And among those who emigrated and came to settle in the Holy Land was Aqa
Ibrahim, one of four honored brothers: Muhammad-Sadiq; Muhammad-Ibrahim;
Aqa Habibu'llah; and Muhammad-'Ali. These four lived in Ba_gh_dad with
their paternal uncle, Aqa Muhammad-Rida, known as Arid. They all lived in
the same house, and remained together day and night. Bird-like, they
shared the one nest; and they were always fresh and full of grace, like
flowers in a bed.
When the Ancient Beauty arrived in 'Iraq their house was in the
neighborhood of His, and thus they had the joy of watching Him as He came
and went. Little by little the manner of that Lord of hearts, what He did
and what He did not do, and the sight of His lovesome face, had its
effect; they began to thirst after the Faith and to seek His grace and
favor. They presented themselves at the door of His house, as if they were
flowers blooming there; and they were soon enamored of the light that
shone out from His brow, captives of the beauty of that dear Companion.
They needed no teacher, then; by themselves, they saw through the veils
that had blinded them before, and won the supreme desire of their hearts.
As commanded by the Blessed Beauty, Mirza Javad of Tur_sh_iz went to their
house one night. Mirza Javad had hardly opened his mouth when they
accepted the Faith. They did not hesitate for an instant, for they had
amazing receptivity. This is what is meant by the Qur'anic verse:
"...whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire touched it not!
It is light upon light."(44) That is, this oil is so fully prepared, so
ready to be lit, that it almost catches fire of itself, though no flame be
at hand; which means that the capacity for faith, and the deserving it,
can be so great, that without the communication of a single word the light
shines forth. This is how it was with those pure-hearted men; truly they
were loyal, staunch, and devoted to God.
The eldest brother, Muhammad-Sadiq, accompanied Baha'u'llah from 'Iraq to
Constantinople, and from there to Adrianople, where he lived happily for
some time, close to his Lord. He was humble, long-suffering, thankful;
there was always a smile on his lips; he was light of heart, and his soul
was in love with Baha'u'llah. Later he was given leave to return to 'Iraq,
for his family was there, and he remained in that city for a while,
dreaming and remembering.
Then a great calamity occurred in 'Iraq, and all four brothers with their
noble uncle were taken prisoner. Victimized, captive, they were brought to
Mosul. The uncle, Aqa Muhammad-Rida, was an old man, illumined of mind,
spiritual of heart, a man detached from all worldly things. He had been
extremely rich in 'Iraq, enjoying comforts and pleasures, but now in
Hadba--Mosul--he became the chief victim among the prisoners, and suffered
dire need. He was destitute, but remained dignified, patient, content, and
thankful. Keeping to himself in an out-of-the-way place, he praised God
day and night until he died. He gave up his heart to his heart's Love,
burst from the shackles of this inconstant world and ascended to the
Kingdom that endures forever. May God immerse him in the waters of
forgiveness, make him to enter the garden of His compassion and good
pleasure, and keep him in Paradise till the end of time.
As for Muhammad-Sadiq, he too, in Mosul, was subjected to hardships on
God's path. He too was a soul at rest, well-pleased with his Lord and
well-pleasing unto Him. In the end he too replied to the voice of the King
of Glory: "Lord, here am I!" and came to fulfill the verses: "O thou soul
who art well-assured, return unto thy Lord, well-pleased, and
well-pleasing unto Him. Enter thou among My servants; enter Thou My
Paradise."(45)
And Muhammad-'Ali, once he was freed from captivity, hastened from Mosul
to the Holy Land, to the precincts of inexhaustible grace. Here he still
lives. Although he suffers hardship, his heart is at peace. As for his
brother Ibrahim, referred to above, he also came on from Mosul to Akka,
but to a region close by. There with patience, calm, contentment, but
difficulty, he engaged in trade, meanwhile mourning the ascension of
Baha'u'llah by day and night. Lowly and contrite, with his face turned
toward the mysterious realms of God, he wore his life away. At the end,
consumed by the years, hardly able to move about, he came to Haifa, where
he found a corner of the travelers' hospice to live in, and spent his time
humbly calling upon God, entreating Him, offering praise. Little by
little, eaten away with age, his person began its dissolution, and at the
end he stripped off the garment of flesh and with his unclothed spirit
took flight to the realm of the All-Merciful. He was transported out of
this dark life into the shining air, and was plunged in a sea of lights.
May God brighten his grave with spreading rays, and lull his spirit with
the fannings of Divine compassion. Upon him be the mercy of God, and His
good pleasure.
As for Aqa Habibu'llah, he too was made a captive in 'Iraq and was
banished away to Mosul. For a long time, he lived in that city, subjected
to hardships, but remaining content, and his faith increasing day by day.
When famine came to Mosul life was harder than ever on the outsiders, but
in the remembrance of God their hearts were at rest,(46) and their souls
ate of food from Heaven. Thus they endured it all with astonishing
patience, and the people wondered at those strangers in their midst who
were neither distressed nor terrified as the others were, and who
continued to offer praise day and night. "What amazing trust," the people
said, "they have in God!"
Habib was a man with a great store of patience and a joyous heart. He
accustomed himself to exile and he lived in a state of yearning love.
After the departure from Ba_gh_dad, the prisoners of Mosul were constantly
made mention of by Baha'u'llah; with regard to them, He expressed His
infinite favor. A few years afterward, Habib hastened away to the
encompassing mercy of God, and found a nest and refuge on the boughs of
the celestial Tree. There, in the Paradise of all delights, with wondrous
songs he poured out his praise of the bountiful Lord.