The Boy Who Cooked for Bahá'u'lláh

A retelling for children, based on the account of Aqa Husayn-i-Ashchi in Bahá'í Chronicles.

In a big, drafty house, a young man named Husayn knelt by a little metal fire-pan called a brazier, carefully counting out pieces of coal. One, two, three... He did not want to waste a single one.

Husayn had come a long way to be here. He was born in a city called Káshán, far away in Persia. When he was still a boy, his father set out on a long journey to do something important for Bahá'u'lláh — but on the way home, his father grew very sick and died. For a while, Husayn was cared for by his uncle. Then, when Bahá'u'lláh was about to leave the city of Baghdad, something wonderful happened: Husayn was welcomed right into Bahá'u'lláh's own household.

At first he helped however he could. Later he became the cook — and that is how he earned his special name. People began to call him "Ashchi," which means the one who makes the broth, the cook. From then on, wherever Bahá'u'lláh was sent, through long and hard journeys, Husayn went too.

But cooking for the household was not easy, because there was very little food and very little money. In one of the big houses where they stayed, most days there was nothing to put on the table but bread and cheese. Husayn did not give up. Quietly, a little at a time, he would save a bit of meat and a bit of oil and tuck them away in a special place. He kept saving and saving until — at last! — there was finally enough to cook a real meal. Then he would happily invite Bahá'u'lláh to come and eat out on the grass.

Little by little, the friends even managed to save up enough to buy two cows and a goat, so there would be fresh milk and yogurt for everyone in the house. Husayn was always thinking ahead, always trying to make a little go a long, long way.

Which brings us back to that cold winter day, and all that careful counting. In winter, each room had its own brazier to keep it warm, and it was Husayn's job to light them. Since they had so little, he counted out only a few pieces of coal for each one — just enough, never too much.

He thought no one had noticed his quiet little habit. But someone had noticed, and they mentioned it to Bahá'u'lláh.

One day Husayn was called to come before Bahá'u'lláh. Perhaps his heart beat a little faster as he wondered why. Then Bahá'u'lláh said to him, "I hear you count the pieces of coal which go into each brazier!" And Bahá'u'lláh smiled, and was very amused — and agreed that in such a big house, being careful like that really was a good idea.

Imagine how Husayn must have felt. The small, quiet things he did to take care of everyone — saving the oil, counting the coal, stretching every last bit — had not gone unseen after all.

When we help others, we don't always do it to be noticed. Husayn counted his coal in a cold, empty room with nobody watching. But love sees the little kindnesses we think are too small to matter. No careful, caring act is ever really wasted.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Aqa Husayn-i-Ashchi".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/aqa-husayn-i-ashchi/