The Boy in the Doorway

A retelling for children, based on The Priceless Pearl by Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

In 1899 a lady from America named Ella Goodall Cooper came to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the city of 'Akká. She saw something there that she later wrote down.

Early one morning she was having tea with the ladies of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's family. 'Abdu'l-Bahá sat in His favourite corner of the couch, busy writing. The room was quiet except for the bubbling of the samovar, the big pot where the tea was being made. After a while 'Abdu'l-Bahá looked up with a smile and asked His daughter to chant a prayer.

Just as she finished, a small boy appeared in the open doorway across from 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He slipped off his shoes and stepped into the room, with his eyes on his grandfather's face.

'Abdu'l-Bahá looked back at him with such a loving welcome that it seemed to call the boy closer. The little boy walked slowly across the room until he stood right in front of Him.

'Abdu'l-Bahá did not hug him. He sat perfectly still and slowly nodded His head, two or three times. To Mrs Cooper, the nod seemed to be saying:

You see? This tie connecting us is not just that of a physical grandfather but something far deeper and more significant.

Everyone watched, holding their breath, to see what the boy would do. He bent down, picked up the hem of his grandfather's robe, touched it gently to his forehead and kissed it, and then put it back, never taking his eyes from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's face. The next moment he turned and ran off to play, like any other little boy.

That little boy was Shoghi. At that time he was 'Abdu'l-Bahá's only grandchild. He grew up to be Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Young Shoghi Effendi Greets the Master".

Khánum, R.. (1969). *The Priceless Pearl*. Bahá'í Publishing Trust.