The Blessed Perfection Baha'u'llah belonged to the royal family of Iran.
From earliest childhood He was distinguished among His relatives and
friends. They said: "This child has extraordinary power." In wisdom,
intelligence and as a source of new knowledge He was advanced beyond His
age and superior to His surroundings. All who knew Him were astonished at
his precocity. It was usual for them to say: "Such a child will not live,"
for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach
maturity. During the period of youth the Blessed Perfection did not enter
school. He was not willing to be taught. This fact is well established
among the Iranians of Tihran. Nevertheless He was capable of solving the
difficult problems of all who came to Him. In whatever meeting, scientific
assembly or theological discussion He was found, He became the authority
of explanation upon intricate and abstruse questions presented.
Until His father passed away Baha'u'llah did not seek position or
political station notwithstanding His connection with the government. This
occasioned surprise and comment. It was frequently said: "How is it that a
young man of such keen intelligence and subtle perception does not seek
lucrative appointments? As a matter of fact every position is open to
him." This is a historical statement fully attested by the people of Iran.
He was most generous, giving abundantly to the poor. None who came to Him
were turned away. The doors of His house were open to all. He always had
many guests. This unbounded generosity was conducive to greater
astonishment from the fact that He sought neither position nor prominence.
In commenting upon this His friends said He would become impoverished, for
His expenses were many and His wealth becoming more and more limited. "Why
is he not thinking of his own affairs?", they inquired of each other; but
some who were wise declared: "This personage is connected with another
world; he has something sublime within him that is not evident now; the
day is coming when it will be manifested." In truth the Blessed Perfection
was a refuge for every weak one, a shelter for every fearing one, kind to
every indigent one, lenient and loving to all creatures.
He became well known in regard to these qualities before His Holiness the
Bab appeared. Then Baha'u'llah declared the Bab's mission to be true and
promulgated His teachings. The Bab announced that the greater
manifestation would take place after Him and called the promised one: "Him
whom God would manifest," saying that nine years later the reality of His
own mission would become apparent. In His writings He stated that in the
ninth year this expected one would be known; in the ninth year they would
attain to all glory and felicity; in the ninth year they would advance
rapidly. Between Baha'u'llah and the Bab there was communication
privately. The Bab wrote a letter containing three hundred and sixty
derivatives of the root "Baha." The Bab was martyred in Tabriz, and
Baha'u'llah exiled into Iraq-Arabie in 1852, announced Himself in
Ba_gh_dad. For the Iranian Government had decided that as long as He
remained in Iran the peace of the country would be disturbed; therefore He
was exiled in the expectation that Iran would become quiet. His
banishment, however, produced the opposite effect. New tumult arose and
the mention of His greatness and influence spread everywhere throughout
the country. The proclamation of His manifestation and mission was made in
Ba_gh_dad. He called his friends together there and spoke to them of God.
Afterward He left the city and went alone into the mountains of Kurdistan
where He made his abode in caves and grottoes. A part of this time He
lived in the city of Sulimaniyye. Two years passed during which neither
His friends nor family knew just where He was.
Although solitary, secluded and unknown in His retirement, the report
spread throughout Kurdistan that this was a most remarkable and learned
personage gifted with a wonderful power of attraction. In a short time
Kurdistan was magnetized with His love. During this period Baha'u'llah
lived in poverty. His garments were those of the poor and needy. His food
was that of the indigent and lowly. An atmosphere of majesty haloed Him as
the sun at midday. Everywhere He was greatly revered and beloved.
After two years He returned to Ba_gh_dad. Friends He had known in
Sulimaniyye came to visit Him. They found Him in his accustomed
environment of ease and affluence and were astonished at the appointments
of one who had lived in seclusion under such frugal conditions in
Kurdistan.
The Iranian government believed the banishment of the Blessed Perfection
from Iran would be the extermination of His Cause in that country. These
rulers now realized that it spread more rapidly. His prestige increased,
His teachings became more widely circulated. The chiefs of Iran then used
their influence to have Baha'u'llah exiled from Ba_gh_dad. He was summoned
to Constantinople by the Turkish authorities. While in Constantinople He
ignored every restriction, especially the hostility of ministers of state
and clergy. The official representatives of Iran again brought their
influence to bear upon the Turkish authorities and succeeded in having
Baha'u'llah banished from Constantinople to Adrianople, the object being
to keep Him as far away as possible from Iran and render His communication
with that country more difficult. Nevertheless the Cause still spread and
strengthened.
Finally they consulted together and said: "We have banished Baha'u'llah
from place to place but each time he is exiled his cause is more widely
extended, his proclamation increases in power and day by day his lamp is
becoming brighter. This is due to the fact that we have exiled him to
large cities and populous centers. Therefore we will send him to a penal
colony as a prisoner so that all may know he is the associate of
murderers, robbers and criminals; in a short time he and his followers
will perish." The sultan of Turkey then banished Him to the prison of Akka
in Syria.
When Baha'u'llah arrived at Akka, through the power of God He was able to
hoist His banner. His light at first had been a star; now it became a
mighty sun and the illumination of His Cause expanded from the east to the
west. Inside prison walls He wrote epistles to all the kings and rulers of
nations summoning them to arbitration and Universal Peace. Some of the
kings received His words with disdain and contempt. One of these was the
sultan of the Ottoman kingdom. Napoleon III of France did not reply. A
second epistle was addressed to him. It stated: "I have written you an
epistle before this, summoning you to the cause of God but you are of the
heedless. You have proclaimed that you were the defender of the oppressed;
now it hath become evident that you are not. Nor are you kind to your own
suffering and oppressed people. Your actions are contrary to your own
interests and your kingly pride must fall. Because of your arrogance God
shortly will destroy your sovereignty. France will flee away from you and
you will be overwhelmed by a great conquest. There will be lamentation and
mourning, women bemoaning the loss of their sons." This arraignment of
Napoleon III was published and spread.
Read it and consider: One prisoner, single and solitary, without assistant
or defender, a foreigner and stranger imprisoned in the fortress of Akka
writing such letters to the emperor of France and sultan of Turkey.
Reflect upon this how Baha'u'llah upraised the standard of His Cause in
prison. Refer to history. It is without parallel. No such thing has
happened before that time nor since; a prisoner and an exile advancing His
Cause and spreading His teachings broadcast so that eventually He became
powerful enough to conquer the very king who banished Him.
His Cause spread more and more. The Blessed Perfection was a prisoner
twenty-five years. During all this time He was subjected to the
indignities and revilement of the people. He was persecuted, mocked and
put in chains. In Iran His properties were pillaged and His possessions
confiscated. First, banishment from Iran to Ba_gh_dad; then to
Constantinople; then Adrianople; finally from Roumelia to the prison
fortress of Akka.
During His lifetime He was intensely active. His energy was unlimited.
Scarcely one night was passed in restful sleep. He bore these ordeals,
suffered these calamities and difficulties in order that a manifestation
of selflessness and service might become apparent in the world of
humanity; that the Most Great Peace should become a reality; that human
souls might appear as the angels of heaven; that heavenly miracles would
be wrought among men; that human faith should be strengthened and
perfected; that the precious, priceless bestowal of God, the human mind,
might be developed to its fullest capacity in the temple of the body; and
man become the reflection and likeness of God, even as it hath been
revealed in the Bible: "We shall create man in Our own image."
Briefly; the Blessed Perfection bore all these ordeals and calamities in
order that our hearts might become enkindled and radiant, our spirits be
glorified, our faults become virtues, our ignorance transformed into
knowledge; in order that we might attain the real fruits of humanity and
acquire heavenly graces; although pilgrims upon earth we should travel the
road of the heavenly kingdom; although needy and poor we might receive the
treasures of life eternal. For this has He borne these difficulties and
sorrows.
Trust all to God. The lights of God are resplendent. The blessed epistles
are spreading. The blessed teachings are promulgated throughout the east
and west. Soon you will see that the heavenly words have established the
oneness of the world of humanity. The banner of the Most Great Peace has
been unfurled and the "great community" is appearing.