Mírzá Ja‘far and the Healing Prayer

A retelling for children of the account of Mírzá Ja‘far-i-Yazdí in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Memorials of the Faithful, as given in Bahá'í Chronicles.

Mírzá Ja‘far came from Yazd, in Persia. He spent many years in the religious schools, studying religion and religious law, philosophy, logic and history. But he noticed that many of his fellow students were arrogant and pleased with themselves, and this drove him away from them. Then he heard the call of the new Faith, and he accepted it without a moment's hesitation.

When riots broke out in Yazd, he left for the city of Najaf, where he lived among the scholars and became known for his learning. Then he went on to Baghdád, where Bahá'u'lláh was living. There he changed his dress, put a layman's hat on his head, and earned his living as a carpenter. He was content to be poor. In spite of his great learning he was humble, he said very little, and he was a good companion to every kind of person.

When Bahá'u'lláh was sent from Baghdád to Constantinople, Mírzá Ja‘far travelled with Him. On that journey he and 'Abdu'l-Bahá looked after the needs of the friends together. When the caravan stopped, the tired travellers would rest or sleep, but the two of them went out to the villages nearby to find oats, straw and other supplies. There was a famine in that region, and sometimes they went from village to village from after noon until the middle of the night before they came back with whatever they could find.

'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that Mírzá Ja‘far was "a servant to all the friends, working day and night." He served in Adrianople until Bahá'u'lláh was banished to 'Akká, and then he too became a prisoner. He was grateful for it, and would say, "Praise be to God! I am in the fully-laden Ark!"

While the exiles were held in the barracks of 'Akká, Mírzá Ja‘far fell dangerously ill. In the end the doctor gave up and stopped coming. Then he stopped breathing, and his family gathered round him in tears. Word of his death was carried to Bahá'u'lláh, who said: "Go; chant the prayer of Yá Sháfí—O Thou, the Healer—and Mírzá Ja‘far will come alive. Very rapidly, he will be as well as ever."

'Abdu'l-Bahá went to his bedside. His body was cold. Slowly he began to stir. Soon he could move his arms and legs, and before an hour had passed he lifted his head, sat up, and began to laugh and tell jokes.

He lived for a long time after that and went on serving the friends as before. Being a servant to everyone was the thing he was proud of. He died in the Most Great Prison, and his grave is in 'Akká.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Mírzá Ja‘far-i-Yazdí".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/mirza-jafar-i-yazdi/