Secondary Retelling2 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)

circa 1850: Nabil, the author of Dawn-Breakers, took ‘Abdu’l-Baha to school one day

Baha'i Stories Blog · Read original

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

One day Mírzá Ahmad conducted me [Nabil, he was then about 19 years old] to the house of Bahá’u’lláh, whose wife, the Varaqatu’l-’Ulya, [the Most Exalted Leaf] the mother of the Most Great Branch, had already healed my eyes with an ointment which she herself had prepared and sent to me by…Mírzá Ahmad.

The first one I met in that house was that same beloved Son of hers, who was then a child of six. He smiled His welcome to me as He was standing at the door of the room which Bahá’u’lláh occupied. I passed that door, and was ushered into the presence of Mírzá Yahyá, [Baha’u’llah’s half-brother] utterly unaware of the station of the Occupant [Baha’u’llah] of the room I had left behind me….

On another occasion, when I visited that same house, I on the point of entering the room that Mírzá Yahyá occupied, when Áqáy-i-Kalím, [Baha’u’llah’s faithful brother] whom I had previously met, approached and requested me, since Isfandíyár, their servant, had gone to market and had not yet returned, to conduct “Áqá” [‘Abdu’l-Baha] to the Madrisiy-i-Mírzá-Sálih [school] in his stead and then return to this place. I gladly consented, and as I was preparing to leave, I saw the Most Great Branch, a child of exquisite beauty, wearing the kuláh [hat] and cloaked in the jubbiy-i-hizari’í, [A kind of overcoat] emerge from the room which His Father occupied, and descend the steps leading to the gate of the house. I advanced and stretched forth my arms to carry Him. “We shall walk together,” He said, as He took hold of my hand and led me out of the house.

We chatted together as we walked hand in hand in the direction of the madrisih [school] known in those days by the name of Pa-Minar. As we reached His classroom, He turned to me and said: “Come again this afternoon and take me back to my home, for Isfandíyár is unable to fetch me. My Father will need him to-day.” I gladly acquiesced, and returned immediately to the house of Bahá’u’lláh…

I… returned to the madrisih in time to conduct the Most Great Branch to His home.

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2018/01/circa-1850-nabil-author-of-dawn.html).

Discuss this story

For adults

Where do you see faith appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of stories?
Read the closing lines once more. What single phrase stays with you?

For teens

How could the spirit of faith show up in your week?
What does this story say about how to face hard moments?

Reflection

What single image from this story will stay with you?
Where in your own life are you being asked to practice faith?
Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?

Comprehension quiz

Which source is "circa 1850: Nabil, the author of Dawn-Breakers, took ‘Abdu’l-Baha to school one day" 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/2018/01/circa-1850-nabil-author-of-dawn.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 Shoghi Effendi #stories #children #family #healing

circa 1850: Nabil, the author of Dawn-Breakers, took ‘Abdu’l-Baha to school one day

Related stories

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

Bahá’u’lláh’s father’s dream about Him when He was a child and the soothsayer’s amazing interpretation and prediction

The story of the Kitáb-i-Íqán (The Book of Certitude)

41: It is clear how that most dire of calamities, ...