The Master Sails from Alexandria

When ‘Abdu'l-Bahá was saying farewell amid the tears, lamentations and sadness of the friends and members of the Holy Family who watched their beloved's departure, one of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá's daughters, Rúhá Khánum, was seriously ill. It was evident that this deeply affected the Master. It was in these circumstances that ‘Abdu'l-Bahá left Alexandria on the morning of Monday, March 25, 1912. Although He had already bidden the friends farewell and had embraced most of them, many accompanied Him to the ship, expressing their sadness and anguish at their impending separation from Him. After visiting, walking about the ship and receiving His cabin assignment, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá went to the main hall where He bestowed His love, affection and assurance on each of the friends. After an hour, the friends left the ship in tears. Then the S. S. Cedric, an Italian liner from the White Star Line, set sail, honored to be the means of transporting the Most Holy Being and becoming the focus of the envy of the whole earth.

The ship left the port of Alexandria with a burst of steam and great fanfare. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá's companions numbered six: Shoghi Effendi, Siyyid Asadu'lláh-i-Qumí, Dr Amínu'lláh Faríd, Mírzá Munír-i-Zayn, Áqá Khusraw and this servant, Mahmúd-i-Zarqání. After the ship left, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá went to the first class dining room and gave permission to His companions to have lunch with Him.

(Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, ‘Mahmúd’s Diary’, entry for Monday, March 25, 1912)

Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2014/11/ruha-khanum-one-of-abdul-bahas.html).

Various. *Baha'i Stories Blog*. https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2014/11/ruha-khanum-one-of-abdul-bahas.html