Collection 1

November 7, 2018

At the Prison Gates

'Abdu'l-Rahim was a fanatical Muslim. He was alarmed. The Baha'i Faith was growing in his town in Persia and he decided that it was time to ask the advice of a Muslim clergyman. Being a fanatic, as many were, the clergyman assured 'Abdu'l-Rahim that to kill the Baha'is would certainly please God.  

'Abdu'l-Rahim then decided that he would kill some Baha'is. Not only would he rid the world of these infidels, he thought, but he'd gain a place in heaven as well. So, one day he armed himself with a weapon and went to confront an older believer whose name was Haji Bábá.  

"I've come to kill you, Haji Bábá, because you are a Baha'i. You are a disgrace to Islam!"  

To 'Abdu'l-Rahim’s surprise Haji Bábá did not seem the least upset. Instead he replied calmly and lovingly. It was certainly not what 'Abdu'l-Rahim’s expected. He wanted to kill at least one Baha'i, but instead he found himself listening to the words of the old man. Quite against his will, 'Abdu'l-Rahim became interested.  

After a while, Haji Bábá took 'Abdu'l-Rahim to a meeting. It was in the house of Mulla Husayn's sister. (Perhaps you remember that Mulla Husayn was the first to believe in the Báb.) You have been to firesides I suppose? Well, this one lasted one day and one night! At the end of this meeting, 'Abdu'l-Rahim was not only a Baha'i, but a Baha'i who was on fire with the love of God. He was so charged that he could no longer bear to stay in his town. He had learned that the Manifestation of God, God's Prophet for this age, was actually on this earth and 'Abdu'l-Rahim longed to see His Face.  

'Abdu'l-Rahim set out for the prison of Akka on foot. He walked weary miles on foot. He walked weary miles with a glad heart. He walked through cold and heat, rain and snow. He walked for six months. Finally, he arrived at the city of his heart, the dusty, parched city of Akka, where God had placed His Most Glorious Treasure, Baha'u'llah.  

Unfortunately, 'Abdu'l-Rahim arrived in the early days of Baha'u'llah's imprisonment. The gates were watched carefully and anyone suspected of being a Baha'i was turned away. Outside the city 'Abdu'l-Rahim met the celebrated, long suffering Nabil, who many times had tried to get in to catch a glimpse of that Beloved Face. But Nabil had failed and was patiently waiting for a time when he might enter.

There were many like 'Abdu'l-Rahim who had walked that weary road only to arrive and be turned away, their only consolation being a wave of Baha'u'llah's hand from a distant window. With this small wave of a handkerchief shining bright against the crumbling walls, they cheered their hearts and returned to their homes. Not 'Abdu'l-Rahim. He was determined to see Baha'u'llah.

He left Nabil and went to the sea to wash his clothes, soiled from the long journey. But after they were washed and dried, he found that they were shabby, shrunken and torn. He put them on, because that was all he had and, with a heart full of hope and love, he began to circle the prison.

To his astonishment, after a short time, he noticed a hand signaling to him from the prison window. It was the hand of Baha'u'llah motioning him to enter the prison!  

Enter the prison! Wasn't it impossible?  'Abdu'l-Rahim obeyed. He approached the gates fully prepared to be turned away, but he found instead that the guards were motionless, without life. They seemed not to see him and as he entered, they didn't move an eyelid.  

With what joy 'Abdu'l-Rahim entered the presence of Baha'u'llah!

No matter how many miles we may walk on this earth, we, in this time, will never have this joy. We can only imagine. We can enter His Shrine, lay our heads on His   Threshold and humble ourselves before Him, but that gentle Hand will never touch our brow and that mighty Voice will never reach our ears. This is a joy reserved for those chosen few whose stories will forever inspire us.  

In the days that 'Abdu'l-Rahim stayed with Him, Baha'u'llah revealed a Tablet for him. In it He says that He had closed the eyes of the guards so that 'Abdu'l-Rahim could enter. Baha'u'llah gave him a new name and told him to tell his experiences to the believers in Persia. When 'Abdu'l-Rahim left, He gave him other Tablets to   deliver to the Baha'is of Persia.  

On his journey back, 'Abdu'l-Rahim stopped in Baghdad. As he was walking in the bazaar, some soldiers spotted him and became suspicious. They decided to follow him and arrest him. What could 'Abdu'l-Rahim do? His precious parcel with the Tablets of Baha'u'llah would be taken from him and perhaps destroyed. If they were found, perhaps he would be killed.

'Abdu'l-Rahim had no time for reflection. He took the parcel from his pocket and, trusting in God, threw it into the nearest shop. As he did this, he begged Baha'u'llah to protect the Tablets.

The soldiers arrested him but soon after decided that this was a man of God and let 'Abdu'l-Rahim go. They even gave him a small sum of money for the trouble they had caused him. 'Abdu'l-Rahim looked at the money and thought, "You took from me the most precious of all things in the world, the Tablets, and gave me instead a few coins!"  

He returned to the bazaar, deeply worried about the Tablets. He walked up and down past the shop several times and occasionally stood near it and looked inside. Nothing happened. It was getting late, and finally, when there were no more customers around, 'Abdu'l-Rahim went near the shop again. The shopkeeper beckoned him to enter and when he did he found himself embraced warmly and greeted with ''Allah-u-Abha!'' [God is the Most Glorious]

His treasured parcel was thrust into his hands. Who was this man? He was one of the few Baha'is left in Baghdad and out of hundreds of shops in the bazaar, his was the only one owned by a Baha'i!   

With grateful hearts both men thanked God, for this was indeed a miracle.

'Abdu'l-Rahim stayed on a few days, met some of the Baha'is, and then he left for Persia, visiting several towns, delivering the Tablets and telling of his pilgrimage.  

When 'Abdu'l-Rahim arrived in his native town, he was a flame of fire that Baha'u'llah had kindled. The radiance of his face and the force of his words were evident. He taught the Faith fearlessly and in a short time the Muslim fanatics drove him out. He then settled in another town.  

Some years later Baha'u'llah honored an old faithful believer with an invitation to visit Him in Akka. As he was very old, Baha'u'llah asked that a trustworthy Baha'i accompany him. The Baha'is could not decide who to send, so they drew lots. 'Abdu'l-Rahim’s name was chosen. In this way, he was again allowed to enter the Presence of the Blessed Beauty. When they arrived, Baha'u'llah told them that when He had said a "trustworthy" Baha'i, he had actually meant this devoted   believer, 'Abdu'l-Rahim. 

(by Susan Allen; illustrated by Keith Kresge; adapted from ‘The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, Volume 3, by Adib Taherzadeh; Brilliant Star, July-August 1987)