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Memorials of the Faithful
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Pages 101-104
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Ustád `Alí-Akbar-i-Najjár
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1 |
Ustád `Alí-Akbar, the
Cabinet-Maker,
[1]
was
numbered among the just, a prince of the righteous. He
was one of Persia's earliest believers and a leading member
of that company. From the beginning of the Cause a trusted
confidant, he loosed his tongue to proclaim the Faith. He
informed himself as to its proofs, and went deep into its
Scriptures. He was also a gifted poet, writing odes in eulogy
of Bahá'u'lláh.
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2 |
Exceptionally skilled in his craft, Ustád produced highly
ingenious work, fashioning carpentry that, for intricacy
and precision, resembled mosaic inlay. He was expert in
mathematics as well, solving and explaining difficult problems.
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3 |
From Yazd, this revered man traveled to `Iráq, where he
achieved the honor of entering the presence of Bahá'u'lláh,
and received abundant grace. The Blessed Beauty showered
favors upon Ustád `Alí, who entered His presence almost
every day. He was one of those who were exiled from
Baghdád to Mosul, and he endured severe hardships there.
He remained a long time in Mosul, in extremely straitened
circumstances but resigned to the will of God, always in
prayer and supplication, and with a thankful tongue.
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4 |
Finally he came from Mosul to the Holy Shrine and
here by the tomb of Bahá'u'lláh he would meditate and
pray. In the dark of the night, restless and uneasy, he
would lament and cry out; when he was supplicating God
his heart burned within him; his eyes would shed their
tears, and he would lift up his voice and chant. He was
completely cut off from this dust heap, this mortal world.
He shunned it, he asked but one thing--to soar away; and
he hoped for the promised recompense to come. He could
not bear for the Light of the World to have disappeared,
and what he sought was the paradise of reunion with Him,
and what his eyes hungered to behold was the glory of the
Abhá Realm. At last his prayer was answered and he rose
upward into the world of God, to the gathering-place of
the splendors of the Lord of Lords.
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5 |
Upon him be God's benediction and praise, and may
God bring him into the abode of peace, as He has written
in His book: "For them is an abode of peace with their
Lord."
[2]
"And to those who serve Him, is God full of kindness."
[3]
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Notes
1. [Ustád is a master, one who is skilled in an art or profession.]
2. [Qur'án 6:127]
3. [Qur'án 3:28]
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