…one more among those who emigrated and came to settle near
Bahá’u’lláh was the bookbinder, Muhammad-Hádí. This noted man was from Isfáhán,
and as a binder and illuminator of books he had no peer. When he gave himself
up to the love of God he was alert on the path and fearless. He abandoned his
home and began a dreadful journey, passing with extreme hardship from one
country to another until he reached the Holy Land and became a prisoner. He stationed
himself by the Holy Threshold, carefully sweeping it and keeping watch. Through
his constant efforts, the square in front of Bahá’u’lláh’s house was at all
times swept, sprinkled and immaculate.
Bahá’u’lláh would often glance at that plot of ground, and
then He would smile and say: “Muhammad-Hádí has turned the square in front of
this prison into the bridalbower of a palace. He has brought pleasure to all
the neighbors and earned their thanks.”
When his sweeping, sprinkling and tidying was done, he would
set to work illuminating and binding the various books and Tablets. So his days
went by, his heart happy in the presence of the Beloved of mankind. He was an
excellent soul, righteous, true, worthy of the bounty of being united with his
Lord, and free of the world’s contagion.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Memorials of the
Faithful’)
