Stories of Bahá'u'lláh and Some Notable Believers

Stories of Bahá'u'lláh and Some Notable Believers (2003) , compiled by Kiser Barnes Extracted from Adib Taherzadeh's The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Volumes 1-4)

Contents

Introduction

Notes and Acknowledgements

STORIES OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

1. He was heralded by the Báb, Himself a Manifestation of God

2. Bahá’u’lláh—A descendant of Abraham and Zoroaster, promoting the Cause of the Báb; The first intimations of His station

3. He was a kind father to the downtrodden, the poor and needy

4. From His early youth signs of greatness were apparent

5. He always defended the Prophets of the past

6. He directed the transfer of the remains of the Báb

7. He directed the rescue of Ṭáhirih

8. He unveiled the glory of the new Faith to Fáṭimih-Bagum, the mother of the Báb

9. He assented to the requests of Khadíjih-Bagum, the wife of the Báb

10. He favoured Maryam

11. Sárih Khánum and Sakínih Khánum, faithful sisters

12. Release from the Síyáh-Chál and exile

13. He vindicated the miracles of all the Prophets

14. His glory made His enemies humble in His presence

15. The declaration of His station fulfilled the prophecies

16. Never before in the history of religion, with the exception of the Bábí Dispensation, has a Manifestation of God left to posterity Tablets written in His own hand

17. The verses of God streamed forth as in a copious rain

18. The revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book

19. The Revelation of the Kitáb-i-Íqán

20. Chanting God’s verses

21. The verses of God were rapidly revealed, without prior contemplation

22. The sayings of the learned appeared before His face

23. The Ancient Beauty submitted Himself to a ruthless enemy

24. Tribulations will make the Cause victorious

25. During His exile to Sulaymáníyyih, He became the focal point for true knowledge

26. The acts of some believers increased His sorrows

27. There were days when a mere loaf of bread was not available to Him

28. Knowing he had no power to confront Bahá’u’lláh, Mírzá Yaḥyá attempted to take His life

29. He came to this corrupt world to establish justice, trust, security and faith

30. The “Most Great House” in Baghdád

31. His movements, His manners, were a miracle

32. The transcendental majesty of His Person

33. Some accounts of His glory

34. The majesty of Bahá’u’lláh was overwhelming

35. He lived with the utmost simplicity in the path of God

36. He lived a life of austerity

37. He caused the stars to fall

38. He “chastises with the scourge of loving-kindness and compassion”

39. The “Most Great Separation” between truth and falsehood

40. He feared no one

41. The Persian ambassador finally saw in Him divine attributes

42. The exile from Adrianople

43. His arrival at ‘Akká, the Most Great Prison

44. ‘Akká—The most desolate of cities

45. His enemies intended that His imprisonment would destroy the Cause

46. The fulfilment of the prophecy of His coming to ‘Akká

47. He revealed a healing prayer for the believers

48. His response to attempts on His life

49. The Mufti of ‘Akká became attracted to Bahá’u’lláh

50. The guards saw that the Prisoner was endowed with divine authority

51. The death of Mírzá Mihdí, His youngest son

52. He comforted Navváb

53. He opened the prison gates

54. When He was interrogated, He answered, “My Name is Bahá’u’lláh (Light of God) and My country is Núr (Light)”

55. He waved at believers from the barracks

56. He directed the believers to leave their affairs in the hands of God

57. His confinement in the Most Great Prison ends

58. His life at Mazra‘ih was a turning point in His ministry

59. Oceans of love, surged in the hearts of the believers who were with Bahá’u’lláh at Mazra‘ih

60. The Master shielded Him

61. The Mansion of Bahjí was specially built to serve as the Seat of God in His Day

62. An episode connected with His arrival at the Mansion of Bahjí

63. “The Lord is near.”—The Templers of Haifa

64. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited Bahjí, Bahá’u’lláh evinced great joy

65. They were struck by His majestic presence

66. He returned to ‘Akká from time to time

67. His companions in ‘Akká showed love, devotion and unity

68. “Did you see how the Hand of Power... brought you here?”

69. “If the kings and rulers of the world had embraced the Faith in this day, you people could never have found an entry into this exalted court”

70. He helped the believers to feel relaxed in His presence

71. “You considered coming to the Most Great Prison to be of prime importance”

72. “You must live to serve the Cause”

73. “Your pilgrimage is ... accepted by Us”

74. “Yes, We are the One who has sent the Messengers”

75. “Tell me in your own words your own understanding of the subject”

76. “Oh the joy ... when Bahá’u’lláh went to the beautiful Riḍván”

77. “The trees proclaimed: ‘Behold the evidences of God’s Mercy’”

78. He saw himself standing in the presence of the Lord of the Old Testament

79. This is not the day for asking questions

80. The outpourings of His grace and bounty did not cease

81. The ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

STORIES OF SOME NOTABLE BELIEVERS

82. Mírzá Buzurg, surnamed Badí’—He became attracted to Bahá’u’lláh

83. Badí’ was created anew

84. Badí’ begged to carry the message to the Sháh

85. The tale of the officer who tortured Badí’

86. Ḥájí Abu’l-Ḥasan, surnamed Amín—He was completely dedicated to the Faith

87. Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl—His conversion

88. Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl—He surrendered His intellectual gifts to God

89. Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl—“I am only a drop from the vast ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s school”

90. Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl—Accounts of his service

91. Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad, surnamed Varqá—He burned away the idols of vain imaginings

92. Mullá ‘Alí-Akbar, Ḥájí Ákhund—He stood on the shore of Truth

93. Mullá Muḥammad-i-Qá’iní, surnamed Nabíl-i-Akbar—His search for truth

94. Mullá Muḥammad-i-Qá’iní, surnamed Nabíl-i-Akbar—He was possessed of a new heart

95. Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí—He erected the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in the Bahá’í world

96. Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad Taqí (Ibn-i-Abhar)—the flame of the love of Bahá’u’lláh burned brightly in his heart

97. Mullá Muḥammad, surnamed Nabíl-i-A‘ẓam—The chronicler of the Cause

98. Shaykh Káẓim, surnamed Samandar—A flame of the love of God

99. Mírzá Ḥusayn, surnamed Mishkín-Qalam—He dedicated his life wholly to the Cause

100. Mírzá Ḥasan, surnamed Adíb—All his learning and erudition were now harnessed to the Faith

101. Mullá Zaynu’l-‘Ábidín, surnamed Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín—The questions he asked Bahá’u’lláh became a supplement to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

102. Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad (Ibn-i-Aṣdaq)—Bahá’u’lláh urged him to be as a flame of fire

103. Ḥájí Sháh-Muḥammad-i-Manshádí—He was on fire with love

104. Mullá Sádiq-i-Khurásání, surnamed Ismu’llahu’l-Aṣdaq—He stood out as a tower of strength

105. Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥaydar-‘Alí—He was filled with a new spirit

106. Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥaydar-‘Alí—“We were freed from this world...”

107. Ḥájí ‘Abdu’l-Majíd—He would not recant his faith

108. Shaykh Salmán—He disseminated the Tablets of God with love and wisdom

109. Shaykh Salmán—“I do not consider anybody great except the Ancient Beauty and the Master”

110. Ḥájí Mullá Mihdiy-i-‘Aṭri—He shed abroad the attar of the love of God

111. Khátún Ján—A protector of Ṭáhirih

112. Fáṭimih-Bagum—She pleaded the case of the prisoners

113. Ustád Muḥammad-‘Alí—A flame of the love of Bahá’u’lláh

114. “O Ahmad! ... Remember My days during thy days”

115. Siyyid Ashraf, Abá-Baṣir and Umm-i-Ashraf—“I will disown you as my son ... if you ... allow them to turn you away from the Truth”

116. Sulaymán Khán—He carried the Faith to India

117. Sulaymán Khán’s mission to Persia

118. Siyyid Muṣṭafáy-i-Rúmí—He served the Cause with distinction in Burma

119. Hakím Masíḥ—The first Jewish believer

120. Fáris—The first Christian believer

121. Suhráb-i-Púr-Kávús and Kay-Khusraw-i-Khudádád—The first Zoroastrian believers

122. Mírzá ‘Azízu’lláh—“I heard the announcement that the Lord of Hosts . . . hath appeared”

123. Mírzá ‘Azízu’lláh—He gave the message to Baron Rothschild and Leo Tolstoy

124. Ḥájí Muḥammad-Ṭáhir-i-Málmírí—Teacher of the truth of the Revelation

125. Ḥájí Muḥammad-Ṭáhir-i-Málmírí—The crowning glory of his life was attaining the presence of Bahá’u’lláh

126. Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá’í—He immediately recognized the greatness of Bahá’u’lláh

127. Mírzá Muḥammad-‘Alíy-i-Nahrí—A leading exponent of the Faith

128. Ḥájí Naṣir—A brilliant light that shone forth above the horizon of resignation

129. Ḥájí Siyyid ‘Alí—An embodiment of servitude

130. Ḥájí Mírzá’s vision of Bahá’u’lláh

131. Ḥájí Mírzá and his wife—“Whatever is God’s Will will happen.”; Rubábih, the prostitute, shows a magnanimous spirit

132. Siyyid Ismá’íl Dhabíḥ—Worlds of spirit opened before his eyes

133. Ḥájí-Abdu’r-Rahím-i-Qannad—He was much loved by Bahá’u’lláh

134. Mullá-Ridá—He had a passionate love for Bahá’u’lláh

135. Mírzá ‘Abbas, Qábil—The Hidden Words transformed him

136. Siyyid Ja‘far-i-Yazdí—“...it won’t matter if you spit upon my face”

137. Áqá Muḥammad-‘Alí—A delightful companion to Bahá’u’lláh

138. Mírzá Muṣṭafá—“Kill me before Shaykh Aḥmad, that I may not see them shed his blood”

139. Mullá Muḥammad-i-Manshádí—“I will not come to the mosque again”

140. Muḥammad-Khán—He was instantly enslaved.

141. Áqá Mírzá Áqáy-i-Afnán (Núru’d-Dín)—He received many bounties from Bahá’u’lláh

142. Mullá Káẓim—He refused to recant his faith

143. Ḥájí Muḥammad-Riḍá—He gave all to His Beloved

144. ‘Abdu’r-Rahím—He could not resist the urge to see Bahá’u’lláh

145. Abu’l-Qásim—The gardener of Riḍván

146. Ḥájí Muḥammad-Báqir-i-Qazvíní—He fell from grace but was saved

147. Mullá Muḥammad ‘Alí—He was a shining example of faith

148. ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Ḥakkák—Nothing could make him denounce the Faith

149. Háshim Khán—“People like me ... are like the sand ...when the sun rises ... this sand is the first to become illumined by its rays”

150. Mírzá Muḥammad—The revelation of a special prayer

References

Bibliography