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His Eminence Kalím (Mírzá Músá) |
Jináb-i-Mírzá Músá was the
true brother of Bahá’u’lláh,
and from earliest childhood
he was reared in the sheltering embrace of the Most Great
Name. He drank in the love of God with his mother’s
milk; when yet a suckling, he showed an extraordinary attachment
to the Blessed Beauty. At all times he was the
object of Divine grace, favor and loving-kindness. After
their distinguished father died, Mírzá Músá was brought
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up by Bahá’u’lláh, growing to maturity in the haven of
His care. Day by day, the youth’s servitude and devotion
increased. In all things, he lived according to the commandments,
and he was entirely severed from any thoughts of
this world.
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Like a bright lamp, he shone out in that Household. He
wished neither rank nor office, and had no worldly aims
at all. His one supreme desire was to serve Bahá’u’lláh, and
for this reason he was never separated from his Brother’s
presence. No matter what torments the others inflicted, his
loyalty equaled the cruelty of the rest, for he had drunk
the wine of unadulterated love.
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Then the voice was heard, crying out of Shíráz, and from
a single utterance of Bahá’u’lláh’s his heart was filled with
light, and from a single gust that blew over the gardens of
faith, he caught the fragrance. At once, he began to serve
the friends. He had an extraordinary attachment to me,
and was at all times concerned for my well-being. In Ṭihrán
he occupied himself day and night with propagating the
Faith and gradually became well known to everyone; habitually
he spent his time in the company of blessed souls.
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Bahá’u’lláh then left Ṭihrán, journeying to ‘Iráq, and
of His brothers the two who were in His company were
Áqáy-i-Kalím
1
and Mírzá Muḥammad-Qulí. They turned
their faces away from Persia and the Persians, and closed
their eyes to comfort and peace; in the Beloved’s path they
chose with all their hearts to bear whatever calamity
should be their lot.
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Thus they arrived in ‘Iráq. During the days when Bahá’u’lláh
had vanished from sight, that is, when He was on the
journey to Kurdistán, Áqáy-i-Kalím lived on the edge of an
abyss; his life was constantly in danger, and each day that
passed was worse than the one before; still, he bore it all,
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and knew no fear. When at last the Blessed Beauty returned
out of Kurdistán, Áqáy-i-Kalím resumed his post by
the Holy Threshold, rendering every service within his
power. For this he became known far and wide. At the
time when Bahá’u’lláh left Baghdád for Constantinople,
Áqáy-i-Kalím was with Him and continued to serve along
the way, as he did on the further journey from Constantinople
to Adrianople.
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It was during the sojourn in this latter city that he detected
from Mírzá Yaḥyá the odor of rebellion. Day and
night he tried to make him mend his ways, but all to
no avail. On the contrary, it was astonishing how, like a
deadly poison, the temptings and satanic suggestions of
Siyyid Muḥammad worked on Mírzá Yaḥyá, so that Áqáy-i-Kalím
finally abandoned hope. Even then he never ceased
trying, thinking that somehow, perhaps, he could still the
tempest and rescue Mírzá Yaḥyá from the gulf. His heart
was worn away with despair and grief. He tried everything
he knew. At last he had to admit the truth of these words of
Saná’í:
If to the fool my lore you’d bring, |
When all hope was gone, he ended the relationship,
saying: “O my brother, if others are in doubt as to this
affair, you and I both know the truth. Have you forgotten
the loving-kindness of Bahá’u’lláh, and how He trained us
both? What care He took with your lessons and your penmanship;
how constantly He saw to your spelling and your
composition, and encouraged you to practice the different
calligraphic styles; He even guided your copy with His own
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blessed fingers. Who does not know how He showered
favors on you, how He brought you up in the haven of
His embrace. Is this your thanks for all His tenderness—that you plot with Siyyid Muḥammad and desert the shelter
of Bahá’u’lláh? Is this your loyalty? Is this the right return
for all His love?” The words had no effect whatever; on the
contrary, with each passing day, Mírzá Yaḥyá disclosed a
greater measure of his concealed intent. Then at the end,
the final rupture took place.
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From Adrianople, Áqáy-i-Kalím went on with the convoy
of Bahá’u’lláh, to the fortress of ‘Akká. His name was
specifically listed in the Sulṭán’s decree, and he was condemned
to perpetual banishment.
2
He devoted all his time
in the Most Great Prison to serving Bahá’u’lláh, and had
the honor of being continually in his Brother’s presence,
also keeping company with the believers; until at last he
left this world of dust and hastened to the holy world
above, dying with lowliness and contrition, as he supplicated
his Lord.
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It happened that during the Baghdád period, the well-known
Ílkhání, son of Músá Khán-i-Qazvíní, received
through Siyyid Javád-i-Tabátabá’í an audience with Bahá’u’lláh.
Siyyid Javád on that occasion made a plea in the
Ílkhání’s behalf, saying: “This Ílkhání, ‘Alí-Qulí Khán,
although a sinner and a lifelong creature of his passions,
has now repented. He stands before You with regret as to
his former ways, and from this day forward he will not so
much as draw a breath that might be contrary to Your good
pleasure. I beg of You, accept his repentance; make him the
object of Your grace and favor.”
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Bahá’u’lláh replied: “Because he has chosen you as intercessor,
I will hide away his sins, and I will take steps to
bring him comfort and peace of mind.”
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The Ílkhání had been a man of unlimited wealth, but he
had wasted it all on the desires of the flesh. He was now
destitute, to such a point that he did not even dare to step
outside his house, because of the creditors waiting there to
fall upon him. Bahá’u’lláh directed him to go to Umar
Páshá, the Governor of Damascus, and obtain from him a
letter of recommendation to Constantinople. The Ílkhání
complied, and he received every assistance from the Governor
of Baghdád. After utter despair, he began to hope
again, and left for Constantinople. When he arrived at
Díyárbakr
3
he penned a letter on behalf of two Armenian
merchants. “These two are about to leave for Baghdád,”
his letter said. “They have shown me every courtesy, and
have also asked me for an introduction. I had no refuge
or shelter except Your bounty; thus I beg of You to show
them favor.” The superscription, that is, the address he
had written on the envelope was: “To His Eminence
Bahá’u’lláh, Leader of the Bábís.” The merchants presented
this letter to Bahá’u’lláh at the head of the bridge,
and when He inquired about it their reply was: “In Díyárbakr,
the Ílkhání gave us particulars as to this Cause.”
Then they accompanied Him to His house.
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1. | Mírzá Músá. [ Back To Reference] |
2. | Cf. God Passes By, p. 186. [ Back To Reference] |
3. | Some four hundred miles northwest of Baghdád. [ Back To Reference] |