One time, God showed a man named 'Ali Khan a miracle. A miracle is something very wonderful that happens, but we can't understand how it happens. This miracle proved to ‘Ali Khan that the Báb was God's Prophet. This was a sign of God's love for 'Ali Khan.
At this time the Báb was in a terrible prison up in the mountains far from His home. His warden, the man who takes care of the prison, was this 'Ali Khan. He wouldn't let anyone come and see the Báb. This was a sad thing because so many people loved the Báb and they couldn't speak to Him or know if He was well. The Báb had only His secretary with Him, who would write down the Báb's precious Words as He spoke, and the secretary's brother who would buy things in the town.
There was a man who, because he loved the Báb very much, was called a Bábí. This man had traveled a long way just to see the Báb, but when he got to the town near the prison the warden wouldn't let him see the Báb. Not only that, he wouldn't let him sleep in the town. But this Bábí wouldn't give up. He wanted to see the Báb so much he stayed by the town and slept outside the gates.
The Báb knew about this Bábí. One day He told His secretary that the next day this Bábí would come into the prison to see them. His secretary was very surprised. How could he come into the prison? The warden wouldn't let anyone come in to see them!
The next morning very early, the warden 'Ali Khan was riding his horse outside of the prison. All of a sudden he saw the Báb standing outside by the river saying prayers. How did the Báb get out of the prison? He was very angry and he rode straight up to the Báb to ask Him how He got out and to make Him get back in.
But when he came near the Báb his heart was touched, he could feel that the Báb was very close to God in His prayers. Perhaps you know that when God's Prophet prays everyone near Him can feel these wonderful prayers in his heart. When the warden felt the power of these prayers he was afraid. He left the Báb alone and rode his horse very quickly to the prison. He was angry with the guards and he was going to ask them why they let the Báb out.
When he got to the prison door he saw that it was shut tight. When he yelled at the guards they were surprised; they said that no one had come out and that the Báb was still in His room.
The warden walked the long way to the Báb's room. All of the guards he met said that no one had come out. Finally he opened the door to the Báb's room and what did he find there? He found the Báb sitting quietly in His chair waiting for him. warden wondered, how could the Báb be in His room and outside at the same time?
The warden, 'Ali Khan, got on his knees before the Bá. He knew that this was a miracle from God and this was a special Prisoner.
He told the Báb how sorry he was that he had made His life difficult. From now on he would change and would do anything He, the Báb, wanted. 'Ali Khan now remembered the Bábí he had chased out of town. He got up and went as fast as he could. He brought this Bábí who had been sleeping outside of town to the Báb he loved so dearly.
It was a happy time. From then on the warden would do anything he could to help the Báb. Sometimes he would come and bring Him sweet things, or just listen to the wonderful voice of the Prophet of God. Don't you wish we were be able to listen to this Voice, to be near Him to feel His prayers in our hearts?
(by Susan Allen, The Brilliant Star magazine, Jan-Feb. 1985)
