The Friend Who Would Not Say Goodbye

A retelling for children, based on Bahá'í Chronicles, "Muhammad-Husayn-i-Maraghi'i."

Long ago, in a faraway land, there lived a young man named Muhammad-Husayn. He believed in the Bábí Faith with his whole heart, and he had a friend he loved dearly — a man named Haji Mulla Isma'il. The two of them trusted each other completely. They had stood beside one another through every kind of trouble.

But these were dangerous days for people who believed as they did. There were powerful men who wanted to stop them, and who were ready to be very cruel. Muhammad-Husayn knew that holding fast to his Faith might cost him his very life.

Most people, when danger comes, try to slip away and hide. Not Muhammad-Husayn. When the hardest moment arrived, he did something that amazed everyone watching. He did not beg to be spared. Instead, he rushed forward. He asked if he might be allowed to give his life — and to do it before his companions, not after.

Then his eyes fell on his beloved friend. In that very moment, Muhammad-Husayn threw his arms around him and held him tight, and he cried out for all to hear:

"Never will I consent to separate myself from my dearly beloved friend, in whom I have reposed the utmost confidence and from whom I have received so many evidences of a sincere and deep-felt affection!"

The crowd had never seen anything like it. Here were friends, not running away from danger, but each one eager to go first — each one trying to be the brave one, the loyal one, the one who would not leave the others behind. The people who came to watch could only wonder at it.

Muhammad-Husayn was true to the very end. He would not turn his back on his Faith, and he would not turn his back on his friend. He held on to both with all his strength.

It takes great courage to be loyal — to stand by what you believe and by the people you love, even when it is frightening, even when it is hard. The bravest hearts are not the ones who run. They are the ones who, like Muhammad-Husayn, hold on tight and refuse to let go.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Muhammad-Husayn-i-Maraghi'i".

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/muhammad-husayn-i-maraghii-neda-dawn-breakers/