Secondary Retelling3 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)

Baha'u'llah and the Money Belt

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When in Bahá'í history

1844'Abdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921)2026

Baha'u'llah had sent my father and his friends to Egypt as pioneer settlers. When they arrived in Egypt, they did not have much money. Money was not in abundance among the Baha'is. For one thing, it was taken away from them and they were persecuted. For example, my grandfather was a rich man when he became a Babi, but all he had was seized. Not having money did not stop my father from pioneering. He and the others got notions - spools of thread, needles, thimbles, ribbons - and they went to the European homes up and down the Mediterranean coast from Alexandria to Ramleh, like peddlers. People invited them in and bought those things. My father became very popular. He was honest, as were all the Baha'is. People were not used to that. And so the pioneers became famous. People told their friends about them, and gradually they prospered. They would meet at the end of the day and pool their resources, put their money together, and work in a truly Baha'i fashion.

Before too long they had enough capital to open a store. They called themselves the "Sociét Ruhaniyyih”, meaning "Spiritual Company,'' and the store, the "Grand Bazar Persan.” It became bigger and bigger until it was the largest and best department store in all of Egypt. The Faith had prospered also, in spite of the restrictions, and was well established in Alexandria, Cairo, and Port Said.

My father and his friends wanted to show their gratitude to Baha'u'llah and also help the Faith. So they took a wide belt, a money belt, stuffed it with gold, large gold coins, and sent it to Baha'u'llah. A tablet was received from Baha'u1lah expressing His appreciation.

In the 1880's, there was a rebellion. An Egyptian general by the name of Ahmed Arabi Pasha arose, and he wanted to destroy all the Europeans in Alexandria. There were riots. All the European people left in ships. My father and the friends took the last ship out of the harbor. When the rebellion was over they came back and went to the site of their business. There was nothing there but rubble and ashes -- absolutely nothing. They were desperate. People asked when they would open a new store, and they had no answer. Their credit had been good, but now they needed some down payment, and they did not have it.

One day they were meeting together, consulting and praying, when unexpectedly the postman came with a card - a notice of a package at the post office. They went to the post office, got the package, took it home, and opened it. There was the belt they had sent to Baha'u1lah, untouched and full of gold. They reestablished credit and started their business again. It flourished more than ever.

- by Ali M. Yazdi (Brilliant Star Magazine – Baha’u’llah, His Life and Station)

Source: Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2017/04/bahaullah-and-money-belt-by-ali-m-yazdi.html).

Discuss this story

For adults

What stands out about Bahá'u'lláh's response in this account?
What might Bahá'u'lláh's example ask of us in our own circumstances?
Where do you see faith appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?

For teens

What is one quality you'd want to carry forward from this account?
Which line in this story surprised you the most?

For children

Who is the most important person in this story? Why?
If you met Bahá'u'lláh, what would you ask?

Reflection

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?
What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?

Comprehension quiz

Which source is "Baha'u'llah and the Money Belt" 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 for Children*. https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2017/04/bahaullah-and-money-belt-by-ali-m-yazdi.html

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This story shares quotes with 74 other stories

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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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Baha'u'llah and the Money Belt

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