The Bookbinder Who Swept the Square
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Memorials of the Faithful, (1915), Bahá'í Publishing Trust · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
A retelling for children of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's account of Muḥammad-Hádí the bookbinder in Memorials of the Faithful, as given on Bahá'í Chronicles.
Muḥammad-Hádí was a bookbinder from Iṣfahán, in Persia. He bound books and decorated their pages, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá says that at this work he had no equal.
When he gave his heart to God, he left his home and made a long, hard journey from one country to another until he reached the Holy Land. There he became a prisoner, so that he could live near Bahá'u'lláh.
He took up his place beside the door of Bahá'u'lláh's house, keeping watch and sweeping the ground with care. Because of him, the square in front of the house was always swept, sprinkled with water and spotless.
Bahá'u'lláh would often look at that plot of ground and smile. "Muḥammad-Hádí has turned the square in front of this prison into the bridal bower of a palace," He said. "He has brought pleasure to all the neighbors and earned their thanks." A bridal bower is a place made beautiful for a wedding.
When the sweeping and sprinkling were done, Muḥammad-Hádí went back to his craft. He decorated and bound the books and Tablets of the Faith, and his days went by with a happy heart.
He was a short man, but 'Abdu'l-Bahá writes that he was lofty of station and mind, pure of heart, and loved by the friends. From time to time Bahá'u'lláh would smile and speak to him with kindness.
This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Muḥammad-Hádíy-i-Ṣaḥḥáf".
Cite this story
'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1915). *Memorials of the Faithful*. Bahá'í Publishing Trust. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/memorials-faithful/
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