Haji 'Abdu'r-Rahim of Yazd was a precious soul, from his earliest years
virtuous and God-fearing, and known among the people as a holy man,
peerless in observing his religious duties, mindful as to his acts. His
strong religious faith was an indisputable fact. He served and worshiped
God by day and night, was sound, mild, compassionate, a loyal friend.
Because he was fully prepared, at the very moment when he heard the
summons from the Supreme Horizon--heard the drumbeats of "Am I not your
Lord?"--he instantly cried out, "Yea, verily!" With his whole being, he
became enamored of the splendors shed by the Light of the World. Openly
and boldly he began to confirm his family and friends. This was soon known
throughout the city; to the eyes of the evil 'ulamas, he was now an object
of hate and contempt. Incurring their wrath, he was despised by those
creatures of their own low passions. He was molested and harassed; the
inhabitants rioted, and the evil 'ulamas plotted his death. The government
authorities turned on him as well, hounded him, even subjected him to
torture. They beat him with clubs, and whipped him. All this went on, by
day and night.
He was forced, then, to abandon his home and go out of the city, a
vagrant, climbing the mountains, crossing over the plains, until he came
to the Holy Land. But so weak he was, and wasted away, that whoever saw
him thought he was breathing his last; when he reached Haifa, Nabil of
Qa'in hurried to Akka, and desired me to summon the Haji at once, because
he was in his death agony and failing fast.
"Let me go to the Mansion," I said, "and ask leave." "It would take too
long," he said. "And then 'Abdu'r-Rahim will never see Akka. I long for
him to have this bounty; for him at least to see Akka, and die. I beg of
You, send for him at once!"
Complying with his wish, I summoned 'Abdu'r-Rahim. When he came, I could
hardly detect in him a whisper of life. At times he would open his eyes,
but he spoke no word. Still, the sweet savors of the Most Great Prison
restored the vital spark, and his yearning to meet Baha'u'llah breathed
life into him again. I looked in on him the next morning and found him
cheerful and refreshed. He asked permission to attend upon Baha'u'llah.
"It all depends," I answered, "on whether He grants you leave. God
willing, you shall be singled out for this cherished gift."
A few days later, permission came, and he hastened to the presence of
Baha'u'llah. When 'Abdu'r-Rahim entered there, the spirit of life was
wafted over him. On his return, it was clear that this Haji had become a
different Haji entirely: he was in the bloom of health. Nabil was
dumbfounded, and said: "How life-giving, to a true believer, is this
prison air!"
For some time, 'Abdu'r-Rahim lived in the neighborhood. He spent his hours
remembering and praising God; he chanted prayers, and carefully attended
to his religious duties. Thus he saw few people. This servant paid special
attention to his needs, and ordered a light diet for him. But it all came
to an end with the Supreme Affliction, the ascension of Baha'u'llah. There
was anguish then, and the noise of loud weeping. With his heart on fire,
his eyes raining tears, he struggled weakly to move about; so his days
went by, and always, he longed to make his exit from this rubbish heap,
the world. At last he broke away from the torment of his loss, and hurried
on to the Realm of God, and came to the assemblage of Divine splendor in
the Kingdom of Lights.
Unto him be salutations and praise, and mercy ineffable. May God scatter
on his resting-place rays from the mysterious Realm.