…another of those who emigrated from their native land to be
near Bahá’u’lláh was the great Nabíl. [1] In the flower of youth he bade
farewell to his family in Zarand and with Divine aid began to teach the Faith.
He became a chief of the army of lovers, and on his quest he left Persian ‘Iráq
for Mesopotamia, but could not find the One he sought. For the Well-Beloved was
then in Kurdistán, living in a cave at Sar-Galú; and there, entirely alone in
that wasteland, with no companion, no friend, no listening soul, He was
communing with the beauty that dwelt in His own heart. All news of Him was
completely cut off; ‘Iráq was eclipsed, and in mourning.
When Nabíl discovered that the flame which had once been
kindled and tended there was almost out, that the believers were few, that Yahyá
[2] had crawled into a secret hole where he lay torpid and inert, and that a wintry
cold had taken over—he found himself obliged to leave, bitterly grieving, for
Karbilá. There he stayed until the Blessed Beauty returned from Kurdistán,
making His way to Baghdád. At that time there was boundless joy; every
believer in the country sprang to life; among them was Nabíl, who hastened to
the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, and became the recipient of great bestowals. He
spent his days in gladness now, writing odes to celebrate the praises of his
Lord. He was a gifted poet, and his tongue most eloquent; a man of mettle, and
on fire with passionate love.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Memorials of the Faithful)
[1] Nabíl, author of The Dawn-Breakers, is Bahá’u’lláh’s
“Poet-Laureate, His chronicler and His indefatigable disciple.” Cf. God Passes
By
[2]Mírzá Yahyá, the community’s “nominal head,” was the
“center provisionally appointed pending the manifestation of the Promised One.”
Cf. God Passes By
