Secondary Retelling3 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ability to see the light of the spirit of a human being at a considerable distance – narrated by the Master

Baha'i Stories Blog · Read original

1 alternate account of this event from other sources

Studio narration for this story is coming — it’ll be generated by the cloud-TTS pipeline (voice: auto-selected from the source author).

When in Bahá'í history

1844'Abdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921)2026

Haifa (today: Haifa, Israel)

In the days of Bahá’u’lláh, during the worst times in the Most Great Prison, they would not permit any of the friends either to leave the Fortress or to come in from the outside. … [two Azalís] lived by the second gate of the city, and watched there at all times, day and night. Whenever they spied a Bahá’í traveler they would hurry away to the Governor and tell him that the traveler was bringing in letters and would carry the answers back. The Governor would then arrest the traveler, seize his papers, jail him, and drive him out. This became an established custom with the authorities and went on for a long time—indeed, for nine years until, little by little, the practice was abandoned.

It was at such a period that the Afnán, Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alí—that great bough of the Holy Tree [1] — journeyed to Akká, coming from India to Egypt, and from Egypt to Marseilles. One day I was up on the roof of the caravanserai. Some of the friends were with me and I was walking up and down. It was sunset. At that moment, glancing at the distant seashore, I observed that a carriage was approaching. “Gentlemen,” I said, “I feel that a holy being is in that carriage.” It was still far away, hardly within sight.

“Let us go to the gate,” I told them. “Although they will not allow us to pass through, we can stand there till he comes.” I took one or two people with me and we left.

At the city gate, I called to the guard, privately gave him something and said: “A carriage is coming in and I think it is bringing one of our friends. When it reaches here, do not hold it up, and do not refer the matter to the Governor.” He put out a chair for me and I sat down.

By this time the sun had set. They had shut the main gate, too, but the little door was open. The gatekeeper stayed outside, the carriage drew up, the gentleman had arrived. What a radiant face he had! He was nothing but light from head to foot. Just to look at that face made one happy; he was so confident, so assured, so rooted in his faith, and his expression so joyous. He was truly a blessed being. He was a man who made progress day by day, who added, every day, to his certitude and faith, his luminous quality, his ardent love. He made extraordinary progress during the few days that he spent in the Most Great Prison. The point is that when his carriage had come only part of the way from Haifa to Akká, one could already perceive his spirit, his light.

- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (‘Memorials of the Faithful’)

[1] The Afnán are the kindred of the Báb]

Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-example-of-abdul-bahas-ability-to.html).

Discuss this story

For adults

Where do faith and justice meet in this story?
How does this story illustrate the practice of faith?
What stands out about Bahá'u'lláh's response in this account?

For teens

Which line in this story surprised you the most?
How could the spirit of faith show up in your week?

Reflection

What single image from this story will stay with you?
How does faith show up in your life right now — and where is it being asked of you?
Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?

Comprehension quiz

Which source is "An example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ability to see the light of the spirit of a human being at a considerable distance – narrated by the Master" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?

Cite this story

Various. *Baha'i Stories Blog*. https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-example-of-abdul-bahas-ability-to.html

All four formats →

This story shares quotes with 94 other stories

“clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;”
Also in
- 1844: A lonely youth’s encounter with Bahá’u’lláh by a roadside in Mazindaran and his amazing recognition of His station— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1848: Baha’u’llah describes the consternation that seized the Bábís when Tahirih suddenly appeared unveiled at the conference of Badasht— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1851 Karbilá, Iraq: A disciple of the Báb becomes the first person to whom Baha'u'llah confided His Divine Mission – as was prophesied by the Báb in 1848— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- A believer’s eagerness to provide financial assistance to Baha’u’llah – but chose a wrong method— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- A funny incident while in the company of the Master— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- …and 89 more

Record yourself reading this story

Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.

QR Slides Email

Bahá'u'lláh 'Abdu'l-Bahá the Báb #stories #prison #family

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ability to see the light of the spirit of a human being at a considerable distance – narrated by the Master

Related stories

The tragic death of Mirza Mihdi, “The Purest Branch”

The Release

THE MOST GREAT PEACE

Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for the Garden of Ridván