There was a time when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in chains
bahaistories.com archive · Read original
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When in Bahá'í history
'Akká (today: Acre, Israel)
There was a time when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in chains. The jailers were amazed that the Master sang and laughed. He informed them they were doing Him a kindness He had wanted to know the feelings of a man in chains. Now He knew!
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 170
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: prison-akka).
Discuss this story
For adults
- What stands out about 'Abdu'l-Bahá's response in this account?
- What in your own life does this story bring to mind?
- Where do you see kindness appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
For teens
- If you were in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about kindness?
Reflection
- Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
- If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "There was a time when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in chains" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/prison-akka
Record yourself reading this story
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