Memorials of the Faithful Part 10

One of the captives who were sent on from Ba_gh_dad to Mosul was Mirza Mu?ammad-i-Vakil. This righteous soul was among those who became believers in Ba_gh_dad. It was there he drank from the cup of resignation to the will of G.o.d and sought his rest in the shade of the celestial Tree. He was a man high-minded and worthy of trust. He was also an extremely capable and energetic administrator of important affairs, famous in 'Iraq for his wise counsel. After he became a believer, he was distinguished by the t.i.tle of Vakil-deputy. It happened in this way:

There was a notable in Ba_gh_dad by the name of ?aji Mirza Hadi, the jeweler. He had a distinguished son, aqa Mirza Musa, who had received from Baha'u'llah the t.i.tle "Letter of Eternity." This son had become a staunch believer. As for his father, the ?aji, he was a princely individual known for his lavish open-handedness not only in Persia and 'Iraq but as far away as India. To begin with he had been a Persian vazir; but when he saw how the late Fat?-'Ali _Sh_ah eyed worldly riches, particularly the worldly riches of Persian vazirs, and how he s.n.a.t.c.hed whatever they had acc.u.mulated, and how, not content with confiscating their costly vanities and lumber, he punished and tortured them right and left, calling it a legal penalty-the ?aji dreaded that he too might be catapulted into the abyss. He abandoned his position as vazir, and his mansion, and fled to Ba_gh_dad. Fat?-'Ali _Sh_ah demanded that the Governor of Ba_gh_dad, Davud Pa_sh_a, send him back, but the Pa_sh_a was a man of courage and the ?aji was widely known for his able mind. Accordingly, the Pa_sh_a respected and helped him and the ?aji set up in business as a jeweler. He lived with pomp and splendor, like a great prince. He was one of the most remarkable men of his time, for within his palace he carried on a life of gratification and opulence, but he left his pomp, style and retinue behind, occupied himself with his business affairs and realized great profits.

The door of his house was always open. Turks and Persians, neighbors, strangers from far places, all were his honored guests. Most of Persia's great, when they came on pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines, would stop at his house, where they would find a banquet laid out, and every luxury ready to hand. The ?aji was, indeed, more distinguished than Persia's Grand Vazir; he outshone all the vazirs for magnificence, and as the days pa.s.sed by he dispensed ever more largesse to all who came and went. He was the pride of the Persians throughout 'Iraq, the glory of his fellow nationals. Even on the Turkish vazirs and ministers and the grandees of Ba_gh_dad he bestowed gifts and favors; and for intelligence and perceptivity he had no equal.

Because of the ?aji's advancing years, toward the end of his days his business affairs declined. Still, he made no change in his way of life.

Exactly as before, he continued to live with elegance. The prominent would borrow heavily from him, and never pay him back. One of them, the mother of aqa _Kh_an Ma?allati, borrowed 100,000 tumans(66) from him and did not repay one penny, for she died soon after. The il-_Kh_an, 'Ali-Quli _Kh_an, was another debtor; another was Sayfu'd-Dawlih, a son of Fat?-'Ali _Sh_ah; another, Valiyyih, a daughter of Fat?-'Ali _Sh_ah; these are only a few examples out of many, from among the Turkish amirs and the great of Persia and 'Iraq. All these debts remained unpaid and irrecoverable.

Nevertheless, that eminent and princely man continued to live exactly as before.

Toward the close of his life he conceived a remarkable love for Baha'u'llah, and most humbly, would enter His presence. I remember him saying one day, to the Blessed Beauty, that in the year 1250 and something over, Mirza Mawkab the famed astrologer visited the Shrines. "One day he said to me," the ?aji continued, "'Mirza, I see a strange, a unique conjunction in the stars. It has never occurred before. It proves that a momentous event is about to take place, and I am certain that this event can be nothing less than the Advent of the promised Qa'im.'"

Such was the situation of that ill.u.s.trious prince when he pa.s.sed away, leaving as heirs a son and two daughters. Thinking him to be as wealthy as ever, the people believed that his heirs would inherit millions, for everyone knew his way of life. The Persian diplomatic representative, the latter-day mujtahids, and the faithless judge all sharpened their teeth.

They started a quarrel among the heirs, so that in the resulting turmoil they themselves would make substantial gains. With this in view they did whatever they could to ruin the heirs, the idea being to strip the inheritors bare, while the Persian diplomat, the mujtahids, and the judge would acc.u.mulate the spoils.

Mirza Musa was a staunch believer; his sisters, however, were from a different mother, and they knew nothing of the Cause. One day the two sisters, accompanied by the son-in-law of the late Mirza Siyyid Ri?a, came to the house of Baha'u'llah. The two sisters entered the family apartments while the son-in-law settled down in the public reception rooms. The two girls then said to Baha'u'llah: "The Persian envoy, the judge, and the faithless mujtahids have destroyed us. Toward the close of his life, the late ?aji trusted no one but Yourself. We ourselves have been remiss and we should have sought Your protection before; in any case we come now to implore Your pardon and help. Our hope is that You will not send us away despairing, and that through Your favor and support we shall be saved.

Deign, then, to look into this affair, and to overlook our past mistakes."

Replying, the Blessed Beauty declared with finality that intervention in affairs of this kind was abhorrent to Him. They kept on pleading with Him, however. They remained a whole week in the family apartments, clamoring every morning and evening for favor and grace. "We will not lift our heads from off this Threshold," they said. "We will seek sanctuary here in this house; we will remain here, by the door of Him Who guards the angels, until He shall deign to look into our concerns and to save us from our oppressors."

Each day, Baha'u'llah would counsel them, saying, "Matters of this kind are in the hands of the mujtahids and the government authorities. We do not interfere in such affairs." But they kept on with their importunities, insisting, imploring, begging for help. It happened that the house of Baha'u'llah was bare of worldly goods, and these ladies, accustomed to the best of everything, could hardly be satisfied with bread and water. Food had to be procured for them on credit. Briefly, from every direction, there were problems.

Finally one day Baha'u'llah summoned me to His presence. "These esteemed ladies," He said, "with all their exactions, have put Us to considerable inconvenience. There is no help for it-you will have to see to this case.

But you must solve this entire, complicated matter in a single day."

The next morning, accompanied by aqay-i-Kalim, I went to the house of the late ?aji. We called in appraisers and they collected all the jewels in an upper apartment; the ledgers and account books having to do with the properties were placed in a second room; the costly furnis.h.i.+ngs and art objects of the house in a third. A number of jewelers then went to work and set a value on the gems. Other experts appraised the house, the shops, the gardens, the baths. As soon as they began their work I came out and posted someone in each room so that the appraisers could duly complete their tasks. By this time it was nearly noon. We then had luncheon, after which the appraisers were directed to divide everything into two equal parts, so that lots could be cast; one part would be that of the daughters, and one that of the son, Mirza Musa.(67) I then went to bed, for I was ill. In the afternoon I rose, had tea, and repaired to the family apartments of the mansion. Here I observed that the goods had been divided into three parts. I said to them: "My instructions were that everything should be divided into two parts. How is it that there are three?" The heirs and other relatives answered as one: "A third must certainly be set aside. That is why we have divided everything into three.

One share is for Mirza Musa, one for the two daughters, and the third we place at Your disposal; this third is the portion of the deceased and You are to expend it in any way You see fit."

Greatly disturbed, we told them, "Such a thing is out of the question.

This you must not require, for it cannot be complied with. We gave our word to Baha'u'llah that not so much as a copper coin would be accepted."

But they, too, swore upon oath that it must be as they wished, that they would agree to nothing else. This servant answered: "Let us leave this matter for the present. Is there any further disagreement among you?"

"Yes," said Mirza Musa, "what has become of the money that was left?"

Asked the amount, he answered: "Three hundred thousand tumans." The daughters said: "There are two possibilities: either this money is here in the house, in some coffer, or buried hereabouts-or else it is in other hands. We will give over the house and all its contents to Mirza Musa. We two will leave the house, with nothing but our veils. If anything turns up we, as of now, freely accord it to him. If the money is elsewhere, it has no doubt been deposited in someone's care; and that person, well aware of the breach of trust, will hardly come forward, deal honorably by us, and return it-rather, he will make off with it all. Mirza Musa must establish a satisfactory proof of what he says; his claim alone is not evidence."

Mirza Musa replied: "All the property was in their hands; I knew nothing of what was going on-I had no hint of it. They did whatever they pleased."

In short, Mirza Musa had no clear proof of his claim. He could only ask, "Is such a thing possible, that the late ?aji had no ready funds?" Since the claim was unsupported, I felt that pursuing it further would lead to a scandal and produce nothing of value. Accordingly I bade them: "Cast the lots." As for the third share, I had them put it in a separate apartment, close it off, and affix a seal to the door. The key I brought to Baha'u'llah. "The task is done," I said. "It was accomplished only through Your confirmations. Otherwise it could not have been completed in a year.

However, a difficulty has arisen." I described in detail the claim of Mirza Musa and the absence of any proof. Then I said, "Mirza Musa is heavily in debt. Even should he expend all he has, still he could not pay off his creditors. It is best, therefore, if You Yourself will accept the heirs' request, since they persist in their offer, and bestow that share on Mirza Musa. Then he could at least free himself from his debts and still have something left over."

On the following day the heirs appeared and implored the Blessed Beauty to have me accept the third share. "This is out of the question," He told them. Then they begged and entreated Him to accept that share Himself and expend it for charitable purposes of His own choice. He answered: "There is only one purpose for which I might expend that sum." They said, "That is no concern of ours, even if You have it thrown into the sea. We will not loose our hold from the hem of Your garment and we will not cease our importunities until You accede to our request." Then He told them, "I have now accepted this third share; and I have given it to Mirza Musa, your brother, but on the condition that, from this day forward, he will speak no more of any claim against yourselves." The heirs were profuse in their thanks. And so this weighty and difficult case was settled in a single day. It left no residue of complaints, no uproar, no further quarrels.

Mirza Musa did his best to urge some of the jewels on me, but I refused.

Finally he requested that I accept a single ring. It was a precious ring, set with a costly pomegranate ruby, a flawless sphere, and unique. All around the central stone, it was gemmed with diamonds. This too I refused, although I had no 'aba to my back and nothing to wear but a cotton tunic that bespoke the antiquity of the world, nor did I own a copper coin. As Hafiz would say: "An empty purse, but in our sleeve a h.o.a.rd."

Grateful for the bounty he had received, Mirza Musa offered Baha'u'llah everything he possessed: orchards, lands, estates-but it was refused. Then he appointed the 'ulamas of 'Iraq to intercede for him. They hastened to Baha'u'llah in a body and begged Him to accept the proffered gifts. He categorically refused. They respectfully told Him: "Unless You accept, in a very short time Mirza Musa will scatter it all to the winds. For his own good, he should not have access to this wealth."

Then in his own hand, Mirza Musa penned deeds of gift, made out according to each of the five creeds, in Arabic and Persian; two copies he made, and chose the 'ulamas as his witnesses. Through certain 'ulamas of Ba_gh_dad, among them the famed scholar 'Abdu's-Salam Effendi, and the erudite and widely known Siyyid Davud Effendi, he presented the deed of gift to Baha'u'llah. The Blessed Beauty told them: "We are appointing Mirza Musa himself as Our deputy."

After Baha'u'llah's departure for Rumelia, Mirza Musa, with a promissory note, purchased from the Government the t.i.thes of Hindiyyih, a district near Karbila, and suffered a terrible loss, close to 100,000 tumans. The Government confiscated his properties and sold them for next to nothing.

When told of the matter, Baha'u'llah said, "Do not speak of this, ever again. Do not so much as utter a word about those estates." Meanwhile the exile from Adrianople to Akka took place. Mirza Mu?ammad went to the Government authorities and said to them: "I am the deputy (vakil) of Baha'u'llah. These properties do not belong to Mirza Musa. How is it that you have taken them over?" But he had no doc.u.ments to support him, for the t.i.tle deeds were in Akka, and on this account the Government rejected his claim. However, in the process, he became known to all as Mirza Mu?ammad the Deputy. This is how he received the t.i.tle.

When we were in Adrianople, Mirza Musa sent on the ruby ring, through Siyyid 'Ali-Akbar, and the Blessed Beauty directed us to accept it. After we reached Akka the believers fell ill, and lay suffering in their beds. I sent the ring to India, to one of the friends, asking him to sell it with all possible speed and forward the proceeds to us in Akka to be expended on the sick. That blessed individual never sent us a penny. Two years later he wrote to say that he had sold the ring for twenty-five pounds and had spent that sum on the pilgrims. This, when the ring was of such great value. I made no complaint. Rather, I praised G.o.d, thanking Him that out of all that wealth not a fleck of dust had settled on my robe.

Mirza Mu?ammad was taken prisoner and sent away from Ba_gh_dad to Mosul, where he fell a prey to fearful ills. He had been rich; in G.o.d's path he was now poor. He had enjoyed his ease and comfort; now, for the love of G.o.d, he suffered pain and toil. He lived on for a time in Mosul, suppliant, resigned, and lowly. And then, severed from all save G.o.d, irresistibly drawn by the gentle gales of the Lord, he rose out of this dark world to the land of light. Unto him be salutations and praise. May G.o.d shed down upon him the waters of forgiveness, and open before his grave the gates of Heaven.

?aJi MU?AMMAD-RI?aY-I-s.h.i.+RaZi

?aji Mu?ammad-Ri?a came from _Sh_iraz. He was a man spiritually minded, lowly, contrite, the embodiment of serenity and faith. When the call of G.o.d was lifted up, that needy soul hurried into the shelter of heavenly grace. As soon as he heard the summons, "Am I not your Lord?" he cried out: "Yea, verily!"(68) and became as a lamp to the people's feet.

For a long time he served the Afnan, ?aji Mirza Mu?ammad-'Ali, and was his loyal and close companion, trusted in all things. Later, following a journey to distant countries, he went to the Holy Land, and there in utter submission and lowliness bowed his head before the Sacred Threshold and was honored with entering the presence of Baha'u'llah, where he drank in endless bounties from cupped hands. For quite a time he remained there, attending upon Baha'u'llah almost every day, encompa.s.sed by holy favor and grace. He was outstanding as to character, and lived after the commandments of G.o.d: tranquil and long-suffering, in his surrender to G.o.d's will he was selflessness itself. He had no personal aims whatever, no feeling of attachment to this fleeting world. His one desire was to please his Lord, his one hope, to walk the holy path.

He went on, then, to Beirut, serving the honored Afnan in that city. He spent a long time in this wise, returning again and again to enter the presence of Baha'u'llah and gaze upon that Most Great Beauty. Later, in Sidon, he fell ill. Unable to make the journey to Akka, in perfect acquiescence and contentment he ascended to the Abha Kingdom, and was plunged in the ocean of lights. By the Supreme Pen, endless bounty was bestowed upon his memory. He was indeed one of the loyal, the steadfast, a solid pillar of servitude to Baha'u'llah. Many and many a time, from the lips of the Blessed Beauty, we heard his praise.

Unto him be greetings and praise, and the glory of the All-Glorious. Upon him be compa.s.sion and most great mercy from the Lord of the High Heavens.

His s.h.i.+ning grave is in Sidon, near the place called the Station of John the Holy.

?USAYN EFFENDI TABRiZi

This youth was from Tabriz, and he was filled with the love of G.o.d like a cup flowing and br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with red wine. In the flower of his youth he left Persia and traveled to Greece, making his living as a merchant there; till a day came when, guided by Divine bounty, he went from Greece to Smyrna, and there he was given the glad tidings of a new Manifestation on earth. He shouted aloud, was frenzied, was drunk with the music of the new message. He escaped from his debits and credits, set out to meet the Lord of his heart, and entered the presence of Baha'u'llah. For some time, a trusted attendant and companion, he served the Blessed Beauty. He was then directed to seek a lodging in the city of Haifa.

Here he faithfully waited upon the believers, and his home was a way station for Baha'i travelers. He had an excellent disposition, a wonderful character, and high, spiritual aims. He was friendly with friend and stranger alike; he was kind to people of every nation and wished them well.

When the Most Great Light ascended to the Concourse above, ?usayn Effendi remained faithful to Him, steadfast and firm; and as before, he continued to be a close friend to the friends. Thus he lived for a considerable period, and felt himself better off than the kings of the earth. He became the son-in-law of Mirza Mu?ammad-Quli, brother of the Blessed Beauty, and remained for a time peaceful and serene. He carefully avoided any occasion of being seduced into error, for he dreaded that the tempest of afflictions might mount in fury, surge ever higher, and sweep many a soul into the fathomless gulf.(69) He would sigh and mourn, for this fear was with him at all times. At last he could bear the world no longer, and with his own hands stripped off the garment of life.

Praise be unto him, and salutations, and the mercy of G.o.d, and Divine acceptance. May G.o.d pardon him and make him to enter the highest Heaven, the Paradise that towers above all the rest. His sweet-scented grave is in Haifa.

JAMs.h.i.+D-I-GURJi

Yet another of the emigrants and settlers was the valiant Jam_sh_id-i-Gurji, who came from Georgia, but grew up in the city of Ka_sh_an. He was a fine youth, faithful, trustworthy, with a high sense of honor. When he heard of a new Faith dawning, and awoke to the tidings that on Persia's horizons the Sun of Truth had risen, he was filled with holy ecstasy, and he longed and loved. The new fire burned away those veils of uncertainty and doubt that had closed him round; the light of Truth shed down its rays, the lamp of guidance burned before him.

He remained in Persia for a time, then left for Rumelia, which was Ottoman territory, and in the Land of Mystery, Adrianople, won the honor of entering the presence of Baha'u'llah; it was there that his meeting took place. His joy and fervor were boundless. Later, at Baha'u'llah's command he made a journey to Constantinople, with aqa Mu?ammad-Baqir and aqa 'Abdu'l-_Gh_affar. In that city, the tyrannous imprisoned him and put him in chains.

The Persian amba.s.sador informed against Jam_sh_id and Ustad Mu?ammad-'Ali-i-Dallak as enemy leaders and fighters. Jam_sh_id he described as a latter-day Rustam(70) while Mu?ammad-'Ali, according to the envoy, was a ravening lion. These two respected men were first imprisoned and caged; then they were sent out of Turkish territory, under guard to the Persian frontier. They were to be delivered over to the Persian Government and crucified, and the guards were threatened with terrible punishments should they once relax their vigilance and let the prisoners escape. For this reason, at every stopping place the victims were kept in some almost inaccessible spot. Once they were thrown into a pit, a kind of well, and suffered agonies all through the night. The next morning Jam_sh_id cried out: "O you who oppress us! Are we Joseph the Prophet that you have thrown us in this well? Remember how He rose out of the well as high as the full moon? We too walk the pathway of G.o.d, we too are down here for His sake, and we know that these depths are the heights of the Lord."