Two Friends from Ádhirbáyján

*A retelling for children, based on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's memorial of Mashhadí Ḥusayn and Mashhadí Muḥammad-i-Ádhirbáyjání in **Memorials of the Faithful**, as given in Bahá'í Chronicles.*

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Mashhadí Ḥusayn and Mashhadí Muḥammad both came from the province of Ádhirbáyján in Persia, and they became believers there. 'Abdu'l-Bahá called them "blessed souls, loyal, unsullied in faith," and wrote that they were poor, content with the will of God, and rejoicing over the great message.

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They left their province and travelled to Adrianople, where Bahá'u'lláh was then living in exile. For quite a long time they lived near the city, in the village of Qumrúq-Kilísá. By day they prayed to God, and by night they wept over the sufferings of Bahá'u'lláh.

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When Bahá'u'lláh and His companions were sent away to the prison-city of 'Akká, the two friends were not in the city, so they were not arrested with the others. They stayed on in that region, heavy of heart. As soon as they had definite news from 'Akká, they set out and came there too.

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They lived outside 'Akká in a garden called Bágh-i-Firdaws and worked as farmers. Every day they thanked God that they were once again near Bahá'u'lláh.

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But they came from Ádhirbáyján and were used to the cold, and they could not endure the heat of 'Akká. In those early days the air there was unhealthy and the water was very bad. Both of them fell ill with a high fever that would not go away. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote: "They bore it cheerfully, with amazing patience." Though they suffered from the fever and a terrible thirst, they stayed at peace inside.

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They died while they were giving thanks to God with all their hearts. Their two graves are in 'Akká.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Mashhadí Ḥusayn and Mashhadí Muḥammad-I-Ádhirbáyjání"](/stories/bc-mashhadi-husayn-and-mashhadi-muhammad-i-adhirbayjani).*

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