Muḥammad-Ibráhím Amír came from Nayríz. He was a blessed person; he was like a cup filled with the red wine of faith. At the time when he was first made captive by the tender Loved One, he was in the flower of his youth. Then he fell a prey to the oppressors, and following the upheaval in Nayríz and all the suffering, his persecutors laid hold of him. Three farrá_sh_es pinned his arms and tied his hands behind him; but the Amír by main strength burst his bonds, snatched a dagger from a farrá_sh_’s belt, saved himself and ran away to ‘Iráq. There he engaged in writing down the sacred verses and later won the honor of serving at the Holy Threshold. Constant and steadfast, he remained on duty day and night. During the journey from Ba_gh_dád to Constantinople, from there to Adrianople, and from there to the Most Great Prison, he was always at hand to serve. He married the handmaid of God, Habíbih, who also served at the Threshold, and his daughter Badí’ih became the helpmeet of the late Ḥusayn-Áqá Qahvih-_ch_í. Thus the Amír was steadfast in service throughout his life; but after the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh his health steadily declined, and at last he left this world of dust behind him and hastened away to the unsullied world above. May God illumine the place where he rests with rays from the all-highest Realm. Unto him be salutations and praise. His bright shrine is in Akká. MÍRZÁ MIHDÍY-I-KÁSHÁNÍ This honored man, Mírzá Mihdí, was from Ká_sh_án. In early youth, under his father’s tutelage, he had studied sciences and arts, and had become skilled in composing both prose and verse, as well as in producing calligraphy in the style known as _sh_ikastih.(54) He was singled out from his fellows, head and shoulders above the rest. When still a child, he learned of the Lord’s Advent, caught fire with love, and became one of those who “gave their all to purchase Joseph.” He was chief of the yearning seekers, lord of lovers; eloquently, he began to teach the Faith, and to prove the validity of the Manifestation. He made converts; and because he yearned after God, he became a laughingstock in Ká_sh_án, disparaged by friend and stranger alike, exposed to the taunts of his faithless companions. One of them said: “He has lost his mind.” And another: “He is a public disgrace. Fortune has turned against him. He is done for.” The bullies mocked him, and spared him nothing. When life became untenable, and open war broke out, he left his homeland and journeyed to ‘Iráq, the focal center of the new Light, where he gained the presence of all mankind’s Beloved. He spent some time here, in the friends’ company, composing verses that sang the praises of Bahá’u’lláh. Later he was given leave to return home, and went back to live for a while in Ká_sh_án. But again, he was plagued by yearning love, and could bear the separation no more. He returned, therefore, to Ba_gh_dád, bringing with him his respected sister, the third consort(55) .