Yet another who left his homeland was Mulla Mihdi of Yazd. Although to all
appearances this excellent man was not of the learned class, he was an
expert in the field of Muslim sacred traditions and an eloquent
interpreter of orally transmitted texts. Persevering in his devotions,
known for holy practices and nightly communings and vigils, his heart was
illumined, and he was spiritual of mind and soul. He spent most of his
time repeating communes, performing the obligatory prayers, confessing his
failings and supplicating the Lord. He was one of those who penetrate
mysteries, and was a confidant of the righteous. As a teacher of the Faith
he was never at a loss for words, forgetting, as he taught, all restraint,
pouring forth one upon another sacred traditions and texts.
When news of him spread around the town and he was everywhere charged, by
prince and pauper alike, with bearing this new name, he freely declared
his adherence and on this account was publicly disgraced. Then the evil
'ulamas of Yazd rose up, issuing a decree that he must die. Since the
mujtahid, Mulla Baqir of Ardikan, refused to confirm the sentence of those
dark divines, Mulla Mihdi lived on, but was forced to leave his native
home. With his two sons, one the great martyr-to-be, Jinab-i-Varqa, and
the other Jinab-i-Husayn, he set out for the country of his Well-Beloved.
In every town and village along the way, he ably spread the Faith,
adducing clear arguments and proofs, quoting from and interpreting the
sacred traditions and evident signs.(49) He did not rest for a moment;
everywhere he shed abroad the attar of the love of God, and diffused the
sweet breathings of holiness. And he inspired the friends, making them
eager to teach others in their turn, and to excel in knowledge.
He was an eminent soul, with his heart fixed on the beauty of God. From
the day he was first created and came into this world, he single-mindedly
devoted all his efforts to acquiring grace for the day he should be born
into the next.(50) His heart was illumined, his mind spiritual, his soul
aspiring, his destination Heaven. He was imprisoned along his way; and as
he crossed the deserts and climbed and descended the mountain slopes he
endured terrible, uncounted hardships. But the light of faith shone from
his brow and in his breast the longing was aflame, and thus he joyously,
gladly passed over the frontiers until at last he came to Beirut. In that
city, ill, restive, his patience gone, he spent some days. His yearning
grew, and his agitation was such that weak and sick as he was, he could
wait no more.
He set out on foot for the house of Baha'u'llah. Because he lacked proper
shoes for the journey, his feet were bruised and torn; his sickness
worsened; he could hardly move, but still he went on; somehow he reached
the village of Mazra'ih and here, close by the Mansion, he died. His heart
found his Well-Beloved One, when he could bear the separation no more. Let
lovers be warned by his story; let them know how he gambled away his life
in his yearning after the Light of the World. May God give him to drink of
a brimming cup in the everlasting gardens; in the Supreme Assemblage, may
God shed upon his face rays of light. Upon him be the glory of the Lord.
His sanctified tomb is in Mazra'ih, beside Akka. His Eminence Kalim (Mirza
Musa)
Jinab-i-Mirza Musa was the true brother of Baha'u'llah, and from earliest
childhood he was reared in the sheltering embrace of the Most Great Name.
He drank in the love of God with his mother's milk; when yet a suckling,
he showed an extraordinary attachment to the Blessed Beauty. At all times
he was the object of Divine grace, favor and loving-kindness. After their
distinguished father died, Mirza Musa was brought up by Baha'u'llah,
growing to maturity in the haven of His care. Day by day, the youth's
servitude and devotion increased. In all things, he lived according to the
commandments, and he was entirely severed from any thoughts of this world.
Like a bright lamp, he shone out in that Household. He wished neither rank
nor office, and had no worldly aims at all. His one supreme desire was to
serve Baha'u'llah, and for this reason he was never separated from his
Brother's presence. No matter what torments the others inflicted, his
loyalty equaled the cruelty of the rest, for he had drunk the wine of
unadulterated love.
Then the voice was heard, crying out of _Sh_iraz, and from a single
utterance of Baha'u'llah's his heart was filled with light, and from a
single gust that blew over the gardens of faith, he caught the fragrance.
At once, he began to serve the friends. He had an extraordinary attachment
to me, and was at all times concerned for my well-being. In Tihran he
occupied himself day and night with propagating the Faith and gradually
became well known to everyone; habitually he spent his time in the company
of blessed souls.
Baha'u'llah then left Tihran, journeying to 'Iraq, and of His brothers the
two who were in His company were Aqay-i-Kalim(51) and Mirza Muhammad-Quli.
They turned their faces away from Persia and the Persians, and closed
their eyes to comfort and peace; in the Beloved's path they chose with all
their hearts to bear whatever calamity should be their lot.
Thus they arrived in 'Iraq. During the days when Baha'u'llah had vanished
from sight, that is, when He was on the journey to Kurdistan, Aqay-i-Kalim
lived on the edge of an abyss; his life was constantly in danger, and each
day that passed was worse than the one before; still, he bore it all, and
knew no fear. When at last the Blessed Beauty returned out of Kurdistan,
Aqay-i-Kalim resumed his post by the Holy Threshold, rendering every
service within his power. For this he became known far and wide. At the
time when Baha'u'llah left Ba_gh_dad for Constantinople, Aqay-i-Kalim was
with Him and continued to serve along the way, as he did on the further
journey from Constantinople to Adrianople.
It was during the sojourn in this latter city that he detected from Mirza
Yahya the odor of rebellion. Day and night he tried to make him mend his
ways, but all to no avail. On the contrary, it was astonishing how, like a
deadly poison, the temptings and satanic suggestions of Siyyid Muhammad
worked on Mirza Yahya, so that Aqay-i-Kalim finally abandoned hope. Even
then he never ceased trying, thinking that somehow, perhaps, he could
still the tempest and rescue Mirza Yahya from the gulf. His heart was worn
away with despair and grief. He tried everything he knew. At last he had
to admit the truth of these words of Sana'i:
If to the fool my lore you'd bring,
Or think my secrets can be told
To him who is not wise--
Then to the deaf go harp and sing,
Or stand before the blind and hold
A mirror to his eyes.
When all hope was gone, he ended the relationship, saying: "O my brother,
if others are in doubt as to this affair, you and I both know the truth.
Have you forgotten the loving-kindness of Baha'u'llah, and how He trained
us both? What care He took with your lessons and your penmanship; how
constantly He saw to your spelling and your composition, and encouraged
you to practice the different calligraphic styles; He even guided your
copy with His own blessed fingers. Who does not know how He showered
favors on you, how He brought you up in the haven of His embrace. Is this
your thanks for all His tenderness--that you plot with Siyyid Muhammad and
desert the shelter of Baha'u'llah? Is this your loyalty? Is this the right
return for all His love?" The words had no effect whatever; on the
contrary, with each passing day, Mirza Yahya disclosed a greater measure
of his concealed intent. Then at the end, the final rupture took place.
From Adrianople, Aqay-i-Kalim went on with the convoy of Baha'u'llah, to
the fortress of Akka. His name was specifically listed in the Sultan's
decree, and he was condemned to perpetual banishment.(52) He devoted all
his time in the Most Great Prison to serving Baha'u'llah, and had the
honor of being continually in his Brother's presence, also keeping company
with the believers; until at last he left this world of dust and hastened
to the holy world above, dying with lowliness and contrition, as he
supplicated his Lord.
It happened that during the Ba_gh_dad period, the well-known Il_kh_ani,
son of Musa _Kh_an-i-Qazvini, received through Siyyid Javad-i-Tabataba'i
an audience with Baha'u'llah. Siyyid Javad on that occasion made a plea in
the Il_kh_ani's behalf, saying: "This Il_kh_ani, 'Ali-Quli _Kh_an,
although a sinner and a lifelong creature of his passions, has now
repented. He stands before You with regret as to his former ways, and from
this day forward he will not so much as draw a breath that might be
contrary to Your good pleasure. I beg of You, accept his repentance; make
him the object of Your grace and favor."
Baha'u'llah replied: "Because he has chosen you as intercessor, I will
hide away his sins, and I will take steps to bring him comfort and peace
of mind."
The Il_kh_ani had been a man of unlimited wealth, but he had wasted it all
on the desires of the flesh. He was now destitute, to such a point that he
did not even dare to step outside his house, because of the creditors
waiting there to fall upon him. Baha'u'llah directed him to go to Umar
Pa_sh_a, the Governor of Damascus, and obtain from him a letter of
recommendation to Constantinople. The Il_kh_ani complied, and he received
every assistance from the Governor of Ba_gh_dad. After utter despair, he
began to hope again, and left for Constantinople. When he arrived at
Diyarbakr(53) he penned a letter on behalf of two Armenian merchants.
"These two are about to leave for Ba_gh_dad," his letter said. "They have
shown me every courtesy, and have also asked me for an introduction. I had
no refuge or shelter except Your bounty; thus I beg of You to show them
favor." The superscription, that is, the address he had written on the
envelope was: "To His Eminence Baha'u'llah, Leader of the Babis." The
merchants presented this letter to Baha'u'llah at the head of the bridge,
and when He inquired about it their reply was: "In Diyarbakr, the
Il_kh_ani gave us particulars as to this Cause." Then they accompanied Him
to His house.
When the Blessed Beauty entered the family apartments, Aqay-i-Kalim was
there to meet Him. Baha'u'llah cried out, "Kalim, Kalim! The fame of the
Cause of God has reached as far as Diyarbakr!" And He was smiling,
jubilant.
Mirza Musa was indeed a true brother to the Blessed Beauty; this is why he
remained steadfast, under all conditions, to the very end. Unto him be
praise and salutations, and the breath of life, and glory; upon him be
mercy and grace.