'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)
