Muhammad-Mustafa was a blazing light. He was the son of the famous scholar
_Sh_ay_kh_ Muhammad-i-_Sh_ibl; he lived in 'Iraq, and from his earliest
youth was clearly unique and beyond compare; wise, brave, deserving in
every way, he was known far and wide. From childhood, guided by his
father, he had lit the light of faith in the chapel of his heart. He had
rid himself of the hindering veils of illusion, gazed about with
perceptive eyes, witnessed great new signs of God and, regardless of the
consequences, had cried aloud: "The earth hath shone out with the light of
her Lord!"(77)
Gracious God! The opposition was powerful, the penalty obvious, the
friends, every one of them, terrified, and off in some corner hiding their
belief; at such a time this intrepid personality boldly went about his
business, and like a man, faced up to every tyrant. The one individual
who, in the year seventy, was famed in 'Iraq for his love of Baha'u'llah,
was this honored person. A few other souls, then in Ba_gh_dad and its
environs, had crept away into nooks and crannies and, imprisoned in their
own lethargy, there they remained. But this admirable Muhammad-Mustafa
would boldly, proudly come and go like a man, and the hostile, because of
his physical strength and his courage, were afraid to attack him.
After Baha'u'llah's return from His journey to Kurdistan, the virile
strength and bearing of that gallant individual was still further
enhanced. Whenever leave was granted, he would attend upon Baha'u'llah,
and would hear from His lips expressions of favor and grace. He was the
leader, among all the friends in 'Iraq, and after the great separation,
when the convoy of the Beloved left for Constantinople, he remained loyal
and staunch, and withstood the foe. He girded himself for service and
openly, publicly, observed by all, taught the Faith.
As soon as Baha'u'llah's declaration that He was "He Whom God Shall
Manifest"(78) had become known far and wide, Muhammad-Mustafa--being among
those souls who had become believers prior to this Declaration, and before
the call was raised--cried out: "Verily, we believe!" Because, even before
this Declaration, the very light itself pierced through the veils that had
closed off the peoples of the world, so that every seeing eye beheld the
splendor, and every longing soul could look upon its Well-Beloved.
With all his strength, then, Muhammad-Mustafa arose to serve the Cause. He
rested neither day nor night. After the Ancient Beauty had departed to the
Most Great Prison; after the friends had been taken prisoner in Ba_gh_dad
and sent away to Mosul; after the hostility of outstanding enemies and the
opposition of the populace of Ba_gh_dad, he did not falter, but continued
to stand his ground. A long time passed in this way. But with his yearning
for Baha'u'llah, the tumult in his heart was such that he set out alone
for the Most Great Prison. He reached there during the period of extreme
restrictions, and had the honor of entering the presence of Baha'u'llah.
He asked then for leave to find a lodging somewhere in the neighborhood of
Akka, and was permitted to reside in Beirut. There he went and faithfully
served the Cause, assisting all the pilgrims as they arrived and departed.
He was an excellent servitor, a generous and kindly host, and he
sacrificed himself to see to their affairs as they passed through. For all
this he became known everywhere.
When the Sun of Truth had set and the Light of the Concourse on high had
ascended, Muhammad-Mustafa remained loyal to the Covenant. He stood so
firm against the waverers that they dared not draw a breath. He was like a
shooting star, a missile hurled against the demons;(79) against the
violators, an avenging sword. Not one of the violators so much as dared
pass through the street where he lived and if they chanced to meet him
they were like those described in the Qur'an: "deaf, dumb, blind:
therefore they shall not retrace their steps from error!"(80) He was the
very embodiment of: "The blame of the blamer shall not deflect him from
the path of God, and the terrible might of the reviler shall not shake
him."
Living in the same manner as before, he served the believers with a free
mind and pure intent. With all his heart, he assisted the travelers to the
Holy Land, those who had come to circumambulate that place which is ringed
around by the Company on high. Later he moved from Beirut to Iskandarun,
and there he spent some time, until, drawn as if by a magnet to the Lord,
detached from all save Him, rejoicing in His glad tidings, holding fast to
the cord that none can sever--he ascended on the wings of the spirit to his
Exalted Companion.
May God lift him up to the highest Heaven, to the fellowship of glory.(81)
May God bring him into the land of lights, the mysterious Kingdom, the
assemblage of the splendors of the mighty, all powerful Lord. Upon him be
the glory of the All-Glorious.