Tea in the Meadows of 'Akká

*A retelling for children of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's account of Muḥammad-‘Alí of Iṣfahán in **Memorials of the Faithful**, as given on Bahá'í Chronicles.*

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Muḥammad-‘Alí of Iṣfahán was one of the earliest believers. Before he heard of the Faith he was among the most respected men of his city. His house was open to every stranger, rich or poor, and he was known for his good humor and generosity.

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When he became a believer, his house became a place where the friends gathered day and night to hear the sacred verses chanted. For a long time no one harmed him, because he was a relative of the Imám-Jum'ih, the cleric who led the Friday prayers in Iṣfahán. In the end even the Imám-Jum'ih sent him away. "I can protect you no longer," he told him. "You are in grave danger. The best thing for you is to leave here, and go on a journey."

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So Muḥammad-‘Alí went to ‘Iráq and came into the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. He had little to live on there, but he was happy and content, and he got on well with everyone.

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When Bahá'u'lláh was sent from Baghdád to Constantinople, Muḥammad-‘Alí went with Him, and on to Adrianople. 'Abdu'l-Bahá writes that whatever happened, he remained the same. In Adrianople he ran a small business that did surprisingly well.

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From Adrianople he went with Bahá'u'lláh to the fortress of ‘Akká and was put in prison there. For the rest of his life he was one of Bahá'u'lláh's fellow prisoners.

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He spent those years in great happiness. In the mornings he worked at a little business until noon. In the afternoons he would wrap his samovar in a dark pouch made from a saddlebag and go out to a garden, a meadow or a field to have his tea. Sometimes he was at the farm of Mazra'ih or in the Riḍván Garden, and sometimes at the Mansion, where he had the honor of attending on Bahá'u'lláh.

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He took notice of every blessing that came his way. "How delicious my tea is today," he would say. "What perfume, what color! How lovely this meadow is, and the flowers so bright!" He used to say that everything, even air and water, had its own special fragrance.

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People said that even kings were not as happy as he was. "He is completely free of the world," they would say. "He lives in joy." 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote with wonder that here was a prisoner who knew comfort, peace and joy.

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Muḥammad-‘Alí lived to be past eighty. He received many Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh, and his grave is in ‘Akká.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Muḥammad-‘Alí-i-Isfahání"](/stories/bc-muhammad-ali-i-isfahani).*

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