Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/Story of Badí‘
| Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908 Story of Badí‘ |
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STORY OF BADÍ‘
[edit]This thrilling story of one of the great martyrs in this Cause emphasizes the point that when a man accepts this Truth he becomes a new creature with a new heart and a new character. Badí‘ was not a particularly good boy—he was very young, and his father, a splendid believer, was somewhat troubled over Badí‘’s thoughtlessness and carelessness. But when Bahá’u’lláh, declaring Himself from ‘Akká to all the rulers of the earth, chose the boy to bear His special Tablet to the Sháh of Persia, Badí‘ was transformed. Although Bahá’u’lláh told him that when his journey was ended he would be killed, he accepted his mission joyfully.
Concealing the precious Tablet for the Sháh upon his person, he started on foot for Persia. Four months he walked, meeting many believers on the way, but never revealing to anyone his great secret. However, they all noticed that he often turned his face toward ‘Akká. He constantly prayed that nothing might hinder him from fulfilling his mission that he might be worthy of the promise of martyrdom. His instructions were that when he reached the capital, Ṭihrán, he was to change his dress and put on a white robe to show that he had no concealed weapon, and station himself outside the gates where the Sháh would ride by with his train. Then he was to hold the Tablet high
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above his head that all might see what he held. All these things he did, and when the Sháh with his glittering suite came in sight, Badí‘ raised his hand so that all could see the paper. The Sháh, remarking that he supposed it was a petition from one of his subjects, instructed a soldier to bring it to him. But Badí‘ called out, “It is not a petition but a command.” Instantly the soldiers seized and surrounded him. Again he called to the Sháh, “My Lord, who sent me, told me that you would kill me.” The Sháh angrily replied, “We shall not kill you then, just to prove that your Lord does not speak the truth.” He ordered that Badí‘ should be tortured with hot irons and forced to tell all he knew about the Bahá’ís. This was done, but he puzzled the soldiers so that they came to the Sháh saying, “This is a very strange man; the more we torture him, the happier he looks, and he will tell us nothing.” This story the Sháh could not believe, so ordered that Badí‘’s photograph be taken during the torture. It was brought to him showing the smoke rising from the boy’s burning flesh and his face more radiant than ever. The Sháh was furious and, forgetting his promise, ordered that Badí‘ should be killed at once, thus fulfilling the words of Bahá’u’lláh.
About three months later the Sháh asked to see the Tablet which had caused so much trouble, and after reading a few lines was so affected by its power that he threw it from him, exclaiming, “Take it away, for if I read any more, I too shall become a Bahá’í!”
H. M. Ḥaydar-‘Alí said: “Bahá’u’lláh endured hardships for the world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is enduring
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hardships for the believers that they in turn may give the Light to the world.”
Mírzá Asadulláh was visiting in ‘Akká and came to see us several times. We gave him special messages from some of the American friends, and told him how much the American believers loved him. He smiled, and answered that he loved them very much, for they were all his spiritual children. We also told him how many of his lessons we had copied and spread. He answered, “That is good. But now you have come yourselves to the Fountain—the Source—of all inspiration, and you must take back this Water of Life to all the believers. Here is the Treasure House, and you must fill your hands with jewels to take back to America.” We told him that was exactly what we had come for, and hoped our capacity would enable us to take much. He answered, “God also gives the capacity.
“The believers who visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and go out into the world are like the mists that gather on the bosom of the ocean; soon they will rise and spread, then condense, and shower the precious moisture, thus giving verdure and plenty to all the land.”
Mírzá Asadulláh talked most earnestly about the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, and wished us to tell the believers in America how very, very important it is to have it built now. He said, “Some of the people are poor and so think they cannot help. A few have enough money but think for various reasons they cannot help. But all, each and every one who calls himself a Bahá’í and says the Greatest Name, should
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have a part in this great work, and if each believer gave only one stone, the building would be finished. It is not to be the home of the people but the Home of God; and while the people are poor, God is rich, and He has commanded that it be built and has promised to help those who arise to obey this command. This prison is now the Home of God; shall we not build in America the finest ‘Home of God’ possible?”
Among the pilgrims who were delighted to hear of our interest in the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár at ‘Ishqábád was Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí (Afnán), an old, old man who was instrumental in having it built. He is a cousin of the Báb and uncle to Mírzá Muḥsin. His work is finished, and he has come to ‘Akká to end his days. (All relatives of the Báb’s family are called “Afnán.”)
Mírzá Jináb-i Zayn wrote the Traveler’s Narrative.11 He was a devoted follower of Bahá’u’lláh and accompanied Him to Baghdád. When Bahá’u’lláh was sent from there to Constantinople, Mírzá Jináb-i Zayn was exiled alone to Mosul, where he was obliged to stay for twelve years. At last Bahá’u’lláh called him to ‘Akká, where he remained until his death—about four years ago. His native town was Najafábád, and when he returned there after an absence, he found but one believer. He taught about five thousand people. When one of his sons died, Bahá’u’lláh comforted him by saying, “You must not grieve over the death of your son; for you have given life to five thousand souls, and they are your spiritual sons.” He was also given the name of Zayn, which in Arabic means “good.” Two of
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his sons are now serving ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as secretaries—Mírzá Munír-i Zayn and Mírzá Núri’ddín-i Zayn. They very kindly interpreted for us when the Persian pilgrims called and when Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥaydar-‘Alí and Mírzá Asadulláh gave us instruction. Another son of Mírzá Jináb-i Zayn, Mírzá Bushrá Zayn, also interpreted for us.
In Cairo, Ḥusayn Rúḥí took us to call upon that illumined soul, dear Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl. For some time he had been quite ill but had sufficiently recovered to be able to sit up and renew his writing. When asked about his illness, he said that he did not mind being sick, only that it prevented him from working on the book which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had commanded him to write. He said he was rejoiced to see us and to learn of the progress of the Holy Cause in our country and sent loving greetings to all the American believers.