The Friend Who Stayed Close

A retelling for children, based on the Bahá'í Chronicles account of Ḥájí Faraju’lláh Tafríshí.

When Faraju'lláh was still a young boy in Persia, he already knew where he wanted to be. He wanted to be near Bahá'u'lláh — to serve Him, and to live close to Him, no matter how far that meant traveling.

So he did something brave. Together with his father, Áqá Luṭfu'lláh, he left his homeland behind. The two of them packed up and journeyed all the way from Persia to a city called Adrianople, just to live in the neighborhood of Bahá'u'lláh.

His father loved Bahá'u'lláh dearly. He was a patient man who didn't care much about money or fine things or showing off. He was simply happy to be near the One he loved. He lived out the rest of his days there, content and quiet, and when his life came to its end, he was buried in that same city.

Young Faraju'lláh stayed on. And then a hard day came. Cruel rulers decided to send Bahá'u'lláh away again — this time to a faraway prison city called 'Akká. It was a place of locked gates and heavy walls.

Now Faraju'lláh had to choose. He could have stayed behind where life was easier. Instead, he chose to go with Bahá'u'lláh, all the way to that prison. When the people he loved were suffering, he did not run the other way. He shared their sorrows, and he stayed close.

After a long while, the hard times slowly turned into easier ones. Then Faraju'lláh became a trader, working together with a partner, and for a time he did well and was glad. Later he was given permission to travel, and he journeyed far away to India, where he lived for many years.

Here is something special about him. His body was thin, and he was often sick. It would have been easy for someone like that to grumble and feel sorry for himself. But Faraju'lláh did not complain. He was thankful for what he had, he was patient through every trouble, and he kept his heart gentle and kind right to the end.

That is the gift Faraju'lláh gives us. You don't have to be the strongest or the healthiest to be faithful. What matters most is staying close to what you love, helping when others are hurting, and being patient and grateful even when things are hard.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Ḥájí Faraju’lláh Tafríshí".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/%e1%b8%a5aji-farajullah-tafrishi/