…Ustád Ismá’íl, the builder… was the construction overseer
of Farrukh Khán (Amínu’d-Dawlih) [the Trustee of Government] in Tihrán, living happily and prosperously,
a man of high standing, well regarded by all. But he lost his heart to the
Faith, and was enraptured by it, till his holy passion consumed every
intervening veil. Then he cast caution aside, and became known throughout Tihrán as a pillar of the Bahá’ís.
Farrukh Khán ably defended him at first. But
as time went on, he summoned him and said, “Ustád, you are very dear to me and
I have given you my protection and have stood by you as best I could. But the Sháh
has found out about you and you know what a bloodthirsty tyrant he is. I am
afraid that he will seize you without warning, and he will hang you. The best
thing for you is to go on a journey. Leave this country, go somewhere else, and
escape from this peril.”
Composed, happy, Ustád gave up his work, closed
his eyes to his possessions, and left for ‘Iráq, where he lived in poverty. He
had recently taken a bride, and loved her beyond measure. Her mother arrived,
and by subterfuge, obtained his permission to conduct the daughter back to Tihrán,
supposedly for a visit. As soon as she reached Kirmansháh, she went to
the mujtahid, and told him that because her son-in-law had abandoned his
religion, her daughter could not remain his lawful wife. The mujtahid arranged
a divorce, and wedded the girl to another man. When word of this reached Baghdád,
Ismá’íl, steadfast as ever, only laughed. “God be praised!” he said. “Nothing
is left me on this pathway. I have lost everything, including my bride. I have
been able to give Him all I possessed.”
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Memorials of the
Faithful’)
