Looking for the Good
Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání, Mahmúd's Diary, (1998), George Ronald · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
A retelling for children, based on Mahmúd's Diary (entry of 1 November 1912). The words in quotation marks are as the diary records them.
One day in 1912, in the city of Chicago, a man from Russia came to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá for the first time. As soon as he came into the room, he began to complain about Russia.
'Abdu'l-Bahá told him, "Do not speak ill of Russia." He told him to be good to friend and foe alike, to give up unkind thoughts and pray for everyone, and not to feel hatred toward anyone. He told him to praise everyone, and to remember a story about Jesus.
In the story, some people saw the body of a dead dog, and all of them were disgusted by it. But Christ looked at the same dog and found something good to say. He said, "What white teeth it has!"
The visitor was so moved that he cried out, "Today I have found the way to salvation and safety."
'Abdu'l-Bahá answered, "If you follow these teachings you will see things greater than this."
This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "What White Teeth It Has".
Cite this story
Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání, M.. (1998). *Mahmúd's Diary*. George Ronald. https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
Thornton Chase, the First American Believer
The life of Thornton Chase, whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called “the first American believer,” from his long spiritual search to his service in Chicago, and the Master’s visit to his grave in 1912.
'Abdu'l-Bahá's Western Tours
After His release, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued the same holy life of ceaseless activity in teaching, correspondence, ministering to the poor and the sick, with merely the change from Akká to Haifa and from Haifa to Alexandria …
The Intellect and the Heart
Reluctantly brought to hear ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Boston in 1912, William Randall carried Him some grape juice and was asked to sit. After twenty restless minutes the Master spoke words that became a turning point in his life.
Blessed Are the Poor
On 19 April 1912 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to three hundred homeless men at the Bowery Mission in New York, then stood at the end of the aisle and pressed coins into the hand of each man as he filed past.