All the Bahá'ís of 'Akka knew that Bahá'u'lláh would soon
move from His home in 'Akka to the Mansion of Bahji out in the country. His
family was already there, making everything ready for Him. On the night that
Bahá'u'lláh was actually to move, Two Bahá'ís, Nabil and Hájí Muhammad Táhir,
were sitting by their window in 'Akka waiting for Bahá'u'lláh to pass by. They
treasured every glimpse of Him. When they saw Bahá'u'lláh riding by on His
white donkey, they decided to follow Him to the Mansion of Bahjí,
circumambulate it, and then walk back home.
To circumambulate means to walk around something. Bahá'ís
often circumambulate the holy places where Bahá'u'lláh has lived, saying
prayers as they walk. It is a sign of their love for Bahá'u'lláh.
Nabil and Hájí Muhammad Táhir followed quietly about fifty
steps behind Bahá'u'lláh all the way to Bahjí. When Bahá'u'lláh went inside the
Mansion, they came closer so they could walk on the footpaths close to the
Mansion's walls. They were amazed to see that the footpaths on all four sides
of the Mansion were crowded with people. They could hear their breathing and
their low voices. They could not get close to the Mansion but had to walk in
the muddy wheat fields surrounding it as they prayerfully circumambulated
Bahá'u'lláh's new home.
Nabil and Hájí Muhammad Táhir knew that no one else had come
from 'Akka to circumambulate the Mansion of Bahjí. No one was allowed to go.
Why, even they had come without permission! Then, they realized that these
people crowding around the Mansion were the souls of all the Prophets and
Messengers and the Concourse on High who were also circumambulating the new
throne of their Lord!
When the two returned to 'Akka, they stayed up all night,
keeping vigil. Nabil wrote many poems about Bahá'u'lláh, and about the souls
they had seen during their visit to Bahjí. When Bahá'u'lláh read the poems, He
was so pleased that He gave each man a new name. To Nabil He gave the title of
Bulbul (Nightingale) and to Hájí Muhammad Táhir He gave the title of Bahháj
(the Blissful).
(Written and illustrated
by Cindy Pacileo. Adapted from The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Vol. 4, by Adib
Taherzadeh; Brilliant Star magazine, May-June 1993)
