Hájí ‘Abdu’l-Majíd, the father of ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb, has often
been heard to recount, with eyes filled with tears, this story:
“How deeply,” he said, “I regret the deed I committed. Pray
that God may grant me the remission of my sin. I was one among the favoured in
the court of the sons of the Farmán-Farmá, the governor of the province of
Fárs. Such was my position that none dared to oppose or harm me. No one
questioned my authority or ventured to interfere with my freedom. Immediately I
heard that my son ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb had forsaken his shop and left the city, I ran
out in the direction of the Kazirán gate to overtake him. Armed with a club
with which I intended to beat him, I enquired as to the road he had taken. I
was told that a man wearing a turban had just crossed the street and that my
son was seen following him. They seemed to have agreed to leave the city
together. This excited my anger and indignation. How could I tolerate, I
thought to myself, such unseemly behaviour on the part of my son, I, who
already hold so privileged a position in the court of the sons of the
Farmán-Farmá? Nothing but the severest chastisement, I felt, could wipe away
the effect of my son’s disgraceful conduct.
“I continued my search until I reached them. Seized with a savage fury, I inflicted upon Mullá ‘Alí unspeakable injuries. To the strokes that fell heavily upon him, he, with extraordinary serenity, returned this answer: ‘Stay your hand, O ‘Abdu’l-Majíd, for the eye of God is observing you. I take Him as my witness, that I am in no wise responsible for the conduct of your son. I mind not the tortures you inflict upon me, for I stand prepared for the most grievous afflictions in the path I have chosen to follow. Your injuries, compared to what is destined to befall me in future, are as a drop compared to the ocean. Verily, I say, you shall survive me, and will come to recognise my innocence. Great will then be your remorse, and deep your sorrow.’ Scorning his remarks, and heedless of his appeal, I continued to beat him until I was exhausted. Silently and heroically he endured this most undeserved chastisement at my hands. Finally, I ordered my son to follow me, and left Mullá ‘Alí to himself.
“On our way back to Shíráz, my son related to me the dream
he had dreamt. A feeling of profound regret gradually seized me. The
blamelessness of Mullá ‘Alí was vindicated in my eyes, and the memory of my
cruelty to him continued long to oppress my soul. Its bitterness lingered in my
heart until the time when I felt obliged to transfer my residence from Shíráz to
Baghdád. From Baghdád I moved to Kazímayn, where ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb established his
business. A strange mystery brooded over his youthful face. He seemed to be
concealing from me a secret which appeared to have transformed his life. And
when, in the year 1267 A.H., [1850-51 A.D.] Bahá’u’lláh journeyed to ‘Iráq and
visited Kazímayn, ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb fell immediately under the spell of His charm
and pledged his undying devotion to Him. A few years later, when my son had
suffered martyrdom in Tihrán and Bahá’u’lláh had been exiled to Baghdád, He,
with infinite loving-kindness and mercy, awakened me from the sleep of
heedlessness, and Himself taught me the message of the New Day, washing away
with the waters of Divine forgiveness the stains of that cruel act.”
This episode marks the first affliction which befell a
disciple of the Báb after the declaration of His mission.
(Chapter
3, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)
