The Coppersmith Poet of Káshán
Bahá'í Chronicles editors, Bahá'í Chronicles · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
A retelling for children, based on the Bahá'í Chronicles account of Áqá Muḥammad-Ibráhím, which reproduces 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Memorials of the Faithful.
Áqá Muḥammad-Ibráhím was a coppersmith from the city of Káshán, in Persia. He was given the title Manṣúr, which means "Victorious." 'Abdu'l-Bahá remembered him as a man of pleasing disposition, full of zest and the joy of life.
He became a believer while he was still young. As soon as he did, he left Káshán, travelled to Baghdad, and there he came into the presence of Bahá'u'lláh.
Áqá Muḥammad had a gift for poetry. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that he could make verses "like stringed pearls." In Baghdad he was friendly with everyone, people he knew and strangers alike, and he tried always to be kind to all. He brought his brothers from Persia to Baghdad and opened a shop for arts and crafts.
Later he was taken prisoner and sent away from Baghdad to Mosul. After that he went to Haifa. There, day and night, he said prayers and kept his thoughts on God.
He lived in Haifa for a long time. He served the believers there and quietly looked after the needs of travellers. He married in Haifa and had children. Every day was a new joy to him, and whatever money he made he spent on friends and strangers.
After the believer known as the King of Martyrs was killed for his faith, Áqá Muḥammad wrote a poem in his memory. He recited it in the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. The lines were so moving that everyone there wept.
He lived the rest of his life with high aims and with love. When death came he welcomed it. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that he was "laughing like a rose suddenly full-blown, and crying, 'Here am I!'"
This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Áqá Muḥammad-Ibráhím".
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editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/aqa-mu%e1%b8%a5ammad-ibrahim/
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