Believers and Unbelievers Alike

*A retelling based on **God Passes By** by Shoghi Effendi (chapters 8 and 9). The words in quotation marks are quoted from that book.*

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On the afternoon of April 22, 1863, Bahá'u'lláh left His house in Baghdád for the last time. Friends and acquaintances "of every class and denomination" had paid Him innumerable farewell visits. Shoghi Effendi describes the crowd that filled the approaches to the house that day: men and women of every age, friends and strangers, Arabs, Kurds and Persians, notables and clerics, officials and merchants, and many of the poor, the orphaned and the outcast. Some were surprised and others heartbroken. Many were in tears, and a few had come out of curiosity or secret satisfaction.

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On His way to the river He gave a last alms to the poor He had befriended and spoke words of comfort to those who pressed around Him. Before He was ferried across the Tigris, He said to His companions:

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> O My companions, I entrust to your keeping this city of Baghdád, in the > state ye now behold it, when from the eyes of friends and strangers alike, > crowding its housetops, its streets and markets, tears like the rain of > spring are flowing down, and I depart. With you it now rests to watch lest > your deeds and conduct dim the flame of love that gloweth within the breasts > of its inhabitants.

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He stayed twelve days in the Najíbíyyih Garden, which His followers came to call the Garden of Riḍván, and visitors came in successive waves to say goodbye. Among them was the governor, Námiq Páshá, who expressed his regret at the events that had led to His departure and offered his help. "Extend thy consideration to Our loved ones," Bahá'u'lláh replied, "and deal with them with kindness."

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At noon on May 3, 1863, He left the garden. Shoghi Effendi writes that the departure brought scenes "no less spectacular, and even more touching" than those at His house, and he quotes an eyewitness:

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> The great tumult associated in our minds with the Day of Gathering, the Day > of Judgment, we beheld on that occasion. Believers and unbelievers alike > sobbed and lamented. The chiefs and notables who had congregated were struck > with wonder. Emotions were stirred to such depths as no tongue can describe, > nor could any observer escape their contagion.

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Mounted on a red roan stallion, the best His followers could buy for Him, Bahá'u'lláh then rode out on the first stage of the journey to Constantinople.

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*This is a retelling. For the fuller account, see **God Passes By** by Shoghi Effendi, chapters 8 and 9.*

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