Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/The Household
| Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908 The Household |
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THE HOUSEHOLD
[edit]One can only feel but never hope to describe the spiritual atmosphere which surrounds ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the members of His Holy Household. The favored visitor is so quickly enveloped in this subtle Harmony that he is conscious of living in a new element, of breathing a different air from that of the outside world, of being immersed in a perfect Ocean of Divine Love which submerges all his human selfishness for the time being, calling forth and sustaining every spiritual quality of which he is possessed. This effect is produced by the Presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and preserved by those holy souls who revolve around Him.
The members of the Holy Household are:
Bahíyyih Khánum, His sister, “The Greatest Holy Leaf.”
Munírih Khánum, His wife, “The Brilliant Leaf.”
Ḍíá’íyyih Khánum, His eldest daughter, married to Mírzá Hádí. Their three children—Shoghi (boy), Rúḥangíz (girl), Mihrangíz (girl).
Rúḥá Khánum, His daughter, married to Mírzá Jalál. One child—Maryam (girl).
Ṭúbá Khánum, His daughter, married to Mírzá
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Muḥsin. Their three children—Rúḥí (boy), Thurayyá (girl), Suhayl (boy).
Munavvar Khánum, His youngest daughter, unmarried. All her time is devoted to serving ‘Abdu’l-Bahá personally, sharing the superintendence of domestic affairs with the Greatest Holy Leaf and interpreting for the American and English pilgrims.
The Holy Family is served in turn by a score of women, boys, and girls who are dependent upon ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s bounty. Some of them are orphans of Persian Martyrs, to whom He offers a home; others are there by their own will, having begged for the privilege of serving. One serves at the house in Haifa, while her daughter is being educated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and so on. All seem to realize and appreciate fully the blessing of living under the same roof with Him, and all service is cheerfully and lovingly rendered.
One might easily imagine the daily life of a family of prisoners—even a Holy Family—as sad and depressing to the visitor but, strange to say, in the “Most Great Prison” quite the reverse is the case. Although absolute regularity of living is not possible—nearly every domestic event being subject to the rise of unexpected circumstances—the calm serenity of those beautiful people is never broken. They pursue their daily tasks, render their sweet service, make their little sacrifices, teach their children—and play with them, too—in short, carry on, under the most extraordinary circumstances, a perfect ideal of human family life. One never hears complaint of hard conditions, only a calm acceptance of God’s Will and
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Wisdom in every little happening, and a sure understanding of the future blessings which will be the fruit of their present patience, blessings for all the people of the world.
Although each individual, from the youngest servant to the Greatest Holy Leaf, is constantly on guard, no parade is made of their watchfulness. Not even the creak of a distant door or a strange footfall escapes their attentive ears, yet the visitor is never reminded that he is the cause of anxiety. When it becomes necessary to move the whole supper table suddenly into another room to escape the observation of the Turkish callers, it is done with a quiet smile and no hint of inconvenience. How obvious and easy it would be to impress the sensitive pilgrim with their daily martyrdom and the constant strain of their precarious position. That they do just the contrary is another lesson to us!
Were it not for the close proximity of the barracks and its guards, one would never realize that he was visiting a Turkish prison.
Another delight to the visitor is the discovery of their spontaneous and charming humor. They make merry over every little jest, extracting all the laughter possible from it, and encourage one another to see the bright side of all things, thus distracting their minds from the tragic side of their existence. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself seemed to come so close to us in His playful moods. With a merry twinkle in His eye, He would ask Miss Jack how she liked being on the roll of the prisoners (she is to remain there a year to teach English).2 When she answered that she would like to be written down as “the woman who had just found
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her freedom,” He laughed with the rest, and was highly pleased that she responded to Him in the same tone. Never have we heard more joyous laughter than in that Household.
Every day ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to our door and called us to His table, which was bountifully spread with material and spiritual food, saying in English, “Come here, come here, sit down, sit down. How are you—very well?” and when we answered, “We are very well,” He said in Persian, “Very good, very good; it makes me happy to sit at table with you, because you are the servants of Bahá’u’lláh.” We replied that He made us happy. He said, “Very good, I am glad you are here. It makes Me rejoice when I see you, for I love you very much.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s perfectly natural manner indicates the entire absence of self-consciousness, and throughout the Household there is absolute simplicity, a constant service, and all the members take a common-sense view of all things.
When emotion is shown, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “No, no, not that, not that; be happy, be happy,” and when one shows enthusiasm and happiness, it seems to lighten His burdens.
The pressure of life there is very great, and sometimes ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is very weary, but a quick response to His greeting, or incidents related that show the activity and steadfastness of the believers, will cause His eyes to shine instantly, and His step to become more buoyant. He listens intently to every word, no matter how trifling.