Secondary Retelling5 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)
Baha’u’llah’s servant: Isfandiyar - "the essence of love, radiant with sanctity and perfection, luminous with light"
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When in Bahá'í history
1844'Abdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921)2026
Isfandiyar was a gem from Africa, pure and untarnished, and
yet firm and steadfast as a diamond under all pressures and persecutions. He
manifested his inherent qualities when faced with perils which endangered his
life as a Babi. His wonderful countenance reflected the rays of love and
courage.
Isfandiyar was a servant in the house of Baha'u'llah and, as
a fruitful tree planted in good soil, he yielded a spiritual harvest. His love
for Baha'u'llah was unlimited and, though many Ministers and other high
government officials coveted him as a servant in their household, he remained
ever-faithful to his own Master.
At the time when the persecution of the Babis began in the
capital and Baha'u'llah was taken to the Siyah-Chal, the enemies of the new
Faith were looking for Isfandiyar so that they could force him to betray the
followers of the Bab whom he had seen in the house of Baha'u'llah. The Shah had
commanded many people to find Isfandiyar and they were searching for him
everywhere. But when he heard of the misfortune which had befallen the family
of his beloved Master, nothing could keep him away from them.
We can imagine Isfandiyar standing among the ruins of his
Master's house, drowned in an ocean of tribulation, his heart heavy with the
weight of anguish. He seemed to have lost everything in the world. He did not
think of all the rich furnishings, clothes and jewels which had been looted
from the house of Baha'u'llah. But the thought of his Master in the Siyah-Chal
and the members of that noble family now dispersed and at the mercy of their
foes was more than he could bear. "Where are the children?" he asked
himself. "What has befallen their saintly mother?" Isfandiyar decided
to find them, but there was no trace of the family in the surrounding
neighbourhood. No one knew where they had gone or what fresh misfortune had
overtaken them.
Isfandiyar pondered, planned and came to a decision; then he
rose up like one of the lions of his own continent. But bravery alone was not
enough and here is where we discover the purity of his heart. He put his trust
in divine guidance and, as he went out to trace the steps of his lost ones, a
mysterious force directed his steps and led him to his goal. It seemed as
though he had become invisible as he walked on the streets and passed through
the market-place, because no one recognized or molested him.
The joy of the children at their reunion with Isfandiyar was
great, for they loved him dearly. Speaking of him years later, 'Abdu'l-Baha
said, "Whenever I think of Isfandiyar I am moved to tears although he
passed away fifty years ago." [1]
After her home was looted, Asiyih Khanum had little to give
her children to eat and they went hungry most of the time. She did not know
whom to turn to or how to provide for them. Worst of all, she had no more news
of her beloved Husband and wondered what had befallen Him in the Siyah-Chal.
She was surrounded by grave danger and in need of assistance and yet, when she
saw their faithful servant standing before them, her first thoughts were for
his safety. She said to him, "There are a hundred policemen seeking for
you. If they catch you they will not kill you at once but will torture you with
fire. They will cut off your fingers. They will cut off your ears. They will
put out your eyes to force you to tell them the secrets of Baha'u'llah. Go
away! Do not stay here!" [2]
Isfandiyar was deeply touched by her noble expressions of
true concern, but he refused to go away. He told Asiyih Khanum he could not
leave until he had paid the family debts to shopkeepers from whom he had bought
supplies. He could not bear to hear the fair name of his Master belittled in
the market-place, and he did not leave until he had sold a few things he had
and paid Baha'u'llah's debts to the last penny.
'Abdu'l-Baha spoke most lovingly of Isfandiyar during His
tours of Europe and America. He praised him as "the essence of love,
radiant with sanctity and perfection, luminous with light." [3] He crowned
his head with the diadem of eternity when He said, "If a perfect man could
be found in the world, that man was Isfandiyar." [4] “He
was a point of light. Although his color was black, yet his character was luminous;
his mind was luminous; his face was luminous. Truly, he was a point of light.”
[5]
- Hand of the Cause, Abu’l-Qasim Faizi (‘A Gift of Love’)
[1] The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Talks Delivered by
'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid[5] Ibid
Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2017/08/bahaullahs-servant-isfandiyar-essence.html).
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- What in your own life does this story bring to mind?
- Where do courage and faith meet in this story?
For teens
- What is one quality you'd want to carry forward from this account?
- Which line in this story surprised you the most?
Reflection
- If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?
- What single image from this story will stay with you?
- Where in your own life are you being asked to practice courage?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "Baha’u’llah’s servant: Isfandiyar - "the essence of love, radiant with sanctity and perfection, luminous with light"" drawn from?
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/2017/08/bahaullahs-servant-isfandiyar-essence.html
This story shares quotes with 94 other stories
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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
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