Mirza Mihdi: the Purest Branch

Contents List of Illustrations viii Acknowledgements xi Foreword, by Moojan Momen xiii 1 ‘Akká, the Most Great Prison 2 The Purest Branch 3 Early Years in Tehran 4 Exile in Baghdad, Constantinople and Adrianople 5 The Long Journey to ‘Akká 6 The Disembarkation in ‘Akká 7 Life in the Barracks 8 The First Bahá’í Pilgrims 9 The Treasure of God in the Holy Land 10 The Great Redemptive Sacrifice of the Purest Branch 11 Life without Mírzá Mihdí 12 A Monument to the Purest Branch 13 The Ode of the Dove 14 Epilogue

1 10 19 32 50 69 81 113 139 156 162 176 183 194

Appendix The Burial of the Purest Branch and the Mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Rúhíyyih Rabbani .

209

Bibliography Notes and References Index

221 227 239

6

The Disembarkation in ‘Akká It was a Monday afternoon when the exiles disembarked at ‘Akká’s sea gate, a medieval structure, ‘a narrow portal under the muzzles of the heavy cannon guarding the harbour mouth’.1 The exiles, plus the ten accompanying officers, had arrived in Haifa in the early morning on an Austrian Lloyd steamer from Alexandria after a journey of nearly 70 hours, a journey that today takes about an hour by plane. Interestingly, Moses’ attempt by land took about 40 years nearly 35 centuries ago.

Although ‘Akká was an important centre of population, its bay could not cope with large liners and therefore boats were used to take passengers from the ship to the dock at Haifa. On approaching Haifa, the authorities began making arrangements to separate Mírzá Yaḥyá and his dependents from the rest of the travellers for their transportation to Cyprus. Four devoted Bahá’ís who were ordered by the Sultan to accompany Mírzá Yaḥyá to Cyprus became very distressed at their imminent separation from Bahá’u’lláh, 69

mírzá mihdí

as did the other exiles. According to Shoghi Effendi: It was at the moment when Bahá’u’lláh had stepped into the boat which was to carry Him to the landingstage in Haifa that ‘Abdu’l-Ghaffár, one of the four companions condemned to share the exile of Mírzá Yaḥyá, and whose ‘detachment, love and trust in God’ Bahá’u’lláh had greatly praised, cast himself, in his despair, into the sea, shouting ‘Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá’, and was subsequently rescued and resuscitated with the greatest difficulty, only to be forced by adamant officials to continue his voyage, with Mírzá Yaḥyá’s party, to the destination originally appointed for him.2

According to Bahíyyih Khánum, upon their arrival in Haifa, ‘we had to be carried ashore in chairs’.3 After waiting in Haifa for a few hours, Bahá’u’lláh and His companions were taken to ‘Akká on a sailing ship provided by the authorities.

To appreciate the complexities of the logistics of the journey by modern standards, consider that there were 67 exiles plus the government officials on the boat. If each had only one piece of old-fashioned luggage, it would require at least a large modern bus to accommodate them. The 16-kilometre sea journey took eight hours and was very arduous owing to the rough waters, a lack of wind to propel the vessel, a lack of provisions and a lack of shelter from the blistering 70

the disembarkation in ‘akká

summer sun. The exiles disembarked in ‘Akká at about 4.00 p.m.4 As the vessel did not come ashore in the ‘Akká bay, the exiles had to walk back and forth through the water to collect their large amount of luggage. Bahíyyih Khánum described the arrival of the exiles: The Governor ordered that the women be carried on the backs of the men. My brother [‘Abdu’l-Bahá] was not willing that this should be done, and protested against it. He was one of the first to land, and procured a chair, in which, with the help of one of the believers, he carried the women ashore. The Blessed Perfection was not allowed to leave his boat until all his family had landed. When he had come ashore, the family were counted and taken to the army barracks, in which we were to be imprisoned. From the terrible sufferings and privations of the journey we were nearly all sick; worst of all, perhaps, the Blessed Perfection and myself.5

As mentioned above, Bahá’u’lláh was not allowed to disembark until all His family had done so6 and irreverence to the Supreme Manifestation of God was shown at all times. One of the exiles described that upon stepping onto the soil they were then ‘counted as if they were sheep’.7 At the ‘Akká sea gate the exiles were met with a large 71

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number of people demonstrating against their arrival.

There were also many curious people among the mob who wanted to see the face of the ‘God of the Persians’, as Bahá’u’lláh was referred to. Frantically fanatical, the populace was openly not in favour of their arrival or of the government’s decision to send the exiles to their city. The exiles had been described as a religion of heretics and evil people. ‘There was a detachment of soldiers on shore drawn up in two lines. Between these lines the prisoners walked to the barracks,’ Bahíyyih Khánum related.8 There were orders to shoot anyone who tried to escape from the prison.

The population of ‘Akká at the time was about five thousand people.9 The Holy Family’s first impressions of the city after disembarking are illustrative of the gloomy environment the exiles encountered as they walked among the hostile local population and through the tortuous and lugubrious streets. ‘Abdu’lBahá recounted: As we entered the place we found the inhabitants of Acca, without exception, sickly looking people of sallow, yellow complexion, a good many unable to walk and hence strewn on the narrow streets. Even the soldiers and officers, who possessed privileges, looked ill. In fact, a number of the soldiers, that is, those who were ordered to guard us, were very sick and I began treating them at once.10 72

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