One of the emigrants who died along the way to the Holy Land was
Zaynu'l-Abidin of Yazd. When, in Man_sh_ad, this devoted man first heard
the cry of God, he was awakened to restless life. A holy passion stirred
him, his soul was made new. The light of guidance flamed from the lamp of
his heart; the love of God sparked a revolution in the country of his
inner self. Carried away by love for the Loved One's beauty, he left the
home that was dear to him and set out for the Desired Land.
As he traveled along with his two sons, gladdened by hopes of the meeting
that would be his, he paused on every hilltop, in every plain, village and
hamlet to visit with the friends. But the great distance stretching out
before him changed to a sea of troubles, and although his spirit yearned,
his body weakened, and at the end he sickened and turned helpless; all
this when he was without a home.
Sick as he was, he did not renounce the journey, nor fail in his resolve;
he had amazing strength of will, and was determined to keep on; but the
illness worsened with every passing day, until at last he winged his way
to the mercy of God, and yielded up his soul in a longing unfulfilled.
Although to outward eyes he never drained the cup of meeting, never gazed
upon the beauty of Baha'u'llah, still he achieved the very spirit of
spiritual communion; he is accounted as one of those who attained the
Presence, and for him the reward of those who reached that Presence is
fixed and ordained. He was a stainless soul, faithful, devoted and true.
He never drew a breath except in righteousness, and his single desire was
to worship his Lord. He walked the ways of love; he was known to all for
steadfast loyalty and pure intent. May God fill up reunion's cup for him
in a fair country, make him to enter the everlasting Kingdom, and console
his eyes with beholding the lights of that mysterious Realm.