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Áqá Ibráhím-i-Iṣfahání and His Brothers 77 |
And among those who emigrated
and came to settle
in the Holy Land was Áqá Ibráhím, one of four honored
brothers: Muḥammad-Ṣádiq; Muḥammad-Ibráhím; Áqá
Habíbu’lláh; and Muḥammad-‘Alí. These four lived in
Baghdád with their paternal uncle, Áqá Muḥammad-Riḍá,
known as Árid. They all lived in the same house,
and remained together day and night. Bird-like, they
shared the one nest; and they were always fresh and full of
grace, like flowers in a bed.
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When the Ancient Beauty arrived in ‘Iráq their house
was in the neighborhood of His, and thus they had the joy
of watching Him as He came and went. Little by little the
manner of that Lord of hearts, what He did and what He
did not do, and the sight of His lovesome face, had its effect;
they began to thirst after the Faith and to seek His
grace and favor. They presented themselves at the door
of His house, as if they were flowers blooming there; and
they were soon enamored of the light that shone out from
His brow, captives of the beauty of that dear Companion.
They needed no teacher, then; by themselves, they saw
through the veils that had blinded them before, and won
the supreme desire of their hearts.
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As commanded by the Blessed Beauty, Mírzá Javád of
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Turshíz went to their house one night. Mírzá Javád had
hardly opened his mouth when they accepted the Faith.
They did not hesitate for an instant, for they had amazing
receptivity. This is what is meant by the Qur’ánic verse:
“…whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though
fire touched it not! It is light upon light.”
1
That is, this oil
is so fully prepared, so ready to be lit, that it almost
catches fire of itself, though no flame be at hand; which
means that the capacity for faith, and the deserving it, can
be so great, that without the communication of a single
word the light shines forth. This is how it was with those
pure-hearted men; truly they were loyal, staunch, and devoted
to God.
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The eldest brother, Muḥammad-Ṣádiq, accompanied
Bahá’u’lláh from ‘Iráq to Constantinople, and from there
to Adrianople, where he lived happily for some time, close
to his Lord. He was humble, long-suffering, thankful;
there was always a smile on his lips; he was light of heart,
and his soul was in love with Bahá’u’lláh. Later he was
given leave to return to ‘Iráq, for his family was there, and
he remained in that city for a while, dreaming and remembering.
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Then a great calamity occurred in ‘Iráq, and all four
brothers with their noble uncle were taken prisoner. Victimized,
captive, they were brought to Mosul. The uncle,
Áqá Muḥammad-Riḍá, was an old man, illumined of
mind, spiritual of heart, a man detached from all worldly
things. He had been extremely rich in ‘Iráq, enjoying comforts
and pleasures, but now in Hadba—Mosul—he became
the chief victim among the prisoners, and suffered
dire need. He was destitute, but remained dignified, patient,
content, and thankful. Keeping to himself in an out-of-the-way
place, he praised God day and night until he
79
died. He gave up his heart to his heart’s Love, burst from
the shackles of this inconstant world and ascended to the
Kingdom that endures forever. May God immerse him in
the waters of forgiveness, make him to enter the garden of
His compassion and good pleasure, and keep him in Paradise
till the end of time.
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As for Muḥammad-Ṣádiq, he too, in Mosul, was subjected
to hardships on God’s path. He too was a soul at
rest, well-pleased with his Lord and well-pleasing unto
Him. In the end he too replied to the voice of the King of
Glory: “Lord, here am I!” and came to fulfill the verses:
“O thou soul who art well-assured, return unto thy Lord, well-pleased,
and well-pleasing unto Him. Enter thou among
My servants; enter Thou My Paradise.”
2
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And Muḥammad-‘Alí, once he was freed from captivity,
hastened from Mosul to the Holy Land, to the precincts of
inexhaustible grace. Here he still lives. Although he suffers
hardship, his heart is at peace. As for his brother Ibráhím,
referred to above, he also came on from Mosul to ‘Akká,
but to a region close by. There with patience, calm, contentment,
but difficulty, he engaged in trade, meanwhile
mourning the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh by day and night.
Lowly and contrite, with his face turned toward the mysterious
realms of God, he wore his life away. At the end,
consumed by the years, hardly able to move about, he came
to Haifa, where he found a corner of the travelers’ hospice
to live in, and spent his time humbly calling upon God, entreating
Him, offering praise. Little by little, eaten away
with age, his person began its dissolution, and at the end he
stripped off the garment of flesh and with his unclothed
spirit took flight to the realm of the All-Merciful. He was
transported out of this dark life into the shining air, and
was plunged in a sea of lights. May God brighten his grave
80
with spreading rays, and lull his spirit with the fannings of
Divine compassion. Upon him be the mercy of God, and
His good pleasure.
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As for Áqá Habíbu’lláh, he too was made a captive in
‘Iráq and was banished away to Mosul. For a long time, he
lived in that city, subjected to hardships, but remaining
content, and his faith increasing day by day. When famine
came to Mosul life was harder than ever on the outsiders,
but in the remembrance of God their hearts were at rest,
3
and their souls ate of food from Heaven. Thus they endured
it all with astonishing patience, and the people
wondered at those strangers in their midst who were
neither distressed nor terrified as the others were, and who
continued to offer praise day and night. “What amazing
trust,” the people said, “they have in God!”
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Habíb was a man with a great store of patience and a
joyous heart. He accustomed himself to exile and he lived
in a state of yearning love. After the departure from Baghdád,
the prisoners of Mosul were constantly made mention
of by Bahá’u’lláh; with regard to them, He expressed His
infinite favor. A few years afterward, Habíb hastened away
to the encompassing mercy of God, and found a nest and
refuge on the boughs of the celestial Tree. There, in the
Paradise of all delights, with wondrous songs he poured
out his praise of the bountiful Lord.
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1. | Qur’án 24:35. [ Back To Reference] |
2. | Qur’án 89:27–30. [ Back To Reference] |
3. | Cf. Qur’án 13:28: “Truly in the remembrance of God are the hearts set at rest.” [ Back To Reference] |