Sulayman _Kh_an was the emigrant and settler who was given the title of
Jamali'd-Din. He was born in Tunukaban, into an old family of that region.
He was cradled in wealth, bred to ease, reared in the comfortable ways of
luxury. From his early childhood he had high ambitions and noble aims, and
he was honor and aspiration personified. At first he planned to
outdistance all his fellows and achieve some lofty rank. For this reason
he left his birthplace and went to the capital, Tihran, where he hoped to
become a leader, surpassing the rest of his generation.
In Tihran, however, the fragrance of God was borne his way, and he
listened to the summons of the Well-Beloved. He was saved from the
perturbations of high rank; from all the din and clatter, the glory, the
pomps and palaces, of this heap of dust, the world. He threw off his
chains, and by God's grace, discovered peace. To him, the seat of honor
was now no different from the place where people removed their slippers at
the door, and high office was a thing soon gone and forgotten. He was
cleansed from the stain of living, his heart was eased, for he had burst
the shackles that held him to this present life.
Putting on the garments of a pilgrim, he set out to find his loving
Friend, and came to the Most Great Prison. Here for a time he rested,
under the protection of the Ancient Beauty; here he gained the honor of
entering the presence of Baha'u'llah, and listened to momentous teachings
from His holy lips. When he had breathed the scented air, when his eyes
were illumined and his ears attuned to the words of the Lord, he was
permitted to make a journey to India, and bidden to teach the true seekers
after truth.
Resting his heart on God, in love with the sweet savors of God, on fire
with the love of God, he left for India. There he wandered, and whenever
he came to a city he raised the call of the Great Kingdom and delivered
the good news that the Speaker of the Mount had come. He became one of
God's farmers, scattering the holy seed of the Teachings. This sowing was
fruitful. Through him a considerable number found their way into the Ark
of Salvation. The light of Divine guidance was shed upon those souls, and
their eyes were brightened with beholding the mighty signs of God. He
became the focal point of every gathering, the honored guest. To this day,
in India, the results of his auspicious presence are clear to see, and
those whom he taught are now, in their turn, guiding others to the Faith.
Following his Indian journey, Sulayman _Kh_an came back to Baha'u'llah,
but when he arrived, the ascension had taken place. Continuously, he shed
his tears, and his heart was a thurible for sorrow. But he remained loyal
to the Covenant, well rooted in Heaven.
Not long before His passing, Baha'u'llah had said: "Should someone go to
Persia, and manage to convey it, this message must be delivered to
Aminu's-Sultan:(82) 'You took steps to help the prisoners; you freely
rendered them a befitting service; this service will not be forgotten.
Rest assured that it will bring you honor and call down a blessing upon
all your affairs. O Aminu's-Sultan! Every house that is raised up will one
day fall to ruin, except the house of God; that will grow more massive and
be better guarded day by day. Then serve the Court of God with all your
might, that you may discover the way to a home in Heaven, and found an
edifice that will endure forever.'" After the departure of Baha'u'llah,
this message was conveyed to Aminu's-Sultan.
In A_dh_irbayjan the Turkish clerics had brought down Aqa Siyyid
Asadu'llah, hunted him down in Ardabil and plotted to shed his blood; but
the Governor, by a ruse, managed to save him from being physically beaten
and then murdered: he sent the victim to Tabriz in chains, and from there
had him conducted to Tihran. Aminu's-Sultan came to the prisoner's
assistance and, in his own office, provided Asadu'llah with a sanctuary.
One day when the Prime Minister was ill, Nasiri'd-Din _Sh_ah arrived to
visit him. The Minister then explained the situation, and lavished praise
upon his captive; so much so that the _Sh_ah, as he left, showed great
kindness to Asadu'llah, and spoke words of consolation. This, when at an
earlier time, the captive would have been strung up at once to adorn some
gallows-tree, and shot down with a gun.
After a time Aminu's-Sultan lost the Sovereign's favor. Hated, in
disgrace, he was banished to the city of Qum. Thereupon this servant
dispatched Sulayman _Kh_an to Persia, carrying a prayer and a missive
written by me. The prayer besought God's aid and bounty and succor for the
fallen Minister, so that he might, from that corner of oblivion, be
recalled to favor. In the letter we clearly stated: "Prepare to return to
Tihran. Soon will God's help arrive; the light of grace will shine on you
again; with full authority again, you will find yourself free, and Prime
Minister. This is your reward for the efforts you exerted on behalf of a
man who was oppressed." That letter and that prayer are today in the
possession of the family of Aminu's-Sultan.
From Tihran, Sulayman _Kh_an journeyed to Qum, and according to his
instructions went to live in a cell in the shrine of the Immaculate.(83)
The relatives of Aminu's-Sultan came to visit there; Sulayman _Kh_an
inquired after the fallen Minister and expressed the wish to meet him.
When the Minister learned of this, he sent for Sulayman _Kh_an. Placing
all his trust in God, Sulayman _Kh_an hastened to the Minister's house
and, meeting him in private, presented the letter from 'Abdu'l-Baha. The
Minister rose, and received the letter with extreme respect. Then
addressing the _Kh_an he said: "I had given up hope. If this longing is
fulfilled, I will arise to serve; I will preserve and uphold the friends
of God." Then he expressed his gratitude, indebtedness and joy, and added,
"Praise be to God, I hope again; I feel that by His aid, my dream will
come true."
In brief, the Minister pledged himself to serve the friends, and Sulayman
_Kh_an took his leave. The Minister then desired to give him a sum of
money to defray the expenses of his journey, but Sulayman _Kh_an refused,
and despite the Minister's insistence, would accept nothing. The _Kh_an
had not yet reached the Holy Land on his return journey when
Aminu's-Sultan was recalled from exile and immediately summoned to the
Premiership again. He assumed the position and functioned with full
authority; and at first he did indeed support the believers, but toward
the end, in the case of the Yazd martyrdoms, he was neglectful. He neither
helped nor protected the sufferers in any way, nor would he listen to
their repeated pleas, until all of them were put to death. Accordingly he
too was dismissed, a ruined man; that flag which had flown so proudly was
reversed, and that hoping heart despaired.
Sulayman _Kh_an lived on in the Holy Land, near the Shrine which the
Exalted Assembly circle about. He kept company with the believers until
the day of inescapable death, when he set out for the mansions of Him Who
liveth, and dieth not. He turned his back on this heap of dust, the world,
and hurried away to the country of light. He broke out of this cage of
contingent being and soared into the endless, placeless Realm. May God
enfold him in the waters of His mercy, cause His forgiveness to rain down
upon him, and bestow on him the wonders of abounding grace. Salutations be
unto him, and praise.
'ABDU'R-RAHMAN, THE COPPERSMITH
This was a patient and long-enduring man, a native of Ka_sh_an. He was one
of the very earliest believers. The down was not yet upon his cheek when
he drank of the love of God, saw with his own eyes the heavenly table
spread out before him, and received his faith and his portion of abounding
grace.
In a little while he left his home and set out for the rose garden that
was Ba_gh_dad, where he achieved the honor of entering the presence of
Baha'u'llah. He spent some time in 'Iraq, and won a crown of endless
favor: he would enter the presence of Baha'u'llah and many a time would
accompany Him on foot to the Shrine of the Two Kazims; this was his great
delight.
'Abdu'r-Rahman was among the prisoners exiled to Mosul, and later he
fairly dragged himself to the fortress at Akka. Here he lived, blessed by
Baha'u'llah. He carried on a small business, trifling, but he was content
with it, happy and at peace. Thus, walking the path of righteousness, he
lived to be eighty years old, at which time, serenely patient, he soared
away to the Threshold of God. May the Lord enfold him there with His
bounty and compassion, and clothe him in the garment of forgiveness. His
luminous grave is in Akka.