…when Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from Persia with ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the rest of His family, they traveled the long road from
Tihrán to Baghdád, passing through many towns and villages. During the whole of
that journey and distance they did not meet a single believer in the Cause for
which they had been banished. At that time very little was known about it in
any part of the world. Even in Baghdád there was but one believer who had been
taught by Bahá’u’lláh Himself in Persia. Later on, two or three others
appeared. You will see, therefore, that at
the beginning the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh was almost unknown, but on
account of being a divine Movement it
grew and developed with irresistible spiritual power until in this day,
wherever you travel—East or West—and in whatever country you journey, you will
meet Bahá’í assemblies and institutions. This is an evidence that the Bahá’ís
are spreading the blessings of unity and progressive development throughout the
world under the direction of divine guidance and purpose…
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a
talk, 22 April 1912, Washington D.C.; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace:
Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and
Canada in 1912’)
