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Good Evening all of you, dear readers
I'll continue from where I was with my story about Abdu'l-Baha, Abbas, from "Bahaullah and the New Era"
Baghdad
About this time Abbas was a frequent visitor to the mosques, where he would discuss theological matters with the doctors and learned men. He never attended any school or college, His only teacher being His Father. His favorite recreation was horseback riding, which He keenly enjoyed.
After Bahaullahs declaration in the Garden outside Baghdad, Abdu'l-Bahas devotion to His Father became greater than ever .
On the long journey to Constantinople,(Istanbul) He guarded Bahaullah night and day, riding by His wagon and watching over His tent. As far as possible He relieved His Father of all domestic cares and responsibilities, becoming the mainstay and comfort of the entire family.
During the years spent in Adrianople (Edirne),Abdu'l-Baha endeared Himself to everyone. He taught much, and became generally known as the 'Master'.At Akka (Akko, Acre), when nearly all the party was ill with typhoid, malaria and dysentery, He washed the patients, nursed them, fed them, watched with them, taking no rest, until utterly exhausted, He Himself took dysentery, and for about a month remained in a dangerous condition. In Akka, as in Adrianople, all classes, from the government to the most wretched beggar, learned to love and respect Him.
Abdu'l-Baha married... for a long time however, He 'showed no inclination for marriage'...' but it became known that there was a girl who was destined to become the wife of Abdu'l-Baha, one whose birth came about through the Blessing which the Bab gave to her parents in Isfahan. Her father Mirza Muhammad Ali and her mother, who for a long time had no children, longed for a child. 'On hearing this, the Bab gave Mirza Muhammad a portion of His food and told him to share it with his wife. After they had eaten the food, it soon became apparent that their long-cherished hopes of parenthood were about to be fulfilled, and in due course a daughter was born to them, who was given the name Munirih Khanum...Later 'Bahaullah and His wife Navvab, ...showed such kindness and favor to Munirih that others understood that they wished her to become the wife of Abdu'l-Baha. The wish of His Father and Mother became the wish of Abdu'l-Baha too... and they became united in marriage.'
The marriage proved to exceedingly happy and harmonious. Of the children born to them four daughters have survived the rigors of their long imprisonment, and, through their beautiful lives of service, have endeared themselves to all who have been privileged to know them.
CENTER OF THE COVENANT
Bahaullah indicated in many ways that Abdu'l-Baha was to direct the Cause after His own ascension. Many years before His death He declared this in a veiled manner in His Kitab-i-Aqdas '(The Most Holy Book, a Law-book)). 'He referred to Abdu'l-Baha on many occasions as 'The Branch from the Ancient Root'. He habitually spoke of Him as the 'Master' and required all His family to treat Him with marked deference; and in His Will and Testament left explicit instructions that all should turn to Him and obey Him.
After the death of the 'Blessed Beauty' (as Bahaullah was generally called by His family and believers) Abdu'l-Baha assumed the position which His Father had clearly indicated for Him as head of the Cause and authoritative Interpreter of the teachings, ...'
Abdu'l-Baha and His family were released from prison in 1908. Previously though they had enjoyed freedom during two decades up to 1901. This renewed imprisonment was due to the machinations of some of His relatives who had told, falsely, the Turkish authorities that Abdu'l-Baha had started to build a fort on the slopes of Mount Carmel, whereas in reality He had started to erect the mausoleum for the remains of the Bab. (See www.Bahai.org for a view of this beautiful building). .
To Abdu'l-Baha, as a teacher and friend, came men and women from every race, religion and nation, to sit at His table like favoured guests, questioning Him about the social, spiritual or moral program each had most at heart; and after a stay lasting from a few hours to many months, returning home, inspired, renewed and enlightened. The world surely never possessed such a guesthouse as this.
Within its doors the rigid castes of India melted away, the racial prejudice of Jew, Christian and Muhammedan became less than a memory; and every convention save the essential law of warm hearts and aspiring minds broke down, banned and forbidden by the unifying symphathy of the master of the house. It was like a King Arthur and the round table...but an Arthur who knighted women as well as men, and sent them away not with the sword but with the Word.'- The Modern Social Religion, Horace Holley)".
"A pilgrim who visited 'Akka at this time writes:-
It is the custom of Abdu'l-Baha each week, on Friday morning to distribute alms to the poor. From His own scanty store he gives a little to each one of the needy who come to ask assistance. This morning about one hundred were ranged in line, seated and crouching upon the ground in the open street of the courts where Abdu'l-Bahas house stands.And such a nondescript collection of humanity they were. All kinds of men, women and children - poor, wretched, hopeless in aspect, half-clothed, many of them crippled and blind, beggars indeed, poor beyond expression - waiting expectant - until from the doorway came Abdu'l-Baha...quickly moving from one to another, stopping sometimes to leave a word of symphaty and encouragement, dropping small coins, taking the hand of an old woman who held fast to the hem of his garment as he passed along, speaking words of light to old men with sightless eyes, inquiring after those too feeble and wretched to come for their pittance of help, and sending them their portion with a message of love and uplift. - Glimpses of Abdu'l-Baha, M.J.M."
I'll tell you more tomorrow I hope
Bye for now
Laila
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