Secondary Retelling2 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)
A Prayer for Mirza Ja'far
Baha'i Stories for Children · 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
'Akká (today: Acre, Israel)
Akka-sea+wall-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
Akka-sea+wall-1.jpg" width="320" />The August sun burned down on the stone
walls of 'Akka as the sailboat rocked roughly into the harbor. The Baha'is had come
a long way. They were hot, hungry, and thirsty. But Mirza Ja'far was happy - he
was with Baha'u'llah!
Akka-sea+wall-1.jpg" width="320" />The August sun burned down on the stone
walls of 'Akka as the sailboat rocked roughly into the harbor. The Baha'is had come
a long way. They were hot, hungry, and thirsty. But Mirza Ja'far was happy - he
was with Baha'u'llah!
The townspeople yelled at them from
the streets, from windows and doorways, as they passed. Mirza Ja'far had walked
through hateful mobs before. He had been hungry, tired, and hot before. These
things did not matter. He was happy.
The guards at the mighty stone
prison gave them little to eat and drink. But Mirza Ja'far thanked God. His
dark, narrow cell seemed like a sweet-smelling rose garden with Baha'u'llah
close by.
Then, one day, Mirza Ja'far fell
sick. How could it be? They had crossed deserts and climbed mountains together.
Eager always to help, Mirza Ja'far never complained, and he never seemed to
need rest. He was the one who went with 'Abdu'l-Baha to find supplies while
others rested.
Akka-prison-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
Akka-prison-1.jpg" width="200" />Now Mirza Ja'far grew more and more
sick. The doctor turned away. He knew of nothing that would help his patient.
Mirza Ja'far drew in his last breath.
Akka-prison-1.jpg" width="200" />Now Mirza Ja'far grew more and more
sick. The doctor turned away. He knew of nothing that would help his patient.
Mirza Ja'far drew in his last breath.
Baha'u'llah's secretary rushed to
tell Baha'u'llah that their beloved Mirza Ja'far was dead.
"Chant the prayer ... O Thou,
the Healer," said Baha'u'llah, "and Mirza Ja'far will come alive."
Quickly, the Baha'is obeyed. Soon
Mirza Ja'far's lifeless body grew warm. Next he began to move. Then he sat up,
laughing and joking with his friends.
"Praise be to God!" Mirza
Ja'far cried. He would live to serve Baha'u'llah for a long time to come!
(Retold by Gail Radley from a story by 'Abdu'l-Baha, ‘Memorials of the Faithful’; The Central Figures, Baha’u’llah, Core Curriculum, vol.1)
Source: Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-prayer-for-mirza-jafar.html).
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of children-stories?
- Where do faith and patience meet in this story?
For teens
- If you were in this person's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about faith?
For children
- How do you think the people in this story felt at the end?
- If you met this person, what would you ask?
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 "A Prayer for Mirza Ja'far" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *Baha'i Stories for Children*. https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-prayer-for-mirza-jafar.html
This story shares quotes with 145 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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Also in
- A pilgrim reports in 1920 how busy ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was replying to numerous letters from around the world— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- An example of how man is unable to prevent God from executing His will— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- An example of love and compassion shown by Munirih Khanum (‘Abdu’l-Baha’s wife)— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for the Garden of Ridván— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- Baha’u’llah visits Mulla Husayn and his companions at Fort Tabarsi— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- …and 69 more
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