The Family's Road to the Garden

*A retelling based on **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** by J. E. Esslemont. The account of the flood comes from **A Flame of Fire** by A. Q. Faizi. Words in quotation marks are quoted from those books.*

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In August 1852 a follower of the Báb made an attempt on the life of the Sháh. Esslemont writes that "the whole body of Bábís was unjustly held responsible for the deed." Many were put to death, and many others were thrown into prison, among them Bahá'u'lláh. He later wrote of the dungeon of Ṭihrán:

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> We were consigned for four months to a place foul beyond comparison.

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His family suffered with Him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, His eldest son, was nine years old. "A mob sacked their house," Esslemont writes, "and the family were stripped of their possessions and left in destitution." One day the boy was allowed into the prison yard to see His Father when He came out for exercise. Bahá'u'lláh was so ill He could hardly walk, His neck swollen from a heavy steel collar and His body bent by the weight of His chains.

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It was proved that Bahá'u'lláh had no share in the plot. Instead of sentencing Him to death, the Sháh ordered Him exiled to 'Iráq, and a fortnight later He set out, accompanied by His family and a number of other believers. Esslemont writes: "They suffered terribly from cold and other hardships on the long winter journey and arrived in Baghdád in a state of almost utter destitution."

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They were still in Baghdád when, in 1863, at the request of the Persian Government, the Turkish Government summoned Bahá'u'lláh to Constantinople. So many of His followers crowded His house that He moved to the Garden of Najíb Páshá outside the city, where He stayed for twelve days, from 22 April to 3 May, while the caravan was prepared. There He announced that He was the One Whose coming the Báb had foretold.

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His family could not join Him at once. Faizi writes: "On that same day the river overflowed and only on the ninth day was it possible for His family to join Him in the Garden." That ninth day, 30 April, is one of the three days of Riḍván that Bahá'ís keep as Holy Days.

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Esslemont describes those twelve days:

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> During those days Bahá'u'lláh, instead of being sad or depressed, showed the > greatest joy, dignity and power. His followers became happy and enthusiastic, > and great crowds came to pay their respects to Him. All the notables of > Baghdád, even the Governor himself, came to honor the departing prisoner.

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*This is a retelling. For the fuller account, see **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** by J. E. Esslemont and **A Flame of Fire** by A. Q. Faizi.*

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