of the believers went to the market in the morning, they were guarded by soldiers, and if there was a necessity for anyone to go a second time, the soldiers prevented them from so doing. This bad condition con tinued until the Government bcgan to give them a little money in place of the three said rolls of bread.
As the arrival of our Lord, Beha U'flah, and the other exiles in Akka was in summer, and as the climate there was very unhealthy from various causes, twenty-eight persons among them were taken ill. Their sickness was so severe, that in a few days three of them died. These were Abud Kasim from Sultan Abad, and A' Mohammed Balcir and his brother, A'Mohammed Ismail. Only a few hours elapsed between the death of the two brothers. As the means of living were so limited, and there was no money to spend for the expenses of their funeral, they were
39
obliged to pawn a very valuable Persian rug for the said purpose. The believers carried their remains to the Mo hammedan burial ground, hut they were refused the privi lege of burying them there. Thereupon the undertakers prepared a grave to the nârth side of the Mohammedan burial ground, wherein they laid the remains of these two exiled brothers in one tomb.
In brief, sickness arid disease were very prevalent among all these people, young and old, men and women, to such an extent that they were all in danger of death. Because of this, they prayed and supplicated with sighs and lamen tations, whereby our Lord, Beha U'llah, revealed by His Noble pen a commune, and commanded them to repeat it with earnestness and devotion. The result of their con tinual repeating of the said commune, was a perfect heal ing, and all of them enjoyed health by the Mercy of God and His providence. The following is the said commune :
"In the Name of God, the Forgiver". "Although I de serve Thy chastisement and punishment because of my wicked behavior, yet, Thy Goodness and Grace are des tined to grant forgiveness to Thy creatures, and Mercy to Thy servants. I ask of Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast made the Ruler of all to protect me b Thy au thority and power. from every calam liv and unpleasant ness, and from everything which thou dust not desire. Verily, Thou art Almighty."
In 1286 A. H., i.e., 1869 A. D., Agha Buzurg IChorasani, titled by the Supreme Pen Jenabe liadi and the Glory of Martyrs, came to Akka and was honored to be in the presence of our Lord at the Barracks where he begged te be afloweci to he the bearer of the Tablet, titled "The Book of tile Sultan", to deliver it to the Shah of Persia, Nasir El Deen. He left for Persia alone, carrying the said Sacred Book, and according to the Command of Ilis Lord Beha U' he avoided meeting any of the new sect on his way
40
there. Thus he entered the City of Teheran, the capital of Persia. On one day when the Shah of Persia, sur rounded by his staff, was riding on horseback to the gar dens of Shemiran, the said Jenabe Badi stood in the middle of the road, and when the Shah approached him he lifted up the said Book in his hands, and with perfect respect and humility, depending upon God only, said to the Shah:
have brought to thee a Tablet on the part of Beha".
When the Shah saw him, at once he recognized that he was one of this new sect, and was very much disturbed, remembering the attempt— on his life which previously took place by one of them, as before mentioned. On this account, the Shah was afraid of these people and he asked for a drink of water three times in succession. Then the
Shah commanded his Janabe Badi. Jenabe commanded to deliver Shah. They said to hi a supplication". Also the same time Badi afraid of him, therefore to them that he was After examining him
servants to
take
the
Book from
Badi refused,
and
said
that he
was
it personally
to
His
Majesty,
the
that he may give them the names of his comrades whom they thought had accompanied. He answered that he obeyed the command of His Lord, to come to Persia alone, and to avoid, meeting any of the believers on his way, or while he was in the Capital. By the command of the Shah of Persia, they took his photograph while he was sitting on the ground in perfect digt4ty and calmness, chained with heavy iron chains, and on both sides two soldiers holding his chains who were appointed to torture him. Finally
they led him to Afterwards they of the Shah and
m: "Say not that it is a Book, but Jenabe Badi refused to say so. At became aware that the Shah was he lifted up his garment and provect no carrying weapons of any kind. and finding that he was unarmed, the Book. command of torture,
the Shah whereof he delivered took him as a prisoner by the tormented him by all kinds
41
after a long period of severt torture, he was put to death, though the messenger is not responsible, and no law any nation can condemn him to death. The Shah, after reading the said Book, regr that he had ordered the messenger to be killed, hut Alas! it was too late.
• In the year 1287 A. H., i.e., 1870 A. D., His excellency, the branch Agha Mirza Mahdy, Was walking on the ter
• race above the residence oi our Lord, Beha U'Iiah, in the Barracks, prayingto His God; and as it was after sunset and getting dark, and as his mind was entirely concen
• trated on his prayers, he (lid not notice an opening in the terrace, wbiich was made to give light and air, and thus he stepped into the said opening, and fell down on the pavement of the court below, senseless. On hearing the sound of his fall, the members of the Holy Family hurried out of their rooms and found him unconscious. With tears and sighs, they carried him inside, and in the course of an hour he gained consciousness On the next day, he Asked to see the believers, to whom he expressed affection, kind ness and love; and on the next evening his sacred soul departed into the Eternal Kingdom.
No need to describe the great sorrow which was expe rienced by the Sacred Family regarding this tragedy, after all the hardships which they had been through before this. In brief they prepared his remains and carried them, guarded by soldiers, and buried them in the tomb prepared for him, behind the north wall of the tomb of the Prophet Salik. A slight earthquake was felt at the time of his burial.
A few months later the predkted "Days of Hardships" were fuThiled. For some of the followers of our Lord, wandered from the right Path, and abandoned faithfulness and love, though a number of them through the Providence of the Eternal God, remained steadfast, truthful and• hon est. This rebellion was an important and sad one, and
42
r do not desire to mention it in detail. He who wishes to know all the particulars, let him read a Tablet in the Persian language, revealed by the Supreme Pen, wherein all details in regard to the said rebellion in those days, are mentioned.
Two years ant., twelve days passed since our Lord, fleha tJ' had lived in the barracks when the Govern ment removed Him to the house of Andrawas El Malik, situated on the notth side of the fortifications of the city, beäause a regiment of reserves occupied the said barracks in order to be drilled. Eight months after He was removed to the house of Mansour El Khawam, where He lived four months. Then He lived four months more at the house of El Rabeah, from where He moved to the house of Oudi Khammar. Some of the followers resided in other houses, and the rest at an inn called Owaced.
When our Lord, Beha U'llah, left the city of l3agdad for Constantinople, in accord to the order of the Turkish Government, Seyed Mohammed Infahani was one of those who accompanied Him there, and then to Adrianople. The said Seyed. at Adrianople lived at the outside room, which was attached to the Sacred House of our Lord. After a while, the said Seyed displayed dishonesty and went and lived at the house of a Mohammedan Sheik. There he united with Mirza Yahya, titled Subhi Ezel, and began to intrigue and tell untruths amongst the believers as well as the outsiders. At that time the great dissension took place as afore mentioned, and our Lord, Beha Utah, left His house, called the House of Amru 'flab and lived in the house of Riza Vey, where He prevented all the followers from coming to see Him. Seyed Mohammed Isfanahi took advantage of this opportunity, and went to Constantinople, and there he agreed with Agha Jan, titled Kaj Kolab, and both of them used all their efforts to intrigue by falsehoods to the Pe Ambassador, Huseyn Khan, and to the
43
Turkish Ministers against our Lord, Beha U'llah. By. the endeavors of the said Persian Ambassador with the Prime Minister, Mi Pasha and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fowacl Pasha the Sultan Md Aziz, ordered the banish ment of our Lord, Beha TJ'llah, from Adrianople to AlcIca. Also the Turkish Govertithent and Agha Jan, the above mentioned intriguns. At Akka, the Government put these two men in the barracks, but a few days later, they asked the Government to be allowed to live in the city, and the Government permitted them to do so.
When our Lord left the barracks with those who were with him, and lived inthe city, one of the followers, named Mirza Riza IColi Tefrishi and his sister united with the said Mohammed lsfahani, and began to intrigue and do things to agitate the inhabitants of Akka against our Lord and His followers. One of their wrong doings was that they made a collection of-various texts selected from dif ferent Tablets, and inserted between the texts some of their own invented phrases for the purpose of arousing the hatred and bigotry of the people of different faiths against this new sect, making many copies which they distributed amongst all the people, high and low.
The civilized nations have no conception of the effect of such writings on the minds and the feelings of the Ori ental nations; because the civilized nations are brought up in the freedom of thought and religion, thus they are educated to be tolerant and broad minded. But the Ori ental people are brought up to be bigoted, prejudiced and fanatical. As soon as a new religion and new ideas are introduced into the country which are not entirely in accord with their old religious ideas, They are up in arms like madmen, to punish and put to death those who have propagated such teachings. Indeed no stronger means could be used to arouse the Oriental people, than that employed by the aforesaid intriguers. Such publications
44
iñg At. once he left people As soon as thatbe may be penn Lord rebuked him
these Lord,
Our
him
will always arouse the people to persecute and put to death those who embrace or promulgate a new religion. The martyrdom of thousands and tens of thousands of the members of this new sect, which took place in the Persian Empire, and the tortures and persecutions which they suffered are sufficient proof of the truth of what we state. The believers encountered many hardships and sorrows through the wrongdoings and intrigues of the aforesaid backsliders; and they were afraid that the inhabitants of the city of Akka would rise up to harm our Lord, and create such a great disturbance as would put him 'in danger. Thereupon, they determined to put an end to the evil doers and their actions, and secretly began to discuss the methods of accomplishing it, but as such an under taking was entirely against the will of our Lord, they did not cafe to make it known. At that time, Nasir, one of the Arabs of Bagdad, known as Haji Abbas, living at Beirut, was informed in regard. to the aforesaid undertak
Beirut. for Akka, to put an end to he came there he petitioned our itted to accomplish his intention. severely, and strictly prohibited
from doing such a deed. At the same time, Tie revealed to him the following Tablet, which was written in His own noble handwriting: "He is the Helper".
"I bear witness that thou hast helped the cause of Thy God and become of those who tendered their assistance. To my testimony all things do bear witness. Verily, this is the first principal, wert thou of those who know. What ever thou mayest do through His Command and pleasure, indeed, is considered the true help before Thy God, the All knowing, the All Wise. At once, go thou and commit not that which incites rebellion. Depend upon God Verily, He punishes those wham He chooseth. Indeed He is powerful to. do all things. We have accepted thy desire to
45
help the cause of God; therefore, return to thy home and commemorate thy God, the Mighty, the praised."
When Nasir read the said Sacred Tablet, he abandoned what he intended to do and returned back to Beirut, the place of his abode.
But some of the believers organized a secret meeting to put an end to these evil doers. The author was among them and of their opinion. On one day he begged to be permitted the honor of visiting Beha U'llah. When he was in His presence, he laid before Him the said opinion of the believers, and Agha Mohammed ibrahini Kashani, one of the members of the secret organization was one of those who were there. Our Lord very strictly prohibited the author from doing such things, and commanded him to go to his home, and never more contemp such matters. Thereupon Agha Mohammed Ibrahim said to our Lord:
"Our remaining quiet and tolerant has encouraged the m believers and consequently they rose up to intrigue against us and make disturbance". Then our Lord ordered one of His servants to remove Ogha Mohammed Ibrahim from His presence. His order was obeyed at once; then the author went to his home, and he and all the members of the said organization abandoned their intention. But the following seven persons secretly determined to put Out of the way the aforesaid intriguers. They were: Ousta Abdue Karim Isfahani, a wood carver; Ousta Mohammed All Isfahani, a barber; Ousta Ahmad Kashani, and his nephew, Hitza I{useyn, both carpenters; Agha Mohammed Ibrahim Kashani; Mirza Jafar El Yaziji and Agha Huseyn Kashani. These seven began to consort with the intriguers very cordially, pretending that they were in accord with them and with thek bel and conthwed to do so for some time. But one afternoon they entered the residence of the intriguèrs, which• was situated opposite the residence of the Governor of the city àf Akka, and there they killed the
46
Mohammed and Agha Jan, and Mirza Riza took place on Zul Kadali 12, 1288 A. H., i.e.,
1872 A. D.
n the Government heard of
the tragedy it arrested
seven and also arrested all
the followers of I3eha
'ho were in Akka. When
this event took place,
the believers were busy at
their different occupa
the business place of the
city. They were all
the
City
Hall.
Hall
our
Lord,
and
Mohamme
The Government also brought to Beha U'llah. His two Sons, Abbas d All Effendi, and Mirza Moham El Khadim (the Servant of God). night, they removed our Lord and d All Effendi, to a store-room in situated near the penitentiary, and s Effendi, to the penitentiary itself. Kuli was sent to another place. "Servant of God" spent the night
Hall, chained with heavy chains s Excellency, Mousa Effendi; (the
Speaker) was indisposed, and as the families of all the believefs had no one to look after them and take care of them, the Government left the said Mousa Effendi, with his son, Maid U'Deen Effendi who was not full grown, in their residence in the inn, where most of the believers were living.
The General Governor (Vali), Subhi Pasha, blamed Salik Pasha, the Governor of the city of Akka for the way in which he treated our Lord, Beha U'llah, by removing H from His residence to the storeroom in the said inn. Thereupon, the following day, the Government appointed a room which was situated above the penitentiary, and was the residence of the Major of the Gunners, for our Lord, whereunto, He, His two Branches and Mirza Mo hammed Kuli were removed. On the afternoon of the
Seyed
This
said
Kuli.
Jan. 22,
Whe
the said
U'llah ss
most of
tions in taken to the City Effendi med
M
His
the
His
But
All
in
on
Kuli, and Jenabe
o o the same Branch, Mohamme inn called Shawirdi other Branch, Abba Mfrza Mohammed the believers and the
the prison of the City their feet. And Hi
47
third day, they took our back to the City Hall, swers, they were allow left the City Hall, He prisoned there with the Him. The duration be the time when He was more than sixty hours. during His examination and native land, "My Name is the (ligh Therefor mentioned phrase, at Mazendran, cal in the court room of the Court! Ye
of God) has written this it sufficient to mention it
The duration of th the City Hall was six Government sent the triguers to the penitent the inn called Shawirdi, itentiary for military p were imprisoned there
at the City Hall, to
seven persons w iary and the rest which was situate urposes. Sixteen for a duration of
i the Suprem the believers
s. The result
give His Name he answered:
abode is Nue In the afore
aT native abode at the officials gly: "0 people principles and
the believers in seventh day, the ho killed the in- were removed to d beside the pen al the believers six months and e Pen revealed a to repeat it, for was, that they to his former
the
art
0
Lord and those who were with Him and after many questions and an ed to go home. Before our Lord sent for His servant, who was im other believers, and took him with tween the arrest of our Lord and allowed to return home, was not When our Great Lord was asked
according to the custonis Splendor of God, and My e, know ye who T am." He alluded to His origin led Nut. Then He gazed and said to them reprovin have adopted your own
cas do
tb ye
ehind not
you the reason
principles g As Jenabe
iven by God. What for El-Khadirn. (the servant
event in detail, the author briefly.
eimp days,
deems
risonnient of and on the
the
r of
end corn the
of wine inanded prisoner
six days, at Commune, a the freedom were freed, home. The
"0 ruler
friends from the Ruler of
and each
one of them went back
following is of Names an the prison fate, rising
the said commune:
d Creator of Heavens! Deliver of the enemies. Verily, Thou from the Horizon of Eternity.
48
Thou, Who art the Source of immortality, by the life ot Beha, disappoint them not; but rather help these people. Thou art the King Who: doeth what He wisheth; and in Thy Hands are the kingdoms of the Universe. The tusks of the enemy gnawed the flesh of the beloved. Protect the friends, 0 Ruler of Man and King of judgment." But the seven slayers were sentenced according to the law, as follows: One of them for a term of seven years' imprison ment; two for ten years; and the other four for fifteen years. However, they did, not complete the 11111 terms of their sentence, but were freed from one third of the time, in accord with the custonis of the country, which allows prisoners this privilege on certain holidays, by order of the Sultan. Although our Lord had obviously a great influ ence and strength, besides the invisible might and power which He possessed, to save those seven or lighten the burden of their hardships, yet He left them to be punished according to the laws, and never asked for them a deliver ance or an allevation of their difficulties; because their action was against His Wishes and consent, and a viola tion to His strict everlasting commands.
Nine years passed during which our Lord did not go outside the gate of the city. On Jamad Oula 12, 1294 A. H., i.e., May 25, 1877 A. D. He was allowed to go outside of the city, and consequently He went to the garden named Rizwan, situated to the east of the city between two rivers, where He spent nine days. At the end of the same year, he rented the Palace of Abdu Pasha, which is one hour and a half distance to the north of Akka, wherein He lived and at tile same time frequenting the city, for about four years. In the year 1298 A. H i.e., 1830 A. D., H'e rented the Palace of Oudi Khammar, situated halt an hour distant to the north of the city. Here He lived with His three Branches, Mohammed A Effendi, Zia U'Ilah Effencli, Badi U'llah Effendi, their mother, the rest 01 the Holy
49
Family, and the Servant of God, Mirza Agha Jan. But the
greatest Branch, Abbas Effendi, his sister, his wife, and
his children lived at the city of Akka. While our Lord
was living outside the city, the pilgrims as well as the
believers who were living at the city, were permitted to
have the honor of going to the palace, at Bebja, to pay
their homage and visit, their Lord, wherein they used to
spend a few days, an then, by His permission return to
their places at Akka,
Many places in the city of Akka, as well as many places
and villages outside of it, were honored by being visited
by our Lord, Beha LJ'llah. The author mentioned all these
places in detail in another larger history. Many times, our
Lord, visited the city of Haifa, and at the last time in the
year 1308 A. H. i,.e., 1890 A. D., He lived in the house of
Illias El Aliad for three months. He also visited Mount
Camel and went to the French Convent which is built on
the summit of the said Mount He reniained there until
sunset, during which He revealed a Tablet, wherein He
mentioned the Spirit (Christ) and His sufferings.
In the last years of the life of our Lord at Akka, cir
cumstances were different from those past before. For
His renown spread all over; His authority, His dignity
and His superiority ruled everywhere. All the people
then looked at the new sect with respect and regard. Our
Lord, Beha U'lIah, once said: The Sultan Abdu! Aziz ex
iled us to this town with great humiliation, and though his
Majesty's purpose was to destroy and mortify us, yet we
di not wish to prevent the means of gaining power and
ease at the city of Akka."
Notwithstanding al!
of power, authority, eas
U'Ilah displayed in the
sorrow and hitter agony
imagined. His grief was
these greatly desired attainments e and happiness, our Lord, Belia wo. last years of H s life, deep
; cannot he described or
so intense, that all those who
50
were with Him plainly noticed it, and were surprised, for it was unusual. Even His last utterances showed His ex treme distress. In one of His sacred epistles, He said:
"0 thou, who art moving around my throne, and present before m face, dost thou weep for the Soul of God who is rising up to help the cause or shall I weep with my own eyes for Him? By the life of God! All things wept because of which befell this oppressed One from those who denied, notwithstanding, that We created them to follow the abso lute Truth, and guided them to the straight and pure path of God. Should anyone inquire of thee regarding El Beha (The Splendor)
say to him; "He is under the claws of Hatred; Alas! Alas! Because of what befell me from op pressors, wicked, impostèrs, ignorant, conceited, deluded and malicious deceivers. If anyone will ask thee about the Holy Tree, say: It is under the swords of mankind, Alas I Alas! Because of what befell this oppressed One from the armies of the evil doers. Verily, the clouds of imagination bath led astray some people whereby My in ward eye wept, and My heart loudly tittered its groans. We ask God, Glorified and Most High is He, to purify His creatures from evil suspicions and false imaginations. Verily, He is the Almighty."
In another Tablet He said:
"In My Oppressed Name At My Greatest Prison".
"By My Life, My sorrow, and My affliction! If the Supreme Pen would speak to himself, He would say: "0 oppressed One, Thou art oppressed from now to the day which has no end." Indeed tyranny in all its ways and kinds befell the Rising Places of Light, and the dawning places of appearance, in the past, and shall in the future.
be likened or
a time, Our Lord said to some of the Friends:
a narrow and dark abode, wherein I may lament
But what equalled."
Miny
"I desire
befell this Oppressed One cannot
51
and weep over my deep sorrow were reasons thereof. know what was His departure.
On Shawal 12, 1309 A. H., i.e., April 9, 1892 A. D., our Lord, Beha U'llah, had an attack of fever for two days only, then it disappeared later on. He suffered another attack of fever and was very seriously sick for a duration of nine teen days, at the end of which He ascended. His occula tion was on the second night of the month Zil Khada, early at dawn, in the year 1309 A. H., i.e., 1892, A. D., on the 28th day of May, in the palace of Odi Khammar, at Behja.
Alas! it was a dire catastrophe which cannot be de scribed, and a grievious calamity which transcends endur ance. Alas! the siu of Truth hath bidden farewell to this earthly sphere and left His friends sighing and sobbing and raising painfully the voice of their lamentation. More than twelve years passed since His departure, yet, the eyes of the author are full of tears, his heart is grieviously throbbing, and his soul is extremely disturbed. God know c and heareth witness to what is stated.
His Sacred Remains were earthed on the third evening of the month Zil Kada, in the north one of the three houses which are situated to the west side of the above mentioned palace.
Our Lord, Beha U'llah, lived in this world seventy-six lunar years and ten months, that is to say, seventy-four solar years, six months and sixteen days. The time which He spent at His Greatest Prison, Akka, was about twenty four years, during which He sent epistles to the Rulers, the chiefs, and the learned doctors of the earth, wherein He declared His appearance. and the object thereof. Most of these epistles are inserted in Souret El Heykel (the Book
opptession". All those, who saw His
confused and did not understand the For it was impossible at that time to about to take place of sad events after
62
of Temple). He revealed Ketab I Akdas (the most Sacred Book), wherein He laid down the laws whereby mankind should be governed; and admonished some kings, presi dents, and learned doctors, He revealed so many books and Tablets, if collected together as would amount to about one hundred volums. In all His writings, He commanded the people to adopt good principles, and be characterized by high ethics and morals; and to live with each other with love, concord, union and spirituality. rn brief, He commanded them, to do that which benefits them and cast aside that which brings them injury, either in this world or in the world to come. I will hereby mention as a com memoration some different texts:
"Br the Sun of Truth! Who rose and dawned from the Horizon of the Greatest Prison, The Ancient Beauty wisheth not disputes, debates, nor that which grieves the hearts. Turn to flue Tablets, He says: Consofl with all the. pEoplE of different faiths with love and spirituality. And the purpose of this manifestation is to extinguish and re stroy, by the sweet waters of the elucidation of God, His precepts and admonitions, the fire of hatred which is kindled in the hearts of the people of the different faiths. And in this year, which is One Thousand Three Hundred and Six (i.e., 1889, A. D.), the Supreme Pen hath revealed a Tablet, written in the handwriting of the Oppressed, wherein the Greatest word hath shined from the Horizon of the Supreme Pen: 0, people! 0, people! Speak ye always good regarding the others, and never mention them in ill, nor say what grieves their souls. In this year speaking evil is also prohibited, for the tongue is created to pronounce the Truth, and it is a loss to use it for backbiting or titter ing what causes grief and sorrow to others."
Again in another place He says:
"The most splendid fruit of the Tree of Knowledge is the.following precept: Ye are all the fruits of the saint
53
tree, and the leaves of the same branch, the glory is not to him who loveth his native land, but rather to him who loveth the whole world.'.
Also He said
people of Eehal. Ye are the Rising places of Jove, and the Dawning, places of the Providence of God. Defile not the tongue. by execrating and cursing the others. Let not your eye look to what is not seemingly. Be ye not the cause of orrow, and how much more the cause of strife and corruption
Also He said:
"The religion of God and His creed descended from the Heaven of His Will, to unite and harmonize the peoples of the earth, make it not as a motive for contention and sthfe.
Again He said:
"The object of all what hath been revealed is to pre pare the ears to listen to the following Supreme Word: 0 people of the earth! Allow not the religion of God to be the cause of hatred. Say! By the Life of God I The Greed of God and His Religion have come for union and not for strife and contention To this, the Supreme Book beareth witness."
In the Book of My Covenant He also said:
"The object of this Oppressed One in enduring hard ships and calamities, and revealing texts and bringing forth evidences, is, to extinguish the fire of rancor and hatred that the horizons of the hearts of the people may beilluminated by the Light of Unity, and attain perfect ease. The Star of this elucidation hath dawned and risen from the horizon of the Tablet of God, therefore, it be hooves everyone to contemplate it. 0 peopJe of the earth! We command you to do that which exalteth your stations. Fear ye God, and hold fast to the garment of kindness. Verily I say unto you, the tongue is created to mention
54
that which is good, defile it not by uttering what is impro per. As God hath forgiven what was committed in the past, it behooves everyone to utter what is right, and ab stain from execrating, back-biting, and from that which brings sorrow to mankind."
Again He said:
"0 people of the earth! The religion of God is love and concord, make it not the cause of enmity and strife. Verily, what was written by the Supreme Pen is considered by those who possess keen sight and by the people of the Greatest \Vatch Tower, to be the preservation of mankind, and the cause of their prosperity."
Again:
"It is meet for the peopk of J3eha to contemplate this blessed text: Say, from God everyone hath come I This great Word is like unto water which extinguisheth the fire of rancor and hatred, which is inherent and hidden in the hearts. By this, the assemblers of different faiths will at tain. t1i hght of true union. Indeed, He sayeth the truth and guideth to the right path."
Again He said:
"By the Greatest Name I When a believer tryeth to injure someone, he is trying to injure the Soul of Truth (God). It is strictly forbidden in the Book of God to strife, dispute, slander, murder or the like."
Also He said:
"Regard those who are inferior to you, as ye regard your own selves. This is the creed of God were ye of those who know and this is the Re of God were ye of those who hear."
Again He said:
"All things which originate the prosperity of the world are accepted and desired by God, and all other things what soever.: are not. al1owed This appearance is to save, ref orm
55
unite and harmonize the people of this world, and give them peace."
Also:
"0 My Friends! Ye were not created for yourselves, but for the whole world, therefore, abandon that which only benefits you, and practice what benefits the world". "0 Son of Man! If thou art seeking virtue, cast aside your personal benent, and hold fast to that which benefits the creatures: And if thou art desirous to be just, choose for those who are inferior to you, that which you choose for yourself. For sometimes humility elevateth man unto the heaven of power and might, and sometimes putteth him down tin to the lowest degree of degradation and decline". "By the Sun of the Dawn of Unity! This Servant prefereth that the Friends of God be killed, rather than that they do harm to others. So, oh people! The Beauty of the Merch l (God), appeared to vivify the world, and unite the people therein, and not to separate them and shed blood."
Again He said
"0 Assembly of God and those of different faiths! Rise up to help and purify the world of love and affection from the stain of strife and hatred, that the souls may attain peace and achieve true liberty. By the Sun of Truth! El Beha hath no other purpose than to free the world from things that induce harm, affliction and despondency. Rise by the power of the Supreme Pen, that His purpose may be realized, and the world gain this achievement."
Al He said:
"At nights and at days, the Supreme Pen commanded His chosen ones to do what is right and cast aside what is wrong. In some of the Tablets this Great Word was revealed :"
"Blessed are those who hear and speak not, and hasten to recompense him who doeth them a favor, but when in jured they resign and leave the matters to God. Assailing,
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execrating, warring, disputing, killing, and invading are the actions of the beasts of the forests of tyranny and igno rance, wherefrom the people of truth are sanctified and purified. Everyone should help in bettering the world, for the whole world is one native land, and all mankind is one party, were they of those who know. In harmony and ac cord all should try to build up this world; Verily, he is the adviset, the A Knowing, arid the eommendator, the All Wise."
Again lie said:
"0 My chosen people! Hold fast to piety and adhere to evolence; Adorn your heads with the crown of justice, your bodies with the ornament of honesty and equity; away strife, and dispute, and occupy yonrse with
"0 people of the earth! Let not the religion of God be a cause of your differences. Verity, it was revealed in truth, to unite the people of the world. Fear ye God, and be not of those who are ignorant. Blessed is he who loveth the whole world fcr the sake of Gnd, The Gencrous."
fast to His Book,
This is the de know. Shouh-I
"Say, through the Power of God, hold cast away that which hindereth you. of God unto you, were ye of those who
ben
and Cast
melioration, union and concord." Also: "0 Servant of the presence! It is hoped that the party of God will listen to His admonitions and never do in any period or century, but that which they were commanded. They should be steadfast in benevolence and melioration, to such a degree that when great assemblies of the party of God svill agree in matter wherefrom some corruption is circulated they should be aware of them. To unite with such people is forbidden, for God strictly prohibited contention and strife in the Book. 0 people of Beha! Unite in what is good, and agree in bettering the world."
Also He said:
and tree
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your eye prevent you from doing so, pluck it out, for the Love of the cause of your Lord, the Kind, the Generous."
Also He said:
"The object of this Oppressed One from the beginning until now, is that they should not make the Creed of God a cause of hatred, but consort with all the people of the earth and treat them with love and spirituality.
Also:
"0 people of God! Occupy not yourselves with your OWfl welfare, but contemplate the illumination of the world, and the education of nations. The progress of the world is in displaying good and pure actions, and beautiful and pleasing characteristks. The actions are the help of the cause, and the characteristics are its support. 0 people of I3eha! Hold fast to piety, this is what was decreed by the Oppressed, and what was chosen by the Chosen One."
Also:
"Blessed is he who devoteth himself for the service of the world". 'Blessed is the man who lieth in his bed while his heart is enlightened by the love of the people of the world."
Also:
"0 My Chosen Ones! We commanded you to hold fast to uprightness and piety, and prohibited you from oppres sion and corruption, and from everything which induces sorrow to mankind in the contingent world. Make it your duty to help the creatures and do what makes their hearts rejoice.
He also said:
"Beware lest propensities of selfishness and Just dis purse you. Be like unto fingers on hand and extremities in body. Thus the Pen of Revelation adrnonisheth you, were ye of those who believe.
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Again He said:
"We advise the creatures in lace of justice is sprinkled with rance is animated, the defense of and faithfulness are abated, while dominant. In these days, the agr the treaties are broken, and man which giveth him power of sight him blind, nor that which leadet which guideth him to the truth. vice and hold fast to virtue. Be the creatures, and a book of adni
turbance. Give up mendicancy hold of that which henefitteth all high, the aged and the tares of conten of doubt in the go God! Do not pe fountain of love, affection. By My not for hatred and selves, but in lovin
these days, wherein the dust, the cheek of igno reason is destroyed, rest misery and affliction are cements arc violated and doth not distinguish that from that which maketh i him astray front that Say, 0 people! Abandon a good example among onition which they long
seth up to serve the cause, hath xpel ignorance from among the your word he one word, and Let your mornings he better
to copy. He whosoever ri to manifest wisdom and e human beings. Say! Let your thought one thought. than your evenings and your tomorrows
yesterdays. The glory of man is in his fection, not in decoration, wealth or mone sayings from falsity and lust, and purify doubts and hypocrisy. Squander not the your precious lives on selfish desires, and efforts for your personal benefits. Spend ye gain, and he patient when ye lose. \ ease after every hardship ,and clearness
better than services and
y. Sanctify your deeds
achievemen confine not get ero us] y, er,iv there after
your per- your
from
ts of
3 ur wit en isan
di s - take
the
SOW
m
(15 of clear
every
and indolence. and the peoples, the low
the vidow Say! Beware lest ye tion among the creatures aiid the ti od and pure hearts. Say! 0 Frien norm that which disturheth the and destroyeth the sweet fragrance of Life! Ye have been created for love, and strife. The honor is flat in loving your— g your kind, and the glory is not to him
59
who loveth his native land, but to him who loveth the world.
Use your eye seemingly, your hand honestly, your tongue truthfully, and your heart purely. Abate not the high position of the learned people in Beha and lessen not the dignified states o the rulers who perlorm justice amidst you. Let justice he your army, and your weapon, reason. Be characterized with forgiveness and charity, and with that which giveth pleasure to the hearts of the cherubim
Again He sai
"We disregard those who pervert upon earth, likewise, those who shed blood, or take the money of others on false pretences. Ve ask God to meet with them not, neither in this nor in the world to come, unZess they reoent and turn to Him. Verily, He is the most merciful One. It be hooves him who cometh to God to distinguish himself from others by h good deeds, and obey what lie was com manded in the Book. Thus the matter was decreed in a Manifest Book."
There are so many wonderful admonitions, lrecepts and wise utterances like the above mentioned, that if lected, would amount to several vf)lun1 es. The. author deems what was inserted of them herein, tn a su fhc illustratioti to the reader.
The excellency of the teachings of our Lord. fleha U'II a all d ills thrilling preceptS, i ade a rioted effect in the social life of I lis follo)wel-s, whereby they 'vure c horted to virtue, high ethics, heautiful and !iiiniaiie cut d tic and to S I ri trial atfa i i men ts. Tb c were C! C 1 t C wise, that in the 1 of calamities. l1a1(ls,l1I1 a flictiotis, arid disturbances, they were seen to he res paUctit, and thankful, acting in obedience to the follo\Vtlig Sacred Texts:
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"Whosoever rageth in anger against yOU, meet him with kindness, and reprove not those who severely rebuke you.
Also:
"To be murdered is better for you than to commit mur der, were ye seeking the pleasure of God."
Through the education of our Lord, Beha U'llah, the believers met their oppressors with kindness, forgave those who injured them, were charitable to those who rebuked them, and suffered martyrdom in different countries, yet they never killed, though in several places, they were able to do so. For instance, at Isbkabad, Russia, the Slieites killed,at a frequented crossing, one of this new sect, named Haji Mohammed Riza Isfahani, with sharp weapons, such as knives and daggers. The murderers were convicted, and the court sentenced them to be hanged. When the officials were on the verge of hanging them, the friends went to the General Governor and asked him to have
-4nercy on the murderers, and supplicate the Czar to forgive
• them The Governor did so. The Emperor changed their jentence, and consequently they were sent to Siberia.
But, Alas I Alas! Because of the change we see now, those spiritual characteristics and human ethics are en tirely changed. For concord was changed into strife, faith fulness into treachery and love into hatred. The disturb ances and the sad dissension which 1 tins new sect, dispersed and scattere its assemblies. All these regret table happenings occurred because of the sclflshncss of the Greatest Branch, Abbas Effendi, and his greed for supen ority. I-te violated the commandments of the Father in everything in his daily actions, claiming what does not be long to him and consequently, leading an undesirable and double life, including the greatest number of the believers to be hero—worshippers, abandoning the wor:thi of God,
61
the Single, the One. Beha U'Jlah, Glory be to Him, said in the Persian language:
"Every soul, today, which diffuseth the odor of selfish ness, is the cause of difference."
Our Lord taught in most of the Tablets, that His ob ject was to destroy the hatred resulting from difference in faiths, and to replace it by love, concord and union of nations. But after His Ascension, the difference which took place among the followers of this new sect, through the unpleasant deeds of Abbas Effendi, caused enmity and hatred to grow amidst them, and resulted in separating the father from his son, the brother from his sister, the husband from his wife, and many other sad things. May God protect us. The author has written the details of this disseàsion in another book, because to relate them herein is not the object of this brief history.
I close with asking my Lord, Might and Glory be to Him, to confer great benefits upon the readers of this brief book, especially upon my interested brethren, in order that it may be as a light guiding them to the large histories wherein all particulars are inserted.
EVENTS AFTER THE DEPARTURE follow in the original.