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Exile to Baghdád |
This terrible imprisonment lasted four months, but Bahá’u’lláh
and His companions remained zealous and enthusiastic,
in the greatest of happiness. Almost every day one or more of
them was tortured or put to death and the others reminded that
their turn might come next. When the executioners came to
fetch one of the friends, the one whose name was called would
literally dance with joy, kiss the hands of Bahá’u’lláh, embrace
the rest of his fellow believers and then hasten with glad
eagerness to the place of martyrdom.
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It was conclusively proved that Bahá’u’lláh had no share
in the plot against the Sháh, and the Russian Minister testified
to the purity of His character. He was, moreover, so ill that it
was thought He would die. Instead, therefore, of sentencing
Him to death, the Sháh ordered that He should be exiled to
‘Iráq-i-‘Arab, in Mesopotamia; and thither, a fortnight later,
Bahá’u’lláh set out, accompanied by His family and a number
of other believers. They suffered terribly from cold and other
hardships on the long winter journey and arrived in Baghdád
in a state of almost utter destitution.
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As soon as His health permitted, Bahá’u’lláh began to teach
inquirers and to encourage and exhort the believers, and soon
peace and happiness reigned among the Bábís.
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This, however,
was short-lived. Bahá’u’lláh’s half brother, Mírzá Yaḥyá, also
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known as Subh-i-Azal, arrived in Baghdád, and soon afterwards
differences, secretly instigated by him, began to grow,
just as similar divisions had arisen among the disciples of
Christ. These differences (which later, in Adrianople, became
open and violent) were very painful to Bahá’u’lláh, Whose
whole aim in life was the promotion of unity among the
people of the world.
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1. | 2nd of Muharram, 1233 A.H. [ Back To Reference] |