Acknowledged by the People of ‘Akká
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When in Bahá'í history
'Akká (today: Acre, Israel)
Roy Wilhelm, an early pilgrim to the Master in ‘Akká, observed the esteem ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had won from even those who were not Bahá’ís: ‘Our room fronted upon a little garden in which was a fountain, and nearby a tent in which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá receives many of those who come to see Him. So intense are the hatreds between the followers of the different religious systems that it is unusual for a man to be well spoken of outside his own system, but ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is regarded by all classes as a man of such wisdom and justice that it is to Him that they come for explanation of their religious Books, for the adjustment of their business quarrels, and even for the settlement of family difficulties. The inquirer will be told that ‘Abbás Effendi (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) makes no distinction; that He helps Jew, Muhammadan and Christian alike.’ So fair was He in His dealings that a just Governor of ‘Akká, Ahmad Big Tawfíq, ‘used to send his son to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for instruction, and in the exercise of justice and sound government turned to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for counsel.’
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 35–6.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: integrity).
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