Whomsoever amongst the great He [Bahá’u’llah] interviewed
[while in Constantinople] on His own account, they met, and no word save of
sciences and arts passed between them; until certain noblemen sought to guide
Him, and loosed their tongues in friendly counsel, saying, “To appeal, to state
your case, and to demand justice is a measure demanded by custom.” He replied
in answer, “Pursuing the path of obedience to the King’s command We have come
to this country. Beyond this We neither had nor have any aim or desire that We
should appeal and cause trouble. What is [now] hidden behind the veil of
destiny will in the future become manifest. There neither has been nor is any
necessity for supplication and importunity. If the enlightened-minded leaders
[of your nation] be wise and diligent, they will certainly make inquiry, and
acquaint themselves with the true state of the case; if not, then [their]
attainment of the truth is impracticable and impossible. Under these
circumstances what need is there for importuning statesmen and supplicating
ministers of the Court? We are free from every anxiety, and ready and prepared
for the things predestined to Us. ‘Say, all is from God’ [Qur’án 4:80] is a
sound and sufficient argument, and ‘if God toucheth thee with a hurt there is
no dispeller thereof save Him’ [Qur’án 6:17; 10:107] is a healing medicine.”
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
