Secondary Retelling3 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)
The King's Messenger
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
 |
| Muhammad Shah |
When the Báb began telling people that a new Messenger of
God would soon come He was still quite young, just twenty-four years of age.
But His words had divine power. And so it was not long before the whole of
Persia knew about Him. Even the Shah heard of Him. He wanted to know more about
the Báb. And so he sent his most learned servant, Vahid, to find out all he
could about the Bab.
On the way, Vahid thought up the questions he would ask the
Báb. They were the most difficult questions he could find. Vahid had never
discovered anyone who could answer these questions. Would the Báb be able to do
so?
The Báb listened attentively to Vahid's questions. How surprised
Vahid was when the Báb then began to answer the difficult and complicated
questions. These were the right answers. Vahid was sure of that. He also knew
that he himself would never have been able to find them. And he thought, too,
that he was the most learned man in the land.
Vahid wanted to ask some more questions. He went to see the Báb a second time. But when he wanted to begin, he had completely forgotten what he wanted to ask. This had never happened to him before. A few moments later he heard the Báb begin to speak. To his amazement, the Báb was giving the answers to the questions which Vahid had forgotten. Although Vahid had said nothing, the Báb knew exactly what he had been going to ask.
When Vahid went to see the Báb for the third time he had a
plan. He wanted the Báb to explain a chapter from the Qur'an for him. But he
would not say which chapter. If the
Báb were to explain that particular chapter and do it better than he had ever
heard it done, Vahid would be certain that the Báb was a Messenger of God. Then
he would become His follower.
But what happened? When Vahid met the Báb, his whole body
began to tremble. He could hardly stand on his feet. Quickly, the Báb went to
him, took him by the hand and sat him down beside Him. The Báb asked what he
could do for him. But Vahid could not speak a word.
Then the Báb asked if He should explain the Surih of Kawthar
for him. Tears streamed down Vahid's cheeks. This was exactly the chapter from
the Qur'an that he had wanted the Báb to explain without being asked. When He
had explained the chapter from the Qur'an, Vahid knew for certain that the Báb
had a divine Message. No one in the whole world could make him doubt this now. Vahid
then became one of the staunchest followers of the Báb.
(by Hitjo Garst, ‘From
Mountain to Mountain’)
Source: Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-kings-messenger.html).
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- What in your own life does this story bring to mind?
- Where do justice and service meet in this story?
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 the Báb, what would you ask?
Reflection
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
- If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?
- Is there someone in your life who would be helped by hearing this story?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "The King's Messenger" 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/2014/12/the-kings-messenger.html
This story shares quotes with 3 other stories
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Also in
- 1848: Baha’u’llah suffered the humiliating bastinado punishment— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha lived in the morgue of the barracks in Akka for two years— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- Karbila, circa 1841: A meeting between the Báb and His forerunner Siyyid Kazim -- its profound and long-lasting effect on a disciple of Siyyid Kazim who was also present— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
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