Ma_sh_hadí Faṭṭaḥ possessed some merchandise; this was all he owned in the
world. He had entrusted it to persons in Adrianople, and later on those
unrighteous people did away with the goods. Thus, in the pathway of God,
he lost whatever he possessed. He passed his days, perfectly content, in
the Most Great Prison. He was utter selflessness; from him, no one ever
heard a syllable to indicate that he existed. He was always in a certain
corner of the prison, silently meditating, occupied with the remembrance
of God; at all times spiritually alert and mindful, in a state of
supplication.
Then came the Supreme Affliction. He could not tolerate the anguish of
parting with Bahá’u’lláh, and after Bahá’u’lláh’s passing, he died of
grief. Blessed is he; again, blessed is he. Glad tidings to him; again,
glad tidings to him. Upon him be the glory of the All-Glorious.
NABÍL OF QÁ’IN
This distinguished man, Mullá Muḥammad-‘Alí,(28) was one of those whose
hearts were drawn to Bahá’u’lláh before the Declaration of the Báb; it was
then that he drank the red wine of knowledge from the hands of the
Cupbearer of grace. It happened that a prince, who was the son of Mír
Asadu’lláh _Kh_án, prince of Qá’in, was commanded to remain as a political
hostage in Ṭihrán. He was young, far away from his loving father, and
Mullá Muḥammad-‘Alí was his tutor and guardian. Since the youth was a
stranger in Ṭihrán, the Blessed Beauty showed him special kindness. Many a
night the young prince was Bahá’u’lláh’s guest at the mansion, and Mullá
Muḥammad-‘Alí would accompany him. This was prior to the Declaration of
the Báb.
It was then that this chief of all trusted friends was captivated by
Bahá’u’lláh, and wherever he went, spread loving praise of Him. After the
way of Islám, he also related the great miracles which he had, with his
own eyes, seen Bahá’u’lláh perform, and the marvels he had heard. He was
in ecstasy, burning up with love. In that condition, he returned to Qá’in
with the prince.
Later on that eminent scholar, Áqá Muḥammad of Qá’in (whose title was
Nabíl-i-Akbar) was made a mujtahid, a doctor of religious law, by the late
_Sh_ay_kh_ Murtadá; he left, then, for Ba_gh_dád, became an ardent
follower of Bahá’u’lláh, and hastened back to Persia. The leading divines
and mujtahids were well aware of and acknowledged his vast scholarly
accomplishments, the breadth of his learning, and his high rank. When he
reached Qá’in, he began openly to spread the new Faith. The moment Mullá
Muḥammad-‘Alí heard the name of the Blessed Beauty, he immediately
accepted the Báb. “I had the honor,” he said, “of meeting the Blessed
Beauty in Ṭihrán. The instant I saw Him, I became His slave.”
In his village of Sar-_Ch_áh, this gifted, high-minded man began to teach
the Faith. He guided in his own family and saw to the others as well,
bringing a great multitude under the law of the love of God, leading each
one to the path of salvation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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