The Poet of Káshán Who Longed for Bahá'u'lláh

*A retelling for children of the account of Mírzá Mihdíy-i-Káshání in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's **Memorials of the Faithful**, as given in **Bahá'í Chronicles**.*

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Mírzá Mihdí came from Káshán, in Persia. When he was young his father taught him the sciences and arts. He learned to write both prose and poetry, and he became skilled in a style of handwriting called *shikastih*. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that "he was singled out from his fellows, head and shoulders above the rest."

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While he was still a child he heard that the Promised One had come, and he "caught fire with love." He began to teach the Faith, and some of those he taught became believers.

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Because of his faith, people in Káshán laughed at him, both friends and strangers. One of them said, "He has lost his mind." Another said, "He is a public disgrace. Fortune has turned against him. He is done for." When life there became impossible, he left his home and went to Iraq, and in Baghdád he came into the presence of Bahá'u'lláh.

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He stayed for a time among the friends and wrote poems in praise of Bahá'u'lláh. Later he was allowed to go home to Káshán. But he missed Bahá'u'lláh so much that he could not stay away, and he went back to Baghdád, taking his sister with him.

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When Bahá'u'lláh and His companions left Baghdád for Constantinople, Mírzá Mihdí was told to stay behind and guard the Holy House. Later the believers who remained in Baghdád were exiled to Mosul, and he was among them. In Mosul he was sick nearly all the time and had no money. Still he was patient, kept his dignity, and went on giving thanks to God.

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At last he asked permission to come to Bahá'u'lláh, and it was given. The road to 'Akká was long and hard, and by the time he reached the prison he was so weak that he could hardly help himself. Bahá'u'lláh was then held in the citadel. Mírzá Mihdí spent some days there in great joy. To him the hardships were gifts, because he bore them for the love of God. "O my Lord, take me, take me!" he used to cry. His illness grew worse day by day, and then he died.

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'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote that he had once been honored among men, but for the love of God he lost both name and fame, and bore his troubles without ever complaining. His grave is in 'Akká.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Mírzá Mihdíy-i-Káshání"](/stories/bc-mirza-mihdiy-i-kashani).*

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