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

The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia

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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

Specimen of the calligraphy of Mirza Buzurg

The father of Bahá'u'lláh was Mirza 'Abbas-i-Nuri. His family lived in the district of Nur, in the northern Persian province of Mazindaran.

One day during the reign of Fath-'Ali Shah, (the king of Persia from 1797 to 1834), the king was shown a masterpiece of calligraphy made by a very celebrated calligrapher who had passed away. Marvellous was the beauty of that piece of handwriting, and Fath-'Ali Shah wondered if anyone living in Persia could match its excellence. One of his sons mentioned the name of Mirza 'Abbas-i-Nuri. Thereupon king sent his representative to the District of Nur to show that masterpiece to Mirza ‘Abbas (Baha’u’llah’s father) and challenge him if he could to produce its like.

Upon receiving that masterpiece, Mirza 'Abbas first produced a piece like the original and then added some additional lines of his own, had them suitably illuminated and presented to Fath-'Ali Shah.

The Shah's admiration was boundless. A royal decree bestowed upon Mirza 'Abbas the name Mirza Buzurg, [the ‘Great’] and invested him with a robe of honour - a garment which the monarch himself had worn. At the same time the Shah exempted the people of the village of Takur, Mirza Buzurg’s home, from the payment of taxes. A few years later, Mirza Buzurg was appointed vizier to the twelfth son of Fath-'Ali Shah, who was the chief of the clans of the Qajar tribe, to which the royal family itself belonged.

Mirza Buzurg prospered in the service of the State, until the days of Muhammad Shah (reigned 1834-48), when he encountered the ill will of that monarch's notorious Prime Minister, Haji Mirza Aqasi, and lost his position and much of his considerable wealth.

(Adapted from ‘Baha’u’llah, The King of Glory’, by Balyuzi)

Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-story-of-how-bahaullahs-father.html).

Discuss this story

For adults

Where do you see service appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of stories?
Where do service and patience meet in this story?

For teens

Who is someone you know who lives out service the way this story describes?
If you were going to tell a friend this story in two sentences, what would you say?

Reflection

Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?

Comprehension quiz

Which source is "The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia" 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/2016/07/the-story-of-how-bahaullahs-father.html

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This story shares quotes with 14 other stories

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Also in
- 1848: Baha’u’llah suffered the humiliating bastinado punishment— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1969: The story of Saskatoon…— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to Montreal – Maxwell House— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- circa 1841, Karbilá: a disciple of Siyyid Kázim describes what happened when the Báb made a quiet appearance at one of Siyyid Kázim’s gatherings— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- Divine intervention in the twinkling of an eye - a believer experienced— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- …and 9 more

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Bahá'u'lláh #stories #family

The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia

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

Specimen of the calligraphy of Mirza Buzurg

The father of Bahá'u'lláh was Mirza 'Abbas-i-Nuri. His family lived in the district of Nur, in the northern Persian province of Mazindaran.

Upon receiving that masterpiece, Mirza 'Abbas first produced a piece like the original and then added some additional lines of his own, had them suitably illuminated and presented to Fath-'Ali Shah.

(Adapted from ‘Baha’u’llah, The King of Glory’, by Balyuzi)

Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-story-of-how-bahaullahs-father.html).

Discuss this story

For adults

Where do you see service appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of stories?
Where do service and patience meet in this story?

For teens

Who is someone you know who lives out service the way this story describes?
If you were going to tell a friend this story in two sentences, what would you say?

Reflection

Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?

Comprehension quiz

Which source is "The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia" 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/2016/07/the-story-of-how-bahaullahs-father.html

All four formats →

This story shares quotes with 14 other stories

“clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;”
Also in
- 1848: Baha’u’llah suffered the humiliating bastinado punishment— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1969: The story of Saskatoon…— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to Montreal – Maxwell House— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- circa 1841, Karbilá: a disciple of Siyyid Kázim describes what happened when the Báb made a quiet appearance at one of Siyyid Kázim’s gatherings— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- Divine intervention in the twinkling of an eye - a believer experienced— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- …and 9 more

Record yourself reading this story

Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.

QR Slides Email

Bahá'u'lláh #stories #family

The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia

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The story of how Baha’u’llah’s Father received the title of “Buzurg” - “the Great” – from the King of Persia

Related stories

1844: A lonely youth’s encounter with Bahá’u’lláh by a roadside in Mazindaran and his amazing recognition of His station

1848: Baha’u’llah describes the consternation that seized the Bábís when Tahirih suddenly appeared unveiled at the conference of Badasht

1848: Baha’u’llah suffered the humiliating bastinado punishment

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