The Dervish by the Roadside in Núr
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When in Bahá'í history
While riding in the countryside of Nur, Bahá’u’lláh came across a dervish. A dervish was one who had given up worldly things to seek the spiritual path. They lived nomadic and simple lives seeking to come nearer to God. This dervish was cooking his food by the side of the road. Bahá’u’lláh asked him what he was doing. As the dervish saw God in everything, even the food he was eating, he simply replied, “I am engaged in eating God. I am cooking God and am burning Him.” Bahá’u’lláh smiled at his remark. Talking to him tenderly, He explained the true nature of God. The humble dervish listened, and many shadows in his imagination vanished before him. A new and powerful insight unveiled itself; he felt like a bird released from a cage, his spirit sang with joy. As Bahá’u’lláh left him, the dervish followed, leaving all his cooking utensils behind, and danced with joy behind Bahá’u’lláh’s horse, singing praises to Him from his heart.
Source: Retold in Ruhi Institute, Book 4, The Twin Manifestations; the account is in Nabíl-i-A'ẓam, The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 117–118.
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