A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí Translated and Annotated by Ahang Rabbani

Volume 9

Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History

A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí

Translated and Annotated by Ahang Rabbani Volume 9 Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History

Copyright and Distribution © 2008, Ahang Rabbani This book was prepared for print publication by Ahang Rabbani. This electronic edition has been produced to facilitate widespread distribution and use of this study. This monograph may be freely redistributed in electronic form so long as the following conditions are met: 1. The contents of this file are not altered. 2. This copyright and redistribution notice remains intact 3. No charges are made or monies collected for the redistribution In addition, this electronic version may be printed for redistribution as a printed document or as a book for noncommercial purposes, such as, personal or educational use, so long as the above conditions are met with the following qualifications and additions: 1. Charges may be made or monies collected only to recover the actual costs of printing and distribution. No profit may be made, or surcharge assessed, for the distribution of this work in printed formats. 2. If printed in book form, five copies must be submitted for archival purposes to the International Bahá’í Library in Haifa, Israel (http://library.bahai.org/). Any other reproduction or redistribution in any format is forbidden without the expressed written consent of Dr. Ahang Rabbani or his designated heirs. For the latest version of this study, visit: http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/

Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History The Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History series is a multi-volume ongoing project of Ahang Rabbani. A list of current projects and forthcoming research monographs is available at: http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/ Published Volumes 1

In the Land of Refuge: The Genesis of the Bahá’í Faith in Shiraz

2

The Bábís of Nayriz: History and Documents

3

Eight Years Near ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Dr. Habíb Mu’ayyad

4

Memories of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Recollections of Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán

5

Ponder Thou upon the Martyrdom of Hájí Muhammad-Ridá: Nineteen Historical Accounts

6

Bahá’í Martyrdoms in Manshad in 1903: Three Historical Accounts

7

Memoirs of a Bahá’í in Rasht: 1889-1903

8

Witness to Shaykh Tabarsi: The Narrative of Hájí Nasír Qazvíní

9

A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí

10

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Year in Egypt: A Compilation of Eyewitness Accounts

11

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Mírzá ‘Isá Isfahání

12

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Diaries of Drs. Habíb Mu’ayyad and Zia Baghdadi

13

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Dr. Núru’lláh Hamadání

14

With Bahá’u’lláh: The Narrative of Áqá Husyan Áshchí

15 The Voice of the Heroes: The Genesis of the Bahá’í Faith in Khurasan

Contents Translator’s Foreword -------------------------------------------------------- 2 Shahídí’s Preamble ----------------------------------------------------------- 13 Shahídí’s Reminiscences Birth and Family Heritage --------------------------------------------- 14 The Covenant-breakers ------------------------------------------------ 15 Ustád Abú’l-Qásim ----------------------------------------------------- 15 Muhammad-Hasan Khádim ------------------------------------------ 16 ‘Akká’s Bahá’í Cemetery ----------------------------------------------- 17 My Family ---------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Rely Upon God --------------------------------------------------------- 18 Calligraphy --------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Confirmations ----------------------------------------------------------- 19 A Visit to Haifa --------------------------------------------------------- 20 Memorization of the Writings ---------------------------------------- 20 Lawh Istiqámat ---------------------------------------------------------- 20 Visiting the Shrines ----------------------------------------------------- 22 Siyyid Abú’l-Qásim Khurásání --------------------------------------- 22 Custodianship of the House of ‘Abbúd ----------------------------- 24 The Master --------------------------------------------------------------- 25 The Covenant-Breakers ------------------------------------------------ 26 A Note by the Narrator ------------------------------------------------ 28 Remains of the Báb ----------------------------------------------------- 28 Iran ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29 Diffusion of the Faith -------------------------------------------------- 29 Iran’s Future ------------------------------------------------------------- 29 Visit to the Shrines ----------------------------------------------------- 30 A Humorous Story ----------------------------------------------------- 30 Shaykh Mahmúd, the Muftí ------------------------------------------- 31 Khalíl ‘Arrábí ------------------------------------------------------------ 33 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Chant --------------------------------------------------- 34 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ------------------------------------------------------------- 35 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Return in December 1913 -------------------------- 35

The Mansion ------------------------------------------------------------- 36 Attempts on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Life ------------------------------------- 37 Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alí ------------------------------------------------- 38 Dietary Considerations ------------------------------------------------ 41 The Fast ------------------------------------------------------------------ 42 Feeding Haifa-‘Akká Area --------------------------------------------- 43 The Sea of the Cause --------------------------------------------------- 44 The Guardian ------------------------------------------------------------ 46 Remedy ------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Azal ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 Mishkín-Qalam ---------------------------------------------------------- 49 On Life ------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 Bahiyyih Khánum’s Resting Place ----------------------------------- 50 Sugar Shortage ---------------------------------------------------------- 51 Tea ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 52 A Former Opponent --------------------------------------------------- 52 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Influence ---------------------------------------------- 53 Children’s Education --------------------------------------------------- 54 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Knowledge -------------------------------------------- 54 Impact of Deeds -------------------------------------------------------- 55 Germany and Sangsar -------------------------------------------------- 55 The Guardianship ------------------------------------------------------ 55 Jamáliyyih Khánum ---------------------------------------------------- 57 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Residence --------------------------------------------- 59 Husayn Áqá Tabrízí ---------------------------------------------------- 60 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Speech ------------------------------------------------- 60 Nightly Gatherings ----------------------------------------------------- 61 Pilgrims ------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Dream ------------------------------------------------- 63 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Residence in ‘Akká ---------------------------------- 63 Haifa’s Pilgrim House -------------------------------------------------- 63 Payment of Huqúqu’lláh ----------------------------------------------- 64 Visit to ‘Akká ------------------------------------------------------------ 65 Visiting the Mosque ---------------------------------------------------- 65 The Future of Haifa and ‘Akká --------------------------------------- 66 Tiberius ------------------------------------------------------------------- 68

Confirmations ----------------------------------------------------------- 68 On Caution -------------------------------------------------------------- 69 Mírzá Abú’l-Fadl -------------------------------------------------------- 69 Good Citizenship ------------------------------------------------------- 71 Siyyid Mihdí Dahají ----------------------------------------------------- 71 The Narrator’s Family -------------------------------------------------- 73 Revising Traditions ----------------------------------------------------- 75 Simple Expositions ----------------------------------------------------- 76 Proving the Truth of Islam -------------------------------------------- 76 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Guidance ---------------------------------------------- 78 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Humor ------------------------------------------------- 78 Bahá’u’lláh’s Influence ------------------------------------------------- 79 Old Traditions ----------------------------------------------------------- 80 On Marriage -------------------------------------------------------------- 81 A Dream ------------------------------------------------------------------ 81 Payment of Debt -------------------------------------------------------- 82 Messengerhood --------------------------------------------------------- 82 Ladies Attire ------------------------------------------------------------- 82 On Marriage ------------------------------------------------------------- 83 Children’s Spiritual Education ---------------------------------------- 83 Spiritual Assemblies ---------------------------------------------------- 84 Christians ----------------------------------------------------------------- 84 Mírzá Abú’l-Hasan Afnán --------------------------------------------- 84 Hájí Muhammad Shúshtarí -------------------------------------------- 86 Hájí Farhán -------------------------------------------------------------- 88 A Story from Baghdad ------------------------------------------------- 91 Muhammad-Javád Qazvíní -------------------------------------------- 91 Various Advices --------------------------------------------------------- 91 Visiting the Needy ------------------------------------------------------ 92 Persepolis ---------------------------------------------------------------- 93 Reading ------------------------------------------------------------------- 93 Witchcraft ---------------------------------------------------------------- 94 The Lukewarm ---------------------------------------------------------- 94 Serving Others ----------------------------------------------------------- 94 Some Answered Questions -------------------------------------------- 95 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Eating Habits ----------------------------------------- 96

Correspondence --------------------------------------------------------- 96 Bahá’u’lláh Revealing Tablets ----------------------------------------- 97 The Next Manifestation ------------------------------------------------ 98 Warming Against Claims ---------------------------------------------- 99 Tests ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 100 The Hands of the Cause ---------------------------------------------- 101 An Incident at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh --------------------------- 102 Sádhijih ------------------------------------------------------------------ 104 Mírzá Asadu’lláh Isfahání -------------------------------------------- 105 Refinement ------------------------------------------------------------- 106 Simplicity --------------------------------------------------------------- 106 Sweetmeat -------------------------------------------------------------- 107 Bahiyyih Khánum ----------------------------------------------------- 108 Mount Carmel --------------------------------------------------------- 110 Ottoman Military ----------------------------------------------------- 110 Mullá Abú-Tálib Badkubih’í ----------------------------------------- 110 Tobacco ----------------------------------------------------------------- 112 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Health ------------------------------------------------ 113 Card Playing ------------------------------------------------------------ 114 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Watering the Gardens ------------------------------- 114 Financial ---------------------------------------------------------------- 115 An Attempt to Defraud ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ----------------------------- 115 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Generosity ------------------------------------------- 117 The Seed of the Next Manifestation ------------------------------- 117 Bahá’í Marriage Recognition in Iran ------------------------------- 117 Snake -------------------------------------------------------------------- 118 Visiting the Shrine ---------------------------------------------------- 118 Dreams ------------------------------------------------------------------ 120 Benefits of Grapes ---------------------------------------------------- 120 Divine Laws ------------------------------------------------------------ 120 A Contemporary Violator of the Covenant ----------------------- 121 The Marriage of Shoghi Effendi and Rúhiyyih Khánum ------- 122 Gift from America ---------------------------------------------------- 123 A Gift for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ---------------------------------------------- 124 Mírzá Mahmúd Zarqání ---------------------------------------------- 124 Mírzá Mahmúd Furúghí ---------------------------------------------- 125

Condition of Confirmation -----------------------------------------Provocation of the Opponents ------------------------------------Neutralizing the Enemies -------------------------------------------Chanting ---------------------------------------------------------------Colophon ---------------------------------------------------------------

126 126 127 128 128

Author’s Supplement Divine Confirmations -----------------------------------------------Avoidance of Tobacco ----------------------------------------------Morality versus Expediency ----------------------------------------Souls --------------------------------------------------------------------Penmanship -----------------------------------------------------------Daily Livelihood ------------------------------------------------------Commemoration Periods --------------------------------------------

129 130 131 132 132 133 133

Appendices I Bahá’u’lláh’s Lawh Istiqámat -------------------------------II Bahá’u’lláh on the Next Manifestation --------------------III Bahá’u’lláh’s Utterance --------------------------------------IV The Suicide of Abú’l-Hasan Afnán ------------------------V Bahá’í Holy Days ---------------------------------------------VI ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on Persepolis ----------------------------------

134 136 139 142 147 151

Bibliography ------------------------------------------------------------------ 158