The Man Who Crossed the World to Be Near

A retelling for children, based on the account of Hájí Muhammad-Ridáy-i-Shírází in Bahá'í Chronicles.

In the city of Shíráz lived a quiet man named Hájí Muhammad-Ridá. He was not loud, and he did not push to the front of any crowd. He was a gentle soul — calm, kind, and humble — the kind of person who makes the people around him feel peaceful too.

One day a great call went out across the land — the call of God, summoning people to a new day. The moment Hájí Muhammad-Ridá heard it, he did not hesitate or wait to see what others would do. His heart said yes right away. And from then on he was like a little lamp, helping to light the way for the people around him.

For a long while he served a good man of the Báb's family, named Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-'Alí. Hájí Muhammad-Ridá was loyal and faithful, a close companion who could be trusted with anything. But deep in his heart, he carried one great wish, bigger than all the rest.

He longed to be near Bahá'u'lláh.

And so this quiet man set out on a very long journey. He traveled across faraway countries, over roads and seas, all the way to the Holy Land. When at last he arrived, he did not march in proudly. He bowed his head low, humble and full of wonder — and he was allowed to enter the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. The one thing he had wished for, more than anything in the world, had come true.

He stayed for quite a long time, and almost every single day he was able to be near Bahá'u'lláh. Imagine that! After all those miles, day after day of the very thing his heart had hoped for. He was happy in the simplest, truest way — because he wanted nothing for himself. He was not chasing money, or fame, or fine things. His only wish was to please his Lord and to walk the holy path.

Later he traveled on to a city called Beirut, where he kept serving and working faithfully. But he could not stay away for long. Again and again he journeyed back to be near Bahá'u'lláh, just to gaze upon Him once more.

In time, in a town called Sidon, Hájí Muhammad-Ridá grew ill. He was too sick to make the trip he longed to make. Yet even then he was not bitter or unhappy. He was peaceful and content right to the end. And Bahá'u'lláh remembered him with great love. Many, many times, those who knew Him had heard Bahá'u'lláh speak words of praise about this faithful, steadfast man.

Hájí Muhammad-Ridá teaches us something quiet but very strong. He was never the loudest or the most important-looking person in the room. He simply loved with his whole heart, stayed faithful, and was willing to cross the whole world for the one thing that truly mattered to him. You do not have to be loud to be brave, or famous to be faithful. A steady, loving heart is one of the most beautiful things there is.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Hájí Muhammad-Ridáy-i-Shírází".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/haji-muhammad-riday-i-shirazi/