My noble father was hurled into this black hole, loaded with heavy chains; five

My noble father was hurled into this black hole, loaded with heavy chains; five other the Bábís were chained to him night and day, and here he remained for four months. Picture to yourself the horror of these conditions. Any movement caused the chains to cut deeper and deeper not only into the flesh of one, but of all who were chained together; whilst sleep or rest of any kind was not possible. No food was provided, and it was with the utmost difficulty that my mother was able to arrange to get any food or drink taken into that ghastly prison. Meanwhile, the spirit which upheld the Bábís never quailed for a moment, even under these conditions. To be tortured to a death, which would be the Martyr's Crown of Life, was their aim and great desire. They chanted prayers night and day. Every morning one or more of these brave and devoted friends would be taken out to be tortured and killed in various ways of horror.

Source: Hasan M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Centre of the Covenant, p. 40-41

Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: siyah-chal).

Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/siyah-chal