For a long time he served the Afnán, Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-‘Alí, and was his
loyal and close companion, trusted in all things. Later, following a
journey to distant countries, he went to the Holy Land, and there in utter
submission and lowliness bowed his head before the Sacred Threshold and
was honored with entering the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, where he drank in
endless bounties from cupped hands. For quite a time he remained there,
attending upon Bahá’u’lláh almost every day, encompassed by holy favor and
grace. He was outstanding as to character, and lived after the
commandments of God: tranquil and long-suffering, in his surrender to
God’s will he was selflessness itself. He had no personal aims whatever,
no feeling of attachment to this fleeting world. His one desire was to
please his Lord, his one hope, to walk the holy path.
He went on, then, to Beirut, serving the honored Afnán in that city. He
spent a long time in this wise, returning again and again to enter the
presence of Bahá’u’lláh and gaze upon that Most Great Beauty. Later, in
Sidon, he fell ill. Unable to make the journey to Akká, in perfect
acquiescence and contentment he ascended to the Abhá Kingdom, and was
plunged in the ocean of lights. By the Supreme Pen, endless bounty was
bestowed upon his memory. He was indeed one of the loyal, the steadfast, a
solid pillar of servitude to Bahá’u’lláh. Many and many a time, from the
lips of the Blessed Beauty, we heard his praise.
Unto him be greetings and praise, and the glory of the All-Glorious. Upon
him be compassion and most great mercy from the Lord of the High Heavens.
His shining grave is in Sidon, near the place called the Station of John
the Holy.
ḤUSAYN EFFENDI TABRÍZÍ
This youth was from Tabríz, and he was filled with the love of God like a
cup flowing and brimming over with red wine. In the flower of his youth he
left Persia and traveled to Greece, making his living as a merchant there;
till a day came when, guided by Divine bounty, he went from Greece to
Smyrna, and there he was given the glad tidings of a new Manifestation on
earth. He shouted aloud, was frenzied, was drunk with the music of the new
message. He escaped from his debits and credits, set out to meet the Lord
of his heart, and entered the presence of Bahá’u’lláh. For some time, a
trusted attendant and companion, he served the Blessed Beauty. He was then
directed to seek a lodging in the city of Haifa.
Here he faithfully waited upon the believers, and his home was a way
station for Bahá’í travelers. He had an excellent disposition, a wonderful
character, and high, spiritual aims. He was friendly with friend and
stranger alike; he was kind to people of every nation and wished them
well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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