Before Baha'u'llah
became a follower of the Báb, he had a home in the country, surrounded by many
acres of land, and a palace in the city of Tihran which had beautiful gardens
around it. To take care of all of this, many servants were needed, and one of
these was an African by the name of Isfandiyar. He was very happy to work for
Baha'u'llah and His family, and he did everything he could to please them. He was very fond of
the children -- 'Abdu'l-Baha, who was then about eight years old; Bahiyyih
Khanum, who was six; and the baby, Mirza Mihdi, who was only
two. He was also devoted to Asiyih Khanum, the children's beautiful young
mother.
When Baha’u’llah became known as a follower of the Báb, many
people who had pretended to be His friends, but who really envied Him, turned
against Him. They told the Shah that Baha’u’llah was his enemy, and that He was
secretly planning to become King Himself. Other people were against Baha’u’llah
because they thought that the teachings of the Báb were against their religion.
Finally Baha’u’llah was thrown into prison, although He had
done nothing to deserve it. His palace was broken into, and most of the
valuable furniture, rugs, pictures, and things were stolen. When this happened,
all the relatives of the family and all of the servants ran away, for fear they
might be attacked by the robbers, or that they might even be put into prison.
The only one who stayed to help Asiyih Khanum and the children was Baha’u’llah’s
brother, Mlrza Musa. He helped Asiyih Khanum to find a small house to rent in a
different part of the city, where Baha’u’llah’s enemies would not be likely to
find them, and they moved to it at night.
The enemies of Baha'u'llah tried to find Isfandiyar because they thought he knew all about Baha’u’llah and the Báb's other followers. They sent 150 policemen to look for him, but they did not find him.
One midnight Asiyih Khanum and the children were awakened by
a loud knocking at the door. They opened it fearfully, for they never knew when
their enemies would discover their hiding place. But there stood Isfandiyar!
Asiyih Khanum exclaimed, "How is it that you are still
in the city? Do you not know that there are 150 policemen looking for you.
Hurry away from the city as quickly as you can. If they find you, your life
will be in danged."
But Isfandiyar smiled and answered, "No, I will not leave Tihran, even if a
thousand policemen are after me. I am not afraid. I owe money to many
shopkeepers and before I leave
the city, I must pay off all my debts. I
do not want the people to say afterward that the Negro servant of
Baha'u'llah escaped without paying his debts."
Then Isfandiyar went away from the little house, and for a
month and a half, he walked in broad daylight in the streets and markets, and
finally succeeded in paying all his debts. All this time the policemen were
looking for him, but they did not catch him.
One night he went to Asiyih Khanum again and said, "Now
I have paid my debts and I can leave the city with a clear conscience."
Isfandiyar travelled a long way from Tihran to the province
of Mazindaran, and there the governor, who was not a Bábi, engaged him in his
service, and made him head of his stables, in which there were many fine
horses. There Isfandiyar was safe from his enemies.
Many years went by, and the governor, who was a truly
religious man, decided to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbila. He
took Isfandiyar with him, because he had grown so fond of his African servant
that he did not want to be separated from him. On their way to Karbila, they
passed through the city of Baghdad.
How joyful Isfandiyar was to learn that Baha’u’llah was
living in Baghdad, and he hurried to the presence of his former master, Whom he
loved greatly. He begged Baha'u'llah to accept him again as His servant, for he
would much rather serve Him than the governor.
But Baha’u’llah said that, while He would be very glad to
have Isfandiyar with him again, He could accept him only if the governor were
willing to release him. He said, "You owe the governor a debt of deep
gratitude, because at a time when your life was in danger, he gave you a
position and protected you from those who wished to harm you. If he wishes you
to stay with him, you must continue to serve him with the same sincerity and
devotion as you gave to us in the past."
But unfortunately for Isfandiyar's hopes, the governor would
not release him. He said, "It is impossible. I cannot find in this whole
world another man as honest and faithful as yourself. I have grown to love you
and will do everything I can to add to your comfort and happiness.”
Isfandiyar was heartbroken when the governor said this, but
he knew that he must do what Baha’u’llah told him to do. So he went back to
Mazindaran with the governor, knowing that he always had Baha'u'llah's prayers
for his welfare.
When 'Abdu'l-Baha told this story of Isfandiyar to some Baha'is
in Haifa, one of those who heard it said that the Master ended by saying:
"Isfandiyar was a
king among men; I cannot sufficiently praise him. He was a glory and a jewel on
the crown of the colored race, for his life was a noble record of achievement, and
the whole world may learn a lesson from it."
(Child’s Way, May-June 1979, Adapted from a story in Star of the West by Dr. Genevieve Coy)
