Contents
A Note from the Translator
A Note from the Publisher
Preface to the First Edition, 1952
Foreword
Chapter 1
Journey to Baghdad
Through Russia to ‘Akká
Arrival in Badkubih and leaving Russia
The life of the pilgrims in ‘Akká
Visiting the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh
Feasts
Morale of the believers in the days of hardship
The schemes of the Covenant-breakers
The dwarfish old man
The Covenant-breakers’ means of livelihood
Types of Covenant-breakers
My duties on this pilgrimage
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words
The suckling babe
The rebellion of Mírzá Áqá Ján
The Covenant-breakers’ planned rebellion through Mírzá Áqá Ján and Tábúr Áqásí
Events after Mírzá Áqá Ján’s rebellion
A story
The nature of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s cares in those few days
The story of Áqá Mírzá Hasan
Dismissal
The story of the package and my mission
Tehran
The story continued
Alláh’u’Abhá / Alláh’u’A‘zam
The effect of the story of Áqá Mírzá Hasan
Chapter 2
Departure from Tehran
Pilgrimage at ‘Akká with an American, Mr. Hoar
My feelings during the first days in the Holy Land
Description of my duties in those days
Haifa in AD 1900
The morale of the believers of Haifa and ‘Akká in those days
Six months in Haifa
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visits from ‘Akká to Haifa
Construction of the Shrine of the Báb
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words in those days in Haifa
Three pistol shots at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The renewal of confinement
Chapter 3
Circumstances surrounding the renewal of confinement
Details of the renewal of confinement
Release of the Covenant-breakers from prison due to the
Master’s intercession
My return to ‘Akká
“O Breakwell, O my dear one!”
The pilgrimage of Mr. Dodge’s sons
Madame de Canavarro and Mr. Phelps
Mr. Dreyfus and Miss Sanderson
The late Dr. Arastú Khán
Mrs. Lua Getsinger
Arrival of a Covenant-breaker from Bombay, Husayn-‘Alí Jahrumí, surnamed Fitrat
Establishment of an English class
News of the upheavals of Yazd and Isfahan
The realization of one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s predictions: Mírzá Badí‘u’lláh story concluded
The return of Mírzá Badí‘u’lláh to the fold
Conduct, manners and attitude of Mírzá Badí‘u’lláh
Mírzá Badí‘u’lláh breaks his vows of repentance
Rapid progress of the Faith in East and West and the sending of the Arch-breaker of the Covenant’s
agent to America
Burdens, sorrows and labours of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The effect of difficulties and sorrows on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
A story
One task does not distract Him from another
Kashkúl or pumpkin bowl?
The effect on the pilgrims of meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The manner of revealing verses
Fridays
Chapter 4
The Prison City again one year later
The arrival of certain Western believers wearing the fez, in the Ottoman style
Mr. and Mrs. Winterburn
Mr. Frank Frank
Further progress of the Faith in the East; Construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Ishqábád
Rapid progress of the Cause of God in the West
The condition of the Covenant-breakers
Visits by non-Bahá’í Westerners
Account of the conversion of an American lady in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s presence
Servitude
A bitter-sweet story
Medicine
Trusting the road to the highwayman
Chapter 5: Various miscellaneous events
“The triumph of the Cause of God is in his hands”
The definitive date for the end of the Covenant-breaking period
Collapse of the domes
“Once I was embarrassed”
The sweet fragrance of some of the letters
You conquered my heart before I ever existed
The name of the first Japanese Bahá’í was Yamamoto
His gait and bearing defy words
A story to illustrate a point
The Master on health
Another illustrative story: “Six years of hard work did no go to waste!”
Charity devoid of hypocrisy
Infiltrating the Faith of God
The meaning of generosity
“Eat the bread, but don’t drink the wine”
What sort of place was ‘Akká?
One “effulgence” of the Prison, the thirty–day fast
“My wellbeing and its opposite are in the hands of the friends”
A grand feast
Love
Chapter 6
Again, never-ending tasks and severe hardships
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s utterances in these days
My own circumstances at this time
The Persian Consulate building
Miss Barney and Some Answered Questions
A change in conditions: The arrival of biased officials
My journey to Europe
Arrival at Marseilles
Arrival in Paris
Return to ‘Akká
A brief visit to Beirut
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teachings on how to attract divine confirmations
Moving to Beirut
Chapter 7
Multiple investigators, both secret and open
Interpretation of Mírzá Núru’d-Dín’s dream
Intrigues of the Covenant-breakers
The situation in ‘Akká as the Covenant-breakers awaited the impending chaos
The arrival of Sultan Abdu’l-Hamid’s officials, and their departure due to the cannon blast of divine confirmation
This is the letter from Núru’d-Dín-i-Zayn
The fulfilment of the prophecies of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, now and in the future
Chapter 8
Arrival at Beirut
What sort of place was Beirut?
The conditions of this servant in Beirut
That grenade that missed the breast of Sultan ‘Abdu’l-Hamid struck the liver of the Covenant-breakers
Another look at Beirut
The everlasting disgrace of the Covenant-breakers was simultaneous with the removal of Sultán ‘Abdu’l-Hamid
When did Satan ever give me a chance?
Manufacturing a dream with the intention of slandering the Faith of God
I consider such words to be meaningless
Conclusion of Chapter 8
Chapter 9
We believers were not without our faults
What is a homeland and who is a patriot?
What was happening on the moon?
By God, you’re right!
What is fortune?
Return to Beirut
Three medical cases
News from Iran and the Ottoman States
The end of the Most Great Prison of ‘Akká
Describing the indescribable
Return to Iran
Apology
Selected biographical notes
Bibliography
Votes and references
Index