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War Time at Haifa |
A remarkable instance of the foresight of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was
supplied during the months immediately preceding the war.
During peacetimes there was usually a large number of pilgrims
at Haifa, from Persia and other regions of the globe.
About six months before the outbreak of war one of the old
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Bahá’ís living at Haifa present a request from several believers
of Persia for permission to visit the Master. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
did not grant the permission, and from that time onwards
gradually dismissed the pilgrims who were at Haifa, so that by
the end of July 1914 none remained. When, in the first days of
August the sudden outbreak of the Great War startled the
world, the wisdom of His precaution became apparent.
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When the war broke out, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who had already
spent fifty-five years of His life in exile and prison, became
again virtually a prisoner of the Turkish Government. Communication
with friends and believers outside Syria was almost
completely cut off, and He and His little band of followers were
again subjected to straitened circumstances, scarcity of food
and great personal danger and inconvenience.
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During the war ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had a busy time in ministering
to the material and spiritual wants of the people about Him.
He personally organized extensive agricultural operations near
Tiberias, thus securing a great supply of wheat, by means of
which famine was averted, not only for the Bahá’ís but for
hundreds of the poor of all religions in Haifa and ‘Akká, whose
wants He liberally supplied. He took care of all, and mitigated
their sufferings as far as possible. To hundreds of poor people
He would give a small sum of money daily. In addition to
money He gave bread. If there was no bread He would give
dates or something else. He made frequent visits to ‘Akká to
comfort and help the believers and poor people there. During
the time of war He had daily meetings of the believers, and
through His help the friends remained happy and tranquil
throughout those troublous years.
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