This exile [of Abraham] became the cause of the progress of
the descendants of Abraham, and the Holy Land was given to them. As a result
the teachings of Abraham were spread abroad, a Jacob appeared among His
posterity, and a Joseph who became ruler in Egypt. In consequence of His exile
a Moses and a being like Christ were manifested from His posterity, and Hagar
was found from whom Ishmael was born, one of whose descendants was Muhammad. In
consequence of His exile the Báb appeared from His posterity, [The Báb’s
descent was from Muhammad] and the Prophets of Israel were numbered among the
descendants of Abraham. And so it will continue for ever and ever. Finally, in
consequence of His exile the whole of Europe and most of Asia came under the
protecting shadow of the God of Israel. See what a power it is that enabled a Man
Who was a fugitive from His country to found such a family, to establish such a
faith, and to promulgate such teachings. Can anyone say that all this occurred
accidentally? We must be just: was this Man an Educator or not?
Since the exile of Abraham from Ur to Aleppo in Syria
produced this result, we must consider what will be the effect of the exile of
Bahá’u’lláh in His several removes from Tihrán to Baghdád, from thence
to Constantinople, to Rumelia and to the Holy Land. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some
Answered Questions’)
