The Báb’s Childhood and Youth

The Qur'an Gate is a famous monument in Shiraz.In a prayer the
Báb said that here He experienced "the evidences of
Thy [God's] boundless grace"

If you want to get a message to a friend, you can easily text, call, or video chat. But sharing news wasn’t always so simple.

In Persia during the early 1800s, there was no electricity. It hadn’t been invented yet. People delivered letters on foot or by horse. And you were lucky if you even knew how to write a letter! Many people lived in poverty and couldn’t afford to go to school. Girls and women usually weren’t taught how to read and write.

Into this culture, a remarkable child was born on October 20, 1819, in Shíráz. His mother, Fátimih, and His father, Muhammad-Ridá, were descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. They named Him ‘Alí-Muhammad, but He later took the name “the Báb," which means “the Gate" in Arabic.

Serene and gentle, even as a baby, the Báb became known for His courteous and sweet character as He grew. His father died when He was young, and His uncle, Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí, loved and raised Him like his own son.

When the Báb went to school He showed such extraordinary knowledge that His teacher took Him home and told His uncle, "He, verily, stands in no need of teachers such as I.”

Shining Lamp: Mullá Husayn

Artistic conception of Mullá Husayn;
no known photos are available

"A secret lies hidden in that city," the Báb told Mullá Husayn, referring to Tihrán, Iran. The secret "shall turn the earth into paradise."

The Báb was a Messenger of God Who taught that another Messenger would come to bring an age of peace. He sent Mullá Husayn to teach the Bábí Faith in several cities, including Tihrán.

Mullá Husayn was born in northern Iran in 1813. When he was a young student, his family thought he would become a famous Muslim leader. But Mullá Husayn followed his own path. He found teachers who helped him prepare for the next Messenger of God. He was the first to believe in the Báb.

It was hard for Mullá Husayn to leave the Báb on his journey, but the Báb said that God's angels would be with him. In Tihrán, he learned of a man named Husayn-'Ali, Who was known for His love and service to others. Mullá Husayn sent Him the writings of the Báb, which Husayn-'Ali immediately knew were inspired by God. He sent a gift of sugar and tea in return. Mullá Husayn was filled with joy. Was this the secret the Báb had mentioned? Years later, Husayn-'Ali became known as Bahá'u'lláh, the Messenger of God promised by the Báb.

Mullá Husayn left Tihrán and continued teaching the Bábí Faith. Soon the Báb's enemies, upset about the new ideas He taught, complained to the government. The Báb was sent to Máh-Kú, a remote mountain prison. Mullá Husayn decided to visit Him—a journey of 1,200 miles (1,931 km). Though friends offered him carriages and horses, he answered, "I have vowed to walk the whole distance that separates me from my Beloved." On the way, he met Bahá'u'lláh face-to-face, though no one knows what was said.

The Dervish

A story from The Dawn-Breakers:

Sometimes we don’t say what we mean clearly in our words, but may show what we really mean in another way. When this happens, it takes someone of an unusual gift to understand. See what happened when Bahá’u’lláh met a dervish.

One day after Bahá’u’lláh had received the wonderful message of the Báb, He was riding in the countryside. At this time, no one knew that Bahá’u’lláh was the Great Prophet promised by the Báb. This was God’s secret to protect Bahá’u’lláh in His early years.

As Bahá’u’lláh was riding. He saw a very strange man. He was squatting down beside his fire, cooking. He was a dervish. Bahá’u’lláh greeted him very kindly and courteously and asked the man what he was doing.

The dervish answered, "I am eating God. I am cooking and burning Him.”

Although Bahá’u’lláh knew this was impossible, He didn't laugh. He was pleased. He saw that this man spoke simply and honestly from his own belief and desire to be near to God. Bahá’u’lláh loved this strange man. Gently and lovingly He spoke to him, and told the dervish about the true nature of God.

Although many people might think he was a fool, this dervish had a very pure heart. Bahá’u’lláh, being very wise, saw this. The dervish was deeply touched by the powerful spirit of Bahá’u’lláh. He forgot completely his own silly ideas when looking into the face of Bahá’u’lláh and listening to His words. He straightaway stood up, leaving his things behind him, and followed Bahá’u’lláh.

This dervish alone saw what no one else could see: that Bahá’u’lláh was a Prophet of God. As he followed Bahá’u’lláh on foot, he made up a poem:

Thou art the Daystar of Guidance.

Thou art the Light of Truth.

Unveil Thyself to Men,

O Revealer of the Truth.

As the man wandered in the countryside chanting, his poem became very famous. People from all around would learn it and repeat it. But they never knew his secret: this wonderful love-poem was about Bahá’u’lláh, the messenger of God for this day!

(by Susan Allen; Brilliant Star magazine March-April 1986)

The Wide Wide Universe

Have you ever wondered about how the universe started and where it is going? These are big questions that have puzzled people for thousands of years. These questions are hard to even think about because they involve very large distances and times. Many astronomers are busy studying this question in a special kind of astronomy called COSMOLOGY. And a funny thing is happening: the more the scientists know, the closer science and religion are coming together! This doesn’t surprise Baha’i children since we know you understand what our Faith says about how science and religion agree and are different ways of telling the truth.

Scientists have several different ideas about how the universe began. For a long time, the most popular theory was called “The Big Bang Theory”. The scientists who believe that this idea might be true say that billions of years ago, all the matter in the universe was in one small, closely-packed area. It was heavier than anyone could imagine. All this matter was so tightly packed together that the atoms bumped into each other so much and so fast that the matter was heated to a temperature of trillions of degrees. The mass of matter was so very hot that even the strongest force we know — the force that holds the nucleus of the atom together — was overcome. The nuclei of the atoms were ripped apart by this tremendous heat and motion, and finally this fireball of all the matter in the universe exploded in an event that scientists call “the big bang”. The exploded fireball cast its matter outward. The Big Bang Theory says that galaxies may have formed as the matter cooled, and that the galaxies will continue to fly apart until finally all of the hydrogen—the stuff stars are made of—will be used up and the universe will expand into cold, dark nothingness.

The Káshi

We are told that in the province of Káshán in Persia the people are very peace-loving, and so gentle are they that violence of any kind is enough to make them very frightened.

One day Bahá’u’lláh was making a journey and with Him was a Káshi, as these people are called. They were riding along the road in the dark, their donkeys going as fast as they could to reach the place where they were going to stay for the night. When the place was reached, they cast themselves down and slept, for the journey had been long and they were very tired. 

Next morning when the Káshi awoke, he saw that the donkey on which he had been riding was saddled with a tiger skin. So timid was he that the thought of riding on a tiger skin made him very much afraid, and he would not ride on the donkey again but chose another instead.

When Bahá’u’lláh and the Káshi resumed their journey, news was brought to them that several hundred men were coming to kill them, for as you know, Bahá’u’lláh had a great many enemies. The Káshi was terribly afraid, but Bahá’u’lláh told him to buckle a large sword round his waist. 

"Who, me?" answered the Káshi, shaking with fear, 

"Yes, you, My friend,’’ answered Bahá’u’lláh.

So, although he was very afraid, he buckled on a large sword for who could disobey such a Master? 

The Káshi was very small and the sword very long. When he tried to walk he nearly fell down, for the long sword kept getting between his legs. 

Soon the enemy came in sight, shouting fierce cries and waving their swords and guns.

"What now, Master?" asked the little man, still shaking with fear. 

"You must go and defeat them," he was told.

The Ocean of Knowledge

When Baha’u’llah was twenty-one years old, His father passed away and the Government wanted Him to take up His father’s position in the Ministry, as was customary in Iran. But Baha’u’llah did not accept the offer. The Prime Minister then said : “Leave Him to Himself. Such a position is unworthy of Him. He has some higher aim in view. I cannot understand Him, but I am convinced that He is destined for some lofty career. His thoughts are not like ours. Leave Him alone.”

Once when Baha’u’llah was quite young He travelled to Nur, a district of Mazindaran where His relatives lived. There is a village in Nur, by the name of Takur, and Baha’u’llah's father owned vast property there. It was here that the family spent most of their summers.

In those days, there was a religious teacher named Muhammad Taqi. He was very famous for his knowledge of religion and his students were proud of having him as their teacher.

One day in his class of about 200 students, Muhammad Taqi read an Islamic tradition and asked his students to interpret it. None of them could answer correctly. Baha’u’llah, who was also present, asked permission to explain the tradition and did so in very simple and sweet words. Everyone was astonished. Muhammad Taqi was very upset at the weakness of his own students. When Baha’u’llah left, the teacher told his students that it was a shame that after all these years of study not one of them was capable of answering, and the Youth (Baha’u’llah) who had never attended any school gave the meaning so simple and beautifully. Of course Muhammad Taqi was not aware of the fact that Baha’u’llah was not an ordinary person and therefore His knowledge and understanding were not ordinary either. He had innate divine knowledge.

The Puppet Show

From His childhood Baha’u’llah showed extraordinary intelligence and understanding. He noticed many things, and understood points that even the elders had never thought of. For instance, while still very young, He attended His older brother’s wedding. According to the custom of those days they had celebrations for seven days and seven nights. On the last night there was a puppet show, and many important guests had come to see it. Baha’u’llah too was present.

As the curtain went up, a few dolls entered and announced that King Salim was about to come. Many other dolls entered the stage with much excitement and made a show of welcoming the King. Some swept the floor, others sprinkled water on the path and a few more rolled out a beautiful carpet. There was a general air of excitement and all the people were moving about swiftly trying to keep everything in order.

Just then the announcer entered once more to say that everyone should prepare themselves to hail the King. The whole court stood up. At last king Salmi entered with great majesty and splendor. He was dressed in magnificent clothes; a beautiful crown rested on his head; he had many ornaments round his neck and fingers, and held a jewelled sceptor in his hand. As he entered, the sound of guns and trumpets was heard. The King walked slowly and grandly towards his throne and sat down while the entire court bowed in awe and respect.

Some guards then entered, leading a thief, and waited for the King’s command. The King ordered for the thief to be beheaded. Immediately an executioner came forward and obeyed the King’s command. Blood, in the form of red fluid, started to gush out of the puppet's neck.

The Báb’s short stay in Isfahán

In September 1846, after being banished from His home in Shíráz, Persia (now Iran), the Báb set out for Isfahán, a city known for its wise religious leaders. Its governor was Manuchihr Khán, a trusted friend of the sháh. As He neared the city the Báb wrote to the governor, who insisted He be warmly welcomed.

In Isfahán, visitors flocked to see the Báb, Who was a guest in the home of the chief priest. Even the governor met Him and was impressed by His wisdom and insight. But people’s respect and admiration for the Báb led to jealousy among many of Isfahán’s religious leaders. First, they began to spread false rumors about Him. Then they signed a letter calling for His execution.

When the governor learned of this threat to the Báb’s life, he created a plan to protect Him. He ordered 500 guards to escort the Báb to Tihrán. He wanted religious leaders, the people of Isfahán, and almost all of the guards to believe that the Báb was being exiled. But the governor never intended to send Him away. He told his 10 most trusted guards to bring the Báb back to Isfahán in secret.

The Báb stayed in Isfahán for several months as an honored guest of the governor, who became a Bábí. When he expressed concern about the Bab’s future safety, the Báb told him, "Fear not I have committed Myself into the hands of God. My trust is in Him."

The governor longed to help the Báb spread His message, but he became sick and passed away. The sháh learned that the Báb was still in Isfahán and asked to meet with Him.

But the sháh’s prime minister was afraid of losing his own power. He told the sháh that the Báb was dangerous, and convinced him to change his plans. The sháh exiled the Báb to Máh-Kú, an isolated castle in the mountains of Persia. These men thought that sending Him away would end His influence.

The long and challenging path to Máh-Kú took the Báb and His guards through the city of Tabríz. As the Báb entered, people crowded the streets in their eagerness to see Him. The city rang with their cries of ‘Alláh-u-Akbar," meaning ‘God is the Most Great.’

The Báb stayed in Tabriz for about 40 days before finishing His journey to Máh-Kú. He spent the final three years of His life banished to remote regions of Persia. Though He was in prison, the power of His message continued to spread as He revealed writings that guided His followers and prepared them for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh. 

(Brilliant Star magazine, vol. 50, no. 4, 2018)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s meeting with children in Esslingen, Germany, April 4th, 1913

The believers had secured a very pretty hall, which was most beautifully decorated with greens, plants and flowers, with large and small tables near the walls and round tables in the center. About fifty children and eighty adults were present. In a smaller room adjoining the hall the children had been assembled holding flowers in their hands, forming two lines for ‘Abdu’l-Baha to pass through. It looked most beautiful as ‘Abdu’l-Baha came upstairs. He passed through a short hall and looked so pleased and delighted to see the dear children.

One of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Easter attendants was overcome with feelings: "I was overcome with surprise, emotion and joy, and could not contain myself; the tears filled my eyes. It was the most beautiful, the most heavenly, the most artistic picture that I have ever seen in all my life. It was so beautiful! I cannot describe these things; one must feel them, see them. It was a glorious day for these believers, in a far-away town in Germany, to see with their own eyes the Beloved of all nations. What love! What attraction! What enkindlement these German believers have!”

The children handed ‘Abdu’l-Baha their flowers as He came to them and greeted them. When ‘Abdu’l-Baha's hands were full, He handed the flowers to one of His Persians attendants, and went up one side and down the other. Then He gave them small boxes of chocolates and bon-bons. They were radiantly happy. Then He spoke to them, saying:

The Prisoner with power

Julie felt it happening. Surprising things often happened during Baha’i class that made her heart race fast. And it was happening again—ARRRGH! YAAAAAHHEE! - Julie’s heart was racing a zillion beats a minute as she struggled with some heavy chain she was trying to break apart with her bare hands!

Each of the kids in the class had a piece of chain they were trying to break. Yells and grunts filled the air as they pulled at the chain with all their might. Gradually they got tired and fell to the floor, panting and giggling.

“So, kids, who was able to break one of the chains?” asked Ms. Bates, their teacher.

The class laughed, because no one had been able to do it. “It's really hard,” Willie said to the teacher “I don’t think anyone could do it, not even a grown up like you, Ms. Bates."

Ms. Bates picked up a piece of chain and struggled to break it, but had no success either. She held the chain up for everyone to see. “You’re right, Willie, I can’t do it either; none of us can. But Baha’u’llah did do something like breaking a chain—in fact. He did something even more amazing.”

“‘Abdu’l-Baha says that one of the most important ways we can know that Baha’u’llah was a Prophet of God is that prisons and chains could not stop Him,” Ms. Bates continued. “Although He was always a prisoner to the end of His life, He was not really in prison.”

Now Julie’s heart was really racing. It was like a riddle—How could you be a prisoner and yet not in prison? Julie thought, “What is Ms. Bates talking about?”

“Although not always in chains, Baha’u’llah was a prisoner for most of His adult life,” Ms. Bates said. “In fact, the cruel king who sent Baha’u’llah to prison never wanted Baha’u’llah to go free. The king wanted Baha’u’llah to be kept in prison forever, always with a guard near Him and never having visitors. The king’s plan was for Baha’u’llah to be so locked up that everyone would forget about Him. He thought that prison and chains could stop people from loving Baha’u’llah and wanting to learn from Him.”

“But the king made a mistake, didn’t he, Ms. Bates?” Stuart said, dropping his chain with a loud chunk.

God’s Will

[We must realize that everything which happens is due to some wisdom and that nothing happens without a reason. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Paris Talks’)]

"I wish that car would go faster!" Alain muttered, his hands gripping the steering wheel. "We’ll be late for Feast!"

Papa shrugged. "Perhaps it is God’s will."

Alain glanced at Papa in disbelief. "Why would God want us to be late for Feast?”

"Sometimes it’s hard to understand the will of God," Papa told him. "Did I ever tell you about the brothers from the city of Mashad in Persia?"

Alain relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.

Papa began, “Sháhvirdí and his brother ‘Azíz were merchants. Sháhvirdí was a Bahá’í, but his brother was not. Together they traveled throughout Persia. Although they sold little of their merchandise, they were always greeted warmly by the Bahá’ís in each town. Nevertheless, ‘Azíz wanted nothing to do with this "new" Bahá’í religion.

"‘Azíz worried much of the time. He worried that they would never sell their goods and return to Mashad. He worried that they would be robbed by the bandits that hid along the roads.

"When ‘Azíz expressed his concerns, Sháhvirdí would calmly answer, ‘Inshá’lláh! (God willing) Then he would return his gaze to the books that he read — books that he kept like a treasure in their own case.

Chicago Temple: - The stone that was rejected by the builder

In the grand city of Chicago, near the site of a building under construction, in a pile of stones beside a wall, rested an ordinary stone with a special destiny. The stone was not aware of the windy rains and the warming sunshine that brought spring to Chicago. It was not aware of the journey it would soon take this particular spring, in the year 1912.

This stone was one of many that had been delivered to the construction site. Who knows how many days it had laid ready to be used by the builder? Who knows how many times the hands of the builder passed over this stone and reached for another one?

There came a time when the stone was piled near the wall with the other rejected stones. Who knows why the stone was not used? Maybe it was too large or too small. Maybe it was the wrong shape or the wrong color. Maybe it was chipped or broken. We don’t know why the stone was not chosen by the builder, but it was not.

Many people lived in Chicago in 1912 and some of them must have passed by the building site. Nettie Tobin did. She was a Bahá’í who lived nearby.

Nettie had heard that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, whom she called the Master, was coming from way across the ocean to visit North America. He was traveling to Wilmette, Illinois, which is very near Chicago, where Nettie lived. He was coming to dedicate the land where the first Bahá’í House of Worship of the western hemisphere was to be built. Nettie knew it was important to begin building a House of Worship in this part of the world.

Spirit-Arrows

Autumn was in the air in Ontario! The breeze tasted crisp and clean to Jim as he ran across his Family's farmland to the edge of the field. His short legs scrambled up the fence, and he balanced himself carefully on the top.

Before him the railroad track stretched out forever across the land. The birds called loudly as they wheeled and swooped, winging their way south before the sun-warmed winds turned freezing and brought snow.

In the distance, a faint clack-clacking could be heard. It grew louder, and louder, and every once in a while, Jim could hear the howl of a train whistle. He looked far down the track and saw a grand puff of smoke, and finally the train came into view.

Such a long and handsome train! Jim watched as car after car passed by -- many more cars than he could count.

Suddenly, his eye was drawn to a figure in flowing, white robes. To Jim’s delight, the man in the robes began smiling and waving at him! In his excitement, Jim toppled right off of the fence!

That young boy was Alfred James Loft, a Mohawk Indian, and I’m sure that you've guessed who that man in the long robes was! ’Abdu'l-Bahà...

That September afternoon was Jim’s earliest memory - perhaps like you remember your grandmother's kitchen, or the first day at school. But isn't it strange to think that Jim didn’t even know about the Baha’i Faith until he was grown up and married, with children of his own, and his wife Melba became a Baha’i.

Although he had moved away from his Tyendanaga, Ontario home before he became a Baha’i, Jim returned there at Shoghi Effendi's request to share the message of Baha’u’llah with the members of his own tribe.

Ásíyih Khánum – Bahá'u'lláh's wife and “companion in every one of His worlds”

Resting place of Ásíyih  Khánum
and son Mirza Mihdi

Many people loved Bahá'u'lláh when He was alive. Pilgrims traveled far distances just to look at His face. One person who devoted her whole life to Baha'u'llah was his wife, Ásíyih Khánum.

Ásíyih Khánum married Bahá'u'lláh when she was very young. She spent 50 years with Him. She served the poor with Him in the early years of their marriage. She climbed the mountains and walked for months when they were banished to far-off cities. She raised His children, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahíyyih Khánum and Mirzá Mihdí. She waited when He went off for two years to pray. She stayed steadfast when enemies of the Faith tried to harm it. She sneaked food to Him in prison, taking her own life in her hands to save His. 

Bahá'u'lláh said that she was to be "His companion in every one of His worlds." He said that she had an exalted station.

And through all of the hardships, the imprisonments, the exiles, the uncertainties, she remained steadfast and devoted to her blessed Husband. This is how she showed her love.

Her daughter, Bahíyyih Khánum, said she was "queenly in her dignity and loveliness, full of consideration for everybody, gentle, of a marvelous unselfishness, no action of hers ever failed to show the loving-kindness of her pure heart; her very presence seemed to make an atmosphere of love and happiness wherever she came." 

Her life was simple and uncluttered. She showed her love by her virtuous actions, not only to Bahá'u'lláh, but to everyone she met. For herself, she did not need much.

Her granddaughter, Túbá Khánum, shared this memory:

"Her tiny room was simple and bare -- the narrow white bed, which was also the divan (sofa) in the daytime; a very small table, on which was her prayer and other holy books, her qalam-dan (pen case), and leaflets for writing; there was also her rosary, sometimes a flower in a pot and lastly an old painted box holding her other frock and her other under-garment.

"My eyes will always see her in her blue dress, with a white niqáb on her head, and little black slippers on her tiny feet. Her sweet, smiling face, and her rapt expression, as she chanted prayers in her musical voice." 

(Brilliant Star, March-April 1998)

Badí’s Sacrifice

Badí was the name given to Aqá Buzurg by Bahá'u'lláh. It means "the Wonderful". Bahá'u'lláh didn't just hand out names without reason. Badí, at only 17, so loved Bahá'u'lláh, that he walked 1600 miles to deliver a letter to the Sháh of Persia. When he arrived with the letter, he was tortured and killed.

But Badí wasn't always what could be called "wonderful". In fact, he was a disappointment to his father, Hájí Abdu'l-Majíd. He didn't obey. He led a wild life. He was unruly - that means he didn't behave or respect his father's way of life.

Hají Abdu'l-Majíd was a Bahá'í, a follower of the new religion. Aqá Buzurg followed Islam, and thought his father was wrong to put his faith in a Prisoner.

One day a man named Nabíl came to see the family. He talked to Hají Abdu'l-Majíd and comforted him. Then Nabíl asked him to send Aqá Buzurg to him. Nabíl told him things about Bahá'u'lláh's sufferings. He read verses from a long poem by Bahá'u'lláh telling of His tribulations.

Aqá Buzurg burst into tears. He cried and prayed all through the night. He didn’t sleep. Instead he read the Holy Verses and became afire with the love of God.

Aqá Buzurg set out soon after that to go to the Holy Land. It was his greatest wish to be in the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. Along the way he carried water for the friends as they were moved from town to town. He walked all the way across the country, from Yazd to Baghdad to Mosul, to the waters of the Mediterranean, to 'Akka. Take a look at a map. This is a long way!

When he reached 'Akka, he slipped past the guards at the gate because he was still dressed as a water boy. Once inside, he went to a mosque to pray and found 'Abdu'l-Bahá there. He passed a note to 'Abdu'l-Bahá and that night he was able to visit Bahá'u'lláh in prison.

Aqá Buzurg had the honor of two meetings with Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh wrote that in him "the spirit of might and power was breathed." He became Badí - the Wonderful. Then Bahá'u'lláh gave him the task that lots of older and more experienced Baháís had hoped to perform. He allowed Badí to deliver the Tablet to the Sháh of Persia. Bahá'u'lláh also gave him a special Tablet that told him the risks involved in this task and how important delivering the Tablet to the Sháh was to the Cause of God.

Even though Badí knew that he would most likely be killed at the end of his trip, he was full of joy, laughter, gratitude and forbearance. His love for Bahá'u'lláh was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice his own life. 

(Brilliant Star, March-April 1998)

The old man and the king – a story told by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

A great king walking in his garden one day noticed an old man, about 90 years old, planting some trees. The king asked what he was doing and the old man answered that he was planting date seeds.

The king was pleased at this answer, so rewarded the old man some money. The gardener fell on his knees and thanked him.

This so pleased the king, he gave him another piece of money.

Again, the old gardener knelt saying:

This pleased the king so very much that perforce he gave the old man another piece of money, saying:

(From 'Star of the West', vol. 9. no. 18; 'Child’s Way' magazine, January-February 1980)

The “Truth” is out there

“Roya and Lanie," Mama called, "The treasure hunt is ready. I'm really excited about starting our Baha'i lesson for today."

"Treasure hunt? Are we looking for diamonds and rubies and pearls?" Lanie squeaked as her eyes widened with surprise.

"No, Honey. We're going to do some investigating," answered Mama.

"Hey, Sherlock Holmes investigated all the time!" Roya said as she went to find her detective hat in the costume box.

Lanie ran to the box and put on her plastic hard hat. "This will be my investigating hat!"

"You two certainly look ready to get started," said Mama. "Here's how the treasure hunt goes. In each room we enter, you'll find a letter card hidden. After we've found all five letters in five different rooms, we'll see what they spell."

"Will they spell g-o-l-d?" Lanie asked.

Mama laughed and gave her a hug. "You do love jewelry, don't you? You'll be looking for a treasure that is more precious than the biggest diamond in the world!"

In the living room, the girls searched and searched, and begged Mama to tell them where the letter card was hidden. "You must do this independently, my treasure hunters, and that means searching for yourselves. I won't tell you where it is, but I will help you think about it. The card isn't on anything - it's in something."

After some more investigating' Lanie opened the cover of a prayer book and called out, "I found it! It's the letter R!"

"My turn now!" called Roya as she raced into the den. "This one's easy! I see the letter T resting on top of the globe."

The girls searched everywhere for more letters, and Mama helped them investigate by giving clues when Roya and Lanie weren't sure where to look. At the end of their search, the girls looked at the cards.

"Hmm," mumbled Roya to herself, "R-U-T-H-T. . . That doesn't spell anything, Mama."

"Try moving the letters around until they make sense," hinted Mama.

"I see it!" cried Lanie. "It spells truth!"

Warden of the Báb witnesses a miracle

The Báb was a Prophet of God. He was sent by God to teach us how to live, and so, He was perfect. Are we perfect? We all know that children and even moms and dads are not perfect and we sometimes make mistakes. God sent us the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh so that we could learn to be better and better. Here is an example of one such case:

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!

Stories from the childhood of Shoghi Effendi

As the neighborhood was preparing for the Muslim Fast of Ramadan, one household near the prison of 'Akka was already celebrating a happy event. Diya'iyyih Khanum, the eldest daughter of 'Abdu'l Baha, and Mirza Hadi Shirazi had a new son. The date was March 1, 1897.

The proud Grandfather, 'Abdu'l-Baha, gave the name of Shoghi Effendi to the little boy. He said that everyone should use the title "Effendi", which means "mister" or "sir", as a term of respect for the new child, even his parents. The name Shoghi means "the one who longs". In one tablet written for Shoghi Effendi, 'Abdu'l-Baha asks that he may yearn for the Kingdom of God and soar into the realms of the unseen!

One morning, Shoghi Effendi woke up to the crowing of roosters. The sun was just dawning over the tops of the sun-baked roofs of the town. He and the other children of the household rushed to 'Abdu'l-Baha's room for prayers. The children sat on the floor, their legs folded under them and their arms folded across their breasts in great respect. When asked, they would chant for 'Abdu'l-Baha "O my God! 0 my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose ..." they sang. There was no shouting or unseemly conduct.

Then the family had breakfast. The ladies served the hot, sweet tea in little glasses. On the low table was pure wheat bread and gleaming white goat's milk cheese. "May I please have some more tea?" asked one of the little cousins of Shoghi Effendi. "Thank you;' she replied when served.