Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/Exile of Bahá’u’lláh
| Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908 Exile of Bahá’u’lláh |
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EXILE OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
[edit]When Bahá’u’lláh was imprisoned in Ṭihrán, the Russian Ambassador went about twenty times to the Sháh to plead in His behalf, saying, “This man has no fault. He is faultless. Why do you imprison Him?” The Sháh answered that Bahá’u’lláh must be punished because He had ordered the attack on his life (see history).10 The Ambassador said, “That is not a reasonable supposition; for, if He had ordered such an attempt, He would have ordered a bullet put in the gun instead of merely powder and small shot.” The Sháh acknowledged this reasoning but was determined to hold Bahá’u’lláh responsible so as to have a pretext for keeping Him in prison.
Again and again the Russian Ambassador went to talk with the Sháh about the matter, and at last the Sháh confessed that he was afraid of the influence of Bahá’u’lláh, and that if he should set Him free, it would create a great tumult among the people.
The Ambassador answered, “If, then, you fear Him so much, why keep Him in Ṭihrán? Would it not be better to exile Him to Baghdád?” This was accordingly done, and an escort furnished of Cossack and Russian horsemen to protect Him from the Persian horsemen. From Baghdád, Bahá’u’lláh was sent to Constantinople, then to Adrianople, then to ‘Akká—by force He was sent to the place where He desired
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to be, thus fulfilling the prophecies of all the Holy Books. He came by His own Will. Had He simply appeared and declared Himself there, the opposers might have said, “Of course, He has read the prophecies and determined to appear in the Holy Land in order to mislead the people.” But we see that He used the natural instruments who thought they were sending Him there by force. This is what we may call a real miracle.
After all, did the Sháh accomplish his will, or did Bahá’u’lláh accomplish His Will?