Bahá’u’lláh’sVisitstoHaifa

ShoghiEffendiwritesinGodPassesbythattheBlessedBeautyvisitedHaifaatotaloffourtimes[1].ThefirstvisittookplacewhentheBlessedBeautyarrivedto‘AkkábywayofHaifaandthelastwasin1891.

FirstVisit(31stofAugust1868)

“Thefirstvisitwasofshortduration,whenHedisembarkedin1868fromtheLloyd-Triestinosteamer[2].

“Onthemorningofthe2ndofJamádiyu’l-Avval1285A.H.(August21,1868)theyallembarkedinanAustrian-LloydsteamerforAlexandria…InAlexandriatheytranshippedintoasteamerofthesamecompany,boundforHaifa,where,afterbriefstopsatPortSaidandJaffa,theylanded,settingout,afewhourslater,inasailingvessel,for‘‘Akká,wheretheydisembarked,inthecourseoftheafternoonofthe12thofJamádiyu’l-Avval1285A.H.(August31,1868)”[1].

“WhentheAustrian-LloydlinerstoodbeforeHaifa,theauthoritiessetaboutpreparingforthejourneyofMirzaYahyaandhisdependentstoCyprus.ThismoveentailedtheseparationofthefourBaha'is,whomtheyhaddecreedshouldaccompanyMirzaYahyatohisplaceofexile,from the compact body of the companions of Baha'u'llah. … Naturally, they and all thecompanionsweregreatlydistressedwhenthehourofseparationcame”[2].

“ItwasatthemomentwhenBahá’u’lláhhadsteppedintotheboatwhichwastocarryHimtothe landing-stage inHaifa that ‘Abdu’l-Ghaffár,oneof the fourcompanionscondemnedtosharetheexileofMírzáYahyá,andwhose“detachment,loveandtrustinGod”Bahá’u’lláhhadgreatlypraised,casthimself,inhisdespair,intothesea,shouting“YáBahá’u’l-Abhá,”andwassubsequentlyrescuedandresuscitatedwiththegreatestdifficulty,onlytobeforcedbyadamantofficialstocontinuehisvoyage,withMírzáYahyá’sparty,tothedestinationoriginallyappointedforhim”[1].

SecondVisit(1883)

ThesecondvisittookplaceinAugustandSeptemberof1883.Thissecondvisitlastedatleastthreeweeks.Bahá’u’lláhrevealsinaTabletdated19thofAugustofthatyearthatHevisitedHaifa.InanotherTabletdatedinSeptemberofthesameyear,Bahá’u’lláhconfirmsthatHewasstillinHaifa.Itisthereforeassumed(basedonthedatesofthesetwoTablets)thatthesecondvisitoftheBlessedBeautylastedatleastthreeweeks[3].

RafatistatesthatBahá’u’lláhstayedinBayt-i-Fanduq,ahouseintheGermancolony,partofwhichstillstandstoday[2].Thisis,fromwhatIcangather,aguesthousethatbelongedtotheGermanTemplers.Partsofthisbuildingstillstandstoday.Thenameoftheguesthousewas“KarmelKrafft”.Itbecameabusstationbythenameof“EggedOldBusStation”andtodaythebuildingislocatedatthenortheastcornerofMeirRutbergandYafoStreet[3].

ThirdVisit(1890)

ThethirdvisitofBahá’u’lláhtoHaifatookplacein1890.Ontheeveningofthe1stofAprilofthatyear,HeenteredHaifa.ThisisknownasBahá’u’lláh,inaTabletaddressedtoHajiMirzaHeydar Ali, stated that “yesterday”, He travelled from ‘Akká to Haifa and arrived in theevening.AstheTabletisdated2ndofApril,HearrivedinHaifaonthe1stofApril.HissojourninHaifalastednolongerthan2weeks.ThisdeductionisbasedontheknownfactthatE.G.BrownhadthehonourofbeingtheguestofBahá’u’lláhattheMansionofBahji.E.G.Brownvisitbeganonthe15thofAprilandendedonthe20thofApril.Assuch,Bahá’u’lláhmusthavereturnedtothe‘AkkáareabeforeE.GBrownleft.ItwasduringthisvisitthatE.G.Brownmadehiseloquentpen-portraitoftheBlessedBeauty.

DuringHisthirdvisittoHaifa,Bahá’u’lláhstayedfirstattheBayt-i-Zahlannearthetown,andthenmovedtoahouseintheGermancolonywhichwasknownastheOliphanthouse[2].ThenameofthehouseseemstobeHausOliphant.Bahá’u’lláhstayedbothinsidethehousebutalsooutsideinatentpitchedoppositeofthehouse(currentlyonBenGurion6).TheplotuponwhichthetentofBahá’u’lláhwaspitched,isnowacentreforsoldiersnamedGeneralPierreKoenigSoldierCentre.

HouseofOliphant(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Oliphant_(author))

ForthVisit(1891)

Bahá'u'lláhvisitedHaifaforthefourthandlasttimeinthesummerof1891.HearrivedinHaifaonthe27thofJuneofthatsameyear[3].Thisvisitwasthelongest.Hewasin“Haifaforthreemonths, staying in the house of Ilyas Abyad near the German colony, and His tent stoodnearby” [2]. His tent was pitched on the foot of Mount Carmel on HaGefen Street (see

picture). Balyuzi explains that “during these sojourns in Haifa, He rented houses in theneighbouringGermancolony”[2].ThehouseinwhichtheBlessedBeautystayedat,wascalled“houseofIlyasAbyad”[2].Itseemsthatthishouseatonetimewasaboardingschool[4]butbecameanofficespaceforabank(MercantileBank)[3].

ThespotuponwhichtheBlessedBeautypitchedHistentonHaGefenStreetinHaifa,justnexttotheGermanTemplarbuildingthathadtheinscriptions“DasHerristname”(imagefromwww.Bahá’u’lláh.org)

“Inthehousewiththepropheticinscription“DerHerristnahe”alittlegirlwasborn,probablyin1887,hernameWilhelminePfander,shemarriedtobecomeMrsDeininger.In1977,thewifeofGerhardSchmelzle,aTemplarborninHaifawhohadgonetoAustraliawithhisparentsandhadtherebecomeaBahá'íinhismaturity,soughtMrsDeiningeratherhomeinSouthAustraliaandinquiredaboutherchildhoodinthathouse.Theagedwomanclearlyrecalledthe tent on the open land next door, thatHoly Placewhich is nowmarked by a circle ofcypresses.WhileBahá'u'lláhandHiscompanionswerethere,whenshewas“fourorfive”,sherecounted,HehadhadabriefillnessandhadbeeninvitedintothePfanderhomeforatimewhileHewasseenbytheTemplardoctor,possiblyDrJ.Schmidt.SherecalledhavingseenBahá'u'lláhintheroomatthenorth-westcornerofthegroundfloor”[4].

TentsusedbytheBlessedBeautyduringHisstayinHaifa(imagefromwww.Bahá’u’lláh.org)

Balyuziwrites[2]thefollowingstorythattookplaceinthetentpitchedontheabovestatedspotwhentheAfnanfamilycameonpilgrimage.

“Travellingbyboat,theyreachedHaifaattheendofJuly1891,whereBaha'u'llahwasthenstaying.'ThelateJinab-i-Manshadi',writesHajiMirzaHabibu'llah,'metusontheboat,ontheinstructionsoftheBlessedPerfection,arrangedforourlanding,tookusthroughthecustoms,andledustothetentofBaha'u'llahwhichwaspitchedatthefootofMountCarmel.Iwellrememberthatday.Itwasearlymorning,thesunwasnotyetwellupoverthecrestofthemountain,andtheairwasveryfreshandtrulyvivifying.Withinthetent,Jinab-i-Manshadiwastalkingtous,enquiringaftertheFriendsinShiraz,whensuddenlyMirzaMustafa…whowasanattendantoftheBlessedPerfection,…,enteredandledustothehouseandthepresenceoftheBlessedPerfection.Heheldasidethecurtain.Allourhopesandearnestwisheswerenowfulfilled.TheAbhaBeautywasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom.BeholdingHisblessedFigureandHis luminousVisageoverwhelmedus....Our tearswereoutofcontrol.As theyflowed,wewerecircumambulatingHisblessedPerson.Hesatdownonthedivanandinvitedustosit.Wefourbrotherssatonthefloor.Onourright,MirzaAqaJanwasseatedwiththesamovarandteathingsinfrontofhim.TheBlessedPerfectionsaid:"PourteafortheyoungAfnans;theyhavejustcomeashore";andthenHespoketous:"Oflowersoftherose-gardenofhishonourtheAfnan!Youarewelcome,youarewelcome.YourdeparturefromShirazwasverydifficultandtoilsome.ThewillofGodandtheresolutionofJinab-i-Afnanbroughtyoutothis sacred threshold.Duringyour sea journeydangersbesetyouandGodprotectedyou.Consider,thisverydayseveralthousandaretreadingthegroundbetweenSafaandMarwih[onone foot] (theFestivalofSacrificewason thatdayandpartof the ritesofpilgrimageincludetraversingseventimesthedistancebetweenthesetwomoundswhere,accordingtotradition,Hagarranbackandforthseventimes,seekingaspringtoquenchherson'sthirst).The Beloved of theworld of being resides in this Land, but they are all negligent; all areheedless,allunaware,alluninformed.Youaretherealpilgrims."ThriceHesaid:"Youarethereal{hajis}[pilgrims]."Atthatmoment,whenIwaslostinwondermentandhearkeningtothewordsoftheBelovedoftheworlds,theselinesofMawlaviscametomymind:

OHajis!Yewhohaveperformedthehajj(pilgrimage),whereareye,whereareye?

TheBelovedishere,comehitherye,comehitherye.

TheBelovedisyourneighbour,wallbywall;

Whyinthewildernesslostareyeall?

Andatthatverymoment,theBlessedPerfectionturnedtomeandsaid:"Themysticshadsomethingtosayonthisaccount."ThenHeaskedMirzaAqaJantopourusteaagain.Afterthat,weleftHispresence.

AnotherstoryofaneventtakingplaceinHaifa(probablyinthesametent)isgivenbyMírzáHabíbu’lláhAfnán.Hewritesthefollowing[7]

“Haifawashotduringthesedays.Wewerenotfamiliarwith,oraccustomedto,itsclimateand had a very difficult time, often falling ill. But the bounties of our beloved LordweremeasurelessandtheseaofHisgraceandmunificencewaseverbillowing.IrememberwellonedaywhenwewerecalledtoHispresenceatthreeo’clockintheafternoon.Ihadaverybadfever.MybrothersdressedandpreparedtoattainHispresence.Ialsogotup[frommybed] to accompany them,whenmy oldest brother tried to stopme from going. He said,“PerhapsyouarenotallowedtoattainBahá’u’lláh’spresenceinsuchafeverishcondition.”Ireplied,“Heisawareofmycondition.”IwentintoHispresence.TheBlessedPerfectionturnedtomeand said, “Youhavea fever,”atwhich Ibowedmyhead.He continued, “Fever is aproductofthisland.Whoevercomesheremustsufferfromit.”ThenHeorderedteatobegiventous.ImmediatelyIbegantoperspiresomuchthatmyclothesweresoaked.ThentheBlessed Perfection said, “Go and change your clothes. Fever will not trouble you again.”ThroughouttheremainingninemonthswespentintheHolyLand,Ididnotsufferfromfeveragain”[7].

Duringthis time, thenewsof theSevenMartyrs inYazdreachedthem. MírzáHabíbu’lláhAfnáncontinuestorecountthefollowing.

“Duringthesedaysin1308A.H.[1891],theepisodeofthesevenmartyrsofYazdtookplace.WhenthenewswasbroughttoBahá’u’lláh,itcausedHimtremendoussorrowandanguish.Forninewholedays,verseswerenotrevealedfromtheheavenofdivineknowledgeandnoonewasallowedintoHispresence.Ontheninthday,thefriendswereallsummoned,andwehadthathonourtoo.ThedeepgriefthatsurroundedHisBlessedPersonwasindescribable.Hespokeextensivelyabout theQájársand theirmisdeeds.Afterwards,Hementioned theeventsofYazd.Sternly,theTongueofGrandeurspokeoftheJalálu’d-Dawlih

andZillu’s-Sultan[thesetwowereresponsiblefortheMartyrdomofthefriendsinYazd].

Bahá’u’lláhcontinuedtorecountastoryaboutZillu’s-Sultan.

“Zillu’s-SultanwroteUsaletterinhisownhandwritingandgaveittoHjSayyah(attendantofZillu’s-Sultan)tobring.HeaskedUstohelphim,with[thesupportof]theBábis,todestroyhisSháh-Bábá(Naserid-DinShah)‘IfYoudothis’,hewrote,‘IwillgiveYouliberty;IwillgiveYouofficialrecognition;IwillhelpandsupportYou;Iwillmakeamendsforthepast.WhateverSháh-Bábádid,Iwilldojusttheopposite.’Theentireletterwasfullofsuchstatements.TheanswerWegavehimwasthis:‘PrayingfortheShahisobligatoryforbothyouandUs.NeveragainwritetoUsinthisvein.NeveragainputsuchrequeststothisWrongedOne.Wehavearisentoimprovethemoralsofanumberofpeoplewrongedinthisworld.

IfWewereafterleadership,whatauthoritywouldhavebeenbetterthanholdingthepositionofaministerinIran?’WhenhereceivedthisanswerfromUs,hedespairedofUs,andisnowbehavinginthismanner.WereWetosendhislettertoNasiri’d-DinShah,hewouldskinhimalive.ButGodistheConcealer.HedrawsveilsoverthedeedsofHisservants.”ThenHesaid,“Donotbesad;donotbedowncast;donotletyourheartsbleed.ThesacredtreeoftheCauseofGodiswateredbythebloodofthemartyrs.Unlesswatered,atreedoesnotgrowandbear

fruit. Before long, you will see the name of the Qájárs obliterated, and the land of Irancleansedofthefilthoftheirexistenceandtheodouroftheirnames”[7].

Ninedaysafter theBlessedBeauty recounted theabovestory,He revealed“Tablet to theWorld”(Lawh-i-Dunya)inwhichcanberead“ThetyrantofthelandofY(Yazd)committedthatwhichhascausedtheConcourseonHightoshedtearsofblood”[8].

It isvery interestingtonotethatthesamesultanmetwith `Abdu’l-Baháata laterdate inEurope. His eldest son was appointed the governor-general of Yazd in 1888. He wasresponsibleforkillingalargenumberofcitizenssotogatherwealth.Hewasalsoresponsibleforthedeathofmorethan100Bahá’ís.HecruelreinendedbyhimbeingstrippedofhisestateandexiledtoEurope.Hisfather,Zillu’s-Sultan(andprobablyhissonsaswell)met`Abdu’l-BaháinSwitzerland.Thefollowingisthestoryoftheirencounter[9]

“AnexampleofthiswasHismemorablemeetingwiththeroyalprince,ZillahSultan,brotheroftheShahofPersia,MuhammadAliShah.Notalone`Abdu’l-Bahá,butagreatnumberofHisfollowers,bandafterbandofBaha’imartyrs,hadsufferedworsethandeathatthehandsofthesetwoprinces.WhenthedownfalloftheShah,withthatoftheSultanofTurkey,set`Abdu’l-Bahá at liberty, `Abdu’l-Bahá, beginningHis journey through Europe,went first toThonon-les-Bains,ontheLakeofGeneva.TheexiledShahwasthensomewhereinEurope;Zillah-Sultan, also in exile with his two sons, had fled to Geneva. Thus `Abdu’l-Bahá, theexoneratedandfree,andZillahSultan, the fugitive,werealmostwithinastone’s throwofeachother.

‘Inthesuiteof`Abdu’l-BaháwasadistinguishedEuropeanwhohadvisitedPersiaandtheremetZillahSultan.OnedaywhentheEuropeanwasstandingonthebalustradedterraceofthehotel in Thonon and `Abdu’l-Baháwas pacing to and fro at a little distance, Zillah Sultanapproached the terrace. `Abdu’l-Baháwaswearing, as always, the turban, the longwhitebeltedrobeandlongabaofPersia.Hishair,accordingtotheancientcustomofthePersiannobility, flowed to His shoulders. Zillah Sultan, after greeting the European, immediatelyasked:

‘“WhoisthatPersiannobleman?”’

“`Abdu’l-Bahá.”

‘“TakemetoHim.”

‘In describing the scene later, the European said: “If you could have heard the wretchmumblinghismiserableexcuses!”But`Abdu’l-BahátooktheprinceinHisarms.”Allthatisofthepast,”Heanswered,“Neverthinkofitagain.Sendyourtwosonstoseeme.Iwanttomeetyoursons.”

‘Theycame,oneatatime.EachspentadaywiththeMaster.Thefirst,thoughanimmatureboy,neverthelessshowedHimgreatdeference.Thesecond,olderandmoresensitive,leftthe

roomof`Abdu’l-Bahá,wherehehadbeenreceivedalone,weepinguncontrollably.“IfonlyIcouldbebornagain,”hesaid,“intoanyotherfamilythanmine.”

‘FornotonlyhadmanyBaha’isbeenmartyredduringhisuncle’sreign(upwardsofahundredbyhisfather’sinstigation),andthelifeof`Abdu’l-Baháthreatenedagainandagain,buthisgrandfather,Nasiri’d-DinShah,hadorderedtheexecutionoftheBab,aswellasthetortureanddeathofthousandsofBabis.

‘Theyoungprincewas“bornagain”–aBaha’i”[9]

ItisalsoveryinterestingtonotethattheZillu’s-Sultan,oneday,cametoaskonequestion.Heasked,“Lookatme,myhatiscoveredwithdiamonds,mygarmentshaveallsortsofjewels,andyetwhenIwalkinthestreets,nobodylooksatmeorpaysanyattentiontome.Andyet,whenyouwalkinthestreetsandyouhavethesimplestgarmentintheworld,everyonemakeswayforyou.Theycometoyou.Therearealwayshundredsofpeopleatyourdoor.Iwanttoknowwhy.”

`Abdu’l-BaháknewhimandknewthatbecauseofhimmanyoftheBahá’íshadbeenputtodeath.Thereforehetoldhim,“YourHighness,willyousitdownalittleandIwilltellyouastory.”Theprincesatdown.ThenameofthatprincewasZillu’sSultán,thesonofNásiri’d-DínSháh.TheMastersaid:“Onceawisemanpassedthesquareofacertaintownandfoundoneoftherichestpeopleofthattowngloomyandsad,broodingoverhissorrowsinthecornerofthesquare.Hewenttohimandasked,`Whatisthematterwithyou?’Heanswered,`Ihaveenoughmoneytobethegreatestmerchantinthistown,butIamnotsatisfied.Iwanttobegreaterthanthat.’Thewisemansaid,̀ Forinstance,whatwouldyouliketobe?’Themerchantreplied,̀ Iwanttobethegovernorofthistown.’Thewisemansaid,̀ IfImakeyouthegovernorofthisprovince,notthetown,butthewholeprovince,willyoubesatisfied?Pleasesearchyourheartandgivemethetrueanswer.’Themanponderedandthensaid:`Honestly,Iwillnotbesatisfied. Iwant tobeaminister.’ `IwillmakeyouaMinister,butgivemeanotherhonestanswer,willyoubesatisfied?’Afterthat,hewantedtobeKingofthecountry,andthewisemansaid,`Iwillmakeyoutheking,willyouthenbehappyandsatisfied?Doyouwantanythingbeyondthat?’Themanreplied,`Afterthatthereisnothing.’`Abdu’l-Baháthensaidtotheprince,“YourHighness,Iamthatnothing”[10]

SlopesofMountCarmel

Itwasduringthisvisit,thattheBlessedBeauty,oneday,“asHestoodontheslopesofthatmountain”[1],pointedoutto`Abdu’l-Bahá,“thesitewhichwastoserveasthepermanentresting-placeoftheBáb,andonwhichabefittingmausoleumwaslatertobeerected”[1].

“Aneye-witnesshasexplainedthatwhileBahá'u'lláhwasfacingtheEastand'Abdu'l-BahátheWest,theTongueofGrandeurissuedinstructionstotheMastertoarrangethetransportationoftheremainsoftheBábfromPersiatotheHolyLandandtheirintermentinamausoleum

belowtheclumpofcypresstreesataspotwhichHeindicatedwithHishand”[5].Itisstatedthattherewere15cypresstreesatthattime,eachoneofwhichhadthesizeofafinger,castingatinyshadow[3].

Cypress groveon the south sideof theShrineof theBáb,whereBahá’u’lláh indicated to‘Abdu’l-Baháwhere theShrineof theBábwas tobebuilt,picture is fromtheearly1900s(imagefrommedia.Bahá’í.org)

TabletofCarmelandCaveofElijah

During this visit to Haifa, His last and most significant one. Bahá’u’lláh visited CarmeliteMonasteryandCaveofElijah.InDoorofHope[4],onecanreadthefollowing.

“OnedayHewentupthemountaintoitspromontory,andHistentwaspitchedafewhundredyardseastoftheCarmeliteMonasteryatabeautifulspotonwhatwasthenabareandbrushymountaintop”[4].

“…Ona summerday in1891, ‘whenHis tentwaspitched in thevicinityof theCarmeliteMonastery’,Bahá’u’lláhsummonedHisamanuensisandthenrevealed,inaclearloudvoice,thefirstportionoftheTabletofCarmel’, ‘remarkablefor itsallusionsandprophecies’.The‘forcefultoneofHisexaltedlanguagesoundedallaround,sothateventhemonks,withinthewallsofthemonastery,heardeverywordutteredbyHim.Suchwasthecommotioncreated

on that historical event, … the earth seemed to shake, while all those present wereoverpoweredbyHismightyandwondrousspirit’[4].

“InthecourseofthatsamedayBahá’u’lláh,`Abdu’l-Bahá,localbelievers,andPersianpilgrimsvisited the upper Cave of Elijah in the nearby CarmeliteMonastery. It was a day of raresignificance upon thatmountain-top,… the Prophetmade cogent reference to theWorldAdministrativeCentreoftheFaithsosoontocome.MindfulofthefutureneedtohaveagreatHouseofWorshipbefittingtheBahá’íWorldCentre,theGuardiansoughtthebestsite.TheplacehechosewasnotfarfromthewesterntipoftheCarmelandthemonastery[4].

“It isrecordedbyMirzaMuhammad-Javad-i-QazvinithatBahá’u’lláhvisitedthelowercavesometimeafterHisvisittotheCarmelitemonasteryandcave,therebyalsohallowingitforthegenerationstocome[4].

“Following Bahá'u'lláh's passing in May 1892, 'Abdu'l-Bahá came that summer to Haifa,liviningintheupperapartmentofthewesternbuildingnearthecavemouth.There,insorrowatthemachinationsoftheCovenant-breakersandinrelativeisolationatthiscoolspotbythesea,theMasterspentonemonthandHestayedthereinsubsequentyears”[4].

Afrokhteh[6]recountsthefollowinginhismemoirs.

“Havingat lastclearedthishurdleweweresetfreetocontinueourjourneyandthuswithheartsfilledwithgratitudeandlovefordivineprovidence,wesailedforBeirutandafterwardsforHaifa.OntheshipwemetseveralofthefriendsfromBaghdadandfinallyarrivedatourdestination.Inastateofgreatexcitement,spiritualattractionandwithaprayerfulattitudewealightedatHaifaintheearlyhoursoftheevening.

InHaifa,weweretoldthat'Abdu'l-BaháwasinseclusionattheShrineofElijahandonlytwoorthreeofthebelieverswerepermittedtoattainHispresence.ThisgeneralbanappliedtoeveryoneexceptfriendsfromIranwhohadreceivedspecificpermissionfrom'Abdu'l-Bahátomakethepilgrimage.Thishorrificnewsleftusshakenandgrieved,aswerealizedthattherebellionoftheCovenant-breakerswasmuchmorewidespreadandseriousthanwhathadbeenreportedtousinTehran.Atthesametime,ourdesireandlongingtoattainthepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahárobbedusofallpatience.

Sincewehadarrivedintheevening,wewereinformedthatourmeetingwiththeMasterhadbeenscheduledfortheafternoonofthefollowingday.WewerethentakentothehomeofHajiSiyyidTaqiManshadiwherewewerewelcomedandgreetedbyafewofthefriendswhovisitedusbriefly,afterwhichwewereassignedasmallroomforthenight.Myfellowtravellerwasamanofhumouranddevotionandsowepassedthenightchantingprayersandpoetry.

The following morning, Manshadi took us out for a stroll in the streets of Haifa. Whilesightseeing,westoppedandpurchasedsomenecessaryfooditemsandthenreturnedtothehouse.Asithadbeenseveraldayssincewehadenjoyedagoodmeal,wehastilypreparedaverylargeomelette,ofwhichweallategenerousportionscomplementedwithlotsofyogurt,

cheeseandamountainofbread.Ourstomachssatisfied,ourspiritsrevivedtoo;ourkneesstoppedshakingandourdevotiontotheCauseofGodfoundnewvigour.Oncerecoveredphysically,webegan to loseall patiencewithManshadi,who seemed less than serious inmakingthenecessaryarrangementsforustoattainthepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahá.

Atlast,afterhearingallthe"maybe"sand"Godwilling"s,wesetouttowardstheslopesofMountCarmel,arrivingattheShrineofElijahatdusk.Thecoolmountainair,combinedwithallthejoyandlongingofattainingtheMaster'spresence,hadelevatedourspiritstosuchalevel thatwe couldhearearthandheavenand indeedeverypieceof rockexclaiming "YaBaha'u'l-Abha!"

We had not climbedmore than a few steps up the slopewhen suddenly we beheld theluminouscountenanceoftheCentreoftheCovenantofGodwalkingdowntheslopeonanarrowtrack,headedtowardsthewideopenfields.

Once inHispresence,eachofus communicated inhisownway to theBelovedofhearts,expressionsofutterhumilityanddevotion.Withsmilesthatmeltedthehearts,andrepeatedwordsofwelcome,theMastertoldustogototheupperlevelandwaitforHim.Thereweretwosmall,modestly furnishedrooms,onefor 'Abdu'l-Baháandtheother for thepilgrims.Whattherewasinthewayofkitchenwareandbeddingconsistedofacopperpan,asmallgrill,twoplates,onetray,onequilt,asmallsamovarandtwoteacups.Therewasalsoaverycourteousyetagileten-year-oldIndianchildwhostoodreadytoassistinanywaywemightneed.Thisisallthattherewastofilltheneedsof'Abdu'l-BaháinHisseclusion.Alongwithtwoofthefriendsresident inHaifa,weenteredthepilgrimroom,satdown,andbegantoconversewhileteawasbeingserved.

WeweretoldagreatdealabouttheseditiousactivitiesoftheCovenant-breakers.Buttheyspokewithapprehension. Itwas clear that theywerenotpermitted to speakopenly, andbesides,theycouldnottakeusintotheirfullconfidenceasyet.ButatthesametimetheygaveusthejoyfulnewsofthegreatsuccessesinvariousteachingprojectsintheWest.Inanyevent,thesituationwassimilartotheoneinIran.

Abouttwohoursaftersunset,thepilgrimsfromIranandBaghdadweretakenindividuallyintothepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahá.Iwasthesecondtobesummoned.WithaburstofexcitementandspeedIenteredtheroom,andfoundmyselfbeforetheblessedpersonof'Abdu'l-Bahá.AsIfelltomykneesandplacedmybrowatHisfeet,mypent-uptearsofjoyandlongingwerefinallyreleased,andasIwept,HisgentlehandhelpedmetomyfeetandintoHisarms.Iwastransportedintoanotherworld,thehighestparadise.Andasmyspiritsoaredinthatspiritualatmosphere,HehelpedmetositonbentkneesjustoppositeHimasHebegantospeaktome.Ididnotcomprehendaword.

Thinknotthatwordscanpenetratemybeing,Iturnadeafearwhengoodadviceisoffered.

OnemomentIwasoverwhelmedbytheheavenlybeautyofthatwondrousCountenance,thenextIfeltshameandfearforanypastdeedsandconductunworthyofsuchsurroundings.WhoamI?Whereisthis?HowdidIeverbecomeworthytobepresentinthisheavenlyplace?

HowdidIeverbecomeworthyofreceiving,firsthand,theblessingsof'Abdu'l-Bahá?Suddenlyanotherthoughtinvadedthesemusings:Whatifthisisbutadream?WhatwillIdoifIawaketodiscoverthatthis,infact,hasbeenadream?AsthesethoughtsfilledmymindIcouldnotholdbackmytears,andbegantoweeploudly.Butagain,'Abdu'l-Bahá'sloveenvelopedandconsoledme.GraduallyIrecoveredmysensesandbegantolistenandcommittoheartthewordsoftheMaster.

AsHepacedthefloor,Hespoketome:"TheysaythatJonahwasswallowedbyafishandspent threedays in itsbelly. Thismeans that theonwardmarchof theCauseofGodwasdelayedforthreedays.ThisisalsothesamethreedaysthatJesusspentinheavenafterHisascensionandbeforeHisreturn."{19}

Ofcourse,thesearenotHisexactwords,buttheycontaintheirmeaningandessence.'Abdu'l-BahácontinuedHisutterances,impartingtomewordsofcounsel:

"IwishthefriendsofGodtogiveforthlightlikethislamp.TheSunoftheAbhaBeautyhasset,sothebelovedofGodmustshinebrightlyasthelamp."

Isaidtomyself.maymylifebesacrificedforthispresentandmanifestSun,whosewarmthandbrightnesscausemytearstoflowuncontrollably.Iwipeawaythetearswithmyfingertips,Otherwise the oncoming Caravan will surely sink in the tear-laden mud. With a glanceexpressingunquenchablethirst,IbeheldthewondrousfigureoftheincomparableBelovedandmyheartspokethewordsofSa'di:

Theeyesthatbeheldyoulikenedyoutothetallcypress-Considertheshortsightedwhoisblindtosuchbeauty.

Atlast,withthewords"GointhecareofGod",HedismissedmefromHispresence.Eachofthepilgrims,onebyone,weretakentoHispresenceandastheyemergedIcouldseeintheirfacesthesameemotionsthatdominatedmybeing:lostinutterwonderment,weepingonemomentandbreakingintojoyouslaughterthenext,astheytooktheirplacesinacorneroftheroom.”

References

[1]Effendi,S.,&Townshend,G.(1970).Godpassesby(p.38).Bahá'íPublishingTrust.

[2]Balyuzi,H.M.(1980).Baháʼuʼlláh,theKingofGlory.Ronald.

[3] Pazhuheshnameh Nr. 3 – p 85 Jamal-i-Qadam dar Haifa by Vahid Rafati(http://pazhuheshnameh.org/content/view/268/139/)

[4]Ruhe,D.S.(1983).Doorofhope:acenturyoftheBaháʻífaithintheHolyLand.GeorgeRonald.

[5]Taherzadeh,A..(1987).TheRevelationofBaha'u'llah.G.Ronald,Volume4,Chapter23

[6]Afroukhteh,Y.(2003).MemoriesofNineYearsin‘‘Akká.

[7]Afnán,M.H.MemoriesoftheBáb,Baháʾuʾlláh,andʿAbduʾl-Bahá.(trans.AhangRabbani).

[8]TabletsofBahá'u'lláhrevealedaftertheKitáb-i-Aqdas.Baha'iDistributionService,1978,page85.

[9]Honnold,A.(Ed.).(1997).Vignettes:FromtheLifeof'Abdu'l-Bahá.GeorgeRonald.[10] Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi, Austrialia 1969 (http://Bahá’í-library.com/faizi_australia_1969)