Bahá'u'lláh Says Goodbye to Baghdád

*A retelling for children, based on **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** by J. E. Esslemont, with details from God Passes By.*

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In 1863 Bahá'u'lláh was ordered to leave the city of Baghdád and go to Constantinople, far away to the north and west. The journey would take between three and four months.

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Before He left, Bahá'u'lláh stayed for twelve days in a garden outside the city, while the caravan was made ready. Bahá'ís call it the Garden of Riḍván.

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Bahá'u'lláh was not sad about leaving. In those days, the book tells us, He "showed the greatest joy, dignity and power." His followers became "happy and enthusiastic," and great crowds came to pay their respects to Him. The book says:

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> All the notables of Baghdád, even the Governor himself, came to honor the > departing prisoner.

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The Governor was the man who ruled Baghdád for the government. He told Bahá'u'lláh that he was sorry about what had happened, and he gave an order that the governors of the places the travellers would pass through should treat them with the greatest kindness.

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On the twelfth day, the third of May, Bahá'u'lláh mounted a red roan horse at noon and rode out of the garden. People who saw it said that believers and unbelievers alike wept, and many bowed down at the feet of His horse as He passed.

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Bahá'ís remember that day as the Twelfth Day of Riḍván.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Bahá'u'lláh Leaves the Garden of Riḍván"](/stories/hd-twelfth-day-of-ridvan-departure-baghdad).*

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