How Bahá'u'lláh Came to Mazra'ih

In the chapter on Bahá'u'lláh in *Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era,* Esslemont says that the story of how the prison doors were opened "had best be told in the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá," and he quotes the Master's own account, as translated by Shoghi Effendi.

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Bahá'u'lláh loved the beauty and verdure of the country. After years confined within the walls of 'Akká, He remarked: "I have not gazed on verdure for nine years. The country is the world of the soul, the city is the world of bodies." When 'Abdu'l-Bahá heard of this saying, He understood that His Father was longing for the country.

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The Master rented the mansion of Mazra'ih, about four miles north of the city, from its owner, Muḥammad Páshá Safwat, at a very low rent. He had it repaired, the garden put in order, a bath built, and a carriage prepared. Then He walked out through the City Gate Himself, although successive firmans forbade the exiles to pass the city walls. The guards made no objection.

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When everything was ready, 'Abdu'l-Bahá went to His Father and told Him that the palace at Mazra'ih and a carriage were ready for Him. Bahá'u'lláh refused: "I am a prisoner." The Master asked a second time and received the same answer. He asked a third time, and still the answer was no, and He "did not dare to insist further."

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There was in 'Akká, however, a well-known Muslim shaykh, an Arab of considerable influence, who loved Bahá'u'lláh and was greatly favoured by Him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained the situation to him and said, "You are daring. Go tonight to His Holy Presence, fall on your knees before Him, take hold of His hands and do not let go until He promises to leave the city!"

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The shaykh went directly to Bahá'u'lláh, sat down close to His knees, took hold of His hands and kissed them, and asked why He did not leave the city. "I am a prisoner," Bahá'u'lláh replied. The shaykh answered that no one had the power to make Him a prisoner; He had kept Himself in prison by His own will, and now he begged Him to come out to the palace, where the trees were lovely and "the oranges like balls of fire!"

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Each time Bahá'u'lláh said, "I am a prisoner, it cannot be," the shaykh took His hands and kissed them again. In the Master's words:

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> For a whole hour he kept on pleading. At last Bahá'u'lláh said, > "Khaylí khub (very good)" and the Shaykh's patience and > persistence were rewarded.

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The shaykh came to 'Abdu'l-Bahá with great joy to give the glad news. The next day the Master took the carriage and drove with His Father to the palace. No one made any objection. Bahá'u'lláh remained in that "charming and lovely spot" for two years before moving to Bahjí.

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*A retelling based on **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** by J. E. Esslemont (1923), Chapter 3, which quotes 'Abdu'l-Bahá's account. For the fuller account, see the original.*

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