Jamshíd-i-Gurjí in the Well

*A retelling based on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's **Memorials of the Faithful**. Words in quotation marks are from that book, including Jamshíd's own words as the Master recorded them.*

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Jamshíd-i-Gurjí came from Georgia and grew up in Káshán. 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes him as "a fine youth, faithful, trustworthy, with a high sense of honor." When he heard "that on Persia's horizons the Sun of Truth had risen, he was filled with holy ecstasy, and he longed and loved."

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After some time in Persia he went to Ottoman territory, and in Adrianople he attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. "His joy and fervor were boundless." Later, at Bahá'u'lláh's command, he travelled to Constantinople with two other believers. There he was imprisoned and put in chains.

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The Persian ambassador had informed against Jamshíd and another believer, Ustád Muḥammad-'Alíy-i-Dallák, as enemy leaders and fighters. He described Jamshíd as "a latter-day Rustam," after the hero of the Persian epics, and his companion as "a ravening lion." The two were imprisoned, then sent under guard to the Persian frontier to be handed over to the Persian Government "and crucified." The guards were threatened with terrible punishments if the prisoners escaped, so at every stopping place they were kept in some almost inaccessible spot.

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"Once they were thrown into a pit, a kind of well, and suffered agonies all through the night." The next morning Jamshíd called out: "O you who oppress us! Are we Joseph the Prophet that you have thrown us in this well? Remember how He rose out of the well as high as the full moon? We too walk the pathway of God, we too are down here for His sake, and we know that these depths are the heights of the Lord."

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At the frontier the prisoners were handed over to Kurdish chiefs, who were to send them on to Ṭihrán. The chiefs saw that they were "innocent men, kindly and well-disposed, who had fallen a prey to their enemies," and set them free. "Joyfully, the two hastened away on foot, went back to Bahá'u'lláh and found a home close by Him in the Most Great Prison."

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In 'Akká Jamshíd was often admitted to Bahá'u'lláh's presence. "He was tranquil and at peace. The believers were well-pleased with him, and he was well-pleased with God." When the call came, "O thou soul who art well-assured, return unto thy Lord, well-pleased with Him, and well-pleasing unto Him," he answered, "Yea, verily!" His grave is in 'Akká.

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*This is a retelling. For the full account, see **Memorials of the Faithful** by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.*

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