When the
deposed Sultán of the Ottoman Empire, 'Abdu'l-Hamíd, arose in tyranny and
oppression, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was incarcerated in the prison of 'Akká and was
surrounded with the utmost surveillance of police, detectives and men of the
Secret Service. The door of communication was entirely closed and the means of
correspondence was prevented. If any soul approached the house he was searched;
nay, rather, threatened with dire persecution. The affairs reached to such a
degree that, not being satisfied with these restrictions, the Sultán sent an
oppressive investigating Commission, so that with all kinds of wiles,
simulations, slander and fabrication of false stories they might fasten some
guilt upon 'Abdu'l-Bahá in order that he might crucify Him, or cast Him into
the sea, or banish Him into the heart of the distant and unknown Sahara of
Feyzan [Africa]. That oppressive investigating Commission exercised its rights
with tyranny and passed the sentence that 'Abdu'l-Bahá merited all kinds of
persecution. Finally they decided to send Him to Feyzan, and when they cabled
this decision to the palace of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd, an answer was received that the
matter of Feyzan was approved by the Imperial Order. Then that unjust
investigating Commission returned to Constantinople. They were in the midst of
the sea when the cannon of God boomed forth before the palace of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd,
a charge of dynamite was exploded, a number of people were killed,
'Abdu'l-Hamíd fled into the interior of his residence, difficulties and trials
surrounded him, and incidents and events developed rapidly. Therefore he did
not find the opportunity to oppress 'Abdu'l-Bahá; public revolution was
started, which ended in his deposition, and the Hand of Divine Power released
the neck of 'Abdu'l-Bahá from the chains of the prison of Joseph and the
fetters and manacles were placed around the unblessed neck of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd. Be
ye admonished, O ye people of insight!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of
the West, vol. 2, no. 4, May 17, 1911)
