The Seeker from Sístán

A retelling for children of the account of Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Memorials of the Faithful, as given in Bahá'í Chronicles.

Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán was a Balúch from Sístán, in the east of Persia. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that when he was very young he "caught fire and became a mystic." He left his home as a wandering dervish and travelled from place to place, looking for a perfect spiritual guide.

He searched far and wide and spoke with everyone he met, among them mystics, philosophers and learned men. What he longed for was the love of God, and he could not find it in any of them. He heard clever arguments and fine words, but not the truth he was seeking.

When at last the call of Bahá'u'lláh reached him, he cried, "Yea, verily!" and set out at once. He travelled a very long way to the Most Great Prison in 'Akká and came into Bahá'u'lláh's presence. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that when his eyes fell on that bright Countenance "he was instantly enslaved."

Then he went back to Persia to find the friends he had known on his travels, who were also searching for the truth. On the way there and on the way back he visited each of them and gave them the new message.

At home he set his family's affairs in order and made sure that everyone was provided for. Then he said goodbye to his wife, his children and his relatives. "Do not look for me again; do not wait for my return," he told them. He took up a staff and set off again, over the mountains and across the plains, looking for his friends.

On his first journey he visited Mírzá Yúsuf Khán, Mustawfíyu'l-Mamálik, in Ṭihrán. Mírzá Yúsuf Khán said he wished for a son, and that if his wish came true he would believe. Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán told Bahá'u'lláh of this and received a firm promise in reply. On his next journey he found Mírzá Yúsuf Khán holding a baby. "The proof is clear. I am convinced," the father said, and he asked the Ḥájí to beg Bahá'u'lláh's blessing on the child.

What Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán wanted most was to be allowed to keep watch at the doorway of Bahá'u'lláh. The believer known as the King of Martyrs wrote a letter asking this for him, and it was granted. He came back to the Most Great Prison and made his home near Bahá'u'lláh. For a long time, in 'Akká and later in the garden of Mazra'ih, he was often in Bahá'u'lláh's presence.

After Bahá'u'lláh passed away, Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán stayed faithful to His Covenant. While 'Abdu'l-Bahá was away on His journeys to Europe and America, the Ḥájí came to the travellers' hospice beside the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, and there he died. He is buried in Haifa.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Ḥájí Muḥammad Khán".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/%e1%b8%a5aji-mu%e1%b8%a5ammad-khan/