A Farewell in Minneapolis

*A retelling based on **Mahmúd's Diary** by Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání (George Ronald), from the entry for 20 September 1912. The narrative is retold in our own words; the lines in quotation marks are verbatim from the diary's entry for that day. Read the [full text](https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary) for the original entry.*

1 / 8

On the morning of 20 September 1912, 'Abdu'l-Bahá's last day in Minneapolis, friends and seekers gathered around Him. He told them to love one another deeply, to visit one another, and not to be content with words but to act according to the commandments of God.

2 / 8

At eight o'clock, after the parcels to be sent east had been packed, He left the hotel for the station. The friends who went with Him were sad and dejected at His going, and He consoled them until the train left. He told them that He would never forget them and that they were always in His mind. Then He spoke of the poor:

3 / 8

> I exhort you to be kind to the poor and love them. Help them, for the poor are broken-hearted.

4 / 8

He gave His reason:

5 / 8

> If you sacrifice yourself for the rich, they think you do it because you are obliged to. But if you love the poor, they feel joy and are sincerely grateful. To help the poor is essential.

6 / 8

At St Paul station Dr Woolson came to say goodbye and received the Master's blessing. The train reached Omaha two hours after midnight.

7 / 8

*This account is retold for the Bahá'í Story Library; it is a paraphrase, not the original text. The quoted lines are verbatim from Mahmúd's Diary (Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání, George Ronald). See the source for the original entry.*

8 / 8