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Hi everybody!
This evening I'll continue to relate the story about the imprisonment of Bahaullah in the forbidding fort of Akka ,Acre.And how He, in an astounding way, got out of it, to live on the countryside, no one raising a word in protest.
Quoting from "Bahaullah and the New Era"
At that time Akka was a prison city to which the worst criminals were sent from all parts of the Turkish Empire. On arriving there, after a miserable sea journey, Bahaullah and His followers,..including men, women and children, were imprisoned in the army-barracks. The place was dirty and cheerless in the extreme. There were no beds or comforts of any sort. The food supplied was wretched and inadequate, so much so that after a time the prisoners begged to be allowed to buy their food for themselves. During the first few days the children were crying continually, and sleep was almost impossible. Malaria, dysentery and other diseases soon broke out, and everyone in the company fell sick,...the sufferings of the survivors were indescribable.
The rigorous imprisonment lasted for over two years, during which time none of the Bahais were allowed outside the prison door, except four men, carefully guarded, who went out daily to buy food.
During the imprisonment in the barracks, visitors were rigidly excluded. Several of the Bahais of Persia came all the way on foot for the purpose of seeing their beloved Leader, but were refused admittance within the city walls. They used to go to a place on the plain outside the third moat, from which they could see the windows of Bahaullahs quarters. He would show Himself to them at one of the windows and after gazing on Him from afar, they would weep and return to their homes, fired with a new zeal for sacrifice and service.
Restrictions Relaxed
At last the imprisonment was mitigated. A mobilization of Turkish troops occurred and the barracks were required for soldiers. Bahaullah and His family were transferred to a house by themselves and the rest of the party were accommodated in a caravanserai in the town. Bahaullah was confined for seven more years in this house. In a small room near that in which He was imprisoned, thirteen of His household, including both sexes, had to accommodate themselves as best as they could! In the earlier part of their stay in this house they suffered greatly from insufficiency of accommodation, inadequate food supply and a lack of the ordinary conveniencies of life. After a time, however, a few additional rooms were placed at their disposal and they were able to live in comparative comfort.From the time Bahaullah and His companions left the barracks, visitors were allowed to see them, and gradually the severe restrictions imposed by the Imperial firmans were more and more left in abeyance, although now and then reimposed for a time.
Prison gates opened
Even when the imprisonment was at its worst, the Bahais were not dismayed, and their serene confidence was never shaken. While in the barracks at Akka, Bahaullah wrote to some friends, "Fear not. These doors shall be opened. My tent shall be pitched on Mount Carmel, and the utmost joy shall be realized." This declaration was a great consolation to His followers, and in due course it was literally fulfilled. The story of how the prison doors were opened had best be told in the words of Abdu'l-Baha...:
Bahaullah loved the beauty and verdure of the country. One day He passed the remark.:'I have not gazed on verdure for nine years. The country is the world of the soul, the city is the world of bodies.' When I heard indirectly of this saying I realized that He was longing for the country, and I was sure that whatever I could do towards the carrying out of His wish would be successful. There was in Akka at that time a man called Muhammad Pasha Safwat, who was very much opposed to us. He had a palace called called Mazra'ih, about four miles north of the city, a lovely place, surrounded by gardens and with a stream of running water. I went and called upon this Pasha at his home. I said 'Pasha, you have left the palace empty, and are living in Akka':He replied, I am an invalid and cannot leave the city. If I go there it is lonely and I am cut off from my friends'. I said:'While you are not living there and the place is empty, let it to us.' He was amazed at the proposal, but soon consented. I got the house at a very low rent,...for five years.. I sent laborers to repair the place and put the garden in order and had a bath built. I also had a carriage prepared for the use of the Blessed Beauty(a title frequently applied to Bahaullah by His followers and friends.)
One day I determined to go and see the place for myself. Notwithstanding the repeated injunctions given in successive firmans that we were on no account to pass the limits of the city walls, I walked out through the City Gate. Gendarmes were on guard, but they made no objection, so I proceeded straight to the palace. The next day I again went out, with some friiends and officials, unmolested and unopposed, although the guards and sentinels stood on both sides of the city gates.Another day I arranged a banquet, spread a table under the pine trees of Bahji, and gathered round it the notables and officials of the town. In the evening we all returned to the town together.
One day I went to the Holy Presence of the Blessed Beauty and said:'The palace of Mazra'ih is ready for You, and a carriage to drive You there.'...He refused to go saying:'I am a prisoner.' Later I requested Him again, but got the same answer. I went so far as to ask Him a third time, but He still said 'no!' and I did not dare to insist any further. There was however, in Akka a certain Muhammad Shaykh , a well known man with considerable influence, who loved Bahaullah and was greatly favored by Him. I called this Shaykh and explained the position to him. I said,'You are daring. Go tonight to His Holy Presence, fall on your knees before Him, take hold of His hands and do not let go until He promises to leave the city!' He was an Arab...He went directly to Bahaullah and sat down close to His knees. He took hold of the hands of the Blessed Beauty and kissed them and asked:'Why do You not leave the city?' He said:'I am a prisoner.' The Shaykh replied: 'God forbid!Who has the power to make You a prisoner? You have kept Yourself in prison. It was Your own will to be imprisoned, and now I beg You to come out and go to the palace. It is beautiful and verdant. The trees are lovely, and the orange like balls of fire!' As often as the Blessed Beauty said: 'I am a prisoner, it cannot be,'the Shaykh took His hands and kissed them. For a whole hour he kept on pleading. At last Bahaullah said,'Khayli khub(very good)'and the Shaykh's patience and persistence was rewarded. He came to me with great joy to give the glad news of His Holiness's consent. In spite of the strict firman of Abdu'l-Aziz which prohibited my meeting or having any intercourse with the Blessed Perfection, I took the carriage the next day and drove with Him to the palace. No one made any objection. I left Him there and returned to the city.
For two years He remained in that charming and lovely spot. "
I hope you liked this story.
This is just one of the many wonderful events surrounding His Blessed Person.
Bye for now
Kind regards from
Laila
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