SCANNED BY DUANE TROXEL; NOT SPELLCHECKED OR PROOFREAD THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ONLINE IN THE HOPE THAT A VOLUNTEER WILL PROOFREAD AND FORMAT IT. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONSULT THE STYLE SHEET AT bahai-library.com/editors/style.sheet.html AND THEN WRITE TO JONAH WINTERS. THANK YOU, YOUR HELP IS GREATLY NEEDED! Baha'i Martyrdoms in Persia in the Year 1903 AD Haji Mirza Haydar-Ali Chicago: Baha'i Publishing Society, 1904 and 1917 ~~In compliance to the holy command of Abdul-Baha, the folloquirg aecount of the recent martyrdoms in per- sia, up to the present time, is kerein written and sub- mitted for the peritsal of tke beloved of God." (Signed) HADJI MIRZA HEIDER ALI. First Edition: Chicago 1904. Second Edition: Chicago, 1917. Bahai Martyrdoms in Persia i~'x AIN ABBREVIATED ACCOUNT OF THE SOR- ROWFUL EVENTS CONCERNING THE RECENT MARTYRD02\1S IN YEZD AND ISPHAIIANT. HE IS GOD! N this enlightened period--~vhich is the glorious century of the Supreme Lord God-the lights of civilization from the rays of the Sun of Reality are diffused throughout the world, and human perfections and divine virtues, like the dawn of the morning, are so spread in the East and the West that bloodshed and ferocity among mankind are aban- doned; nay, rather, in civilized countries, they are entirely forgotten. Religious interference and the fanaticism of dark ages are, abolished, and all peoples and races, reposing in the cradle of security, are pro- tected against the cruelty of tyrants. Yet, in Persia, when the di-vine proclamation was raised, the radiant morn appeared and the Sun of Truth arose, and many people were delivered from the lowest degrees of ignorance, and, attaining the highest human perfections, became the center of heav- ht enly virtue, spirit incarnate and. rig, eousness em- bodied-appearingg in the world of humanity with spiritual characteristics and holy attributes-the old religious sects still adhered to their former teachings and superstitions, and day by clay became more ig- norant until they degenerated into ferocious wolves and mad dogs, even surpassing the ravenous man- eating beasts. Z~ 3 those holy Thus, every day they began to oppose souls, instigating persecution, hourly causing new oppressions, every mo7ment kindling the - fires of de- struction, burning the sanctified ones i n the flames of hatred and malice, setting their heads upon spears, torturing, their children, plundering houses and prop- erty, looting wealth, and banishing women and ehil- dren -from their native land. The honorable were debased, the revered were despised, and the virtuous were taken captive. Among such outrages are numbered the recent events of Yezd and Isphaban, which caused the hearts to burn and quake, and the people of compassion to beat their breasts and shed tears of blood. Although the Bahais are brave and heroic, and their valor well proven in times past, yet, by the divine and certain decree of God, they are now com- manded to endure all afflictions and- maintain uni- versal peace, and therefore, when tyrants extend to them the hands of cruelty,' attacking them like blood- thirsty wolves, the friends of God must submit like lambs before them, without affering the least resist- ance, accepting the wounds of daggers and swords as babes accept the honey and milk from their mother's breasts, kissing the hand of the assassin while receiving a stab in the heart; and, while yielding their lives in the path of God, begging His forgiveness f! or the oppressors and asking for remission of their sins. Before the manifestation of such steadfastness and endurance the ferocity of the oppressors has daily increased. Staiiiiug their bands with the blood of 4 their vietims, they dealt out affliction without mercy. In such wise that these recent events of cruelty and violewe surpass those of former times, and ancient atrocities are eclipsed. The learned men of the. Sheites ~a reliyioas sect of Peisia) saw that the proclamation of God was raised and that the peoples of the East and of the West were moved. The lifIlit of the Sun of Reality beamed forth to such a degree that all eyes were brightened, the standard of the Cause was hoisted, and the people flocked in multitudes under the tent of His protection. Sheites -were converted to Baha- ism, and even the Israelites were so exalted that, ere long, none will be found in Persia who have not accepted this divine guidance. And so with the Zoroastrians (the ancient. Persians who, rejected all the prophets from Abraham to Moses as well as Christ Jesus and His Holiness Mohammed), a majority of whom now, through this Light, accept, believe and confess all holy scriptures and books of the prophets of God, and they are also reco.-nized as Bahaig in all sincerit n y and faithfulness. Thus the witnessin , of all these thin.-s caused the wicked ullamas (eler.-Y and learned men) to be so filled with hatred and jealousy that patience became exhausted, and now they are every moment kindling a new fire of animos- ity, instigating and inciting by all possible means the ignorant rabble and vicious idlers to shed the blood of these oppressed ones. One of the ullamas, living at present in Isphahan, whose father stained his hands with the blood of 5 ohada arid Mahboob-ul-ShohaAa, was enti- Holiness Baha'o'llah, Zeab (the wolf) Ebn-i-Zeab (son of the wolf), which has one to wonder concerning its significance. is time, the meaning of these names is the following will testify: The beginning t, caused by the wicked ullamas and ers in Persia, took place in the city of e month of March, 1903, corresponding n mouth Muharram.- At first tile clergy ommon people, vagabonds and idlers to the Bahais, and enticed them to commit and these, filled with greed, assaulted like wolves attacking the lambs of God. deeds was the disinterring the body of a had recently died, after which they es and burned it. During his life this 'v~,n great sincerity and kindness to all 0, including the enemies and even the ed to his moral character, trustworthi- at love, They said: " This is a just, d faithf ul man; but he is a Bahai. " is was his only sin, "He was a Bahai! " om. earthly he became heavenly, from e spiritual, from worldly became holy. ow astonishing! The clergy peruse erceiving the counsels and testimonies they are fierce and blood-thirsty, and ession to be one of the requirements Law, thus defaming Mohammedanism all other nations. 6 The Sultan of Persia, for the sake of Justice, en- deavored to restrain them from their oppression, but found himself unable to do so. They plundered and pillaged the property of the, Bahais ' and tortured the friends of God. Therefore, the ullamas began to excite the rabble to commit the same things in other cities of Persia. One of them waS Ebn-i-Zeab of Isphahan. He first confused the minds of the people by forging a tel- e.-ram in the name of His royal Highness, the Prime illinister of Persia, as f ollow, s. " Sheik Taki, Huj atul- Islam . (High Priest) miast protect the religion (of Islam)." He then ordered his confederates, under cover of night, to put four hundred copies of the same upon the walls of the city. Although this tel- egram was a fabrication, when morning came, the people seeing and hearing of it became aroused and excited and proceeded to the house of Sheik Taki, Ebn-i-Zeab (the wolf's son), who immediately sanc- tioned the massacre of the Bahais. Thus, the chief of anignorant populace having, issued, such a command, the following result was but a. natural consequence. The ravenons mob invaded the shops and houses of the believers and began to destroy and to rob. right and left. But the Bahai~4, knowin.- it to be unlawful to defend themselves with- out permission, -were obliged to appeal to the Governor of the city, and finding him, for some reason, ne- ligent in the matter thought it best to gather the dis, persed Bahais in one place, in order that some course of action nii.-ht be determined upon. They assembled 7 in the Russian Consulate, this being the only door opened to them. There they passed the whole night in prayer, calling: " Ya-Baha-El-Abha! " and at times they referred their difficulties to the Governor, hoping thereby the mob might be quieted. The Governor inquired of Sheik Taki, E-bn-i-Zeab, the cause of the riot and asked concerning the tel- egram, what it was and whence it came. In answer he declared complete ignorance of the whole matter. Ile then went to the Russian Consulate, and, erecting a platform'outside, began to incite the mob, which had assembled, to attack the believers and disperse them. The Governor then addressed a. letter to the BaRais saying: "Be tranquil and at ease. The tumult has ceased. Now return to your homes and attend to your work, and pray meanwhile for his Imperial Ala,4eSty, the Sultan of Persia, for hereafter no one J will molest you. " The Governor's, letter was registered in the Consulate, after which the Bahais came out of their retreat to -go to their own homes. Then as the friends of God proceeded to their homes, the malicious multitude attacked them on the streets, capturing and beating them. Whomever they found, they tortured and wounded, in all seventy people, killing some outright. Seyid Abul Kasim. Marnuni was one of the martyrs. This beautiful soul was about eighty years of age, and durin.- his life was renowned for his piety, faith, knowledge and virtue; even his enemies hore record to his chastity and- sanctity, testifying to his gen- 8 erosity and charity. He was in truth a help to the poor, refuge and support for the suffering and af- flicted;'his word was influential, honored and Ae'_ cepted by all the people. When they assaulted him he cried out: "Ya-Baha-El-Abha! We are from God and unto Him we are returning, " and in the very moment of his expiration he called out in a loud voice with great joy and ex-n-Itation these words: "You. have done Lis no harm! You are only transmit- ting us to our Lord! Ya-Baha-El-Abha! While his tormentors, like wild beasts, were stoning him and chopping him with axes, this single helpless man of such venerable years, this holy soul, under the -vi,ea.pons of the persecutors, wounding and cursing him, suffered it all with a fortitude of grandeur and majesty, facing the Kingdom of Lij-A as thoungh he felt not a blow nor received a wound, but was rather perceiving the open gates of the Supreme Concourse, and yielded his life to his Beloved with utmost joy, happiness and exhilaration. 0 that I had been with him to partake of his joy and to attain his great happiness! Finally the Governor,, His Royal Highness, the Prince, seeing the intense hostility, found no other means save to arrest the friends of God, and many were protected by being confined in prison. Behold how great was the outbreak and tumult that the prison house became the place of refuge and the dungeon a co-urt of safety. Think upon this, and the graveness of the matter needs no further ell-Lei- dation. 9 When the riot ii*iched the culmination of violence, one, named Seyid 111rahim, son of Imam Juma, High Priest of Yezd, wolurned from Kerbela and Nejef, two holy shrines, %,saere he had received from Seyid Kazim Yazdi, chief leader of the religion (Islamism) a command and Aothority to shed the blood of the innocent. When M arrived at Isphahan, and per- ceived the flames M the fire of persecution, read the forged telegram -aml saw the excitement of tl~e people, he determined to Fasten o n to Yezd. He received complete Mes from the Sheik Taki to do, upon his arrival, wIMMOr would cause destruction to the Bahais. With A MMe wicked intentions he reached the city of Yezd. Upon his dit-~wal he unfolded his designs to the Governor, who ealffsed to tolerate such a violation, deeming it to be o cause of riot and revolt which might result in -11T, destruction of Persia and the overthrow of the iation. Therefore he devised a stratagem. Having arrived by chance -upon the birth- day of His U11tre MI, Mohammed-Upon Him be Peace -the people of IM city, as is customary, came to visit him. To them ae related incidents concerning the riots in Isphahan, okscribin.- in detail the courage and bravery of the MsjLie who. had stood for the annihila- tion of the Bahais, looting their wealth and property, and at the same -lime he insinuated that the just Government would connive at such action and viola- tions on the part of the transgressors. In reality, His Imperial MOMly, the Shah, and His Royal High- ness, the Prime 4finister, had not a thought save 10 that of justice and protection for their subjects. Yet this man began to commend the people of Isphahan -who had committed those deeds of violence sayino, "They were inspired by religious zeal and divine en- thusiasm to eradicate Bahaism." In such ways he encouraged and provoked many, menaced others who refused to listen, and instigated the rabble to rob and plunder the believers. As a result, the third day after his arrival, the mob assembled. A great multitude,, armed with swords and daggers, invaded the house of a believer, a tin- smith by trade, beat his wife and babesi broke their household utensils, smashed the furniture and demol- ished their home. Then, arresting the helpless father, they *paraded him through the streets until they ar- rived at a, butcher's shop, where they set on him ivith meat axes. In this way they would have, killed him, but a farash (footman) of the Governor arrived and rescued the poor victim from the hands of his tormen- tors. His wounds were so many and severe that he was unable to walk, and thus, the f arash was obliged to drag- him to the court of the Governor, where he lay bleedii-ig and motionless. Durin`g this time, his little son, eleven years old, 01 was at school. His school fellows, being urged by their teacher, attacked this innocent lad. The poor little fellow ran to his teacher for protection and he, having a stone in place of a heart, commanded him to curse and deny his religion. Thereupon, this holy child, with a fortitude and faith, majestic to behold, refused to do so, saying: "I am only a school-boy, Illre M%g nothing of the reality of things: How can I stain eily lips with a purse!" Then that pitiless in- 20 Me committed a deed of cruelty which has caused hearts to burn and tears to run down the cheeks Of VICT110 and strangers. That inhuman monster with his agpils, tortured that dear boy, beating him with sticks, stabbing him with, penknives, picking him with 114614M and awls, in such a manner that the pen is osdiv,031to portray it, tongue and lip cannot -at-ter it, nor waii heart or mind imagine it. '01W white blossom among martyrs, this first-fruit of the Garden of El-Abha, in the dawn of yo uth, zjWe= I forth such consfaucy and steadfastness in de- 11111 M11 while laying his young life upon the divine altar ~f sacrifice, that strong and brave men were varlM[ied and stupefied. The teacher himself and the Wipils afterward said: "When we were stabbing him M1 only cried out, 'Ya-Balia-El-Abha!' (0 Glory of the Most Glorious!) ; 'Ya~TAIahboobe-El-Allah! ~ (0 my Opreme Beloved!), never wavering an instant, but With greatest joy and delight he yielded up his life to his Beloved One." in this manner he attained the Wesence of the Supreme Friend in advance of his mrsitie father. If Vere be but an atom of justice Or compass I ion in this %vtole universe, it will testify that this constancy and iTmness, this, joy and exhilaration, manifested -upon -Ce Red Plain of Martyrdom, this cry of "Ya- 1=811-Abha!" at the supreme moment of anguish and sourtal pain, is beyond mere human power and asuMPInce; and especially so when exhibited in a boy 12 of such tender years. Exalted is He who confirmed the heart of this child in His love., while he stood upon the threshhold of Redemption! Mighty is He who caused him to utter: "Ya-Balia-El-Abha!" un- der the claws of the enemies. Extolled is He who caused his soul to rejoice when ascending to the SLL- preme Friend! Verily these are but the Signs of the Glorious God! The blood of that innocent child was still flowino, when the ravenous crowd killed his maternal uncle with utmost cruelty and tort-Lire, chopping his body until it was a mass of gaping wounds. And this Prince of Faithfulness, under the keen edges of their axes, was calmly saying: "I am content with the fate decreed by God, redeeming myself for the sake of His Glorious Cause." The mob then with ropes tied together the feet of the benevolent father, the pure-hearted son and the sanctified uncle, and disgracefully hauled them over the ground around the city, beating and stoning their mutilated corpses, meanwhile clapping their hands and cheerin- hilariously, until they reached a circle in the center of the city, where they threw the bodies and left them. The mother of that clearly loved boy, seeing her martyred son, her slain hasband and her brother, all covered with blood and dust, began to weep and lament over their condition, and especially that of the child. Imagine, if you can, what was her own condi- tion, while being held in custody by the mob, -upon findiug the bodies of her dear ones thus chopped to 13 pieces before her eyes. And -when she only wanted to throw herself beside- their mangled remains, to weep, she was beaten intQ insensibility by the human, vultures surrounding her. Such blood-thirstiness, ferocity and ruthless murder finds no parallel in ancient, medieval or modern time. Possibly barbarous tribes, in moments of revenge for massacres and severe losses in battle, might have pro- duced deeds of similar character. That would be the mere returning of vengeance, but such tyranny and dive persecution has never been witnessed from bit- terest foes, as was poured out -upon these angelic,, pure minded souls, lovers of humanity, renowned for all good actions, and even praised by their oppressors. If Ave refer to the histories of the world we will see that such oppression on the part of the enemies of God, toward the lovers of the __.Nlerciful One, is un- para lleled. specia y so-when we consider that not one of these martyrs. ever stretched forth his, hand in self-dcfense, or -uttered an uncivil word, during the time of his execution. Nay, rather, -with utmost hu- mility, submissiveness, tenderness and exaltation of spirit, they were prayin,,- until they delivered their souls into the Hand of the Beloved. Through the justice and extreme kindness of His- Imperial NIajesty, the Shah of Peisia~May God pro- tect his kinodom!-hunters are forbidden to kill birds durino, the spring time, the season of breeding, or even to discharge a gun into the air, it being consid- ered cruel and unlawful that during the hatching period the young ones should be killed, or even 14 startled by the sound of a gun. But the Bahais, not- withstanding their innocence and good actions, ap- proved by the Great Lord, are the victims of their own countrymen, who, during the time of the outbreak, when the fire of malice and hatred was raging, killed them with utmost cruelty, burned their gates and houses, and invaded their dwellings, plundering and destroying all their property. Consider the tenderness and equity of the Crowned Head (the Shah), and how stony hearted are the people of the old creed, over whom he sits as kin.a. The Governor tried as far as possible to protect the believers, but he was unable to do, so. The above- mentioned Seyid Ibrahim, Imam Juma, chief of the oppressors, went to the Governor's house, followed by some of his allies, and there they apparently denied bein- the - instigators of the revolt, while they secretly- provoked the rabble and incited them with the pros- peet of booty and spoils. The next day the merci- less mob made a greater assault, robbin- and spoiling more'tban ever, and martyred six holy souls with dire tortures, cutting their bodies to pieces, after which they rode horses over their mutilated corpses and crushed them Linder the hoofs of the steeds, mixing their blood and flesh -with the dust. 0 God! How wonderful! During the period of one thousand years, the Persians, especially the Slieftes, have been lamentin.-o, and loudly weeping over the tragedy of Seyid-ul-Shuhad, Imam Hussein,. who was martyred upon the plain of Kerbela,, and sayin.-: "The army of the malicious Yazid mercilessly ran their horses over the body of that Holy Soul! Jesus Christ said: Your fathers killed the prophets of God, but you are building their tombs and kissing them in worship. ("Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites 1 because ye build the tornbs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the right- eous, and say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers -with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be wit- nesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up, then, the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye genera- tion of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? "-Matt. XXIII:29-33., And now this passage is parallel with the present condition of the Persians. It was some, of them who martyred His Holiness linam Hussein, with great -wickedness, and now the children of those murderers are mournin- and lamenting, building and adorninn, t, M n his tomb, and also those of other maryrs. How heedless and ne.gligent are the people! To sum up, the idlerss, and vagabonds of the city of Yezd, daily advancing in lawlessness, became more and more b old. We have not the report in detail, but we heard that on one Friday more than one hundred persons -were killed, A special reporter, in a brief letter, written in great sorrow, said: "Alas! Alas! and again-Alas! Our hearts are burnin,g! Our breasts are heaving! The cry of lanientation is heard. My hand is trembling as I 16 write. illy heart is throbbing, my eyes are overflowing M ni and my ears are unable to hear the accounts of the great persecutiou; for every day there is a greater uprising, and every moment brings forth a greater outcry. "In the city of Yezd there are nearly five thousand houses belonging to' Bahais, in -which, at this time, there is not one moment of rest or peace. The in- mates have no dinner by day, and no supper at Eight. Their food is sorrow, and for water they drink their tears, expecting at each moment the attack of the pillaging enemies, to persecute and take captive the women and children, the majority of whom are al- ready hungry, thirsty and naked. The -women espe- cially are suffering so keenly on account of the slaugh- ter of their fathers, husbands and brothers, and in such despair that they know not how to care for their suckling babes. "In fact, on the morning of that Friday, the inob suddenly assembled from all quarters, cryin,-: 'Alas! Our religion! Alas! Our faith! Alas! Our creed!' Previous to this they had killed five or six persons every. day, but on that day the soldiers of the guard, insti.-ated by the mullahs, allied themselves with the rabble and be.-an to kill, rob and destroy. They murdered several of the Bahais, beat the women with clubs and-looted the things of value from the shops and houses of the friends. Many children became fatherless, many parents childless, many sisters broth- erless, and the houses being completely destroyed, many families were scatte red and made helpless -and 17 homeless. In that day many who had been rich be- came penniless, many who been reared in beds of comfort with pillows of.down were compelled to sleep upon the cold, black earth; many were wound ' ed and sick with none to care for them or dress their wounds. "In the time of their execution some were saying: 'Is there no one to witness how I offer up my life!' And others: 'Do you kill us for havin,,, believed in God and His signs?'Alas! There has appeared no prophet who has not been mocked and reviled - by the people 1'Others were crying 'I witness there is no God but God!' 'Ya-Baha-El-Abha!'And still, others: 'We have found Baha for whose Balia. (Glory) we pay the price of our blood!'One was loudly chanting the poem of His Holiness Varglia, called Ser?,,ifitde, while'another, with joy and-delight, was bidding farewell to his assassin, saying: 'Goodbye! May God preserve you!'-upon the utterance of vhich lie was struck so violently upon the mouth that from the blow he yielded'iip his life. And yet another, in the time of assault, seeing himself sur- rounded by the people, who were shoi-Aing and cheer- in-, said: 'No king has ever been accorded such m1a estia M tall, handsome youth, out joyously: '011, to to Gbtain the, Beloved my soul! , " s this: that the people I s, take their last heaven nto verses, degeribin-g Iled, what was his con- dition, and what he said, and how such a young man chanted such a verse from the KoTan, while being chopped to pieces, and then sing and chant these things as further means of mockiii- and deridim, the beloved. There were two pure women who, while mourning for their martyred dead, -were attacked by cruel men, who first beat and tortured them, and then dragoled them, still alive, out of their houses, after -which they stabbed them and chopped them to pieces in the presence of the blood-thirsty crowd. When the audacity of the rabble reached this point, the Gov- ernor, finding himself powerless to stand against the rioters, fled from the city and retired to the citadel for self-preservation. It is reported that a baker was captured and that his body was chopped to pieces with meat axes, and t-tt during the time of his torture he was proclaiming h, n with great joy: "For ten years I have been Ion.-Ing for this 1 4 ask God to forgive and to pour out -upon you His mercy and blessings, that you may prosper; for through you I have attained the desire of my heart and the only wish of my soul!" It is reported that the number of those killed, up to that day, is more than one hundred and fifty per- solls within the, ~Nalled city of Yezd. In the sur- rounding small villages many people were martyred in each place, but we have not yet the account in detail. A telegram was received in Teheyan to the effect that the Governor, being pressed by the rioters,, was compelled to blow one of the friends of God from 19 the mouth of a cannon, and to behead another in the circle of the city. The mob put a woman in a sugar sack, over which they poured petroleum, and . ' burned her alive. They tied and nailed another believer to a tree, poured naptha. and oil over him and burned the tree, and the man together. In a village near the city there lived Jenab Sadre, Jenab IN"atamed-u-Shariah, Jenab Nezam-u-Sbariall, Jenab Ziah-u-Shariah, with all their families and kinsmen. They were venerable ullamas and seyids, and all had received titles from 'the Shah; yet the mullahs sanctioned the massacre of all these honorable and revered souls. The mob, excited by the clergy, attacked them with guns, swords, etc. Though these noble souls were suffleient in number to stand against them, and were provided with ample means of de- fense, yet, in accordance with the command of the Blessed Perfection, Baha'o'llah: "Let yourselves be killed rather than to kill, " they vielded their lives without resistance to the blood-thirsty -wolves who, stretching out their claws of tyranny, killed seventeen persons with sueli awful cruelty that the pen cannot describe it. Amon- the victims there was a little child who, during the attack, fell into a well, and, being rescued, is the only survi6ng soul left of these noble people. The palace and garden in which they resided was utterly destroyed, the trees were uprooted, and all that could be pillaged was taken away, including a considerable amount of wealth. The number of martyrs in that place was nineteen, and in the village of Taf t the number was twenty- 20 eight. In Alanshad there were ten. In Deh-Bala they -threw a believer, alive, into a baker's oven and roasted him to death, Up to date, six women have been martyred and many have been captured and wounded. His Holiness Jesus Christ~May the souls of all creatures be His ransom!-has clearly pointed out the pathway to the Kingdom of God, showing clearly the shortest road to be that of redemption. Therefora these sanctified souls have but followed Christ, who was the Dawn of Sacrificial Lights, and through this path have they proceeded to the Ningdoni of Mys- terles. For the sake of such as these He said: "Blessed are 'they -which are persecuted for right- eousness' sake, for theirs is the Kine'dom of Heaven. "Blessed ire the pure in heart, for they shall see God." "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake." "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." * In the Tablet of Akdas, revealed by Baha'o'llah, it also says: "Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by Aly Breeze 1 Blessed are the dead who are vivified by Aly Breaths! Blessed is the eye which is enlight- ened by My Beauty! Blessed is the car which hears illy Melodies! Blessed is the affrighted one who hastens to the shelter of __1\Ty Name. Blessed is the thirsty one who seeks the nectar of Aly Benedictions! Blessed is the hungi:~y one who, forsaking his desires, My Realm, presenting himself at the Table ascends to TA 21 of Sanctity which I have caused to descend from the heaven of Aly Holiness for the sake of My' Chosen Ones! Blessed are the ignorant -who seek the spring of My Knowledge, And the lowly who grasp the~ robe of 211v Grandeur! Blessed are the heedless, who maintain My Commemoration! Blessed is the spirit resurrected by- My Breath, and thereby entering 1\1y Kin.gdom! Blessed is the soul who is shaken by the fragrance of My Nearness and attracted by the -Kingdom of My Command! Blessed is the eye which has seen, the ear which has heard, and the heart which has known the Lord, the possessor of Glory, and the Kin- dom of Grandeur and Alight 1 Blessed are they who hate attained! - Blessed is he -who is brightened by the Sun of My Word! Blessed is he whose head is adorned with the crown of My Love! -Blessed is he who has heard my afflictions, and arose to assist Isle amono, Mv "Nations. Blessed is he who is convinced by My Word! Blessed is he -who has redeemed his soul in My Path! Blessed is he -who has suffered hard- ships for MyNanie's sake, and was not prevented by the world from entering Aly Court! "Blessed is he who enters -My Kinludom, pemeivin.- the dominion of Aly Power and __Might, drinking from the sea of -My Utterances, being informed of Aly Com- inand and what is concealed in the treasury of 21y -Words, and who has shown forth from the Horizon of Significances My Commemoration and illy Praise! Verily he is from Me, and upon him be Aly -Aferey, My Bounty, Aly Favor and My Benediction!" This is the ransom for the blood of the martyrs! _2 2 This is the utmost desire of the chosen ones! This is the eternal life of the spiritual ones! This is the pathway of Jesus Christ! This, is the way of the divine Manifestations of God in all times, both ancient and modern! In a Tablet addressed to Zeab, father of Sheik Taki~ Balia'o'llah said: "Hast thou imagined We are afraid 0t f thy cruelty? Know ye and be assured, from the first clay upon which the sound of the Supreme Pen Arose, we gave Lip our lives, our souls and our chil- dren in the path of God, the Supreme, the Great! And I over this fact we boast in glory among all creatures and the Supreme Concourse, and to this what hath befallen us in this st-rai0l ,ht path, beareth witness. In truth, hearts are melted, bodies are crucifled, blood is shed, while the eyes are gazing toward the horizon of the bounty of their Lord, the Seer, and the Omnis- clent! With the increase of calamity the people-of Balia grow in love. And to their sincerity bears wit- ness that which the Merciful One has revealed in the Koran, aaying: 'If ye be sincere, seek death!' "Whidli one is better: he who conceals himself to preserve his life 7 or he who saa-rifices his life in the path of God? Be just, and not of those who are lost in the wilderness of falsehood. Verily they are intoxicated with the wine of His divine love, to such an extent that the guns of the world cannot prevent them, -nor the swords of the nations hinder them, from turning to the ocean of the gifts of their Lord, the Tender, the Generous. By the Truth of God! Cal amity has not weakened Ale, nor have the objections 23 of the ullamas enfeebled Ale. I declared, and am declaring in the face of all the world: 'Veril the M . y gates of bounty are opened, the sun of justice has appeared with evident signs and clear proofs from the pen of God, the Omnipotent, the Self-Existent' In brief, the steadfastness of these souls under the swords of persecution, th6ir self-resigonation and sub- imssiveness while facing thousands of their enemies, the joy and exhilaration of these luminous realities at the divine altar, the constancy of the confirmed women, the strength and faith of the holy maid- servants during suffering, massacre, beating, plunder, and the slaying of their offspring, and the firmness and constancy of the young children, are all greatest proofs of the sincerity and faithfulness of the beloved of God. Especially when we consider that in the time of great oppression and tyranny, they raised not a band in self-protection-, but rather considered self- sacrifice a great bl'essing and self-redemption as a mighty power in the world of humanity. They drank the overflowing cup of martyrdom as one Avould quaff a glass of delicious wine. They sought not to save their lives from the' sword, nor their throats from the dagger. They watched the destruction of their houses and divellings, and yielded their -wealth to the hands of the plunderers. They were taken, leaving their women and children helpless and homeless, and with utmost joy and gladness poured out their lives at the feet of the divine Beloved, and without uttering a single word at which their mur- derers could take offense. Rather, they begged inter- 24 cession, asking God's forgiveness and blessing upon their persecutors. Had they tried, a sin-,,Ie soul could have manifested n great power of resistance, but in compliance with the command of God, they offered no defense; as was written by one of the friends from Yezd, his own words being as follows: "God has tied the hands of all, gi i ission for self-protection; otherwise giving no perm no one would be able to attack us; but, knowing that we never transgress His Holy Ordinances, by raising the hands of resistance, the enemies are able to massa- ere, rob, and shed our blood with great audacity. Had they thought we would protect ourselves, the leaders and their followers would not have dared to breathe or -Litter a single word against us. But we yearn for martyrdom in the path of God, and ask it with all our hearts and souls. Only do we implore a refu,-e for our wives and children. Should we not do so, we fear we would be accused of neglect - otherwise, life itself has no merit and is not worthy to be offered as ransom in the path of God. If it be accepted, it is our areatest honor and -lory. If such sacrifice, such submigsion to plunder and loss of home and property, such helplessness, the cap- tivity of women and children, the giving up of life vvith all 'o,y, such cryin- out in the throes of martyr- doln-"Ya-Daha 'o'llah!" "Ya-Rabbi-El-Ablia!" (0 my Supreme Lord!)-the shouting, "You have done Us no harn-1, you have only transmitted us to our Lord!"-the cry, "Is there no one to. witness how I offer up my life?" If all these things do not prove 25 steadfastness and constaney~ and show forth the great- est evidence of faithfulness, spirituality and love in shall we produce the these holy souls; then from what evidence oF stability and firmness I Thus the words, 411f ye be L sincere, seek death!" are herein fulfilled. Should they write the description of their condition with the ink of their blood, surely the Pages of the leaves of the world would not be sufficient to record it. If these souls be' condemned and rejected, then from what shall we Prove the steadfastnes~ of the prophets, the firmness of the saints, and the constane-,v of the believers of God during Past centuries and eyoles? For the greatest virtue, for -which His Holi- I Avas only his ability ness j\1011ammed was commendec, to "stand as commanded." The 1 ,t information from Yezd, written by His a,, the offspring of the Holiness SeYid -Mende-Af Holy Tree, is as follows: "The number Of the mar-1 tyrs is one hundred and seventy PUTe souls, and those whom we have Dot counted, God knows. Thousands A of houses and shops have been robbed and destroYe , and niaDy have been burned. Women and children are naked, hungry and home,- left helpless and nurseless less, Ivithout kind friends or associates. They are or seeking shelter, the while going from door thanking God, day and nioht, for their calamities, ived 'such s,,tyilig -. 'Praise be to. God, that we have rece affliGtiori and hardship in the path of His love! AVe have been the targets for a thousand shafts of OP- utmost desire of our hearts pre, it this is the ssion, bL mfort and repose, for verily and soLds; this is Our CO 26 we are content with all that He decrees, for iis in His way. It was known that these events would take place, and it was heard from the lips of Abdul-Raha several times. In an assembl y of the believers last year He said: "Yezd is in great danger; pray for it." By the will of God we hope the fulfillment of the follow- ing, passages, written by the pen of Abdul-Baha, will also appear. " Soon, by the command of God, the veils will be raised from the face of His Cause, and its refulgence will be reAeoted upon the horizons of all countries. The teachings of the religion will be promoted, the standards of your Glorious Lord will wave from the highest edifices -7 the base of superstitions will be shaken; the veils of darkness will be rent; the morn of evidences will appear; the Kingdom of Heaven on earth will shine with the lialits of si-ns. Then you shall see the 'banners of the opposing nations hauled down, the faces of the enemies metamorphosed, the doctrines of the mis-leaders of the world abolisied, and the rejectors shall be in great loss, while the beloved of God shall be in great joy. (Translated by (Signed) _MIRZA YOU' NESS KHAN, Acca, Syria, September 19, 1903. Attested: Dr. Afirza Arastoo S. Hakim.) 27 This copy is changed from the original translation received in Chicago, October 29, 1903, only as far as required for a sli- UY smoother English reading, and by the addition of a quotation from the New Testa- ment, apparently required by the text, on page 16. BAH-A-1 PUBLISHENG SOCIETY, 28