A long time ago there lived an old man in the town of Nayshábúr in eastern Persia. He made a living by selling turquoise stones and pure wool. He was Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd.
Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd had a very clever and intelligent son
named Buzurg. The Hájí was a great mullá (Muslim priest). The people loved
and respected him. His son, Buzurg was also well-known because he could recite
the Holy Qur’an by heart and explain its teachings by the time he was eleven
years old.
When Buzurg heard that his father had become a Baha'i, he
was very upset. He ran away from home because he thought his father was very
wrong. For a few years he worked very hard to earn money to live on
his own. He did not want to receive help from his father.
But his father loved him. Whenever Baha'i travelers passed
through the town, he would ask them to talk to his son about Baha'u'llah.
Buzurg had a pure and kindly heart, and when he realized that Baha’u’llah was
the Promised One, he accepted Him. From the time he became a follower, Buzurg had a great
longing to visit Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah was in ‘Akka in the Most Great Prison
and it was a very long and difficult journey. But Buzurq walked on foot from
his native town of Nayshábúr.
He crossed deserts, mountains and valleys. He passed through
very hot as well as very cold places. He walked for months. At last, Buzurg reached the Prison. Baha’u’llah knew that
the one who loved him so much was coming, and He sent friends to welcome him
with great kindness and affection. It was at this time that Baha’u’llah called
him by a new name, "Badí" which means "The Wonderful".
By this time, Baha’u’llah had written a long letter (Tablet)
to the King of Persia. A very wise and brave person was needed to deliver this
letter into the hand of the King himself. The task was very difficult and
dangerous since at that time the Baha'is were cruelly treated because of their
new Faith. Baha'u'llah gave this great task to Badí. Baha’u’llah told Badí that he should neither meet nor talk
to anyone until his task was completed. So Badí took the letter (Tablet) and
walked on foot the entire distance from ‘Akka to Tihran.
Badí was eager to fulfil every wish of his Master. He went
by a longer and more difficult route so that he would not meet anyone on the
way. This long walk took him four and a half months. On arriving in Tihran, Badí learned that the King had gone
hunting to the north of the city. So Badí followed the King to the hunting
grounds. There he was stopped by the King's men who did not allow him to see
the King.
But Badí could not be stopped. He went and sat on a rock on
a hill facing the King's lodge. For three days and nights he sat there without
moving. Finally, the King's curiosity was aroused and he ordered the soldiers
to bring Badí to him. The soldiers brought Badí to the presence of the King. Badí
took the letter of Baha'u'llah, and after respectfully kissing it and touching
it to his forehead, presented it to Násiri'd-Dín Sháh, King of Persia.
Badí spoke with such courage and dignity, and his face
glowed with such spirit, that everyone was surprised and shaken. They could not
understand how such an ordinary youth could present himself in so great a
manner in front of the King. Little did they know that Baha’u’llah Himself was
helping him with His power.
The people around the King thought that Badí was part of a
plot to kill the King. They wanted to find out who the other friends of Badí
were. Although Badí came alone only to deliver the letter of Baha’u’llah, the
soldiers caught him, took him to a prison and fixed heavy chains on his hands
and legs. The King's soldiers tortured him to make him talk. They
placed red hot bricks on his body but the only word that he uttered was the
name "Baha'u’llah". They tortured him more, and poured red hot molten
lead on his body; finally he could not bear the suffering anymore and died in
prison.
The soldiers took Badí and dressed him in the same white
robe that he wore when he first met the king. He was later buried in the same
place, known as Galan-Duak.
(by: Kamal Ma’ani)
