Badí, the Messenger of Bahá'u'lláh

A long time ago there lived an old man in the town of Nayshábúr in eastern Persia. He made a living by selling turquoise stones and pure wool. He was Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd.

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Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd had a son named Buzurg. The Hájí was a well-known merchant. The people loved and respected him.

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The Hájí had long been a follower of the Báb and of Bahá'u'lláh, but Buzurg took no interest in his father's faith and did not obey him.

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But his father loved him. When a Bahá'í traveller named Nabíl stayed in their home, Nabíl sent for Buzurg and spoke to him about Bahá'u'lláh. Buzurg had a pure and kindly heart, and when he realized that Bahá'u'lláh was the Promised One, he accepted Him. From the time he became a follower, Buzurg had a great longing to visit Bahá'u'lláh. It was a very long and difficult journey. But Buzurg walked on foot, first from Yazd to Baghdad and later from Mosul all the way to ‘Akká, where Bahá'u'lláh was a prisoner in the Most Great Prison.

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He crossed deserts, mountains and valleys. He passed through very hot as well as very cold places. He walked for months. At last, Buzurg reached ‘Akká. There he found ‘Abdu'l-Bahá in a mosque, and ‘Abdu'l-Bahá welcomed him warmly and brought him into the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. It was at this time that Bahá'u'lláh called him by a new name, "Badí" which means "The Wonderful".

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By this time, Bahá'u'lláh had written a long letter (Tablet) to the King of Persia. A very wise and brave person was needed to deliver this letter into the hand of the King himself. The task was very difficult and dangerous since at that time the Bahá'ís were cruelly treated because of their new Faith. Badí begged to be allowed to carry it, and Bahá'u'lláh gave this great task to Badí.

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Bahá'u'lláh told Badí that he should not meet or talk with any of the believers until his task was completed. So Badí took the letter (Tablet) and walked on foot the entire distance from Haifa to Tihrán.

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Badí was eager to fulfil every wish of Bahá'u'lláh. This long walk took him four months. On arriving in Tihrán, Badí learned that the King had gone to his summer camp north of the city. So Badí followed the King to the camp.

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He went and sat on a rock facing the King's tent. For three days and nights he sat there, fasting and praying. On the fourth day the King saw him and sent his men to find out who he was and what he wanted. Badí told them that he had a letter which he must hand to the King himself, and they brought him to the King. Calmly and courteously, Badí handed the letter of Bahá'u'lláh to Násiri'd-Dín Sháh, King of Persia.

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Badí spoke with such courage and dignity, and his face glowed with such spirit, that everyone was surprised and shaken. They could not understand how such an ordinary youth could present himself in so great a manner in front of the King. They did not know that Bahá'u'lláh Himself was helping him with His power.

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The people around the King thought that Badí was part of a plot against the King. They wanted to find out who the other friends of Badí were. Although Badí came alone only to deliver the letter of Bahá'u'lláh, the soldiers seized him and took him away with his hands tied. The King's men tortured him to make him give the names of other Bahá'ís. They beat him and branded him with red-hot irons, but he never gave a single name. Instead he laughed and gave thanks. Finally they put him to death.

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He was buried in the same place, at Safíd-Áb in Lár, where he had been killed.

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(by: Kamal Ma’ani)

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