In a little Persian town named Yazd, in a simple house on a
narrow street, lived a man named Abbas. Every day, when it was time for his
prayers, Abbas would go into his small garden, spread his rug, and offer thanks
to Baha'u'llah for all his blessings.
For Abbas believed he had received many blessings. He had a
fine house, though small, a good wife, a fine son, and a lovely daughter.
What's more, Abbas had gifted hands. He was a carpenter and woodwright and,
after he saw a chest or table or chair in his mind's eye, he could transform a
pile of rough lumber into miracles. Every chair wrought by his hands was sought
after by his neighbors and customers, tor it was sure to be sturdy, smooth as
silk, and best of all, comfortable. Though he was not a rich man, Abbas'
neighbors counted him as wealthy for the beautiful pieces of furniture, wrought
by his own hand and carved with flowers and birds, even inlaid with mosaic made
of ivory and teak, which filled his home. His work was truly his worship, for
Abbas sought to glorify his Creator with each piece of furniture, and each
chair or cabinet was like one of his own children, born of his love for the
potential in the wood.
Abbas was a thrifty man, and he was steadily increasing his
savings. Every payment he received for his work, he divided in three - one part
for his family's needs, one part for God, and one part for his savings. His
savings were there to protect against illness or misfortune and, if God was
gracious, would someday be enough for him to make a pilgrimage to the Shrines
of the Báb and Bahá'u’lláh in the Holy Land. This was Abbas' most heartfelt
wish - to be able to make that journey with his wife and children.
But revolution was brewing in Iran. The king was cast out of the country and the priests were in power. They claimed that the Baha'is were heretics and traitors.
Then trouble came to Yazd. First some Baha'is lost their
jobs. Some Baha'i homes were looted and burned. Then the members of the Local
Spiritual Assembly were arrested and sentenced to death.
Abbas prayed to understand these strange events. And then,
as if in answer to his prayers, Yusefi came. Yusefi was a mason, a
rough-mannered man whose greatest pride lay in his having carried a gun in the
Revolution. This gun he had found in the gutter and carried proudly, though he
really knew nothing of how to shoot.
Yusefi came to Abbas' door, shouting, "Open up! Orders
of the Komiteh [committee in Persian]! "
Abbas greeted Yusefi, "Peace be on you, my brother. Can
I be of service?"
''I'm here to get your beds," said Yusefi. "The
Komiteh needs beds, and the Baha'is must give up their beds for the Cause of
the Revolution. Heretics are not permitted to keep their beds."
"Just our beds?" asked Abbas. "But to give up
our beds is no sacrifice. We are prepared to give up our lives for our faith.
You wish only material things and nothing of true value?"
"What are you talking about?" said Yusefi.
"Don't argue with me - just give me the beds! "
And so Abbas helped Yusefi to carry his beautiful beds to
his truck. Many of the Baha' of that district looked on, wondering what could
be happening to cause Abbas to give away his beautiful beds. Yusefi climbed
into his truck and carried away the beds.
The next morning the Baha’i district was abuzz with the news
of Yusefi's visit. And some interesting changes were occurring among the
Baha'is themselves. That evening, Yusefi came again. Abbas was ready to welcome
him. "Won't you come in to have some tea?" he asked.
"Tea?" said Yusefi. “Forget the tea! I 'm here for your tables and chairs! Unless, of course, you would like to decide to become a member of the true Faith and give up your heresy."
"Your true faith and mine are but one," answered Abbas, "but I am quite willing to give up my tables and chairs, not for the Komiteh, but for God."
And so Abbas again as assisted Yusefi in carrying out his furnishings.
Abbas' neighbor Iraj came out to help, and soon two other
Baha’i youth came to assist.
"If it is tables you need," said Iraj, "why
don't you take this one of mine?"
Abbas was aware of how long he himself had worked to make
that elegant table and of how much Iraj had wanted to have it. He smiled at
Iraj.
Yusefi stared at Iraj's table, the entire surface a
sparkling mosaic, and his eyes gleamed with greed. "Give it here," he
said, and he loaded it into the truck with the rest and drove off.
After he left, all the Baha'is who had been watching from
their windows came out to congratulate Abbas and Iraj on their courage and
boldness in speaking to the ill-mannered Yusefi. They laughed together at their
own fears and prayed together to be strong when the next such injustice would
occur.
And come again it did. For when the morning came, all of the
Baha’is were ready when they heard the sound of Yusefi's truck.
"Salaam, agaye-Yusefi," [hello, mr. Yusefi] they
all called. "Won't you come to visit with me?"
"No, here," called another. "I would enjoy the honor of a visit from Yusefi."
Yusefi looked around. At every house there were chairs and
tables, blankets and pots, apparently waiting to be loaded up.
"I know what you are doing!", he called to Abbas.
"You think you can all move away and I won't find you, but you are
mistaken. You cannot escape from me!"
"You are mistaken, my friend," said Abbas.
"All of these furnishings are here for you, and their owners are hoping
that you will honor them by taking their belongings."
"That's right!" said Iraj.
"Come and take mine," called a housewife.
"No, here first! " called another.
Yusefi was confused. "All right," he said,
"That is enough of your joking with a simple man! If you insist, I will
force you to give me all of your belongings! What is the matter with you
people? Don't you understand that we are punishing you?"
"It is you who do not understand," answered Abbas.
"Can't you see from the faces of my friends that they do not fear you? We
are honored, that of all the Baha'is in the world, we should be the ones given
the opportunity to cast aside all our material possessions for the sake of God.
And you, Mr. Yusefi, you are an instrument of this great bounty. We will all be
grateful to you, our friend."
"Grateful? My God, they are all crazy," said
Yusefi, and he hurriedly gathered up all the arrayed furnishings and sped away,
his truck overflowing with goods.
Abbas went back into his house and looked at its empty
rooms. "Come, friends," he said. "Let us have our tea while
seated on this old carpet, left by Yusefi for his next visit. Poor Yusefi, if
only he would sit here with us on this princely throne, we could make a gift to
him greater than any of these poor few sticks which he took away."
"Now let us consult," suggested Abbas, "We
will need to arrange for the family of Mr. Yazdi, who so nobly has given his
life this week. I believe I have enough in my savings to take care of them for
a little while ... "
(by Mary K. Radpour, illustrated by Keith Kresge; Brilliant Star, September-October 1983)
(by Mary K. Radpour, illustrated by Keith Kresge; Brilliant Star, September-October 1983)
