An Old Pair of Slippers for Size

For His own personal use Bahá’u’lláh never ordered anything extravagant. The life of luxury to which He was accustomed in His youth had been denied Him since His imprisonment in the Siyah-Chal of Tihran when all His possessions had been confiscated.

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But He lived a life of austerity in a majesty such that in the words of Edward Granville Browne of Cambridge University, He was ‘the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain’. His personal needs were simple and inexpensive. For instance, on one occasion when one of His companions, Haji ‘Aliy-i-Yazdi, was going to Istanbul on business, Bahá’u’lláh asked him to purchase a pair of shoes for Him.

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He gave him an old pair of His slippers for size. Haji ‘Ali later presented the slippers to the International Archives and they are now kept in the room of Bahá’u’lláh in the Mansion of Mazra‘ih.

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The greater part of the donations given to the Cause by the believers were spent at Bahá’u’lláh’s behest in the promotion of the Faith and the care of the poor and needy of the community. He Himself and the members of His family, however, lived an austere life. There were many occasions when He was in great need, but did not accept financial help from the friends.

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