The Chosen Highway/Mírzá Asadu’lláh Káshání

[Page 117]

THE SPOKEN CHRONICLES

of Mirza Asadu’ll4h Kashani, Sakinih Sultan Khanum,

and

Siyyid ‘Ali Yazdi. [Page 118]

[Page 119]Some incidents illustrating certain aspects of the progress of the Babi teaching during the Baghdad exile period, narrated by

MirzA Asapu’LLAH KASHANI,

whose life had been linked with the Cause from his early youth:

I well remember the agitation amongst our family and friends when my eldest brother became a Babi.

He had heard a mulla preach in a mosque, expounding the prophecies concerning the coming Imam, and had accepted the Truth. Now, being a Babi, he no longer followed the mulla, to whom (according to the Muslim custom) he had been attached.

Therefore this man became a bitter enemy.

One day he obliged my brother to go to a barber, and have his head shaved; not content with having caused this indignity, the mulla broke a pitcher, from which “‘the infidel’? had drunk, as to his mind it had thereby become unclean!

This was a well-known sign.

It being unsafe to remain, after this, in Kashan, my brother and a friend left for the holy shrine at M‘asumih.

They carried brass and copper vessels, the making of which was their trade; these they sold, using the money gained for the journey to Baghdad, which it was their secret intention to accomplish.

One night I dreamed a dream:

Flying through the air towards Baghdad, I arrived at the river separating the old and new towns. His Holiness Baha’u’llah dwelt in old Baghdad, in a part of the town called Karkh. In my dream I saw the thin “Dividing Line of the Day of God” above the river. I flew over that line and came to the house in which Jamal-i-Mubarak dwelt. I saw a window over the door; through this window I gazed, and saw a room

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into which five or six steps led. I went down into that room, and there I saw Jamal-i-Mubdarak.

After this dream I could not rest for the great desire I had to journey to Baghdad to serve the Blessed One.

At this time one of the friends came from Baghdad to Kashan; when I asked for news of Him, this reply was given to me:

“Thou askest a question. He will give the answer, though far distant.”

At this I knew that I would set forth at once.

I gave it out that I was going on a pilgrimage to M‘asumih, a holy place between Kashan and Tihran.

On foot I left the city, walking day and night. I slept, with a stone for my pillow, full of happiness, because of the purpose of my journey. When I needed money, I worked at my trade of coppersmith in the towns through which I passed. Thus Baghdad was reached, where I rested with my brother, he having already safely arrived.

For the first time, I saw with my outer, waking eyes, Jamal-i-Mubarak, as in my dream I had seen Him.

I was quite ill for a time, about a month, because of the hardships of the journey. Mirzd Musa (called Aqayi Kalim, i.e., “Moses who talked with God”’ by the friends) cared for me until I recovered. My food was sent to me by the holy househoid.

Five or six friends used to take it in turns to prepare food; after a time we all joined in this plan; itsaved trouble, and, moreover, economized the scanty provender we were able to obtain.

Morning and evening we came into the Blessed Presence.

Some mornings He would come to this house of the friends.

In the evenings we used to gather round Him on theriver bank, where there was asmall garden (Baha’u’llah had bought the land, and Aqayi Kalim employed workers to cultivate and plant it). A sort of shed was made here, covered with branches of flowering trees; when sprinkled with water, it was cool and fragrant.

Baha’u’llah was very, very fond of this little garden, which was about half an hour’s walk from the city of Baghdad. He often went to this garden, where He would be joined by the friends, one by one, very carefully, because of the unscrupulous and bitter enemies, who were always ready to seize pretexts for fresh persecutions.

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In this garden we had many blessed meetings in the presence of Him we revered.

At this time He had two houses, one for the holy household, His own family, the other where the pilgrims and friends stayed.

One never-to-be-forgotten day Baha’u’llah came to the pilgrim house, and said to us “Aftdbam! Aftdbam! Dar Amadam—I am the Sun! I am the Sun! I have arisen!”

As we heard these blessed words, it seemed as though all the happiness of the whole world had come to live in our hearts. As we looked upon His shining face, we were in an ecstasy— beside ourselves with joy. Our hearts were flaming within us!*

So enraptured were we, so high our hearts were beating that we could hardly sleep for thinking “In the morning! In the morning we are coming again into His Presence!”

We seemed to be living in an air of spiritual enchantment, of soul-stirring joy.

I can find no words to tell you of what our delight was.

Nothing on earth was of any importance, of any meaning, but that His Holy Presence was here with us.

A friend, being given a piece of bread by Baha’u’llah, asked “Give me spiritual food I implore.” Some words were spoken to him, we knew not what. The friend became so excited and unbalanced that he committed suicide.

Baha’u’llah then said:

‘“How much better had he made other use of his enthusiasm; if he had gone to Persia to teach the Cause, rather than to uselessly take his own life!”’

One day, when He was walking in the garden, we heard Himsay:

“No leaf, no flower, no fruit, no bark.

‘All wonder why the gardener cultivates me, this tree.”

This, I heard, was a quotation from His poems.

There was in the neighbourhood of Baghdad the holy shrine of an Imam; at Kazimayn. The friends used io follow Baha’u’llah at a distance, as he rode on a donkey to visit this shrine.

We were alert and ready to protect our Beloved should an enemy atiack Him.

• This incident did not, apparently, convey to Mirzd Asadu’ll4h that

Baha’u’llah was ‘He Whom God shall make Manifest.”—Eb.

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On some occasions the Persian Consul, and others of the Shi‘ah sect, were at the shrine when Baha’u’llah arrived; they agitated themselves vastly, and were much perplexed, not comprehending the majesty in the personality of the wonderful visitor.

I was told that this Mirza Asadu’llah Kashani was a selfconstituted guard, and hid a formidable weapon under his ‘aba, as he followed the Beloved Master about in those days of danger, although Baha’u’llah had made a law that nobody was to carry arms!

Whilst Baha’u’ll4h was encamped in the Ridvan, there was much wind for some days.

His tent swayed; we thought it might be blown down, therefore we took it in turns to sit and hold the tent ropes so that it might be steady; night and day we held the ropes, so glad, in this way, to be near our Glorious Lord.

All the city came, friends and others, to see Him leave for the Ridvan. There was a great crowd. Weeping women pressed forward and laid their babes and young children at His feet. He tenderly raised those infants, one by one, blessing them, gently and lovingly replacing them in their sorrowing mothers’ arms, and charging them to bring up those dear flowers of humanity to serve God in steadfast faith and truth.

What a soul-stirring day!

Men threw themselves in His path; if only His blessed feet might touch them as He passed.

Our Beloved One got into a boat to cross the river, the people pressing round Him waiting, not to lose one of the remaining chances of being in His Presence.

At length the boat put off, and we watched it with sorrowing hearts.

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Then we were aware of an extraordinary exhilaration, some marvellous exaltation in the atmosphere of that day.

The reason for this phenomenon we were in due time to learn.

When we had seen that the boat was on the other side of the river, we started off to walk to the Ridvan, where we set up His tent, and five or six others for the friends. I helped Mirza Muhammad Baqir to cook, and to make tea for the friends.

The family of Baha’u’llah joined Him in the Ridvan on the ninth day; and on the twelfth day, in the afternoon, they went from us, under the escort of Turkish soldiers to an unknown destination.

Although Baha’u’ll4h had commanded the friends not to follow them, I was so loath to let Him go out of my sight, that I ran after them for three hours.

He saw me, and getting down from His horse, waited for me, telling me with His beautiful voice, full of love and kindness, to go back to Baghdad, and, with the friends, to set about our work, not slothfully, but with energy:

“Be not overcome with sorrow—I am leaving friends I love in Baghdad. I will surely send to them tidings of our welfare. Be steadfast in your service to God, who doeth whatsoever He willeth. Live in such peace as will be permitted to you.”

We watched them disappear into the darkness with sinking hearts, for their enemies were powerful and cruel! And we knew not where they were being.taken.

An unknown destination!

Weeping bitterly, we turned our faces towards Baghdad, determining to live according to His command.

We had not been, at that time, informed of the great event of the ‘‘Declaration,” that our revered and beloved Baha’u’llah was He Who should come—“‘He Whom God shall make Manifest”—but we again felt that unspeakable joy, which surged within us, overcoming our bitter sorrow, with a great and mysterious radiancy.

Before the departure, the Governor of Baghdad had come to offer his services. “Is there not anything I can do?”

Baha’u’llah replied:

“One thing I ask of thee—protect the friends after I am gone. This only I wish from thee.”

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The Governor respected the wish of Baha’u’llah, and protected the friends at Baghdad, particularly on one occasion which led to our migrating to Mosul:

It happened in this way:

A year after the departure of the Holy One, the days of the “Feast of the Ridvan,”’ which we were keeping with all the joy of our souls, coincided with the Muharram, the days of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn and his friends.

The Shi‘ites, being angry that we were not joining the mourning, attacked us. One Baha’i friend was killed, and several wounded, amongst whom was Badi‘, whose marvellous martyrdom was to take place later on.

The Vali (Governor of Baghdad), hearing of the tumult, gathered us into the Governorate for protection from the fury of the mob. He said to us:

“There are many places in the Turkish Empire; if you would be in safety, it is well to choose where to go.”

So we knew that we must leave Baghdad.

“Go in two groups—one the week after the starting of the other—I will send a soldier to protect each of you whilst you sell some of your goods; pack up others and make preparations for the journey.”

Some of the friends, and I with them, chose to go to Mosul, situated between Baghdad and Aleppo.

A number of soldiers were sent with us for our protection, and indeed they were needed, for, in all the towns and villages through which we went, the people stoned us, spat upon us, yelling execrations, crying “Accursed Babis! Accursed Babis!”’

At length our journey ending, we were promptly locked into an inn—none allowed to go out, none to enter. This was for our protection, so furious were the people!

Thus we remained until the second party arrived.

Remembering the request of Baha’u’lla4h, the Governor of Baghdad had sent word to the Vali of Mosul, requesting him to protect and provide shelter for the Babis. He accordingly had several houses placed at our service, which, though not comfortable, still gave us shelter.

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There were about an hundred of us in all, men, women, and children.

As soon as possible we set about our various trades; I to that of coppersmith, and, on the whole, the people were not very unfriendly.

Before we left Baghdad a Tablet arrived, brought by one of the friends, from Adrianople, telling us of the welfare of Baha’u’llah, of the declaration in the Ridvan, and of the more public proclamation at Adrianople; so that we started on our toilsome journey with our hearts lightened of the terrible anxiety in which we lived, not knowing the fate of the Holy Family.

Now we were upheld by a preoccupation of the spirit, so that outside privations, stonings, cursings, scorn, and all other illusages, seemed to us of small importance as we remembered the joy of that day at the Ridvan, and now knew the sublime reason of that sacred atmosphere.

As we chanted our prayers of praise unto God that the Holy One was safe, that the Great Light which should come into the world had not been “blown out by contrary winds,”’ we were full of happiness, for ourselves and for all humanity.

Time went on at Mosul; we were always hoping for further news.

One day a Tablet arrived by post, which, under the prevailing conditions, seemed marvellous, indeed miraculous.

This Tablet brought the tidings that our revered Beloved One, with His Family, were at ‘Akka.

As soon as we knew that the Beloved Ones were at ‘Akka, I started off with a Persian Baha’i, who, having escaped from Dahaji, had joined the band of exiles at Mosul. We determined to make our way to ‘Akka. We walked six or seven hours a day, and coming to Aleppo we rested; thence we walked to Damascus.

Oh, how happy we were as we walked, each step bringing us

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nearer to the presence of Jamal-i-Mubarak and Sarkar-i-Aqa.

Sometimes we sheltered for a night in the tent of a Bedouin, who welcomed us with unfailing kind hospitality; again we slept under the stars, with stones for our pillows, always with songs of joy in our hearts, because of our destination.

That preoccupation of the Spirit, as in our journey from Baghdad to Mosul, upheld us, and made all hardships so unimportant that we forgot them.

At length we came to Damascus, where, finding a friend from my native village, also a coppersmith, I tarried with him for ten days.

Then we started off again over the beautiful snowy Lebanon mountains, where the hospitable Bedouins were as ever our friends, and so we came to Beirut, where we rested for a week.

And now the last part of our pilgrimage from Beirut to ‘Akka. I disguised myself as a dervish. Very seldom did I think it wise to ask to be directed, therefore we often wandered out of our way.

Our exaltation grew. Oh, the loveliness of the land through which we walked, the fragrance of the orange groves, the beauty of the many coloured flowers which carpeted the plains!

We stayed one night in the town of Sidon, surrounded with its luxuriant fruit trees, the scent of which is so delicious; then a night at Tyre. As we walked the ‘‘Ladder of Tyre” we saw ‘Akka in the distance, shining in the sun, and there, in that place, were our Beloved Ones.

Great was the caution needed. We arrived separately.

My disguise allowed me to enter the city unquestioned. I wandered about in perplexity, for I did not dare to ask for information as to the abode of the Holy Ones. Fatigue was beginning to overwhelm me.

At length I went to the mosque, where I found a Shaykh who lived near by. I discovered that he was a Baha’i; “‘Allah’u’Abha.” When he knew of my journey and of my aim, he said:

“Stay here with me, the Master will come when it is evening time.”

I waited, breathless with anticipation.

Then from the mosque came our beloved Master!

He was young then and very beautiful.

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“Ahval-i-Shuma? Marhaba! Marhaba! Khayli Khush amadid.” (“How are you? Welcome! Welcome! Your coming gives me most great pleasure and delight.’’)

His loving-kindness restored my soul. I was ready to sacrifice my life to once hear His ‘““Marhaba!”’

“How tired you must be after that long, long, toilsome journey. I will send one of the friends to you in the morning.”

So I rested in ecstatic peace, having achieved the desire of my heart.

In the morning Aqa Faraj came and took me to the Khan (inn) where four or five friends were staying. This was, of course, very secretly and cautiously arranged because of the threatened grave danger, at this time never absent from any suspected of being Baha’is. I rested quietly at the Khan, recovering from the physical fatigues of the journey.

After fifteen days, I was commanded to fetch my mother and my younger brother from Aleppo, where they were awaiting directions, having journeyed from Mosul, sometimes by steamer, and sometimes riding on mules.

How glad I was that my dear ones were to come into the presence of Jamal-i-Mubarak and the Master, Sarkdr-i-Aqa! I joyfully departed on my errand, walking to Haifa, thence by boat to Alexandretta, thence to Aleppo. Returning with my family the same way, we arrived at Haifa. There we heard that my mother would be received into the holy household, to her extreme delight. My brother and I, however, were to

remain at Haifa, not being suffered to go inside the town of

‘Akka.

We therefore remained at Haifa, working at our trade of coppersmith. We opened a little shop. I went round to the houses, selling things that we had made.

My brother and I prospered at our work.

We used frequently to walk over by way of the sea, wading through the brook Kishon to ‘Akka.

We would stand in a certain place, without the wall of the prison, and watch a particular window; sometimes we had the joy of seeing the hand of Baha’u’llah waving a greeting to us. We would then walk back to Haifa, delighted to have had our reward.

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How we prayed that the Blessed One might have His freedom. It was heartbreaking to think of Him being imprisoned in the pestilential atmosphere of that most unhealthy town.

After some time, when rules were less strict, the Master asked me to come and live in ‘Akka.

In these days Jamal-i-Mubarak was at liberty to walk freely about the town, and to live in His own hired house.

Our happiness was great when He would come to the Khan to speak to the friends, or when we were invited to the house of His Holiness, where He would receive us with such divine loving-kindness, and wonderful words of gladness and joy, that our hearts and souls were wrapt in an indescribable atmosphere of purity and peace.

No words could possibly convey to you the majesty and glory of His Presence. It is needless to attempt to do so; if only my spirit could speak. But you have known Sarkar-i-Aqd, you can understand something of what those days were to us.

The sincerity and simplicity of this dear old man seemed to make themselves felt in other ways than by the mere words. It might well be that his spirit was speaking; but it was a never-tobe-forgotten experience—one saw the scenes and breathed the atmosphere of the spirit which he described.

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