Neighbors of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad

*A retelling for children, based on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's memorial of Áqá Ibráhím and his brothers in **Memorials of the Faithful**, as given in **Bahá'í Chronicles**.*

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Four brothers, Muḥammad-Ṣádiq, Muḥammad-Ibráhím, Áqá Ḥabíbu'lláh and Muḥammad-'Alí, lived in Baghdad with their uncle, Áqá Muḥammad-Riḍá. They all shared one house and stayed together day and night. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that like birds "they shared the one nest."

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When Bahá'u'lláh came to Baghdad, their house was in His neighbourhood, and they could watch Him as He came and went. Little by little, what He did and what He did not do, and the sight of His face, had its effect on them. They began to long for the Faith. They came to the door of His house and grew to love Him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote: "They needed no teacher, then; by themselves, they saw through the veils that had blinded them before, and won the supreme desire of their hearts."

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One night, at Bahá'u'lláh's bidding, Mírzá Javád of Turshíz went to their house. He had hardly begun to speak when they accepted the Faith, without a moment's hesitation. 'Abdu'l-Bahá compared them to the oil spoken of in the Qur'án, so ready to be lit that it "would well nigh shine out, even though fire touched it not."

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The eldest, Muḥammad-Ṣádiq, went with Bahá'u'lláh from Baghdad to Constantinople and then to Adrianople, and lived there happily for some time near Him. There was always a smile on his lips. Later he was given leave to go back to his family in Iraq.

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Then a great calamity came in Iraq. All four brothers and their uncle were taken prisoner and sent to Mosul. The uncle had once been very rich. Now he was destitute, but he stayed dignified, patient and thankful, and praised God day and night until he died. Muḥammad-Ṣádiq also suffered hardship in Mosul, and in time he too passed away.

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When famine came to Mosul, life grew even harder for the exiles, but they stayed calm and went on praising God. The people of the city wondered at them. "What amazing trust," they said, "they have in God!" Bahá'u'lláh often made mention of the prisoners of Mosul and showed them His great favour. Ḥabíbu'lláh, "a man with a great store of patience and a joyous heart," died a few years later.

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When Muḥammad-'Alí was set free, he went to the Holy Land. Ibráhím also came from Mosul, to a place near ‘Akká, where he made a modest living as a trader. When he grew too old to get about, he came to Haifa, lived in a corner of the travellers' hospice, and spent his days in prayer until he died.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Áqá Ibráhím-i-Iṣfahání And His Brothers"](/stories/bc-aqa-ibrahim-i-isfahani-and-his-brothers).*

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